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The Book of Six Strings (2nd Edition): Guitar Book & CD

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The Book of Six Strings (2nd Edition) Cover Image

The Book of Six Strings (2nd Edition): Guitar Book & CD

The Zen Way to Play Guitar

By Philip Toshio Sudo and Tobias Hurwitz

Item: 00-41439

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Description
As the follow-up to the best-selling book Zen Guitar, The Book of Six Strings presents musical examples that will help you bring the Zen philosophy to life on your guitar. Learn how these ancient ideas can help you become more "in the moment" in your musical approach.

The Book of Six Strings will help you break out of a creative rut and take your playing to the next level. This book's centerpiece is "One Sound One Song," composed by Philip Toshio Sudo, as a musical launching pad for Zen Guitar exploration. You will also find inspiring quotes, philosophical concepts, and historical facts mixed in with the musical examples. If you are looking to be inspired and to deepen your spirituality and musical understanding, this book is for you.

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 128
ISBN10: 0-7390-9860-8
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-9860-8
UPC: 038081463117
SKU: 00-41439

More about this title

About the Author: Philip Toshio Sudo

Philip Toshio Sudo is a composer and author who has spent decades exploring the intersection of Eastern philosophy and Western music practice. His work emphasizes mindfulness, presence, and the spiritual dimensions of musical performance rather than technique alone.

Why we love this

This book bridges contemplative practice and guitar playing in a way that feels genuinely earned rather than marketed. The inclusion of "One Sound One Song" as a central anchor gives students a concrete musical focus for the philosophical concepts, making abstract ideas tangible at the instrument.

What to expect

Reflective and grounded. The book creates space for contemplation alongside playing, encouraging you to slow down and listen to yourself rather than rush toward the next technique or piece. It feels less like a method book and more like a conversation with someone who understands both guitars and the human need for meaning.

Who it's for

Guitar students and players seeking a deeper, more intentional approach to their practice and performance. This is particularly valuable for intermediate to advanced players who feel technically capable but creatively stuck or disconnected from why they play.

How to get the most out of it

  • Use the included CD to hear how the musical examples sound in context before working through them yourself.
  • Return to passages multiple times across weeks rather than trying to absorb everything in one sitting; the book rewards repeated engagement.
  • Read the quotes and philosophical concepts first, then approach the musical examples as applications rather than isolated exercises.
  • Play "One Sound One Song" with full presence, treating it as a meditation rather than a technical challenge.

How to use it

This works well for independent study projects where students articulate their own relationship to music and practice. It can also anchor a studio curriculum around mindfulness and intentional playing, or serve as a resource for students in a plateau who need to reconnect with why they started playing in the first place.

Skills your students will build

  • Listening awareness and self-awareness while playing
  • Presence and focus during practice and performance
  • Making intentional musical choices based on philosophical reflection
  • Connecting technical skill to deeper artistic purpose

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