Terrifying Technique for Guitar Reviews

• the ultimate source for building chops

  
  By A21OK6QPIMXKJ6 on 2003-01-26
  i have been through numerous method and technique books and this one is by far the best. The books starts off with some good chromatic exercises. The next section contains 37 linear scalar sequences that can be applied to any style of music, especially hard rock. From there, Carl introduces some three-note-per string patterns including major 2nd, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths intervals. There are several indepth pentatonic sequences as well as some alternate arpeggios. Carl goes over in detail the correct way to apply sweep picking arpeggios into your musical ideas. Hybrid picking, legato, one handed arpeggios, tapping and bending are also covered in this extensive guide to building chops. There are over 200 exercises that are all on the CD that comes with the book. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to improve their technical facility and overcome physical barriers.
  
  

• A Shredder's Manual

  
  By A20H34YGRTMPK6 on 2003-01-30
  This is the book all shredders dream off. It is well written and organised with an accompanying CD that demonstrates every exercise clearly without leaving you wondering what it is supposed to sound like.

  The books will teach you how to build up your chops. Starts off with basic chromatic exercises and goes on to sweep picking, tapping and various other coveted shreddign techniques. I would highly recommend it for someone who is a fairly adept guitarist who wants to take his playing to the next level.

  I've also had the opportunity to take lessons with Carl and believe me, this book couldn't have been written by a more accomplished guitarist. Imagine Van halen and Malmsteen rolled into one and you start to get the picture..

  Carl is also a professional transcriber and has done tons of authorised guitar transcriptions for Hal Leonard, Warner Bros. and Cherry Lane.

  Well done Carl on writing the perfect solo'ists guide and thanks for all your help.
  Cheers.
  
  

• Great Book

  
  By ANI1JWOK9LYNK on 2007-02-16
  This is a great book and well worth the price...
  I would suggest this book for all levels...
  It starts out easy and ends up very difficult...There is something in this book for every level guitarist...
  One of the best books i have bought on Amazon...
  Randy
  
  

• Terrifying Technique

  
  By A93KHLX4BQ32E on 2008-06-27
  As the title reads "Terrifying Techique" it delivers. This is a great book to add to your daily guitar studies. I have noticed steady improvement in my playing in a short amount of time. There are some cool chromatic, picking, and arpeggio exercises. Sweeps are simplified and broken into smaller patterns, which I have found helpful in building clean technique. This is a good guild for strengthening chops.
  
  

• This book smokes

  
  By A3FWLK09V7RNVD on 2002-11-15
  I have had this book for a few years now,
  And I have not yet to go though all the exercises at a high tempo.

  Also the CD helps a lot for people that can not grasp rhythm concepts. He demonstrates every example. I did take some lessons from Carl a few years ago at AIM [Atlanta Institute Of Atlanta] and he never got into this much detail about building this type of Technique.

  To me this is a great book and well worth it.
  Congrats Carl, On such a cool book, Can I get a hard back copy :-)

  I still owe you a few drinks from the Malmsteen show. Thanks for everything. SeeYa
  
  

• Great book!
  By A21R2DP74Q16PG on 2007-04-10
  I have had this book for about a month now, and i have done nothing but improve my coordination and skill level on my guitar. Great buy!
  
  
• Shred bible
  By AX5ZI7JZMA2SY on 2007-12-04
  This book is everything it promises to be. The sequences and exercises will really build dexterity, speed and accuracy over time with lots of practice. I read the raving reviews but I was worried that the section on hybrid picking was one on the use of this technique to play intervals or double-stops( which has little to do with speed picking). I was happy however when I bought the book and found out that it actually meant chicken picking, a country music speed picking technique using the pick and the rest of the right hand fingers. Excellent!!
  
  
• Technique only
  By A1FWQS1UBMT6MZ on 2008-04-13
  The book itself will tell you this information, and its clearly in the title-this is all about technique, theory gets the boot.If thats what your looking for then from what Ive already got out of this book I can say you will enjoy this.
  
