I have some basic knowledge of the acoustic guitar but when my teenage son started playing the electric and bass guitars I was pretty clueless and he was frustrated with not knowing how to use the instruments to their full potential. The Tipbook for electric and bass guitar from Hal Leonard publishers has proven to be a great resource. It teaches the basics in an easy to understand way for a beginner yet has the kind of detailed information more experienced guitarists would appreciate as well.Included in this book are chapters explaining the components of the guitar, the materials they are made from, and how to clean them; tips on practicing, a guide to the differences in types of electric guitars and how to shop for the right one, how to buy and replace strings, tuning, accesories and how to use them for different effects or to improve sound, a complete section of chord diagrams, and glossary of terms. The book also includes the history of the electric guitar, how they are made, and a tutorial of the various manufacturers.My son says the Tipbook for electric and bass guitar has been the most helpful he has read so far, and based on what we've seen in this book, we're considering the saxophone Tipbook as well since he plays the tenor and baritone in band. Other instruments in Tipbook series includes acoustic guitar, piano, flute, drums, violin, and cello, to name a few.I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited. If I didn't like the book (or in this case, if my son didn't also find it helpful), I would say so.