Skip to main content

Guitar Books

 

Guitar Books

Teach yourself guitar. 

Eric’s been writing instructional guitar books since the mid-’90s and is excited to share some new guitar instruction and playing ideas with you. Some of his older books are no longer available, but the most recent three will be very helpful in your playing. Eric’s first book (circa 1997) was called Functional Guitar.
His second book was a short one designed for use with elderly aspiring guitarists called ‘Ready-Set-Guitar’. His third book was called Guitar Antics – The Guitar Unconcealed, Application & Technique and used extensively with students while he was teaching full time.

The Guitar Antics book expands on the functional guitar idea and instructional approaches and adds numerous examples and applications of harmonic minor, diminished patterns, arpeggios, licks, and more. The non-guitar transcriptions for the electric guitar are a lot of fun and illustrate some of the best public domain tune snippets as played on the guitar, great for new ideas and technique and phrasing.


Eric Peterson Fiery Flute Lines Book

New Project for Q2-Q3 of 2025!

Eric’s latest work transcribes some fiery flute lines for the electric guitar. This has been an ongoing project the last few years; he hopes to complete it this year.



Crazy Clarinet Lines for Electric Guitarists

Your electric guitar phrasing can be improved by practicing licks and melodic lines composed on other instruments, try these, technical clarinet lines for the guitar. 
Available from: Amazon Kindle | Google Play Books | Apple Books | Kobo


Classic Violin for Guitar Book

Cool violin excerpts arranged for the electric guitar including Bach, Vivaldi, and Paganini. 
Available from: Amazon Kindle | Google Play Books | Kobo | Apple Books



Guitar Antics

Replace that outdated method book with this functional guitar approach chalked full of examples and applications of music theory, exercises, and cool licks. 
Available from: Amazon Kindle | Google Play Books | Kobo | Apple Books




(Old) Guitar Antics Book

No longer available, widely utilized with Eric’s guitar students from 2000-2016. Recommend the updated eBook above 'Guitar Antics.'







Functional Guitar

This was used extensively during the height of Eric's teaching days from 2000-2016. It's no longer available and the concepts were further refined and made available in the Guitar Antics book.


Eric Peterson - Ready, Set, Guitar

Used as a Seniors Guitar Method for some local Senior Centers. No longer available.

Popular posts from this blog

Are Guitar Lessons Worth the Money, Time, and Investment?

  Why Guitar Lessons Make Sense 1. Faster Progress & Better Technique A skilled instructor guides you on what and when to learn, preventing bad habits and saving you from years of missteps. Students often “save time and avoid frustration by avoiding months or even years practicing things incorrectly”. One-on-one feedback on posture, fingering, and timing—areas hard to self-correct—offers real-time correction. 2. Personalized Feedback & Accountability From professional teachers to studio settings, consistent feedback keeps you honest and motivated. You show up, you practice, and you grow. “There are three key reasons why guitar lessons are worth it: a clearly defined path, individualized feedback, and accountability”. 3. Cognitive & Non-Musical Gains Learning the guitar brings brain-boosting benefits, including improved memory, discipline, focus, confidence, and creativity. Adult learners often experience an enhanced sense of self-esteem and a better social life throug...
Read more

The Evolution of My Sound: A Journey Through 30 CDs

The Evolution of My Sound: A Journey Through 30 CDs As I reflect on my musical journey, which has now spanned over three decades and thirty albums, I am reminded of the incredible evolution my sound has undergone. From the early days of experimenting with an electric guitar and amp in my garage to the sophisticated digital recording techniques I use today, my music has been shaped by a combination of curiosity, innovation, and collaboration. The Early Years: Experimentation and Inspiration It all began when I was 15, armed with an electric guitar and amp. Those first compositions were, admittedly, rough around the edges, but they marked the beginning of a lifelong passion. My initial guitar teacher didn't quite spark the fire I was looking for, but I soon found another who opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of music. This newfound inspiration propelled me into forming a band just a few months after picking up the instrument. Those early days were filled with creativity ...
Read more
  Unlocking the Octave Mandolin: A Journey Through History, Design & Modern Use What Is an Octave Mandolin? The octave mandolin—sometimes referred to as an octave mandola in Europe—is a member of the mandolin family, tuned G–D–A–E, like a standard mandolin, but pitched an entire octave lower ( Wikipedia ). Its scale length usually ranges from 19 to 24 inches , with around 21 inches being typical ( Wikipedia ). Structurally, it resembles other mandolin-type instruments: made with carved or flat arched tops and backs, braced internally either in traditional transverse or modern X-patterns ( Wikipedia ). You’ll find variants from classic Gibson-style A/F bodies to guitar-shaped “hourglass” styles with flat tops ( Wikipedia ). A Brief History The octave mandolin evolved relatively recently in the timeline of string instruments. While its ancestors—the lute, mandolin, and mandola—stretch back centuries, the octave mandolin as we know it did not exist during the peak of early 20th‑c...
Read more