Customer Reviews

Chord Master: For Guitar and Keyboard

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I use this every time I work on new music. Sometimes I learn something by observation or discovery when playing that I don't actually "know" such as that Am7 and C6 can be played as "inversions" of one another, at least this works for my playing. The first thing I do after these "aha" moments is check it out in this book to see if I am either crazy or perhaps feeling perceptive. The book doesn't tell me explicitly if I'm right as in this example, but shows the fingering for at least 3 fret positions (ex. C6 on 1st, 5th, and 8th frets) as well as root position for piano. From there, you can start figuring out how to make more variations on your own because you know all the correct notes.

I learn a lot from this book beyond actually continuing to learn to play music on piano and guitar. Although it is up to the user to put 2 and 2 together, a little bit more music theory is always helpful and goes a long way with me. A few pages are starting to fall out (I have first edition paperback) from frequent use but that is fine, I'm going to format it in a binder anyway so the pages will lie flat on a music stand. The systematic and ingenious way to present chords for guitar is very helpful, I've never seen anything like it. You can make up a "mystery" chord on the fretboard and find it in this book by fret/string position. The part I use most is the first section which is like a chromatic "encyclopedia" of guitar and piano chords. I have never failed to find a chord I'm looking for, although the naming of chords is not consistent which is why the cross reference chart of alternate names in the beginning is so helpful. I'll probably be a "student" of this book for at least the next several years, maybe forever if I live that long!

Chordmaster has to be essential for anyone like me, who having always tried to play the guitar couldn't afford lessons. Being a bit stupid, I couldn't have had the success in many countries that I've now had writing pop-tunes. If I could meet Mr. O'Connor, I would shake him warmly. (By the hand.)