Day 76. 14 Books for Improving my Guitar Performance

Spend time with family today. Searching for Guitar Books and routinely practice today. Haven’t made progress on my brand.

After re-studied Atomic Habits, I realize it’s time for me to take action and implement routine and habits principles. I started to search for guitar books for a better understanding of practice routine design (which I have wondered and struggled about for a very long time)

I have found 14 books, listed below. And I’m planning to construct my practice routine with them.

14 Books for Guitar Learning References

  1. “Guided Guitar Scale Practice Routines” by Levi Clay

this book offers a structured, insightful approach to scale practice

  1. “Atomic Habits” by James Clear

this book delves into the science of habit formation, which is critical for developing a consistent and effective practice routine

  1. “The 7 Day Practice Routine for Guitarists” by Craig Smith

The book provides a structured seven-day practice schedule that ensures balanced improvement in various aspects of guitar playing, from technique to music theory and improvisation.

  1. “Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar” by Troy Stetina

This advanced technique book is essential for guitarists looking to improve their speed and picking technique

  1. “Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Guitar” by Jan Rivera

Dive deep into the complexities of rhythm with this comprehensive guide. Covering topics such as metric modulation, ratio polyrhythms, and complex syncopations, this book challenges your understanding of rhythm and timing.

It is ideal for those interested in progressive music styles and advanced rhythmic theory.

  1. “Creative Guitar 1: Cutting-Edge Techniques” by Guthrie Govan

This book offers innovative techniques and insights from one of the most respected modern guitarists.

  1. “The Advancing Guitarist” by Mick Goodrick

This book is a treasure trove of advanced guitar techniques, theory, and practical advice. It covers topics such as efficiency in playing, understanding chord progressions, and improvisation. Mick Goodrick’s unique teaching style encourages deep learning and continuous improvement.

  1. “Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask” by Tom Kolb

This comprehensive guide demystifies music theory for guitarists. It includes detailed explanations of chords, scales, diatonic harmony, and rhythm. The book features quizzes and worksheets to reinforce your learning, making it a practical tool for mastering music theory.

  1. Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within by Kenny Werner

“Effortless Mastery” focuses on the mental and spiritual aspects of being a musician. Kenny Werner shares his personal journey and provides exercises to help musicians overcome mental barriers, achieve a state of relaxed concentration, and find true joy in playing. The book emphasizes improvisation and self-expression, guiding readers to connect deeply with their music.
(“Effortless Mastery” is primarily concerned with the mental and emotional barriers musicians face.)

  1. The Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer

Focus: Comprehensive guide on guitar playing, covering basics to advanced techniques, equipment, and history.

Strengths: Practical advice on playing techniques, maintenance, and theoretical knowledge. Ideal for building a solid foundation and enhancing technical skills.

  1. Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo

Focus: Philosophical approach to playing guitar, integrating mindfulness and Zen principles.

Strengths: Encourages a holistic approach to learning and playing the guitar, focusing on the mental and spiritual journey similar to “Effortless Mastery” but tailored specifically for guitarists.

12. “Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony” Author: Bert Ligon Genre: Jazz Guitar Instruction

This book offers a comprehensive guide to mastering the linear harmony technique. It explains how to connect chords using linear movements, which is a crucial skill for jazz guitarists. The book provides detailed exercises and examples, making complex harmonic concepts accessible and practical for everyday practice.

Why This Book Fits Your Needs:

Jazz-Specific Focus: Unlike more general guitar practice books, “Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony” is dedicated to jazz. It addresses the unique challenges and techniques that jazz guitarists need to master.

Comprehensive Harmonic Understanding: The book delves into the intricacies of jazz harmony, teaching you how to move smoothly between chords, an essential skill for improvisation and soloing in jazz.

Practical Exercises: It includes numerous exercises that help you apply theoretical concepts to your playing, ensuring that you develop both your technical skills and musical understanding simultaneously.

Foundation for Improvisation: By learning to connect chords linearly, you’ll build a strong foundation for improvisation, allowing you to create more fluid and coherent solos.

  1. Jazz Guitar Soloing: The Cellular Approach” Author: Randy Vincent Genre: Jazz Guitar Instruction

This book teaches you to break down solos into smaller, manageable “cells” that can be used interchangeably. It’s a unique approach that simplifies complex solos and helps you integrate these pieces seamlessly into your playing.

Why This Book Fits Your Needs:

Innovative Approach: Randy Vincent’s method of using “cells” makes soloing more approachable and less overwhelming.

Practical Application: The book provides practical exercises to apply these concepts directly to your playing.

Enhances Creativity: By understanding and using smaller musical units, you can become more creative and spontaneous in your solos.

14. Chords for Jazz Guitar: The Complete Guide to Comping, Chord Melody and Chord Soloing

This book provides a thorough exploration of jazz chords, covering essential topics such as voicings, progressions, jazz chord theory, comping, chord melody, chord soloing, and voice leading. It includes 98 full-band demo tracks accessible online, which feature a multi-functional audio player allowing users to slow down tracks without changing the pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or right​

Little Tweak on the website

I have created a shop page today. which will be the hub of my future services. I’m thinking of having some side hustle in LA. start with basic string changing to help my classmate with their guitar. will bring some revenue for me, before the brand get running.

What I’ve Done Today

  1. Guitar Practice
    • ✔️ Basic Training (1hr) – Transcribing Stella by Starlight
    • ✔️ Basic Training 2 (1hr) – Arpeggio over Songs: Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, All of Me.
    • ✔️ Guitar Learning and Theories (1hr): Searching for books and making plans with ChatGPT.
    • ✔️ Orchestra Practice (1hr)
  2. Brand Building
    • ✔️ Writing and making progress in HeptaBase
    • ✔️ Create Shop Page
    • ✔️ Research and learning: Korg Volca FM2
    • ❌ Make Tunes
  3. Brand Marketing
    • ✔️ Writing Blog
    • ❌ Post a couple of threads of content, including book content and music content.
  4. Life Chores
    • ❌ Admission works: Scholarships
    • ❌ Selling and posting second-hand stuff.

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