Updated: The 5 BEST Guitar Books for 2024!
I’ve updated one of my most popular articles on best guitar books to include some new info. These include some new changes for the best guitar books for past years and 2024. Despite trends, for many guitarists, books are still the best way to learn the instrument.
In the age of Youtube videos and guitar learning apps, the online community has created an overload of information. Consequently, it also results in a lot of misinformation. Good books will never go out of style.
“The absolute Best Guitar Books for 2024. An expertly curated list by professional guitarists and music educators at Life In 12 Keys.”
Misinformation: Nowhere is this more prevalent than in online Guitar Lessons, Apps, Tabs (that are almost always wrong) and also the over-population of so-called ‘experts’ seemingly everywhere online.
Enough already! As a result, I’ve come up with this excellent list of BOOKS, yes I said books, that I guarantee will improve your playing and musicianship regardless of your current skill level.
This list is a classic, tried and true, proven, infallible, comprehensive.. well you get what I’m saying… list of material by real educators including some famous guitarists worth listening too. Despite the popularity of online lessons, guitar books still reign supreme.
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I’ve used (and still use) all of these guitar books myself and have included the Amazon links for each. Literally, thousands of people agree with me, these are great guitar books!
5 Books Every Guitarist Should Own
1) Berklee
A Modern Method For Guitar Volume 1 (One of the best guitar books for learning to read music)
Yes, they still use this classic book as part of the Guitar Curriculum at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. It is definitely a case of ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’.
I started using this book when I was about 19 and have used it with my own students for the better part of 25 years.
Everything is well laid out in such a way as to enable the student to progress fast. As a result, your sight-reading will explode, and the alternate picking and chord exercises will catapult your technique quickly and efficiently.
This updated version includes the first 3 books, which for under $30, makes it a tremendous value. Despite it’s age, these volumes age well in the guitar community.
“Berkeley Books 1-3 are great ‘all-around’ books that will benefit Guitarists of any style.”
2) Julio S. Sagreras (Best Guitar Books for Classical Guitar)
Guitar Lessons – Books 1-3
There’s just nothing more relaxing to me in this world then chilling out with my nylon string guitar and working through the gorgeous solo guitar music in this book. (Actually, you get 3 books in 1).
The lessons start out short, easy, and concise, with an excellent accompanying instructional text in English and Spanish. In comparison, many other classical guitar volumes out there do very little to explain the layout of a piece. The introductions to the pieces in the Sagreras books are just fantastic.
As a result, by lesson 40 in Book 1 (Book 1 has 85 lessons) you’ll start playing some really beautiful solo guitar music.
I have been playing through the pieces in these books for years and have even included some of them into my live playing repertoire acoustic type gigs.
The pieces are suitable for a recital, wedding or any other Classical Guitar solo performance situation you could think of.
3 Guitar Volumes for the Price of One
The newer edition with the first 3 volumes and spiral binding is a must have for every guitarist … it never leaves my music stand!
While this book is technically considered a ‘Classical Guitar’ method book, I’d highly recommend it regardless of your playing style.
Even if you’re a die-hard Metal or Country guy/gal I’d be amazed if you didn’t fall in love with at least some of these beautiful pieces.
“With 3 included volumes and the spiral binding, Sagreras 1-3 is the best value of the bunch.”
3) Music Reading For Guitar (The Complete Method)
This one is a slightly modern take on the older Berklee series but with some notable additions that make it worth a separate purchase.
I like how it starts guitarists reading in different positions immediately and also covers how to read charts. The chart reading info alone makes it worth the purchase for aspiring Jazz, Standard, and Pop players.
If you’re a pro who needs to brush up on charts for a gig or even a complete beginner, you’ll benefit from this one.
Also worth noting is that this book is part of the curriculum at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California (aka G.I.T.)
4) The Best Guitar Books Bundle
5) Pumping Nylon: The Classical Guitarists Technique Handbook (Book and Online Audio)
Scott Tennant is one of the premier Concert Classical Guitarists in the world today. His book ‘Pumping Nylon’ is an essential tool for technique learning and maintenance regardless of your current skill level.
Everything is laid out in easy to digest bite-sized chunks of material. Scott includes sections on practicing, nail care, reading, scales, Flamenco techniques, left hand, right hand exercises, and the complete Giuliani 120 Arpeggio Studies. The intuitive way he lays out these famous arpeggio studies alone is worth the price of the book.
This book has done a tremendous job of improving my technique and left hand dexterity even when applied to styles outside of the Classical Guitar realm.
At under $20, the newer editions, lowered price, spiral binding, and included audio lessons make this one a no-brainer.
Do not buy if:
- If, you’re not at all interested in Classical Guitar (fingerstyle) techniques.
- You’re not at all interested in incredible left hand development. 😛
More Honorable Guitar Book Mentions
Chord Chemistry – Ted Greene (Best Guitar Books for Learning Chords)
When you’re really, really into chord theory or wanted to know everything there is to know about chords, then this is the book for you.
To say there are a lot of chords in this book is a gross understatement. Ted Greene covers every imaginable fingering and voicing you could possibly dream of, and the theory behind all of it.
There are no exercises or music in this book. It’s just chord shapes and theory.
Alfred’s Basic Guitar Method – Book 1 (Best Guitar Books Series for Children)
For this last one, If you’re a complete beginner, I highly recommend Alfred’s Book 1.
This book will teach you the very basics of the guitar including reading music, note values, chords and picking integrated into very simple songs and melodies.
Guitarists that have never picked up a guitar or read a note of music I’d start here before tackling one of the above books.
Alfred’s Basic Guitar Method Book 1 is also great for kids! If you’re an adult beginner you could probably get through it in a month or so before moving on to the Berklee Books or Sagrera’s method.
Experienced Guitarists that have never read sheet music before, it’s certainly worth the low price ($6.99!?) just have a copy around.
Regardless of age or skill level, after Book 1 I’d recommend moving immediately to the Berklee books or more advanced material.
The first book in the Alfred’s series is perfect for what it is, however, the rest of the method books would not be the best way to advance on the guitar in my opinion.
Best Guitar Books Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed my little list of what I believe are some of the very best guitar books available. If you have any suggestions of your own, please drop me a line anytime at craig@lifein12keys.com
Happy Practicing! 🤘
Craig Smith is a professional Guitarist, Teacher, and Writer living in Sanford, Florida. Craig has taught guitar lessons, performed 200+ gigs per year for nearly 30 years, and published 4 guitar instructional books. When he’s not gigging or writing, you may find him by the pool with his wife Celeste, 4 Chihuahuas, and a drink. 🎸
