The Beatles Favorites (Signature Licks) [Paperback]

The Beatles (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signature Licks | Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Learn the trademark riffs and solos behind rock's most influential band! This unique guitar instruction book/CD pack in our Signature Licks series lets you learn to play 21 top songs by The Beatles. It features easy-to-follow, step-by-step breakdowns in notes and tab for: Kansas City * Let It Be * Michelle * Nowhere Man * Paperback Writer * Polythene Pam * Revolution * Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band * She Came in Through the Bathroom Window * She Said She Said * She's a Woman * Slow Down * Something * Taxman * Ticket to Ride * Till There Was You * Twist and Shout * While My Guitar Gently Weeps * Words of Love * You Can't Do That * You Never Give Me Your Money.

Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793563607
• ISBN-13: 978-0793563609
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Pair of Beatles Books for Guitar Accuracy, March 15, 2003

By 

Geert - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beatles Favorites (Signature Licks) (Paperback)

I would elaborate on the previous reviewer's remarks by clarifying that the purpose of this book - and its wonderful companion volume 'The Beatles' Hits'- is not to cover every note of the songs that it contains. Rather, the purpose of the books is to help guitarists to learn the 'fiddly bits' in The Beatles' songs - lead breaks, tricky guitar figures, riffs, and interplay between several guitars.

Being both a Beatles' obsessive, and a guitar player interested in pinpoint accuracy, I have sought out tabs from many sources, online and in bookstores. I have never found anything as accurate as Wolf Marshall's transcriptions. And some of the other books are plain wrong. However, I find it somewhat curious that - having gone to the lengths that he did, of acquiring the same intruments used by the Fab Four in order to make the sound of the accompanying CD Rom's more accurate - Marshall doesn't actually seem capable of copying the style of playing 100% accurately, although he seems to be trying to do so. I find it reassuring that a session musician couldn't cop the feel that The Beatles put into their playing.

The idea of providing music, tablature, and CD versions of the songs is a great one, because it covers all modes of learning. And the way that the CD's are recorded is inspired: Marshall provides versions of portions of the tracks at regular and slow speeds, and within each of these contexts records the instruments on different tracks which can be isolated or combined using the balance control. In practice, this means that one can turn the balance in order to provide backing (drums and bass), eliminating the guitar part(s), thereby allowing one to play along with the backing tracks; conversely, one could eliminate the backing, and just play along with the guitar parts - a brilliant idea.

Marshall also provides fine written and verbal commentaries about each track, and about The Beatles' musical and cultural importance - a very welcome bonus.

I can't wait to get Marshall's 'The Best of the Beatles for Acoustic Guitar'.

Congratulations, Wolf. It's nice to find someone who cares enough to do such a thorough job.

Geert

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great group, great songs, good lessons, February 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beatles Favorites (Signature Licks) (Paperback)

I was very pleased with this book of guitar instruction. The book covers 21 Beatle songs. and provides the songs in note and Tab format. There is an enclosed CD where the author plays the portions of the songs covered in regular speed and in a slower tempo. Not every note of every song is covered but enough to give one the general idea.

I recommend it highly to guitarist and lovers of the Beatles.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but. ., February 11, 2008

By 

S. E. Shapiro - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Beatles Favorites (Signature Licks) (Paperback)

This series of books by Marshall are a worthy addition if you are an experienced player who is already familiar with the songs and know the lyrics. The lyrics are NOT available with this book. Once you have figured out the method to the transcriptions,it opens up a wonderful insight on the Beatles. What would it have cost to have worked in the lyrics? Do not start your Beatles tour with this. You need to have a little experience.