Melody Chords for Guitar by Allan Holdsworth [Sheet music]

Allan Holdsworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1997

Influential fusion player Allan Holdsworth provides guitarists with a simplified method of learning chords, in diagram form, for playing accompaniments and for playing popular melodies in "chord-solo" style. Covers: major, minor, altered, dominant and diminished scale notes in chord form, with lots of helpful reference tables and and diagrams.

Product Details

• Sheet music: 112 pages
• Publisher: Centerstream Publications (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157424051X
• ISBN-13: 978-1574240511
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for the advanced Guitarist , standard chords unlike AH, April 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Melody Chords for Guitar by Allan Holdsworth (Sheet music)

I am a big fan of Allan's. I must say this book was a major letdown, as I expectd it to be centered around the chordal ideas he uses himself. Any guitarist who has a good grasp of theory and is a well educated guitarist will find this book remedial, other than whatever insight you may learn about how Allan views chords, which although interesting, will not do a whole lot for one's playing. I would reccommend "Reaching For the Uncommon Chord", even though a book of transcriptions, as a better book to get more ideas for guitar harmony than "Melody Chords".

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent view of his advanced chordal philosophy, October 5, 1998

By 

john ([e-mail]) (the los angeles area, USA!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Melody Chords for Guitar by Allan Holdsworth (Sheet music)

finally, one of the two most amazing guitarists of our time gives us his thoughts on chordal work.

he uses fretboard 'chord scale' diagrams to illustrate the musical philosophy behind his work, but don't expect the usual 'chord charts'. he does not teach you to play like he does; there is not much music theory here, in the sense of which chords go together, as befits his feeling that he doesn't want to say what is the 'right' thing to do.

he does, however, give you his theory regarding chord formation and expects you to do the work to get familiar with and to advance in your own style. this is a challenging project for any musician, but it is more satisfying in the end than simply learning transcriptions note-for-note.

'reaching for the uncommon chord' contains a number of transcriptions with more traditional chord diagrams and solos transcribed in standard notation and tabular form if you want to learn some of his tunes to get an idea of how he actually plays; 'melody chords' tells you more about how he thinks, and is a great tool alone or with the reh instructional video.

i expect that this book will give me food for thought & practice for years to come. thank you, allan!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars you will have to pull it out., October 8, 2008

By 

A. Strauss "adman" (la la land) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melody Chords for Guitar by Allan Holdsworth (Sheet music)

If you are looking for a easy to understand book full of Allan holdsworth goodness, you are half way there. There is a lot of insight into how allan thinks but the way he explains is not for the faint of heart. The purchase of this book will bring you to the pinnacle of advanced whether you are ready or not. In other words if you want to learn a couple of diminished chords you will need a bigger commitment because this book shows you all of them ( or at least al their possibilities). So if you buy this book get get some good time and patience on your hands and get ready for a wild ride.