If you don't live in the UK, you'll often find a lot of music and bands you've never heard of in Total Guitar, but that's a good thing. As an alternative to Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Guitar World, which mostly feature the same transcriptions and cover artists you're already tired of ad naseum (and usually only focusing on a certain type of band for two years straight), TG, on the otherhand, is a breath of fresh air EVERY SINGLE MONTH. They may have a pop artist on the cover one month, a country legend another, a heavy artist the next, a funk or punk artist the following. In each issue, you can find a diverse palette of music to choose from with transcriptions and faithfully recorded instrumental tracks on CD for you to play along with and learn from (just like having a band right there with you), along with very helpful tips for the novice and experienced player alike. You're bound to find something new to pique your interest every time. Their only downfall is that they have an Oasis fixation that will hopefully come to pass, but this IS a UK magazine, you know? This is the type of magazine where you can find transcriptions of bands such as the Pixies alongside The Smiths, Blur, Van Halen, Elvis, James Bond, Metallica, and tons more. Guitar Player and Guitar World just don't match up. So you may be scared off by the pricetag of Total Guitar. I believe it's worth every penny. If you're just starting out, TG is like an invaluable set of FUN lessons sent to your door (or at your newsstand) each month, and if you already play, TG offers a wealth of tips and information to help you stay on your toes. Again, you're not only getting an action-packed magazine, but also a cool CD to play along with each month, and they have to import it from England, so that's where the price is coming from. Completely worth it, though. If you're like me and don't really care to see the 10th Korn transcription in Guitar Magazine in 3 months, then Total Guitar is definitely worth you checking out.
I collected Guitar Player magazines from 1978 and stopped only in 1988.I have been playing the guitar as a hobby for 35 years. Was in many amateur bands in my youth.Thought I knew every tricks when I was young. Stopped jamming to pay attention to family and career.
FUTURE PLUBLICATIONS
Then I came across Total Guitar, Guitar Techniques & Guitarist. These magazines changed my life. I learned to play near to accuracy the likes of Eric Clapton, George Harrison,Jimi Hendrix,Van Halen, Queen, Free, Bad Company, Jimmy Page, Hank Marvin,Dire Straits, SRV, Richie Blackmore, Black Sabbath, Johnny Winter etc. All the tricks were let out of the bag.
TOP NOTCH TEACHERS
The publisher Future Publication employs top notch guitarists as editors and teachers to share all the secrets with us. And the best of all, you do not need to understand music theory. All you need is some basic skill in understanding guitar tabs, a great love in guitar, a DVD player that has A-B setting & lots and lots of patience. Nothing equals the joy when you master a guitar part which you never thought you would have done on your own.
ONE MAN BAND
However one sad note for all new. The permits for new songs to be transcibed are getting lesser as the onwers of these songs now realize that the magazines reproduce the full backing track (without the guitar, some people call this MINUS ONE track)that is so close to the original that it can be used for public performances.
CONCLUSION
Grab all the back issues. Check out eBay. The old issues are reselling at very high prices as more and more guitarists are getting turned-on by these magazines. Goodluck.
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