16 Best Bouzouki Book Reviews 2022 (Best Books to Learn Bouzouki)

1. Roger Landes: Irish Bouzouki Method (Hal Leonard)

This first edition book is written by Roger Landes and is now available in the Kindle edition. There are audio and video configurations added in this book. The book is designed to teach every enthusiast the Irish bouzouki. This is the beginner guide with step-by-step guidelines that helps teach the basics of bouzouki and different Irish song forms.

There are accompanying audio files in this Kindle edition through which you can learn the demonstrations of the instruments. In addition to playing exercises and techniques, the players will learn about tuning, picking, strumming patterns, and the right playing position. In addition, basic music reading instructions are added to this book.

2. Tobe A. Richards: The Irish Bouzouki Chord Bible

The book is written by Tobe A. Richards and has become an ultimate chord bible for Irish bouzouki. The book covers more than 2,52 chords, which makes it a fine choice for experienced as well as beginner musicians. The book has a very straightforward and organized layout without compromising on the logicality of the music progressions.

The book covers the major chords along with minor slash chords. With this being said, the musicians will be able to teach a wide range of drone string and open-string chords. There are 60 types of chords available with 12 keys. The book covers chord construction, chord naming, harmonic intervals, and the window blanks on top of everything.

3. John McGann: A Guide To Octave Mandolin & Bouzouki

This book is written by John McGann and has a variety of tune styles available, ranging from American to Irish standards. This book is integrated with a fine combination of melodies and tunings that are available in different tablatures and notations. This package comes with the stereo CD that teaches different chord voicings.

The players will learn how to play bouzouki techniques with the left, as well as the right hand. There is a special chapter that shares information about the fingerboard. The author has added fiddle tune information in American, blues, Irish, and jazz with full notations. Also, there are improvisations in the book. All in all, this book is suitable for the intermediate-level of bouzouki players.

4. Markos Vamvakaris: Autobiography - The Man and the Bouzouki

The book was released back in 2015, and it’s been translated by Noonie Minogue. With this book, you will be able to learn about the history of Greek music most engagingly and creatively possible. The book covers the interwar period during which songwriting escalated. The book covers the bouzouki players and composers, along with the idylls and triumphs.

This book is a fine choice for people who have an underlying interest in Greek music. It wouldn’t be wrong to call this book the Rebetika Bible. This book will share in-depth information about cultural music. This book is more of a biography that shares how Vamvakaris lived his life and how he created the most emerging music.

5. Niall O'Callanain, Tommy Walsh: The Irish Bouzouki

As the name suggests, this book focuses on the Irish bouzouki in the book's 48 pages. There is a handful of information about the tunes, and the instructions are very well-written. With this being said, the beginners will be able to follow the instructions. The book is written by Nial O’Callanian and Tommy Walsh.

The book shares a very thorough introduction to bouzouki with multiple pictures to share different dimensions. There are diagrams that show intricate information about the interior, parts, and construction of bouzouki. The students can easily learn the right playing and holding positions. Lastly, there are pages that cover the rhythms and tunes.

6. John Loesburg: Chords for Mandolin, Irish Banjo, Bouzouki

For everyone who wants to learn different chords on tenor mandola, Irish banjo, mandolin, and bouzouki, this book is the right choice for them. The book is pretty old, but it was illustrated back in 2005. As for the author, this book is written by John Loesburg. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this book shared the colossal references for chords.

The book is integrated with chords of every possible key. There are special sections about chord relations, tuning, and capos. All in all, the book is pretty helpful that has designed easy instructions.

7. Tobe A. Richards: The Greek Bouzouki Chord Bible

This bouzouki book was written by Tobe A. Richards back in 2016. This book covers more than 1,728 chords that will optimally cover the musical techniques for beginners as well as experienced and professional musicians. The book has a very streamlined layout with logical progression and major chords.

The book covers the moveable chord configurations along with slash chords. If we are accurate, this book sheds light on 68 different types of chords with twelve different keys. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this book is suitable for playing pop, folk, jazz, and rock. You can easily learn how to play bouzouki by yourself with this book.

