Definitive text books

[jalapeno]

um... Mark Levine's Jazz Theory is good - but it's really a theoretical view of the history of Jazz, I like the way it follows Jazz's progression but it's not an average theory book and it has little to commend itself particularly to the guitar.

Definitely NOT a guitar book, but it is a superb dictionary of jazz music.

[jalapeno]

The original Guitar Handbook by Ralph Denyer has some great stuff in it, not the easiest to follow, more of a reference. Not sure if it is in print any more. Mickey Baker is good, but you have to take his 'trust me I'm a doctor' approach or it's useless.

There's a new Aebersold How To Play Jazz, re-edited by Corey Christiansen, just for guitarists (and unlike the other Aebersold books - has Tab).

[Lixarto]

um... Modern Chord Progressions is a great book but even that seems to illicit WTF!! comments from non-Jazz players.

*shifty look*

[frankus]

*shifty look*

it was a surprise to me and had it been anyone else I'd have doubted their sincerity

[Lixarto]

Fair enough, and thanks

[ChrisJordan]

Surely this is the definitive book on text?



Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you.

[daveyh]

Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you.

I take it you're here all week then

[daveyh]

But as I reread the OP's request, there's nothing to say he wants to learn anything from these books, simply wants a library - so yeah -these books look great in that kind of library.

I'm always going to be interested in what I can learn from the books. It's definitely a case of the more you learn the more you realise you don't know.

[frankus]

I'm always going to be interested in what I can learn from the books. It's definitely a case of the more you learn the more you realise you don't know.

With me and music theory it's definitely a case of I know more theory than I'll ever use, and the twenty or so books I am reluctant to let go of have yet more theory again.

It's all bollocks.

[daveyh]

It's all bollocks.

Only if you can't see the wood for the trees, so to speak.