5 comments about Jimi Hendrix - Volume 2: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques (Guitar Signature Licks).

1. Where the hell is the thing? Supposed to be released in October. No updates on Andy Aledort site.



2. The Signature Hendrix book is here! Chad Johnson teaches you the riffs and solos for 12 Hendrix songs, including 'Third Stone from the Sun,' 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' and 'Dolly Dagger.' Note-for-note transcriptions and TAB.



3. This is a really great book. I like the song choices and the explanations and tabs are right on, just as good as the 1st volume. Anyone looking to expand their horizons on Hendrix should pick this one up.



4. This would be a great book if it weren't for vol1 which had a greater depth of analysis and superior, more musical examples on it's accompanying CD and more helpful book and CD introductions.



5. I like this book alot. I didn't think that I would ever know the intro to Hey Bay New Rising Sun and know I can almost play it by memory. I like the instruction and analysis. Well written and transrcibed. It even takes a look at Machine Gun.

5 comments about Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland (Thirty Three and a Third series).

1. If your into Hendrix enough to want to find out more about Electric Ladyland, your probably already going to know everything in this book. If you've read such great Hendrix books such as 'Electric Gypsy' then you won't get much from this book other than information obtained that you've read before from 'Electric Gypsy' coloured in this authors opinion on Jimi's music.
   The author lays down his opinion that reads like someone either not overly impressed by Jimi Hendrix, or someone that has trouble laying praise where it's due. The author makes big calls in this book which fall flat, for example expressing his view on how Jimi could of edited and recorded certain songs better in his opinion (not unlike like Alan Douglas made true) or ego trips like footnotes after mentioning 'Like A Rolling Stone' at Monterey can only be outdone by the rare hard to find Flamingo Club version in 1968 - where does he get that from? The Flamingo club version is near inaudiable for most of the recording with its vocals and the guitar very distorted at the very least and is no way a superior rendition than Monterey but the book has many little comments by the author like that which only makes you think, is this guy trying to brag about his Hendrix collection? Or does he just have to have a different opinion on everything to try and make his book, which really has nothing new, stand out from the pack? His opinions would be valid if he didn't try to go against the grain to just go against the grain! If you've ever heard or seen Jimi at Monterey you don't need to be told how so many people thought he played crap that night - the evidence that this is one of his greatest performances is right there on CD or on the screen as you watch it which just makes bringing up that negative side without balancing it with the many rave reviews he also got seem targeted. Why point out the bad things and not mention the good?
   
   If you want to learn the technical side of the recording or the technical side of Hendrix, you won't learn it from this book. You'll get the classic Hendrix bio for most of it with this Authors strange comments, some bad reviews for Electric Ladyland to show Hendrix was human after all i guess and an author bringing up all his 'friends' and 'visits' to people that are well documented in knowing Jimi.
   
   All in all, if you have no opinion on Hendrix and read this you probably won't think he's that great and get a distorted opinion on him, if you love Hendrix and read this you'll wonder why this Author bothered to write a book about Jimi in the first place other than to let us know he has so many friends that knew Jimi, was lucky enough to see him play a few times and the funniest of all, could of done some things better in his opinion.
   
   Two stars because there's many books out there with much more information about Electric Ladyland, let alone Hendrix, that aren't trying to re-write Jimi's history from one person's perspective and critique thou it's cheap and quite funny if you have a big Hendrix library anyway.



2. Jimi Hendrix's rock pinnacle Electric Ladyland was one of the best guitar albums ever made for the genre, affording Hendrix the creative expression and freedom he needed for the first time. John Perry examines Hendrix's unique talent using the album as a foundation for his analysis. Electric Ladyland's short stature may make it a difficult library loan, but any fan of the Hendrix sound will consider it an essential guide.



3. If you've read anything about Hendrix beyond the liner notes you will find little new here beyond the author's personal memories of seeing Jimi in concert. The actual analysis of the album is spotty at best, shedding very little light (or anything of real interest for that matter) on this masterpeice of rock music.
   Considering the cost of this tiny book, there is very little bang for your buck.



