Fretboard Theory - Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar. [Spiral-bound]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Fretboard Theory by Desi Serna teaches music theory for guitar including scales, chords, progressions, modes and more. Hands-on approach to theory gives you total command of the fretboard and music's most critical elements by visualizing shapes, patterns and how they connect. Content includes: How to learn and practice Pentatonic and Major scale patterns. Guitar CAGED system including chord inversions and arpeggio patterns. Guitar chord progressions and playing by numbers (Nashville Number System). - Roots, keys and applying scales - Understanding music modes and modal scales such as Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian - Playing and using intervals including thirds, fifths and sixths. Adding extensions such as "add 9," "suspended 4," and "major 7." Not only does Fretboard Theory teach music theory in a refreshing new manner, but it takes things a step farther by associating everything to your favorite songs. This is the ONLY GUITAR THEORY RESOURCE that includes important details to hundreds of popular songs. Pop, rock, acoustic, blues, metal and more! This new generation of guitar instruction is perfect whether you want to jam, compose or just understand the music you play better. For acoustic and electric guitar players. At 9x12 and 150 pages, Fretboard Theory includes twice the content of ordinary books. Four chapters are also available on DVD (see Getting Started with the Pentatonic Scale, CAGED Template Chord System, Guitar Chord Progressions and Playing By Numbers, Guitar Modes - The Modal Scales of Popular Music).

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 150 pages
• Publisher: http://Guitar-Music-Theory.com; 1ST edition (2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615226221
• ISBN-13: 978-0615226224
• ASIN: B000H21RVC
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #201,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, Easy to understand, Practical applications, May 26, 2008

By	M. Popovich "M.P." (CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fretboard Theory - Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar. (Spiral-bound)

I have been playing on and off for about 10 years. I have read fretboard theory books before, the CAGED system included, jazz comping, and numnerous books on Modes. I can honestly say not one of them explain the application as well as this book (and videos).

Most of what Serna teaches you probably have seen before; but what is unique about this material is the application. I dont know how many times before in other material the CAGED system, pentatonic scale, and modes have beenn disussed but never applied with actual examples. This course ties it all togther. At least it did for me. For the first time ever, I understand how modes are actually used and which are common and which are rare. Try finding that info in any other course - never happen.

Throughout the course Serna provides examples from the book and videos of how to apply what you have learned from actual songs you have heard on the radio etc.. Although he makes no attempt to teach the entire song, he gives you the understanding to figure it out yourself; so if you want to be told where to put your fingers to play a particular song this is not your book/course. If you want to learn and be able to figure things out, this course should be very helpful. It has been for me at least. Also, I think he does not reproduce entire songs ver batem because the music industry is closing down sites that directly reproduce artist intellectual property. That is why all the courses are now teaching methods "in the style of... Jimi Hendrix etc".

I play electric blues. I make no attempt to play top 40 cover tunes so my goal is to learn my own style for myself so I need to understand what I am doing and how to figure things out. Without a doubt this book (and videos) has accomplished more in the last month than almost all the other material combined because for the first time ever it "connected the numerous dots" that other courses have failed to do. For example I never fully understood how the pentatonic patterns, both major and minor, tie in to the CAGED system as well as the arpeggio form of the chord.

I do not recommend the course for beginners that do not know too many chords or progressions yet. Also I do not recommend it for those who simply want to "play" without understanding the underlying theory.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good grasp on solid information, November 8, 2006

By	BJ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fretboard Theory - Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar. (Spiral-bound)

This is my first guitar learning book besides a Mel Bay book that one of my friends gave me a while ago. I am pleased with this book and I do find it helpful. I certainly have no regrets from buying it. I also like how the author gives a personal touch by sending and replying to e-mails. He also sends links to some extra materials that compliment the material in the book.
I just want to add that I do know music theory from my years playing sax, if that weighs on my review at all.

I'm sure that anyone who wants to get a solid hold on the basics of playing guitar without learning music theory will benefit greatly from this book. It covers the pentatonic patterns, CAGED chord patterns, arpeggio patterns, interval patterns, major scale patterns, and a few other things, and relates them to each other very well. The visuals are used very effectively to teach the relations. You don't need to sight read to learn from this book and you will not learn how to sight read from it. The emphasis is on patterns and shapes and relating them to songs as well as to each other. This is a very effective and simple way to learn the fretboard and it is done very well in this book. The author is very descriptive of how to apply what he is teaching to playing songs, and the song references are great if you are able to play by ear (because the music is not written in the book, and it would cost a fortune to buy all of the sheet music). The author also encourages the reader to contact him at the end of each chapter so I don't think you will have any problem getting answers to any questions you have.

The book sits very easily on my music stand thanks to the spiral binding, and the material is presented extremely well. I get the impression that the author put a lot of love into this creation.

This book is marketed very well here on Amazon because, as you can see, no reviewer has anything bad to say about it. However, I was a little mislead by the statement in the description "The ONLY BOOK IN THE WORLD that includes important details to hundreds of popular songs." The author does explain how to relate the material from the book to the songs listed (by title and artist) in the book, but I think the description goes a little overboard.

Overall - This is a keeper and a great resource for learning to use the fretboard in an effective and simple way. I wouldn't say it's going to make you a great player because only practice and constant learning can do that, but it's a good starting place and a good guide to the basics of the fretboard. I was looking for a guide to learning my way around the fretboard and this book put it together in a way I could see it, know it and use it.

For more in depth study I plan on getting a different book (maybe the Berklee Method) to learn the more complete and technical theory and practice of the guitar, but I also enjoy learning that type of stuff.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Removes The Guesswork of Lead Guitar Playing, August 29, 2006

By	Marcy L. Weller "M. Weller" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fretboard Theory - Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar. (Spiral-bound)

I started playing guitar 22 years ago. I became very dependant on tablature and MEMORIZING songs from TABS. Consequently, I learned very little about theory. I unsuccessfully tried several books in the past. Now I'm in a band that improvises quite often. I found I needed more fretboard awareness and articulation to keep up with the band. I found Fretboard Theory by chance while searching the internet.....and what a find it has turned out to be!! Fretboard Theory is clearly written for guitar players; by a guitar player. Any skill level will benefit from this book! FAST!