No Surprise: Authentic Guitar TAB

Thirty-five snapshots of mid-to-late 2000s rock energy. From the heavy riffing of Disturbed and Skillet to the driving pop-rock of Daughtry and Katy Perry covers, this collection spans the emotional range of contemporary rock without leaving accessible material behind.

Electric guitarists who want to learn modern rock songs as they're actually played on radio. This resource works equally well for students seeking contemporary repertoire outside formal method sequences and for teachers building a teaching library of recognizable, engaging material.

• Study the original recordings alongside the TAB. Tone, dynamics, and effects matter as much as note accuracy in rock music, and the tab alone won't show you the full picture.
• Pay attention to rhythmic feel and groove. Tab shows you where to play, not necessarily how to play it with the right attitude or timing interpretation.
• Work through sections slowly, then gradually increase tempo. Rock guitar often relies on precision in fast passages, so building accuracy before speed prevents bad habits.
• Experiment with different pickup selections and amp settings once you know the part. Many of these songs use contrasting tones between verse and chorus.

Use this as a supplement for students working toward recitals or student showcases where popular music makes a welcome appearance. Assign individual songs based on student taste and ability level, or pull selections for ensemble guitar classes looking for repertoire with broad appeal.

• Reading guitar TAB notation fluently
• Recognizing and executing common rock chord voicings and progressions
• Developing right-hand technique for rhythm guitar patterns (palm muting, accents, dynamics)
• Adapting left-hand finger positioning for barred chords and power chords across the fretboard
• Understanding how arrangement and production choices affect guitar performance in contemporary rock