4. Very interesting, as usual for the 33 1/3 series. Found out many details about the record and Jimi I did not know about.



5. Ya need this if you are a complete Hendrix nut. But the author attempts musicological analysis where people like Velvert Turner, Wolf Marshall, Andy Aledort, and others have done an excellent job already. I needed some historical and political analysis but none was forthcoming, mostly because the author is an Englishman and deals with Hendrix through that social lens. This is an otherwise excellent series of books, but I implore the publisher to get a Yank to do another one on Hendrix. Maybe someone affiliated with the Hendrix museum up in Seattle, Washington USA. Heck, let ME write the Hendrix volume. I have all the bios, recordings; even the instruments and effects of the sort used by Hendrix. I'll write the publisher directly and see if they'll give me the gig.

4 comments about Jimi Hendrix: Blues.

1. Jimi Hendrix's guitar style is established based on a dozen of preceding blues masters such as Muddy Waters. "Blues" shows Jimi's rendition of the blues standards performed by the masters. Learning this transcription carefully is the shortest way to master the techniques and licks used by the blues masters. "Radio One" and "Woodstock" transcriptions are also essential for blues guitar students.



2. This is Jimi's quintessential blues album, with covers of great standards and true-to-form originals. His rendition of 'Born Under a Bad Sign' is quite satisfying, with its string scratching, chordal rolls, and tasty wah-wah treatment.
   
   Then there's the climactic highlight of 'Here My Train A Comin' (electric)' from his 5/70 Berkley concert - a performance thought by many, to be Jimi's most comprehensive expoundment upon the genre; and I would concur.
   
   'Red House' is a great jam and not too difficult to get under the fingers. The key to learning other player's stuff, is to listen very closely to identify the elements and structure, then seek to apply them to your own voice.
   
   This book would be a good place for even a beginner to learn the blues. Because after all, the blues isn't complicated. And Jimi's masterful expression of it didn't come from a place of technical prowess, but rather from a place of deep-rooted and heart-felt meaning.



3. In my opinion, the best collection of Jimi's songs. This tablature is top notch, and should take you a while to get through even one song. :)



4. Lets not beat around the bush's, this book is tough. This is like looking into Jimi's bag of tricks and you will be tested!!! All in all the one books that blues guitarist who love Jimi have to spend some time with, ok a lot of time with but.....you will get something out of it.

4 comments about The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love (Guitar Tabulature).

1. This guitar tab book is by far the best one out there! Jimi Hendrix is the best guitarist of all time and this book proves it.There are really great Hendrix classics in here too. Some like "Spanish Castle Magic","Little Wing","Castles Made of Sand",and "Bold As Love". These tabs are all on the money and are great to play and further your skills as a guitar player. If you are a good bassist you can figure out the bass lines from these tabs too. So go out and buy this book..........You Won't be disappointed!



2. There are so many mistakes in this book with both the notation & tab (too many beats in a bar, mistakes in fingering, etc.)that it's almost funny. In addition to this, some of the transcriptions are ridiculously incorrect with regards to what is actually being played as well. It's really a shame, because it could have been a great book.



3. At the time I write this, two other customer reviews exist. One laments the book is full of mistakes and inaccurate transcriptions. The other insists it is note-for-note perfect and an invaluable resource for learning to play these songs. In an article written by Joe Gore for Guitar Player magazine shortly after the first edition of this TAB book was released (around 1989, I believe), he called the Hal Leonard Hendrix series "the finest Hendrix transcriptions available, despite a shocking number of music typos." I think Mr. Gore's statement comes closest to hitting the mark.
   