8. Andrew Brel: The Emergency Bouzouki Player

The book is written by Andrew Brel, which speaks volumes about the in-depth information and the writing standard. As for now, this book is available in the Kindle Edition. The book revolves around the teenage who was railroaded into the South African army. The book finely sheds light on the mindfulness and cruelty of the South African army life.

The book has created an interesting outlook and shows a humbler side. The book has highly accurate characters that optimize the historical period. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this book exposes South African life issues that prevail in this fast-paced world.

9. Graham McDonald: The Bouzouki Book

The Bouzouki book is written by the famous Graham McDonald and has been designed to teach Irish bouzouki and citterns. It’s pretty clear how bouzouki has become an integral part of acoustic music, given the combination of octave mandolins and citterns. This book has step-by-step guidelines that help players create music.

The book empowers the musicians to build the stringed musical instructions. The best thing about this book is the B&W illustrations in more than 200 hues. All in all, the book helps learn different components and how to use them impeccably.

10. Tim O'Brien: The Mandolin and Bouzouki of Tim O'Brien

The books are not a cup of tea for everyone, which makes this DVD a fine choice for people who want to learn how to play bouzouki. The DVD covers the instrumental curiosity and the singing that captures the heart and soul. There are special songwriting techniques in this DVD that will improve the overall aesthetics of acoustic music.

This is rather a course through which players can improve their mandolin and bouzouki techniques and learn how to compose and curate the repertoires. All the pieces in this DVD are highly engaging and fun while promising the optimized musicianship skills. Also, the techniques and tools learned through the DVD can be utilized on different musical instruments.

11. Giorgio Cordini: Bouzouki Technique

This book is the ultimate choice for you if you are interested in bouzouki with four double-string setups and CFAD tuning. The best thing about this book is that it teaches the tuning techniques from the lower strings. The book is designed to teach the leads and comping techniques, along with complex improvisations and melodies.

The book covers GDAD tuning as well as ADAD tuning. This book is more of a manual that covers the standard techniques for bouzoukis with four pairs of strings. On top of everything, the musicians will be able to learn about comping and create Italian compositions.

12. Gary Brenchley: Making A Bouzouki And A Cittern

This book is written by Gary Brenchley, who has shared wide-scale information about the short scale, and long scale instruments. The book has step-by-step information about playing techniques and rhythms. This is a well-integrated book with detailed information about fabrication. The players will learn about different dimensions.

The book was launched back in 2014 as the 13^th volume which focuses on the clamps and forms, along with the sound-hole cutters. the bottom line is that this book is very easy to read and learn with.

13. Haralambos Payatis: How to Play Bouzouki

This book is a fine choice for everyone who wants to learn some old-school bouzouki techniques because it was written back in 1993. This book is the brainchild of Haralambos Payatis and is suitable for all the beginner bouzouki players out there. The beginners will gain a deeper understanding of the instrument.

The cover has been designed with systematic presentations that cover each and every technique. In addition, some schemes and tablatures enhance the bouzouki experience. All in all, you will learn about the process through which you can start the bouzouki occupation.

14. Ondrej Sarek: Jewish songs for GDAD Bouzouki

For everyone who wants to play Jewish songs on bouzouki, this book is the right choice for them. It is written by Ondrej Sarek, and the book focuses on the illustrations and songs rather than the text.

There are 20 songs in this book, focusing on Jewish music. The players will be able to make high-end melodies after reading this book. The best thing about this book is that it teaches different folk music with minor melodies.

15. Ondrej Sarek: Czech Hymnbook for Fingerpicking GDAD Bouzouki

This book will suffice to their needs for everyone who wants to learn how to play bouzouki and the fingerpicking techniques. The book covers multiple catholic songs from the hymnbook. Well, this book shares the fine pieces from the 16^th century and the 20^th century. Also, the songs have been re-harmonized, and the tunes have been rearranged for bouzouki fingerpicking.

16. Ondrej Sarek: Robert Burns songs for GDAD Bouzouki

As the name suggests, this package comes with the Robert Burns songs and has no text involved. The songs are plucked and published with utter accuracy. Some of the songs in this book have been rearranged in terms of tunes and lyrics. This book is really a masterpiece designed by Ondrej Sarek, and he has arched the melodies.