The best book on guitar playing
352845
This is the most insightful book on guitar playing I ever saw. Try to find it at every cost! You will not be disappointed. Abel Carlevaro presents a whole new technique for playing the classical guitar. His analysis of  finger and arm movements is simply amazing! He, for example, completely  abandons the concept of rest strokes and free strokes and replaces it with  types of strokes differing in their grade of fijacion.
This textbook is  supplemented by Carlevaro's Serie Didactica para Guitarra in four parts, in  which you can find many practical examples to the theory explained in his  School of Guitar.
665534
I started with the method 1 book and am just getting into method 2 (along with learning from a few other sources, it took ~1 year). I am a huge fan of the style and presentation of this book it is an excellent way to develop your play and understanding of the guitar. From method 1-3 the book is extremely comprehensive and should provide a strong foundation for guitar playing in any individual with the time to dedicate and practice, practice, practice. I recommend taking your time, developing an understanding of the musical notation, and playing along with a metronome (you can download a phone app). Playing in time with a metronome can really help demonstrate the proper sound of each piece and allow you to learn without using the audio tracks (I have never used the audio).

Strongly recommend.
3674276
I am a professional musician, and I teach guitar part time. I believe that this is the best introductory book that I have seen for anyone who wants to learn to play a guitar. It also teaches elementary music theory too, which is necessary where you intend to play guitar reading music, or playing by ear. It's excellent, and I give it a top rating.
3667565
I have been playing classical guitar for many years.  Like many players I got to the point of being "pretty good" but could never break through the invisible wall of getting to "really good".  Anyone who has been playing for a while knows just how hard that is. I finally started a systematic search to find the resources to get me there.  I found this book in a roundabout way.  I was watching William Kanengiser's excellent DVD "Classical Guitar Mastery".  In my opinion it is one of the best instructional videos I have ever seen for intermediate players.  He pays tribute at the end to Lee F. Ryan and his book "The Natural Classical Guitar"  which is also excellent but hard to find.  Ryan's book has a bibliography which made reference to Charles Duncan, and he gave this book a high recommendation..

The reason I like this book is that it deals with the finer aspects of the mechanics of playing well in great detail.  That includes right and left hand position issues and proper finger movement in relation to the strings. If you were to read the book as a beginner it would probably be too much information and it would not mean that much.  After you have struggled for a while with the instrument you can better appreciate the significance of what he is saying.  To me the section dealing with issues in shaping your nails is worth the price of the book by itself.

