5 comments about 101 Bass Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know and Use.

1. Interesting arcane and off-beat tips, probably already known by the master bassist but helpful reinforcement; or good to know stuff for the beginner starting out on the career. CD attached with some useful examples.



2. this book should be read by not just bass because it's tips roll over to all guitar players. I am taking up bass and have been playing 6sting electric and just loved the book.



3. The 101 tips that modern bass master Gary Willis lays out in this excellent book will help bassists of all levels improve their craft in a variety of ways. Take me for example. I had been obsessing over the lack of mids in my tone, tweaking my preamp and considering introducing an expensive EQ pedal into my effects chain. Then I read Tip 49, and backed off the volume on the neck pickup of my Jazz(tm) bass. Wow! There was the articulation and punch I'd been looking for. I had also been feeling guilty for watching my alma mater's football games on Saturdays ("there goes another three hours that I could have been practicing!"). Then I read Tip 96, and bought a length of 2x4, some rope, and two screw eyelets. Presto - I had the perfect "bass" to focus on the mechanics of right hand slapping with my thumb, isolated with no need to worry about what my left hand was doing, all while watching football. Features a CD-ROM of audio tracks that you play over for some of the Tips.
   
   [...]



4. This is one for the library. Totally recommend getting the Tascam MPB-T1 Mobile Bass Trainer - MP3with a leather case from ValetStand com. Just down load the cd to the Tascam trainer and you can practice anywhere.



5. This book is for you if:
   You already know your way around the fingerboard, and know some theory, and have a solid beginner's grasp of the instrument, and are looking for some ways to improve or aid your playing/gigging, *outside* of basic technique, reading and theory.
   
   many useful tips, some more so than others, depending on your level. An excellent supplement to the fundamentals.

5 comments about Mel Bay Presents: Aaron Shearer: Learning the Classic Guitar, Part 2.

1. A well thought-out method of considerable value for the analytically-minded guitar student, or even for experienced guitarists.
   
   There are three books in the method: Parts 1, 2, and 3.
   
   Part 1 (shouldn't that be "Part One"?) is all about the mechanical aspects of guitar playing: How to hold the guitar, the best ways to place your hands and move your fingers, etc. (Many use the word "technique" to describe this aspect of musicianship, but I call it "mechanics." I got the idea from Vladimir Horowitz, who said that technique is something beyond mere mechanics. He said that "technique is the ability to get your point across." So, in Vlodya's world of music, it would be possible for a musician to have very inelegant mechanics, yet have a superb technique! Haven't we all heard such musicians?)
   
   Part Two is the "workbook." It features lessons in the form of musical studies and original repertoire pieces, written in standard notation. Many of these are duets to be played with a teacher or a more advanced player. It also introduces the reader to the study of solfege.
   
   Part Three discusses expressive playing and gives guidance on developing one's performance skills.
   
   At the least, the three books comprise a valuable reference work for a serious guitarist or guitar student. There are other grand guitar methods in the world, of course -- Carlevaro's and Aguado's, just to name two -- but I can't think of any other that is as well-organized, as systematic (it progresses through thoughtfully designed stages), as comprehensive, and as coherent as Mr. Shearer's.



2. Requires a teacher that is familiar with the book.
   Definitely not a "teach yourself" manual



3. I wasn't exactly blown away with this book. I don't think learning solfege while trying to understand how to play the classical guitar is really necessary. I teach classical guitar and I have never even given a thought about teaching solfege along with the instrument. I was forced to learn solfege while working on my music degree and feel that if a person isn't planning on singing while playing the guitar, then learning solfege is basically a waste of time. Most classical guitarists play by themselves, without singing since the instrument plays melody and harmony at the same time. Classical guitar playing is a lot different from just strumming chords and singing along.
   
   Also, although Aaron Shearer and Alan Hirsh wrote some interesting pieces for the book, I was surprised that all of the music in it was written by them. No music from any of the great guitar composers from our past was included. My feeling is that students brand new to classical guitar should be exposed as soon as possible to Carcassi, Giuliani, Sor, etc....
   
   I've picked out a few tunes from this book that I sometimes ask my students to learn, but overall I probably wouldn't buy the book knowing what I know about it now. It sits on my book shelf, but I rarely open it since there are too many better books to use.



