Take a look at our new free lesson on learning a standard tuning slide guitar version of Amazing Grace. This arrangement by Roger "Hurricane" Wilson can be played by beginning or intermediate slide guitarists with it's single note melody line. The youtube version is embedded below but you can check out the tab and higher quality Quicktime video here.
We have a new free lesson by Jody Worrell on playing a guitar lick like Stevie Ray Vaughan. The youtube video is embedded below but you check out the lesson page for the higher quality Quicktime video and tab.
We previously featured B.David after he came into our studios to perform a special live performance. His song Believe has become a hit single and they shot a video for it. B.David is a former guitar student of Peter Vogl's and the song features guitar work from Peter as well. Be sure to check out B.David's website and his twitter feed.
Our own Jody Worrell recently had the pleasure of performing with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Jody and his guitar joined Mitch on stage at Hippiefest in Peachtree City on August 15th. Below are three excerpts from the show along with an additional video that I can't help but think of every time I hear Mitch Ryder mentioned.
Devil With a Blue Dress
Sock It to Me, Baby!
Jenny Take a Ride
And a scene from High Fidelity. This clip contains some NSFW language.
Here is the trailer for It Might Get Loud. This is a documentary about Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White in which they basically just talk about electric guitars and it looks awesome. There is some good stuff that pops up on the cable arts channels but this looks like it's on a different level production wise.
You've probably heard many artists use Auto-Tune without realizing it. And then there are the obvious users such as Cher and T-Pain. This short video by Nova shows you how Auto-Tune actually works. The piece starts out a little cheezy but there is some interesting information in here.
Earlier this month, the I Heart Guitar Blog came up with 5 Fictional But Awesome Guitar Players. And really it's hard to argue with any list that features Janice from the Muppet Show's Dr Teeth & The Electric Mayhem. But their post lead me to reflect on some my favorite movie characters that played guitar. So I went through the list in my head and found the evidence on Youtube. I've stayed away from real guitarists like anybody featured in Blues Brothers or Jeff Healey in Roadhouse. If you have other suggestions or comments leave them in the comments.
1. Drew from Deliverance. Earns points for being so dedicated to playing guitar that he decided to bring along a six string for a white water canoeing trip.
2. Clint Eastwood in Honky Tonk Man. Because it's Clint Eastwood. Enough said.
3. Tommy Johnson in O Brother Where Art Thou. I know that Chris Thomas King is actually a musician, but I'm making an exception because 99% of America wouldn't know about him if it wasn't for this movie. Tommy Johnson deserves props for not only being the soul selling bluesman, as he's featured below, but also for doubling up and playing the flatpicking lead guitar part for "Man of Constant Sorrow". That's range.
4. Russell Hammond in Almost Famous. "I AM A GOLDEN GOD"
5. Dusty Bottoms singing Blue Shadows (On the Trail) in Three Amigos.
In the early days of MTV Unplugged they'd often try to fit several performers into one 30 minute episode. Such was the case with Stevie Ray Vaughan who had to split time with Steve Vai. For some reason, these early episodes never really got shown as reruns. You can apparently find the performance on this dvd. The video below shows all three songs from the performance : Rude Mood, Pride and Joy, and Testify. You can also watch a short outtake of Life Without You
I've been reading recently about the influences of John Coltrane on Duane Allman. Specifically Duane using pull offs to recreate some of the sounds Coltrane made with his sax. In fact Duane grabbed a lot of ideas from Coltrane and Miles Davis. From 10 Things You Gotta Do to Play Like Duane Allman:
"Whether it’s a ten-minute solo during “Elizabeth Reed,” or one of the Brothers’ trademark extended cadenzas, you’ve gotta get fluent with the kind of extended modal jamming that permeated the band’s live performances. The emphasis on Am7’s upper extensions—the 9 (B), 11 (D), and 13 (F#)—played over the Im7-IV Dorian-based vamp in Ex. 5a reveals Allman’s professed admiration for the modal jazz of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Ex. 5b is derived from three successive motifs that Allman regularly reprised during his extended closing improvisations in the Allman Brothers staple “You Don’t Love Me”: sliding parallel fifths reminiscent of his work on Clapton’s arrangement of “Little Wing,” a legato reading of the melody to “Joy to the World,” and a flashy display of upper-register A major-based thirty-second-note triplets."
