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Sep 1 2021
By
Chase B. (he/him)
Playing guitar is one of the most popular and challenging hobbies someone can get into. Guitarists are always looking for ways to get better and find new motivation. EVPL not only has great books on learning to play guitar and biographies of some amazing guitarists, but it also has a vast array of instructional resources for guitar. Below are some helpful tools for beginning guitarists and even those more experienced.
Resources
Gale Courses: From accounting to technology, Gale Courses offers a wide range of highly interactive, instructor-led courses that you may take entirely online. One of these courses is “Introduction to Guitar!” As an EVPL library cardholder, you have access to these courses at no cost. New sessions begin monthly and typically run for six weeks.
Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center: Has over 4,000 articles and over 100 reference book suggestions on different aspects of guitar playing from scales, picking, rhythm and lead guitar, and even recording.
Guitar Magazines (access through Libby/Overdrive Apps)
- Guitar Player: The only magazine committed to the most experienced and serious guitar players. Get Guitar Player digital magazine subscription today for the finest lessons and masterclasses, interviews with top artists, recording tips, and extensive product reviews.
- Guitar World: Guitar World is the world’s leading guitar magazine. Professionals and beginners alike turn to Guitar World for top-flight coverage of their favorite artists, from rock titans like Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett to contemporary stars like the White Stripes’ Jack White and Tool’s Adam Jones. Every issue of Guitar World magazine offers broad-ranging interviews that cover technique, instruments, and lifestyles as well as Guitar World’s famously thorough lessons and transcriptions.
- Guitar Magazine: The Guitar Magazine provides in-depth and essential reading for the serious guitarist, with dozens of guitar tests, playing techniques, an exclusive bass section, and in-depth features on guitar heroes past, present, and future. Each issue is packed full of reviews of the latest guitars, amps, effects, and basses. The Guitar Magazine also delivers the informed verdict on home recording equipment and regularly offers tips on buying second-hand and vintage gear. When you occasionally put down that guitar, it is also packed full of interviews with the great and good of guitardom!
- Guitarist: Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine. You’ll find authoritative gear reviews, artist interviews, technique lessons, and advice. Plus, Guitarist’s digital edition now includes all of the same audio and video content as the print edition; available to download from a special area of the Guitarist website!
- Total Guitar: Total Guitar is Europe’s best-selling guitar magazine, crammed full of songs to learn plus backing tracks. From the latest metal and indie hits to classic rock from the likes of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC, TG has more songs than ANY other guitar magazine! Please note: This digital version of the magazine does not currently include the cover mount items or content you would find on printed newsstand copies.
Books for Learning Guitar
Please note that this is just a portion of the books we have on learning guitar.
- The Complete Guitar Course: Learn to Play in 20 Easy-To-Follow Lessons by Tom Fleming:Whether it’s the sweet, mellow sounds of Les Paul, the blues of B.B. King, the intense power of Slash, or the country twang of Chet Atkins, the guitar is at the heart modern music. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to become the next rock star or yearning to strum along at the next family get-together– The Complete Guitar Course has everything you need to learn. Dozens of hits in all genres, including “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Walk This Way,” and “Play that Funky Music” Choosing the right guitar and accessories Tuning, caring for, and changing strings Basic fingering, chords, and techniques Music theory 101 More than 25 short inspirational stories of legendary guitar players, such as Eric Clapton, Les Paul, Slash, Prince, Jack White, Chuck Berry, and Joni Mitchell Dust off that acoustic, plug in that electric, and get ready to rock…or strum- – you decide!
- Learn to Play Like the Guitar Greats by Charlotte Greig: Ever wanted to play like a famous guitarist? Now’s your chance! This entertaining and accessible guide to emulating the legends features: notation for more than 65 classic riffs from “Stairway to Heaven” to “Smells like Teen Spirit” *clear, step-by-step annotated photographs showing how to play each riff* full-color features on more than 30 artists, their guitars, and equipment * hints and tips from expert musicians. Color photos throughout the 256 pages of this book!
- Learn to Play Guitar by Louisa Somerville and Tim Pells: Provides solid technical background on acoustic, electric, and bass guitar– Step-by-step instructions and tunes for practice.
- Guitar All-In-One for Dummies by Jon Chappell, Mark Phillips, and Desi Serna: A one-stop resource to learn to play guitar! This guide puts everything you need to start playing and continue improving at your fingertips.
- The Complete Guitar Manual by Jason Sidwell, Jamie Dickinson: Whether you’re a total novice about to buy your first guitar or you have already started playing and want to take your fretboard wizardry to the next level, The Complete Guitar Manual is the definitive fast-track guide to becoming a guitar god. Learn how to play like the professionals with illustrated step-by-step sessions. Measure your progress along the way with specially written milestone pieces. Watch the online videos to learn how good technique looks and sounds, and play along with the backing tracks. Discover the inspiring listening recommendation of great guitarists of all styles. Choose and maintain your kit using the comprehensive equipment guide.
Guitarist Biographies
- Who I Am: A Memoir by Pete Townshend: The legendary lead guitarist and principal songwriter for The Who, one of the most influential rock-and-roll bands of all time, pens his own story.
- Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix by Philip Norman: Almost 50 years after his lonely death, Hendrix is the abiding symbol of musical genius cut tragically short. Wild Thing will be the first biography to bring together the splendor and sadness of his brief life, and to attempt to unravel the circumstances of his death.
- The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light by Carlos Santana: An intimate account by the rock music artist traces his hardscrabble youth in Mexico and early days as a promising guitarist through his influential collaborations with fellow Latin stars.
- No Regrets: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Memoir by Ace Frehley: The founding member and former lead guitarist for KISS shares his experiences with the iconic band, covering the band’s rise to superstar fame, his battles with drug addiction, and his complicated relationships with Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons.
Also, be sure to check out some of your favorite music in the form of CDs and concert DVDs at our locations. You may find yourself playing right along with some of your guitar favorites!
