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Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Music Appreciation >

Backbeat The Music Lovers Guide to Record Collecting (Book).

From tips for evaluating recordings, to lively discussions of bootlegs and piracy, to the history of recording formats, to collectible artists and more, The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting by Dave Thompson covers all the tracks. Designed for anyone who collects records for pleasure or profit, at garage sales or on eBay, this guide is both informative and entertaining. If offers a wealth of detail and informed opinion - unique in a field dominated by stodgy price guides. Engaging entries and essays explore the development of all recording mediums, from 78s to MP3; the distinctive character of import records; most collected artists, from The Beatles to Nirvana; collectible labels such as Sun, Chess and Motown; original packaging that enhances collectibility; and much more.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Reggae & Caribbean Music - Listening Companion (Book).

More than a listener's guide, the book Reggae & Caribbean Music reveals the rich historical development of a regional music that is now embraced worldwide. Packed with incisive essays, ratings and reviews of 2,700 reggae and island music recordings, plus fantastic photos and engaging biographies, this guide captures the allure of reggae, calypso, dancehall, rock steady, soca and other evocative styles of the entire English-speaking Caribbean region past and present. The artists featured in Reggae & Caribbean Music - Listening Companion include: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Lord Kitchener, Arrow, Lee Scratch Perry, Buju Banton, Brother Resistance, Prince Buster, David Rudder, Wailing Souls and many others.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Afro-Cuban Jazz - Third Ear Listening Companion (Book).

Through anecdotal biographies and evocative photos, this Afro-Cuban Jazz book by jazz author extraordinaire Scott Yanow portrays every key Afro-Cuban Jazz innovator past and present, plus other jazz artists influenced by this infectious music. Also includes reviews and ratings of recordings that make (or don't make) the cut, and essays packed with historical insight not found in other guides. Musicians covered include: Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Machito, Poncho Sanchez, Chucho Valdés, Arturo Sandoval, Mongo Santamaria, Gato Barbieri, Eddie Palmieri, and many more.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Cream (Book).

Written by Chris Welch, former Melody Maker journalist and Cream confidante, this newly-researched book is the first full account of rock's premiere 3-man supergroup: guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker. From Cream's formation in 1966 to their breakup in 1968, the book analyzes the group's working methods and offers detailed descriptions of all their recordings. A special section explores the musical interactions of Clapton, Bruce and Baker, plus key songwriters Bruce and Pete Brown. With rare full-color photos throughout, Cream - The Legendary 60's Sugergroup Biography also includes a complete discography, studio sessionography, and diary of live shows.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Practice and Performance >

Backbeat Playing From The Heart (Book).

Through the eyes and ears of top music writers, Playing from the Heart brings you closer to 43 of the best players in popular music. Drawn from the rich archives of Guitar Player, Bass Player, Keyboard and Drums & Drumming, these classic interviews and photos reveal the skill, artistry, and personality of world-class musicians in rock, blues, jazz, and other styles. Provocative, often controversial, and always insightful, these interviews get to the heart of each player's creative process: their musical ideas and innovations, playing styles and techniques, equipment, influences, and more. Plus you'll learn the backstory of each interview, direct from the writers and editors. Artists covered in Playing From The Heart include Chuck Berry, The Edge, Bonnie Raitt, Bootsy Collins, Billy Joel, Ginger Baker, Lars Ulrich, and many others.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Celtic Music - Listening Companion (Book).

Celtic Music - Listening Companion is a comprehensive guidebook that covers all that is Celtic in music today, through essays exploring solo artists, bands, singers, and players of specialized Celtic instruments such as harps, pipes, fiddles, drums, squeezeboxes, whistles, mandolins and more. Performers profiled range from the rock-influenced group Clannad, to Welsh band Ar Log, Brittany group Gwerz, singer Christie Moore, harpist/piper/singer Alan Stivell, and many more! Reviews in Celtic Music guide readers to the essential recordings, as well as unexpected, genre-expanding discoveries for any new or established Celtic collection.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Funk - Listening Companion (Book).

Get down with the music that mixes R&B and soul with a little rock'n'roll. This newest addition to the Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion series traces funk from its James Brown roots through today's groove with groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers - folks who got on the good foot. Alongside detailed artist biographies, anecdotes and discographies, the Funk Listening Companion reviews and rates 1,500 recordings that illustrate each band's sound and musical impact. Artists covered include Average White Band, George Clinton, Herbie Hancock, Rick James, Chaka Khan, Curtis Mayfield, The Meters, Prince, Sly Stone, Tower of Power, War, Wild Cherry and many more.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Eddie Van Halen - Know the Man, Play the Music (Book).

The book Eddie Van Halen - Know the Man, Play the Music is geared to teach guitarist both the history and technique of one of rock's greatest guitarists. It explores the musical life and legacy of Eddie Van Halen from his high school days in Pasadena, California, to the present day; and provides detailed accounts of his most significant recorded work. The book also offers commentary from Van Halen himself and the well-known guitarists he has influenced. Guitar lessons on technique provide the skills and encouragement players need to emulate this musical master. An in-depth look at Van Halen's guitars and music gear rounds out this compelling portrait. 160 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book with Media >

Backbeat The Blues-Rock Masters (Book/CD).

Duane Allman, Roy Buchanan, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Biographical portraits highlighting each guitarist's position and influence in blues-rock history; details on gear including setup and tone; descriptive analysis of playing techniques; and several annotated music examples. Helping readers emulate the stylings of the masters, the accompanying CD contains examples from the book, played with each artist's preferred equipment.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Turn! Turn! Turn! 60s Rock Revolution (Book).

Setting the scene with America's traditional folk of the early '60s, the book Turn! Turn! Turn! 60s Rock Revolution describes the sea of change that began in 1964 when the social consciousness of folk met the energy of rock. It concentrates on 1964-66, when the best, most popular, and most controversial folk-rock was created. The book explores the dizzyingly fast cross-fertilization of such giants as The Beatles, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan; the passionate conflicts between folk devotees and folk-rockers; the sudden frenzy of the media; and the unforgettable music that was born. Turn! Turn! Turn! also examines how folk-rock continued to influence late '60s psychedelic rock, country-rock and the British scene, as well as its gradual, partial transformation into the singer-songwriter movement. Based on firsthand interviews with such visionaries as Roger McGuinn, Judy Collins, Donovan, John Sebastian, Arlo Guthrie, Janis Ian and dozens of others.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Grant Green (Book).