Then I also stumbled across this Premier Guitar article with Ten Mile Davis Tips for Guitarists. These ideas are adapted from a panel of Miles' friends discussing Kind of Blue's 50th anniversary.
"No one utilized non-notes for musical effect like Miles did. For some reason, when we play guitar we are conditioned to put 99.9% of our focus on the notes we’re playing. The spaces without notes in Kind of Blue are a big part of that record. It gives listeners time to absorb and process, both between passages and within phrases.
“The powerful thing with Kind of Blue is the space and information. There’s a lot of air in that record in the sense you don’t feel overloaded and you can take in each note. You don’t feel confronted with the music. You feel as if you’ve been invited into something very special.” -David Fricke"
I've heard Dave Matthews mention that he feels like a drummer who plays guitar and he focuses more on the percussion of the instrument. Dave Rawlings at times seems to produce a mandolin like tone from his archtop acoustic. We all know about Jimmy Page's experiments with bowing a guitar. It's not always an easy thing to do, but looking to other instruments as an influence for your playing can help you create a unique sound. Whether it's technique, rhythm, or note choices.
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed - Live from the Fillmore East 1970
Jazz fusion guitarist Scott Henderson may not be a widely known name but he certainly has a devout following. He first came to fame with his band Tribal Tech in the late 80's and early 90's. More recently he's recorded with bass virtuoso Victor Wooten and drummer Steve Smith. In this free lesson Guy Fenocchi takes a look at Scott's use of the melodic minor scale. In addition to Guy's video I've also included a lesson from Scott Henderson himself explaining the way he likes to break the guitar neck up into a series of 5ths to create chordal sounds.
Guitar Lifestyle has found a video from the Science Channel on how pedal steel guitars are made. It takes electric guitar construction and ratchets is up a few notches on the difficulty scale. Which is a lot like actually playing steel guitar. In general, steel guitar is more often associated with older country music, but there are still a few bands out there using that heart breaking swell. The new devotee is former alt-rocker Ben Kweller who has made a turn towards country on his last two albums. His newest, Changing Horses, features pedal steel player Kitt Kitterman on almost every track. You can check out Stereogum's post on Changing Horses that features a review and free mp3 download of "Hurtin You". Below is Ben Kweller performing his new single "Fight" on Letterman.
Click the album art to get this album from iTunes for just $7.99
Mental Floss has a collection of youtube videos of chicks playing ukes including a dynamite cover of "Wipe Out". Combine that with Kate Micucci's multiple performances of ukulele songs on Scrubs last week and it's a banner month for women who play the ukulele. Below is "the Gooch" and Ted performing "Screw You" on Scrubs, which you can find the tab for here.
Just came across this old performance by John Lee Hooker on Youtube.
And as a result I found this lesson with some tips on getting a John Lee Hooker sound when you play blues on an acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, the submitter disabled embedding for the video so you'll have to follow that link and go to Youtube to watch it.
If you're not deeply entrenched in the blues and jazz community you may never have heard of Robben Ford before. Robben briefly played with Miles Davis in the 1980's and then later achieved success with Robben Ford and the Blue Line which was a more traditional blues band. Robben likes to bring a jazz edge to his blues playing and has developed his own distinct style. Jody Worrell teaches you that approach in his new Robben Ford Style Solo lesson. Below I've picked out a choice Robben Ford performance from Youtube.
If you search around the internet enough (mainly Youtube comments and some guitar message boards) you will find people who absolutely idolize Yngwie Malmsteen and also people that absolutely hate him. I would say the next two videos fall into the Yngwie is ridiculous category. First we have an interview/lesson with Malmsteen in which he departs knowledge on playing guitar licks at extremely fast speeds while relaxing with a cup of tea. The second video is just straight parody and contains some adult language.