   Yes, there are mistakes in the book, here and there. But, I think most people can sort them out easy enough. There are some passages (usually those a bit hard to hear on the recording) that I question if they accurately reflect exactly what Hendrix played. But, the majority of the transcriptions are unquestionably correct, and the passages in this TAB book which I think might vary a bit definitely sound good and are "Hendrixesque." Hendrix himself never played the same thing twice, and it's unlikely that anybody is going to be able to play EXACTLY like Hendrix, no matter how perfect the transcription.
   
   So, my take on the situation is that the true usefulness of any transcription book is to serve as a departure point which offers insight into a particular player's style and which provides practice material which allows a player to internalize aspects of that style into their own playing. Therefore, I can live with a book that has mostly accurate transcriptions, in spite of a lot of typos. If you feel the same, you might find this book valuable. If not, I guess you'll need to sit down with a recording and try to figure it out for yourself. Actually, that's probably the best way. But, doing so will require having more skill and patience than I do :-)



4. This is actually the third time I've bought this book. About a decade or so ago I had a copy of this and it got lost or stolen or something. I remembered it because I was actually impressed that the songs herein cold actually be transcribed especially this accureately. I got a second copy after my sight reading skills had improved somewhat and used it often enough for the pages to start to come loose. So, I bought a 3rd copy of it. The transcriptions are challenging to anyone's sightreading abilities, but the rewards of a little bit of effort are very satifying. The book is accurate giving great insight into Hendrix solos and choice of(often apparently jazz influenced)chord voicings. A must for any guitarist who wants to learn these songs.

2 comments about Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child: The Stories Behind Every Song.

1. My 3 star rating isn't really a put-down. 3.5 is probably more accurate. The overall content and presentation are fine and there's alot of useful information in here. My problem with it is that I'd hoped to read a bunch of stuff I'd never seen elsewhere. But in fact, I didn't find much of anything that I hadn't already read elsewhere. Of the stuff that is here, some isn't even as detailed as you'll find in other books like Setting The Record Straight or Shadwick's Musician.



2. I am a huge fan of Jimi Hendrix. I listen to his music every day, and it never gets old. I've listened to all of the essential albums (and many more) but have never actually read any book on him and his music. I saw this book in the music part of the book store. I quickly looked through the pages, and was very intrigued, since I'd never heard where he got his inspiration from. And I must say this book will intrigue you as well. It really fills in the gaps on some of Jimi's songs, such as on Castles Made of Sand. I didn't know that the first verse was about Jimi's mom and dad fighting and eventually splitting up. Or the second verse was about his troubled brother Leon. And the third verse was about Jimi's mom dying. These interesting facts and more are in this book. If you own a lot of Jimi Hendrix CDs out there, and you're asking yourself: How did he do that? Where did he get that idea for a song? or Who is that song about? Then buy this book. It's a very informative and an interesting read.

5 comments about The Covert War Against Rock: What You Don't Know About the Deaths of Jim Morrison, Tupac Shakur, Michael Hutchence, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Ochs, ... Tosh, John Lennon, and The Notorious B.I.G..

1. You'll get no congratulations here on your book: This is just another paranoid attempt to slam the U.S. government, for the deaths of some dopey rockers on dope. Wake up" there should be no big mystery as to why these people died. They all lived lives of excess filled with drugs and alcohol, a bunch of fallen stars who burned out way before their time, except for lennon and topac who were shot to death, the others died the way they lived FAST" You see there's no big mystery to their deaths after all, just a few star struck americans who refuse to see their rock and roll idols, for what they really were.



2. What a terrible book. To even entertain the theory that Bob Marley died b/c the CIA INJECTED melanoma skin cancer into him is insane. It can not be done, so to push that conspiracy is plain irresponsible.
   
   Bad excuse for a book. The author is a joke.



3. The Covert War Against Rock explores the unanswered questions and disinformation surrounding the deaths of several rock stars. This was good, but not great. Lots of interesting stuff in this but I think in most of these cases Constantine tries way too hard to connect the dots and show government and/or organized crime complicity in some of these deaths. Just because the FBI had a file on them or they associated with gangsters in the music business doesn't mean they were murdered. That being said, although there is no definitive proof, I lean heavily toward there being government or criminal involvement in the deaths of John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Brian Jones. All you people that think Jim Morrison faked his death should just forget about it. I think he just got into his girlfriends heroin stash and overdosed.



