Product Description

A carefully planned and systematic approach to fretboard mastery, SHRED GUITAR is actually two books in one. The first half of the book book, SHRED GUITAR, is based around 10 popular rock chord progressions with full play-along tracks included on the accompanying CD. The second half of the book, The Practical Guide to Harmony and Theory, is a guitar theory reference that contains 17 units of detailed information that will be useful to all guitarists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #183998 in Books
• Published on: 1996-12-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 114 pages

From the Publisher
A carefully planned and systematic approach to fretboard mastery, ^Shred Guitar} is actually two books in one. The first half of the book, 'Shred Guitar,' is based around 10 popular rock chord progressions with full play-along tracks included on the accompanying CD. The second half of the book, 'The Practical Guide to Harmony and Theory,' is a guitar theory reference that contains 17 units of detailed information that will be useful to all guitarists.

Customer Reviews

Excellent for Intermediate Guitarists
I thoroughly benefit from this book, as an exercise book, improvisation backing track CD, and reference. As an the intermediate guitarist (looking primarily to solo or shred), at its price this is probably the best thing you can do for yourself.

At the heart of my fondness for Paul Hanson's lesson is that practicing even the most mind-numbing of subjects such as obtuse hammer-on pull-of finger exercise sequences, becomes genuine fun. Each lesson has a different modal "theme" and backing track, and Hanson provides sample exercises to use over these tracks as well as detailed instruction in different areas. The riffs sound good, are a blast to play to mastery, and teach you modal theory at the same time! Could it be better? Of course, it still takes discipline to rein in your soloing instinct and practice sometimes, but it's a helluvalot easier now! And if you incorporate the drills into your solos as Hanson suggests you can practice and goof off at the same time in a fluid, real-time environment!

The theory half of the book was mostly useful to me as an place to occasionally and conveniently look up scales or concepts on a whim. Still quite a good thing to have lying around.

Some of the theory might get obtuse, and the exercises discouragingly difficult for the beginning guitarist, so I recommend a little bit of experience before buying this (unless you keep it for later).

Conversely, an advanced guitarist may find some of the theory pedantic or many exercises trivially easy. I do not recommend this book to veteran shredders unless its use will be purely as a nice, simple backing track cd (and they really are fun little numbers) or an idle theory manual/occasional riff reference.

However, for the intermediate guitarist this book really is the best in all dimensions, from usability, to exercises, soloing tracks, a reference, and much more. I recommend it thoroughly. Save the money you would have used on a mediocre guitar teacher, get some dubs instead, muster the discipline and work up on this book!

Great Book & CD!
Unlike many of the other guitar books out there, this book contains both an exercise and theory section. Both are very clear and informative.
The book is organized well into comapct lessons that build on each other. If you put the time into it, this book will deliver. I am halfway through now, and have already noticed improvement in my skills. The play-along tracks are great, and the lessons are the type that you can revisit over and over to get more nuggets of info. Nevertheless, this book may be frustrating to someone who is just getting started on the guitar. I would recommend that you pick this up if you are an intermediate player looking for a challenge.

SLOW DOWN
I've been playing for like 5 years now, 20 previous to that on Bass. This dude doesn't play ONE Exercise at NORMAL tempo until like exercise 12 or so.
The CD is almost worthless because of his heavy distortion, even delay !!!
Finally he plays something "Slow" and I can make it out.. I read music but even his "progressions' don't sound like what you hear on the CD.. #2 specifically..Slow blues #1 I heard but again its friggin fast ! I can get it but its not what you'd expect. Even his exercises, he holds the last note in the exercise but that not noted in the book. Your just supposed to know that.. I'm going to finish the book but I'd never recommend it to anyone...I seriously would prefer my money back..