The author recounts his forty years spent collecting rare vintage guitars, describing how his best-known instruments were made and acquired and his encounters with some of the famous musicians who played them.

Unleash the song of your soul with Zen Guitar, a contemplative handbook that draws on ancient Eastern wisdom and applies it to music and performance. Each of us carries a song inside us, the song that makes us human. Zen Guitar provides the key to unlocking this song—a series of life lessons presented through the metaphor of music. Philip Sudo offers his own experiences with music to enable us to rediscover the harmony in each of our lives and open ourselves to Zen awareness uniquely suited to the Western Mind. Through fifty-eight lessons that provide focus and a guide, the reader is led through to Zen awareness. This harmony is further illuminated through quotes from sources ranging from Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to Miles Davis. From those who have never strummed a guitar to the more experienced, Zen Guitar shows how the path of music offers fulfillment in all aspects of life—a winning idea and an instant classic.

'These guitars have been really good tools; they're not just museum pieces. They all have a soul and they all come alive.' - Eric Clapton 'In his own words, Clapton tells his story through the history of his instruments.' - Rolling Stone In Six-String Stories Eric Clapton reflects on a legendary career as told through the tools of his trade: his guitars. Collected together here for the first time are the instruments Clapton sold in three record-breaking auctions between 1999 and 2011 to benefit the Crossroads treatment centre he founded in 1998. Featuring some of the most iconic guitars ever played, Clapton guides the reader through nearly 300 instruments as he discusses their provenance, reveals insights about his own playing, and shares anecdotes from each chapter of his spectacular life in music. 'One by one these guitars were the chapters of my life. They belong to a very well-loved family.' - Eric Clapton Six-String Stories presents a 'family tree' that makes connections between iconic instruments, such as Clapton's famous 'Blackie' Stratocaster, and previously unknown rarities, placing them in the chronology of his career. Clapton recalls the instruments he bought to emulate his heroes, the guitars with unknown origins that became their own legend, the ones that never left his side, and the legacy they left behind. Every piece has been individually photographed, revealing every curve, detail and scratch, while the work of over 80 of the world's best rock photographers shows the instruments in play. See Clapton's evolution from the psychedelic Sixties, through the stripped-back Seventies, electric Eighties, and unplugged Nineties, right up to the sale of the last guitar. 'As an avid rock or blues fan, I would look at all the pictures in this book.' - Eric Clapton Historical and technical information for each piece in the collection - including playlists and concert dates for those instruments used on records and at public appearances - completes the story behind each guitar. 'The guitars are things of great beauty.' - Eric Clapton

Philip Toshio Sudo, founder of the Zen Guitar movement, and guitarist and educator Tobias Hurwitz present this follow-up to the best-selling book Zen Guitar. Inside are musical examples that help bring the Zen philosophy to life on anyone's guitar. Learning these ancient ideas can help guitarists become more "in the moment" in their musical approach. The Book of Six Strings helps guitarists break out of a creative rut and take playing to the next level. This book's centerpiece is "One Sound One Song," composed by Philip Toshio Sudo as a musical launching pad for Zen Guitar exploration. Included are inspirational quotes, philosophical concepts and historical facts mixed in with the musical examples. Also included is a CD demonstrating all of the examples in the book. This book is the ideal choice for those looking to be inspired and to deepen their spirituality and musical understanding.

As the follow-up to the best-selling book Zen Guitar, The Book of Six Strings presents musical examples that will help you bring the Zen philosophy to life on your guitar. Learn how these ancient ideas can help you become more "in the moment" in your musical approach. The Book of Six Strings will help you break out of a creative rut and take your playing to the next level. This book's centerpiece is "One Sound One Song," composed by Philip Toshio Sudo, as a musical launching pad for Zen Guitar exploration. You will also find inspiring quotes, philosophical concepts, and historical facts mixed in with the musical examples. If you are looking to be inspired and to deepen your spirituality and musical understanding, this book is for you.

A Story of Six Strings brings into sharp relief the intersection between Arnold's lifelong passion for music and Fritchie's keen eye for breathtaking photography. Set against some of the most majestic landscapes in America are guitars that range from a 1959 Sears Silvertone Acoustic to an 1840 Parlor Guitar handmade by Nicholas Henry in France, a 1994 Ibanez "Iceman" signed by Paul Stanley of KISS, and a 2008 Gold Tone Resophonic. The love is clear after all, who really has their first guitar?

From the beloved author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most critically acclaimed novel yet—a stunningly original tale of love: love between a man and a woman, between an artist and his mentor, and between a musician and his God-given talent. Narrated by the voice of Music itself, the story follows Frankie Presto, a war orphan born in a burning church, through his extraordinary journey around the world. Raised by a blind guitar teacher in Spain and gifted with a talent to change people’s lives—using six mysterious blue strings—Frankie navigates the musical landscape of the twentieth century, from the 1950s jazz scene to the Grand Ole Opry to Elvis mania and Woodstock, all the while searching for his childhood love. As he becomes a famous star, he loses his way, until tragedy steals his ability to play the guitar that had so defined him. Overwhelmed by his loss, Frankie disappears for decades, reemerging late in life for one spectacular yet mystifying farewell. Part love story, part magical mystery, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is Mitch Albom at his finest, a Forrest Gump-like epic about one man’s journey to discover what truly matters and the power of talent to change our lives.

A portrait of the artistic life of Daniel Kwabena Boa Amponsah, known around the world by his stage name, Koo Nimo. Celebrated in his native Ghana for his infusion of traditional motif and palm-wine guitar into mainstream music, the book is a journey through Koo Nimo's work as an artist, and also as a man with a deep affection for his culture.

Join performer and teacher Jeff Peretz on a musical journey that will open your mind and improve your guitar playing in ways you've never dreamed of. Using the practice of skill cultivation, one of the principles at the heart of Zen philosophy, you'll discover ways to develop your powers of concentration, let go" as a player, and become a complete guitarist. Along the way, you'll learn about the history of Zen; the application of Zen to rhythm, melody, and harmony; and new ways of thinking about familiar musical elements. You'll find Zen and the Art of Guitar a musical learning experience unlike any you've ever encountered."

Six String Bass is written to help you make the transition from either the four or five string bass to the six string. The book begins with an exploration of the low B and high C strings followed by scale studies, random note studies, technique, and chord voicings (triads, seventh chords and inversions).