Zen Guitar

by Philip Toshio Sudo

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.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Spirituality, Self Help, Zen, Buddhism

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 1997

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Paths cannot be taught, they can only be taken". So it is with Zen guitar.

My first guitar, as for so many, was a 3/4 size classical, nylon strings, cheap laquered plywood and 2-inch wide fretboard - bought by my mother after months of my 13 year old nagging. She didn't know. She wasn't to know that this guitar was fine if I wanted to learn flamenco, or pick out the notes of 'Greensleeves'...but not really effective if I wanted to become the next Springsteen.

"Anything you set out to make - music, love, a bookshelf, a meal - make as well as you can. To do otherwise is spiritless"

Nonetheless, I persevered, got chord books of Dylan, Bowie and Dire Straits songs and by the time I was 14 I had a pretty good rhythm technique going, knew my major from minors and the odd sus 7...and had the beginning of some lead playing. By then I wanted to make some noise. I wanted to go electric, Newport '65 style. I had a Saturday job (remember those?) in Woolworths (remember that?) and would go to this music shop in my lunch break and look at guitars I couldn't afford. But I saved up, and one day went in and proudly chose a black Les Paul copy (origin unknown, but probably Japan), took it home and just held it. And held it some more. It's curves and contour fitted me just like a lover, and I suddenly found chords so much easier to make on a fretboard at least half the width of my old classical. And the sound..well..it was at that point I realised that I need some amplification. It hadn't occurred to me at all that electric guitars didn't just make a sound on their own. I just didn't know.

"Once we understand our limits, we can begin to work around them"

So, I put in a few more Saturday shifts on the "record bar" at Woolies and saved up again, and got a little 15w Champ practice amp. Loved it. Now I was cooking. The guitar, in truth, was a hunk of factory made shit, known technically as a "right bastard" to keep in tune and only had one effective pickup. But with the Champ turned up to 11 and me banging out the power chords of "Summer of '69", none of that seemed to matter.

"In a hundred-mile march, ninety is about the halfway point"

I was playing in bands by the time I was 16, and had progressed to an authentic American Telecaster and a full on 120w Marshall amp. For over 30 years now I've been close to an instrument every day of my life, and I just have to play. My body doesn't feel right if I haven't held a guitar before I sleep.

Like any true act of creation it's an endless journey. Key moments along the path still resonate - someone showing me 12 bar blues and suddenly unlocking rock and roll..discovering open and alternative tunings..slide..double stops..half barres and bends..the wah pedal and I'm Hendrix..open G I'm Keith..open D I'm Ry Cooder..dropped D I'm Neil Young..or Richard Thompson..and on it goes..always something new to discover.

And that's the wonder and beauty of this book. This is not a "how to" guide. There isn't a single chord shape, tablature or scale in it. It is about the "why". Find the right soil to plant your seeds and the best nutrients to help them grow. Think substance, not technique. Mojo in the dojo. True beauty comes from the inside out, not the outside in. A noble, holistic, human approach...a life guide.. to help the mind and spirit focus. Tune in, to the instrument, yourself, to others. This is about attitude, mental space, belief, internal chemistry connecting with external physics. Emptying one's cup to allow space for new experience. You can apply the ways of the zen to anything. Anything at all. Zen baking next, for me, I think.

"Learn a chord, then a second and a third. If you can play three chords with maximum spirit, you have all the elements you need to make real music. The guitar has shown us again and again: Three chords can rock the world."

It was hard work, learning; blistered fingers, aching wrists (though at the age of 14 I can't honestly say that would have all been down to the guitar playing). It's harder work to learn how to be in a band..how to listen to others..to feel what they're doing..to give space and freedom..to allow the ego to subsume..stagecraft..to lock in to a rhythm and energy that flows between you all. You know when you get there, because you're all smiling.

"When the right people get together, be it in music or sports or business or marriage or sex or whatever, a kind of spiritual fusion takes place".

This is also a beautiful book physically - a publishers dream..soft back and tactile, wonderfully illustrated, and balanced in the hand. Very Zen. Perfectly right.

