On 2010-01-06 Johnny Guitar, Carmichael, CA USA wrote: This is a book about developing speed. Thus it is classified as ´technique´. I expect no music theory from this sort of book, and as expected, there isn´t any. I did find the comments on how to practice for speed, comments about understanding what you are trying to get from an exercise, and concentration on those things for each exercise to be especially good practice tips. Sounds like common sense but I am sure many guitars just try to play without much real focus on exactly what a particular exercise is trying to accomplish.
I have purchased a lot of guitar books - I think this is a good one, and I recommend it. But...I rated it 4 because it needs some updates to the audio tracks. Rather than having 1 audio track per exercise, which allows you to load that into a looper and practice that one exercise, it lumps several exercises into a 10 minutes track called ´right hand´ and another into another 10 min track. You can still set markers and loop between those points if you have the right software, but you shouldn´t have to. I think this is just left over from the fact that maybe it was originally produced for a cassette tape format and they didn´t take the time to reformat each exercise as its own track when they produced the CD. So..one star ding.
I´ve not used the whole book but I´ve looked it over and read a lot of it. I´ve only begun to use the exercises so can´t comment on results - but like all guitar activity it comes down to volume of practice time and effective practice methods. I think this book provides good exercises and good tips on effective practice if you take them to heart.
It´s better than 80% of the materials I have purchased so I resisted the urge to rate it only 3 stars and gave it 4 instead. Its definitely a rock guitar/speed metal kind of book...kind of a change of pace in my collection.
Do not buy the kindle version it is useless with no audio and bad graphics. Buy the paper book version with a CD of the audio tracks.
. And summed up by saying Good, but needs some updates to the audio tracks for modern times.. Currently Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar (Stylistic Method) has an overall rating of 8 over 10.
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Hal Leonard Corporation claimed Take your playing to the stratosphere with the most advanced lead book by this proven heavy metal author. Speed Mechanics is the ultimate technique book for developing the kind of speed and precision in today´s explosive playing styles. Learn the fastest ways to achieve speed and control, secrets to make your practice time really count, and how to open your ears and make your musical ideas more solid and tangible. Packed with over 200 vicious exercises including Troy´s scorching version of ´Flight Of The Bumblebee.´ Music and examples demonstrated on cassette or CD. 89-minute audio.
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