5 comments about Rhythm Riffs: Over 200 Riffs in All Styles Hal Leonard Guitar Method.

1. This book is definitely worth 10 bucks. Greg Koch is awesome guitar player. Chops included in a book are really great! However this book would be perfect if guitar parts were recorded with drums and bass.



2. Greg Koch has developed an artful approach to those who find themselves playing the same old, same old. The CD is an excellent tool and the book's format makes it easy to follow. As an old rock player, I was surprised how many of the jazz riffs were of interest and help in my everyday play -- a few minutes here and there spent honing new skills and sounds. I've never had much luck with self-instruction books, videos, or DVDs, but this one's different and well worth the reasonable cost involved.



3. It's a neat one, only $10, so it's a great deal.
   
   Let's start out with the not-so-good: The CD recording is one of those that just plays the licks, fast, then slow, so it's definitely not anything you can put in the CD player. There is no accompaniment, so you're going to need to supply your own backing tracks or band-mates if you want to use these licks in any kind of musical situation. Also, a lot of the licks don't really loop very well, so if you wanted to have a cool riff that you could use as the verse of a song, or something like that, you are going to need to modify the last measure of about every lick (he has a nasty habit of ending with whole notes, or other large valued notes, which kills the forward motion of the music, and sounds more like a little "ditty" that you would hear at the end of a commercial or something like that).
   
   So... why am I giving it 5 stars? Because it's awesome. A lot of the licks are really cool, and most of them are very unique (very little cookie-cutter stuff in here). Every guitar player who picks this up will find a lot of interesting things in here. And then, if you decide to analyze it, you will find out a lot about chord shapes, root shapes, scales and how they relate to chords, etc. Also, the licks are often very difficult. Plain and simple, this book has a lot of heart, and is a great deal of content for the price. It's very good rhythm practice for any guitarist, and in focusing on rhythm chops, it's going to make the players who learn from this book into very awesome players! There's so many books with lead guitar licks, this one is great because it's got inventive rhythm ideas, and I reccomend it whole-heartedly.
   
   Daniel Page, Guitar Instruction



4. ..thinking it is something that would teach in a systematic way.
   This book is for well skilled in guitar method's players who want to experiment and select certain variety riffs planted at specific chords. Some riffs are for acoustic some for electric guitars. I found that Introduction is rather short, hasty and casual. I still try to understand what these dots below the notes are for, and what is notation "w/dist"? Special Techniques explaining is superficial as well. In general "Over 200 Riffs" is like sort of math book where you will find formulas and equations but without examples how and where to use it. It is just a SUPPLEMENT (as indicated on the front cover) that you keep and use as needed. Saying this, I am not going to give up on it. Time will come (hopefully) that I will get back to it and start using to bring flavor to my performances. As for rating, since I tried only few riffs and only for a short spell, 4 stars are rather based on opinions expressed by more skilled customers who purchased it.



5. This is not a guitar method since it expects you to have a certain amount of intermediate knowledge. The point is to be able to play a riff over a chord in five different styles, it has riffs over major, minor and dominant seven chords, at the end of the book it has a few 12 bar progressions to show how a riff might interact over a chord progression.
   If you just want to play the riffs and, eventually, be able to play them over chord progressions then this book is a very good choice but, to me, it has a "added value" that, unfortunately, the author somehow miss and don't go deeper (that's why I haven't gave it five stars): If you take your time and study the riffs upon the corresponding scale, chord and arpeggio, your understanding of the harmony involved will improve a lot your playing, althought this way of learning is a bit hard and very slow, you will become a much better guitar player.
   One more thing, pay attention to the CD and listen carefully, the author is a great guitarrist, just the CD worths the ten bucks this book cost.
   For ten dollars, it's a very good deal, I do recommend this book but also, it needs a completion, try Don Latarski's Book Arpeggios for Guitar, wich consist of a list of arpeggios with the corresponding scale and chord.

5 comments about Jazz Guitar Comping.

