Customer Reviews
Great book for intermediate to advanced guitarists 
2008-07-25
I am very impressed with the content of Fretboard Logic. I am a beginner so actually playing the way presented seems overwhelming right now. I can make my hands stretch to barre with a lot of effort, but it will be a while before I can do it effortlessly. That's why I'd recommend this book for intermediate to advanced, someone who can put the information into practice right away. Beginners need to start with easier stuff. That said, it is a great resource to explain the logic of the fretboard that you may not find elsewhere.
Fretboard Logic SE 2008-07-19
I'm finding this book more effective than any other method I've tried to learn and re-learn and practise the basics. I've been playing a few years now and this brought me back down to basics for a refresher. The instructions are conversational and they make sense. Everything is explained in detail, but no too much detail - and all the topics covered are tabbed on the same page.
I've never come across a more comprehensive way to learn or refresh oneself on the basics of playing guitar. It's a must have for any guitar player.
Fretboard Patterns not theory. 2008-07-11
This is not a music theory book.
Fretboard Logic describes the Fretboard patterns that are a direct result of the guitar's unique tuning. The patterns discussed are essentially scales and chords covering the entire fretboard.
There is some occasional theory necessary to teach the subject and no more.
It may be too much for many beginners to grasp the importance of what the author is teaching but, that certainly does not mean you can't benefit by learning something new such as pentatonic scales and full bar chords (that's the first 27 pages.)
I could not play full bar chords when I bought the book. You know what you do to cure that? Practice playing them 10 minutes a day and then go onto something else.
I was thrilled when I bought HOB Blues DVD #1 and recognized the scale patterns and realized I could start APPLYING what I learned from this book. No, you will not be a better guitar player after reading this book just because you know some chords and scales. But you will have a solid foundation that will help you APPLY the information in this book as you learn music theory and it will all be a little easier.
I can't say it as a fact since I don't play with others often but, I really doubt this book would do anything but help you when playing with other guitarists and instruments regardless of their knowledge and how they learned it.
I would recommend a yellow Gripmaster (to help warm up and increase hand strength) and a metronome to go along this book.
Fretboard Books 2008-06-26
Item was a gift for my son on the opposite coast. He reports this book met all his expectations and is very happy with it. See also the third book in the series.
An owners manual for your guitar 2008-06-12
99% of books out there are written with a piano-centric bent and of all the books I own this is the first that is for guitarists as 1st class citizens!
My only suggestions are: 1) You HAVE to get the DVD with it. While the book is GREAT there are some concepts that once you see on the DVD make easy sense while without it you can be left very confused. 2) is use supplemental books on theory (if you want a more in depth understanding). Bill teaches as if you are with him for personal lessons but it is impossible to tailor the teaching style to your learning style in a book or DVD. He does an excellent job of getting the information to you in a way 99% of people will understand.
What's more is at the end of the first DVD he shows you some very simple leads that will have your friends and family amazed.
The VERY best part of the whole series is the author himself. He will actually answer emailed questions and spend a ton of time helping you understand concepts in the book. I even had to call him (about an error with my credit card-I ordered direct from him) and he spent over an hour on the phone with me talking about theory, guitarists and how the series was developed. My point is that these books are written by someone who really cares about your improvement and didn't just do this to make money.
He even let on that he is in the process of getting the vol III DVD together. Get the first two with the DVD so you will be ready for the vol III DVD and you will be 20 years ahead of where you are now in a year. I don't review many things but this is one that I truly believe in. My only regret is wasting 20 years before I found his series otherwise you would all know my name and mention me with the likes of EVH. Oh well, I'll work on that for next year :)
Good reference book. 2008-06-07
The Special Edition is the first two volumes of the Fretboard Logic guitar series combined with a special discount. Part One deals with the pattern organization of the fretboard which results from the guitar's unique tuning system. Part Two teaches the tone groups of music - Chords, Scales and Arpeggios - by building them in the context of this pattern organization, and thereby eliminating the usual guesswork and rote memorization associated with these areas of a guitarist's education. This alone can take years off the learning curve. Combined, the two parts form a solid foundation by which a guitarist can intelligently pursue the music styles of their own choosing, and play them on the guitar types which they prefer.
The info is there but . . . 
2008-05-31
There is clearer info elsewhere. This book basically boils down to chord/scale positions and pentatonics. I have found better and more understandable info on pentatonics from Joe Cefalu. Search "Cefalu pentatonic". Starting with his idea, I made my own scale diagrams and everything fits together nicely. Using his method, you will be able to play any pentatonic scale, major or minor, for any tonic, at any position of the fretboard with just a second of thought. I know it sounds like I'm him and I'm selling my own thing, but I'm not. There is nothing in this book that you can't put together yourself from the Cefalu video/pentatonic template.
Good Guitar Book 2008-02-25
Good book, well laid out, gave me a bunch of info that takes the mystery out of learning the guitar.
I thought this was a great book untill... 
2008-02-20
I read the book "blues you can use". "blues you can use" has a much more complete presentaion of the 5 standard pentatonic positions. It also has tons of exercises, and a CD with exercise played. "fretboard logic" is just text and scales..I read "fretboard logic" first and thought it was pretty good, but "blues you can use" really puts it to shame... (and no, I am in no way affiliated w/ either author).
Great idea, novel insights, not for everyone 
2007-12-04
If you're stuggling to piece together advanced chord forms and lead positions, this book may help you reach that "a-ha!" moment when things fall into place. It's not for everyone. It's entirely theoretical (no applications/exercises), dense, and bone-dry. Kinda like a calculus book for those studying music theory on guitar. And it really needs a copy editor. But the insights have helped me a bit.
