Giants of Blues- BK/CD (Sanctuary Techniques) (Paperback)

~ Neville Marten (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Tracing the history of blues guitar from Robert Johnson through Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green and many more, Neville Marten explains each player's definitive playing techniques, showing how to emulate their solos and develop their tricks to expand your own musical vocabulary. Playing styles, personal trademarks and characteristics are explained and illustrated clearly in notation and tab, as well as played in full on the CD. The CD includes two licks from each player, a solo using those licks and finally a jam track which you can play along with, eventually creating your own solo. A short biography of each player assesses their historical position in the genre's development, while the musical traditions from generation are examined.

About the Author

Neville Marten has been playing blues guitar since he first heard Eric Clapton and Peter Green in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, back in the 1960s. As editor of Guitarist and Guitar Techniques magazines, Neville has been involved with writing about music for nearly 20 years, during which time he has met and interviewed many of the blues greats including Clapton, Green, Robben Ford, Walter Trout, Robert Cray, BB King and many others. Having worked in many blues bands over the years, these days Neville's musical 'day job' is as lead guitarist in Marty Wilde's Wildcats.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Music Sales America; Book & CD edition (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860742114
• ISBN-13: 978-1860742118
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,146,193 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The CD alone..., November 30, 1999

By A Customer

The CD alone is worth the price of the book. The book has 20 chapters, each of which is devoted to a single blues artist. Each chapter has two "licks" in tablature and music notation, plus a complete solo. The licks, solo, and a guitar-less "jam track" are on the CD. Although the text is sparse, Marten provides key information on each artist, plus tips for reproducing the signature guitar tone. This is one of the best guitar books I've ever purchased.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book delivers, October 5, 2003

By	Gary Monti (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Seldom do you find a book that delivers just on what it promises. After a obligatory set-up of fundamental chords and scales the book launches into the stylings of 20 diverse artists. Each artist has their own section with some general biographical and historical information and performance notes. It then continues with a couple of well-known licks building into a solo, and then a backing track to practice the solo over. It's a great way to be introduced to the techniques and signature styles of the giants. The CD makes it all the more beneficial for those that only read tab, as you can pick up the beat and feel of the music easily (something not possible on most Internet Tab Sites). If you're a beginning to novice guitarist, or someone looking for a solo in the style of a blues great, then this book is worth the admission price.
Artists Include: Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Paul Kosskoff, Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Cray, Walter Trout, Robben Ford

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good book, lacking in some areas, July 19, 2000

By	"irish_blues_guy" (Ireland) - See all my reviews

I liked this book, it had some useful stuff in it, but when it comes down to it there is a lot of better stuff on the internet. Also the exclusion of Rory Gallagher from the book is unforgiveable, and some of the licks aren't very good. The two John Lee Hooker ones are nearly the same, and sound just like (in fact they are) a cheap rip off of Boom Boom. There is also an amazing lack of uptempo blues songs in it, I mean the Page, Clapton, Green and Hendrix solos are all really really slow blues. I would have liked a few more uptempo sounds and surely some of the Clapton stuff should be like his Mayall / Cream era sounds. The background detail is really sparse, and I find his his sound guidelines lacking. Also the SRV lick is just a rip off of Pride and Joy intro. I don't think that I would really recomend this book too highly, its good, but not great. I would also have liked to see a lot more slide stuff.