- Book author
- James Shipway
Volume 1 in the 'Music Theory for Guitarists' series: Unlock essential guitar theory to boost your ability and confidence as a guitarist.
Easy language. Music reading not required. Includes free downloadable audio!
Inside the 12 chapters of this guitar theory book you’ll learn about intervals, triads, major and minor keys, chord sequences - and understand how to apply them to your playing, improvising and songwriting. I’ll use diagrams and simple, non-intimidating language to teach you in minutes, things which confuse some guitarists for years.
This guitar music theory book is for you if:
- You want to boost your music theory knowledge so you can become the guitar player you really want to be
- You’re a singer-songwriter who needs to learn about chords, keys and chord progressions in order to write great songs (like you hear on recordings!)
- You want to learn music theory but are unsure where to start
- You’re a student who needs a crash course in music theory essentials to prepare for college auditions, entrance exams etc
- You’re a beginner who wants to easily learn how music works as you take your first steps in learning to play guitar so you can avoid confusion, improve faster and learn more easily
- You feel confused and intimidated by the ‘jargon’ you hear other musicians or YouTube teachers use
- You ‘kind of’ understand theory… but you’re not really sure how well!
What will this book teach you about?
In the 12 lessons you’ll find super clear explanations, practical examples and quiz questions on:
- The Musical Alphabet - the only 12 notes used in all music!
- Tones and Semitones
- The Major Scale - learn what it actually is
- Major and Minor Triads - as used in most pop, country, rock and folk music
- Major Scale Intervals - major 3rds, perfect 4ths...what are they?
- Chromatic Intervals - discover what weird names like diminished and augmented really mean
- Major Keys - parts 1 & 2
- Chord Progressions - start writing pro-sounding chord sequences and songs of your own
- Pentatonic Scales - the most common guitar scales ever…
- The Natural Minor Scale - essential for minor key soloing in rock, pop and other styles
- Minor Key Basics - learn the secrets of awesome minor key songs and chord sequences
How will you learn and remember all this? Easy!
Each chapter introduces a new element of guitar theory. You get a clear but detailed explanation of the concept and multiple examples/practical exercises, FAQs and more to drive your understanding home. Test yourself using the quiz questions at the end of each chapter (answers supplied). To help you play certain practical examples there is also an appendix of common open chord shapes and barre chords at the back of the book. Plus, every chapter is also available to you (free) as an audio file so you can immerse yourself in guitar theory whilst at the gym or walking the dog! You'll find details for these in the book.
You Can Do This … and without all the bull!
I’ve taught the material in this book to thousands of musicians around the world both in person and via my website, and I can tell you this: Learning about music theory doesn’t need to be scary, confusing, difficult or something that you avoid doing because you don’t know where to start.
It's time to become the guitar player you know you could be!
Introduction
Hello, James here and welcome to the first book in my Music Theory for Guitarists series!
This series is designed to give you all the essential music theory knowledge guitarists need to know.
Back when I was a self-taught 18 year old guitar player struggling to make sense of everything, I thought that actually understanding the music you played was for some sort of ‘elite breed’ of musician.
These guys and girls seemed to speak a different language, a language which I felt I’d never be able to understand.
You see, unlike them I hadn’t done the courses and exams, I didn’t have any music qualifications and I’d never had music lessons. I just liked playing the guitar.
And when anyone talked about intervals, triads, keys, modes, the circle of fifths, modulation, or anything else like that, I’d feel uneasy, inferior and confused.
I felt like these musicians were somehow ‘special’. I felt like they were different to me.
What was I thinking?!
They weren’t, they’d simply had someone explain everything to them in an easy way that made sense.
As for me, I’d been struggling with a bunch of misleading books full of big confusing words and learning all the wrong stuff in the wrong order!
No wonder I felt lost…
I wrote this series of three theory books so that no guitarist needs to feel the same way I did.
I’ve taught the material in these books to thousands of musicians around the world both in person and via my website and I’m here to tell you this: learning about music theory doesn’t need to be scary, difficult or confusing. Anyone can learn to understand the music they play.
With these bite-sized chapters telling you what you need to know and without all the badly explained and confusing words and language, you can learn and understand in minutes, things which confuse most guitar players for years!
Once you grasp the simple concepts I show you here, you’ll find everything in the music you play makes much more sense. You’ll also discover new possibilities in your playing and composing and you’ll be able to understand and communicate with other musicians much more easily.
I don’t know about you, but I think things are so much more enjoyable when you understand them and can see exactly what’s going on!
