Barry Galbraith # 5 - Guitar Improv (Book & CD Set) Paperback – September 7, 2010

This is an excellent resource- I have a ton of books on jazz guitar, and I'm finding that the only ones that are having good impact on my playing are the ones that SOUND GOOD. For those who don't know Barry Galbraith's songs and instructional materals, they are among the best because they SOUND GOOD.I think this one in particular is great, Barry has that time-tested, classic standard jazz sound, with no gimmicks or corniness, and it just sounds great with all the jazz devices you need to master in here. Also, this book works particularly well with the Fingerboard Workbook (book #1 in this series, the blue book). I find that some of the devices he introduces in the Fingerboard Workbook exercises are directly translated into a solo setting here. For instance, some of the intervallic ideas from the Fingerboard Workbook appear in here, etc. Very, very good stuff.Lastly, it's important to study solos because they teach you how to build the structure, like an intro, repetition of themes, repetition of runs with variations on them, climax, closing, etc. This is what Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery were known for. You can't just play a bunch of random licks and expect it to be coherent. Here is a great collection of coherent, beautifully rendered solos.

All of these Galbraith books are worth their weight in gold. Barry was an insightful teacher and player. This book, like his others, are all based in real world application. If you want to get great ideas in voicing chords and comping in that beautiful way where the voices move around almost like a melody, then get this book. You must be able to at least decipher notation, as that is the only way this book could be written. If you are interested in this topic, then chances are you can read.

Great book but not for beginners. Sorry I never got to study with Barry in NY, didn't know he taught.

Great Book