Mickey Baker 39-s Complete Course In Jazz Guitar Pdf Upd -

Mickey Baker — 39th “Complete Course in Jazz Guitar” (PDF): In-Depth Blog Post

Note: I’ll treat “39-s” as a reference to the 39th item/lesson or an edition; if you meant something else, the content below assumes you want an in-depth post about Mickey Baker’s Complete Course in Jazz Guitar (the classic two-volume method), focusing on seeking a PDF, its contents, impact, and legal/ethical considerations.

Title: Why Mickey Baker’s “Complete Course in Jazz Guitar” (Book 1) Is Still the Bible—And Where to Find It mickey baker 39-s complete course in jazz guitar pdf

Why This Book Is Legendary

• No-nonsense, shortcut approach – Baker was a busy studio player; he taught what actually worked on gigs.
• First jazz guitar method to focus on voice leading and moving chord forms – Instead of memorizing static grips, you learn how chords connect.
• Heavy use of chord substitutions – The book introduces tritone substitution, diminished passing chords, and altered dominants early.
• Still relevant – 70+ years later, it remains on many jazz guitarists’ recommended lists (Pat Metheny has cited it).

Legal Ways to Access the PDF

• Purchase from Hal Leonard – Official PDFs are sold through their site or authorized retailers like Sheet Music Direct.
• Used physical copies – eBay, AbeBooks, local music stores often have old copies for $5–10. Scanning a personal copy for your own iPad is fine (fair use), but sharing is not.
• Library services – Some public or university libraries have the book in circulation or via interlibrary loan.

Book 2: Single-Note Soloing

• Focuses on scales, arpeggios, bebop phrasing, and target notes.
• Less famous than Book 1, but essential for moving beyond comping into improvisation.

1. The Low-Quality Scan

Because the book is out of print in some regions (though currently published by Hal Leonard), many free PDFs floating around forums like Reddit or Scribd are terrible. They are usually scans from the 1980s paperback. The chord grids are smudged, the notation is unreadable, and crucial pages are often missing. You cannot learn jazz from a blurry G13 chord. Mickey Baker — 39th “Complete Course in Jazz