1. This is the third book in Andrew Green's spectacular series, and it is becoming increasingly evident that Mr. Green is one of the most lucid and effective instructors of jazz guitar in print. As with "Technique" and "Structures," Mr. Green offers multiple chapters that can be used chronologically or as independent resources.
   
   Unlike "Structures," which focused the reader more on the learning process than on the content of the book, "Comping" offers an enormous amount of content on every single line, but leaves it to the reader to figure out how to best internalize the ideas. As such, I find that I will study a page for an hour or more at a sitting, moving back and forth between the concept in the book (e.g. voice leading using chromatic motion on the top voice of the chord) and my Real Book.
   
   As with the other books in this series, the reader should have some music reading ability. While many of the chords are diagrammed, most are not. Moreover, thinking in terms of fingering without a concept of the larger harmonic picture probably doesn't work when it comes to much of the book's subject matter. That said, my music reading was just terrible when I started using these books, and I have been able to get to the concepts with less frustration than I would have felt studying the writing of a lesser teacher who used tablature.
   
   If you truly want to expand your musical horizons and see immediate rewards for your efforts, I advise you to buy every book in this series.



2. This is the third book I've purchased by Andrew Green. I'm a big fan of how he presents information. 'Jazz Guitar Comping', like his other books makes learning simple. What I find so attractive about all of these books is that instead of getting an overwhelming amount of information, I get a simple and concise explanation. This simple explanation can then be applied to my own explorations of comping, soloing, technique, etc.. I like this format much better than books I've acquired in the past that immediately give me, let's say, 300 chords to learn and leave it at that without much of a learning system.
   
   'Jazz Guitar Comping' not only presents information I've seen before in much simpler terms, but also has some great ideas that are new to me. The multi-use voicings chapter, much like the multiple uses of structures in 'Jazz Guitar Structures', is wonderfully informative.
   
   I'm a teacher so I'm familiar with a number of learnign styles. This book seems to work well for those with a self-driven, concept-based learning style. It's very good about explaning concepts and principles rather than relying on memorization. These concepts allow for experimentation and trial by the student. This is a learning method that yields great results because of all of the application.
   
   Thank you Andrew Green for another good guitar book.



3. This is the most comprehensive jazz guitar comping book I've come across. It's loaded with information and better yet, Andrew Green has a great way of presenting things that make it easier to apply than other methods. I also own Andrews 'Structures' book and am finding these two books to be favorites. It's easy to follow and apply, and there's a lot of meat to the books.
   
   I compared this to Jim Fergusons's Comping book and it's a no contest for me. Andrew's better in presenting things and provides much more. The only thing it doesn't touch is chord melody playing, which is understandable. The best book to me on chord melody is Robert Conti's Chord Melody Assembly Line book.
   
   Like the 'Structures' book, there is a decent amount of reading (as in notational reading and no tab) so I wouldn't say his series is made for the beginner. But if you can read a little and have some experience but are just getting into jazz, then I highly recommend Andrew's series.



4. Great book but you better know how to read music. No tab and very few chord diagrams.



5. I ordered all three books (currently) by Andrew Green on Amazon due to the bundle pricing. All the reviews said wonderful things about the books. And I really enjoy reading the lastest techniques and teachings. I'm an intermediate player, having done 4 years at a major university for Jazz. That was 15+ years ago but still I consider myself fairly decent.
   
   I received the book and noticed right away the section on chord voicings was quite poor. Some had unforgivable stretches on page 10, the first page of chord voicings, entitled "basic chord voicings". As Joe Pass said if you having to stretch that far your doing it all wrong. The example I can give is the C major 6 chord found on the first group of chords. There are four other ways, that come to the top of my head, to play that chord in the third position better then shown. If this is a teaching book, the author is teaching some really wacky chord fingerings right off the bat.
   