"Do not trudge along your path. Your spirit shows in every step"

For anyone interested in the journey of discovery, learning, wisdom and grace.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i tried to meditate a while back, but i always hated the breathing part and also the sitting part, which seemed like the two main parts.

so i'm just gonna keep stumbling my way through zeppelin's "black dog" until i experience ego death. according to this guy, that kind of work counts for something

[Lee Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The easiest breeziest prose and format kept me reading by mixing quotations from rockers and jazz players with Zen koans and terms I've known since I took a mind-blowing Zen Buddhism class sophomore year in college. About as good as such a book could be, sort of like a self-help instruction-less instruction book -- the sound of one hand clapping etc extrapolated to practicing and playing guitar but also with dimensions and extensions into one's actions and behavior in life. All makes sense in this, seems easy enough to acknowledge and accept as things to think about without thinking etc while playing, and my playing today on a day-off reflected more of a beginner's mindfulness maybe. Liked it as inspiration to maintain that open mindstate, tune up and play, not thinking too much about theory etc (never much of a problem for me!) but listening deeply, getting out of the way, using the instrument as an "instrument" to convey feeling, and remain aware even as you disappear into the sounds you're making. I've played since '87 or so but sometimes am not really even sure if I know how to play guitar even if of course I can play all the basic chord forms all over the neck and run scales and bust out the hott licks etc -- I'm not all that technically proficient but I can do what I do and enjoy disappearing into regular twenty-minute sessions like a sort of very un-silent meditation -- I've always played mostly improvisationally, and in the past few years have posted some solo recordings on a sort of podcast available at http://rzcac.com and on Spotify and iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts (search "Rascacielos"). Decided to try the podcast format instead of Bandcamp or Soundcloud etc to learn how to do it but also because sometimes the "songs" exceed an hour. I mention this not just as nasty self-promo but as sincere example of someone who maintains this expert amateur approach, the not at all stringent "way" I follow with writing fiction and reviews on here too I guess. Anyway, worth a look if you play an instrument and want to read something quick and light yet potentially enlightening.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is written for people who play guitar or are learning guitar...there is so much to learn from this book. Just replace the word guitar with whatever you are interested in and the same principles apply.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stop worrying about what the audience wants, about whether your pedals are true bypass, about whether you can play as fast as the next guy. Just plug the damn thing in and ROCK your heart out.

[Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, given my background in both music in Buddhism, and given how many 4-5 star reviews this book has on Goodreads. But I came away disappointed, with the feeling that I've just read the literary equivalent of a heap of cotton candy. Although there were 1-2 memorable paragraphs, most of this short book is comprised of empty platitudes, half-baked generalities, and a pop psychology version of Zen that you've probably already encountered a million times in other contexts. There is no practical advice to speak of.

Here are some quotes so you can judge yourself whether reading this is worth your time:

"You must take care not to make mistakes. But when they happen, learn from them."

"If you find it difficult to tune, stick with it."

"Know what works best for you."

"Just play. If it feels right, it is right."

"Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, as well as it can be done, and do it that way every time."

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takeaway message is just to play your guitar and make your own discoveries in music. Stretched out to 183 pages. With some choice quotes and eastern philosophy to bulk it out. Read it in one go. (But I could've been playing my guitar instead).

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important, enjoyable books I've ever had the good fortune to read. The concept of zen is familiar to many, and this book is certainly laden with familiar concepts, but it manages to relate those concepts incredibly well to the art of learning, practicing, and playing an instrument (not necessarily guitar; this book applies to any instrument... it is not an exercise book), all the while reminding you that those very same concepts seamlessly overlap into everyday life, and stretch far beyond the scope of playing an instrument. I really can't say enough good things about this book. If you play any instrument at all... or hell, even if you don't... I highly recommend it.

[Juni · Rating 4 out of 5]

my musical mastermind buddy, mark, lent me this to read.. and it came at a time of emotional upheaval and crazy roadtripping and ditching school to hop around the east coast and play and meet and think and shed some skin. one of those books you can pick up and get inspiration from at just about any time, whether you play guitar or not.

