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There is little doubt that “I taught myself how to play the guitar” is an extremely cool thing to say at parties, but if you’re going to use this line to impress someone at the next social gathering you attend, you’ll need to make sure your strumming skills are semi-decent. One way to do that: get yourself a good beginner’s guitar book.
What Are the Best Beginner Guitar Books?
The best guitar books help you get started on actually playing right off the bat without slogging through hours of descriptions about guitars. Without another human beside you to correct your fingering in real time, you’ll need a book with exceptionally clear instructions that takes lessons step-by-step. Especially helpful are books with accompanying video, which at least gives you an example to compare yourself to. Here’s what else to look for.
Author: Maybe this is obvious, but look for books from respected music educators, musicians, and lesson book authors who have broad industry support and plenty of teaching (and playing) experience.
Method: Take into account how the lessons are structured, and if they’re designed for absolute beginners who have no idea what they’re doing or for immediate learners. Learning proper technique takes time, and a good guitar book will take this into account. We like guitar books that include accompanying video you can follow along with, as well as a few basics of music theory and music reading.
Songs: Assuming you’ve already mastered the “Smoke on the Water” riff, we look for books that include an expansive song list with satisfying-to-play jams that you can start strumming after a few lessons.
