5 Best Books For Learning Guitar [2021]

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Ready to start playing the guitar immediately? Looking for the best books for learning guitar?

Believe it or not, with the right guitar lesson book it can be a breeze to teach yourself guitar on your own. However, some books are better than others for teaching yourself guitar. There are a lot of guitar guides and lesson books out there, so it can be hard to determine which ones are the best.

Luckily, we’re here to help you out. Below we’ll list the very best books for learning guitar that will help you get started out on the right foot.

Best Book to Learn Guitar With – Quick View

ImageModelPrice
Hal Leonard Guitar Method Complete EditionCheck Price on Amazon
Complete Technique for Modern Guitar: Second EditionCheck Price on Amazon
Teach Yourself to Play Guitar: A Quick and Easy Introduction for BeginnersCheck Price on Amazon
Guitar All-In-One For DummiesCheck Price on Amazon
Guitar for Absolute BeginnersCheck Price on Amazon

Best Guitar Lesson Books – REVIEWED

Ready to get started learning the guitar in a simple and effective way. Here are our favorite guitar lesson books.

1. Hal Leonard Guitar Method Complete Edition by Will Schmid and Greg Koch

best books for learning guitar

The Hal Leonard Guitar Method books are some of the most popular around and are easy to find in just about any music store. This is a very common method that many guitar teachers use when teaching a beginner guitar student.

This edition combines several of the Hal Leonard method books into one comprehensive volume. This book is very simple to use and gives all of the knowledge a student needs to become a well-rounded guitar player.

Unlike some of the other best guitar method books, the Hal Leonard method teaches guitarists using both tab and standard music notation and seems to favor the latter. It also gives a good look at music theory. Because of this, the Hal Leonard Guitar Method can be a great choice if you want a complete music education.

While this book is often used with the facilitation of a guitar instructor, most beginners will find it easy enough to use on their own. Overall, this is our top pick and. You can’t go wrong with this if you’re looking for one of the best books for learning guitar.

2. Complete Technique for Modern Guitar: Second Edition by Joseph Alexander

best guitar books

If you’re looking for a great book for learning guitar, the Complete Technique for Modern Guitar book is another excellent option for the beginning guitarist. In this guitar book, the author attempts to provide tangible and immediate results for beginners.

The book attempts to give guitarists everything they need to get a good handle on the instrument quickly. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a step-by-step book like some of the others on this list.

The book goes over everything a guitar player needs to express themselves well. The Complete Technique for Modern Guitar book covers 4 fundamental areas. These include Picking, Legato, Playing in Time, and Expression.

The guitar book also offers 200 exercises that have corresponding audio tracks. This can be great for anyone who needs to hear a technique first before attempting it themselves.

Overall, if you’re looking for one of the best guitar method books around that has a focus on expression and will help you start playing as quickly as possible, this is the book for you.

3. Teach Yourself to Play Guitar: A Quick and Easy Introduction for Beginners by David M. Brewster

best guitar method book

Teach Yourself to Play Guitar: A Quick and Easy Introduction for Beginners is one of the best books for learning guitar and is another excellent you can choose from. This 48-page guide may just be the best guitar book for beginners that are looking to get started quickly.

This is an essential quick start guide that is great for learning the very basics. It will help you get started with playing a few chords as quickly as possible. The book covers how to tune your guitar up, play a few easy chords, and start strumming. As the name suggests, the book is one of the best guitar books for self-teaching.

Unlike some of the other method books, this one is a lot emptier when it comes to explaining music concepts. It doesn’t go in-depth on music theory. If you have a guitar that you’ve kept in your home for years but never got around to playing, this may just be the book for you.

For complete beginners, this is an excellent guide that will get you strumming a few simple chords fast. Guitarists that are looking for in-depth explanations of techniques or who already have some basic guitar skills may be disappointed, however.

Overall, if you’re looking for a no-nonsense guide that will get you started with the guitar today, this is a great option for you.

4. Guitar All-In-One For Dummies by Jon Chappell, Mark Phillips, and Designer Serna

best beginner guitar books

This next book on our list comes from the popular brand of “For Dummies” books. This is a comprehensive guide that will tell you everything you need to know about playing the guitar. It’s one of the top books on how to learn guitar and leaves no stone unturned.

The Guitar All-In-One For Dummies book actually combines several volumes of guitar level books into one along with three genre-based guitar guides. It also includes access to online video and audio instruction.

Truthfully, this 648-page book will be a bit overwhelming for many beginning guitarists. However, if you’re looking for a full guide that will tell you everything you need to know, this is a great choice. If you continue playing guitar for years to come this will be a great resource. You will continue coming back to it for tips and knowledge over and over again.

Overall, if you’re looking for the most complete and helpful books on the subject of playing guitar, you can’t go wrong with this one. This is one of the best guitar method books you can choose from.

5. Guitar for Absolute Beginners by Daniel Emery

best guitar lesson books

If you’re looking for the best guitar books for beginners, this book is another excellent choice that offers a lot of value. Guitar for Absolute Beginners is actually used by the New York City Guitar School. It offers a step-by-step method that is full of valuable information.

While many guitar books simply focus on the “how-to” of playing guitar, this book goes an extra step. The method book provides other essentials including stories and practicing tips. Guitar for Absolute Beginners will not just show you what to practice. It will also give you a great overview of how to practice effectively.

The book will take anyone all the way from a knowledge of the guitar basics all the way to more advanced song construction techniques.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quality guitar method book that will help take you from zero to guitar hero, this is another excellent choice. This is one of the best books for learning guitar you can find.

Choosing the Best Books for Learning Guitar

Sheet Music For Guitar

If you’re ready to start playing guitar, it’s important that you get started out well. One of the books above will give you the best chance at learning guitar quickly, easily, and effectively.

Each of the books above gives you a full overview of the guitar. These books will help guide you through your very first notes and chords and beyond, and will give you the knowledge you need to succeed.

Are you also looking for some great guitar accessories to get started with? Check out our list of the best acoustic guitar accessories now.