History & Criticism Reference Materials

Learning how to play an instrument is only part of what the world of music has to offer. If you want to further develop your musical career or hobby, then it pays to learn more about the history of music and your instrument. With an in-depth knowledge about the artists and styles that have come before you, and the roots of your instrument's history, you'll be well-equipped to take your own music to the next level today. And with this library of history & criticism reference materials to choose from, you'll have no problem picking out the perfect finds to build up your own collection. Whatever your topic of interest, there are materials about it just waiting here for you to find.

Looking to broaden your horizons with respect to your favorite pieces of gear? In that case, there are lots of suggestions for you here. A few of the best-selling books include the Backbeat Books Beatles Gear Revised Edition (a comprehensive guide to everything the Fab Four played from the stage to the studio) and the Hal Leonard Fender Amps The First Fifty Years Book (a sweet walkthrough of that golden age of vintage Fender amps). Some materials, like the Centerstream Publishing Cowboy Guitars Softcover Book, are a little wider in their scope, offering insight into an entire class of instrument or genre of music.

Some examples of books covering musical styles would be the Hal Leonard Blues Guitar Inside And Out, and the Backbeat Books Surf Beat: Rock And Roll's Forgotten Revolution. These materials definitely don't stop at modern music, either: the Hal Leonard Bach to the Drawing Board Game takes you all the way back to the Baroque period, and the Pocket Dictionary of Composers and Lyricists is a reference guide that spans all the known years of music history.

From classical to modern, Mozart to metal, there are history and criticism reference materials here to cover just about any musical interest you might have. So go ahead and take a look through the whole selection - who knows what interesting topics you might find? Consider these books and materials the perfect ways to build your musical knowledge. And remember: understanding music's past is the first step to writing the next chapter in its future.