The Advancing Guitarist: Applying Guitar Concepts & Techniques

by Mick Goodrick

(Reference). Veteran musician and educator Mick Goodrick presents practical information for guitarists who want to improve their playing technique and style and simply become better musicians. Rather than a step-by-step method book, the information is presented in a general essay format, discussing ways that the various techniques covered may be applied by the advancing guitarist to enhance his/her own style of playing, some of the areas discussed include: basic fingerboard mechanics * modes, scales and chords * contemporary harmony * harmonica and overtone influences * being self-critical * improvising short pieces * different playing situations.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Jazz, Theory, Reference

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1987

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Advancing Guitarist

This is a remarkable book; a book guitar player’s should have on their shelf. The Advancing Guitarist covers so much ground that it is nearly impossible to master every section in a single lifetime. Ah’ what am I talking about, who am I to tell others what they can or cannot master in their lifetime. My advise to all would be to purchase a copy of this book and lock yourself in a private, quiet room and dig in.

Some guitar players who have never studied musical notation may be turned-off by the lack of guitar tablature, which may be the only down side to this book. Even without tablature this book can be easy to follow and everyone should be able to grasp the ideas this author has offered.

A must read for guitar players.

[Ghola · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you play guitar and don't own/consult this book, you are REALLY selling yourself short. Goodrick deals more with concepts than methods...but he is brilliant at explaining those concepts in a variety of ways. I use this as a resource...I work through a concept or two, then put the book down while I "internalize" what I've learned. Easily a lifetime of work contained within.

[Geoff Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first attempted to read this nearly 30 years ago, I couldn't make any sense of it. Now, after three decades of playing guitar, I'm thrilled to report that I still don't understand most of it, though I find the author's concepts fascinating and am determined to make use of them somehow.

The book is peppered with random bits of philosophy that are every bit as intriguing and sometimes downright bizarre as the musical ideas. The writing is idiosyncratic and often oblique, two traits I generally find infuriating but enjoy in this particular case for reasons I struggle to comprehend.

This is not an easy read, nor can I say it is a particularly satisfying one. But it has challenged me in surprising ways, and I expect to revisit it periodically in the hope of gleaning something useful that I can apply to my guitar playing, life, or both.

[James Murrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is a method book for making your own method for playing guitar. I have wore out 4 copies of "The Advancing Guitarist" and, still I find something new & refreshing every time I pick the book up. It's my opinion that "The Advancing Guitarist" is the most important of all the guitar books ever written.
Thank you Mick Goodrick!!!
James Murrell
http://www.jamesmurrellgtr.com

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book requires work.

Lots of it.

Definitely not a "read" for those looking for a how-to book. It's value, as the author points out early on, is not what's on the page or how it's presented, but rather what the reader does with it. Given that the learning curve hits a solid 90 degree wall in short order, it's certainly smacks of a collection of thoughts, useful [buyer beware] exercises, and points of view that are probably best taken in moderation - and revisited with other music theory learning and practice.

It's earned a spot on my reference shelf.

[Sam Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best guitar books I have ever purchased. I will come back to this book for years to come.

[Tom]

I am not an advancing guitarist, I do not know what a guitar is

[Paul Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't a typical instructional book. Instead of a graded course, the author encourages guitarists to dip in and out of the many topics contained therein.
As the title suggests, it's not a beginner's book, but a thought-provoking set of tools to enable improvising guitarists to master their technique. There's a lifetime's worth of "lessons" in this book if it is used properly.

[Derek Mansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suppose this book is what first prompted me to ask: “how do you expect to play good music if you can’t play all the major scales?” Substitute “major scales” for any other concept in music and you’ll find it here.

Despite not using the exercises in the book much, it has still had a profound influence on how I approach music. Great to pick up and revisit a few times a year.

[James Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that I can chew on in little bits for years to come. I wish Goodrick was a bit more clear, but the open-ended nature of his writing allows for the reader to make her or his own discoveries. This is a brilliant addition to every guitarist's library.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a book you always and continuously revisit , not much of a read per se but a permanent reference book. drop 2/ drop 4 voicings doe

[Teemu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite guitar book. First time years ago I was going through it very slowly, but then after years of playing, I appreciated the content. It's applicable across all the genres.

[Andrej · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pesar de que no es un método de guitarra, el texto resultó tremendamente ilustrativo, accesible y pedagógico. Goodrick expone una serie de recomendación para que cada guitarrista desarrolle su propio proceso de aprendizaje y explica con muchísimas sencillez como distintas epistemologías de la guitarra se entrelazan. Recomendado en tanto no se espere del libro un "método"

[Michael G · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too out there for me at this point in my music studies...

[Michael Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is and has always been one of my favorite guitar books of all time!

[Leon Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Guitar wisdom for the sincere guitarist written by a sincere guitarist. I've about worn out my present volume, it's literally taped together from use. I'll have to buy a new one. This will be my 3rd copy. More than a book of knowledge, while it is certainly that. It like having mentor like mick Goodrick to reference at will.