I didn’t realize it was possible to make Dave Mustaine’s riffs more difficult to play

"So Far, So Good..." is one of the most underrated albums of all time. It's not the most technical ("Rust In Peace"), it's not the most powerful ("Peace Sells...") but has an incredible atmosphere that gives me goosebumps.

This book was MADDENING to me when I was starting to learn guitar in high school. It was like anti-ear training. I would try to play along, and it never, ever felt right. But I ended up blaming my ear, and not the book! It never occured to me that an "official" tab book could be so wildly off the mark. I STILL play that intro to "In My Darkest Hour" wrong to this day, haha. I have to make a point of learning the right way.

I always wanted to learn how to play Microdeth… looks like these tabs are the way! 😀😀😀🤬😀😀😀

Though the transcription is botched, this makes me realize how cool Megadeth parts are for every little detail.

It makes you wonder how many new young guitar players bought a book like this, thought “I can’t play this” and just stopped playing

based on the 502 tab, I hope they never do a Van Halen or Primus book

That last part that they split into 2 guitar parts on bad omen made me laugh.. sounded like the bass from Sgt. Baker by Primus being played on guitar 😅

Shocking how many of the books in this series I spent my own money on, and still actually have. I did actually give up playing for 20 years partly because these books - I thought I was the problem. Only just recently taken up playing again and the amazing free resources like this channel are absolutely amazing compared to what we had to put up with back then.

Repeating random notes is so common in these old books. I think if they couldn’t figure out the next note they would just copy/paste or maybe it was an easy mistake with whatever they were using between the software to printing process. Because I would see it all the time and especially in fast licks or riffs.

"Pull over shithead, this is the cops!"

The album is also tuned like 15 cents flat so that doesn’t help as well lol

I too had issues with these books as a kid but as an adult I've always felt bad for the transcribers of these books. I'd imagine it was a mad dash behind the scenes to get the transcriptions out the door as soon as possible after album release (I wonder if they got access to the albums ahead of release for this?). And so it's not a huge surprise that they just weren't finished in may cases. Would be interesting to see if you can compare different editions of tab books on the same album or song released a few years apart to see how they possibly got updated/finished properly?

yes i too enjoy pulling off the 12th fret to the 12th fret

This book was transcribed by James H.

I just rewatching some of your old bad tab videos so this was definitely fun to watch, love that BC Rich as well

Good ol' Megadeth tabs. Way back (like 2003ish), I was on an Iced Earth forum (ugh...most of the members are still good friends, we all just jumped off the Iced Earth bandwagon after The Glorious Burden dropped and we knew Jon Schaffer went off the deep end) that was run by a guy who did Iced Earth and Megadeth tabs, and even though Russ was an amazing transcriber, I and a few other members would constantly argue about the "correct" way to play the riffs (he'd have the correct notes and the correct rhythms, but none of us could agree on the correct positions). Bad Omen, My Last Words, and Good Mourning...Black Friday were constantly getting revised :)

I didn't have this tab book but I originally learned these songs the same way from online tabs I found back in the early 2000's. When I later learned alot of these riffs the correct way it gave me a WHOLE new appreciation for the musicianship on Peace Sells. That one and the first album are my favorite Megadeth albums because of the insane riffs and solos. As many have noted before, some of the riffs are more like leads.

I love this series of videos. I grew up with all of these tab books and scratched my head making my way through them as a beginner as well. I eventually learned where I could use the tab as a starting point and adapt it to something that sounded better, made more sense and was comfortable to play, but I've never had a strong enough musical ear or formal training to be able to determine appropriate patterns or techniques that could/should be used. So in many cases, I would just abandon it if seemed too difficult to play. These videos make me feel like I was not alone in my frustration and confusion. Thank you!

Congrats on 843k Subscribers! 🤘🏻🔥Loved this video! I had one of those Gameboys!! I loved playing Tetris on that thing so much, would love to get another and relive my childhood. haha

In the wake up dead breakdown riff dave plays a triplet gallop (eighth note followed by 3 sixtuplets) instead of a regular one. Makes it a lot harder than a standard maiden style gallop

I’d love to see something from an early (82/83) issue of Guitar For The Practising Musician where you had to flip pages back and forth. If I remember correctly, Ratt - Round and Round is in this format.

