Zen Guitar

By: Philip Toshio Sudo

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

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 58 lessons that provide focus and a guide, the listener 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.

©2013 Philip Toshio Sudo (P)2017 Simon & Schuster

Excellently Simple and Refreshing

I've been playing advanced level guitar now for 20 years and I highly recommend this book to anyone who plays, or even is thinking about learning to play the guitar.

Zen Guitar is one of the most important and enjoyable books out there covering playing an instrument. 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.

Overall: This is a broad range of mental techniques that can change a person's perspective when applied to an instrument. That's what makes it different than the other books out there. There's really no technical knowledge, just spiritual and overall well being as the goal. 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... give it a shot.

Zen Guitar way of life

I just finished this @Audible and I loved it. Speaks to me on so many levels. I’ve been playing guitar for 50 years and I still have beginners mind every time I pick up one of my 13 guitars. ❤️

Thought provoking and exceptional.

My guitar instructor recommend this book around 10 years ago. Every few years I've been brought back to it. You have to be ready to really take it in, but it's not only invaluable for any beginning guitar players, it's a must for any professional guitarist that's struggling to still find their way.

what I needed to take the next step

this book has
inspired me to take my guitar journey down the road further to where it may lead...

SuperCool

Found out about this book through ..Dean Delray Let There Be Talk Pod Cast with Sebastian ..ended up getting an audible subscription.. this turned me on to a new adventure... thanks Dean Bach Audible

Great listen

This book helped me think about guitar playing and music in a bigger way. It could apply to any instrument, type of music or hobby for that matter. It relates music and the practice of it to zen and mindfulness. Highly recommended

learned a lot

I recommend focusing on the words/taking notes.it might even change the way you see playing guitar, very informative and deep!

Great advice on how to relate to music and life

I kept thinking to myself how one could insert any type of action and these attitudes would be relevant and useful. As a zen practitioner I found the book helpful and akin to Dogen's Instructions to the Cook.

Beautiful and profound!

Any serious student of music should read and internalize the concepts in this book. It is well put together and presented in a manner that is easy to listen to. Just by listening even once, these concepts and philosophies will deepen and expand your ability to appreciate music in ways you may not expect! Wonderful book!

THE THEORY OF THE NON-THEORY

What do I mean you ask? What kind of nonsense is this here? The musical theory of learning music through the application of no theory whatsoever is what I mean. A gift…for you