Now in softcover! This heartfelt biography celebrates the life and music of unsung hero Grant Green, the late jazz guitar genius who played on nearly 100 albums from the early '60s to the late '70s, but narrowly missed celebrity. Today his music has inspired numerous acid-jazz and hip-hop recordings and his legend continues to grow. A straight-ahead jazzman turned funk wizard, you'll read in this Grant Green biography that he's best known for his rhythmic and driving tone as a session leader and sideman for Blue Note Records. The Grant Green biography paints a personal portrait of the artist's internal struggles through the eyes of his family, friends, and fellow musicians.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book Only >

Backbeat How to Play Blues Guitar: The Basics & Beyond (Book).

Packed with musical examples, charts and photos, How to Play Blues Guitar: The Basics & Beyond is a complete, step-by-step course for learning acoustic or electric blues guitar. In-depth blues guitar lessons teach you to build your own style while exploring the music of traditional bluesmen and modern stars. From practicing your scales and turnarounds to breaking out Chicago-style, this guitar instructional book from the former editor of Guitar Player brings you: essential lessons on blues basics; insights into the music of masters like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy and many others; advice on selecting guitar gear and setting up your guitar; a great blues discography; and even free access to audio lessons on the web!. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Blue Melody - Tim Buckley Remembered (Book).

Celebrating the personal and musical legacy of Tim Buckley, Blue Melody tells the untold story of an exceptionally gifted and charismatic singer-songwriter rebel of the 1960s. Written by Buckley's lead guitarist and close friend, this combination of fond memoir and incisive biography is a remembrance of concerts, tours, recording sessions, friends, family and fellow musicians - and the tumultuous times in which they lived. It is also an informed appraisal of Tim Buckley's dramatic creative odyssey, offering in-depth insight into his complex and sometimes self-destructive personality. The vivid narrative depicts Buckley's panoramic evolution across folk, folk-rock, jazz, avant-garde, and funk-rock, highlighting his refusal to be defined by critical or commercial success. Revealing Tim Buckley's poetic intelligence and captivating humor, Blue Melody recounts dozens of behind-the-scenes stories, plus new information on the circumstances surrounding his alcohol and heroin overdose in 1975 at age 28.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat The Yardbirds (Book).

Although together for only five years, The Yardbirds exerted tremendous influence on the music and style of the '60s and for decades beyond. Their impact has been felt throughout the rock genre, from psychedelia to blues-rock, heavy metal, and the music of today's jam bands. The Yardbirds came from middle-class England, embraced the soulful music of the African-American South, and helped reimport it back into the States as the embryo of heavy metal music. In the process, the band produced 3 guitar greats: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. Every fan of The Yardbirds, or of '60s-derived music in general, will revel in this book by Alan Clayson (which includes more than 50 photos from the group's heyday, plus a detailed diary of every gig, recording and broadcast they did) and enjoy reading the stories - old and new - as much as Alan Clayson enjoys telling them.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Neil Young - Journey Through the Past (Book).

Neil Young's musical evolution has been as versatile as rock itself: pioneering country-rocker with Buffalo Springfield; seminal folk-rocker with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; gentle acoustic guitarist; crashing hard rock electric guitarist; grunge prototype; and good-times rock 'n' roller. This cerebral singer/songwriter has penned unforgettable melodies, harmonies and lyrics, portraying plaintive sadness, lilting warmth and ragged anguish with his unmistakable tenor voice. Offering detailed analyses of this idiosyncratic musician's songs and the stories behind them, the book Neil Young - Journey Through the Past by Nigel Williamson examines all of Young's key albums from 1967 to 2000, including such milestones as After the Gold Rush, Harvest, Tonight's the Night, Rust Never SLeeps, Harvest Moon, Silver & Gold and many others. An essential companion to one of the most important of all rock repertoires.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Recording > Books >

Backbeat Analog Recording - Using Vintage Gear in Home Studios (Book).

Today's hottest home-studio trend is the revival of analog recording. Everyone knows that digital is convenient, consistent, and reliable, but if you want the warm, live sound of real music, you need to allow analog back into the mix. The good news is that the equipment you need is still out there, and surprisingly affordable. This book tells you how to find, maintain and use: analog tape machines, analog mixing consoles and monitors, vintage and vintage-style microphones, analog reverberation, echo, compression and limiting. The book also takes you through the process of building a home studio and a live echo chamber. And there are hints and tips from the analog experts: engineers and producers who have worked with everyone from Phil Spector, Sonny & Cher, The Beach Boys and The Beatles through to Nirvana, Maroon 5, Paul Westerberg, and The White Stripes. The package includes an 11-track audio CD that demonstrates what you can achieve when you bring the human sound of analog into your digital home studio.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Music Appreciation >

Backbeat All Music Guide to the Blues (Book).

Complete, concise, authoritative and fully updated to reflect today's revitalized blues world, the latest edition of this guide is any blues fan's lifeline to the best music, past and present. All Music Guide to the Blues reviews and rates 8,900 recordings in all major styles across the blues map - from Delta blues to Louisiana, Memphis, Chicago, Texas and beyond; from classic female singers to jump blues, blues slide guitar, blues in jazz, Dixieland, zydeco, soul blues, blues-rock, modern acoustic and electric blues, and more. This fun and easy-to-use guide provides profiles of over 1,200 artists. Historical essays plus supplemental music maps chart the roots and evolution of the blues, its various styles, instruments used, key artists, and more. The essays explore the blues from the Mississippi Delta to modern electric blues and everything in between. All Music Guide to the Blues also includes 30 top lists recommending the best albums for each blues style - essential for starting or expanding a great record collection.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Bass > Books >

Backbeat The Working Bassist s Tool Kit (Book/CD).