For change of pace, you should review the Cowboys from Hell tab book from Alfred that was carefully and accurately transcribed. Give some props when due.

These videos are great. I've owned a lot of tab books and Megadeth's were always the most difficult, but I think it was just because I wasn't good and their stuff is crazy. Hey Mike I have a request if you see this: Can you listen to Metal Church "Method To Your Madness" and tell me why it sounds like the solo is in the wrong key? It always sounds to me like after the solo was recorded to a different rhythm track they redid the rhythm track in a new key or something. Is it just the scale the solo uses? I'm not at all learned enough to figure this out on my own and it's bothered me forever.

Yes, finally! Been waiting for this video for so long. I love these albums so much.

Hey Mike, love the videos and bad tab series. I was wondering if you could make a video on unwanted string noice. It messes with me whenever I play something, for example, the Enter Sandman intro riffs.

That Poland legato lick, transcriber says, "Hey, what if Chris Poland picked like Al Di Meola?" And wrote that instead

Mike knows all these Megadeth and Metallica riffs and solos, maybe he should start producing tab books! Would love to see a Sanctus tab book lol.

This issue is really not limited to guitar tabs. The same is true for drum transcriptions, if you train your ear and with the help of an AI separation tool like Spleeter you quickly realize that most of the transcriptions are simply not correct. The worst was Pat Steward (drummer of Bryan Adams) who explained Summer of '69 on Drumeo ... but something totally different than on the recording. You can either say "it doesn't matter as long as I keep time" or try to get it right .. but which right is right?

i remember those wolf hoffman tab books, i remember they were lame, but you could learn soooome stuff from them. i remember a judas priest book that had the song the ripper in it, and when it came to the sinister sounding picked part in the middle, all they put was some dead palm muted notes and we all know its a really slow scale of some sort. what i understood is that they transribers actually played the music on a piano and it is how they transcribed some of the music. nowadays with youtube tutorials, you're getting the best correct version other than the artist themselves doing a tutorial.

The thing that baffles me about Set The World Afire here is I'm terrible at transcribing songs but I probably learned a good minute of it a lot more accurately than this just messing around from time to time

The bend at 15:17 is surprisingly correct but only in the non remastered recording. I guess they pitch corrected it and added some extra horns too Kelvin Monteza on youtube has the originals uploaded if you wanted to compare

I would love to hear some mini-recordings of a drum track and you playing what the tabs say to play. It would make the difference really stand out.

Bravo for making this video! As a huge Megadeth fan I bought this tab book and still have it in my book case today and when I was beginner this book was often closed in despair. I was thinking I'll come back to this in a few years when I'm a better guitarist. I was originally self-taught and these sort of errors crushed me when I was alone in my room trying to become a better player. So disappointing these errors actually had a negative impact on my guitar journey.

A BC Rich just like the first guitar Dave used for Megadeth

I've missed the bad tab videos! So happy I get to watch this before bed 🙂

Yep, I still have this book somewhere and it's a reminder of how awful it was trying to learn these songs back in the day with it. If only I could have been born later and started to learn guitar during the internet days. My progress would have been sped up 10 fold without having to rely on janky tabs.

Please we neee a Chris Poland techniques video

Can you do more of the Iron Maiden with the first four albums tab book

Loved that you used the B. C. Rich for this one

I always learned from these friggin books as well, I took my own skill for granted as I could NEVER pull off the "real way" the books tell us. I always just tinkered until it sounded right, but was way off from the book and thought I just sucked and was faking it till I could make it. Turns out I was just playing it like the actual artist and the books were a sick joke....

That riff before the main riff in Set the World Afire sounded if Fastway were trying to play Megadeth.

How do they sell this stuff?

Shiny B.C. Rich, Gameboy, discussing bad tabs that lead you astray and drive you crazy... such a specific way to call out my adolescence

How is there so many bad tab books? I just want to know how these people made them. What was happening in their minds?!

I didn't own a book like that but when I started playing guitar and looking up riffs online, I am pretty certain they were just copied from these books and posted online. It would always sound off no matter how hard I tried to listen to the songs and I always assumed I was doing something wrong. It took me years to realize that I was just playing a horrible tab that's barely close to the song in some places.

Have you seen Eric Bugenhagen playing In My Darkest Hour?

Mary Jane is one of my favorite songs.

