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How to Read Studies for Guitar Reviews

Up-and-coming guitar players have a big advantage over their predecessors. The world of guitar magazines and reviews has grown exponentially since the 1960s and '70s. In the old days, the most reliable guitar magazine was "Guitar Player," which regularly featured guitar studies along with lessons and reviews about the latest guitars and technology. Many more guitar reviews and magazines have come on the market since then, including "Guitar World," "Guitar Techniques," "Acoustic Guitar" and "Premier Guitar." Guitar studies and lessons are a regular monthly feature of each magazine. All of the guitar magazines also have an online site that provides additional instructional features.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select the guitar reviews that suit your guitar-playing goals and needs. The studies featured in guitar magazines cover a lot of territory. Some of the studies concentrate on teaching the basic guitar-shredding techniques required for heavy metal guitar, while other studies focus on the intricacies of jazz guitar. Studies and lessons can be found for all the various styles and genres of guitar playing, both for acoustic and electric guitar. "Acoustic Guitar" is obviously acoustic-oriented, but it features lessons for many styles of acoustic guitar, such as Celtic, acoustic blues and bluegrass. "Guitar World" emphasizes rock-guitar technique. "Guitar Player" and "Guitar Techniques" cover the full range of guitar genres and guitar styles, acoustic and electric.

    • 2

      Examine the different styles and teaching methods used in the guitar reviews. Guitar magazines and reviews use a variety of techniques and teaching methods for the guitar lessons and studies. Almost all of the guitar magazines use standard musical notation as well as guitar tablature for the lessons. Some magazines, such as "Guitar Techniques," also include a CD that makes it possible to listen to each lesson. One of the advantages of online sites is that they provide audio and musical instructional materials. "Guitar World," "Guitar Player" and other guitar reviews allow you to access online guitar-lesson archives as well.

    • 3

      Take advantage of the gear reviews in the various magazines. Another standard feature of guitar magazines is a monthly review of guitars, amplifiers, guitar effects pedals and additional equipment. Gear reviews provide information about the quality and durability of the equipment, as well as information about prices. "Vintage Guitar" provides specific detailed information about the vintage guitar market.

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