eBook: The George Van Eps Method for Guitar

Pros: Long term mastery

Cons: This takes commitment and patience

This is an important work for any serious guitarist wanting to master the neck of his guitar chordally and for improvisation based on Triadic scale studies. George lays out a genius String Set System that if you study and follow will open up your musical pallet and chord mastery all over the neck of the guitar. This is required for all serious guitar jazzers. Bass players can also benefit by this system since it is based on a triadic approach.

Submitted by Jim on 07/15/2012 11:13:51 PM.

Pros: Emphasizes complete, comprehensive technique

Cons: Emphasizes slow, steady repetition: requires patience

Fifty years ago, there were many paths I could have taken in learning guitar. That I chose this one was most fortunate. As with other aspiring jazz players, I learned Charlie Christian solos from records and aspired to play with the single-note speed and fluency of Wes Montgomery and Johnny Smith. But a friend played Van Eps's one LP available at that time--"Mellow Guitar"--and soon after I obtained a copy of this book. Van Eps is "total guitar"--melody/harmony/bass line--and this book opens the door to it. As his introduction says, the exercises "develop the hand mechanically and increase the knowledge musically". With this comprehensive knowledge as a base, you can branch to gypsy jazz, or to any other style. This book also serves as an introduction to Van Eps's magisterial three-volume "Harmonic Mechanisms for Guitar". "Mellow Guitar" is available on CD, as are many other Van Eps albums, and you can see and hear him on YouTube.

Submitted by Craig on 09/14/2011 06:55:17 AM.