Music Theory for Guitarists: Comprehensive Guitar Chord and Scales Guitar Book | 94 Online Audio Tracks for Guitar Learning | Beginner to Advanced ... by Tom Kolb (Hal Leonard Guitar Method)

Learning to play an instrument, write and produce music was a dream for a very long time. Hal Leonard's books are making my dream a reality.I have four books published by Hal Leonard, they are Song Writing Method, Brazilian Guitar, Finger Picking, and Music Theory. The publications are well laid out, easy to follow, and fun. Thank Hal Leonard, there is light at the end of this long tunnel; because of your publications, my first CD of 10 songs will be a reality. - they are really well-written, easy to follow, and make playing my guitar fun.I tried several other publications, which also included video and audio clips, but none worked as well as Hal Leonard's publications.

This is an excellent overview of music theory for guitarists: concise, comprehensive, lucid, and precise. I started it after having read only one book and a few articles in music theory. It was too advanced for that level of knowledge. It presupposed fairly advanced hands-on guitar skills and familiarity with basic concepts in music theory. It also required rudimentary skills in reading music. I left it aside and instead took a book-length course in music theory for all instruments from EarMaster (an online ear training program) while also reading other works in music theory. When I went back to Kolb's book months later, it was just right for me. The concepts are efficiently described and illustrated by abundant audio illustrations. There are judicious quizzes for each section. It's a relatively short book, but there is no waste anywhere in it. I can imagine it being valuable even for people who are already familiar with most of the concepts in it but could benefit from a refresher course that reinforces the underlying musical logic among those concepts.

I'm an intermediate beginner, or beginner intermediate, somewhere between them. This book seems well written so far Into 3 chapters.However:This book will not read on Kindle Cloud!Also the Audio files link's in the book will not open in my Lenovo Android Tablet with Android 8!I'm starting to get frustrated with some of the content on Kindle, there is often a problem, either these, or a book will have horrible grammar or many errors.This book doesn't appear to have many errors and it is well written, so why did they ruin it with blocking the cloud reader and blocking the audio files. I want my money's worth!i would recommend this book because even though it starts off with a fast pace and learning curve as far as the quizzes, you will learn things that other books overlook. He gets right to the point without a lot of verbal nonsense, but it is a pleasant read.I have no ding on the book, but Amazon please fix those two problems! I have to use the cloud because I practice in front of my tower computer and not being able to listen to the audio files is irritating.Also, please note that I have to use the cloud reader, I cannot use the PC App because I don't use that virus infested, buggy, unstable, update when you don't want to, OS called Windows. I use Linux only, and have done so for 3 and a half years now. Amazon needs to support Linux! And the writer should insist on making the sound files available to all people.I'm changing this to 4 stars rather than 3 because it might not be the fault of the writer that it cannot be read on the cloud reader. I am VERY disappointed about that. Not everyone has a tablet or uses a tablet when studying music, I NEED TO USE MY COMPUTER!!!The book deserves 5 stars but hasn't earned it because, despite you paying for it, you aren't given it except on certain systems. Fix this!!!

I tried to understand this book even look at youtube and google referenxe but just couldn’t really relate to to. Google search and youtube vids are better. I you pianist savvy perhaps this is the book for you. Maybe not just for me.

I love this book by Tom Kolb. It is 104 pages jam-packed with the most important elements of music theory for guitar, including chord construction, chord progressions, and scale patterns for any key. I would recommend that EVERY guitar player study this book after completing six to twelve months of beginner guitar lessons. Knowing what is in this book can help you become a real musician.This is not an instruction book for the absolute beginner. The beginning student will (I think) require considerably more explanation. However, for any level of guitar player, this would be a great reference to use when taking lessons with a music teacher. If you already play another musical instrument, then go ahead and jump into Tom Kolb's book immediately - - - it will probably be the quickest method to transfer your existing knowledge to guitar.If you are trying to teach yourself, then you will benefit by studying the basics of music theory before you use this book. I recommend  The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition . After you finish a basic music theory book, then you should have not have any problems following the Tom Kolb Music Theory book.The book is very well organized and the content is presented effectively. While a music staff is consistently used throughout the book, neck diagrams or tab representations are also used to represent notes and chords. Therefore, even if you cannot read sheet music, you can use this book.Features I particularly appreciate include:- Pattern training neck diagrams for the following: (1) major scales; (2) minor scales; (3) minor pentatonic scale; (4) major pentatonic scale; (5) modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian); and (6) arpeggios.- Single-page tables for the following: (1) formulas (notes) for 39 chords types; (2) chords for each of the twelve major keys; (3) chords for each of the twelve minor keys; (4) minor seventh chords for each of the twelve minor keys.- Quizzes with answers in the back of the book.Believe me, this book is worth the price just to have a concise reference with the neck diagrams and the tables listed above.The book includes the Circle of Fifths (which is great); but it should do a better job explaining to the new guitarist how to APPLY the Circle of Fifths to one's guitar playing.Table of Contents: The Fretboard; Theory Basics; Scales and Key Signatures; Intervals; Triads; Harmonizing the Major Scale; Chord Construction; Harmonizing the Minor Scale; Determining Key Centers; Blues Harmony and Pentatonic Scales; Modes and Modal Harmony; Other Scales and Modes, Chord/Scale Relationships, Arpeggios; Chord Substitution and Reharmonization.I wish they would sell this book without the CD (with ear training and demonstration tracks). According the back jacket of the book, the book by itself is only 40 percent of the cost of the package. There is one great feature of the audio CD: the guitar part is balanced hard-right, so if you adjust the balance entirely to the left the guitar part is eliminated, allowing you to play the guitar part yourself.

Seems like a good book. I'm learning from it. But there are several typos and other errors that I have noticed during the 30 mins I have spent reading so far. Seems like nobody took the time to check over it after it was written. It makes me wonder whether there are mistakes I'm not even realising are mistakes. Still plenty of useful stuff in here though.I wouldn't imagine someone who has never learnt music before would find this a good starting place, but it is a good refresher and is also helping me build on previous knowledge

No CD as stated in the listing. Links to websites out of date. Customer service didn't have a clue. As the book references go to the CD on every page, it's just scrap paper. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY, MOVE ON

What a fantastic book! If you are a guitarist looking to learn music theory to develop as a musician, if you want to understand how scales and chords work and are put together, then this book is for you.Very simple and clear explanations covering most areas. This book - as the title suggests - is really for novices in music theory.Of course, you can play guitar for years and years (as i did) without any music theory at all, simply a knowledge of chords in a key and a few scales. However, when you want to more fully appreciate the depth and complexity of the musical world, this marvellous book makes for a very good first stepping stone on your path!

This book arrived speedy to my door. I have been looking at theory with my guitar instructor and was looking for a book to supplement my lessons. This book is brilliant it is easy to follow and with lots of useful exercises. I took the book to my instructor who gave it a thumbs up and we now align my lessons with the book. I put the cd on and practice along to it. It is really helping me.

Generally excellent and well laid out. It's more than just theory, with plenty of physical exercises to compliment the mental tasks. The only disappointment was the scales section. I'd have liked greater clarity and exercises in linking of the scale patterns.