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...]
John McLaughlin: Remember Shakti – Giriras Sudha
October 23, 2010 by 1 Comment
Regarded as one the worlds finest jazz fusion guitarists, John McLaughlin’s extraordinary guitar playing has inspired professional and aspiring guitarists for decades. His musical and spiritual path has led him to play in a depth of styles ranging from Jazz Fusion to Classical and Indian Music. Some of his early session playing can be heard on Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. In his dynamic career John has also collaborated with a staggering range of brilliant musicians, such as … [Read more...]
Lenny Breau: You Needed Me
December 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Born in Auburn, Maine to a musical family, Lenny Breau began playing the guitar at age 8. His parents were both professional musicians who played together in their touring country band, "Lone Pine and Betty Cody". By age 14 he was the lead guitarist in their band where he first performed and recorded professionally. The family eventually moved to Winnipeg when Lenny was 16, where he branched out on his own and developed a keen interest in Jazz music. Throughout his career, Lenny worked in … [Read more...]
Steve Morse: Deep Purple
November 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Steve Morse is potentially one of the most diverse and virtuosic guitarists alive today. A true master of the guitar, Steve is an extremely versatile guitarist. His style and compositional skills draw from classical, jazz, country, blues, folk, and rock. As a founder of the fusion band Dixie Dregs, Steve has been playing and touring since the 1970’s. He has also released over ten albums between his solo efforts and The Steve Morse Band. In 1992 he replaced the legendary guitarist Richie … [Read more...]
Duane Allman: Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’
November 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment
For passionate guitarists, developing their sound and technique is an experimental quest that lasts a lifetime. Some search and develop their sound for years, and others are never truly satisfied. There are also a select few who possess their musical voice early on. This can be said about Duane Allman. One of a small group of guitarists in rock history, Duane left a major impact over the span of only a few years. Known as a powerful slide guitarist and improviser, Duane also co-founded the … [Read more...]
Les Paul: How High the Moon
October 18, 2009 by 1 Comment
Les Paul June 9, 1915 - August 12, 2009 Les Paul was one of the most significant musical inventors and innovators of our time. Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1915, Les began playing harmonica at the age of 8. His lifelong music career began soon thereafter. By age 13, Les was performing as a country western singer. A move to Chicago at age 19 sparked his interest in jazz. Soon after, Les formed the Les Paul Trio. By 1939 the group left for New York where Les began experimenting and altering … [Read more...]
Al Di Meola: Passion, Grace, and Fire
September 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Al Di Meola is a Jazz Fusion guitarist well known for his advanced technical approach and Latin style. He attended Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 1971 before joining the jazz fusion group Return to Forever with Chick Corea. Extreme dedication to precise picking technique, rhythm, and melody, are key elements to Al’s musicianship. The stylistic and emotional influence of the Mediterranean is the foundation of Al Di Meola’s approach. The successes of his early solo albums, such as … [Read more...]
Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries
August 23, 2009 by 2 Comments
Michael Hedges was a truly gifted acoustic guitar player and composer. His technically demanding approach contained elements of advanced finger-style and two-handed tapping techniques. The combination of his elaborate compositions and technique would produce the sound of several guitars playing together. While Michael had a love of rock and pop styles he earned a classical degree in composition at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Often associated with the New Age genre, he transformed … [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...]
Scales: Exercises 123 234 345
April 10, 2009 by 4 Comments
This exercise is aimed at improving your technique and offering you extended scale phrasings. The basic idea in this exercise is to play the first 3 notes in the scale, then, starting at the second note in the scale play 3 more, then, starting from the 3rd note in the scale play 3 more etc. If the scale was numbers, the pattern would be: 123 234 345 456 567 678 789 etc Remember that these exercises can be played anywhere on the neck using any scale. The … [Read more...]
