Got another Kenny Burrell transcription for you (my best cut at it anyway). This is Kenny’s first solo break, which happens around 2:05 on the original track from the Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane CD/Album. This a MIDI cut of what it sounds like. To view the transcription, you’ll need Sibelius’s Scorch plugin (don’t worry, [...]

Watching things like this sometimes makes me wish I hadn’t given up piano lessons for guitar when I was 13:

After I heard that a Kentucky-based Guitar Center donated 25 guitars to Bootsy Collins’ charity, the Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation, I decided that since it’s Friday, we could all use a dose of Bootsy’s special brand of being: Honestly, why this guy isn’t as big as Hendrix is beyond me. He rocks!

Sad news for Hendrix fans. Mitch Mitchell has died at 61 (that’s a much younger Mitch on the right). He was Hendrix’s drummer for the original Jimi Hendrix Experience from 1966-1969 as well as for another lineup with Billy Cox on bass. There’s got to be one crazy-ass reunion (and jam) going on in heaven. [...]

Gibson’s got a new version of the so-called “robot guitar” out. Being a bit of a techie, I’d love to fool around with one. The thing I find coolest about this guitar is not really the tuners, although I can imagine that would be useful for just keeping the darn thing in tune while you’re [...]

Jeff Beck has a new CD called Performing This Week…Live at Ronnie Scott’s. I just read a review that said it was pretty kick ass. Just in case you’re a guitar player who prefers living under rocks and hasn’t heard of Jeff Beck: (No offense to Mr. Beck, but don’t you agree that he has [...]

Yes. Okay, it’s a short post. But what else needs be said. They’re right.

Todd Rundgren, who I’ve mentioned before, has a new CD coming out that apparently gets back to his guitar roots. Great! But after reading this quote from a review, I’m wondering if “Arena” is really the best title: Arena was recorded entirely on Rundgren’s laptop in a linen closet and a bedroom, and if there’s [...]

A while back I did a number of Kenny Burrell transcriptions. Here’s one from Ellington is Forever Vol. I (work that ‘stache Kenny!). This is from Kenny’s first solo break, which comes in at about 4:15. Here’s the MIDI version, so you can hear what it sounds like: C-Jam Blues. The transcription follows the break.

Ran across this awesome video while fartin’ around in the tubes today. I love it! (I’ve always wanted one of those “gypsy jazz” guitars.) The guitarist is a guy named Adrian Holovaty. He’s got a couple of other nice vids linked from his page. Helluva player!

In my opinion, modes are the most misunderstood category of music theory, especially among guitarists. Many guitarists have only a basic understanding of the modes, if any. You hear them sometimes, casually saying things like, “Oh yeah, well, modes are easy. You just start playing a major scale on any degree and that’s a mode.” [...]

Hmm, since everyone seems to be, you know, voting today, it’s been a slow guitar-news day. If he were still alive, I’d write in Joe Pass for President. I’ll never forget the first time I heard him. I was in college at the time and discovered “Joe Pass: Virtuoso” (the first one) in the library [...]

One of the reasons I started this blog was to encourage myself to post more free lessons and transcriptions. And, as you can see, I haven’t done that. I will be in the near future. So, if you have any ideas (I’ve got plenty, but it’s always nice to hear from other people), leave a [...]

I’ve always been a fan of Paul Gilbert’s. I learned much from his first instructional video, Intense Rock, and can honestly say that I still use some of his techniques to this day. So, let’s hope his new one is just as good.

I’ve been to the Martin guitar factory twice and have the sound-hole cutouts to prove it. I like to go every year or so because I find it’s inspiring. It renews my appreciation for my guitars, which, sadly, I sometimes take for granted. Especially my custom Heritage Eagle. It was built in a factory similar [...]