   So, it took me a day to get over this, I start thinking it's just a style of teaching - the author wants to push you further etc. Then I came across something that makes me wish I could simply return the books. On the same page he displays a C Major 7. The chord is shown with the A,F,D,Bb from the high E to the D string, the Bb being on the 8th fret. Last time I checked those series of notes are a Bb major 7. There is no excuse for these type of mistakes on the first 10 pages of a teaching book.
   
   Anyway - if I find this many errors on first ten pages - I have to give the review 1 star. And I have to say - I don't write alot of reviews - I just think if I can save some poor fellow 20-30 dollars then I will feel better.

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

1. Glenn Kurtz' meditation on music, an extended history of the origins of the guitar with biographies of the great composers who wrote for the instrument and even the history of the development of the ancient and modern forms of the stringed guitar, makes for some of the most rewarding reading on a topic of surprising ingenuity.
   
   The 'story' outline of the book is brief: Kurtz recounts his childhood fascination with the guitar, his extended sessions of study and practice as he prepared his career by attending the New England Conservatory of Music, eventually gaining performance time in this country and in Europe, and his decision that his talent was not of the class that merited a successful career in music that brought him to the point of giving up the guitar, to the final reason for writing this book - practicing is not a chore but a means to finding the soul of music and the soul of self in the process.
   
   But such a short 'plot summary' in many ways defeats the purpose of this immensely satisfying book, a book that will not only be deeply admired by musicians of every rank, but a book that is so poetic and elegant in style of writing that it will entertain those whose lives have been touched only tangentially by music. 'Like every practicing musician, I know both the joy and the hard labor of practice. To hear these sounds emerging from my instrument! And to hear them more clearly, more beautifully in my head than my fingers can ever seem to grasp. Together this pleasure in music and the discipline of practice engage in an endless tussle, a kind of romance.'
   
   From his stance as a 'returning musician' Glenn Kurtz has the retrospective edge on restating all the beauties that surround the subject of music and music making. His diversionary paths into many related subjects as listed above make this a book that is not only tender and entertaining, but also a book full of rich information for every reader. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 08



2. 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!



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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 comments about Led Zeppelin Classics (Authentic Guitar-Tab).

1. All I have say is "Wow" this book is incredible. I've been playing guitar for about 3 months now, and I'm a HUGE Zeppelin fan so I decided to get this book. I think I might have bit off a little more than I can chew. I can play the riffs from a few songs, but that's about it. But, as they always say "Practice makes perfect." If you're experienced with a guitar, I would HIGHLY recommend this.



2. I only wish this book contained ALL the songs! The tablature is outstanding and truly what any major Zeppelin guitarist fan is looking for. The solos are included, and unlike "Led Zeppelin Complete," this is a reliable, well-put-together arrangement of GREAT Zeppelin songs. The only bad thing about it is that the fabulous maker of the book did not transcribe MORE songs! At $15.72, this is the best deal for classic Zeppelin tabs, BELIEVE ME! "Dazed and Confused" is soooo intricate, giving me MORE than I asked for! And when I flipped to "What is and What Should Never Be," I realized just how much sense this book really makes. Definitely for experienced guitar players with ears "experienced" in the sound of LED ZEPPELIN. This book will help you to better understand the music behind the madness of this quartet. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED--grab this gold before it is gone!!



3. The delivery was great .The book was ok but needed the guitar scales to play lead the music, if you read music which i don't know how, and taps are not complete on how to play the songs like they did .



4. This is a good reference for assisting in the composing many of Led Zeppelin's works. There is music notation for vocals, lead guitar and rhythm guitar. The accuracy is questionable in many areas but it does a fairly good job as a starting resource.



5. What can I say. I got this book for my wife and she loves it. Even her guitar instructor wanted to steal it. A book two with other of the Led Zeppelin's songs would be nice :-)

5 comments about The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps (Book & CD).

