2007-07-03 Zen and the Art of Guitar Playing

A wonderful book for the thinking guitarist. Goodrick's 'The Advancing Guitarist' seeks to bridge the gap between guitar player and musician, a gap that surprisingly few seem to cross. It is about making the music and not playing the instrument. It is about finding your voice and not imitating those of the chosen few. A lot of guitar literature presents as 'all you need to know' about playing the instrument. 'The Advancing Guitarist' should be subtitled 'all you need to ask'. It doesn't preach, it suggests. It doesn't tell, it guides.

Goodrick was a teacher at Berklee and he has directly influenced a generation of US guitarists like Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Wayne Johnson and John Abercrombie. He has performed and recorded with musicians of the calibre of jazz legends Gary Burton and Jack DeJohnette. That's one hell of a pedigree.

If you wish to rise above the writhing masses and make your own mark as a musician, 'The Advancing Guitarist' may provide you with some things to think about. Serious brain food and worth its weight in gold.