Best Jazz Guitar Book (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Finding the best jazz guitar book means matching the book to the player: a fake book of standards for the jam session, a method book for technique, or a chord book for comping. We compared five jazz guitar books on fit, contents and value to find the ones worth shelf space.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Real Book Vol 1 by Hal Leonard	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Jazz Guitar Complete by Fisher	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Jazz Guitar Fake Book Vol 1	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Jazz Blues Soloing by Alexander	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Chord Creativity by Pettingale	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Real Book Vol 1 by Hal Leonard

Hal Leonard Corp·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The official sixth-edition jazz fake book with more than 400 standards in a spiral-bound, stage-ready format.

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Pros

• More than 400 jazz standards with chord symbols and melodies
• Spiral-bound format lies flat on a music stand
• 6th edition, corrected and fully legal

Cons

• 464 pages, heavy to carry to gigs
• C instruments edition, not guitar-specific fingerings
• 2004 publication, the oldest here

2

Jazz Guitar Complete by Fisher

Jody Fisher·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 320-page complete jazz guitar method from basic chords to advanced improvisation, with online audio.

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Pros

• Covers beginner to advanced in one volume
• Online audio for examples and play-along
• 320 pages from Alfred Music

Cons

• 2010 publication
• No chord diagrams mentioned
• Single-author method, one teaching style

3

Jazz Guitar Fake Book Vol 1

Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 384-page collection of 200 jazz standards with guitar chord symbols and diagrams.

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Pros

• 200 standards arranged for guitarists
• Chord symbols and diagrams included
• 2016 edition, newer than the Real Book

Cons

• Fewer songs than the Real Book's 400
• No audio mentioned
• Lead sheets only, no method instruction

4

Jazz Blues Soloing by Alexander

Mr Joseph Alexander·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 116-page step-by-step method for jazz blues soloing with 176 audio tracks and 15 backing tracks.

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Pros

• 176 audio tracks plus 15 backing tracks
• Step-by-step breakdown of the 12-bar jazz blues
• 2nd edition, April 2019

Cons

• 116 pages, focused on one topic
• Blues only, not full jazz standards
• Aimed at players moving from traditional blues

5

Chord Creativity by Pettingale

Mr Tim Pettingale·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 109-page guide to jazz guitar chord voicings across the fretboard with 100 audio examples.

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Pros

• 100 supporting audio examples
• Chord voicings in every key and position
• Etudes over well-known standard progressions

Cons

• 109 pages, the shortest here
• Chords only, no soloing method
• 2019 publication

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More picks to compare

• Beginning Jazz Guitar by Fisher96-page beginner jazz guitar method from 1995Check on Amazon
• Early Jazz Chord Soloing1920s and 30s swing chord soloing with audio downloadsCheck on Amazon
• Jazz Guitar FundamentalsStep-by-step beginner guide to chords and compingCheck on Amazon
• Jazz Guitar Tabs by Hill55 timeless melodies arranged for solo guitarCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, and value. None of the five state a reading age or level, so that part of the score is zero across the board.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best jazz guitar book

Decide between a fake book and a method book

Fake books give you songs: the Real Book holds more than 400 standards and the Jazz Guitar Fake Book holds 200, both with chord symbols for jam sessions and gigs. Method books teach you to play: Jody Fisher’s complete edition runs from basic chords to advanced improvisation. If you are starting out, the guitar workbook for beginners list has easier first books.

Check the audio that comes with it

Jazz is heard before it is read, so audio matters. Fisher’s method includes online audio for examples and play-along, Chord Creativity ships 100 supporting audio examples, and Jazz Blues Soloing packs 176 audio tracks plus 15 backing tracks. The two fake books list no audio, which is normal for lead-sheet collections.

Match the book to the player’s level

Beginners do best with a full method like Fisher’s complete edition. Intermediate players working on harmony will get more from Chord Creativity, while gigging players need a fake book on the stand. Buyers shopping for young players can also check the homeschool music curriculum for beginners list.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date: the Real Book here is the corrected 6th edition from 2004.
• Compare page counts against the topic: a 109-page chord book and a 464-page fake book serve different needs.
• Confirm how the audio is delivered, since listings describe online audio, downloads or nothing at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you learn jazz guitar from a book?

Yes. A complete method like Jody Fisher’s takes you from basic chords and scales to improvisation, with online audio to play along with.

What is the best jazz guitar theory book?

For chord voicings, Chord Creativity covers the fretboard in every key. For soloing vocabulary, Jazz Blues Soloing breaks down the 12-bar jazz blues step by step.

How many songs are in these fake books?

The Real Book holds more than 400 jazz standards; the Jazz Guitar Fake Book Vol 1 holds 200, arranged with guitar chord symbols and diagrams.

Still deciding? Our top pickReal Book Vol 1 by Hal Leonard

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Related lists

See every homeschool curriculum list and all workbooks and homeschool lists.

More lists: guitar workbook for beginners, piano method books and homeschool music curriculum for beginners.