The Frank Zappa Guitar Book: Transcribed by and Featuring an Introduction by Steve Vai

This book is back in print and includes Vai's guitar transcription for all the songs in the table of contents (attached photo). No tablature.It is not publicized, but Vai also transcribed drum parts for 2/3 of the songs...this guy is multivalent. The drum performances are by Vinnie Colaiuta except for one Terry Bozzio track (although noted as a Colaiuta part, it is actually a Bozzio track, "Yo Mama" from Sheik Yerbouti). Unfortunately, Vai's legendary drum transcription of "The Black Page" is not included. The drum parts are included along with the guitar part.I'm a drummer and not a guitarist, and I bought this book because I knew drum transcriptions were included. The guitar parts look very complicated...many "tuplets" and odd time signatures. The drum parts are equally bananas...tuplets of 5, 7 and 9, and groupings noted as 7:5 and 5:3 (I can't comprehend how you actually count that out...whatever).The transcriptions are beautiful to look at, even though they are either (a) beyond my comprehension, (b) beyond my ability or both.

Zappa was THE innovator, this book of solos will baffle and delight me...

Hands down some of the greatest drum set transcriptions ever. Learning just some of these drum set transcriptions, even a few bars and looping will move your drumming forward and that goes ten times for the guitar parts/transcriptions.

This music book, transcribed by Steve Vai, will likely interest most Zappa fans who play an instrument. Note however that this is regular notation with no tablature for guitarists. A wide selection of tunes mostly taken from the triple album Shut Up & Play Your Guitar plus a few songs from Joe’s Garage, and the classic Black Napkins from Zoot Allures.As a pianist, with only limited skills at the guitar, the notation suits me perfectly and gives a clearer understanding of how Zappa constructed his solos. The notation set out here are those from the main recordings mentioned above and are of course not set in stone. Zappa improvised around the basic construct of the pieces, following various scales and patterns within the key of the said piece. A fascinating insight to this talented 20th century composer.Only downside was the slightly tardy condition of the book itself which had seemingly sat on a shelf for many months gathering dust and had acquired a few marks on the cover and some light damage to the front from being exposed to the sun. But a great addition to the limited number of Zappa music books available.

Don't get me wrong, the content is absolutely great as I expected, but (and a big "BUT") the book itself looked like it was a second hand or at least it was on display at a bookstore or something.It had all kinds of marks and scratches specially in the back! I was (still am) seriously considering asking for a replacement or at least a discount since I payed full price for a new item!