A few days ago, my good friend Mauro sent me a link to a YouTube video by Morten Faerestrand. This video provides excellent insight into some of Pat Metheny's techniques. As well, Morten is a fabulous player and I very much appreciate the time he spends to detail these creative and unique techniques of a truly amazing musician. Hope you enjoy it. Me, I am off to practice ;-) Thanks Mauro! … [Read more...]
Old Dog New Tricks MP3 Bundle Now Available
January 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Old Dog New Tricks CD is now available as an MP3 Bundle which includes all the songs from the CD and the cover art for $5.00 CDN! Pop over to gilnamur.com to take advantage of this great offer! If you are not familiar with this music, there are 4 free downloads here. … [Read more...]
My Top 10 Most Influential Albums Of The 70s
October 9, 2011 by
Influenced by the music of others, my journey as a musician has taken many interesting turns. Recently, I wondered what 10 albums from the 70s were the most influential in my development as a guitar player and song writer. Read this and please comment At Life As A Human … [Read more...]
Ian Shipclark: Tall Ships
February 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
One of the great things about having a website or blog is the ability to share what others have done, what they have achieved and what they have overcome. I have known Ian for over a decade. Right from day one, we connected at many different levels and he has become a very important friend in my life. A while back, Ian told me he was working on his song Tall Ships which he had often spoken about over the years. Last week when he told me it was finished, I told him I really wanted to hear it and … [Read more...]
Ross Holloway – Mankind’s Attitude
January 30, 2011 by 4 Comments
I was speaking with my good friend Ross Holloway yesterday who called to fill me in on what has been happening with his latest project. Ross is a gifted singer/songwriter who last year released a few new songs. One of them is called Mankind’s Attitude the other, How Long. They are dedicated to the troops in Afghanistan and indeed all of those who serve our country to keep it safe whether here or on foreign soil. His website has the following dedication to them: "To all of the men and women who … [Read more...]
It’s Never Too Late to Learn the Guitar
December 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment
As we head into the New Year, many of us will be making those familiar New Years resolutions. Why not make one about engaging a passion, like learning to play the guitar? A while back I wrote an article suggesting that it's never too late to embrace our passions. In it, I mentioned how when I used to teach guitar, some of the students' parents would tell me how they had always wanted to play the guitar but felt they were too old to start now. Fortunately, some of them changed their minds and … [Read more...]
Exploring 7/8
October 18, 2009 by 2 Comments
This piece is not meant to be a theory lesson in meter and time signatures. Rather, it is meant to help you open up some new doors and hopefully get your creative juices flowing! Most of us have grown up listening to music characterized by the familiar time signatures of 4/4 or 3/4. 4/4 is the most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop while 3/4 is often used for country & western ballads, not to mention waltzes, minuets & scherzi! Both of these time … [Read more...]
Victor Wooten: Amazing Grace Bass Solo
July 22, 2009 by 2 Comments
Victor Wooten is arguably one of the most skilled bass players on the planet. His musical virtuosity and remarkable technique has amazed and inspired countless musicians. Three-time winner of Bass Player magazine’s ‘Bass Player of the Year’ award, Victor Wooten was the first person to win the award more than once. I first became aware of Victor Wooten through his work with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. He has been their bass player since the band formed in 1988. The following 5-minute bass … [Read more...]
Pat Metheny: Letter From Home
July 20, 2009 by 1 Comment
If you are a guitar player and you are not familiar with Pat Metheny, then you are missing out on a truly remarkable player and uniquely gifted musician. Always melodic, always interesting, I hear new things every time I listen to him play. It is my opinion that a century from now, history will look back on his music in the same way we look back at Chopin and his body of work. This short piece is simply exquisite. If there were such a thing as a dictionary that used music to define words, I … [Read more...]
A personal tribute to Carlos Santana
July 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Song For Carlos I wrote this song in 1996 as a personal tribute to a guitar player who over the years has had an influence on me. That guitar player of course is Carlos Santana. I hope he gets to hear it one day! The song is track 2 on my CD, Old Dog New Tricks which I released in 2007. Thank you Carlos for all you've done to inspire so many of us, both musically and personally. This is for you :-) Song for Carlos Visit the Carlos Santana website: Photo Credits Carlos … [Read more...]
