LESSONS INTRODUCTION
Lessons from the world’s greatest teachers and schools...
Senior music editor Jason Sidwell introduces another full-to-the-brim lessons section.
Looking through each issue of GT it’s intriguing to view its broad array of content through metaphorical glasses. Take this issue for example: the front section can be appreciated from a picking-hand perspective as John Wheatcfroft’s ‘How To Play A Great Solo’ (p12) features pick and hybrid approaches (that said, fingerstyle like Mark Knopfler is possible too). Moving to Cory Wong’s video article (p22), there isn’t a more metronomic funk guitarist in contemporary music - he’s tight and precise thanks to his machine-like strumming hand. Watch and learn! Then we’ve a welcome return of Jamie Humphries with an exhaustive overview (with video) of sweep picking (p32), followed by another video enhanced article; Bridget Mermikides’ popular Classical (p50). Her two-guitar arrangement of JS Bach’s Invention In A Minor requires a dynamic fingerstyle technique to pull out the best performance of this lovely piece.
Now you’ve reached the Learning Zone, this picking-hand focus keeps on giving; Pat Heath’s 30-Minute Lickbag (p54) shows how various artists use down picking, hybrid picking, alternate picking and sweep picking for great results. Phil Short’s appraisal of the fantastic Eric Gales (p56) is busting with picking directions (well, Eric is a devoted fan of legendary economy picker Eric Johnson). The final article in Jens Larsen’s four-part Fundamental Changes series is full of great insights and advice - his look at the Half-Whole Diminished scale is fascinating, not only thanks to Jens’ tips but also how to articulate the lines. There are no picking directives so you will need to use your own savvy - strict alternate, economy, hybrid or fingerstyle? You decide - you’ve certainly been primed on picking options throughout the issue! You will then move onto Shaun Baxter’s always riveting Creative Rock (p72) where alternate and hybrid picking are the routes to tackling his country-rock fretting. To close, Charlie Griffiths introduces one of only two picking approaches named after an artist, Travis picking, named after Merle Travis (the other is Carter picking, after Maybelle Carter). Enhance your chord shapes with this iconic technique (Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel - the list of great guitarists that use it is endless), and your playing will sound very rich indeed. Enjoy your pickings!