Imagine if Mustaine and Poland/Young/Friedman (or Hetfield and Hammett etc - any living guitarists from any band) could sit down together on a youtube series and go through these albums riff by riff and lick by lick, with them properly transcribed on the screen. Just as a gift to all the guitarists out there. Maybe get the drums and bass involved too. When physical music sales were declining, I often thought what a great thing it would be to include a DVD with your special edition box set, let's say the new Testament record and they have Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick showing you how to play the songs with accurate tabs on screen. Chuck in a couple of picks and a vinyl decal...We'd all want to own that right?

If you look at the 4th maybe 5th song you can hear swapmeet from nirvana if you slow it down

I have this tab book and it is truly horrible. What sucks is that back in the day all we had were these books. We learned from these books and played what we "learned" for years that way and its hard to relearn something after playing it a certain way for so long.

I have the Megadeth Greatest Hits: Back to the Start tab book. It seems pretty ok but I'm far from a good guitar player. Are you familiar with this book, do you have an opinion on it? Thanks!

Just a few days ago I saw a KZfaqr playing guitar, & showed the tabs on the screen & didn't make sense have the time. Some notes had thick black lines under them. Sometimes he'd pick them multiple times; sometimes he'd use whammy bar for them. & Some notes were circled. He would randomly do one or the other for those notes as well. He seemed to play everything correctly as far as I could tell, but his tabs didn't make sense half the time.

I used to think I was just a bad player trying to learn from tabs back in the 80's and 90's. Many of the times I'd think, this sounds nothing like the song. Good to know it could've been the tabs to a certain degree.

It’s funny when I was 12 years old first learning from tab it never occurred to me that some of it was incorrect. No wonder why it didn’t sound right.

badass vide like always pls make a part 3 also very happy u included bad omen that is my fav megadeth song

You should do more bass bad tab books

Can you please share the correct tabs or where to find the best Megadeth tabs? I was also fooled by those books but I’m of the ones that basically quit guitar because of those inconsistencies and intricate fake transcriptions.

12 with a pull off or hammer-on to 12 was cool

Did they transcribe it from a transistor radio?

To be fair to the TAB guys, neither Mustaine, Poland or Friedman play like normal folk. I’ve been listening since RIP and I’ve only been able get my head around the songs by seeing them live 8 times and getting to actually sit down with Chris Poland and discussing his playing. I certainly remember this book and I’m sure some of it’s mistakes are still in my memory.

You should really listen to Mary Jane is a great song. It’ll remind you of your favorite Megadeth Song.

Dude....Mary Jane is a bad ass song with 3 really bad ass solo parts in it .....should definitely know it :)

@The-Art-of-Guitar I know its been a while but can u pls do a vid on joe perry's greatest techniques. He's my fav guitarist and I would greatly appreciate it!

15:23 I think you just summed up the entire "tab book" experience wholly. Seriously it's like a sick joke and I am pretty confident you just literally stumbled upon the punchline with what you said there.

I have perverse suspicion that whoever was transcribing these was doing so holding a nylon string acoustic guitar. Like, you can kind of see a trend where the transcriber seems to be using techniques that make the played part 'louder' and avoiding techniques which emphasize the amplification. Why would you use single string palm mutes, power chords or pick scrapes when the dynamics would be too quiet on acoustic?

I’ve commented on this “Tab” before. It wasn’t licensed by the band, so it was close enough to not get sued. Think of modern KZfaq copyright claims. I know, I grew up playing in the 90’s. Got ya close enough. Nothing back then was note for note. Had to rewind, play, pause, rewind, a tape for hours…

In the mid-90s there was nothing to be able to play songs from your favorite rock bands, only tablature books in music stores, OMG I had nightmares trying to play those riffs and they didn't look anything like the original riff, I have gone back in time with this video, lol

The book is telling you to play Megadeth in New Game + mode

As aforementioned, I have that book, also. I got in around '90-'91. It sucks, but it got me "in the ballpark," on some things.

11:55 sounds like one of Frank Zappa's Synclavier pieces.

I'm just going to mention the 'Surfing with the alien' book again. If I do it enough, Mike might make a vid on it.

Always hoped he would tackle this book one day, worst TAB book I ever had and didn't bother with it as I knew it was all crap. Such a shame that the early Megadeth albums have never had a good transcription released.

