Customer Reviews

Chord Chemistry

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book in the '70s, when I was trying to be a self-taught rock guitarist. It was initially very helpful because of its basic explanation of chord theory--this really advanced my understanding of music in general and the guitar in particular. It also got me interested in jazz, though I didn't really understand much of what he was talking about. Now I play jazz guitar, and this book has been very helpful to me. The book contains pages and pages of different inversions of different chord types, and when you first open the book you might think this is the point, but it's not. The point of the book is found in the sections on chord theory that follow those diagrams. Here Ted Greene gives a very helpful analysis of the principles of chord substitution--these are the basics of jazz guitar comping (accompaniment) and also solo playing. Along with his discussion of the theory, Ted Greene gives many sample ways of playing the things he's discussing, and these are very valuable chord sequences (worth memorizing). My copy of this book is mostly worn out from years of turning the pages, and I can largely chart my musical education in terms of when I digested various parts of this book. It's a book for serious study, but if you're into that, I recommend it highly. His two volumes on single-note soloing are also extremely helpful.

I have owned this book since 1986 when I was just starting out on guitar. I still use this book, although it is not one that I pick up on a regular basis.

The book is all about chords and chord theory for guitarists. You don't need a huge amount of theory knowledge to get started with the material presented in this book, nor do you necessarily need to be able to read music (only one part of the book requires reading skills), however the learning curve is very steep through this book and it is definitely not a book that one works through in a 'lesson one, lesson two' fashion. Rather one would attempt to "absorb a few ideas at a time," as Mr Greene suggests.

On the matter of music reading, it is clear that the author has intended the book be useful to the widest audience possible by not requiring music reading on the most part. Although this is a positive thing is many respects, it also severely impedes upon what can successfully be presented. Also, if one were serious about learning this sort of material, not learning to read music would only impede one's progress.

The book contains a vast library of chord diagrams in the middle section of the book, depicting numerous chord types and inversions. This part is easily the weakest part of the book. This section for the most part, could be omitted or truncated, and replaced with information on how to build one's own chords and inversions, as well as providing some sort of framework for categorizing voicings and inversions i.e. drop 2 drop 2, 4 etc and perhaps how voices can be spread.

The most glaring omissions are the lack of any significant discussions on connecting predominantly rootless voicings, voice leading through progression using 2, 3 and 4 note partials (incomplete/implied chords), or a treatment of quartal harmony. These aspects of chord theory would seem to be vital to prepare a guitarist for modern playing, particularly within an ensemble context.

Having said all that, the voice leading discussion provided is quite thorough in other respects, and provides a very good seed for one's own ideas. The book provides quite useful information on Substitution/Reharmonization as well as other miscellaneous topics.

Although this book is not an absolute 'must have', Ted Greene's book provides some unique ideas and approaches to chord theory that I have never seen anywhere else. Also, some of the chord voicings he presents would probably be quite foreign to many intermediate, and some advanced guitarists. In this regard the book does provide points of departure for those who are very serious about exploring the guitar.

Most chord books are encyclopedias promising 10,000 guitar chords. What you get is about 900 in the 12 positions on the neck! All chords in Chord Chemistry are shown in a single position only. This book has more chords and better explanations of how to learn and use them than any other book I've seen in 35 years of study.

I bought this book back in 1971 when I was a teenager taking guitar lessons from Ted at a small studio in the San Fenando Valley. Even though I play primarily blues and rock it's still tremendously helpful to know how to put together interesting chords. Many people think this is a jazz book, but it's a theory book. All genres of music can benefit from understanding theory.

The book looks intimidating at first, but use Ted's first rule and be PATIENT, persist through the book, and you'll be the best guitarist on your block no matter what genre of music you play.

the other reviews describe the content very well.

my opinion: not for beginners. not worth it until you're doing significant work with the theory of the fretboard. i'd say that you can do without this book if you're willing to intensely explore the fretboard on your own, but this is a nice guide, though a lot of work. must have a strong hunger for knowing the guitar. very fulfilling, though. very helpful for jazz, but anyone wishing to apply more advanced chord theory to their music will be well-satisfied.

ted greene is very good about emphasizing the role of his books as mere guides. the book offers freedom and demands responsibility.

I see a lot of great guitar players. Many who think they know it all. I ask one question: DO YOU OWN CHORD CHEMISTRY BY TED GREENE? If the answer is no, then the conversation is over. When you've reached a plateau in any genre of guitar playing you need this book. When you've reached it again, it's time to re-read this book. In my musical library, guitar books will come and go. This book will always have a spot on the top shelf. This is not for the beginner, nor the intermediate as it does require a great deal of dedication. Chord Chemistry is the guarded secret of many great players.

From Mark John Sternal
Author of "GUITAR: Total Scales Techniques and Applications"
"GUITAR: Probable Chords"
"Complete Guitar By Ear"
and, "The Twelve Notes Of Music"

If Nicolas Slonimsky wrote a chord book akin to his "Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns," he would probably come up with "Chord Chemistry." Arguably the most famous of Ted Greene's books, "Chord Chemistry" is deep and intriguing, but also concise and clear. Much like Slonimsky's "Thesaurus," anyone who gets this book will likely spend years mastering the concepts inside.

As with all of Ted's books, "Chord Chemistry" is well organized and logical. More importantly, it makes you want to practice and learn everytime you open it up. It requires self-motivation to get the best results, and those few indefatigable musicians who open it up will notice their knowledge of the guitar neck, chords, and harmony in general will greatly expand. The greatest chapters include chord substitutions, how to play chord melodies, and voice-leading. A certain ability to read music is needed as the chapter on chord melodies provides examples only in musical notation. Anyone who buys this will find the diagrams make sense and are, for the most part, easily readable. The massive "chord reference charts" in the middle of the book are worth the price alone. Here you will find most every inversion, chord form, etc. that you will ever need. And regardless of what some people think, Greene does tell us how to apply these chords and make music with them. This is more than just an encyclopedia of chords, it is in fact a method of mastering harmony on the guitar.

If it seems overwhelming at first, stick with it. "Chord Chemistry" does require a bit of knowledge on jazz and classical harmony. If you don't have a lot of background in the theory involved, get Mark Levine's "Jazz Theory Book" and go through that, and the concepts in this book will make much more sense to you. Still, if you are wary of the theory aspect of it, at least go through the chord diagrams and listen to the beautiful sounds of the examples. Plus, your fretting hand will stengthen considerably from playing all the great chords, especially the ones with the huge stretches!

Overall, if you are curious about playing non-standard chords and want to apply them in interesting and musical ways, get this book. For a different take on chords, get the equally fascinating "Modern Chord Progressions," also by Ted Greene.

I bought this book 20 years ago, studied it, and learned it (well, most of it, anyway). I've recommended this title to students and fellow musicians for years. Chord theory never seemed so simple. Section 5, Chord Formulas, successfully covers one tough subject in three pages. Excellent.

Ted puts it all together like no other book I've ever seen. Even better than all the guitar player features I've seen over the years. Bye now, gotta practice.

One of the greatest books ever to focus on chords and there relation to each other.I was pointed in the direction of this book by no other than Steve Vai who recommended this book from his website,i have to say i thought i knew some chords untill i got this book.The possibilities with the voicings and inversions are endless. One of the things i like about this book in particular is that the specific chords are grouped together with numerous voicings.Everything is explained in tremendous detail,i think that's it!Go buy this book your chordal knowledge will be turned inside out.