If you are not already familiar with Albert Lee, he's a British born country guitarist. You can check out his wikipedia profile for a list of bands he's played with. Mainly, Albert Lee is regarded along with James Burton as the masters of chicken picking guitar. Below you can view a video of Albert Lee explaining his right hand technique for picking. He uses lots of open stings, which is a concept that Peter Vogl describes in our free Cross Stringing Scales video lesson. I've also included a youtube video of Albert Lee performing "Country Boy" on an old BBC Christmas Special (look for Eric Clapton in the audience). If any of this intrigues you... check out Jody Worrell's new lessons that will teach you an entire Albert Lee Style Solo.
On Tuesday the music blog Stereogum hosted Death Cab for Cutie as guest bloggers. If you're a Death Cab fan you can find all of the posts here. But any musician should find the following two posts entertaining.
Quit Your Day Job: Drummer Jason McGerr and bassist Nick Harmer discuss the jobs they had before becoming full time musicians. Jason worked in construction and then as an instructor at an interesting music school. Nick worked with the Tacoma Sanitation Department. Read the article for gory descriptions of the pitfalls and also the highlights of both jobs.
"It's amazing how much more of a student I became when I was teaching that much. Going over really basic fundamentals everyday for hours on end. It was like simple stretching that eventually allowed for total flexibility. Consider that my job was to get someone to do achieve a goal every time they sat down. Or, to feel comfortable and inspired, even embarrassed, no matter what their abilities may be. Sometimes a kid would come in just want to talk for a half hour before picking up the sticks and I'd be totally cool with that. Again, this was more or less the attitude at the school and the reason I did what I did for so long."
Playing Chops vs. Mental Chops: Most importantly, this post contains a youtube video of Animal from the Muppets in a drum showdown vs. Buddy Rich. But I also enjoyed this insight:
"On the stage setting, a musician is usually only susceptible to a taxed mind at the start of the show. Once he or she gets going though, they usually level out and begin to focus and enjoy themselves. When it comes to the recording studio, I sometimes find it to be the opposite. A player can be really optimistic and clear at the beginning of the day but may tire after several attempts of the same song, which means thinking about it too much, and eventually their performance suffers."
The Black Cab Sessions is a British website where they make a music video by recording a band playing a song while riding around London in a cab. What transpires is usually a stripped down version of the song and some real genuine moments. They've done over 40 sessions at the point and featured some bigger names like The National, Spoon, The New Pornographers, and The Raveonettes. They've also featured some bands that I wasn't as familiar with. One of those artists is Seasick Steve. A raw and gritty acoustic bluesman. After watching this video I went to youtube and found several clips from his appearances on the Jools Holland show. And I gotta say, Seasick Steve is thoroughly entertaining. Check out his Black Cab Session below...
The California Milk Processor Board has produced this surreal commercial that gives finally gives MILK the glam rock treatment it so richly deserves. You can get the back story on this commercial from this Newsweek article. I'm not sure if this video affects my desire to drink milk in any way, but I may try to search eBay for a milk filled guitar. Without further ado... White Gold and the Calcium Twins performance of One Gallon Axe
We have two new slide guitar lessons. The first lesson, Slide Guitar Basics, is a free video aimed at teaching a beginning slide guitar player some basic concepts. The lesson will look at right hand technique first and then delve into how to actually use the slide. You can view the Youtube version below.
We also have a new premium lesson called Easy Allman Brothers Style. The lesson will teach you some relatively easy slide guitar licks that can be played on just one string and in standard tuning. You can watch a demo here. If you're looking for something more advanced check out our Duane Allman Style Slide Guitar Licks lesson.
First we have an iPhone guitar tuner web app. Which basically works more like a tuning fork than a tuner. But I guess in a pinch this could come in handy outdoors somewhere.