This book by Bass Player contributing editor and columnist Ed Friedland teaches electric or acoustic bassists of any style the musical skills essential in the working world, survival tips for tackling any gig, and techniques for achieving a competitive edge. It helps new working bassists hit the ground running, and pro players grow stronger. Topics include time and groove, chord charts, ear training, doubling, thumb technique, keeping time, faking tunes and many more, plus ways to assess a gig and deliver the goods. Includes lots of musical examples and exercises, both in the book and on the play-along CD.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends (Book/CD).

Explore the sounds of more than 30 guitar legends, from '50s rock'n'rollers to today's nü-metal practitioners. You'll discover the secrets of their classic tones, learn how they played their most famous rhythms and leads, and find out what gear they used to forge their unique styles. The CD walks you tone-by-tone through licks that characterize the signature sounds of: Clapton, Santana, Dave Matthews, Metallica, Van Halen, Korn, Bill Gibbons, Hendrix, Dimebag Darrell, and others. Also includes essential discographies for each artist.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book with Media >

Backbeat The Acoustic Rock Masters - They Way They Play (Book/CD).

This great book/CD pack lets you explore the work of ten guitar heroes who span the entire acoustic-rock spectrum: Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Eagles, Tom Petty, Keith Richards, Paul Simon, Peter Buck, George Harrison, James Taylor and Pete Townshend. You'll discover the secrets of their picking and fingering styles, learn how they played their most famous lines, find out how they forged their unique styles, and get tips on miking and recording. The accompanying CD walks you note by note through licks that characterize the signature sounds of these world-class musicians. Just as these guitar greats have inspired one another, this book will inspire you.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book with Media >

Backbeat The New Metal Masters (Book/CD).

Play and sound like the new metal legends! This book/CD pack lets you explore the work of a dozen guitar czars who span the entire spectrum of new metal. You'll discover their stylistic secrets, learn how they played their most famous riffs, and find out how they created their unique sounds. The accompanying CD walks you note-by-note through licks that characterize the signature sounds of these killer guitarists.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Country Fried Soul - Adventures in Dirty South Hip Hop (Book).

Hip-hop is the biggest youth movement in the world today, and leading the way is the new sound of the South, exemplified by platinum and multi-platinum artists like OutKast, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins and 8Ball and MJG. This fascinating book reveals where Dirty South hip-hop came from and where it's heading. It explores the hopes, struggles, and frustrations of performers and producers, and guides you to the best in Southern hip-hop on CD and DVD, in magazines, and on the web. If you want to know where the South is taking music, you need this book. Includes foreword by Mississippi rapper David Banner.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Studio Stories (Book).

This is an engaging account of some of the most memorable moments in New York's recording history, as seen through the eyes (and ears) of the many producers, engineers, songwriters, and recording artists who helped make them happen. It explores the explosive 30 years between 1950 and 1980 and the numerous ingredients that made them unique - artists performing live in large, vibrant recording spaces, producers and engineers spontaneously creating new effects and techniques; composers writing parts on demand in the studio; and, most important, recording studios that had life, character, and their own fingerprint sound.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Software > Books >

Backbeat The Complete Pro Tools Shortcuts (Book).

This indispensable guide provides a complete list of over 250 shortcuts to help you get the most out of Pro Tools with the least effort. Each shortcut shows the key combination needed on both Mac and Windows, what it does, in what context the command is available, and other important features. Power users praise this book as an invaluable resource for harnessing the depth and speed of Pro Tools, the most popular computer-based digital audio production system available. So get up to speed and start working like a pro! Pro Tools guru Jose Chilitos Valenzuela is a musician, recording/mixing engineer, and certified Pro Tools trainer based in Los Angeles. He is the author of The Complete Pro Tools Handbook, Audio Digital, Descubriendo MIDI and Diccionario Illustrado de Musica Electronica.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Instruments and Gear >

Backbeat Guitar Rigs - Classic Guitar & Amp Combinations (Book/CD).

This book examines the combinations of guitars, amps, and pedals used to create the most unforgettable sounds in pop, rock, and blues. Dissecting a wide range of setups, the book pinpoints specific elements that contribute to sought-after tones, and teaches guitarists of all levels how to get these sounds with gear available today. It also explores how mixing and matching gear can change each setup's tonal properties. The CD includes 54 tracks demonstrating the different sound qualities of the various guitar rigs discussed.Guitar Rigs meticulously examines the tonal properties of each piece of equipment as each new item or variable is introduced. So not only do the book and CD break down and analyze the sonic qualities, for example, of a Fender Stratocaster plugged into a Fuzz Face pedal and played through a Marshall JTM45 amplifier, they also demonstrate how the resultant tone changes if you substitute a Les Paul for the Strat, or an Ibanez Tube Screamer for the Fuzz Face pedal, or an open-backed 4x10 speaker cabinet for the Marshall's closed-back 4x12.Dave Hunter, author of Guitar Effects Pedals, is a former editor of Guitar Magazine, he has contributed to TV and radio documentaries, and has edited and contributed to many guitar books. 192 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat The Kinks - All Day and All of the Night (Book).

The Kinks - All Day and All of the Night by Doug Hinman tells the true story of The Kinks, one of the greatest pop bands of all time, through the facts about their daily professional lives as they wrote songs, appeared on stage, signed deals, performed for TV and radio stations, and made records in the studio. Author Doug Hinman lays out The Kinks' history in fascinating chronological detail, revealing new stories and fresh insights into the band started by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. Included in the book's 352 fact-packed pages are hundreds of photos, gig locations and on-the-spot reviews, detailed examinations of every known recording session, and thorough information about all the band's major record releases. The book, The Kinks - All Day and All of the Night is the result of Hinman's 20 years of deep research. He has been afforded personal recognition by the band members for his grasp of their history and has had their help and assistance in reconstructing this uniquely detailed story. (Hinman's) research ... takes popular music scholarship to a plateau of virtually unprecedented integrity. - Johnny Rogan, author of noted books on The Kinks, The Byrds, Neil Young and others. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat UNRELEASED BEATLES Book.