4. Many elements of the truth here, but realize that the forces that do entertainers in are (95% of the time) the SAME FORCES that created them. Music has been used for subversive activity for THOUSANDS of years and "modern" rock and roll is more like a re-discovery of sorts by the Elite controllers. Sound frequency can have very specific effects on people, and many of them are not even discernable to the conscious mind. Thus, subliminal programming of music is crucial, and the creation of certain "beats" to create a hypnotic effect is vital so that all the subliminal stuff can "get in the back door" to your mind (thus affecting behaviour / opinions etc) so to speak. Great for social / political control obviously. Famous bands and singers are the delivery mechanism for this (much like a cigarette is merely a "nicotine delivery device" for the tobacco industry because it wants you addicted to their product), not the creative powers or artists that we are told. For example, The Beatles most assuredly did not create their own music, nor were they some childhood assembly of tremendously talented musicians who became legends. They were created as a social experiment (literally by the Tavistock Institute of London) and released in a controlled fashion to the World. They were part of introducing our culture to drugs and "dropping out" etc, therefore they were not the big threat to the Establishment that we were told as they were created by those who are the Establishment at its core! Info about the deaths of Brian Epstein and Paul McCartney can be very illuminating in this regard. The Rolling Stones were created by the same people at the same time and were meant to balance off the goody image of the Beatles. Any rock band who is in the know will tell you how dark and powerful and ruthless the Stones really are. The music for both the Beatles and the Stones (perhaps not the lyrics so much) was "designed", mixed, and layed down as tracks by the SAME GUY!
   
   Drinking, doing drugs, having sex, being wild, or talking about peace in general is not what gets these people killed. Rather, their own programming can break down and they can be considered liabilities due to things they saw or participated in (such as government drug running, murder, Satanic practice / sacrifice, hard-core pornography, pedophilia, and others). And because these people are often so famous, any "loose lips" on these topics can be a disaster for those who created them. Killing them is the only solution. Jimi Hendrix is a classic example of this concern, and watching one of his ex-girlfriends talk (on a documentary) about all of his concerns and fears just prior to his death is fascinating. This is why current stars who are having de-programming nightmares (Britney Spears is a great example) are in real jeopardy of losing their lives if they can't be properly re-programmed to carry on the agenda. Loose lips sink ships don't you know...
   
   Add to this crazy soup, the very real issue of body doubles (and some say clones...) within the entertainment industry (and politics for that matter), then we have the possibility of the stars being eliminated without their fans realizing it (Paul McCartney remains the best modern example of this although this has happened in other bands), and the stars themselves being able to fake their own deaths in order to escape from their controllers (very difficult to do, but maybe accomplished by Jim Morrison). Perhaps a more common scenario, is for a star to be able to escape somehow, and the controllers publicly killing a body double so that the real star can never surface and be taken seriously with their horrific stories ever again (is this what happened with Elvis?). This stuff happens folks, as bizarro as it might seem. The music and film industries are so filled with covert tactics, mind control, satanic practice, duplicity, social control, and outright murder that the outrageousness of it all has created the perfect "cover". In other words, it's so crazy as to be totally unbelievable to those of us "fans". Is it any wonder why the music and movie stars are so messed up and so miserable / paranoid? Look back and see what people like Kurt Cobain and Bob Marley were saying about their situations; it's time to take their words / warnings seriously.
   
   So, the general topic matter of this book is vital, and the exact agenda behind the killings secondary I think. Getting people to realize how diabolical the entertainment industry is to our minds is primary and we can quibble over the details later. In this regard, Alex is to be applauded. But, if I wrote a book on this topic I would name it "The covert war and USE of the music industry on modern society, and the collateral damage of those who try and blow their whistle". The War is not on Rock and Roll, rather it is on us and some of the deprogrammed agents of the agenda (aka Rock Stars) who try and thwart it get killed in the process. Ironically, the "old foggies" of the 1950s who warned us of Rock and Roll and its evil beats might have been more correct than they could have imagined.