We came across the next video thanks to iphonenewsblog. There's apparently a web app for the iPhone that simulates a guitar. You get all six string and a few frets to play with. You use one hand to simulate strumming or plucking and the other hand to fret the notes. It even can simulate slides.
One of the first stumbling blocks for a beginning guitarist trying to take guitar lessons may be trying to figure out what all of those lines and numbers in guitar tab mean. We've designed a series of free video lessons that will take the beginner through the basic concepts of guitar tab. Take a look...
Bio: Like a crisp fall apple, Georgia native Ben Deignan is picked for pop stardom. The singer/songwriter started playing the family’s six-string at 15, formed various garage bands in junior high and has now blossomed into a 21-year-old funkster with a sound that’s turning heads in clubs around Atlanta and beyond. “A female friend of mine described my music as ‘orgasmic’ and I thought it was clever,” Deignan says. “I never really took it seriously, but for some reason it has stuck.” Sticky is a good thing in a crowded musical universe where the latest flavor is one record flop from obscurity. It was only a few years ago, while playing his dad’s company party at the Tin Roof Cantina in Buckhead, that Deignan was plucked from his own obscurity by an A&R rep for a major record label. That exposure led him to renowned Atlanta-based musician, arranger and vocal producer Jan Smith (Usher, matchbox twenty), who signed Deignan to a development and production deal. Together with production partner Huston Singletary, Smith is helping the fresh-faced Deignan prep his pipes. “This industry is tough and in order to keep your head above water, you have to know the business,” Deignan says. Busy playing gigs and writing songs (“Most of the time it’s in places like the shower or on the highway at three in the morning”), Deignan has a blue-eyed soulful, skatty and softly cranky mood—he cites Bono, Stevie Wonder and The Police among his influences—that sounds like something you’d hear on the radio, only more interesting. Deignan’s routine of vocal exercises and playing covers in seedy college dives is quickly receding in the rearview: He recently recorded an eponymous four-song EP with Smith & Huston Productions, available on iTunes, and he’s gotten more than 30,000 hits on his MySpace player in addition to major label interest. Dealing with the inevitable comparisons, Deignan remains philosophical. “Guys like John Mayer were compared to other artists for along time, too,” he says. “It’s a comfort thing. I find it interesting because alot of people compare me to the sounds of Maroon 5 and Jason Mraz, but I don’t hear anyone compare either one of those artists to each other. Maybe I’m the link between them.”
A short word of advice and performance by Elli Perry, a solo artist and Peter Vogl guitar student. Elli is performing her original song Let It Slide. To hear more of Elli's music visit her myspace page.
Bio: Atlanta based singer, songwriter, guitarist Elli Perry has been writing and performing music since childhood. After picking up the guitar at age 12, she quickly started to develop her skills as a songwriter. Elli recorded her debut independent album entitled "A Beautiful Chaos" at age 15, and now as a polished and professional 19 year old she is working on her new record with famed vocal coach Jan Smith and her production team. Elli's percussive guitar playing, soulful voice, and intensely personal lyrics lend themselves to her unique style. Her biggest influences as a songwriter show her mature and eclectic musical tastes.-The Beatles, Elliott Smith, and Fiona Apple. One of Elli's greatest strengths as a musician is her live performance. She continuously wins over new fans with her emotional and honest stage prescence. She performs frequently around Atlanta, and the first 2 tracks from her new record can be found on her myspace page.
Elli's thoughts on Peter Vogl:"Working with Peter Vogl has enabled me to expand as a guitar player and as a songwriter. Peter is truly an artist and his ability to provoke the very best from his students is unparalleled. Peter has helped me to better understand my instrument, my technique, and what it is to be truly a musician."
A quick bit of advice and performance by Adam Harris. Adam is a Peter Vogl student and will perform an original solo over a G Minor Groove jam track from the Let's Jam Jazz & Blues CD.