[Tim Roettger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some choice quotations:
"[W]earing the white belt here means you have agreed to set aside all knowledge and preconceptions and open your mind to learning as though for the first time.

In zen circles, this attitude is called carrying an empty cup. [...]

From here on out, drink and keep an empty cup. The moment you think you know everything there is to know, you will have lost the way. The beginner's mind is the mind of wisdom." P. 26-7

"What matters on the path of Zen Guitar is not the obstacles we face but how we respond to them. Master your reaction to the unforeseen and unfortunate circumstance, and you will master the Way of Zen Guitar" P. 45

"Remember, even though trees do not grow to the sky, their roots continue to grow. You've been given all you need to know the Way of Zen Guitar without looking to anyone or anyplace else. Just keep digging where you are." P. 63

"Instead of learning how to do something and then doing it, do something and then learn from what you did. Rediscover the joy of beginning and your doubt will vanish." P. 74

"Yes, there is more than one path to the top of the mountain. But the only one that will get you there is your own. Do not look longingly at the paths of the others. Give yours your undivided attention and keep your focus. The farther you go on your own path, the more you will understand every other path.

At the end, they all converge." P. 93

"Do not analyze things to death. Sometimes the best strategy is, "Ready, fire, aim" DO it first, then make adjustments. The answer lies in action--not in words." P. 94 (entire Overthinking chapter)

"Develop your sense of perspective. When everything around you looks like weeds, remember: From the heavens, all is a garden.

Then get to weeding." P. 118

"[B]e wary of liking or disregarding someone's song simply because of who they are. Don't allow prejudgments to close your mind. Keep your ears open and listen. Even liars can speak the truth, even friends can lead us astray.

Hear the song, not the singer." P. 120

"Every rendition, every pass through, is a distinct moment in time never to be repeated in exactly the same way. This is what's meant by the saying, 'You never step into the same river twice.'

Feel this in your heart and related it to whatever you do in life. No matter how many times the song gets played, the black-belt Zen Guitarist knows each version is the first--and only--take.

Every note you play, everything you do: It's all one take." P. 152

"The first rule of mastery is this: Those who think themselves masters are not masters.

There can be no letup of your study, no matter how far you've come. Even the highest priests of zen say to themselves, mi zai: 'Not yet.' You have not yet learned all you can know. You have no yet given all you can give. YOu have not yet reached the summit.

Empty your cup and keep going. Same mountain, farther up." P. 155

"[L]et me make clear: Zen Guitar is not an exercise in navel-gazing. The Way is not to be found through self-consciousness, but unself-consciousness. 'If you seek,' the masters say, 'you will not find it.'" P. 160

"Music should go right through you, leave some of itself inside you, and take some of you with it when it leaves." - Henry Threadgill

"Poetic imperfection is the crooked twist in the stem of a flower, the asymmetrical line of the handcrafted bowl, the knot in the piece of wood, the mole at the corner of a lip, the moon partially obscured by clouds. Somehow, the presence of these 'imperfections' serves to heighten the beauty in nature, not detract from it." P. 164

"[T]he pursuit of harmony requires far more strength than hatred. You must have the strength to wage peace." P. 167

[Pompom]

Zen Guitar is going to take a long time to read. After trying to rush through the entire book I started over and have been contemplating the very first instruction, "Wear the white belt" for a year. It could be time to move on but I don't really see the rush.

[Kurt Bannister · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pure fluff with no substance.

[Tatiana Rodina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I return to each 3-5 years.
It is not about playing, it is about the way of making art, communicating with yourself and others and, living.
A lot to apply in life, a lot to learn.

