Mel Bay The Complete Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar [Spiral-bound]

Johnny Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1980

Jazz virtuoso Johnny Smith presents his complete system of chord analysis, scale and arpeggio study, and practical theory application. This is one of the most useful books to be found in any jazz guitarist's library! Lessons include 2-octave scales, 6th chord forms, alterations of chords, resolution exercises, scales and arpeggios, upper extensions from 9th to 13th chords, suspended fourth chords, voicing major and minor chords with a 4th step melody, alterations of upper extended chords, and much more. In order to represent the guitar in the octave it actually sounds, the bass clef is used when appropriate. Book is in actual pitch notation/grand staff notation (treble and bass clefs) per the author's preferences.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Johnny Smith, a self-taught guitarist greatly influenced by Andres Segovia and Django Reinhardt came to prominence in the 1950s with his recording of Moonlight in Vermont featuring saxophonist Stan Getz. From 1947 to 1953, Smith was staff guitarist at NBC's studio playing guitar and trumpet with both popular and symphonic groups, writing and performing for many shows, including the Fireside Theater and the Dave Garroway Show.

Aside from the dozen or more of his own recordings for Roost Records, Smith also recorded with Benny Goodman, Hnk Jones, and Ray Brown. In the 1960s Smith recorded an original composition "Walk, Don't Run," which the Ventures later transformed into an overnight rock and roll sensation. Striving for a better, unique guitar sound, Smith developed the Johnny Smith Guitar made by the Gibson Guitar Company. Since its introduction in 1960, it has been one of the most popular jazz archtop models.

In 1957, at th epeak of his influence and popularity as a leader, Smith walked out of the limelight as suddenly as he had entered it, preferring the trout streams of the Colorado mountains to the night club stage. In fact, Smith says that "the most beautiful sight I ever saw was the New York skyline disappearing in my rear view mirror as I headed west."

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 256 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (July 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562222392
• ISBN-13: 978-1562222390
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #685,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Course from a Grand Master of Jazz Guitar, November 21, 2009

By 

Michael Gannon (Westchester County, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay The Complete Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar (Spiral-bound)

This book encompasses all the fundamentals any guitarist should and must know in order to proceed into the true 'technical' background necessary to play jazz as it was meant to be played. Johnny goes to great lengths to expose the reader to the various chords, scales and arpeggio studies with plenty of examples. This book it an absolute must for any aspiring jazz guitar player but also any established player who wants to keep him or herself at the top of their playing game.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Thorough Method, February 8, 2010

By 

Charles Mclean (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay The Complete Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar (Spiral-bound)

If you really want to become familiar with your guitar, do this. May take more than a year to do.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text, but could use some technicality updates, December 10, 2009

By 

Christopher B. Rose (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay The Complete Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar (Spiral-bound)

I was referred to this book by Johnny Chapel years ago and it has become one of my Jazz Guitar Bibles. There is so much knowledge compressed into this tome it's not funny. I had never heard of Johnny Smith before encountering this book. What this book has that a lot of Modern Jazz guitar methods lack is a comprehensive practice strategy. And it starts in the first chapter. It grounds you in practicing chord exercises through cycles and keys in a way that really reinforces the material and starts to fill in "The Big Picture".

The only criticism I have for this volume is the old archaic way of notating fingering for the solo and scale work. Really guys can't we convert that to tab yet? (Under a staff. Use the tab for finger guide. Note reading is still crucial skill you should not skip!) Seems to be a relic from the original publication.