This is not a guitar method.  If you don't know how to play it is not going to teach you.  You need Frederick Noad or Aaron Shearer for that, but this book does a great job of filling in gaps and bringing clarity to things discussed in those guitar method books.
1182309
Wow, Mr. Prato has out done himself. This book is required reading for any guitar player,
guitar player want to be or anyone that loves guitar.  Loooking for more players to check out? Huge list.
Thecniques conversations and history.
From VH, Jeff Beck, Via, Satriani, the list of amazing idols and guitar super heros is endless.
The interviews sound like your hanging in out in your livingg room with these guys.
Tricks to get people to listen to your material, meeting people. Tons of material you may not have herd
but need to check out and information is power. My influnces have gone from Pass, Wes Montgomery, Rhodes, VH,
Stevie Ray, Rhodes, Santana and so much more.
As you read the book you'll have the tunes and riffs running through your head. I also like the mention of maintaing
a humble attitude. We all want to be better, but  when you play with more people you learn stuff, even if your playing with
somone much less experieenced you might pick up a new trick. The book covers riggs, guitars, pickups etc..
Don't miss a chance to check this book out. Bill Falvey, retired guitarest. Ahh yea right...
4068472
I play a guitar although not that skillful and professional, but I know the basics. I usually use the major chords C, G and D. This book augments my knowledge and enhances my skill. A short, direct and easy-to-understand book purposely written for all beginners and to everyone who wants to improve their skills in guitar playing. It gives a detailed theoretical discussion on how to play a guitar. It provides photos, illustrations and images for clearer presentation. If you want to know all the basics of playing the guitar, grab this book!
I recommend this book to everyone who desires to learn the skill of playing the guitar.
4161885
This book contains just about every chord known to man. The pictures and illustrations are very clear and easy to understand.
I recommend this book for guitarists of all skill levels. Even if you're a pro, you can probably learn something you didn't know from this book.
1983077
As a professional guitar teacher author Desi Serna of Fretboard Theory Vol 1 and 2 books are the best way for me to teach method and mechanics of guitar. His also recently released Picking Mechanics which is also the best instructional picking book I have seen. I use these books for students of the guitar who complete beginner sessions and start intermediate lessons. Those who can use proper fingering and fretting techniques can move to the next level fast. Both Fretboard Theory Books are great and provide a logical way to better understand and play guitar. These books use songs students want to learn to teach Guitar Theory in a clear progressive way. Its the best track for my guitar students to learn and advance. These they proven successful ever since I found Desis first book Fretboard Theory Vol 1 some years ago. His online support is awesome too
934426
I have played guitar for a few years now but I never had a lesson. Basically, I learned everything by ear and by reading guitar tab on the internet. I have read a few books on guitar chords but this one by far is the best! Despite it's plain design, this is the best guitar chord book I have read so far and it has helped me learn more about the guitar then I thought I ever would. In addition, if you buy this book do yourself a favor and also purchase the Guitar Guru Scale book...you will not regret it!
2214589
Every guitar player should own this book. It has sections describing how acoustic and electrical guitars are built; a good reference section for chords, scales, and basic musical theory relating to guitar; sections on guitar maintenance and repair; and even some on amplification and repair.
4035864
I bought this book so that I could learn how to maintain my guitar, and when I received this book I was surprised at all the information that it had on how to do what ever you need to do in order to get your guitar back into great sounding order, and how to keep it that way. I think every guitar player should have a copy of this book.
2145481
I spent 7 months working through this book and it was the best instruction I have had on any instrument.  Even if you don't particularly like the blues, get this book if you want to learn guitar.  Each day I was inspired to practice at least an hour.  I spent nearly $600 on private lessons before it and learned some, though it was slow and uneven;  what I have gotten for $14 with this book and about 300 hours of practice dwarfs what came before.  I cannot say enough about it.  I am working on More Blues You Can Use currently, and have gone about halfway through Jazzin the Blues.  Both are excellent though much more challenging, the first from a technical point of view, the second because of a much greater emphasis on music theory.
1076568
A+ Highly recommend.  As a seasoned guitarist I am most impressed with Traversing the Fretboard.  The book is logically laid out and thorough in its presentation of ideas.  Growing up, I learned much of this stuff very haphazardly.  This book puts everything in one place.  It is always fun to learn new little tricks or approaches along the way as well.
3819997
great book for guitar beginners, lots of info and basically all you need to know, linked to the youtube videos it is perfect. Erich is a great teacher for all styles of playing from rock through to country, special mention for the 70's music, Overall, a well thought out piece of literature.
3557703
Erich is a Great teacher and guitar player. i have all of his books to date and they have a wealth of  information in them.
3840087
I had my wife buy this book for me.  I started learning the guitar almost four months ago. I was and I am  using  a beginner guitar; beginner books for learning the guitar (including one that was accidently sold to me because it was intended only for those who were enrolled in the retailers classes); and free lessons on the internet.  I had my wife buy the book because none of those sources addressed how to practice.

This book does exactly that.  I learned what practice is, its many components, its cognitive reason for being done.  I started doing what is in the book and my progress learning the guitar just took off.  I refer to it all the time when I want to improve something in my practice.  When I improve that part of my practice, my progress takes off again.

To put it another way -- this book is like a stick shift transmission in a car.  It makes those other learning parts work.

Earl Buck Hack
3668318
I've been playing guitar for over 40 years. I have been teaching guitar for 15 years. This book is the best resource for The Circle of 5ths that I have ever found. Excellent book. Thank You!