1. I've bought, sold, traded, and played Tweed and other Fender amps going on 40 years now. The valuable information I've gained, the hard way over the years, has finally been printed in one book. This is the kind of knowledge I personally wouldn't have handed out to just anybody in the past, but because most of these amps are now priced far beyond what most musicians can afford, let the facts be known. I've given this book to a few new collectors that have asked me to help them find investment quality older guitars as a lead in to the other half of the equation. For them, I feel it will be a great guide for years to come. For those of you who's pulse quickens with a clear, close up of a frayed Tweed amp corner or can smell old viewing a cluster of Astrons, this book is a must have.



2. I think that Amazon needs to stop bothering me to write these reviews. Even though they know that my knowledge in this field is considered by many to be the final word in all things amplified. And even though the last review that they finally got me to write was disputed by the latest Russian experts, absurdly claiming that my "thoughts on atom/electron sequencing can only be pulled out of a wizard's sleeve". Enough said. This claim is not only false but void of any reliable rebuilding process. Finally, the review...
   
   I didn't start with Fender amps. I learned the hard way, which is why I know what I'm talking about. So thanks and praise to Leo for coming up with great ideas -- so good that all people even Russians can do now is to try and copy it. That's how good it is. I've experimented a lot, tried all sorts of amps, but I don't change there things 'round no more. I found what I'm looking for.



3. Buy this book - treasure it - read it thoroughly over and over again - you will learn so much.
   Listen to the CD by Greg Koch - amazing!
   If you love Fender - and their history, you CANNOT do better than buy this beautifully produced book.
   Tom Wheeler is an authority - along with Richard R. Smith, they are the world leaders when it comes to anything Fender.
   This is a book for life - fantastic illustrations - and a wonderful companion to The Stratocaster Chronicles.
   Obviously written with intelligence and insight - this is THE reference on the subject - and what a subject!
   Fender made/makes the finest sounding guitar amplifiers in the world.
   I've got 3 different models here in my study that range from 45 to 50 years old - and still going strong as ever, being played in the bedroom - or pubs and clubs....they sound fabulous.
   Tom Wheeler knows what he's talking about - a writer of the very highest integrity. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
   Bob Hewitt UK [...]



4. If you are a fan of the Fender sound, and curious about the origins of Leo Fender, the Fender company and the legendary Fender guitar amplifiers then this book is for you. Its the first coffee table sized book I've ever had that is more than wonderful photos. Its a book I enjoy reading a great deal. There is a lot of detail, enough to keep a amplifier technician, or someone who doesn't care about the details of how they get the sound happy. There are lots of delicious quotes and images about those that prefer to use the Fender amp in their performances. Examples are Dick Dale, Buddy Guy, B. B. King, to Keith Richards. If those names aren't familiar to you, well it might not be a book for you. This is a book about influences and origins. Its not afraid to expose the mystery behind the curtain, but also to expose the inconsistencies of the Fender company.
   
   Then there is the disc that provide you with the ability to hear and compare the sound of a wide variety of amplifiers under very similar conditions. This provides those seeking to develop a tone all their own through a Fender guitar amplifier. It doesn't denigrate other vendors, and has comments and interviews by many of the other legends and current boutique makers in the guitar amplification arena.
   
   If you want to know about Fender amplification, this might be the only book you ever need.



5. I've been playing for 37 years. Great tone has always been a never ending quest. Some gear sounds thin, some tinny, or boomy, too fuzzy, or brittle, even dull. But some appliances produce sounds that are awesome. This book is about several of those savage appliances--vintage Fender amps. This book and its 2 accompanying CDs are wonderful; I've learned so much and I've been very entertained.
   
   Great read.

5 comments about The Guitar Handbook.

1. Thank you Amazon for making this dream a reality,I have been searching for about two years for this book when a Friend told me to contact Amazon and buy this book from you. I must say i was very nervous as this was my first internet purchase but Amazon was so profesional in delivering my book that i can't wait to order again. Thank you again



2. Getting a book like this, I'm used to getting a primer in guitar theory. Not only do we get that (separated into three levels: Rhythm, Melodic, and Harmonic) in lessons that don't discriminate by genre, but also a full guitar maintenance guide, and helpful information concerning recording and performing live. Most of the book is very rock-centric, and I would have liked a little more attention focused on classical style just for variation. But I'm a rock fan anyway, so it worked perfectly.
   