4. I had a problem with USPS, my book never arrived, was deliver, but not in my place, they can help me. Can you ? please !!!!



5. As an amateur and needing instruction from the technical point of view, these books have been an excellent source. They are thoughtfully designed as an aid to the study of this most difficult instrument. A foundation of technique with thorough explanations as to the 'why' not just the 'how' to perform.
   Mr. Shearer shows all the signs of an instructor of great experience, intelligence, research and a willingness to grow through constant study and development. He has written a series of books which reflect these qualities.

5 comments about Zen Guitar.

1. If you write, play, breathe music pick up this book, it's insane every page makes you want to play the guitar, and they start off every page with a quote from a well known musician!... pick it up well worth it!!



2. It is a really good book. It gives much room for thought on guitar. A must-read for all musicians.



3. A book that actually has some depth and meaning - - for a guitar player and for life. I bought another copy for my 21 year old son I thought so highly of it.



4. This book is so cliche that I couldn't stand to read more than 20 pages of it. It is repetitive and not particularly insightful. If you do choose to buy it based on so many positive reviews do yourself a favor and buy it from somewhere you can easily return it. As one reviewer mentioned it only exists because the 'title was available', so pick up the Zen of Pooh if you want to learn about zen practice and a guitar method book if you want to learn how to play the guitar.



5. Honestly, this book is the biggest waste of $6 I've ever spent. I didn't expect a book of scales or guitar theory, but literally every page is a bunch of worn out "Zen" cliches which don't have anything to do with playing guitar and therefore don't actually help you become a better guitarist.
   
   If anyone truly become a better musician, mentally or physically after reading this book, I do not understand it and would love to hear why.

5 comments about Guitar Chord Encyclopedia (Ultimate Guitarist's Reference).

1. This is the best guitar chord encyclopedia I know of. It is comprehensive and portable, the spiral binding allows for easy hands free reference, and the price is right. Multiple voicings for chords are provided in chord diagram formmat. The introduction to chord theory is an added bonus as is the fingerboard chart on the back cover. Fits perfectly into a guitar case.



2. This book is a good reference for all the basic voicings of every chord. If you want jazz chords (or any other genre of music) this book won't give it. If you don't have a chord reference book, or are unhappy with the one you have, this is the book you want.
   
   The only drawback I found was I thought I was buying the spiral bound edition (for ease of use). This was not the case. I was under this false impression because there is a review on this book that remarked on the ease of use because of the spiral binding. So, if binding matters to you, you may want to confirm the binding before purchasing.
   
   Caveat Emptor -- The spiral bound though smaller in size, has fewer pages (I would expect more pages to compensate for the size). It might not contain all the chords the regular edition does. Be sure to check this out if it matters to you.



3. This book is really helpful. I really like the way it's set up. Nothing but happy customers here.



4. I wanted a comprehensive reference for finding different forms of the "weird" chords, and this book seems to fill the bill. I don't know where they come up with some of the chord forms that are used in song books or online tab, but it's great to have a reference that shows you the alternatives.



5. I needed a book to quickly look up chords when learning new songs. this book does exactly that, and only that. but that what I needed.

5 comments about Make Your Own Electric Guitar.

1. Fed up with my local musical instrument retailers, I set out to build my very own guitar armed with this book: Make Your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock. I have to say I learned A LOT from this book, it's got a lot of very detailed information. However as an absolute beginner to this art who has a lot of questions, I can say it has some shortcomings.
   
   For one, as another reviewer mentioned, there are way too may pages spent babbling on about the history of the electric guitar. This would all be fine and good, BUT it is mixed in with the instructional text, so there's no way to skip over it or read around it. It's not like you can just skim until you find what you need because when building a guitar, missing the slightest detail can leave you completely screwed. You actually have to read it all to get the details you need, and it isn't always interesting or relevant. The history content should have been separated from the instructional text, the net result is a book that is not very clear or concise.
   
   Secondly, I hope you're a fan of Fender and/or Gibson, because the entire book is centered around them. You'll learn the history of these two brands from the very first one built onwards. Also all the specs for the building are based on those of Fender and Gibson. I don't mind this, as I am a fan of both, but this book does not give an answer-all formula for any style guitar, if such a thing exists.
   
