The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes


Book Description

Featuring over 180 of the world's greatest guitar superstars, "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes" is a definitive guide to those guitarists whose talents helped change the face of music forever and touched the lives of millions. From the heroes of rock - the likes of Hendrix, Clapton, Page and Beck - to classical maestros such as John Williams and Latin legends such as Paco de Lucia, this comprehensive catalogue of guitarists covers a wide range of musical styles. It will allow the reader to discover legendary players from the earliest blues pioneers right up to today's indie icons and everyone in between.Grouped into seven chapters based on the genre of music each guitarist is most closely associated with, each chapter is then organised chronologically according to the guitarists' birth dates, making the book easy to navigate. Written by an expert team of music writers and musicologists, the informative text tells the story of how each of these axemen rose up to stand out from the crowd, carving themselves a place in the history books. Learn what inspired them to create the music that led to their legendary status, how they achieved such greatness and the tools they used to get to the top.Supported by over 400 superb images that bring each page to life and capture the power and emotion behind the music, this encyclopedia is the ideal book for any aspiring guitar hero, and will satisfy even the most die-hard of music fans. The comprehensive reference section includes an extensive listing of a further 500 of the greatest musicians ever to pick up an axe, recommended further reading and a host of website links, all of which provide a further gateway into the lives of the greatest guitarists the world has ever known.







Rock Guitar Heroes


Book Description

Featuring over 150 of the world's greatest guitar superstars, this updated edition of our successful Rock Guitar Heroes is a definitive guide to those guitarists whose talents helped change the face of music forever and touched the lives of millions. From the heroes of classic blues rock with the likes of Hendrix, Clapton, Page and Beck to modern artists such as Jack White and Muse's Matt Bellamy, this comprehensive catalogue of guitarists covers a wide range of musical styles. Learn what inspired them to create the music that led to their legendary status, how they achieved such greatness and the tools they used to get to the top. Supported by over 200 superb images that bring each page to life and capture the power and emotion behind the music, this is the ideal book for any aspiring guitar hero, and will satisfy even the most die-hard of music fans.




Guitars Illustrated


Book Description

A visual catalog of that follows the histories of important guitars and their manufacturers.




The Illustrated Complete Guitar Handbook


Book Description

The Complete Guitar Handbook is a comprehensive practical guide and reference source to the guitar. Targeted at guitarists of all styles, it presents essential information in way that quickly gets the budding guitarist straight into playing the style they like. Using a compact format, the book is designed to be a highly portable, eminently-thumbable reference source that encourages the reader to explore the world of guitars in the home, the studio or at college. Opening with a Start Here section the book allows the reader to get the most out of the mass of information by providing clear starting points for different levels of skill and interest. The reader is then led through easy-to-follow explanations of learning the basics, and on to exploring a wide range of different playing styles and effects.




The Book of Rock


Book Description

'The Book of Rock' pays tribute to those artists whose music has provided a soundtrack for the growing pains of three generations. It is a gallery of 500 saints, sinners and martyrs of rock and pop history. Here democracy is everything: guitar heroes rub shoulders with tortured geniuses, and the flamboyant masters of showmanship receive the same treatment as reclusive poets. Together they provide a fresh, provocative guide to the icons of rock and pop, the most influential singers and musicians from around the globe. •••NEW CHART ENTRIES!! Now in a more-easy-to-handle format, this new edition is fully updated with fantastic new, varied and talented acts from across the musical spectrum, including Eminem, The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Streets, David Gray, Avril Lavigne, The Darkness, Franz Ferdinand, Dido and Coldplay.




The Definitive Guitar Handbook


Book Description

A resource for those who want to get to grips with playing the guitar. It is packed with practical advice on how to tackle the basics, such as simple chords and finger-picking, right through to more complex power chords, slurs, bends and slides. It also includes tips on stagecraft and performing live as well as step-by-step guitar maintenance




Guitars and Heroes


Book Description

An encyclopedia of more than 100 guitars and the musicians who have mastered them. Guitars and Heroes is organized by era, from the rockabilly pioneers to the guitar heroes of the future. Each chapter contains portraits of guitarists (past and present) and their favorite instruments. The authoritative text describes the musician's favored guitar or guitars and why they prefer them, often revealing a hidden facet of the musician's artistic approach. Special photo spreads include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Prince, Billie Joe Armstrong, AC/DC, Les Paul, anatomy of a Stratocaster, 5 Replica Guitars; Burst, the world's most expensive guitar; 5 Most Desirable Amplifiers, 5 Pedals That Changed the World, 5 Groundbreaking Sounds, The Chicago Blues in 5 Albums, 5 Essential Hard Rock Albums and 5 Design Gibson Mistakes. The book is organized into three sections (Birth of an Art, The Golden Age, Modern Times) and nine chapters, each with a selection of artists and their guitars, including these: Delta Blues and Rockabilly Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rogers, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly Chicago Blues and Jazz Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Trini Lopez, George Benson British Blues Boom Dave Davies, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Peter Green Surf, Garage Rock and Psychedelic Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Santana, Ry Cooder, Duane Allman Birth of Hard Rock Ritchie Blackmore, Neil Young, Brian May, Peter Frampton, Joan Jett Arena Rock, Shred and New Wave Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Edge, Joe Satriani, Slash Grunge and Alternative Rock Kurt Cobain, Buzz Osborne, Sonic Youth, Rivers Cuomo Metal to Djent Dimebag Darrell, John 5, Buckethead, Meshuggah, Tosin Abasi Guitar Heroes of the Future St. Vincent, Joe Bonamassa, Jack White, Ron Thal, Matthew Bellamy. Guitars and Heroes is a sensational encyclopedia for all guitarists, guitar geeks, collectors and avid listeners, and an essential purchase for all collections.




Guitar Family Trees


Book Description

"Guitar Family Trees is a striking visual account of the most prominent guitars in the instrument's illustrious history, from the earliest Renaissance acoustics right up to state-of-the-art 21st century models. This comprehensive book charts the history of the most respected manufacturers and the evolution of their guitars in more detail than ever before. Specially designed photographic guitar family trees, including four special fold-outs, provide at-a-glance overviews of the development of every make and model, decade by decade. Terry Burrows then takes a close-up look at 200 iconic models to create an invaluable catalog of guitars. A stunning full-color photograph of each model is accompanied by informative text tracing its development, with key design and sound features highlighted, and an exhaustive specification list. Burrows also reveals the guitarists who love to play each model, and the tracks on which you can hear it played"--Publisher description.




Million Dollar Les Paul


Book Description

The original sunburst Gibson Les Paul - known as the 'Burst' - is the most celebrated electric guitar of all time. Manufactured at the end of the 50s, it was the instrument of choice for players such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck (left). Now, examples of the guitar are changing hands for high six-figure sums. Million Dollar Les Paul tells the story of these legendary instruments and explores why they have become so desirable. It seems only a matter of time before a Burst sells for a million dollars. By the time you read this book, in fact, it may already have happened. This book, by renowned guitar historian Tony Bacon, combines meticulous research with a series of new interviews with players, technicians, and collectors, including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Mr. Les Paul himself. It takes readers on a fascinating journey from a factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, through the British blues scene of the 60s, to the salerooms and concert stages of the present day.