Rating: 
Summary: Great practice exercises and methodology
Review: This is a great book. However, I should warn some, you'll need the appropriate mindset to get anything out of it. There's really not much theory in here. Basically it's ALL technique. Excercises designed to strengthen left and right hands separately and then putting them together.
At first when I got this book, I kind of skipped around to the stuff I liked practicing better -- more along the picking excersizes for right hand and cross picking. I found the first chapter on just left hand REALLY TEDIOUS. Basically it's lots hammers and pulls in various patterns all over the fretboard. The pull-offs I found especially tedious and difficult.
I got some speed up in the picking, but really discovered that I could only get so far because I was finding that feeling what my left hand fingers were doing was rather muddy. Then I went back to chapter 1 on the left hand and really concentrated on it.
First off, it hurts! Which is good! If you're hurting, you're using new muscles and you're beginning to teach those muscles how to move. I found that after only a few days I was getting a LOT better at hammering and pulling all over the neck and also the finger muscles were getting stronger. Also, synchronizatiion with fast picking was getting better. Now, I'm mostly concentrating on left hand technique and seeing a lot of improvement.
When I first mentioned the right mindset, what I meant was some of you may find practicing this stuff BORING. You're not going to be ripping melodic solos with these excersizes, the concentration is on TECHNIQUE. If you can't play some of this simple stuff fast amd clean, how can you expect to play a real solo fast and clean? Your mindset has to be to make the exercises interesting so you can get over the hump. Once you start seeing improvement, it will naturallty become more interesting. What helps a lot is a metronome. You can make it kind of a game with yourself too see how fast you can set the tempo and still play clean, and then go back and forth between slow and fast.
I also have Paul Hanson's "Shred Guitar". That book is more along the lines of presenting a chord progression and then analysizing the progression a bit and then covering a bunch of licks for each progression. You'll get more immediate soloing out of that book, but IMO, in terms of basic mechanics for speed, Stetina'ws book is much better. Getting both books wouldn't be a bad idea.
For what it's worth, I've been playing guitar over about 30 years although I went through several years without picking up my guitar at all. I played a lot my first 10 or so years, but really stopped progressing after a while. I just wanted to play stuff, not practice. I can tell you from experience, if you don't have a good practice methodology, you'll never get better. I picked up the guitar again about a year ago and now concentrate mostly on HOW I play, not WHAT. It makes a real difference. Also, I don't much like heavy metal. Both this and "Shred" focus on metal, but don't let that deter you from buying these books as there's plenty in here that is universally applicable.
Rating:
Summary: WHASSA!!! :p
Review: this is by far the best technique book i have ever read, seen or anything! troy has world class technique and shows you how you can develop your chops in a step by step manner. the book is one thing, the cd is another. man! awe-inspiring performances! he could play yngwie better than yngwie! but don't worry, he is not an yngwie rip off. the brother is his own man. any guys out there that want a book to help with your technique and boost your creativity, get this one! he also gives tips on building your own solos and how to incorporate the exercises learned into your own style. also included is a section on ear training that is really helpful...i could go on and on and on...i will just sum it up by saying...GET THIS BOOK!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Exactly as it says on the tin
Review: This is the MECHANICS of speed playing. This book is a great aid for developing speed and accuracy in your lead guitar technique, regardless of personal tastes. But it is not fun. It is difficult to maintain motivation over long periods of time, because the focus is on the fundamentals of technique, not on creativity. However, it is a solid collection of exercises, and makes a fine addition to a balanced practice regime that includes more expressive, enjoyable practices such as learning from the tablature of your favourite pieces. Use the exercises in this book as warm-ups at lower tempos, and looks for ways in which they relate to sections of the solos you are trying to learn. Then incorporate them into your practice that way. You know what they say, a a spoonful of sugar...
Rating:
Summary: Greatest exercise book EVER!
Review: This is the ultimate lead guitar workout book you will ever find.
You gotta be really really patient while using this book.
I got it a year back and I have still not gotten past 1/4th mark.
This book can do wonders to your lead playing ability. It
gives you the chops that you can use during improvising etc.. Becoming a good lead player is 50% technical mastery and the
rest comes from the inside.. This book can help you achieve
the technical mastery to express what might come from inside. Troy Stetina rocks!!
Rating:
Summary: Another gem from Troy Stetina
Review: Troy continues in his fashion of showing guitar players the hurdles they need to leap before they can be the guitar player they want to be. The combination of audio and text compliment each other very well. Exercises are laid out in logical order and each builds on techniques and tricks that were introduced in previous exercises. The only thing the student needs to bring to this "class" is patience. Even people who have been playing for years can benefit from taking this book one step at a time Where most lead guitar exercise books are straightforward and rather boring, this book does make an attempt to solve this problem with reasonable success. Troy includes his version of actual musical pieces with full tablature that he feels will be fun and beneficial to any student. This title makes a worthy addition to a guitarist's library
Rating:
Summary: Worthy of six stars!!
Review: Troy Stetina has compiled the most comprehensive and advanced guitar instructional book on the market today. It lays out a methodoical approch to the most important aspect of guitar playing; practicing. This is truely one book that you won't forget and will always use. If you belive yourself to be a talented and good techniqued guitar player, Troy Stetina will prove you wrong. This book is not for the musically challenged and requires an ambitious effort on your part. So buy this book today and never put it down!
Rating:
Summary: A chops builder!!
Review: Wanna build chops?? Get this book. You must take your time and really work through these exercises. If your dedicated you will notice improvement right away. 1st you'll notice your hands and fingers are stronger and that you are much more accurate. You'll feel like your telling your fingers what to do. Then your speed begins to build. In 6 to 8 months you'll be rocking. One thing is the 1st couple of exercises he goes through on the CD he does at a "followable" speed. All of a sudden on the next one he's lightning fast. I would have preferred having one example at a slow speed and one at a faster speed. You'll have to work around that and not get stuck trying to sound like him right away.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Well, I always wanted to learn lead guitar and soloing, and it was until I bought this book that I really started learning tricks & tips. In the first 2-4 weeks, you will already see some improvement, I know I did. It's a great book, highly recommended for those who want to get better, either leads & soloing. Great purchase. Buy it!
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