Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Parade Video
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 6303944485
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #629,010 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the back cover

Experts agree that playing with a band is the quickest way to become a great musician. Now you can have a jam session anytime with Cary Banks and the Video Classic Rock Band! This driving band, featuring Banks on keyboard and Gerald Jones on lead guitar, takes you through six Rockin' songs, and with the easy to read, on-screen chord charts, you can Play Along from the first note. Along the way, Cary shows you scales and licks that will give your solos the Classic Rock sound. Designed for all musical instruments, this is the video you have been waiting for!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars (3.5 Stars) Good, But Know What You Are Buying!, December 30, 2005

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Play Along With the Video Classic Rock Band [VHS] (VHS Tape)

First off, the title listed for the item on this page is for the "Classic Rock" band, but the photo ad is for the "Blues Rock" band. Having said this, there are at least three separate items in the _Play Along With The.._ series; one for the classic rock band, one for the blues band, and one for the country band. However, I will stick to writing about the "classic rock" band, since I believe this is what this page is for.

This is one in a long line of instructional videos to help you improve your playing skills, and on your instrument of choice. It is said that many agree on noting the best way to improve your instrumental skills is by intense practicing, but also, by playing with other musicians in a band. Hence, we have arrived at the title - and supposed purpose - of this video. Here you have four musicians; Cary Banks on keyboard, Gerald Jones on guitar, and two other guys (one on drums, and the other on bass--their names are not listed), who play 6 "classic" songs, and the viewer is instructed to play along with the band in the comfort of their own home. This is a valuable tool if the aspiring musician is already in a band, or has plans on joining/creating a band.

However, this video should come with a few notable warnings for the unsuspecting consumer.

Keyboardist Cary Banks says this video could be used for the beginning student, as well as the seasoned professional. I have many reservations about the former notion, and I will explain why:

(1). For starters, while there are some valuable instructions (including follow-along chord charts, mentions of certain scales commonly used), this video seems to be aimed for those who are beyond just the *beginners* level. While the guys take some time to offer you some quick tips about the certain scales (as mentioned above), and commonly-used licks, there is really no emphasis on technique: in other words, there is little in the way of how to finger chords properly, how to increase accuracy and proficiency in picking (I'm talking about the guitar here)...in short: if you are coming here expecting tips on how to increase skills in playing technique, you will be *sorely* disappointed.

(2). Equally important (if not moreso), this video seems to be aimed at those who *already* possess a certain degree of musical knowledge in the technical sense. For example, in "Dancing Nancy," Cary Banks takes the time to mention that the E chord used in the chord chart (and throughout the entire song), is not just a basic major chord, but instead, is an E7(#9) chord (a "7#9" chord is a type of chord which originally resonated in jazz music, but did work it's way into many subsequent rock compositions). However, when it comes to the other chords used in the song -- B (V) and A (IV) -- they are listed *solely* as B and A, when in fact, they are actually 9th chords. And to complicate matters, nowhere in this video is a mention of the various (and obvious) inversions of these chords used throughout the song - both on the keyboards, and the guitar. There's not even a mention on inversions; what they are, or how to create them (something *beginners* should know, if you ask me.) And the latter problem actually persists through multiple songs on this tape. Most likely, the only viewers who would be able to pick up on all of this, are musicians that have been playing, practicing, learning how to pick up on chords and other things by ear, and perhaps, studying some music theory, for a certain amount of time.

Cary Banks says that one way to use this tape is to try to follow along, and even, throw in your own ideas for solos, almost like improvisation. But, in reality, I suspect that it would be best to "play along" with the band, by playing the *exact* chords and melodies that the band are using. But, either way, when knowing this, we arrive at quite a few problems, specifically the ones mentioned above.

All in all, if you know what you are getting into, this can be quite a valuable tool to possibly increase your skills as a guitarist or keyboardist (and it must be said, these two instruments are the *central* focus of the tape, and in *that* order.) However, due to the serious inconsistencies listed in the above paragraphs, it gets no higher than a rating of 3 and 1/2 stars.