Question: I want to use the Country Licks & Solos Book, but could you tell me how you create the sound, i.e, amp and effects you use? Thank you for your time. Best Wishes -JOHN
Peter: Hey John good to hear from you. My choice for country is a fender twin. I use a tele and typically play through the bridge pick up-single coil. The amp settings a pretty much middle of the road with the amp volume up pretty high as the twin is a very clean amp. If I am on a gig where volume is an issue I use a fender deluxe which is tweaked to sound cleaner than most-less distortion. I typically use a little bit of reverb, a delay pedal with a quick setting-around 100 to 120 mil sec. I use a compressor pedal and sometimes a very little bit of chorus. The best way to use these effects are as follows: run the guitar through the compressor into the main input of the amp. Use the chorus and delay into the effects loop of the amp. If you are using a mulit effect pedal always run it into the effects loop or pre amp in and out of amp. To learn how to do this correctly you will have to find some directions or ask at your local music store. I also use a hybrid set of guitar strings-starting with 9s on the first three and heavier on the bottom 3 strings. Everyone does it different so don’t be afraid to experiment. Sure hope this helps.
Question: I am really enjoying your Country Licks and Solo DVD and book. Do you have the bright switch turned on your twin amp. I’m having problems getting the sound. I am using a Boss CS3 compressor and a Boss DD6 Delay pedal. Reverb at 2 Also are you using a medium pick? – Ron
Peter: Hey Ron good to hear from you. No I don’t use the bright switch. Have never liked it. I am using a medium pick-the green tortex dunlop. Telecaster on bridge pickup-single coil. The twin I am using is a reissue black face-though I am sure the original black face would be better. Use the compressor pedal sparingly as the the boss tends to be heavy handed with it’s compression. When I recorded these tracks I had the amp in another room cranked really loud….. Hope this helps.
The Country Licks & Solos Book features 50 pages of instruction, 107 minutes of video, and six jam tracks that will teach you how to play lead country guitar. Through the teaching of 12 solos, Peter Vogl will show you the techniques and concepts that help make country guitar so unique. You will learn the scales that make up each solo, get detailed instruction on each lick, and have the opportunity to practice playing along with a full band. You can view sample pages on the product page and watch a demo video below. This lesson is also available as a download.
In the summer of 2009 Dave Carroll boarded a plane after he had checked in his guitar case at the counter for an United Airlines Flight. During a connection in Chicago, other passengers noticed the baggage handlers tossing instrument cases on the tarmac. Dave’s worst fears were realized. His Taylor had been broken. Dave eventually wrote three songs and recorded videos to document the original disaster, the struggles with airline employees, and amazingly his new found fame as a result of the whole ordeal. Watch the videos for some good country picking and laughs. And always take extra precautions when traveling with your guitar.
We’ve previously discussed Roger Wilson’s first lesson on playing I Know You Rider in the style of Hot Tuna on the blog. Now Roger has a lesson 2 that will teach you how to play lead parts from the song.
Guy Fenocchi has a new six lesson package called Jazz Up Your Country. In these video lessons you will learn how to incorporate jazz soloing ideas into your country playing. You’ll learn a variety of jazz scales, modes, arpeggios, and intervals that you can use to solo over traditional major country progressions.
Fender has a new video interview with Vince Gill up on their site. And other than the uncomfortably close camera shot, it’s pretty good. Vince discusses first seeing Telecasters played by Buck Owens and Waylon Jennings when he was young and how it’s twangy sound has been important in country. He then goes on to discussing how he bought his first Tele. But perhaps most interestingly, Vince describes how he designed his most recent home studio. Unhappy with the sound and look of his studio, he decided to cover the walls in the same tweed fabric you’d find on an old Fender Tube Amp. If you want to learn how to play like Vince, check out Jody Worrell’s Vince Gill Style Solo Lessons