The Unreleased Beatles details the incredible breadth of music The Beatles recorded but did not release, as well as film footage of the group that hasn't been made commercially available. Beatles expert Richie Unterberger examines a huge array of material, including unreleased studio out-takes, BBC radio recordings from 1962-1965, live concert performances, home demo recordings, fan club Christmas recordings, and other informal demos done outside of EMI studios. The staggering wealth of unreleased gems encompasses The Beatles' entire career, from a recording the Quarrymen made on July 6, 1957 (aka "the day John met Paul"), right up to out-takes from the final sessions of "Let It Be" in 1970. Also includes a general overview of Beatles bootlegs, their songs recorded by other artists in the 1960s, never-recorded material, and more than 100 photos.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Elwoods Blues (Book).

Elwood's Blues is an entertaining and informative collection of conversations with the legends and rising stars of blues and rock music, drawn from the popular syndicated radio series, The House of Blues Radio Hour. Host Dan Aykroyd, in character as Elwood Blues of the legendary Blues Brothers, has interviewed over 900 blues and rock greats since 1993. This book compiles the best of those, including discussions with living legends B.B. King and Buddy Guy, past masters John Lee Hooker and Stevie Ray Vaughan, rising stars Keb' Mo' and Susan Tedeschi, and blues-rooted rock stars such as Robert Plant and Bill Wyman.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Bass > Books >

Backbeat R&B Bass Masters - The Way They Play (Book/CD).

R&B Masters is a close examination of the legendary R&B bassists that shaped modern music. Explore the styles of Duck Dunn, Chuck Rainey, George Porter, James Jamerson, Jerry Jemmot, David Hood and many others through written examples and play-along tracks. Learn their stories, their working setup, and their unique approaches to the groove. The CD features examples from all of the book's lessons.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Software > Books >

Backbeat Power Tools for Reason 2.5 (Book/CD-ROM).

Power Tools for Reason 2.5 covers the advanced features of Propellerhead Software's incredibly popular Reason software. Reason is a computer-based music production studio that contains a full complement of synthesizers, drum machines and audio effects. Author Kurt Kurasaki created Propellerhead's CD-ROM tutorial Producing Music with Reason and also maintains an independent web site (www.peff.com) for Reason users. This book is an incredible compendium of insights and techniques, and contains over 100 advanced tips for producing cutting-edge music with Reason. This will be the first book on the market to cover the major new features in version 2.5 of Reason. Readers can expand their sonic palettes by applying the advice of a recognized Reason guru, and they will learn the audio concepts behind these effects so they can become experts in sound innovation.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Bass > Books >

Backbeat First Bass - The Ultimate Guide to Bass Fundamentals (Book/CD).

First Bass is the ultimate book of fundamentals for the electric bass, designed to take the beginner to the next level. Through indispensable reading basics and exercises, this unique guide explores all techniques, concepts, and styles that cover 50 years of electric bass playing. The author also analyses scales, modes, popular music chord progressions, equipment, special effects, and recording techniques are also analyzed, giving bass players all the tools they need to improve their skills and develop their own styles. The audio CD demonstrates examples from the book.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Bass > Books >

Backbeat Bunny Brunels Power Bass: Soloing Secrets (Book/CD).

Created specifically for bass players, this book takes you inside Bunny Brunel's innovative system for solo improvisation. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience performing and teaching, Brunel presents his methods for understanding modes, scales, chords, harmony and substitutions, and shows you how to apply these concepts to blues and jazz soloing. Includes transcriptions of Brunel's mind-blowing solos, and his performance of the solos and examples on CD. Bunny explains in a clear way the essence of improvisation. Any student will gain invaluable knowledge reading and practicing with this book. - Stanley Clarke. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book with Media >

Backbeat Guitar Licks of the Brit-Rock Heroes - Clapton Beck & Page Book with CD.

In this premier title in the Guitar Lick Factory player series, teacher/guitarist extraordinaire Jesse Gress takes you deep inside the styles of these 3 guitar heroes. Presenting more than 100 of the players' characteristic licks, Gress shows you the secrets of their styles and explains how you can develop your own playing by understanding the essence of each guitarist's approach. This book presents each example with its own mini-lesson, and Gress performs the licks on the accompanying CD.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Marvin Gaye, My Brother (Book).

Marvin Gaye's life and brilliant career were cut tragically short on April 1, 1984 - one day before his 45th birthday - when he was shot and killed by his own father. Now, for the first time ever, Marvin Gaye biography is told in intimate detail by a member of his family, his brother Frankie Gaye. Frankie and Marvin Gaye were close from childhood until Marvin's death. Frankie was at Marvin's side when he died, and only Frankie heard his deathbed confession. Full of never-before-told personal anecdotes, Marvin Gaye, My Brother takes you behind the scenes from Marvin's childhood, through his spectacular success at Motown and then Columbia, his stormy relationships with women, and finally to his descent into drugs and despair. The true story of the man behind the beloved music is now available to fans old and new. Includes great photos throughout, a helpful index, and a timeline of important events in Marvin's life.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Instruments and Gear >

Backbeat The Tube Amp Book (Book/CD).

The deluxe revised Tube Amp Book edition contains 40% new material, with a comprehensive A-Z section covering all the great tube amp manufacturers, with histories, photos, and information. Amplifier brands include Ampeg, Dr. Z, Fender, Gibson, Hiwatt, Marshall, Matchless, Mesa/Boogie, Orange, Vox, Watkins and many others. Features a CD-ROM with 800 schematic and layout diagrams, from Ampeg to Western Electric, plus dramatically improved design and page layout. The Tube Amp Book's technical tips, in-depth electronic specs, explanations, 350 schematic diagrams, and full-color plates make it a must-have for tube-tone fanatics. Hardcover with convenient enclosed spiral binding. 416 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book with Media >

Backbeat Riffs: How to Create and Play Great Guitar Riffs (Book/CD).

This book identifies 30 distinct guitar riff types, and illustrates them with 150 examples, examining how they have been developed and used by great rock musicians, including members of Cream, The Beatles, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Metallica, Limp Bizkit, The Strokes, and The White Stripes. The first half of the book analyzes classic rock riffs and reveals the stories behind their creation, supported by illustrations and a 30-track CD of audio examples. The second section shows how to construct great riffs. You'll learn how to shape a melody, integrate a guitar riff with the rest of a song, enhance it with effects, and work with intervals and scales. Includes an exclusive interview with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones. 176 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Recording > Software >

Backbeat Power Tools for Garage Band (CD-ROM).

