The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists

The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists is a controversial and much-needed guide to the world of metal guitar, featuring the most accomplished performers from the vast legions of metal. As well as celebrating the classic metal musicians who have defined the scene since the 1970s, author Joel McIver delves deep into the modern thrash metal, death metal, black metal, doom metal, power metal and battle metal movements to unearth those players for whom no tremolo divebomb is too high and no tuning is too low.This book is no mere list for geeks, though. McIver's objective in writing this book is to recognise the incredible skills that these players possess. Moreover, although they're all masters of sweep picking, fretboard tapping and the other tricks of the modern shredder, these players are far from simple speed freaks: The 100 Greatest... makes a point of featuring players whose feel and instinct for the values of metal outweigh mere technical mastery. If you've ever wielded a tennis rack in anger in front of a bedroom mirror, or even if you're a metal musician yourself, you need this book: the world of the overdriven guitar will never look the same again.

(Guitar World Presents). This exciting book from the editors of Guitar World is a treasure trove for any guitarist. Featuring electrifying profiles of everyone from hard rock gods (Wes Borland, Dimebag Darrell, Tony Iommi) to British giants (Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, even Nigel Tufnel) to trailblazing bluesmen (John Lee Hooker, Reverend Gary Davis) to country gents (Clarence White, Albert Lee) to the founding fathers (Chuck Berry, Dick Dale) as well as jazzmen, progressive rockers, punks and rockabilly superstars, Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitarists puts all these inspiring masters at your fingertips. But the fun doesn't stop there. Guitar World has also assembled the riveting stories behind the 100 greatest guitar solos. You know them note-for-note, from David Gilmour's transcendent phrasing in "Comfortably Numb" to Jimi Hendrix's rich notes in "Little Wing" to Kurt Cobain's unforgettable melodic turns in "Smells Like Teen Spirit," and now you can get the inside stories of how these magic moments were captured for all time. Rounding off the collection is bonus material such as a lesson with Metallica's Kirk Hammet, a guide to the 12 greatest guitar tones, and 25 guitar masters weighing in on their favorite solos.

Virtuosos in the 21st century are exploring ways to expand standard playing techniques in a climate expecting ever-higher levels of perfection, supported by technological advances such as extended-range guitars. This Element examines the development and current state of virtuosic rock guitar in terms of playing, technology, and culture.

This one-of-a-kind reference investigates the music and the musicians that set the popular trends of the last half century in America. Many rock fans have, at one time or another, ranked their favorite artists in order of talent, charisma, and musical influence on the world as they see it. In this same spirit, author and music historian David V. Moskowitz expands on the concept of "top ten" lists to provide a lineup of the best 100 musical groups from the past 60 years. Since the chosen bands are based on the author's personal taste, this two-volume set provokes discussion of which performers are included and why, offering insights into the surprising influences behind them. From the Everly Brothers, to the Ramones, to Public Enemy, the work covers a wide variety of styles and genres, clearly illustrating the connections between them. Entries focus on the group's history, touring, membership, major releases, selected discography, bibliography, and influence. Contributions from leading scholars in popular music shed light on derivative artists and underscore the overall impact of the performers on the music industry.

More than an instrument, the guitar is a global institution, and this book is loaded with enough crazy facts, stories, anecdotes to keep you amazed for hours.