   The main reason I bought it is because the advanced guitar classes at Loyola New Orleans (my alma mater) used it as a textbook. I can see why!



3. My son was happy to get it for Christmas and feels he will use it a lot.



4. As a beginner at the guitar, I have found this to be a useful guide. It covers construction and care of acoustic and electric guitars, as well as information on how to read music, music theory, and playing the guitar.



5. I found this to be the best overall guitar book on the market. It gives extensive background information, as well as having extensive scales, chord charts, fret layout, etc.
   
   This is my third purchase of this book. I always seem to either give it away or lend it to a fellow guitarist and end up never getting it back.
   
   Highly recommended for the serious guitar beginner.

5 comments about The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat.

1. The book is very interesting and full of great pictures to clarify what is being said. It is excellent to see all that good information in one book.



2. This book has a lot of good things, stories about players, beautiful pictures of strats, tech data and in general good manteinance advise for your axe!!
   But.. it is redondant in so many aspects, for ex., when the author analyze different kinds of Strats(MIM, Japanesse, Korean etc.) it is obvious he did copy- pasted most of the paragraphs and at some point you stop and wonder, Am I reading the same thing once again, why?



3. Bought a Squire strat. It had rough unfinished frets, loose whammy, misc rough spots and I had new pickups to put in. I bought this book and did all the work myself- the first guitar work I ever did. It was easy because he gave the specs in various places and explained how things worked. I smoothed the frets, evened the neck, tuned the bridge and put Seymour Duncans in from another strat I had, Adjusted and st the wang bar and now it smokes better than any other strat Ive had. Saved me an extra 250 - 700$ buying a Mex strat, or an american standard. If nothing else- this will teach a newbie like myself how to tear a strat apart and put it back together again making improvements along the way. A good investment.



4. An excellent primer for background information and maintenance of the beloved Stratocaster. Many setup tips from experts as well. If you get only one Strat book, get this!



5. Beautifully illustrated,and jam packed with information on how to maintain,adjust and set up Strats for maximum playing comfort and best tone.There is a downright pretty Strat photo(often a detailed close up shot) on every page.
   We learn,at last the really significant differences between American made Fender strats and their lower budget,Asian made cousins known as the Fender Squire strats,not to mention the mid priced made in Mexico models.
   One big difference?A much thicker,heavier,more resonanat trem block is used on the USA guitars.
   Unfortunately,corners were cut in the physical construction of this book.
   Covers are soft and easily scratched and the quality of the binding leaves a lot to be desired.Handle it gently or eventually it will start to fall apart.
   Overall,I am happy with this book.I learned a lot and I love the clear,sharp,brightly colored photos.
   Malcolm Leonard

5 comments about The Guitar Grimoire: A Compendium of Formulas for Guitar Scales and Modes.

1. This book is the best. Ive never been able to open a book that has every scale possible. Ive seen reviews on this book here on amazon, and alot of people say theirs a con cause the book does specify a Root note in the scales, If you just pay attenention to waht mode your in, and notice the roman numeral, your good. This book does requir some theory to understand what this book has to offer. This book makes it very easy to understand the concept on chords, and how and why their named the way they are. The formulas they teach you (which are very easy to understand) will prepare you for a college class, thats how great this book is, and the biggest plus is, its never been more easy to learn and understand, THis book breaks scale/chord theory down as easy as it can be broken down. This book is a music for all musicians, so what are you waiting for? BUY IT!!! I did, and im was a better musician within a week.