[Andrea Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might be about guitar, but it is about so much more. The lessons can be applied to any situation in life. Give yourself a gift and read this book, slow down, and enjoy it.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Zen Guitar” is one of the most helpful books on playing guitar that I have encountered, and I highly recommend it to every guitarist. It is unique among guitar instructional books in that it has nothing to say about chords, scales, or technical matters at all. As the author points out in the beginning of the book, “the world is swimming in information”. As guitarists, we don’t really need more information – we can easily find all the information we might want – what we really need, according to Sudo, is the wisdom that comes only through experience. We don’t learn to ride a bicycle by reading about it. Rather, we learn by experience. Or, as the author says, quoting an applicable Zen saying, “Paths cannot be taught, they can only be taken.”

The goal of “Zen Guitar” is to change the mindset of the reader in his attitude towards playing the guitar. The author does not seek to tell you, the reader, how or what to play. Instead, he draws on the teachings of Zen in order to help you adopt the proper attitude of mind necessary to become proficient in whatever you choose to play. This book is all about a change in attitude. As the author says, “My concern is not so much the ‘how’ of guitar playing as the ‘why’.” His concern is helping the reader to adopt a mental posture that will facilitate personal progress, whatever that may mean to each individual.

To give an example, Sudo addresses the common question, “how long will it take [to become an accomplished player]?” As a matter of fact, I was asked this question just last night. I was at the grocery store, and the checker, evidently a musician himself, saw that I was wearing a guitar-oriented T-shirt and asked me, “How long does it take to learn the guitar?” I answered, “About forty years.” (That’s how long I’ve been playing guitar). As I see it, I’m still learning and making progress. Here’s how the author of “Zen Guitar” addresses the question, “how long will it take?” He writes, “To be obsessed with the destination is to remove the focus on where you are. The only way to progress in Zen Guitar is to put everything into this step, right now.”

Here are some passages I especially liked from “Zen Guitar”:

On picking up the guitar – “Don’t pick up your guitar aimlessly. Act with a sense of purpose. Be of the mind that you’re going to do something – even if you don’t know what that is yet. Prepare yourself to play.”
On tuning the guitar – “Beyond tuning the instrument itself, it’s also important for you to be in tune with the instrument. Much more difficult on the path of Zen Guitar is finding an internal tuning – one that brings body, mind, and spirit into harmony. A player must be clear of internal static such as impatience and frustration…”
On playing the guitar – “Here is where you start: Play one note on one string and pour in every ounce of your heart and soul. Then repeat. On a technical level, any beginner can do this. The challenge is one of the spirit.”
On practicing the guitar – “As the samurai say, ‘the only opponent is within.’ There are no tricks or secrets. It is a matter of will – putting one foot in front of the other every step of the path. In Zen Guitar, honesty, integrity, spiritual strength, and depth of conviction are more important than skill. These are the elements that make vital music, and they have nothing to do with natural talent.”
On practicing the guitar – “All you ever need do is focus on one thing: what you are doing. Stay on the path and put one foot in front of the other – that is all. There is joy in the struggle.”
More about practicing the guitar – “Guitar playing is a physical activity that demands training. The body must acquire an intelligence of its own. The muscles must learn to move in new and disciplined ways. Physical challenges force the mind to confront obstacles: pain, fatigue, self-doubt… When the body engages in something new, it focuses the mind to pay attention – to acquire focus, direction, resolve. Conversely, when the body tires of an activity, the mind must forge discipline and endurance in the muscles. Frustration results when the body will not perform as the mind directs, or the mind becomes confused about what it wants the body to do. These confrontations between mind and body are an integral part of training. The only opponent is within.”
On technique – “The more complicated the technique, the more attention the mind must give to it. The aim is to play without thinking about technique. Acquire only the technique you need, and no more. That is the Way of Zen Guitar.”
“Just play. If it feels right, it is right.”
On overcoming self-consciousness – “Many mistakes arise from self-consciousness – from too much focus on what the body is actually doing. The way to overcome self-consciousness is through practice. With practice our muscles develop their own intelligence, until thought and action occur simultaneously; our skill becomes natural – part of what zen masters call our ordinary mind.”
More on practicing the guitar – “Practice does not make perfect – perfect practice makes perfect. The key is not to think of doing things right every time – that thought seems too overwhelming. Just do it right one time, this time, right now. That’s all you ever have to worry about.”
On overcoming self-doubt – “The Way of Zen Guitar is playing what you were meant to play, not necessarily what you want to play. Understand the difference. Sometimes the two are the same, sometimes they are not. You must reconcile one with the other, or you will not make progress. A bird does not ask, ‘Is my song pretty?’ It simply does what it does. Trust in the truth of naïve musicianship; there you will find what you are meant to play. Naïve musicianship is exactly as the name implies: innocent, unself-conscious, egoless expression. It follows no rules other than its own, and seeks acceptance on nothing but its own terms.”

