Novus: Authentic Guitar TAB

This collection captures 31 songs from a transformative era in Santana's catalog, each one faithfully transcribed in note-for-note TAB. The breadth here is remarkable: you get the infectious Latin-rock grooves of "Maria Maria" and "Smooth," the spiritual depth of "Put Your Lights On," and the melodic sophistication of "Corazón Espinado," all in one volume. For guitarists studying how to blend percussion, harmony, and lead playing into a cohesive musical voice, these transcriptions are essential reference material.

These songs pulse with warmth and forward motion. You'll encounter syncopated grooves that sit just ahead of the beat, harmonic movements that open up new colors, and melodies that ask you to sing through your hands. The emotional range spans celebratory and joyful to introspective and spiritual, unified by a sensibility that music serves both the body and the heart.

Intermediate to advanced guitarists who want to understand how to write and play in a Latin-rock idiom with sophistication and groove. This book serves musicians who have a solid foundation in rhythm and lead technique and are ready to explore how cultural music traditions integrate with rock guitar.

• Study the rhythm section interaction first. Santana's guitar lines gain their power from sitting inside (not on top of) the clave and percussion patterns. Understand where the clave sits before you lock your riff into place.
• Pay attention to left-hand muting and percussive articulation. Many of these pieces use damped strings and ghost notes to create texture and pocket. These details appear in TAB but demand your ear to come alive.
• Approach the solos as conversations, not displays. Santana's improvisations follow harmonic and melodic logic; they respond to what the band is playing. Record yourself backing and listen back for balance and phrasing.
• Use a clear, warm tone for the main riffs. These parts are often doubled or supported by keyboards and horns; your tone needs to cut without being harsh. Experiment with your amp settings and pick approach until the notes sing.

For a guitar studio, assign these pieces across multiple students based on level and taste. An advanced player might tackle "Corazón Espinado" or "The Calling," while an intermediate guitarist builds foundation with "Maria Maria" or "Smooth." In an ensemble or band context, these transcriptions become reference charts for understanding how to blend electric guitar into a groove-based arrangement.

• Reading and performing Latin clave rhythms in guitar TAB
• Integrating percussive muting and articulation into lead and rhythm playing
• Harmonic navigation through extended chords and modulations common in world fusion
• Phrasing solos responsively to rhythm section and accompaniment
• Executing syncopated rhythmic figures with precision and pocket
• Blending cultural music vocabulary with contemporary rock guitar technique