What You're Actually Getting With This Songbook
The Hal Leonard Kiss Alive II Guitar Tab Songbook is a straightforward transcription collection covering the live album. It contains guitar tablature for the tracks from that record, plus some standard notation where it matters. That's about all there is to say about it without padding. I've gone through this book more than once. The transcriptions are generally accurate for the standard riffs and song structures, which is what most people actually need. Ace Frehley's part on "Shock Me," the dual guitar interplay on "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" — it's all there in tab form. Paul Stanley's rhythm parts are included too, though they're lighter material by comparison. One thing worth noting upfront: these are live recordings, not studio versions. That means some of the transcriptions capture solos and fills that vary night to night. Hal Leonard picked specific performances to transcribe, and while they're usually solid choices, you'll occasionally notice a note or two that doesn't quite match what you're hearing if you cross-reference against a specific concert video. It's not a dealbreaker. It just means your ears are the final authority, not the book.
I ran into this specifically with the "Firehouse" guitar solo section. The tab shows a particular bend sequence that, on the album track, sounds slightly different depending on how you listen. The written tab is close enough to learn the song, but if you're trying to nail the exact tone and phrasing, you'll want to slow down the audio and verify. I use a free program called Audacity for this — drop the tempo to 75% and loop the section. Takes about twenty minutes per tricky passage instead of guessing at it blind.
How Useful This Book Actually Is
For beginners and intermediates, it's a solid reference. The tab is readable, the formatting is consistent with Hal Leonard's usual output, and you're not dealing with some bootleg-quality transcription. For advanced players who want to replicate the exact live sound, you'll supplement it with watching footage and listening closely. That's true of almost any tab book — it's a starting point, not the final word. The songbook covers the full Alive II tracklist. If you're looking for songs that aren't on this album, they're not here. Some people buy this expecting broader coverage and get frustrated. Check the track listing before you purchase if that matters to you.
Get the Full Details
What's Missing or Weak
The rhythm guitar parts, particularly on tracks like "Rock and Roll Hell," could use more detail. The tab shows the chord shapes and general structure, but the driving force of those songs is in the picking pattern and palm muting work, and the book doesn't always capture that level of articulation. You'll figure it out by ear if you're committed, but the tab alone won't give you everything. Also, there's no audio access code or online media included with this particular edition. Some newer Hal Leonard songbooks come with web-based audio downloads. This one doesn't. You're on your own for reference tracks unless you already have the album.
Bottom Line
If you play Kiss music and want a physical book with tabs for the Alive II set, this is the best commercially available option. It's accurate enough for learning, reasonably priced, and from a publisher that actually cares about transcription quality compared to random websites. Don't treat it as gospel for every note, especially on the faster solo sections, but it'll get you there faster than hunting through forum posts and bootleg videos. Pair it with the actual album on repeat and you'll be playing these songs before long.
