Here are 20 books that will benefit any student of the guitar. The only books included are books I’ve used both as a student and a teacher. The material gets more advanced as you go down each list. This collection may be brief, but any of these books would be a valuable addition to your guitar/music library. Several of these authors have written other books that are worth exploring for further study.

CLASSICAL

• A Modern Approach to Classical Guitar – Composite (Books 1, 2, 3) by Charles Duncan
• Aaron Shearer Classic Guitar Technique Volumes 1, 2
• Frederick Noad Solo Guitar Playing Volume 1, 2
• Twenty Five Etudes for Guitar Op. 60 by Mateo Carcassi
• Twenty Five Studies for the Guitar by Fernando Sor edited by Andres Segovia
• Pumping Nylon by Scott Tennant

JAZZ

• A Modern Method For Guitar Volumes 1, 2, 3 by William Levitt
• Patterns Scales and Modes for Jazz Guitar by Arnie Berle
• 101 Must-Know Jazz Licks: A Quick Easy Reference for All Guitarists by Wolf Marshall
• The Real Book 6th edition published by Hal Leonard
• Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene
• The Advancing Guitarist by Mick Goodrick
• Linear Expressions by Pat Martino

THEORY

• Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory: A Complete Self-Study Course for All Musicians (Book and 2 CDs)

GENERAL

• The Guitar Handbook: A Unique Source Book for the Guitar Player by Ralph Denyer
• The Complete Guitarist by Richard Chapman
• Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo
• Jazz Improvisation by David Baker
• The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine
• Charlie Parker Omnibook for C Instruments