Customer Reviews

Guitar World Presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've seen it elsewhere in the reviews, and this statement is correct. If you're just starting out in guitar (less than 1 year experience), this is not the book for you.

Ideally the guitarist reading this book should have at least a basic working knowledge of the 7 basic modes (and all the types of chords, scales, and associated arpeggios) , circle of 5ths, and alternate picking techniques.

The book has a ton of great exercieses ( a LOT of chromatic runs) which will help your improve dexterity and 'cleanliness' in picking.

A HUGE bonus is the CD that's included in the back with like 100 tracks, you can actually hear the examples in the book as they are supposed to sound.

If you, as a guitarist, have been stuck in a rut, or are looking to delve into more exotic and cool song structures and such, definately check out this book!

There is so much in this book. I think the best approach is to take it 1 week at a time, and cover a chapter per week. That's what I'm going to attempt!

I myself have been a practicing guitarist since 1996.

Kyle
[URL]

Any one who loves playing guitar can only fall in Love with the way John Petrucci from the group Dream Theater shares his talent to others. Whether you are an advance guitar player or a beginner you can only learn from this book. He starts with the basics but most of the time overlooked in how to warm -up and as you progress though the book you can see why warming-up is so important. John Petrucci can play the guitar faster than anyone I have ever seen but does not try to show off that speed in any of his lessons. I reccomend this to any one who plays guitar you will be glad you have it among you books.

I've been playing for years, and I've never listened to a guitarist who could blend technique and precision so beautifully. If you are truly interested in stepping up your playing, then this collection is for you. There are some very good exercises and techniques described that have really helped me aspire as a guitarist. And for $20, it's a good collectors item if nothing else. If you haven't heard much of JP, check out a DT or LTE CD. It's hard not to like this guys music.

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!

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.

This is not a book for the guitarist who wants to play somebody else's songs-Unless that guitarist wants to hone their technique. This book focuses on timing, technique, and delves into "how" Petrucci mixes chords and different modes to achieve different feelings in his music. This is a great all around book for the musician who wants to improve their ability on the guitar while learning how to use the guitar as a vehicle for their own creativity. I have been playing guitar for 15+ years now and so far I have learned something new on each page of this book. This book has quickly hit #1 in my collection. I feel this book is better than Petrucci's other book "Rock Discipline." If you can only get one, get "Wild Stringdom."

This book is pretty cool. It offers good advice for improving your single-note technique, especially in the realm of soloing. John also presents helpful tips on how and when to use certain modes, along with a couple of demonstrations of each. It's not an exhaustive book on anything, really, but it's definitely worthwhile looking at for players of nearly any level.

Whoa dudes, this is the best guitar manual I ever read!! It contains anithing! From beginners' exercises to the solos of songs like "Voices" or "Innocence Faded"! This rocks!!!

Still getting into using it, but so far it is an excellent resourse. I would recommend buying a metronome with this book if you don't already have one.

Awesome book for people in the learning curve for lead guitaring. It teaches some really good melodious tunes and concepts. Worth it. I am a big time Satch Fan but this book has TAUGHT me some real good stuff.
MUST BUY