Total Guitar: Does exactly what it says on the tin! (Total Guitar)

Member Name: garrymac

Product:	Total Guitar
Date:	12/07/02 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to follow tutorials, free bonus cd with every issue, great value for money

Disadvantages: Sometimes the dedicated issues may not appeal to you

Total Guitar magazine is totally awesome, and one of the few magazines out there that I'd say is not a waste of good trees.

I have purchased this magazine regularly since I have started playing guitar about 6 months ago and I cannot deny that it has been a great help to me in so many ways.

The magazine is usually priced around £5 which is great value for money as it not only contains informal and educational material for guitarists of all levels but it also makes for entertaining reading material.

The magazine includes a lot of in depth yet easy to follow sheet music to learn as well an accompanying CD with each issue which you can use as either a guideline to let you know how the peices should sound but it also contains backing music without the guitar parts so you can play along with it making you really feel like you are a playing the peice along with the band.

The peices of music included are usually the full songs (without the lyrics) or simply just the best and catchiest parts of the songs. The type of songs included are usually a good mix of the old and the new, the well known and the not so well known although sometimes they have issues dedicated to a certain type of music e.g. punk, metal, blues ect.

Apart from guides to playing music already available the magazine also offers invaluable advice for improving your own skills and techniques and if you are in band it gives you useful advice on creating your own songs and every few issues or so they give you tips and hints on topics such as how to get your band signed.

Total Guitar is so much more than just a tuition guide though as it tries and tests practically everything to do with guitar playing from plectrums to pedals, from gig bags to the guitars themselves. It also reviews the latest albums and tuitition books every month as well.

On top of all this the mag has regular interviews with great guitar players and bands, both old and new
, whom provide you with some of their own personal tips as well as their own personal stories and backgrounds. For each guitarist or band mentioned they also provide you with full details of the type of kit they use.

There are some great competitions in the mag which usually include the chance to win guitars owned and autographed by major stars or expensive guitar lesson. There are usually about 5 or 6 competitions in every issue.

And I think that just about wraps it up except of course to mention the best part of any magazine worth reading...the letters pages. In these pages you can read the opinions of others about music, guitar products and other subjects. You can also voice your own opinions if you like or even request sheet music or tablature to be included in the next issue.

I have tried out a few other guitar mags since I started playing mostly due to one off freebies such as strings, straps ect but TG is really the only mag out there worth sticking with. And if you don't find the music on the free bonus CD's helpful for your playing I think you'll find that they come in handy at least for drunken Karaoke.

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