This book from Guns and Roses is a fantastic attempt at one of the greatest guitar albums ever made – Appetite for Destruction. You can grab it here on Amazon if you’re interested.
This post breaks down what you can realistically expect from a “pretty decent” mainstream tab book—where it shines, where it falls short, and whether it’s worth your money as a practicing guitarist.
Overview / First Impressions
Overall, this particular tab book is decent but flawed:
- The riffs are good and generally accurate.
- The solos are usually spot-on.
- The big downside is the incomplete notation in certain sections, especially verses and repeated parts.
If you’re mainly interested in nailing the main riffs and solos, this kind of book can definitely help. But if you want every bar of the song laid out in detail, you may find it a bit annoying.
Quality & Layout
From a physical and layout perspective, this book is fairly typical of mainstream guitar tab releases:
- Standard tab plus standard notation layout.
- Chord names written above the staff in many sections.
- Some sections are summarized rather than fully written out—for example, a verse might be indicated with chord symbols instead of full rhythmic tab.
There’s nothing unusual in terms of printing or binding; the issues are more about how the music is presented than the physical product itself.
Features & Functions
What It Does Well
- Accurate riffs: The core rhythm parts are generally very close to the original recordings.
- Solid solos: Lead lines and solos are often meticulously transcribed and very playable.
- Standard notation included: Useful if you read music or want to improve your reading skills.
Where It Falls Short
Incomplete sections: Verses, bridges, or repetitive parts are sometimes not fully tabbed out. Instead, you’ll see:
- Just chord names (e.g., Em – C – G – D)
- Or vague shorthand that assumes you already know the song well.
Careless-feeling notation: It can feel like the transcriber or publisher didn’t bother to fully write out the entire part, especially for rhythm guitar sections.
For players who like to see every note and every rhythm clearly written, this can be incredibly annoying.
How It Performs in Practice
From a guitarist’s perspective, here’s when a book like this actually works well:
- Learning solos note-for-note: If you’re focused on lead playing, this is where the book earns its keep. The solos tend to be very accurate and usable for study.
- Getting the main riffs down: The big, memorable riffs are usually correct and clearly written, which is great for:
- Cover bands
- Jam sessions
- Practicing tight rhythm playing
- Supplementing what you learn by ear: If you already know the song pretty well, the shorthand sections (just chord names, etc.) won’t bother you as much. You can fill in the gaps by ear and use the book as a reference rather than a complete roadmap.
Limitations / Things to Know
1. Not Fully Notated Verses and Sections
Many verses and repeated parts are not fully tabbed out. Instead, you might see:
- Chord symbols only
- General guidance rather than exact picking patterns or rhythms
If you’re a beginner or intermediate player who relies on the tab for exact rhythm and picking, this can slow you down.
2. Can Feel “Careless”
From a serious player’s standpoint, it can feel careless when:
- A book goes into great detail for solos…
- …but then glosses over the rhythm parts that actually make up most of the song.
It’s not that the book is useless—it’s just incomplete in a way that can be frustrating if you were expecting a fully detailed transcription.
3. Guitar Pro Files Might Be Better for Some
Because of these limitations, many players may be better off with Guitar Pro files instead:
- They usually include full notation of every section.
- You can slow down, loop, and isolate parts.
- Editing and customizing arrangements is much easier.
If you’re comfortable using software and prefer flexibility, Guitar Pro files may give you more value than a printed book.
4. Who This Book Is Good For
This kind of tab book still makes sense if:
- You want standard notation and tab in a physical format.
- You’re mainly focused on learning solos and main riffs.
- You don’t mind using your ears to fill in the gaps in verses and other sections.
Final Thoughts
From a guitarist’s perspective, this tab book lands in the “good but mildly frustrating” category.
Pros:
- Accurate riffs and solos
- Standard notation included
- Handy to have in physical form
Cons:
- Verses and other sections not fully notated
- Reliance on chord names instead of detailed tab
- Can feel careless if you expect full transcriptions
If you’re a lead-focused player or you just want the main hooks and solos, it’s probably worth picking up. If you’re looking for complete, bar-by-bar accuracy for every guitar part, you might be happier with high-quality Guitar Pro files instead.
Resources & Further Study
If you’re working on your playing and want something more structured than just learning songs, there are a couple of useful resources mentioned:
Fretboard Memorization Cheat Sheet – TravelingGuitarist.com
A focused guide that lays out major and minor triads in every key, using:
- An octave-mapping approach
- Practical patterns to help you:
- Memorize the fretboard
- Understand the foundation of harmony (triads)
- Start improvising confidently in multiple keys
Traveling Guitarist Forum – forum.travelingguitarist.com
A place to:
- Talk guitar, music, and related topics
- Ask questions
- Connect with other players who are working through similar material