Apple's GarageBand is the hottest and most accessible digital music software available today, giving musicians of all levels an affordable tool to create extraordinary sounds. Power Tools for GarageBand teaches pros and aspiring artists how to get the most out of this exciting software - offering in-depth lessons, tips, and tricks to create music using loops, MIDI sequencing, and audio recording. With these power tools in hand, the sonically inclined can create ultraphonic designs.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Brave New Bass - Interviews (Book).

Brave New Bass offers an in-depth look at 30 visionary bass players in styles ranging from pop and rock to world music and experimental jazz. Each chapter includes revealing interviews by Chris Jisi and other top bass writers, as well as private bass lessons in standard notation and tablature, and up-to-date gear lists and discographies. Packed with insights and opinions from bassdom's standout stars and behind-the-scenes heroes, Brave New Bass deepens your knowledge of your instrument and its history. The book includes interviews with bass players such as Marcus Miller, Flea, Will Lee, Tony Levin, Jeff Berlin, Les Claypool, Christian McBride, Doug Wimbish, Darryl Jones, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Jonathan Maron and many others!. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Reveal - The Story of R.E.M. (Book).

The band R.E.M. has produced some of the most consistently fascinating, successful, and honest music of the past few decades, combining lyrical and musical experimentation in ways that nonetheless are accessible to the mainstream rock audience. Drawing upon firsthand interviews with band members and insiders, Reveal - The Story of R.E.M. by Johnny Black is a biographical exploration of the work and life of this seminal band. With a focus on the music and how it evolves from the personalities within the group, this book provides new insights into R.E.M.'s creative process. 7-1/4 x 9-1/4, 272 pages. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book Only >

Backbeat A Players Guide to Chords and Harmony (Book).

If you'd like to know about music theory but don't want to get bogged down in a stuffy college-level textbook, A Players Guide to Chords and Harmony by Jim Aikin was written just for you! It's a practical, no-nonsense guide ideal for: young musicians learning guitar so they can play rock, folk, or blues; DJs who've started recording their own tracks and need to know how chord progressions work; anyone who wants to play from the chord symbols in sheet music; classical musicians who want to do more than just read the dots, and countless other useful musical topics. A Players Guide to Chords and Harmony covers: intervals, scales, modes, triads and advanced voicings; interpreting chord symbols and reading sheet music; voice leading, chord progressions and basic song forms; classical, jazz & pop; and more, with helpful quizzes and answers.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Music Business >

Backbeat Hot Hits, Cheap Demos (Book) ¹.

Rooted in real-life music business experience, not classroom theory, author Nadine Condon reveals the secrets of artist development using the creative process as the foundation for success, and provides solid direction for you to plan and evaluate your path to success in the music industry. In short: If you are a musician, read this book. Hot Hits, Cheap Demos shows you how to: jumpstart your music career, create a press kit and develop surefire marketing strategies, contact clubs and alternative venues, produce and promote your own shows, make an eye-catching web site, write a standout song, find a music producer, and even package a CD. Written by Nadine Condon, a 20-year music industry veteran who's been instrumental in the success of such acts as Smash Mouth, Stroke 9, Third Eye Blind and Train.Topics in Hot Hits, Cheap Demos include... * The top three industry secrets and 22 actions you can take right now * How to research traditional and non traditional marketing strategies * How to contact a club, alternative venue and other bands * How to produce your own shows and ways to promote them * Ways to make your website stand out, web page categories and site sins * How to create a press kit and when to hire a publicist * What is a hit song, how to find a producer, packaging a CD * Facts and fiction about commercial and college radio airplay * How and when to solicit a manager, agent and lawyer, with professional checklist * Submission guidelines and criteria to get major label interest * Options to major labels, publishing and performing rights info * 12 points of practical advice to carry with you for your music career"I think your book is the best "how to" book on the music business that I have ever read, and I've read a few... I just wish it had been written 20 years ago..." - Dan, 20+ years as a musician"From the start, anyone who reads this will feel appreciated for whatever their current status and aspiration is in music. Whether they simply want to perform at the local open mic or take the nation by storm, they will find that Nadine is in their corner. She provides specific steps to take immediately to move beyond frustration and get to the process of making your dreams come true." - Mike, musician. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Masters of Jazz Guitar (Book/CD).

The Backbeat Masters of Jazz Guitar (Book/CD) delves into the history of jazz guitar and the master players have had vast influence on provocative 20th century music. Written by some of the world's foremost jazz authorities and illustrated with more than 200 gorgeous photographs, this book spotlights remarkable musicians whose artistry has made the guitar fundamental to jazz. From 1930s electric pioneer Charlie Christian, to 1960s fusion visionary Larry Coryell and beyond, Masters of Jazz Guitar celebrates the achievements of players who changed the sound of jazz. Features deluxe paper stock, full-color throughout the book, and a bonus CD with 14 classic tracks by Howard Alden, Tal Farlow, Danny Barker, Al Casey, George Barnes, Herb Ellis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Phil Upchurch and Jack Wilkins.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat The Ukulele - 2nd Edition Visual History (Book).

The Ukulele - A Visual History by Jim Beloff is a fun, photo-filled look at the ongoing story of this diminutive instrument. This revised edition includes a new chapter on recent pop-culture visibility, new photos, and updated information throughout. The Ukulele features breathtaking color photographs of the finest and most unique ukuleles, the history of the ukulele, the greatest uke players, the great makers, and the uke in popular culture. Beautifully designed and presented in a deluxe hardcover edition ... uke can't go wrong with this book!. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Software > Books >

Backbeat Power Tools Software for Loop Music (Book/CD-ROM).

This training book and CD-ROM illuminates the technical & creative aspects of looping, allowing you to master this limitless form. Covers: digital recording & sampling, creating your own loops, signal processing & routing, mixing like the pros, legal aspects of sampling, shortcuts and more, exploring applications of the most popular software tools. As a bonus, the included CD-ROM contains demo and lite software of the tools discussed, in both Mac OS and Windows versions, plus 250+ megabytes of license-and royalty-free loops and audio samples in a variety of styles.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat American Basses (Book).