2. I purchased this book along with the companion dvd, "Scales and Modes". The book is rather confusing and droll. I would rather shoot myself then watch that video again. Not only was it basically a rote reading of the book, but the format was terrible. Throughout the entire thing the author wears a monks robe that hides his face, he continually makes these idiotic gestures like he's a magician, the whole audio is done with some annoying special effect on his voice and the content was just not that eye-opening. I have "A Modern Method for Guitar", volumes 1,2 and 3 by William Leavitt of Berklee music. I have found them to be far more valuable. Not only do you learn to sight read, but you also gain better theory and much of the same information offered by Cad-man in a much more mature presentation style. Sorry, Adam. You're obviously a knowledgeable and talented player, but teaching (or video production) does not seem to be your forte.



3. I bought this book with the expectation that it would explain how to play all of the scales and modes. The book is actually more of a reference, just shoving all the scales at you and saying "Here, that's all of them".
   
   First, the "How to use this book" section at the beginning just explains what's on the pages, not actually how to use the book. At the beginning of each new scale section (27ish in all), there is a title page that shows diagrams of the scale and modes of that scale. Most of the book's 209 pages are just fretboard diagrams, in sweeping style, and worth almost nothing unless you want to look up the sweeping pattern for a G dorian #4 scale at the 6th fret, or something similar. I believe it would be ridiculous to sit down and try to play through this book; there's just too much information in it. The first 15 pages are an excellent quick rundown of necessary music theory, which is explained quite well, but after that, there is not a hint of teaching or explanation.
   
   The short version: If you want an excellent scales reference, or you need to know how to play a D bebop dorian scale at the 4th fret, this book is for you. If you're looking for some kind of method on scales, or how they are used over chords, look elsewhere.



4. Should you buy this book? te answer is yes
   when i receivedmy book i thought it was just going to be another one of those darn guitar books that starts you off in a extremely weird place and makes no sense,but i was ever so wrong when i opened the pages of this book i felt the power of knoweledge that was present in this book. Inside it explains everything that you need to know about making scales finding them out and playing them. this book also has many different scales and shows you how to play them by charts. Inside this book also has a "graph" which allows you to map modes and keys.



5. Do guitar players really think that it's worth 20 bucks to have this guy show you the same pattern or idea printed over and over again in every single key? Or is it just cool to have a thick book with nice fonts and cool looking little charts (even though they're totally redundant)? I don't get why these books are so popular. They're short on ideas and long on wasting paper. It's like the old chord dictionaries that show you a million voicings but don't teach you a damned thing about how to use them, or how voice leading works, or how the notes interact with each other in an actual progression.
   
   If you want a better scale book, there are dozens of better ones on the market that will actually teach you not only patterns but how to apply them, how to use them to make music, etc. Check out Don Mock's Guitar Secrets Revealed books, Ted Greene's Single Note Soloing Books, or even Guthrie Govan's books are much, much better than this. Want free resources? Look up scalculator on google, or look up "modes of melodic minor", or "modes of harmonic minor", or "exotic scales", or "CAGED patterns". You'll have more than you can work on in a lifetime in 2-3 clicks.
   
   Kadmon seems like he's trying to hide the real concepts and expects you to look on page 164 to learn the Ab version of the same pattern you learned in F, instead of telling you to just move your hands up a minor third -- which makes sense since he sells more books when an insecure guitar player thinks he needs to be shown everything over and over again. He gets richer, guitar students get frustrated and overwhelmed (and poor). Do yourself a favor and spend your 20 bucks on a better book than this.

3 comments about Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, Method Book 1 (Book & Cd).

1. this book is great my husband is using the book in collage taking a guitar class and learning to read music he has been playing for 30 years by ear and now this book is teaching him to read music the book is super thank you.............



2. This book is probably the best book ever written for learning guitar for the older child, middle school level to high school level, and especially college level elementary education major class guitar. Also perfect for individual guitar lessons as well, not just for guitar class in school. It's not for children 12 and under as it will be too difficult and some techniques too advanced. Get his "Basic Instructor Guitar" book instead if your child is 12 and under.
   
   Jerry Snyder has been writing, rewriting, and polishing this book's contents since 1974, when his first instructional guitar books came out. He has been teaching class guitar in a public school setting for 30 plus years and it shows in the way the material in this book is presented.
   
