Six Essential Fingerings for the Jazz Guitarist

Bought this as an addition to my already other Jazz Study Books. In this book Jimmy Bruno explains how to play the modes using six fingering methods. As I started using the book I began to like it, because it helps to see the modes and scales in a new manner. He shows fingering for 5 different modes. The Major, Dorian, Mixolydian, Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor scales. After I began studying the layout and technique, I realized that the other modes not mentioned were also being played while I used the 4th fingering method. I find this book to be very helpful as well as his No Nonsense Video. If you buy both the Video and this Essential Fingerings, I believe you will see a great improvement in your playing as I did. Knowing the scales and using this material will allow a jazz musician to solo better.

like new condition. A++

This inexpensive 32 page book supplimented with Jimmy Bruno's DVD, "No Nonsense Jazz Guitar", (and a whole lot of hours of practice), will give you a significant jumpstart on the long road to playing credible jazz guitar. I wish this book had been available to me years ago.The material is clearly and compactly presented. It's easy to understand and apply, and if you have any questios remaining, another musician, not even necessarily a guitarist, can head you in the right direction. Don't just buy this book. Resolve to yourself that you'll tackle its contents seriously. Vow to work through it and to master the fingerboard "pictures" that Jimmy Bruno shares with you.If you're interested in jazz guitar, this should book shouldn't just be in your library, it should be on your music stand.

You will do MUCH better with this little book if you buy the No Nonsense Jazz Guitar video, they really go together. These positions are worth the effort to internalize and kick those bad playing habits. This book gives six fingerings for major scale, 6 for dorian mode (scales), 6 for Mixolydian mode (scales), 6 for natural minor, 6 for harmonic minor, 6 for melodic minor. The book does not give arpeggios which would be useful but they are easy to plug in with these fingerings. It is tough to drop those bad fingerings but these are probably better than whatever you are using. Mr. Bruno graciuosly gives his personal email address for any questions (how cool is that?).

Jimmy Bruno is without a doubt one of the most gifted guitar players who ever picked up the guitar. His chops and technique will astound you. That being said, he is a wonderful teacher as well. No serious student of the guitar should overlook this gem. I have been playing since 1956 and teaching since 1963 and I know what is worthwhile in studying. This should be required reading for any serious guitarist. Not to be missed

Bruno has slightly modified and updated his fingering system since this was published. I wish I had not bought this book, although it will work if you adopt this system. If you want the new system, log onto his website, and look for his poster of the new system.The most important part of his system is that it intends to make sure that the same harmonic intervals fall under the same fingers in all the scale patterns.

I have been playing guitar for over 20 years now, and I have used all of the scales that he was using. But, I had neverput the scales into a usable practible approach.I had to many options for playing the Major and Minor scales. Now Ican weave the scales into my solo's and as a result, make a more pleasing smooth solo. I do recommend this book!

What a great book from Jimmy Bruno and Mel Bay. Although some of the fingerings seem to be a little odd almost every page of this book is filled with useful information that I will use for years to come.Worth every penny!

I don't normally write reviews but felt compelled to say something about this booklet. I've played (rock/pop) guitar for more years than I care to remember and I'm not that all that bad. But this slim volume has transformed my playing and enjoyment of the guitar. There is an admirable logic to the way in which Jimmy Bruno has configured these scales and time spent practicing them is time well spent. Given the amount of time I have spent with this booklet over the past two years it must be the best value book I have ever bought.

This is the holy grail for aspiring (and not so aspiring) guitarists who can't read notation - it gives you all the basic scales you need to fully map out your fretboard. If this book had been available 20 years ago I would be a much better guitarist than I am today.

A very interesting book. I haven't had the time to work my way through it yet, but it appears to be very promising.

This is a Great book although you can find the same stuff on his DVD unbeknown to me but his method is excellent

Good to know you're on the right track but you have to know the scales first to see what he is getting at ,, you have to see the tree before you can prune it