The Guitar F/X Cookbook: The Ultimate Source for Guitar Tricks, Effects, and Other Unorthodox Techniques [Paperback]

Chris Amelar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

The ultimate source for guitar tricks, effects, and other unorthodox techniques. This book demonstrates and explains 45 incredible guitar sounds using common stomp boxes and a few unique techniques, including: pick scraping, police siren, ghost slide, church bell, jaw harp, delay swells, looping, monkey's scream, cat's meow, race car, pickup tapping, and much more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 56 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079356509X
• ISBN-13: 978-0793565092
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open your mind to the sonic possibilities, March 20, 2003

By 

J. M. Myles "Myles" (Manchester, NH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Guitar F/X Cookbook: The Ultimate Source for Guitar Tricks, Effects, and Other Unorthodox Techniques (Paperback)

This book is chock full of techniques for producing all kinds of interesting, and some very unusual sounds with a guitar. Some of the sounds may be more useful than others, and some are easier to master than others, but the best thing about this book is that it encourages the reader to think differently about the guitar. Sure, it's important to be able to play chords and scales well, but the guitar can do so much more than that. If you want to work on traditional technique, the Fretboard Logic series is excellent, but if your looking to expand your horizons with regard to the sounds a guitar can make, this is the book to have.

Most of the examples given are for electric guitar, though some would apply to acoustic as well. Effects are used too, but not as extensively as one might thing. It's mostly distortion, wha wha, reverb, and the occasional delay or chorus / flanger effect. Most of the sounds are produced by using unconventional playing styles. It's tons of fun, and the sample sounds CD that comes with the book is very useful and comprehensive. I highly recommend The Guitar F/X Cookbook.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOR FUN AND EXPERIMENTATION, July 9, 2002

By 

D. FURLANO (Riverview, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Guitar F/X Cookbook: The Ultimate Source for Guitar Tricks, Effects, and Other Unorthodox Techniques (Paperback)

This book is meant to be fun--it's not meant to be a guitar instruction book, in the pure sense. For instruction on playing and understanding the guitar, read the excellent "Fretboard Logic" books by Bill Edwards and "Guitar for Dummies" and "Rock Guitar for Dummies" by Jon Chappell.

This is just a book to help us think outside the box. Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai, to name a few are always thinking outside the box, and they incoporate "tricks" in their playing to help them express themselves through their music.

I liked this book, and the CD that comes with the book is very helpful because it gives concrete examples of what some of these sounds sound like when played correctly.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Come guys... get real!!!, June 18, 2005

By 

Jimi the Gent "Jimi Andrix" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Guitar F/X Cookbook: The Ultimate Source for Guitar Tricks, Effects, and Other Unorthodox Techniques (Paperback)

For those guitar "experts" out there that don't remember what it was like to start off with this instrument, I will tell you that after I bought this book, I was delighted to find many of those long un-answered questions that I sought to answer for many years as a beginner. 17 years later, I realized that I, a totally self-taught, guitarist had found many of the right techniques (or got close) on my own... but still, if I had found this book earlier, my growth would have accelerated. What is so cool, is that there are a handfull that I haven't even thought about trying... but, now I shall. Doing Sitar or Koto? Now, that sounds like fun. Not quite my area, but worth a try for a kick-butt transition.

Don't be too hard on this book... its always good to get re-assurance, and most importantly, a guiding light. This book promises that, and delivers. I say, a MUST buy... there is no substitute for free experimentation though, e.g. I found most of these techniques on my own, but, like I said, its always reassuring to see that you were close to the answers, or dead on.

I give it 4 stars, instead of 5, because no book will ever answer the infinite number of questions about this instrument. It is up to you. When YOU write the perfect book, maybe I'll buy it. Until then, keep trying... this is such a wonderful instrument that I shall never stop playing, or experimenting with new sounds. I can only hope you, the guitarists out there, never quit as a result of "lack of answers or inspiration".

Similar review for Guitar Tone & Effects by David Brewster, from Hal*Leonard. Check it out. What is your price for figuring out this magnificent instrument???

Jam away, Jimi The Gent