Back in the 90s, YouTube channels were the best guitar books. A good reference or instructional book could hold years of knowledge of more than hundreds of pages. But it would still be less expensive compared to a single private guitar lesson.
If you want to be Misha Mansoor or Frank Zappa, you will have to begin from a strong foundation. And it would have to start from the basics, and you gradually move to the up. Guitar books can be an excellent instructional or reference resource to help you achieve that goal.
With that said, let’s look at the best guitar books you should get your hands on.
1. Teach Yourself to Play Guitar
This book is the best-selling learn guitar book on Amazon.com, and it does not come with a CD or any multimedia supplements. It is a short book of only 47 pages, and it covers the primary basics of what you need to learn to start playing your guitar.
Another way to describe the book is it does what it said it would do. The book gives you an introduction to the guitar. It focuses on complete beginners with no prior experience and ends at the beginner level. If you want complex theoretical lessons, you will not find them.
The book also comes with numerous diagrams, which is very helpful.
2. Guitar for Dummies by Mark Phillips and Jon Chappell
Guitar for Dummies is the 4th edition released in 2016. It has almost 400 pages that will surely give you the skills you need to light your guitar aflame! When they published this new edition, they removed the DVD which the previous edition had. Instead, they included audio clips and online videos as an addition to the book.
However, it was not excessive, though: 85 videos and 95 audio tracks. You cannot learn music by reading the book only, so it is a step in the right direction. The book is not meant for only beginners like the previous book discussed above. It has numerous information suitable for intermediate guitarists.
3. Hal Leonard Guitar Method by Will Schmid and Greg Koch
This book may be the most famous of all the guitar learning books. The Hal Leonard guitar book is a three-part book, each with about 50 pages, with three supplemental CDs to refer to during lessons. It is pleasant and straightforward to read, but it can be boring in some portions.
The book has an extensive amount of sheet music that helps you practice what you have been taught in the previous chapters.
Conclusion
A good guitar should be straightforward, clear, and easy to follow. An experienced guitar instructor should meticulously structure it. Before you buy your guitar book, you need to know the level of music. That way, you will not purchase a book that is too hard or easy for you.
One more thing to consider is the price. You do not have to spend much on guitar books as the cost ranges between $10-$25. However, maybe you need to buy numerous guitar books for your professional career. No matter. You can sell your guitar books online and get some of your money back after completing the book.