Customer Reviews

Mel Bay's Deluxe Encyclopedia of Guitar Chord Progressions

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own & originally studied from an older version of this book in two volumes published in the 50's by Play-Rite Publications. I have been a guitar teacher for many years & always wished the books would be made available again so I could use them in instruction for current students. This is a revised version of those two books in a single volume, updated with some newer info & a cd. All guitarists will benefit greatly from this study & will enjoy playing the progressions. The knowledge contained in this book will stay with you & open up many new ideas for chord substitutions making your playing exciting & interesting. Johnny Rector presents the material in an interesting & logical order. "Mel Bay's Deluxe Encyclopedia of Guitar Chord Progressions" by Johnny Rector, along with "Mel Bay's Rhythm Guitar Chord System" are two books every jazz &/or rock guitarist should own. 5 stars!

Lots of chord diagrams and explanations for when and why you would use certain variations. A great book.

My teacher utilized this book in his teaching guitar progressions to me. I have the original vol. 1 & 2 from Play-Rite publications and I use those books/chords to this day. I recall my teacher mentioning to me, you can learn all those chords in those books that have 1600 chords but if you don't know what chords go with what chords, what good does it do you. I treasure these books and I use them as I teach kids guitar to this day. Great book for all new guitarists..

The progressions here are solidly intermediate. However, a beginning student accompanied by a knowledgable teacher can begin to navigate to navigate some of these changes. But chart a slow and deliberate course while learning these and you will be rewarded. Kudos to amazon for getting me the book on time!!!!

This is the Chord Progression book I have been looking for over seven years.

The chord combos are amazing and just what the doctor ordered to get you back into

playing and practicing.

Your not going to find a better chord progression book than this one.

I can sit down and play chord progressions any time I want, it's easy to follow and shows the name of the chord your playing, has some nice stuff. Good for beginner, intermediate or advanced players. Great practice tool.

This book gives ideas as to how to use jazz chords. Rector has great voice leading ideas and these ideas are great for soloing or chord melody playing. Examples are illustrated with chord diagrams too. Just about all the substitution ideas are presented here..., but not all of the possibilities; there are far too many ways in which to apply these ideas.

Nonetheless, if you are a beginner/ learner, then perhaps you should get another book with more indepth lessons and theory.

I have read almost every review on this book.I was convinced to buy it and I did.I have been playing for 40yrs.with no formal training.I don't read notation.I so called play by ear and read cord formations on the top of music charts.I can hold my own with what I know.This book might be very good for someone who can develop with the way it is presented I cannot.I for one think it is boring and so is the CD instructor who does nothing more that announce the lesson and play the progressions with a mono tone voice.I really think this book should be used with a good teacher in conjunction with tunes that you could implement the chords too.Just to sit and play these progressions with no conception of what to do with them is pointless.After two weeks of this book I am looking elsewhere to help my needs.It is not a waste of money since you could use it as a reference.I played some of the progressions further into the book and I could hear melody lines of tunes in the voicing but that was all I gleaned.Good luck with your choice.