Mel Bay's Understanding Guitar Chords [Paperback]

Bob Balsley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

There are many ways to play and categorize chords and many schemes for cataloguing them. This book focuses on understanding the ways that chords are made, enabling the student to figure out how to play a new chord in several different positions. This is not a technique book, but rather a step-by-step method of understanding guitar chord symbols and the musical sounds they represent. The author's goal in writing this book was to empower the reader with the ability to play from sheet music, jazz charts, or lead sheets, all of which is accomplished through chord and fretboard diagrams, standard notation and tablature, and plain English. This book is recommended for seasoned players who want to enrich their harmonic palettes as well as for beginners who need help in conquering the initially abstract quality of the guitar fretboard.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Balsley began teaching guitar at the age of 15. He has continued performing, writing, recording and teaching for more than thirty years. He has played with many top performers, including Chuck Berry, Bobby Vinton, Holly Dunn, Roger Williams, Randy Brecker and Mickey Gilley and as this list would suggest his is skilled at many musical styles. He has performed in Guatemala, Tunisia, the Netherlands, and London. He has recorded as a solo artist and has been featured on many projects. He currently produces and records at his own studio in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Bob studied theory, performance and composition at College of Marin with S. Drummond Wolfe and received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He has taught applied guitar and Guitar Ensemble at UW-Green Bay for the past seven years. He also teaches recording, audio engineering and MIDI at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College. The UW-Green Bay Summer Guitar Camp that he founded in 1994 has attracted national media attention and continues to grow. Bob is a sought-after clinician at schools Washburn and Frye and at music stores as an Endorsing Artist for Heritage Guitars. His insightful articles have appeared in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. His philosophy stresses music as a life-long activity that enriches the individual and the community.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786632658
• ISBN-13: 978-0786632657
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,636,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars learn chords without memorization, June 4, 2000

By 

Synergid (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay's Understanding Guitar Chords (Paperback)

This book is great for the self taught student. Simply put, it teaches you how to figure out how to play a chord based on what you know about the basic A, E, D, and C shapes taught in beginning guitar. I found this a heck of a lot more useful than a book of chords because I can look at a chord name like Cm7b5 and figure out in my head how to play that chord in a few moments without having to memorize the exact shape. The book also has some basic exercises to help "muscle memory" so that you become familiar with the more common chords. The book is well written (the author has a nice "voice" so the reading isn't dry) and the lessons aren't too long. Also, the author uses standard music notation, tabulature, and fretboard pictures throughout the book so you would have to be a real moron to not be able to see what's going on. However, this book is not for absolute beginners. You must be familiar with the chord shapes A,D,E,and C and how notes are related to the frets(for example: C is a half step higher than B, etc.). Knowledge of a scale (diatonic?) is helpful but not required.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unless you have a degree in theory, buy this book., April 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mel Bay's Understanding Guitar Chords (Paperback)

Bob is a great teacher, a phenomenal player and an all-around great guy. If you don't have the pleasure of knowing him or studying with him, you will get a good idea of his approach to fretboard education from this book. Even a complete novice could come to understand how to phrase any chord in western music several different ways from reading this book. Bob makes it easy and unintimidating. From this book, you will be able to extrapolate a lot of the data in those two-inch thick chord encyclopedias!