Product Description

Offering a contemplative approach to playing the guitar, this book covers all levels of experience from professional musicians and amateur guitar players to uninitiated music lovers. The author offers his own experiences with music to show how to rediscover harmony and become open to Zen awareness. Through 58 lessons which provide a focus and guide, the reader is led through to Zen awareness. Quotations from sources ranging from Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to Miles Davis are used to enhance the lessons. The book seeks to show how the path of music offers fulfilment in all aspects of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9046 in Books
• Published on: 1999-02-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

inspirational
zen guitar does not teach you theory, chords or technical information, but it provides an excellent source of philosophy and wisdom from the east to apply to the guitar. these teachings can be used in any situation in life and enhance and enrichen guitar playing so instead of thinking about playing the tune right, u feel the tune - it comes naturally. everyone who owns a guitar MUST buy this book! it really does help you enjoy the whole spirit of the guitar and was an excellent, educational read.

A Wise Man Passes Away Too Soon
This book reflects the attitude and scope you bring to it, and can be applied to any part of life. I bought a US edition five years ago; whenever I return to it I'm struck by its simple truth and sound guidance. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a Jedi, you can learn from this book. The structure and pace are superb - it can be read fast or slow, skimming or pondering, cover-to-cover or dipping in and out. Remarkable.

It is a small, elegant book. There are no motorcycle maintenance tips.

I'm particularly fond of its emphasis on context. Our listening and reacting to one another can make or break the music we love (why else are we playing?). This book can guide you to play better with other musicians, and there's precious few books that can do that.

The Zen Guitar site (www.zenguitar.com) is a fine community and resource. I'm sure it will endure despite Philip Sudo's death. If you're nervous about buying the book unseen, visit the site to see what it's about. And then buy it. And then show it to other people.

If you let this book guide your learning, you will get better. It really is that simple.

Soul Music
Zen guitar achieves what every other Guitar tuition book fails to do, and that is to provide the guitarist with a sense of 'soul' or 'depth' to their playing. It is certainly spiritual, and at times, eclectic, but the concepts and thoughts of the late, great Philip Sudo have inspired many guitarists into approaching the guitar in several different ways.

A prime example of how a simple instruction yields incredible results. In the book, the instruction is just to "Pick up the guitar, and play each note as if it is the last one that you'll ever play". Coupled with a few sage paragraphs that get you mentally prepared for this task, and with a little help from many great quotes from many great guitarists dotted around the book, suddenly, the expression and passion that you play the instrument becomes tenfold.

There is not one piece of notation, or explanation of music theory. The principles throuought "Zen Guitar" are profound, and may alter your outlook beyond the fretboard, and every word has been written with the reader's best interests in mind. No matter what you are trying to achieve with the guitar, no matter what level of proficiency you believe you have achieved, and no matter how many books or how much time you have studied to get there, this will be a book that you need to have in your collection.