The first comprehensive book on American-made electric and acoustic bass guitars, American Basses by Jim Roberts offers a wealth of well-researched information about all of the important builders, from one-man shops to the biggest manufacturers. Hundreds of full-color photos illustrate the wide range of instruments available, and special insider essays take you step by step through the bassmaking process, from concept and design to final setup. American Basses includes how-to tips from top builders and designers on topics such as: neck and bridge setup; active vs. passive pickups; bolt-on vs. neck-through design; tonewood characteristics; defeating hum and buzz; string angle and tone; and more. "What a book! I feel much closer to my bass guitar after having read American Basses." - Will Lee, Bass Player for The Late Show with David Letterman. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Eight Miles High (Book).

Eight Miles High by Richie Unterberger documents the evolution of the folk-rock movement from mid-1966 through the end of the decade. This much-anticipated sequel to Turn! Turn! Turn! - the acclaimed history of folk-rock's early years - portrays the mutation of the music genre into psychedelia via California bands like the Byrds and Jefferson Airplane; the maturation of folk-rock composers in the singer-songwriter movement; the re-emergence of Bob Dylan and the creation of country-rock; the rise of folk-rock's first supergroup, CSN&Y; the origination of British folk-rock; and the growing importance of major festivals from Newport to Woodstock. Eight Miles High is based on firsthand interviews with such folk-rock visionaries as: Jorma Kaukonen, Roger McGuinn, Donovan, Judy Collins, Jim Messina, Dan Hicks and dozens of others.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book with Media >

Backbeat Slide Guitar (Book/CD).

Pete Madsen teaches you both the history and technique of slide guitar's masters, such as Brian Jones, Lowell George, Bonnie Raitt, and Robert Johnson. While exploring their musical lives and legacy, Slide Guitar provides lessons that give you the skills and encouragement you need to emulate these musical heroes. The accompanying CD offers specially recorded backing tracks in blues, folk, country, and rock, allowing you to play along in your favorite style and explore new sounds. Hardcover, spiral-bound. 168 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Live Sound > Books >

Backbeat Crank It Up - Live Sound Secrets (Book).

The live concert business is exploding; hundreds of acts are hitting the road every year, and whatever style music they play, they need to sound great. Learn more about a career n live music and discover how can you be at the controls for these show. Crank It Up - Live Sound Secrets by Clive Young introduces you to 72 of the world's finest front-of-house (FOH) and monitor engineers, and listen as they reveal what music gear they use and how, how they make top acts always sound amazing, and what it takes to survive the climb to the big time. Get the inside scoop on mixing live music straight from concert FOH engineers on the road with stars such as Aerosmith, KISS, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, U2, the Dixie Chicks, Blondie, Madonna, Norah Jones, Elton John, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others!. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat 45 RPM - Pop Music Revolution (Book).

In the 1950s and '60s, those shiny 45-rpm records with the big hole in the middle were the primary delivery system for popular American music, especially rock 'n' roll. Cheap to manufacture and available to even fly-by-night record operations, the donut disc changed the way popular music was written, recorded, promoted and marketed, and it broke-at least for a time-the iron-fisted dominance of the major record corporations. This book traces the history of the 45 7" phonograph record from its origins back to the 1880s to explaining the personality conflicts that led an eccentric genius to develop the 45 single record into one of postwar America's most popular consumer products. 45 RPM by Jim Dawson & Steve Propes explores how the jukebox, the autonomous disc jockey, and payola and artist rip-offs kept the 45 at the forefront of rock for 20 years. There are also chapters on the most valuable (and legendary) 45 records of all time, as well as the oddities, oddballs and freak hits that make listening to 45s so much fun. With over 80 illustrations - many in full color.45 RPM Pop Music Revolution Contents: Chapter 1: Record Revolution Chapter 2: Columbia Unveils the LP Chapter 3: Getting Up to Speed Chapter 4: The Battle of the Speeds Chapter 5: The Kiddie Discs Chapter 6: The Jukebox Saves the Day Chapter 7: The 45 Takes Over! Chapter 8: The EP Chapter 9: The Record Sleeve Chapter 10: Hot Biscuits (How to Make a 45) Chapter 11: "Stormy Weather": The Most Legendary 45 Chapter 12: A-Sides, Free Rides & Killer B's Chapter 13: The 7-Inch Alternatives Chapter 14: The 12-inch Single Chapter 15: The End of the Single Chapter 16: The 45 Will Rise Again! Chapter 17: The 50 Most Expensive 45s Chapter 18: Odd Lots, Odd Balls & Odd 'n' Ends. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Bass > Books >

Backbeat The Jazz Bass (Book/CD).

More than a player's manual, this book portrays jazz bass as a vital element of 20th century American music. Citing examples from key recordings in the jazz canon, the book defines the essence of the musical contributions made by more than 70 important jazz bassists, including Ray Brown, Eddie Gomez, Charles Mingus, Milt Hinton and many others. Bassists get expert guidance on mastering proper technique, practice methods and improvisation, plus new insight into the theoretical and conceptual aspects of jazz. The companion CD featuring bass plus rhythm section allows readers to hear technical examples from the book, presented in slow and fast versions. It also offers play-along tracks of typical chord progressions and song forms.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat 50 Years of Fender (Book).

The first Fender guitar hit the scene over 50 years ago - and music hasn't been the same since. Featuring 200 color photos, 50 Years of Fender gives you a visual chronicle of the premier guitar maker charts every Fender guitar from 1950 to 2000, accompanied by a parallel timeline of musical highlights. The book celebrates 50 years of Telecasters, Stratocasters, Precision Basses, and other Fender instruments played by such artists as Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Kurt Cobain and many others.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Bass > Books >

Backbeat Bass Grooves (Book/CD).

The only book to teach groove development strategies that includes drum notation and tips on programming drum machines, this book/CD combo gives bass players both the musical background and training needed to get on with their grooving. With lessons guided by a metronome and presented in various musical styles and rhythmic applications, bassists increase their ability to internalize rhythm. The book also breaks down classic styles and grooves from rock, blues, R&B, jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and other traditions. Each illuminating example includes a notated version of the drum part and details how to program it into a drum machine. 96 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Turn It On Again - Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins & Genesis (Book).

