Customer Rating:  
Summary: Amazing Crash Course
Comment: Well first off this is not for a beginner. But if you're an intermediate guitar player wanting to take a shot at "technique"... which is the most painful and burning part before one gets to conquer speed... this book and its simple but blazing exercises is just for you.
I actually bought both the DVD (Rock Discipline) AND this book. Personally the book actually is WAAAY better than the DVD (strange but true). I am seeing my playing change in just 30 days.
Amazing analysis, great ideas and fantastic presentation. Thanks a lot Mr Petrucci. I am grateful to you.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A useful addition to your guitar study library
Comment: This is a useful book, and the CD is an excellent companion. I agree with the other reviewers that the exercises are very useful, a couple of them are so good they have become a part of my daily warm-up and practice routine. Almost more valuable than the exercises is John's commentary about what it takes to become a guitar player, and the habits and disipline required. I am getting a bit tired of the kids who sit down with me for their first lesson (with their brand new Gibson Robot) after beating "Guitar Hero", and to their shock, discover that learning the guitar actually takes LOTS of practice and firm self dicipline. There is a reason most of these guys, (Pretrucci, Satch, Malmsteen, et al) are in their 40's and 50's, they've worked their butts off for the last 25+ years to get to the place they currently enjoy. Sorry, this is turning into an editoral/whine.
I am usually satisfied if I can pull 2-3 useful tidbits out of a guitar book. I will probably pick up 10 things from this one. As to the comments regarding this book might be too much for a beginner, I disagree. Yes, the theory will be lost on you, but the mechanical exercises will build chops and vocabulary. You will also learn some interesting chords that will break you away from the C-D-G grind of most beginners stuff.
The secret of getting the most out of this book, and launching your playing to the next level? As others have stated, Metronome-Metronome-Metronome. Your progress is measured by how many batteries you burned through in your metronome. (A tip of the cap to those who have the wind-up type!) Get Practicing!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Challenging
Comment: There are some prerequisites to use this book effectively:
1. Get a metronome and use it.
2. Be patient. I thought I could rip through these exercises one after another but I find that I'm spending several sessions on each exercise to reach the speed and accuracy I want. You really need to memorize the exercises so you can practice them frequently.
3. Set aside the time to concentrate on this book. An hour a day is probably enough to move forward through the lessons. It gets harder as you turn the pages.
4. Resolve. This is a challenging program that Petrucci has put together. It would be easy to put it aside and do something that is more fun.
However, my playing has IMPROVED! I go back to songs I had attempted in the past and find I can rip through passages I stumbled on before.
The book works.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Must for aspiring guitarists and Dream Theater enthusiasts
Comment: I think this is much more beneficial than the Rock Discipline video. John explains his exercises clearly and they are very constructive. I've been playing guitar for some 13 years before I picked this up, and even though I've only spent a couple weeks with this book (and a metronome I just as recently bought), I have noticed some improvement in my playing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Comment: This book is exactly what I was looking for . I have been playing guitar from last 6 years but know quite a bit of theory but I could not apply that much. What this book did was to show me a way forward , to correct some of my notions and to reinforce my concept. John is a great guitarist and amazing musician. The way he deconstructs solos makes you think why cant anyone do it . But as per John's sagely advice, it took him months and months of hard work and practice to be able to belt out such magnificent riffs. I would recommend this book for people who are into advancing stage of guitaring and are in rut so that they can understand and comprehend art of music better . Wonderful book.
|