   Melvyn describes the craft in a very great amount of detail and he is very honest, but to me the book was more discouraging than anything. Perhaps I could save you some time right now before you even buy this:
   
   -To build a guitar you need some ABOVE AVERAGE woodworking skills. If you just woodwork in your spare time or you never have, do not even attempt this.
   -You need a lot of tools that I can almost gaurantee you don't have in readily available to you.
   -Building your own guitar wil NOT save you money. You will most likely end up spending more money than you would on a brand new guitar.
   
   Those are just a few of the many things you should be aware of perhaps even prior to purchasing this book. Hope this was helpful, thanks for reading!



2. This book does have useful information and reference, but is not the 'Fantastic', 'Electric guitar bible', that it has been touted to be here and on luthier sites.
   Book is organized logically, but it doesn't exactly flow, and even though some bits are humorous it doesn't make up for drab writing. Melvin is a great builder and does make nice guitars.
   
   The book probably is worth the money for the first time builder, but not for someone who has built one or two already.



3. I am a hobby builder and, like many, I suppose, had made some beginner mistakes and was unsure of some proper techniques. This book is excellent whether you are building a guitar from scratch and making every part by hand, or using some ready made parts (perhaps neck and body) then assembling and setting up an instrument yourself. The wiring section is particularly helpful, both for builders and repair people. The book is written in a self effacing, witty British style. Lots of good photographs and diagrams are included as well.



4. This is quite an informative book for a beginner electric guitar or other electric instrument maker. There are three chapters which follow the course of making two guitars and a bass, and different neck/ body constructions are covered pretty well through these instructional examples. Different techniques for different applications are examined. I think the structure could be more logical and progressive for this book, but it's not a major detraction. I think that there could be a more fundamental analysis of constructing a guitar rather than basing the work on traditional and contemporary practices. In this way guitar makers could come up with there own ideas and approaches, but overall it's a good book in a subject area that seems pretty scant for want of information. Also sometimes the author is a little misleading for the sake of telling a joke, for instance about 'bashing in' frets. It could be edited better.



5. Excellent book for building and electric guitar. The instructions are wonderfully clear. There is also loads of general guitar information you'll pick up as you read through it.
   
   Worth reading for any guitar enthusiast whether you or not you are considering building one yourself.

5 comments about Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar.

1. This book promises to make players faster, cleaner, and more technically adapt. It does just that. In the short hours I have had this book in my possession, I have already begun to see minor improvements to my general technique. If this can make an improvement (albeit minor) to my playing in such a short time, imagine what it can do to my playing over a longer, more dedicated time!
   
   The content is simply marvelous. The beginner may have frustrations trying to understand the concepts, and Troy doesn't waste too much time explaining some of the ideas, such as modes, chords, and general theory. However, if you've had your fair schooling of theory and guitar basics, and wish to advance your playing technique through serious work and study and practice, this book is perfect for you.
   
   The CD, as many have already noted, does not divide the exercises too well. However, it is still easy to find whatever exercise your heart desires, provided you're playing the CD over a computer. The sound quality is studio-worthy.
   
   The actual print quality is also very crisp and clear. No need to worry about whether that smudge is telling you to hammer on or slide! Some exercises' print is slightly small, leaving plenty of white space on the page, but it is all perfectly readable to even I, with horrid vision.
   
   Overall, it is a must for any guitarist stuck on that blasted speed plateau, or shredders wishing to go even faster and cleaner.



2. I bought this for my 14yo, along with Metal Lead Guitar/Book and Cd (Vol. 1). They must be good because he leaves them all over the house after he's used them. They keep moving around, so he must be using them.



3. Pros
   - Helps focus development of technique
   - breaks down a method that can be applied for learning to use many different scales and modes
   - has a great systematic approach for identifying troubling passages and correcting them
   
   Cons
   - can be a little overwhelming when the CD blazes through some of the drills at 250 beats per minute
   - while playing chromatic phrases builds finger independence, it is just not very interesting to listen to (this is only part of the book)
   
   I'm have worked with this book for a couple weeks and I have noticed that already my fingers are quicker and my timing is more spot on. It is good for focusing on the important elements of technique.



4. this book is excellent for improving your techinque. if you take your time and follow the directions you'll begin to see improvement very quickly. this book is full of warm up excercises, and speed excercises (starting at slow speeds is emphisized). its divided in sections to focus on picking and fretting and contains a few songs. rythmic abilities are focused on as well as creativity. if you want to learn to shred this will help you get there.