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in high school out of an interest in guitar and, more so out of curiosity about Zen. While I didn't become a very good guitar player, and I didn't find the deep dive into Zen I was looking for here, this book inspired me to seek further and eventually pick up Shunryu Suzuki and Bodhidharma. For that reason I can point directly to this book as a pivotal read for my mind and draw a direct line from it to where I've come to spiritually and philosophically today.

[Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something about this book that just doesn't work for me. When it tries to be deep it just comes off as sort of nonsensical and I feel like it repeats itself a lot. It's hard to take a lot of this seriously just because of the voice it's written in.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library copy

[Abhay Nanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book full of wisdom. Even if you are not a guitar player but a musician, this is a very good way of understanding and learning the zen philosophy.

[Bon Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite keeper of a book, one to get back to time and again. Guitar, or any craft for that matter and Zen, are such a perfect combo.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will help any musician who wants to understand the music and guitar in a deeper, more spiritual way. This book uses Oriental and martial arts principles to propel the reader into a better place in so many different ways. It really is a beautiful experience if you are open to it. I highly recommend it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn't teach any specific guitar playing technique. Rather, it looks at the spiritual side of making music; if you will, the zen of playing guitar.

Everyone carries a song inside themselves, it's what makes us human. This book offers a key to letting out that song. Once you have picked up a guitar and properly tuned it, don't worry if you don't know any songs. Play just one note on one string and give it every bit of your heart and soul. Then repeat the process.

When you start regular practice, start with one new habit: Do one thing the right way one time. In the next moment, make the same commitment. On the other hand, there are potholes along the way that must be avoided at all costs. It's easy to skip practice "just once," a year later, the guitar is covered with dust and cobwebs.

Some feel that learning a certain technique is the most important thing in guitar playing. It's certainly important, but the more complicated the technique, the more brainpower that must be devoted to it. The aim is to play with the proper spirit, to play without having to consider technique. A person must have something to say, first.

To progress down the path of Zen Guitar, you need to love guitar playing and commit your heart to training. If it isn't fun for you, then there is a big problem. Don't be halfhearted about it. Overearnestness is just as bad. Some guitarists force themselves on an audience through excess volume or pyrotechnics. Learn self-control. A measure of mastery is through what you hold back, not what you show.

Another important part of guitar playing is responsibility. You must develop your talent to the fullest capacity, with no excuses. You must respect those who come to you with open ears and foster a feeling of community. Also, act as teacher to those who are seeking their own way along the path of Zen Guitar.

If there is a single rule to Zen Guitar, it might be this: Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, as well as it can be done, and do it that way every time.

This is a fine piece of writing. It certainly gives a new perspective to guitar playing, whether it's folk music or heavy metal. I'm sure much of this book could apply to any instrument. For musicians and music lovers, this is very much worth reading.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zen Guitar is a mash-up of Zen and Music. While it is not a method book in the traditional sense, it does offer guidance on how to approach both one's instrument and one's life in a zen way. If this sounds interesting to you, read on.

Pros
- Quotes from musicians (including Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton) generally keep the work from becoming too abstract.
- Includes a glossary of terms, meaning it is not necessary to thumb through the book to find the meaning of a Japanese word or phrase the author uses
- Includes a list of "further reading," on various topics discusses throughout the book

Cons
- Even though the book is up-front about its contents and intentions (ie that this is NOT a typical method book), I still found some of the lessons to be very abstract
- Though the book is titled Zen Guitar, virtually none of the lessons require a guitar specifically, as any instrument will do. Aside from the quotes from famous guitarists, this book could have easily been called, Zen Music or The Zen Musician.