One of the most successful rock acts of all time, Genesis enjoyed a longevity exceeded only by the likes of the Rolling Stones and the Kinks, and provided a launching pad for superstars Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins. Turn It On Again is the first book to document the complete history of this popular and influential band, bringing their story up-to-date while placing them in the context of their time. It explores the relationship between the band and the remarkable solo careers it spawned. Drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews with band members past and present, as well as the musicians' friends and associates, author Dave Thompson chronicles Genesis' evolution from progressive-rock visionaries to mainstream rock stars, and the continuing careers of its most famous alumni. 328 pages.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Songwriting >

Backbeat The Songwriting Sourcebook.

Complementing Rikky Rooksby's bestselling How to Write Songs on Guitar (00330574), this easy-to-use reference book will teach you how to write better songs. The songwriting resource book analyzes important issues including writing harmonies, melodies and lyrics, and how to improve your songs by redrafting. The reference section includes sequences from a variety of diverse songs, outlining 20 songwriting moments, recommended listening for songwriters, and quotes about songwriting from professional songwriters. The Songwriting Sourcebook's enclosed CD features examples of chords, chord progressions and harmonies featured in the book, with a case history illustrating how to develop a song.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Piano and Keyboard > Videos >

Backbeat How to Write Songs on Keyboards - A Complete Course to Help You Write Better Songs (Book).

This book helps both keyboard and guitar players to find and develop interesting chords and chord sequences on a keyboard, and then use them to write their own songs. Rather than trying to teach intricate pieces of music, the book breaks things down into a simpler style and concentrates on basic chords and ideas, starting with a simple three-chord song and gradually adding more complex structures. A visual system that virtually eliminates the use of standard music notation allows guitarists who are used to using guitar tablature to feel totally at home. Songwriting issues are also analyzed, including key changes and writing songs in minor keys. The straightforward style of this book will have musicians writing on a keyboard with ease, even if they never have before.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster - The Story of the World s First Solidbody Electric Guitar (Book).

Launched by the fledgling Fender company in 1950, the Telecaster has become the longest-lived solidbody electric guitar, played by everyone from Muddy Waters to Chrissie Hynde. All who play know that the key to the Telecaster's importance and versatility is its sheer simplicity. Packed with high-quality photographs of the great Telecasters, collectable catalogs, period press ads, and memorabilia, Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster is a tribute book that tells the story of the Telecaster and the Fender Company through exclusive interviews with Fender figures who were there when this musical star was born.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat The Hits Just Keep On Coming (Book).

This lively blast from the past peels back the many layers of the Top 40 phenomenon: the DJs, fans, singles, jingles, dedications, contests, requests and more. The book The Hits Just Keep On Coming by Ben Fong-Torres features interviews with such renowned radio personalities and programmers as Casey Kasem, Dick Clark, Wolfman Jack, Cousin Brucie Morrow, Gary Owens and many others, and includes an exclusive CD with airchecks - rare recordings from 16 legendary DJs on actual Top 40 broadcasts - so that readers can hear the crazed, creative, and compelling voices that made Top 40 so memorable. The Hits Just Keep On Coming also includes lots of fantastic black-and-white photos to help readers put faces to the voices they know so well, a bibliography and index, and a special Top of the Pops section featuring the Number One records of Top 40 radio from 1957 through 1997 as calculated by the staff of Gavin.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Pro Audio Instruction > Live Sound > Books >

Backbeat The Live Sound Manual (Book).

From faders to frequencies, microphones to mixing, pink noise to polarity, The Live Sound Manual is the all-inclusive manual for creating the finest sound for live performances. It applies to the entire range of stage performers and their equipment - solo acoustic guitar and vocal, full-scale band requiring complex amplification, or electronica DJ working multiple turntables. Every aspect of live sound is covered, including: analyzing venue needs, acquiring and managing the ideal sound system, setting up and audio testing equipment, understanding and applying the theories of acoustics, maintenance, troubleshooting, and much more. The Live Sound Manual also features a 15,000-word technical glossary.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Django Reinhardt (Book/CD).

This book is part biography and part teaching guide. It details the accident in which Django Reinhardt lost the full use of his left hand and provides in-depth analysis of his technique, tone, and harmonic approach. The accompanying CD includes 8 of Reinhardt's classic original recordings as well as newly recorded backing tracks without lead guitar for perfect practice sessions. Django Reinhardt allows guitarists to get closer than ever to the bewitching, addictive, and at times bewildering technique of this guitar great.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Music Theory and Ear Training > Books >

Backbeat Melody - How to Write Great Tunes (Book & CD Package).

Melody is the true heart of music, often inspired by nothing more than the songwriter's muse. Yet melody can be learned. This book teaches the art of melody and how to write effective tunes. Starting from basics, it covers the essentials - rhythm, intervals, scales, and harmony - and builds to offer a wealth of advanced techniques and tricks. Every musical example in the book is also on the CD, allowing musicians to increase their awareness of melody through both sight and sound.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book Only >

Backbeat Guitar Lick Factory (Book).

There's nothing like the feeling you get when you add a new guitar lick to your musical vocabulary. An encyclopedia of hip lines, Guitar Lick Factory helps beginning and intermediate guitarists build their lick repertoire. In addition, it opens the door to jazz for blues and rock players of all levels, gives jazzers the key to authentic blues and rock, and shows the important connections among all 3 genres. Guitar Link Library contains hundreds of ready-to-play guitar licks presented as short melodic modules. Using Jesse Gress's ingenious grid system, players will learn how to extract dozens of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic variations from each module.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat Jimi Hendrix - Musician (Book).

