Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Zen Guitar
Book Review: If you love music and are grateful for your gift, buy it.
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's face it- in this world, music is a force that spans the entire universe. One shimmering tone can send a person's being into spiritual ecstacy...a relentlessly turbulent, entrancing rhythm can lead a group of men into war. Music has powers which will never be fully explained.We, as musicians, are capable of evoking these forces...Zen guitar helps us to understand and accept this gift.
What sets a player like Yngwie Malmsteen- with burning, toothless scales, impressing in one second, then repulsing the next...and Jimmy Page- one who creates music with timeless beauty and universally memorable and respected musicianship-even when it's sloppy??
Read Zen Guitar.
Book Review: If you're open, you'll learn how--and why--to play guitar.
Summary: 5 Stars
Philip Toshio Sudo is not Mel Bay--if you buy Zen Guitar looking for scales and chord charts, then yes, you will be disappointed. But the book's concept--the "path of Zen Guitar"--is not how to play, but _how_ to play and, depending on your interpretation, _why_. It's about motivation and fulfillment, not technique. What the book does--or did for me, at any rate--is help you evaluate why you play guitar in the first place and gives you some food for thought as you go about achieving your guitar goals. I am a sloppy, self-taught player, I have no experience with Zen teachings, and I'm not big on books that offer fun new dogma--but I found the book's focus on the spiritual and emotional aspects of creating music on a guitar as well as the musician's unique and personal relationship with the instrument both fascinating and extremely valuable. I feel I'm a better player now, practicing with sharper goals and better intentions; the book's advice has helped both broaden my outlook and focus my efforts. At no time does Zen Guitar neglect the importance of practice; it is, in fact, at the heart of the book (its First Point Of Focus: "Don't ask, practice"). Many of its concepts are direct from Zen teachings and beliefs, but the book neither preaches nor drags.
Zen Guitar is a difficult book to describe, but I didn't find it difficult to comprehend--and I was able to apply its wisdoms to my playing immediately. As long as you *want* to explore the spiritual aspect of playing guitar, the book can be an invaluable tool.
Book Review: In spirt a tional...Fun...Positive....A must for guitar
Summary: 5 Stars
I... eat...think...drink...everything Guitar... I have studied most guitar books,programs,theories...always searching for more...any suggestions? ...I love talking guitar...10-12$...buy this book...it dosn't have scales and theory...it is positive...The negative opinions I read urged me to leave this review...Riddle me this...One who learns about Tao and Zen and knows and understands the "cliches" in this Zen book...Leaves a negative review?
Jesus Loves You,
Sincerely,
Jdan
Book Review: Inspiring, But I Am Having Trouble Living It
Summary: 3 Stars
This book seeks to inspire one to practice more and to be more focused on one's music and musical goals. But the problem is that the author tells you to do this, to do that, to watch out for this, but not for that, to think like this, and not like that, to try this, but not that, to be humble, yet at the same time intrepid, etc. ad infinitum. I want so bad to follow a wise path in my music, and the author of 'Zen Guitar' seems to have a lot to offer in that respect- TOO MUCH to offer, actually. I find myself getting so worried and caught up in following the authors many rules, noting his exceptions, avioding his stated pitfalls, and trying to be follow his fine-line, 'one mistake and you're out' path, that I am just going crazy trying to remember it all when I am playing. So I find I am not in zen at all. On the contrary, when trying to follow the authors well-intended advice, I get confused about just what kind of person the author would like for me to be, and I am full of self-doubt when I realize that I can not be as perfect as the author would like for me to be. It's hard enough practicing for a few hours each day. I just can't concentrate on what Philip Toshio Sudo wants me to do all the time, especially when I am playing. So sorry Philip- I know you mean well with 'Zen Guitar', but it's just too hard-line for me.Book Review: Learning How To Play And How To Live
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a gem of a book. It is unique in that it very gently teaches you valuable lessons about the guitar and about your spiritual growth and development. You need know nothing about Zen to enjoy and benefit from this book. Keep an open mind. I'm guessing you'll read it more than once to absorb and digest the wisdom. And I'm betting you'll enjoy the guitar more than ever.