The Intentional Guitarist is two books in one. The first half contains a detailed discussion of music theory, especially for guitarists. The second half contains eight original compositions for solo fingerpicking guitar. It contains tablature, fretboard diagrams, standard music notation, performance techniques, harmonic analysis, and a separate chord chart for each tune. More information can be found at AcousticTruth.com

The New Art of Ragtime Guitar features eight original compositions in the solo guitar ragtime style. The tunes are catchy and well thought out. The explanations of technique are clear and thorough. MP3 files of the compositions are freely available at www.acousticTruth.com. In addition, many performances of the compositions may be enjoyed on youtube. This second edition features a larger 8 1/2 by 11 format which makes for easier reading. Several errors in the previous version have been corrected.

The Unorthodox Guitar: A Guide to Alternative Performance Practice is a comprehensive resource for experimentally minded guitarists and composers wishing to write for or perform on the instrument in new ways. The book focuses primarily on unconventional approaches to guitar performance, which include alternative tunings, extended techniques, instrumental preparations, electronic augmentations, and issues related to performing and recording with a computer. Embracing all guitar types-nylon, steel-string acoustic, and electric-techniques and examples are culled from a broad range of musical genres, including blues, contemporary classical, country, folk, jazz, rock, and non-Western idioms. While the writing offers a treasure trove of possibilities for experimental improvisation, it is oriented towards formal composition, and to that end details the controllable dimensions of the techniques and preparations at hand, along with strategies that might be adopted to notate them. Conventional guitar amplifiers, effect pedals, and pedalboards are examined, along with a discussion of analog signal chains, rig design, and best practices for the preservation of tone. In addition, possibilities afforded by the addition of a computer to the guitar rig are explored, including signal processing, sensor augmentation, and score following. The writing is paired with a companion website that contains an abundance of audio, video, and software materials to supplement the ideas presented. This information is intended to serve as a guide, reference, and source of inspiration for those wishing to compose and/or perform on the instrument in innovative ways.

In A GUITARIST’S GRIMOIRE: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF CREATING A MUSICAL DIARY TO MASTER GUITAR COMPOSITION, the renowned publisher University Scholastic Press delves into the profound art of musical diary-keeping, transforming it into a powerful tool for guitarists. This comprehensive 333-page book, structured across key chapters, and fully indexed, serves as an authoritative blueprint to unleash the full potential of your musical creativity. Embark on a journey of self-discovery as the book guides you through the meticulous process of Creating a Musical Diary, establishing a foundation for your artistic expressions. With a focus on Approaches and Best Practices For Your Musical Diary, you'll uncover the methods and techniques to hone your craft and elevate your guitar composition skills. Delve into the heart of your creativity with insights into crafting Your Musical Diary Entries, where the book provides a roadmap for translating emotions and experiences into musical expressions. Sources of Inspiration and Ideas explores the myriad channels that feed your creativity, ensuring a constant flow of innovative concepts. A Guitarist’s Grimoire goes beyond the audible, encouraging you to explore the depths of your subconscious by Documenting Dreams and Aspirations. The book emphasizes the importance of integrating Visual Elements into your musical diary, turning it into a rich tapestry of inspiration and a feast for the senses. Discover the invaluable role of your musical diary as a wellspring for composition in the final chapter, Using the Diary as a Source for Your Composition. Learn how to harness the raw material within your diary entries to create captivating and unique guitar compositions that resonate with your personal narrative. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist seeking new avenues of expression or a novice eager to embark on a transformative musical journey, A Guitarist’s Grimoire is the authoritative guide that unlocks the secrets to masterful guitar composition through the artful curation of your own musical diary.

A concise booklet which presents a complete practicing methodology for guitarists. Topics discussed include the concepts of inner and outer poise, issues affecting practice, visualization and much more.

The Recording Guitarist explores the world of recording the guitar, covering everything from selecting guitars and amps to employing effects and mastering recording techniques in a variety of recording environments - from the modest home studio to a professional facility outfitted with pro-quality gear and a staff of engineers. Offering valuable insights and tips for the novice or professional, The Recording Guitarist thoroughly examines guitars (electric and acoustic) and amps used in the studio, and explains how to select among them to achieve the desired sound. The signal chain is explained, and signal processors (effects) are analyzed according to type, placement in the signal chain, and contribution to the overall mix. In addition to helping readers create a "total guitar sound" for the studio, the book also tackles recording equipment, techniques, and formats. Also included is advice from recording industry pros such as Carl Verheyen, Al Di Meola, Alex Lifeson, and Phil Ramone. A special feature is a section called Dial a Sound - an illustrated guide to the setups and recording rigs of 14 guitar greats, including Eric Johnson, Dimebag Darrell, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and others. Discusses: * Electric and acoustic guitars and their unique tones * Recording hardware and software * Effects and how to use them * Monitors * Overdubbing * Mixing

Many of us want to decrypt the instrument and unleash our play, but the study of music, particularly guitar, is fraught with complex theorems and diagrams, rote memorization, arcane reference points, and archaic devices. Most guitar books are a rehash of tools invented centuries ago that turn the process into a slog. It's time for a new language. Meet SIGIL—the new language of guitar. Guitarists who want to improvise and compose, from novice to advanced, will find SIGIL, the guitar decoder ring, which is simple enough to keep in their heads, an accelerator for their progress. Music instructors will gain a refreshing new perspective on the fretboard. The guitar must be freed from the medieval conventions of the orchestra pit and conductor and unshackled from other instruments, like the piano, so guitar players can easily chart their own course. You will not find chord charts, scale patterns, mode charts, wheel of 5ths diagrams, or similar traditional devices in The Guitar Decoder Ring. This is an entirely new and portable language for the instrument that works everywhere, all the time, and does all of it faster and more simply. Most of what's occurring in guitar instruction is not new. There's been very little innovation in almost 600 years (guitar tablature) — 240 if you count the first 6-string. It's time. Be skeptical—it's fine. This book will equip you with a simple, portable, 5-letter alphabet and show you how to use it in every category of learning and progress to tear up the wall charts. Advanced players will speed more interesting solos and compositions. Instructors will have a gold-standard go-to book for equipping learners at EVERY level. The authors are a seasoned musician and thriving guitar instructor, Barry Gilman, and a relatively new musician, Asher Black, with a relevant background in logic, reasoning, history, and storytelling. The book is readable, humorous, and insightful and walks the reader through the toolset with eye-opening examples. This is guitar study re-engineered. Break through your lull or stall and free your play from the pit of worn habit.