Conclusion
The book deftly weaves together the study of Zen and Guitar. If that combination sounds interesting to you, and you aren't looking for a traditional method book, Zen Guitar is definitely worth a look.

See more reviews at Quinn's Curios.

[Tony Espy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who plays, or even is thinking about learning to play the guitar.


It's an interesting mix of Eastern/Zen Buddhist philosphy as applied to the practice of playing guitar. Some chapters focus on a particular aspect of playing guitar, some discuss mistakes or approaches to avoid, but in the end, all can be applied to life itself.


One of my favorite things about this book is that each chapter starts with a quote from some the greatest guitarists to walk the planet. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Keith Richards, Neil Young, Joan Baez, Tom Petty... the list goes on and on.


My copy is dog-eared and worn, and will be a source of inspiration as I continue my journey from white belt, to black belt, and back again to white.


As Frank Zappa once said... Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best…, so shut up 'n play yer guitar!

[Zevi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kind of disappointed that this one had no actual musical examples included in the text. More philosophy than actual hands-on lessons. Still it had some interesting ideas and approaches. If you like this book you should definitely check out How to Become a Guitar Player from Hell which came out only a couple of weeks ago. How to Become a Guitar Player from Hell covers almost every guitar technique used by modern guitar virtuosos and explains them in simple terms anyone can understand. Arpeggios, finger tapping, artificial and muted harmonics, unorthodox tremolo bar manipulations, exotic scales and chords, but it also has philosophy and out-of-the-box thinking exercises. And extensive musical examples are provided in tablature form with no traditional music reading skills necessary. It also has topics tangential to guitar playing yet still of interest to guitarists, such as how to find band members, taking care of your hands, and how to get gigs, etc.

[Benji · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO, i lost the review.

So here's the summary:
1) At the beginning, I thought it was gimmicky, but of the sort that ''if you believe in it, you'll get the value out of it''. So I gave it a chance, and the last third of the book really took me and engaged me. A lot of it you discover on your own through the years, or else you don't advance and give it up.

2)It helped to apply the mindset to different challenges other than guitar: singining, learning chinese characters, running. One major insight that I enjoyed was the idea of ''everytime you pick up the guitar, try to see it for the first time''. The idea of always being a white belt. I've found some of my best, most creative playing comes from the times after being away from a guitar for several weeks.

3) the best celebrity quote was the Bruce Sprinsteen quote about holding the contradictory ideas of 'this is the most important thing in the universe' and 'this is just rock and roll, try and have a good time'.

[Samuel Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will either seem like an exercise in navel-gazing or it will be a valuable asset to the musician in pursuit of self-actualisation (just don't expect it to be your only asset). I really liked it; helped me find a sense of perspective when I was experiencing symptoms of burn-out many years ago. The book is applicable to guitarists of any genre. The world of classical guitar has certain unhealthy elements, not the least of which being elitism and over-emphasis on competition. This book suggests different ways of approaching the musical life. Zen Guitar provides a much-needed reminder to musicians that there are deeper issues with which any musician, professional, student, dilettante, or rank amateur, must grapple, and that music, speaking as an academic and a professional, is far too important to be left to the professionals and academics!

[George Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would've liked to rated this book with 2 1/2 stars. Although this book caters for the beginner to advanced guitarists at about mid point the beginner may feel out of their depth. Of course the real purpose behind Philip Toshio Sudo's book is the inculcation of Zen philosophy into one's approach to learning and playing guitar. This book is very useful is for aspiring guitarists in acquiring the right attitude to learning and appreciating guitar.

[Ian Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply impossible to put into words. It is so absolutely great, so absolutely wonderful to read, I am speechless. It brings peace, clarity, confidence, wisdom, serenity, knowledge, and spiritual inspiration beyond measure. RIP Mr. Sudo

[Munir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for guitar players of all levels who view listening and playing music as a spiritual experience.