Harmony on Guitar

[rapidExpansion]

Hello everyone!

Does anyone here have a recommendation for a books that deals with practical harmony on guitar?
My Piano skills are way below my guitar experience, but i always find it easier to analyse pieces as i play them on a piano ( well obviously because the intervals are too easy to recognize). I could certainly use some advice on how to connect my theoretical knowledge to my guitar playing.


Thanks.

[RobMacKillop]

I remember thinking John Duarte's book on the subject was quite useful, and I'm amazed to see it is still in print:

http://www.*** Commercial link removed ***/Melody-Harmony- ... guitarists

[RobMacKillop]

Ah, commercial link removed. It is called Melody & Harmony for Guitarists, by John Duarte. You can search for it.

[2handband]

If your understanding of harmony is already thorough you shouldn't need to spend $$$ on a book. Harmony is harmony regardless of the instrument. What exactly is tripping you up?

[sxedio]

I remember thinking John Duarte's book on the subject was quite useful, and I'm amazed to see it is still in print:

http://www.*** Commercial link removed ***/Melody-Harmony-Guitarists-John-Duarte/dp/0786676884/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439668200&sr=8-1&keywords=Harmony+for+guitarists

Yes, it's one of those that was popular enough to be picked up by a big american non classical focused publisher.

[Polifemo de Oro]

Have a look at the series, by Andrew York, entitled: Jazz Guitar for Classical Cats (Chords/Melody; Harmony; Improvisation). This is an excellent series.

[edcat7]

Have a look at the series, by Andrew York, entitled: Jazz Guitar for Classical Cats (Chords/Melody; Harmony; Improvisation). This is an excellent series.

Good to see you back Poli. Can you tell us more about this book? At what level is it aimed at? My teacher knows I wish to branch out into Bossa Nova and since Bossa nova is a type of jazz I thought we might find this useful?

[Larry McDonald]

I wrote a book called Introduction to Harmony for Guitar with TAB. It covers scales, intervals and chords. It's for the studio guitarist who needs an intro to this stuff. It's published by the largest guitar publisher in the world (no commercial links, right?) gut you can google it. You can also see it on my website.

Lare

[Polifemo de Oro]

Have a look at the series, by Andrew York, entitled: Jazz Guitar for Classical Cats (Chords/Melody; Harmony; Improvisation). This is an excellent series.

Good to see you back Poli. Can you tell us more about this book? At what level is it aimed at? My teacher knows I wish to branch out into Bossa Nova and since Bossa nova is a type of jazz I thought we might find this useful?

York's three books presuppose a basic understanding of music theory; but beyond that they seek to expand the average classical guitarist's harmonic vocabulary, if you will, to include the use of chords more commonly associated with the Jazz idiom (e.g. 6ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths). He does not really speak to Bossa Nova specifically, though. Nevertheless, they are a useful resource.

[Ray]

My teacher knows I wish to branch out into Bossa Nova and since Bossa nova is a type of jazz I thought we might find this useful?

A good book for you would be "The Brazilian Guitar Book - Samba, Bossa Nova and other Brazilian Styles" by Nelson Faria published by Sher Music - comes with A CD. It's not just bossa-nova but other syncopated styles as well but it is a book and the CD has excellent playing examples so that's very helpful.

If you really want to learn bossa nova the best way to do it by watching and listening to the greats play it - I would start with the records of Antonio Carlos Jobim, a good one is Wave. Then all the classic records with saxophonist Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto who plays an accompaniment style of sophisticated chords in a light clave type rhythm(s) - very hard to master! Joao Gilberto also has a bunch of his own records that are considered the bible of bossa-nova guitar playing.

Other bossa nova guitarists include Luiz Bonfa, Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida. I would start with Joao Gilberto, he's the innovator and father of the style along with composers Jobim and Bonfa. You need to become familiar with the chords and voicings they use, you can buy a fake book with lead sheets of famous bossa tunes and learn the chord progressions from there with your teacher's help.

Regards, Ray

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Thanks everyone for the replies.
I will look into the books, i thin John Duarte's book will be more interesting. From that i've learned in the reviewers, York's book seems to be too simple.

[edcat7]

My teacher knows I wish to branch out into Bossa Nova and since Bossa nova is a type of jazz I thought we might find this useful?

A good book for you would be "The Brazilian Guitar Book - Samba, Bossa Nova and other Brazilian Styles" by Nelson Faria published by Sher Music - comes with A CD. It's not just bossa-nova but other syncopated styles as well but it is a book and the CD has excellent playing examples so that's very helpful.

If you really want to learn bossa nova the best way to do it by watching and listening to the greats play it - I would start with the records of Antonio Carlos Jobim, a good one is Wave. Then all the classic records with saxophonist Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto who plays an accompaniment style of sophisticated chords in a light clave type rhythm(s) - very hard to master! Joao Gilberto also has a bunch of his own records that are considered the bible of bossa-nova guitar playing.

Other bossa nova guitarists include Luiz Bonfa, Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida. I would start with Joao Gilberto, he's the innovator and father of the style along with composers Jobim and Bonfa. You need to become familiar with the chords and voicings they use, you can buy a fake book with lead sheets of famous bossa tunes and learn the chord progressions from there with your teacher's help.

Regards, Ray

Thanks Ray, it looks like just what I need. And Thanks Poli, I will investigate.

Ed

[jake39]

Jeffrey McFadden's Fretboard Harmony is worth looking into as well.

[rapidExpansion]

Jeffrey McFadden's Fretboard Harmony is worth looking into as well.

Thanks. I found out that his doctoral thesis is the same object and it is downloadable for free from the website of university of toronto. it is really interesting for everyone who might be interested in this topic.

[Mark Featherstone]

Hello everyone!

Does anyone here have a recommendation for a books that deals with practical harmony on guitar?
My Piano skills are way below my guitar experience, but i always find it easier to analyse pieces as i play them on a piano ( well obviously because the intervals are too easy to recognize). I could certainly use some advice on how to connect my theoretical knowledge to my guitar playing.


Thanks.

A book recommended to me on this forum is one in the Hal Leonard Guitar Method Series: Music Theory by Tom Kolb. It's been very useful to me, but I am almost a total beginner in music theory and harmony. It may be too basic for you.
Mark