5. One of the reviewers said there are other rock star deaths Alex Constantine didn't mention. True. Constantine's ¨Anti-Fascist research Bin¨ web site shows deaths of a young journalist(Duncan) and her boyfriend. If you follow this story to Bill Knott's blog, a professor from Emerson College writes that Duncan's death was not a suicide, and says, ¨They killed Theresa Duncan for trying to expose them, and they'll kill me for the same reason.¨ A professor worried about being killed! I would not believe all this if it weren't for the fact I am group stalked as described by private investigator David Lawson. To read excerpts from his book, go to www.raven1.net The CIA has a program to marry off all us liberals and political activists. They found out how to get conservatives to marry us. I had no boyfriend for 15 years, but now I can't keep these men away from me.

2 comments about Jimi Hendrix Experience: Smash Hits: Drum Play-Along Series (Drum Play-Along).

1. All the Hal Leonard Drum Play-Along Series are well done. This one is especially poignant to the point that we should all know how to play to these songs. After all, this was one of your first albums ever! I promise you, you learn these songs and you will definitely be called up to play one night at a party with some great guitar player and you tell him you know any Jimi song and you'll rock the house down.
   Seriously, the book is straightforwardly laid out. The recordings, both with the drums and with out sound great and are mixed well. The music charts are clear and easy to follow too on bright white paper.
   The Slow-down feature on the CD is fantastic and worth it alone. You can bring the song down to incredible slow speeds with out losing the tone of the song to hear exactly how the parts are played. Getting the entire series, you'll then be able to cover any rock, funk or jazz tune!



2. It took a long time to arrive but once received it was in very good condition and well worth the extra wait.
   
   Will do more business with you.
   THanks

5 comments about Jimi Hendrix - Experience Hendrix.

1. I'm no top notch guitarist who can play some Hendrix with their eye's closed, but i'm all right, and I couldn't have been happier with this book. The Tabs to me seemed like they were dead on accurate. I must admit that some of the chords Mr. Hendrix used are kinda crazy when your fretting them but once you get used to it you'll be allright. If you just got into Hendrix or have been into his music for some time this book won't do you wrong!!



2. Book is very accurate and thorough. There is a paragraph or two about theory (key, scales, techniques) to begin each song. It incudes all solos as well as rythm, and even bass lines. Great book.



3. First off, this book is HUGE. Almost 400 pages. The biggest tab book I have by half of the book. Hendrix is god on the guitar, no one could compare to him then or now. I love all his songs, now I finally know how to play them. Still working on actually playing them. Every song in this book is awesome. Even the "Star Spangled Banner". I play it COMPLETELY different.



4. This is a great work- I am wholeheartedly impressed.
   
   The transcriptions here are full scores, meaning that every instrument played on each studio recording is notated in sheet music and then tabbed out in the language of that instrument. There is also about a half page description before each song discussing its unique features and mechaincs.
   
   The guitarist who is interested in understanding Jimi's style and techniques could do so with this book, the album itself, and perhaps a few other recordings. And drummers would do well to analyze it also.
   
   As far as quality, the level of detail and accuracy is like nothing I've ever seen in a music book. The author has done the impossable by taking Jimi's techniques and notating them all on paper. Truly impressive, and truly useful.



5. What can I say?? Hendrix is amazing... And this songbook will make your guitar cry with all of it... And the best thing is that your drummer and bass player can take a pick too!!!

5 comments about Jimi Hendrix - Signature Licks.

