10 Best Books on Guitar Theory and Teaching Yourself Guitar
When it comes to the best books on guitar theory, there are many to choose from. There may be too many guitar-playing books; some aren’t as useful as others. Others might be useful for different reasons (like skill levels)
Each book in this article will focus on different aspects of guitar theory. You’ll find guitar books tailored for beginners, self-taught players, and experienced guitarists when you read below.
Summary of the best guitar theory & learning books
1. Music Theory for Guitarists
- Tablature: Yes
- 104 pages
- Size: 12″ x 9″
- Author: “Tom Kolb”
- ISBN: 063406651X
The Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask is a book meant for all levels of guitarists.
Developed by the Hal Leonard Music Corporation, this 106-page book allows one to dive deep into the basics of guitar theories to the advanced ones and apply other musical theories to the guitars themselves.
Though released in 2005, the theories and fundamentals of guitar learning apply the same today. One may see this book as a staple in their collection of books about music theory.
Some notable features included with Music Theory for Guitarists are 94 track samples, scales, chords, and more for audible learners. Diagrams in the booklet are also created with a beginner guitarist in mind, making them readable and understandable.
2. Teach Yourself to Play Guitar
- Includes Guitar TAB
- 48 pages
- Size: 12″ x 9″
- Author: David M. Brewster
- ISBN: 634065408
With a focus on individuals with no musical background, this book is an excellent choice for beginners.
Teach Yourself to Play Guitar: A Quick and Easy Introduction for Beginners provides the basics of guitar theories with additional theories from piano and violin.
This book teaches basic scaling, guitar chords, power chords, and others. You’ll also learn more about the components of the guitar, such as the head, neck, and body.
Examples of song excerpts are also provided for practicing the mentioned scales and notes. With enough practice, you might be able to entertain a crowd or your family.
Everything written within the Teach Yourself to Play Guitar book is simple, clear, and concise. It minimizes text to allow the reader to grasp the content quickly.
The purpose of this book is to provide a foundation for those who wish to learn more about guitar theories.
This 2004 guitar booklet by David Brewster provides an amazing introduction to anyone’s musical journey.
3. The Circle of Fifths for Guitarists
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Alexander, Joseph (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 102 Pages – 10/18/2016 (Publication Date) – www.fundamental-changes.com (Publisher)
Once one finishes more beginner-focused books, this book is an excellent next step as it dives further into the basics. In a way, this is considered a slightly advanced book.
The Circle of Fifths of Guitarists: Learn and Apply Music Theory for Guitar assumes the reader knows the circle of fifths. The circle of fifths is a visual knowledge of the 12 pitches of music. This knowledge will significantly enhance learning for some who want deeper into music.
Most of the book’s purpose is to allow the reader with this knowledge to apply it to common musical situations. It also encourages the reader to experiment and be creative with their music, promoting real-life musical applications.
Though advanced, it remains a type of book for any aspiring guitarist.
4. Guitar Aerobics
- Once-per-day exercises cover:Alternate pickingArpeggiosSweep pickingString skippingLegatoString bendingRhythm guitar
- Troy Nelson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages – 12/01/2007 (Publication Date) – Hal Leonard (Publisher)
Published in 2007, Guitar Aerobics is a 52-week course for beginners, teaching fundamentals and how to apply them daily.
Though it states that one can “master” the guitar within 52 weeks, it will require much more. The 52 weeks signify when basic guitar knowledge and practice will be perfected. Further exploring other books will be necessary, as Guitar Aerobics will not cover advanced-level materials.
However, it provides plenty of materials to practice within those 52 weeks. Items include 365 exercises for licks, audio samples, and eight metronome settings for diverse styles to practice and play from.
As the name suggests, Guitar Aerobics is designed to condition the fingers to move around the guitar effectively. One may also see it as a way to develop endurance while playing. This is perhaps why the author, Troy Nelson, recommends following the 52 weeks strictly.
5. The Practical Guide to Modern Music Theory for Guitarists
- Alexander, Mr Joseph (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages – 11/20/2014 (Publication Date) – www.fundamental-changes.com (Publisher)
The Practical Guide to Modern Music Theory for Guitarists proposes that its focus is to get the reader to play the guitar and minimize boring information.
It tackles the necessities and importance of guitar theories. However, it does it in a way that makes it fun for the reader by actively getting them to practice during these segments. The reader spends more time on the guitar than reading the book.
Lessons from this book include constructing minor and major scales, forming guitar modes, and writing chord progressions.
Despite being considered a beginner’s book, all levels of guitar players can benefit from it.
6. The Guitar Handbook
- Alfred Publishing Co. Model#00330105
- Denyer, Ralph (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages – 10/20/1992 (Publication Date) – Knopf (Publisher)
The Guitar Handbook, a book by Ralph Denyer, is one that any beginner and experienced guitar player should consider. It’s an excellent book for any self-taught guitarist, as it contains the most comprehensive materials on this list.
