Classic Guitar Technique - Supplement 2: Basic Elements of Music Theory for Guitar (Shearer Series) | Learn Essential Music Theory for Classical Guitar Players

I’ve played classical guitar for 40 years, off and on, having used the Shearer method and scale books in my training. Aaron Shearer was a renowned guitar teacher who more or less codified the Segovia method, though he himself was not a classical guitarist. This theory book is a second supplement to his two method books, both of which are excellent. Scales and chords are the essential elements of the guitar, regardless of the kind of music one plays. This book provides a basic introduction to the theory of scales and chords which will greatly enhance a guitar player’s ability to understand harmony, scale, and chordal progression. This level of theory has wide ranging applications and helps greatly in learning pieces, memorization, and ear training. It also enhances one’s listening experience as one is able to understand the language of music at a deeper level. This book is just the right amount of theory to get you going without getting bogged down. This is a workbook, so you will be writing in it unless you make a copy or buy two. The exercises are excellent and reinforce each element in an incremental manner. I would have liked something of an answer key to some of the exercises to check my work, but that is a minor quibble. I highly recommend this book by a master teacher to anyone interested in learning more about music in general and music on the guitar in particular. It is a great introduction and stepping stone to more in-depth studies.