Paul Gilbert's Intense Rock, Volumes 1 and 2

A few weekends ago, I had a Guitar Center 20% off coupon for one of their often-occurring "mega" sales. Granted, I didn't have the money to make a big purchase, but I decided to see if they had any interesting trinkets I could buy. What better to get than a new instructional DVD?

I had always seen parts of Paul Gilbert's instructional videos on YouTube, but they used to be available only on VHS. Recently though, Alfred Publishing re-released a DVD that inlcudes Paul's Intense Rock 1 (1988) and Intense Rock 2 (1992) REH videos on one disc. Guitar Center had a copy in stock, so I decided to purchase it.


So far, these videos seem to be perfect for the aspiring speed player. Paul explains in-depth the various scalar runs, sequences, and arpeggios that are most prevalent in his playing. But the videos are not just about boring, monotonous "shredding." Paul's easy-t0-grasp examples and explanations make applying the lesson's material to your playing very easy. And there's even a bit of typical Paul Gilbert humor thrown in. As a bonus, the DVD also includes a snippet from both John Petrucci's and Steve Morse's instructional DVDs, as well as a performance clip from Yngwie's "Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad" video.

Overall, this DVD is a must-have for any guitarist interested in improving his technique and accuracy. It's priced around $30, but a few places online have it for less.

Here's a clip from the video: