The Eric Kershaw Book of Dance Band Chords.

[ecca]

I have just ordered this magnificent book ( my first and only chord book ) from Amazon.
Jealous eh ?
Yes you are cuz I had the last copy.

[cockroach]

ecca

While you're buying books, try Ivor Maraints and Mickey Baker's 'jazz' chord books too.

[ecca]

This Eric Kershaw book was the very first book I had that I had with my first cello type guitar in 1960.
I still have most of the original, in tatters, and I've been looking for its replacement for decades.
First published in 1946.
This is purely nostalgia, I haven't the slightest interest in chord books per se.

[JimN]

Eric, those flattened fifths, augmented ninths and diminished sevenths are well known as having an unintended aphrodisiac effect, so be very careful down at the Hankies.

As Stevie Wonder once wrote: "A jazz chord to say 'I love you'..."...

JN

[George Geddes]

Having failed to master Keith Papworth's "500 chord shapes..." (a slimmer and cheaper alternative to Kershaw), I went ahead and bought the other one. Both still prove useful, if only to confirm that I still can't get my wee fingers round some of the shapes!

George

[Mikey]

I remember those early chord books, e.g. Ivor Mairants, etc and I nearly gave up but for most complex chord you can usually wing it with an easier substitute.
Anyway, Bert came along soon afterwards with "Play In A Day" and saved us all!

[Tony Szpala]

Eric

I've still got my original 1946 copy titled" Dance Band Chords for the Guitar by Eric Kershaw" - in pristine condition - obviously not well used!
Reading your post reminded me of the time we booked Eric Kershaw for Stoke Guitar Club - it was an upstairs room in the Red Lion Pub opposite the Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on Trent - circa middle to late 70's.
Eric asked us to provide a Bass/Bass Guitar player - my old guitar teacher, Bill Wheatley, an ex pro who was a very good double bass and bass guitar player offered to do it for nothing, just for the privilge of playing with Eric.
I was taken aback when Eric turned up with a nylon strung classical guitar without an amp! I need not have worried the evening was very entertaining due to Eric's excellent playing, his anecdotes and banter.
Incidentally Eric wrote a little known book called "Improvisation for the Guitar" which he completed just before he died in 1983- again my copy is in immaculate condition due to very little usage!

Best wishes

Tony

[ecca]

The book is impossible to get.
I've been after it for decades.
I got it for a massive £6 .
It's got proper chords like 13ths and none of this modern E2 nonsense.

[keithmantle]

I've got the 2 K P books (blue) 500 chord shapes and (red) 500 advanced, originals from 1960 , I've just mastered A Major !!. On the back of the advanced it advertises Jazz for guitar by Eric Kershaw

[JimN]

Eric's equally distinguished guitarist son, Martin, is currently regaling Facebook friends with reminiscences and memoirs from his studio playing days...

JN