  The early chapters will tread some familiar ground if you know some scales and basic finger strengthening exercises.But even early on t has some interesting ideas that might make you improve your dexterity so dont skip by them. The chapter on sweep picking is one Im currently working on and has some ways of picking that seem unlike what others would teach, and work very well for making you think in a different way.
  
  Theres also chapters on linear scale movement, chicken picken,alternate picking arpeggios, tapping,bending and legato.Thats a great variety, and if I had been at a slightly lower level of playing, would have found this to be an even greater deal.I plan on going through the whole book regardless, it simply cant hurt.Right now Im just filling in the gaps of my technique.
  
  Problems I encounter with this book include the cd and how its tracks are arranged.There are too many exercises per track- there are hundreds of exercises crammed into 18 tracks.If you are jumping back into the book and happen to be in the middle of a chapter, its a bit annoying to scan by ten or more tracks to get to what you need. Some of the exercises arent organized well either.One pattern is sometimes broken down into three different sections, which are the same pattern just repeated on tab for one or more bars.It seems like a waste of space when it could have simply said"now, repeat this bar".But thats just me nitpicking.
  
  If any of the above mentioned skills are something you need help in,get the book.For the price you can grab it easily, and as long as you go at a good pace I cant see you not improving.
  
  
• Forget it
  By ATPP3IWN4S9PW on 2008-11-10
  After reading the glowing reviews of this book, I decided to purchase it. The book did not deliver though, at all. I've been playing close to 20 years, so I know that no book is going to give me all new ideas or exercises, but this book didn't impress me at all.
  
  First of all, most of the exercises are in C Major. Carl tells you to do the exercises in other keys, but I would have preferred he did more interesting things with the notes--I get very bored playing in C Major/A Minor. Come on Carl, be creative and throw in some cool notes, ya lazy A.
  
  Also, there is virtually no mention of the left hand in this book. It is mostly aimed at right hand technique, so there is little challenge for the left hand, as well as scant fingerings.
  
  Most of the exercises you could easily come up with on your own if you take a short period of time, and I could guarantee you would come up with better ones for the most part.
  
  There is also no context given to the exercises, such as 'this technique can be seen in this song, or this guitarist uses this a lot--here is an excerpt from their solo...'
  
  It's just a dry boring book, and there were only a couple exercises I liked, and the section on sweep picking was a tad useful. I'm getting much more out of practicing Steve Vai's solo in Crossroads (youtube it!) as it is not only technically nearly impossible to get up to that speed,it's musical too. And unless an exercise is inherently challenging in a fun way, it will be thrown to the dust if it's not musical.
  
  This was a very boring book, and I am enjoying Creative Guitar 2 Waaaaaayyyy more.
  
  
• Terrific Practice Material
  By ALXE2EJ0CH5QI on 2008-10-29
  I won't go into too much detail on the specific content of this book, you can find that looking through the other reviews and the description. Instead, I'll talk about the best way to use the book. I have been playing for about 4 years and have certainly gotten better, however like thousands of other guitarists I often struggle with HOW to practice. I've recently purchased fretboard logic, to understand some of the theory behind the guitar. It has certainly helped my playing as I understand where I am going on the fretboard....and I can relate that to real songs when I practice, but practicing real songs and studying theory only goes so far. Ive been looking for specific physical exercises to practice in order to get faster and more coordinated. Thats where this book comes in.
  
  Its literally just a large book of exercises utilizing a full spectrum of techniques. When I started playing the exercises I was amazed at how little left hand coordination I really had. The first 100 examples were like tongue twisters for your fingers. Just from practicing the chromatic exercises and some of the linear exercises I have improved my attempts at soloing drastically (and combining with some theory/scales, I am gaining the ability to write my own licks). Its teaching my fingers to move in more ways than just linear motion down a scale. I can't wait to get to the rest of the exercises, but its going to take awhile and a lot of practice!!! This book is a great guide to follow.
  
  

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