5. This is a great book to help build your lead chops IF you know how to practice. Troy does a really poor job of explaining some of the essential things you must know in order to improve. One of the biggest being muscle tension and how you must eliminate it from your hands while playing. He never mentions stuff like that once and that's just really, really stupid cause you can practice those exercises for thousands of hours tensed up and never really get better unless you correct it. Same with muscle memory no explanation. So if you're a beginner and wants to shred buy the book AND get a good teacher and you'll be on your way.

5 comments about Fingerpicking Beatles and Expanded Edition: 30 Songs Arranged for Solo Guitar in Standard Notation and Tab.

1. I've been playing songs out of this book for a couple months now and find the arrangements aren't too hard, but enough of a challenge to be fun to learn and satisfying to play. Experience wise, I've been playing bass and guitar for a few years now so I'd say I'm between a begninner to an intermediate player - still a lot to learn. It takes me about a week to learn to play one of these songs consistently, another 3 or 4 weeks to commit it to memory and (mostly) stop making mistakes. This has become my favorite source for new songs. One of the guys I play with is extremely talented, he's toyed around with several of these and was impressed with their arrangement as well. Favorites - Blackbird, Hey Jude, Yesterday. Hope this helps.



2. I'm learning how to play fingerstyle guitar and I've been looking for pieces beyond the basic to play. This book is for the intermedite and above - it's a little above my skill level, but I feel I'll grow into it. The nice feature in this book is they give you the simplified melody above the more complicated fingerstyle solo parts. There is a one page lesson at the beginning of the book on how to play fingerstyle guitar. The book is arranged in both tabulature and standard notation. I can read standard notation but it's nice to have the tabulature to be sure you got the notes right especially with the more complicated fingerstyle guitar playing. Finally, the book contains many of the popular Beatles songs like Let It Be, which is the song I'm currently working on.



3. I've been playing guitar for a couple of years now, and am not very good. I bought this book because I wanted something more advanced than the simple beginner books, and less advanced than the real thing. This book fits the bill exactly. The songs are faithful to the originals and add a nice depth missing from the beginner books. Many of the songs are in standards tuning which is nice. While I can't play everything I'd say at least half are readily accessible to the advanced-beginner. I heartily recommend this book. Everyone should find something they can play, and there is enough variation to make this a good learning tool.



4. My old eyes like the large tablature,but my amateur talents have trouble with this...probably great for an educated user.



5. If you want to pay the book's price to get only one great fingerpicking transcription ( Blackbird ) amongst 30 songs, then you can but it.
   The rest is non-sense.

5 comments about Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music (Vintage).

1. I'm a jazz guitar major at a university, and our semester assignment was to read this book. I found it to be very artful in its descriptions of being a classical guitarist in the modern world. Though I could have done with out the twenty or so pages of guitar history, Dr. Kurtz does a wonderful job of laying down the realities of being a musician in a world that doesn't necessarily need them. However, I wouldn't suggest this book to just anyone. It is more suited to people who love and can relate to art music such as classical or jazz. Overall, very nice writing!



2. Like the author, I too have hit two playing-ending walls and have regained my ability to practice. I really appreciate the author's insights into the various voices that can inform and jade our ability to play.
   
   I'm so appreciative to have found this book.



3. To previous reviewers: Yes, the book has a lot about the guitar's history, maybe too much. Yes, the book rambles at times. Yes, I wish that he had discussed more about technique and his technical growth; what were some of the "ah-ha moments"? Yes, it does have an unhappy ending. And, yes, in my opinion, Kurtz is wrong to think of guitar as having show-stopper limitations. But, then, we weren't in Kurtz's shoes when he made the decisions that he made, were we?
   
   This is a one-of-a-kind book and if you have a serious interest in the classical guitar then this book is a must read; other kinds of musicians might find it tedious. I found that I could not put it down.



4. Kurtz's book is a true journey not TO the heart, but THROUGH the heart of a musician. However, please be aware, non-guitarists need not "fret" (ha-ha). This book is for anyone seeking inspiration, seeking to draw fresh wisdom from their life's experiences, no matter the passion. The reader easily learns from, and cherishes, Kurtz's fluid yet uncluttered prose. This book is a treasure for any age, for any person seeking to know themselves and what they believe in, be it music, the arts, recollections of childhood, family. It doesn't matter. Kurtz's highly personal journey will take you far into the back reaches of your own mind and memory. I will have to read this a second time, slowly.