In the decades since Jimi Hendrix's untimely death, much has been written about his life, loves, drugs, money, and hassles. In the meantime, the reputation of his music has been quietly growing. The book Jimi Hendrix - Musician concentrates firmly on his work, examining what makes Hendrix's music so extraordinary. Author Keith Shadwick offers a unique slant on the man as musician, following Jimi Hendrix from his 1960s beginnings, through the years of his intense listening and learning, to the full flowering of his Experience. Jimi Hendrix - Musician is an insightful, coffee table-quality book that concludes with a bold new anaysis of how Hendrix, like so many artists of genius before him, lost control through his determination to assert it. Includes an appendix on Hendrix's gear by music journalist and guitarist Douglas J. Noble. Full color, filled with fantastic photos throughout.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat The Electric Guitar Sourcebook - How to Find the Sound You Like (Book).

Why does an electric archtop sound so different from a solidbody guitar when they have the same strings and pickups? Why does Eric Clapton use a vibrato Stratocaster with the vibrato arm removed and the mechanism blocked off with a piece of wood? Why does a strings-though-body guitar sound brighter than an instrument with the strings anchored at the bridge? The sound of an electric guitar is the sum of many parts. Every component, from the wood in the neck to the metal in the tuners and everything in between, including the amount of air in the body, affects the overall tone of an instrument. In this book, Dave Hunter looks at the development of the electric guitar since the earliest instruments in the late 1930s, and how, since then, guitar makers and players have sought to define and refine all the elements that create a guitar's tone.This book includes: analysis of the different components that make up a guitar and how each affects the sound of an instrument, chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the main body types, their characteristics, and their strengths and weaknesses, in-depth specifications of over 70 guitars, interviews with significant people in the guitar-making world, accompanying CD with examples of many of the guitar sounds described in the book. By looking at all the variables involved, this book will set you, the player, on the road to achieving that sound you've always wanted.. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Learn to Play > Guitar > Books > Book Only >

Backbeat How to Play Metal Guitar (Book).

The book How to Play Metal Guitar by Richard Johnston gives you vital instruction in metal basics from top guitar teachers, and reveals the secrets of the monsters of metal - often in their own words. Packed with musical examples, charts and photos, this is your complete course for learning metal guitar. In-depth guitar lessons with pros like Andy Ellis, Jesse Gress, Joe Gore, Jude Gold and Dave Whitehill teach you to build your own style while exploring the classic and modern sounds of the metal guitar masters. How to Play Metal Guitar covers: tips on altered tunings and 7-string guitar, pros' secrets of tone and recording, discography of the monsters of metal, and free access to audio lessons at an exclusive web page!. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Music Business >

Backbeat All Music Guide to Popular Music (Book).

From folk to avant-garde to world music, All Music Guide to Popular Music is a fun-to-browse book that easily guides readers to more than 20,000 great recordings by over 4,000 artists through thorough reviews and ratings. Arranged by genre (the book covers 16 styles in all), each section provides informed essays on how the music evolved and its various styles, intriguing artist biographies, and insightful reviews and ratings of the top recordings. The lives and work of major artists are described in depth. Easy-to-read music maps chart the development of each genre, its key players, and their influences. Now in its fourth edition, All Music Guide to Popular Music is an authoritative reference highlights essential collection albums as well as first purchase recordings to help listeners buy CDs. "Nearly 1,500 info-packed pages! Makes you delirious with knowledge." - Entertainment Weekly "The most useful single volume your money can buy." - MojoFrom Library Journal: Given the comprehensiveness, popularity, and timeliness of the free All Music Guide web site, one wonders whether an abridged print version is needed. Still, it's hard to ignore the pleasures of browsing this highly entertaining tome, now in its fourth edition, which provides guidance on the best music from virtually all popular (i.e., nonclassical) genres. Over 20,000 albums and 4000 artists are represented from the worlds of rock, blues, country, jazz, rap, folk, gospel, reggae, avant-garde, and more. The book is arranged into 16 genre chapters, each beginning with an overview of the genre and its various subgenres or "styles." (Tabs on the page edges would have facilitated thumbing to a particular genre.) Artists are listed alphabetically within each chapter, making the comprehensive index crucial for determining the genre under which an artist is listed. Unfortunately, the index is off by a few pages for artists in the fourth chapter (Gospel) through the end. Each artist entry includes vital statistics, styles played, a biographical sketch, and a selective list of albums. All albums are rated from one to five stars, with additional symbols denoting recommended first purchases and albums that are essential representations of a genre. Signed reviews from scores of contributors accompany the most significant titles. (Beware: an album's rating and review do not always jibe. Also, ratings and reviews in the book may differ from those found on the web site for the same album.) Other features include music maps (a sort of family tree outlining the history and key artists of a genre or style) and sidebar articles on topics such as Caribbean music styles and English and Celtic folk instruments. While still selective, the All Music guides (there are also separate volumes on rock, jazz, blues, country, and electronica) tend to provide more detail and analysis of an artist's oeuvre than the MusicHound, Rough Guide, and Rolling Stone tomes. All in all, pa. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > Biographies >

Backbeat White Stripes - Sweethearts of the Blues (Book).

Backbeat Books White Stripes - Sweethearts of the Blues is an engrossing book that tells the tale of the Detroit duo who shook up the music world with their candy-colored, gothic-coated world of melody, rhythm and storytelling. These unlikely-looking saviors reinvigorated the blues and blues-rock for a new generation. Writer Denise Sullivan relates The White Stripes' story with a keen eye for detail, a music lover's ear for influences and references, a fan's appreciation of the layers and subtleties, and a journalist's nose for a good story, with all its twists and curves, half-truths, and elaborate theories. Includes dozens of rare photographs, a full discography, and a song concordance. 7-1/4 x 9-1/4, 176 pages. ...details

Backbeat Books, Videos and Music > Reference Materials > History and Criticism >

Backbeat Hit Singles (Book).

This entertaining book presents the U.S. and U.K. Top 20 charts side by side, month by month - showing how rock and pop developed on each side of the Atlantic. Fully updated, it lists the hits from 1954 through 2003. Alongside every song listing, readers will find important facts such as the artist's name and nationality, current and previous month's chart position, record label, weeks on the chart, and simultaneous position on the other side of the pond. Includes an alphabetical listing of song titles with artists, and an alphabetical listing of artists with song titles and chart-entry dates, enabling easy cross-referencing to help you track down any Top 20 record since 1954.. ...details