1. This book is great for the break down in style and slowed down and explained tracks. It gives you good direction for practice, and you will have to practice to get it down. This is not a substitute or an easy way by any means for putting in the hours, but once you do you won't belive your ears! Buy it used too, Amazon cannot seem to deliver, my only issue with the whole thing:
   
   I ordered this Book Signature Licks Hendrix Volume from Amazon in Dec 2005. It has not arrived and the shipping dates gets pushed forward in 2 week increments- Where the hell is it Amazon!?!? Many broken promises and missed holidays, it still has not arrived. I ended up getting a copy from Ebay.



2. It's a good start to getting your fingering and cord structure down, these books give you a good place to start. THEN: after you watch some DVDS of Jimi at the Isle or Wright or At Berkley - you slap yourself and run away in disgust with your meager attempts at playing his songs. THEN, you pick the guitar up again with a better understanding of what Jimi was doing with his songs, with where he wanted to go with it, and make yourself a lot better sounding guitar playing.



3. THIS is how to play a stratocaster; THIS is how it should sound; T H I S is how a Signature Licks book should be done. Accurate transcriptions; great song, phrasing and tone analysis. Andy Aledort knows this music inside out and it shows here. The CD is good enough to listen to anytime.
   
   The best of the SL series.
   CAUTION: Master this and you're still only scratching the surface Grasshopper.



4. This is probably the single best source out there to truly learn Hendrix's techniques and secrets on his most famous recordings. I've been playing quite a long time, and I have already learned a great deal from this well laid out text/CD. I copied all of the tracks into iTunes, so I can easily access different peices of the example tracks.
   
   This book will improve your playing techniques and tone no matter where you are in your playing journey. The author has probably the best guitar tone in the industry, and he lists all of his equipment. The description and teachings of each section are very well done. His choice of words to describe different techniques and sounds is excellent.
   
   There are a lot of decent guitar books out there, but this author and his books stand out. If want to learn Hendrix, you absolutely need to buy this book.



5. The music is pretty much spot on, I'm disappointed that they did not include the lyrics just to make things a little easier.

5 comments about Jimi Hendrix Experience - Smash Hits: Guitar Play-Along Volume 47 (Hal Leonard Guitar Play-Along).

1. It's true, this book is AMAZING! I got it as a gift, and instead of returning it decided to give it a shot. The transcriptions are clean and easy to follow. The Play-along CD is enhanced so if you put it in your PC you can slow down the tempo without changing the pitch. Plus, the recordings are very true to the originals, and the backing band sounds great. I feel like I sound much better playing with the recorded band, than with my own...but don't tell them that!



2. I bought this just for the cd. It is great. The music is fantastic. The song is played all the way through without stopping. Then the second time it is slowed down so you can learn it. I'm telling you, if you are a Jimi Hendrix fan like me, you got to get this.



3. I got this for one reason. To lurn how to play Voodoo Child just like Jimi did. One problem though. IT DOES NOT HAVE VOODOO CHILD!!! It loses one full star for that alone. How can you sell a guitar book on Jimi Hendrix and not have probably his best guitar peice. Other than that its a great product with some really good music slow down software that is extremely useful



4. Karokee for guitar! You gotta love it! Do yourself a favor and buy the upgrade from roni, then you'll be able to play ALL the play-along discs (not just hal leonard). I highly recommend this series to anyone getting started, or for the experienced player without a band. I own over a dozen books, and constantly scan for new releases.



5. Great backing tracks Minor errors at times with the tab, but easy enough to see & I'm yet to find a tab book that doesnt have the occasional error. Transcriptions are subjective, position , slurs etc vary in transcriptions. Most of these tunes I've been playing for 30 odd years, so always interesting to hear & see interpretations. Should have tabbed both rhythm guitars for some sings (Foxy Lady, & Watchtower for eg )The playing here is excellent & tips along the way in regard to when to engage fuzz pedal, delay. Not used the computer to slow the speed while retaining the pitch, but great asset to any student tackling the songs for the first time. Particularly enjoyed the interpretation of Red House. The genius of the great Jimi Hendrix.....always a wonderful inspiration & incentive to learn/play. Highly recommended