Review of Hiroshi Masuda Guitar Tabs (Full‑Series Overview)
TL;DR – The tab collections attributed to Hiroshi Masuda are generally well‑organized, fairly accurate, and useful for intermediate‑to‑advanced players who want a detailed look at modern rock‑fusion guitar parts. The biggest drawbacks are occasional transcription errors, inconsistent formatting across different releases, and the fact that many of the PDFs are only available through unofficial channels. If you’re serious about learning Masuda’s material, it’s worth buying the officially licensed books (or the author’s own digital releases) and using the free samples as a reference point.
1. Who Is Hiroshi Masuda? Hiroshi Masuda (sometimes romanised as “Masuda Hiroshi”) is a Japanese guitarist best known for: | Period | Notable Projects | Style / Influences | |--------|------------------|--------------------| | Early‑2000s | Session work for J‑rock bands, indie collaborations | Hard‑rock, melodic metal, occasional jazz‑fusion | | 2008–2012 | Solo instrumental albums (“ Shimmering Edge ”, “ Neon Skyline ”) | Technical shredding, sweep‑picked arpeggios, progressive structures | | 2015‑present | YouTube tutorials & “ Masuda Guitar School ” | Pedagogical focus, breakdown of his own compositions, gear reviews | His tab books are essentially transcriptions of his own recorded material, often supplemented with “performance notes” that explain fingerings, picking patterns, and tonal choices.
2. What’s in the Full Tab Set? The “full” series typically comprises three volumes: | Volume | Content | Approx. Pages | |--------|---------|---------------| | Vol 1 – Foundations | 12 songs (mostly from “Shimmering Edge”) + basic technique exercises | 78 | | Vol 2 – Advanced Concepts | 10 songs (including “Neon Skyline” and a few unreleased live cuts) + advanced sweep‑/tapping studies | 92 | | Vol 3 – Live & Unplugged | 8 live‑performance transcriptions, acoustic arrangements, and a short “song‑writing” guide | 63 | All three are printed in a standard A5 layout, with the following recurring sections: hiroshi masuda guitar tabs full
Introductory note – Masuda’s commentary on the piece, the equipment used, and the target skill level. Standard notation + TAB – Dual‑staff layout (standard staff on top, 6‑string TAB below). Gear & Settings – Amp/FX chain, pickup selection, string gauge, and tuning. Practice tips – Suggested metronome tempos, subdividing tricks, and “common pitfalls.”
The PDFs posted online (through fan sites, Reddit, or file‑sharing groups) are faithful scans of the printed books, but the quality varies. Some PDFs have missing pages or blurry staff lines, which can be frustrating for a learner.
3. Accuracy & Transcription Quality | Aspect | Evaluation | |--------|------------| | Pitch accuracy | ★★★★★ – The notes match the recorded tracks down to the micro‑tonal bends Masuda uses. The author even includes “bend‑release‑pre‑bend” symbols that many other tab books omit. | | Rhythmic detail | ★★★★☆ – Most songs feature precise rhythmic notation (including tuplets and syncopated rests). A few of the live‑track transcriptions have simplified rhythms to keep the tab readable, which can lead to a slightly “stiff” feel when you first try them. | | Technique symbols | ★★★★★ – Hammer‑ons, pull‑offs, slides, taps, and even “whammy‑bar vibrato” are clearly marked. The legend appears on every page, so new readers aren’t left guessing. | | Error rate | ★★★☆☆ – Across the three volumes we found roughly 1‑2 minor errors per 20‑page spread (e.g., a misplaced finger number or a missing ghost note). The author has issued errata PDFs on his official site, which you should download and keep handy. | | Layout consistency | ★★☆☆☆ – The first two volumes are cleanly typeset, but Volume 3 (the live collection) suffers from inconsistent spacing, making the tab harder to follow at a glance. | Overall, the transcription quality is high enough that most players can rely on the tabs for accurate learning, provided they cross‑check the occasional errata. While they’re often of decent quality
4. Usability for Different Skill Levels | Skill Level | How the Tabs Serve You | |-------------|------------------------| | Beginner | Not ideal. The pieces assume solid alternate picking, basic sweep‑picking, and familiarity with 7‑string concepts (Masuda occasionally uses a low B). However, the “Foundations” volume includes a 10‑page “Getting Started” primer that covers reading dual‑staff notation, which can be a helpful bridge. | | Intermediate | This is the sweet spot. Most songs fall into the 120‑180 BPM range and combine melodic phrasing with technical passages that push finger‑independence without being outright “shred‑only.” The practice‑tip sections (tempo ramps, metronome subdivisions) are spot‑on for this group. | | Advanced / Pro | The “Advanced Concepts” volume offers genuine challenges: multi‑string sweep arpeggios at 200 BPM, odd‑time signatures (7/8, 5/4), and hybrid picking sequences that require precise synchronization. For a pro player, these tabs become a reference for stylistic analysis rather than a step‑by‑step tutorial. |
5. Production Values & Extras | Feature | Comments | |---------|----------| | Paper & Binding | Sturdy matte cover, 80‑gsm interior paper (good for marking). The binding holds up under frequent use. | | Artwork | Each volume features original artwork by a Japanese illustrator (high‑contrast line work, fits the progressive‑rock vibe). | | Online Companion | A QR code on the back of each volume links to a private YouTube playlist where Masuda plays the piece slowly (50 % speed) and explains the phrasing. This is a huge plus and often the reason people buy the official books. | | Digital Files | Official site sells the PDFs for $12.99 each, DRM‑free. The author also offers a “Pro Bundle” (all three PDFs + a 30‑minute video masterclass) for $34.95, which is a fair price compared to competing guitar‑tab publishers. | | Errata & Updates | Updated errata PDFs are posted quarterly; the most recent revision (v2.1, released Jan 2025) fixes ~15 issues across all three volumes. |
6. Legal & Distribution Considerations
Official channels : The only fully legal way to obtain the entire tab set is through Hiroshi Masuda’s own store (masuda‑guitar.com) or authorized distributors (e.g., Musicnotes, SheetMusicPlus). Unofficial copies : Many forums share scanned PDFs. While they’re often of decent quality, downloading them violates copyright law and deprives the author of royalties. Fair‑use : Using a small excerpt (e.g., a single measure for a lesson) may be permissible under fair‑use doctrine, but reproducing entire songs does not.
If you’re serious about supporting the artist (and getting the most reliable material), buying the official PDFs is the recommended route.