Megadeth!!. My favorite track from Peace sells is Good Mourning/Black friday. 🤘

It's almost like this book was released after just the first draft. It's a shame all these books from the 80s and early 90s were so bad, that it gave people this idea that tab books are *always* wrong, but by the mid-2000s the quality of transcriptions increased almost infinitely. I think a lot of these albums deserve to be re-transcribed and have their tab books corrected and reissued.

This book was definitely made on a Thursday afternoon before a long weekend 😂

These bad tab videos are great they save alot of money, time and effort. RESPECT!

Future video idea…track down as many people that you can that transcribed these tab books(if they are still alive) and interview them on the process they went through to make these tab books and ask them if they are aware of how badly they are transcribed (obviously said a little nicer)

Man dave was insane back in the day 😂

I remember borrowing this book off a mate. I was starting to get good as a player at the time and couldn't understand why I couldn't get these riffs sounding right. I thought i must be rubbish. Turns out this book was hopeless, especially the bridge of Peace Sells which is actually really easy to play! Can you reach out to the publusher and get their take on why they released such a pile of garbage??

This is why I learned to hate tabs way back when. These days you can find some pretty good Tabs online. But I’m happy I learned to trust my ear rather than the old tab books.

the 12 hammer on to 12 got me good

I totally had this tab book as a teenager! I resented it even then,because I would've greatly preferred to have a tab book for all of the songs on So Far,So Good...So What! instead of an incomplete one for two Megadeth albums. What an odd choice for a tab book,right!?

I had this book back in the day, and it seemed like terrible transcriptions for incomplete albums were pretty standard for this book publisher. (see also Queensryche, Pantera) But to be fair, they arguably turned out to be decent ear training.

I heard a rumor back in the nineties that guitar transcriptions were done by piano players. That would explain why the tabs seem to have a limited understanding of guitar technique. I imagine they had no clue about tapping or let alone basic fretboard layout. Ponder that for a while. 🤔

This book truly is terrible, but I've gotta admit it is also hilarious on how bad it was. I will say, there was a few parts that the book or what you did wasn't quiet right, but as you mentioned it was a lot closer than what that book offered. It was also awesome to see you do that solo for Chris Poland, all while using a B.C. Rich Mockingbird NJ series. I'd love to see what other B.C. rich guitars you've got! I love these tab book series.

Is the musical notation correct, or is it just as bad as the tab?

Please do a bay tab on 72 seasons by Metallica please Mike!!

Not a country hook slow it down and you have part of swap meet by nirvana

I found this book from a library couple of months ago, I was waiting for this video😂

I had this book. I was so damned determined to make these screwed up tabs sound correct that I really put my fingers through it. By the end, I could actually pull off the majority of these songs as they had them tabbed out. Some of the stuff was just so clearly wrong though I went with my gut and changed things. There were a lot of lines, mostly the lead stuff, like that. Anyhoo, I might not have learned them the proper way but as a result the dexterity of my fingers shot through the roof because a person shouldn't be doing what some of these tabs are telling us to do.

This is my favorite series that you do

I think the reason why so many tabs don’t have palm mutes in certain parts is because they just forgot to write them; especially if it’s a hard riff they just moved on from.

If you want to do one on Slayer "Show No Mercy" I'll mail you the tab book. I have two of them =)

I learned to stay away from recorded version books very early on playing. It was the 1st book i ever bought after maybe 6 months of lessons and only playing as long. Black Sabbath book around 1991-92. It was awful and never bought another book from that company, all of thiers are bad.

It’s good that they tabbed Dave’s solos like the same way he plays them live!

You should get your hands on some early Guitar For The Practicing Musician magazines from 1983-84. Some of those tabs are horrendous. The transcription of UFO's Lights Out is comically bad.

I have a Led Zeppelin tab book that doesn't even bother to tab the solos. They just go over the main riffs and I guess expect you to improvise or figure it out on your own

Another amazing video as always Mike. I know I mentioned this in the comments of almost every video you post. But please, can you please do a artist series video on Trivium’s Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu.

I'm 52 now but remember as a 19 year old thinking that if I had the Metallica Black Album Tab Book (bass) that the book publisher (or whomever it was tabbed by) sat down with Jason Newsted & got the skinny straight from the source haha. Then when I'd watch Jason live I'd be like "Interesting...he's not playing it the way my tab book says to.".