What makes a great record? Good songs and performances, obviously, but beyond that the mysterious alchemy of the recording process. This book reveals more than ever before about how that process work
Incurable Blues explores the life and genius of Hubert Sumlin, a highly influential guitarist who has survived cancer, alcoholism, and personal and professional tribulations to testify to the classic
Bruce Springsteen is one of today's great songwriters, with a style that is all his own. This book uses his work as the starting point for a master class in the art of writing powerful - and successf
The music of Django Reinhardt is as important today as it has ever been. Blending jazz and gypsy influences, his exuberant solos and incisive rhythm playing have fascinated - and tantalized - guitari
The Way They Play: The R&B Bass Masters gives you an up-close look at ten of the most influential and revered bassists in R&B music. Ed Friedland takes you inside the lives and work of James Jamerson
The Gibson electric guitar book presents the definitive story of Gibson's electric guitars over the last 70 years. Since the 1930s, Gibson electric guitars have been embedded in our culture as some o
This book is an essential manual of techniques for recording a song. It explores arranging essentials such as grouping instruments effectively, using multi-track recording, artfully layering parts, a
To mark the 60th anniversary of Fender, Backbeat's introduced a new, completely revised third edition of this bestseller. Fender guitars have long been the instruments of choice for artists such as J
They are all here, the greatest Classic Rock drummers, the men who, as much as any guitar player or singer, defined the sounds of their bands. With an eye to style as much as technique, Ken Micallef
How to Play Blues Guitar gives you vital instruction in blues basics from top guitar teachers and reveals the screts of blues greats, often in their own words. Revised and expanded with 32 pages of n
Pickups are where it all starts. Wood, strings, hardware, and fingers all interact to produce the note, but the pickup translates it into the signal that makes it electric. The Guitar Pickup Handbook
Now in paperback - revised and expanded, with a new afterword by the author - this is the definitive biography of Duane Allman, one of the most revered guitarists of his generation. Skydog reveals th
The Drum Book tells the story of the rock drum kit, from the moment Ringo Starr began to thrash his Ludwigs to the diverse styles of today's players. This expanded and updated edition celebrates in l
The Fiddle Handbook is a treasure trove of information spanning the whole range of fiddle playing. It looks in detail at the most commonly played styles among today's fiddlers. From America, there's
A fast-paced, fun, and sometimes brutal look at America's most volatile and creative year in music - 1969: a time of euphoria and devastation, freedom and assassination, revolution and retribution, m
Paperback edition of the first in-depth biography of the legendary Sly Stone - now updated! "An account as upbeat as those early hits ...it's a great tale." - Mojo Author Jeff Kaliss scored the first
This latest entry in Backbeat's bestselling handbook series starts by exploring the humble beginnings of blues guitar through the early decades of the 20th century, including profiles of such players
In this prime collection of first-hand interviews, 37 of the world's top record producers share their creative secrets and hit-making techniques - from the practical to the artistic. George Martin re
Through anecdotal biographies and evocative photos, this book by jazz author extraordinaire Scott Yanow portrays every key Afro-Cuban Jazz innovator past and present, plus other jazz artists influenc
With clear and easy-to-understand exercises, The Piano Handbook is perfect for anyone interested in learning the piano or improving their skills. It provides fresh material and techniques in styles r