5. Kurtz's book is an enjoyable one, largely spent describing his early journey through a music conservatory and his hope of becoming a professional musician. This partial musical biography is filled out with reflections upon history of genre of classical guitar and also the meaning of music. While the story contains interesting anecdotes and observations, in the end it hints at but does not clearly spell out the resolution that I would hope for, namely the recognition that the drive to perfection in artistry is inherently problematic, and the discovery of a way to live a life in music that is not perfection-driven. Kurtz tells the story of giving up on music altogether for many years, and then, without being clear about just what the difference is, speaks (all too briefly!!) of taking up music once again with a different attitude. I really want to know more about what attitude works better for him now. As I, an amateur musician, read the book, I could clearly see deadly perfectionism, the love-of-music-destroyer, for what it was. What keeps me playing music, is the uncritical attitude I bring to my endeavor: that I DO NOT have to improve: I can enjoy whatever I can do: even if I can only play three notes: wonderful! Those three notes sound so great! This book is an example of how the world of music is still too influenced by an orientation to performance and virtuosity, and suggests that a more tolerant, enjoyment-oriented, less perfectionistic and improvement-oriented attitude may be the key to a truly enduring life in music.

5 comments about Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology: A Complete Reference for the Design & Construction of the Steel-String Folk Guitar & the Classical Guitar (Guitar Reference).

1. A very good book that covers Acoustic and Classic guitars building in the same book, this is VERY useful and smart.
   You can learn the differences and also to really understand how to make each one of them.
   I gave him 4 stars because I would love to see color images! Not old black and white low quality photos
   Thanks,
   Yaron.



2. This must certainly be the perfect book for anybody interested in the construction of a guitar... - or any stringed instrument, really. The text is obviously written by someone with expert knowledge. I've never read anything as thorough as this. It seems every detail and troublesome process has been covered. The illustrations could be better, though. But it isn't a new book, so I guess we've just grown accostumed to colour photos.
   
   I bought it because I wanted to get started building my own instrument, but now that I have a much better idea of the difficulties I'm facing, I'm not so sure I'll take on the challenge. I could spend the time playing my instrument instead. :-)
   
   But at least, if I do start building, I won't be disappointed if I fail. It isn't easy! Even with my new book close by.
   
   Don't be discouraged. You couldn't ask for a better guide than this. "Courage!!" - as the French say.



3. Excellent book not just for beginning luthiers. An enjoyable read. Discusses not just the technique but also the history and theory. This is a great book to get if you are serious about guitar making. It is not just about putting wood together to make sound, it's about feeling the music as it grows from the wood and strings.



4. I bought this book because I wanted to build my own Flamenco guitar from one of the many preformed and precut kits out on the market. But after reading it I decided not to go for a preformed kit and build it from a basic kit where I do all the work, that is how much information is in this book. Now don't get me wrong this book won't make you a professional luthier overnight, but it will give you a good base and starting point. All you need is the wood.



5. You can learn to build a guitar from many books written
   by fine, talented builders.
   
   This book is beyond a mere technical explanation of how
   to put the parts together - it's a treatise in which is
   buried the HOW to think like a guitar builder and grow
   to have a control of the countless variables which contribute
   to a great guitar.
   
   I don't personally build with the method described here -
   but I used it in combination with other methods I
   leaned from other sources. This book was always open on
   my bench in my early days of building guitars.
   
   The book doesn't cover go-bar or vaccuum clamping technologies,
   the Fox side bender, hollow-dishing forms, nor the numerous
   small specialized tools now available. You can get the LMI
   handbook/catalog for that information.
   
   The authors' explanation of how to shape the neck is
   thoughtful as is the reasoning behind every process taught.
   They don't advocate building complex molds and I would tend
   to agree - because making hard molds is an awful lot of
   work and it's a crutch for the unconfidant builder.
   
   In the end, your first guitar is a learning experience.
   You can't really screw it up except by not persevering
   and finishing the project.

No comments about Hand Made, Hand Played: The Art & Craft of Contemporary Guitars.