No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists: Master the Essential Knowledge all Guitarists Need to Know Paperback – March 25, 2019

I'm not a serious musician and I've been playing guitar and banjo long enough to wish I understood how different scales work and why certain chords go with certain parts of melodies. Finally a clear step by step guide to basic music theory. Each section builds on the one before and the little quizzes really help me to know if I am understanding things accurately. I know that after I finish this book I'll have a good foundation and can dig deeper if I want to. Totally recommend!

I’ve been playing guitar all my life except the first 10 years. Purchased and tried to self teach myself Guitar theory many a time with many a book. If you really want to learn it and I mean learn and understand it with the ability to explain and teach it simply, plainly and with a sense of command over the elusive guitar theory. Look no more and just buy this book. It clearly maps out diagrams and really walks you through with enough detail that it won’t overwhelm you and keep you interested. The lessons are short. The quizzes are perfect and right on que. I’m onto book 2 of 3. I can see a difference in how I am even playing and I am an advanced player. Not EVH or even close. Lol. This book has been the best investment of a guitar book in my arsenal. And I do mean arsenal. Enough. Buy it. Thank me later.

I've enjoyed reading the book. As someone with no background in music, it's been a great introduction.

what I really liked about this book is that it's geared so well toward adult learners who have been missing that crucial link between theory and how to look at the fretboard. I started taking private lessons at 13 years old and I'll never forget the day the teacher looked at me, about 1 year into lessons and said, "You DO know where to find the roots of all your chords, right? Show me now which finger is pressing the D note of the D chord..." Wow! I was like a deer in the headlights. So...my guitar playing friends...don't be like 13 year old me! I was resistant to learn the things I SHOULD have learned so that I could understand the guitar better. Do it- take the step now. This is a great starting book, highly recommended. ***Note - not for the experienced guitarist who already knows a good bit of fretboard theory. This is for folks who play but don't really know how or why or what they are playing.

This book series has greatly improved my understanding of music theory. As a newer guitar player with very little understanding of the HOW, this breaks it down in a way that is easy to understand. Highly recommend.

Incredibly helpful, great pace of teaching, easily digestible, no unnecessary material - raced through it in 2 days and ready for the next one!

I have been playing guitar for let’s just say “many years” I have often been asked if I am a musician to which I have meekly replied. No, I am more of an entertainer. This statement finds its roots in my awareness of the dimly lit candle I hold in a brilliantly lit world of musical language. I am still coloring by number with the crayons that make proud pics for Mom and Dad. While the “ musicians” around me paint canvases of brilliant colors to wow vast crowds of admirers. That is the metaphorical difference between understanding Theory and just playing music. Between a musician and an entertainer. James’ book on theory has really been the first readable book I have discovered on this subject. I am finished with volume 1, though I purchased all three. I found volume one to be well organized, positive, insightful and encouraging. After reading the first volume I was left with a hunger to experience more. Thank you James for taking the time to clarify a seemingly allusive subject and coloring with me for a minute to help me make the connection between a picture you hang on the fridge to art hung in a gallery. I look forward to seeing a whole new world of musical understanding unfold as I read volume 2 and 3.Cheers,Jacob

I have looked long and hard for a music theory book or online class that I could understand. That taught in a progressive manner building upon prior concepts AND would quiz my understanding. I’ve purchased many a book and many an online class. All started out simply enough, but then moved so rapidly or jumped to concepts I didn’t grasp so quickly that I would always end up frustrated. This is the first and ONLY book I have found that presents the information in understandable bites and then quizzes you to test your understanding. I highly recommend this book….so much so that I have shown it to two of my guitar teachers and they think it is fabulous as well and will be recommending it to other students of theirs. I have enjoyed his first book so much that I have already purchased ALL of his other books as well. Do yourself a favor if you are wanting to learn music theory particularly as it pertains to guitar and buy this book. I know this sounds like high praise and so therefore perhaps hype from a friend or student of his, but I promise you all of this is true. I just stumbled upon his books in my never ending search and I am very glad I did!

I've been playing since September 2023, slowy making my way into this hobby. I've been ready to do some knowledge theory now. This book is very very good. Ive tried another one from a big company and it was a disaster. This book is like an old friend teaching you out the good ways. Will buy every book from this collection and then rock lick & caged system.Thanks a lot for this amazing book / audiobook

I'm having basic guitar theory lessons and this book reinforces what I'm doing in practice. I like the very clear language and the step by step approach. James takes the reader through what they need to know at which stage of your development. I will certainly be investing in the series.

Pour apprendre de la théorie musicale dès le début que vous soyez débutant et ne savez pas du tout où commencer c’est très bien expliqué assez simple j’ai appris énormément avec ce livre et pourtant je savais rien au début :)Ce livre montre que pour apprendre la théorie musicale pas besoins de compliquer trop :)

Als ich das Buch zuerst überflogen habe, dachte ich: boah von den ca. 85 Inhalts Seiten sind maximal die Hälfte mit Informationen versehen. Dann mit großer Schrift, sich wiederholenden Abbildungen, kurzum ich begann an meinem Kauf zu zweifeln.In letzter Zeit bin ich immer wieder über Major Scales, Pentatonic Scales und andere Einhörner gestolpert.Man findet halt mehr im englischen als im deutschem im Net.Dieses Buch hat mir den Zusammenhang von Harmonien, Chords und grundlegendem Verständnis in einer Weise näher gebracht, wie ich es nicht geglaubt habe. Die Zusammenhänge werden perfekt erklärt und es gibt immer wieder ein Aha Erlebnis.Es beschränkt sich auf das, was auf dem Cover steht. Und das extrem gut erklärt.Hinweis: Jeder sollte wissen, dass es in Englisch geschrieben ist. Aber auch, dass natürlich die Notation in Englisch ist und dass z.B. unser H ein B ist. Aber gerade dass finde ich auch wichtig, sich mit der englischen Notation zu beschäftigen.Hinweis 2: Dies Buch ist nicht dazu da, um Gitarren spielen zu lernen. Es zeigt etwas Musiktheorie, welche selbst einem Noten Verweigerer wie mir Freude macht. Denn es gibt keine einzige Note darin!Und wer sich die 16 EUR für das Hardcover nicht leisten will, ist sicherlich auch mit der sehr viel günstigeren Kindel Edition gut beraten,

i have had an interest in music theory to understand why a certain combination of notes is a specific chord. This book begins from the basics and gets you all the way to understanding what a key is and what notes you could use to improvise. It gets you understanding what is actually going on when you see a chord diagram labelled a G but not the one you know! After reading and understanding this book I immediately bought the other 2 in this series as well as the CAGED book as well. Based on what I have learnt and am able to apply I am likely to buy them all. Considering I am currently getting lessons at $35/week these are a bargain and are a great reference when you head just can't quite recall it all.Highly recommend these for anyone wanting to learn theory that you can put into practice.Don't wait just buy it you will not regret it.