   There's preliminary insight into theory. technique, scales, or harmony, whatever is needed to clarify the objective and outcome. Then a presentation by Jerry himself on guitar (which is included on the CD) which you can play along with and which can fill in for a teacher in between lessons. Guitar essentials like note reading are covered but he makes it much more interesting than any other book and includes a variety of duets to practice with a teacher in a variety of styles. This book progresses nicely into book two where you learn jazz, classical, and rock improvising. Great for "test driving" guitar styles to see what stylistic direction (jazz or classical) you may want to pursue in future formal studies. Jerry Snyder also has a supplemental Classical For Guitar in TAB book that is the perfect repertoire book for the beginning classical guitarist. Book 1 and Book 2 and all you need for learning guitar in a compresensive approach.



3. I recently picked this book up for a group guitar class (Middle and High School Level). I found that the amount of material covered is very nice and the sequential presentation of concepts is quite good as well. My two critiques of the Guitar School Method concern its visual layout and its reliance on tablature in later sections. While there are several foundational concepts coevered (open-string chords, notes in the first position, basic rhythmic and accompaniment skills) these concepts are burdened by too much text. Often, it seems that the author tried to fill as much information as possible at the expense of ease of comprehension and playability. I also dislike the authors reliance of tablature in the accompaniment sections of the book. By this point in the text the students will know the notes in the first position so why show them arpeggios in tablature? Again, this is the authors mistake of trying to introduce too many concepts at the cost of readability and comprehension.
   
   I have found that the High School students tend to do much better with this book than the Middle school students, although by spending more time and with repetition the Middle schoolers do understand and retain the material quite well.
   
   I would highly recommend getting the Teacher's edition of this book as well if you will be using it in a group setting. The teacher's edition contains several reproducible handouts as well as lesson plans.

5 comments about Guitar Effects Pedals: The Practical Handbook.

1. It wasn't a bad read, but it spent too much time on technical jargon, and seemed to favor certain brands rather than getting into the uses, and adjustments as I would have liked.



2. Having little to no experience with guitar effects and which pedal does what and, more importantly, what certain effects sound like, I found this book to be an excellent resource. It's also nice that the author doesn't make an attempt to steer the reader to a specific product, model or manufacturer. I found the historical approach to be very interesting and the organization of the book was well thought out. And I also enjoyed the interviews with some selected guitar effects "wizards."
   
   My only complaint is the lack of a sound sample of all of the pedals/effects that were listed in the compendium in both chapters dealing with the effects themselves.
   
   There is a chapter on how best to set up effects for different types of amplifier set ups. But again, the best part of the book is the suggestion throughout that the decision on what effect to buy or how to hook it up is entirely up to the individual and what sound the individual hopes to achieve.
   
   If you're looking for a tutorial on how to wire your own effects, this isn't the book for you.
   
   If you've been playing guitar for years, or are a beginner for that matter, and are looking for ways to create a new sound, then I would highly recommend this book.



3. This book will be very helpful to the serious guitarist that seeks to understand guitar effects and their history. If the reader is new to the world of electric guitar effects then this book is a must in order to save time and money to get the right effects and in the right order. If the reader is a more "seasoned" (translate into "older") guitarist the history and trivia will be worth the price not to mention that there is sure to be some items that were previously unknown.
   
   Divwalnut, Boulder, CO



4. This is a great book. Well written. Easy to understand. Great dvd that comes with it. It was even better than I thought it would be.



5. I bought this hoping that it would explain the difference in how certain effects pedals achieve their sounds. Although there is a chapter in the book which outlines the basics of the different catagories of effects, it does not elaborate on the details of how they alter the signal. The majority of the book is a history of effects pedals, listing the popular products from various manufacturers as well as a list of famous pedal designers.
   
   I wanted to read about components on the inside of pedals and what each one does in depth. This book does not give you that.