How to Play Electric Guitar

I’ll be honest: I approached *How to Play Electric Guitar* with low expectations, and it still managed to underwhelm me—though not entirely in a bad way. Tom Mailey’s narration is the audiobook equivalent of a friendly but slightly disengaged uncle showing you a few chords at a family barbecue. His delivery is functional, even a bit dry, but that actually works for a guide this stripped-down. When he walks you through power chords or palm muting, his pacing is deliberate enough that you can grab your guitar and mimic him in real time. The production is clean, with no distracting background noise, though the lack of musical examples (beyond verbal descriptions) feels like a missed opportunity. Here’s the rub: this audiobook promises ‘step-by-step’ instruction, but it skips steps like a kid hopscotching over the hard squares. Want to know how to adjust your strap so your guitar doesn’t sag like a sad basset hound? Not here. Curious about amp settings for different genres? Too bad. The ‘how to play a solo’ section is literally 60 seconds of ‘just wiggle your fingers on the high E string,’ which, while technically accurate, won’t get you closer to Slash’s tone. That said, if you’re a complete novice who’s intimidated by 10-hour masterclasses, this might be the low-stakes nudge you need. Just don’t expect to emerge sounding like anything but a very enthusiastic beginner.