We've been reviewing books, music, concerts and guitar related stuff since 2000. Mainly because people keep sending us free stuff. We're always interested in your songs, CDs, books, tutorials, DVDs, picks, capos and just about anything you might imagine. If you have something to be reviewed, or (better still) if you'd like to be an occasional Guitar Noise reviewer, please drop me a line at dhodgeguitar@aol.com and try to put "review" or "reviewer" in the subject line.
Full Length Reviews
Easy Fingerpicking Guitar
“Easy Fingerpicking Guitar” has to be the best step-by-step fingerpicking tutorial for beginners that exists. You’ll learn great technique immediately.
Bob Dylan in Viet Nam
On April 10, 2011 Bob Dylan and his band played in Vietnam for the first time. They rolled through an eighteen-song set that offered new arrangements on old songs.
Quick Reviews
Finding Clyde – “Thoughts of You” from the CD “Sacrifice It All”
Finding Clyde is one of those rising rock voices that is rippling through the sonic landscape. The hard rocking band has shared the stage with Slash.
idleMob
The beauty of idleMob’s self-titled debut album is how it seamlessly fuses so many diverse styles into a single narrative of vivid, haunting songs.
Straight Jacket Legends – ‘Sofia’
Captivating melodies, a driving punk beat and a tasteful touch of haunting harmony add up to Wales’ Straight Jacket Legends and their new EP, Lemon Party.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Guitar
by David Hodge
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Guitar is a series of lessons designed to walk you step by step from the first elementary guitar strumming and chords through to intermediate techniques that will make you sound like you've been playing most of your life.
More Reviews
Gustavo Assis-Brasil – Hybrid Picking Lines & Licks For Guitar for All Styles
An excellent companion book for Gustavo Assis-Brasil’s “Hybrid Picking for Guitar.” A great source for lead guitarist whether you use hybrid picking or not.
Book Review – Travis Picking by Andrew DuBrock
Andrew DuBrock’s “Travis Picking” does an excellent job teaching not only the basics of Travis picking but the intermediate and advanced techniques, too.
The Fabulous Flea Market Band Live at the Black Cat
Nick Torres reviews Oslo’s The Fabulous Flea Market Band at their August 9 show at the Black Cat in Washington, DC. See GN member Lars Kolberg play trombone!
Burning Gums
A terrific “debut” CD from Ron Jackson, Norbert Marius and Matsuura Hiroyuki, three talented artists with a wealth of musical styles to draw upon.
Sleutelbos: Inside Outsider
Inside Outsider is one of those albums that demands attention but rewards the listener with astonishing depth and layering.
Bob Dylan Live in Ho Chi Minh City
On April 10, 2011 Bob Dylan and his band played in Vietnam for the first time. They played an excellent show, rolling through an eighteen-song set that offered new arrangements on everything, not just the old songs but the new ones as well.
Spider Capo from Creative Tunings, Inc.
The Spider Capo is an excellent device for exploring the creative potential of your guitar. You can stay in standard tuning and still play open tunings with it.
Andrew DuBrock: Total Acoustic Guitar
Total Acoustic Guitar guides you through various steps to become more skilled and confident in the most important areas of playing acoustic guitar.
The Musician’s Way – A Guide to Practice, Performance and Wellness
“The Musician’s Way,” by Gerald Klickstein, offers the reader a wealth of vital and practical information on how to make the most of practicing and performing, as well as tips on keeping at one’s best when it comes to playing. Highly recommended.
Steinar Gregertsen: Standing Next to a Mountain
Guitar Noise’s favorite Scandinavian lap steel player’s second album is a wonderful tribute to the songs and stylings of Jimi Hendrix.
Easy Roll Guitar Method by George Pittaway
George Pittaway’s “Easy Roll Guitar Method” DVD is an incredible bargain at $15. It is highly recommend for anyone interested in hybrid picking and opening up their soloing. This is an ideal DVD for the advanced beginner and beyond.
Len Collins’ Guitar Breakthrough DVD
Len Collins’ Guitar Breakthough DVD is a breath of fresh air. This DVD lets you sit in on seven “lessons” spread out over the course of three hours on two discs.
Jack Frost & the Christmas Band – Volume 1
Nine Christmas songs done in an “easy jazz feel” – right down to the vocals straight from the 1940s to the wonderfully articulated piano lines.
Bradford – The Ninth Ring
While there is certainly more than enough guitar technique on display here, there is also a very welcome sense of melody and song. This alone makes “The Ninth Ring” worth the listen.
Ahmond – A Boy You Once Knew
Nine songs that blend influences as diverse as Inglesias and Madonna. This is a thoughtful, soulful CD with many standout tracks.
Jan Jankowski – Tunes for Solo Guitar
Jan Jankowski’s Tunes for Solo Guitar consists of thirteen wonderfully crafted tracks of Jan playing his guitar like a magician who can blur the borders of traditional genres.
John Scott Evans – Above the Sun
Wonderful melodic finger style guitar from someone who’s played with artists as diverse as Chet Atkins and the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra.
Asteria EP
The latest release from a young, ambitious five-piece band out of Crown Point, Indiana who definitely know how to rock.
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