Under My Thumb: Authentic Guitar TAB

This collection captures the Rolling Stones at their most inventive across a single arc, allowing guitarists to trace the evolution of rock songwriting from cover versions through revolutionary originals. The 136 pages of authentic transcriptions preserve not just chord progressions but the signature riffs and textures that define these songs, making this both a technical reference and a historical document.

Raw, confident, endlessly inventive. These songs swing between the grit of blues-based grooves and moments of genuine sophistication, from the creeping menace of "Sympathy For The Devil" to the open-tuned shimmer of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." You'll feel the weight and attitude that made these recordings matter, captured in transcriptions that respect the subtlety of the originals.

Intermediate to advanced guitarists who want to understand how rock riffs are constructed and performed. This book works equally well for players learning these songs note-for-note and for musicians studying the harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary that defined classic rock guitar playing.

• Lock the rhythmic pocket first before worrying about ornamental details or fills; these songs live or die by their groove foundation.
• Study the recorded versions alongside the transcriptions to understand where the tab captures the primary riff versus where it notates a secondary layer or solo passage.
• Pay attention to tone and amp settings listed in the transcriptions; the difference between a clean edge and overdrive changes how the riff sits in a band context.
• Work through songs in the order they appear rather than jumping randomly; you'll notice how the band's approach to arrangement and production deepens over the decade covered.

Assign individual songs as repertoire for electric guitar students at different skill levels throughout the year. The collection also works as a semester-long study in rock arrangement and riff writing, where students can analyze how each song uses instrumentation differently. Teachers can program selected pieces in student guitar recitals or ensemble performances.

• Reading and executing complex riff patterns with precision timing
• Translating recorded guitar textures from TAB into performed tone and articulation
• Understanding blues-based harmony and its application in rock composition
• Recognizing and playing open tunings and alternative tunings
• Analyzing the relationship between rhythm riffs and vocal melody lines
• Developing consistent groove and rhythmic placement in ensemble contexts