It takes the spot for being the oldest book on this list, first published in 1992. The listed version on Amazon is a remastered version that enhances the color and expands on the previous materials presented.
This isn’t just a book for guitar playing and about guitars themselves.
Some significant book highlights are the guitar’s history, development, and the music hypothesis. It contains more technical detail and history than most on this list, making it an interesting read.
Though not a dedicated guide to playing the guitar, it does provide much-needed information that many other books fail to acknowledge.
7. Guitar Fretboard Workbook
- Pages: 82
- Instrumentation: Guitar
- Hal Leonard Corp
- Category Type : Music
- Author : Barrett Tagliarino
With a strong emphasis on the fretboard located on the neck of the guitar, the Guitar Fretboard Workbook is an excellent choice for those wanting to familiarize themselves with the fretboard.
The book includes strumming techniques, but that’s not its make focus. It assumes the user has comfortable knowledge and practice in strumming and quickly moves on to the fretboard.
Tailored for any level guitarist, Guitar Fretboard Workbook is a hands-on experience when learning about chords, keys, and scales. Both acoustic and electric guitars are included for maximum accessibility.
This specialized book should be a staple for any guitarist.
8. Guitar Fretboard: Memorize The Fretboard in Less Than 24 Hours
- Head, Guitar (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 78 Pages – 05/13/2018 (Publication Date) – CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
Staying with fretboards, Guitar Fretboard: Memorize the Fretboard in Less Than 24 Hours understands that using the fretboard isn’t all about creating patterns. However, it’s about understanding how different components of a fretboard allow the user to unlock opportunities.
Opportunities such as better chord transitions, songwriting, and improvisation will enhance basic knowledge of guitar theory.
Again, much like The Guitar Fretboard Workbook, this book emphasizes the fretboard primarily, only including other components of guitar theory when applicable.
This book intends to teach the reader how to memorize the fretboard. Without visual assistance, one must know when and where to play on the fretboard—in other words, playing like a proper guitarist.
9. Guitar Theory For Dummies
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Serna, Desi (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages – 10/14/2013 (Publication Date) – For Dummies (Publisher)
Coming from one of the most reputable brands, Guitar Theory for Dummies is a classic.
Though not as complex as some other books on this list, the Dummies‘ brand is meant to provide comprehensive information in an understandable format.
There are two versions of Guitar Theory for Dummies, and as you would’ve guessed, we recommend the latest one, published in 2021 instead of 2013.
This book could be compared to The Guitar Handbook mentioned previously as it doesn’t follow a traditional lesson-by-lesson format but provides a comprehensive overview of the guitar’s history.
The book operates in a way that can easily be tailored to musical and nonmusical individuals.
Adding to the comprehensive overview of the guitar, the book also features the fundamentals of how keys, chords, and scales work together; and digital music samples that display various elements of guitar theory.
10. No Bull Music Theory For Guitarists
- Shipway, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 107 Pages – 03/25/2019 (Publication Date) – Headstock Books (Publisher)
No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists: Master the Essential Knowledge All Guitarists Need to Know by James Shipway provides everything beginner guitarists need to succeed in their musical journey.
The book is straightforward and proposes that one will learn the basics of guitar theory within 12 lessons.
These lessons include understanding major and minor chords, chromatic intervals, and how tones and semitones work.
Tailored to any level of guitar playing, it provides a crash course in guitar theory, a solution for singers and songwriters needing to understand chord progression or those who want to reduce unnecessary “jargons” other guitar theory books use.
11. Guitar Theory: Straight Talking Music Theory
- Nichols, Lee (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 116 Pages – 12/11/2018 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
For a book designed for beginners, Guitar Theory: Straight Talking Music Theory for Guitarists by Lee Nichols is one of the best options for any new aspiring guitarist.
A beginner will benefit greatly from this book as it focuses on conditioning the reader to know notes, melodies, and other fundamental guitar theories.
This book is an excellent solution for newcomers overwhelmed by other guitar theory books that shove advanced terminology with no context.
Guitar Theory: Straight Talking Music Theory does justice in reducing unnecessary and hard-to-understand jargon, allowing the reader to familiarize themselves with guitar theory and start playing quickly.
Though diagrams are helpful for visual learners, this book doesn’t need to utilize diagrams much to teach the reader. Yes, charts are present, but not as much as other guitar theory books. It respects the reader’s knowledge to learn quickly and efficiently.
Wrap up
Guitar theory books come in two forms: those that focus on history and those that focus on teaching. You’ll find that this list includes both, with some combining history and teaching into an interesting read. Check out the list above and pick a guitar theory book based on your needs.