Bio: Adam Harris has been playing guitar for nearly six years. He was in several bands in high school that played a wide variety of genres including jazz, funk, blues, latin, rock and reggae. He is currently studying music at Presbyterian College in South Carolina with an emphasis in Jazz improvisation. Adam’s influences include Larry Carlton, George Benson, Joe Pass, Eric Clapton and Trey Annastasio.
On Peter Vogl: Studying under Peter’s instruction has taken my guitar playing to a very advanced level. He improved my technique immensely, allowing myself to play at speeds I had only dreamed of prior to taking lessons with him. Peter has given me a great depth in knowledge in theory along with many essential aspects of the guitar.
Guitar playing advice and performance by guitarist, and Peter Vogl student, Mike Rickard. In the video Mike performs his original song "Lucky". To hear more of his music, visit mikerickard.com or his myspace page.
Bio: Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Mike Rickard sang with several vocal groups while touring the US and internationally before he began writing his own music and playing the guitar. In 2004, he released his debut CD, the critically praised “Stirred Not Shaken.” The CD, a collection of self-penned songs, displays Mike’s sensitivity and humor in dealing with the big issues of life: things like fear, loss, and loneliness, to finding happiness and love. The title of the CD comes from the irreverent line from the gospel rock track, “Who I Am” – “So here’s to all the therapy I guess I should have taken/If I had to sum it up, I’ve been stirred but I’m not shaken.” Mike loves to share his music with live audiences at various festivals, clubs, coffeehouses, and home concerts. He plans to begin work on his second CD in the fall of 2007.
Mike's thoughts on Peter Vogl: Peter Vogl is a masterful guitar player and a great teacher. But he is more than that – he is a true artist. Peter continually challenges me to develop new skills; but more importantly, he has taught me that music comes not from perfect technique, but from truly believing in, and communicating through, my songs. He has taught me to look for interesting chord variations, to “change it up” and improvise to keep it fresh, and to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. He has also taught me a lot about song structure and has been instrumental in my development as a songwriter.
Jody Worrell has a new lesson out where you can learn some blues guitar licks in the style of Johnny Winter. The licks will focus on Johnny's note selection and trademark wide vibrato technique. Watch a preview of this lesson.
If you're unfamiliar with Johnny Winter check out this vintage performance and recent interview.
A short video on the making of a Gibson guitar by the Travel Channel's Made in America. The clip features interviews with Steve Earl, Dan Seals, Joe Diffie as well as a fantastic tour of the Nashville factory.
"Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes plays ukulele on "Cleanse Song", a track on his latest album Cassadaga, while Bill Drummond, the anti-hero of KLF, says he's so in love with his uke that he takes it to bed with him. The new ukulele brotherhood also apparently includes Pete Doherty, one of an unlikely trail of stars who frequent Duke of Uke, Britain's only dedicated ukulele shop, which does a roaring business in London's Spitalfields."
So I decided to look around the web myself and see what ukulele stuff was out there. The Uke.com was the most informative site I found. Most helpful is probably their chord charts section
I also ran across two ukulele blogs if you'll believe it. The first is the Uke Club, which features songs and even cartoons. The second, Ukulelia, finds everything ukulele related on the web.
And if you just want to enjoy some good uke playing check out the video below.
- Gotta Strat? Wanna leave the world of relative obscurity behind for the fast paced and glitzy lifestyle of internet semi-fame? Head over to Me and My Strat, where they will post a picture of you and you gorgeous stratocaster.
- The Guitar Channel has a review of Robben Ford's new album. If you're looking to learn some Robben Ford style riffs you should check out our Altered Blues Licks lesson.
- Guitar Stuff brought our attention to a fantastic lesson by flatpicking great Brad Davis on double down up picking. The video starts off with a somewhat cheesy interview but later moves on to some truly valuable instruction. Take a look and see what you think.
This guy's ability to play the bass and melody at the same time is quite inspiring. His right hand control and precision on the tapping is just fantastic.
You can check out Peter Vogl's lesson on tapping as well checking out all the videos we have on Youtube
