Customer Reviews

Cherry Lane Metallica - Guitar Legendary Licks 1983-1988 (DVD)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am very impressed with this DVD. I've purchased books, videos, and downloaded tools from the internet, but this was my first DVD purchase. This DVD was one of the quickest ways to get me up and playing the songs I love in no time. Within 1 hour I was playing "Seek and Destroy," which includes the main riffs, chorus, AND the main solo (I am still working on the solo). As a beginner who can't really play any songs in their entirety, this makes me feel great. If you're a beginner who loves Metallica but can't afford lessons, this might be just what you need.

Unlike a lot of videos I have bought, the film quality was EXCELLENT; it wasn't grainy at all. Likewise for the sound quality. Many times, these instructional videos have that "filmed in my basement" feel. This one does NOT. If you buy this, you won't feel ripped off when you put it in. It is definately professionally done.

Lastly, I'd like to say something about the format. If you haven't purhcased a DVD for guitar before, it has a distinct advantage. Unlike a VHS tape, this has a wonderful menu that lets you browse through song by song, so NO FAST FORWARDING to the songs you want to practice! Also, you can pause on tricky fingerings, or even slow down the play speed to sort out those solos without having the wavy lines of a VHS tape. At the end, they even include a brief instruction on guitar techniques if you are new (bends, vibratos, palm mutes, etc).

Don't have a DVD player, but somehow ended up at this selection? Well, you have a computer, don't you? Check to see if it's a DVD player as well! I don't have a DVD player, but my laptop does, and the quality is GREAT for instruction.

The only reasons I gave it 4 stars instead of 5:
* Not enough songs!!! Only 8 songs total from "Kill 'Em All" to "...And Justice For All." Many of my favorites had to be cut.
* No blank backing tracks to jam along with. I would have liked a blank "Seek and Destroy" to jam with.

In summary, great for beginners, great for guitarists new to DVD.

:)

Video quality is the best i have seen in this type of video. sound quality is great and Doug can actually play the songs (i have seen many BAD BAD videos!)

my complaints....great that there are 8 songs but only little bits and pieces of each. give me 4 WHOLE songs, or at least the ENTIRE solos!
The DVD case CLEARLY states there are backing tracks to play along with, THERE ARE NOT. That was enough to spoil what otherwise was a good experience.

A Promise made a Promise Kept
Well for those that had read my review on the Metallica Phrase by Phrase by Mark John Sternal I have kept my promise and here is my review on the (other Metallica guitar DVD), Guitar Legendary Licks Metallica 1983-1988 DVD.
Not worth the price. So let me give you one major example of the difference between the two, the Guitar Legendary Licks Metallica 1983-1988 DVD and the Metallica Phrase by Phrase.
The song Master of Puppets are on both DVD's. With the Guitar Legendary Licks the instructor goes over only two guitar parts; the intro and one of the clean guitar parts in the song. He also goes about telling you a generic way of getting the Metallica sound by putting your bass and treble to 10 and keeping your mid's to low or 0. The DVD also goes over palm muting and other guitar techniques at the END of the DVD and does not really explain or give examples during the video of Master of Puppets.
Now for the Metallica Phrase by Phrase; The video lesson starts off by telling you how many beats per-minute (bpm), the song is, and then Mark John Sternal (MJS) goes over how to get the Metallica sound with distortion and other guitar effect peddles. Then Mark breaks down the song and goes over each and every guitar part in 25 phrases. By far the Phrase by Phrase Metallica DVD is where your money would be best spent if you really want to learn Metallica.

Very good DVD. A little bummed that Kirk Hammet or James Hetfield weren't teaching on this one, but good none the less. Easy to follow, but I reccomend you get the tabs off the internet for some of the lenghty riffs because he moves pretty fast. It also has a guitar techinques section to help those who don't know what the heck two-hand tapping or raking are. Only bad parts are that it only has 8 songs, and it only covers about 8 bars from the solos that normally go on forever. I reccomend if you're a Metallica fan or just want to learn some impressive riffs on your guitar, to definately get this DVD. It'll have you shredding like best of 'em in a few weeks time.