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Richard Chapman

The New Complete Guitarist Paperback – December 1, 2003

by Richard Chapman (Author)

117 ratings

3.9 on Goodreads

72 ratings

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Enhance your purchase

In a visual approach to learning how to play the guitar, a renowned guitar tutor introduces his teach-yourself guitar program, complete with hundreds of step-by-step illustrations that including fingering charts, chords, notes, scales, modes, and sequences, as well as an annotated portfolio of more than one hundred makes and models of guitars.

Print length

208 pages
Language

English
Publisher

DK
Publication date

December 1, 2003
Dimensions

8.86 x 0.5 x 10.83 inches
ISBN-10

0789497018
ISBN-13

978-0789497017
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A coffee table book and a through instruction manual in between the covers. -- Discoveries

An appealing book in the style of the Eyewitness series, this should be both popular with and useful to students. -- School Library Journal

Highly recommended for guitarists of all levels. -- The Guitar Magazine

About the Author

Richard Chapman is a respected guitarist, journalist, and media personality. He has taught many leading performers and acts as a consultant to the auction house Christie's in London as an authority on the history of the guitar.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ DK; 1st edition (December 1, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0789497018
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0789497017
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.76 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.86 x 0.5 x 10.83 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #494,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #596 in Music Techniques (Books)
- #1,321 in Guitars (Books)
- #2,563 in Music Instruction & Study (Books)

Customer Reviews:
117 ratings

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5 star		79%
4 star		12%
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2 star		1%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Maurice D. Robertson

Good information!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

Looks comprehensive, something for every level of guitarist.

Helpful

Great REFERENCE book.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 21, 2008

Verified Purchase

The New Complete Guitarist is a classic. There is tons of information here, much of which leans on music theory. The book covers lots of guitar styles (not much on classical, however) and techniques and goes from simple open chords to sophisticated chord voicings, progressions and soloing. The book is written in the style of most other DK books which is a very aesthetically pleasing "visual" approach consisting of many colorful photographs and charts with small descriptive blurbs nearby.

Some readers have complained that the book uses terminology that is not explained until later in the book. This is sometimes true, although it is fairly easy to locate the explanation elsewhere. The book should be considered more of a reference book (or something between a reference book and an instruction book). I would probably not use the book as my sole source of instruction, however, because some topics need to be elaborated on more thoroughly and this book avoids verbosity. None-the-less, if you only purchased one guitar book or needed a supplemental guitar book, this would do you extremely well.

Readers should also checkout the classic "The Guitar Handbook", by Ralph Denyer as an alternative or an addition to The New Complete Guitarist". Although similar, The Guitar Handbook provides a different, but welcome perspective to similar topics.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Justin Case

Great Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 27, 2011

Verified Purchase

I had a girlfriend that bought me a guitar and this book for my college graduation. I had never played guitar before, but she thought I should. It was such a nice gift that I couldn't just put it in the closet or send it off to the pawn shop. So, I skimmed the first couple chapters on the history of the guitar. And I really read the next couple chapters to learn about how you read the music. Then it was on! I've been playing ever since. I would not be a guitarist right now, if it weren't for this book.

It is much more comprehensive than how I used it. The book continues with different scales (pentatonic, blues, jazz, etc) as well as how to set up different amp, head, pedal combinations. It finishes with studio stuff. When it says "Complete", it is. And it's very easy to read and understand with great pictures and diagrams. For anyone who has ever asked me how to learn guitar, I recommend this book to them.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Guitar student

A picture is worth a thousand words

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 5, 2016

Verified Purchase

And NOBODY's pictures (diagrams) are in the same league as Richard Chapman. He is the Rembrandt of guitar pictures. For me, to grasp the guitar "system" well, pictures is absolutely indispensable. The front of the book doesn't really tell you what you're getting into. But the back of the book is FAIR,
It says:
- from the simplest chords ... And first tunes ... To more complex styles and advanced improvisation
- ... Notes, scales, modes, soloing, improvising
If masters like Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Chet Atkins move you, you'll appreciate this book. It's a study book.
I love this book although I put it down several times (for years) before this round of deep study.
I love this book!!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Michael Wood

great

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 24, 2021

english

best for the beginner

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 10, 2006

Verified Purchase

I just started playing guitar, had never even picked one up before so I wanted to find the best intro. I bought several other books, magazines, etc., and out of all of them this is the best. It explains what every symbol in the sheet music means, it explains briefly the theory of what makes a guitar sound the way it does, history of guitar music, techniques for plucking, strumming, etc., and it is VERY visual. It goes through timing, scales, and of course chords. It shows you where you should be every step of the way, which is important when trying to teach yourself. I don't think there is any substitute for hands on teaching with a professional, but this comes close. Highly reccomended and you can't go wrong for the price

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Honest Opinion

... a handy reference that contains a lot of of useful stuff for a beginner and an advanced player

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

The one guitar book that I use a lot because it's a handy reference that contains a lot of of useful stuff for a beginner and an advanced player. I actually have three copies of this book one for me and one each for my kids. It's well laid and out and extremely well illustrated. The introduction to the history of guitars and the guitar and amp pairings are an interesting and useful feature. The chords and scales section are probably the most useful and used.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a great go-to book for beginners...if you like to read a lot. There is more than enough information, but much of it isn't necessary as it should be more common sense, but I imagine some people could appreciate that. For my husband though, he quit using it after 2 or 3 times feeling overwhelmed by so much info as Lloyd at once.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Mark Jackson

Absolutely outstanding

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 2, 2022

Verified Purchase

I first started using the original version of this almost 30 years ago, and to this day it's the best guitar book I have ever read. Incredible level of detail and theory, works you up through the levels superbly. Yes it can be a little heavy at times, but this is simply part of the challenge, and it *will* make you a much better player overall.
One tip: work your way through this book, but do the "fun stuff" alongside it as well (learn your favourite songs and riffs etc).

GeoffCattle

This book is perfect for that

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 26, 2016

Verified Purchase

I have seen this book in many homes over the years. I am self taught and been playing for about thirty years. Recently I have been asked by a number of people to give lessons. I bought this book as an accompaniment to practice, as I learned by ear, practice, scribbling on paper and jamming. This book is perfect for that. It also cleared a lot of things up that I unclear about; terminologies, mode theory and such like.

When I was a new player, had I had this book then, I am sure I would have learned the theory and visualisation so I can recommend this to the new guitarist.

Zarina

My son is happy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

My 9-year old son is very happy with this book. I bought it as a Christmas present and he is reading it eagerly. Good quality book, interesting content, wonderful photos and illustrations. My son reads it in his own, with his friends and study it thoroughly with his music teacher.

Amazon Customer

Great

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

Perfect for any level, beginner or professional

Dusty

Great Book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 25, 2017

Verified Purchase

Love this book, had it when I was younger, and lost it. Glad to have it again!