GT LESSONS

Lessons from the world’s greatest teachers and schools...

Ihope you’re enjoying the issue! It’s certainly been a heady mix of topics so far, from appraising the stunning guitar work of Eddie Van Halen to the return of the wonderful Brett Garsed (his 15th video performance for GT, that’s over a year’s worth of articles!) via a stimulating look at Allan Holdsworth’s validity for blues and jazz guitarists, and a gorgeous classical guitar piece composed by Angel Villoldo. A word of advice -don’t think for one moment that a classical piece can only beplayed on a nylon-string guitar. Numerous readers tackle and master these pieces on steel-string acoustics and electric guitars too. The sheer joy of playing wonderful polyphonic music should never be exclusive to nylon players, everyone should feel free to play this music too. As is often said in GT, while our aim is to be as broad as possible, from lower intermediate players to super advanced levels and across all manner of music styles, equipped with your favourite guitar you are positively encouraged to engage with as much of each issue’s music as possible. From this section of the magazine onwards, you sure have a lot of choices and options. From short player focused licks and riffs (p52) to tasty blues solos (p54) and from blazing shred licks (p62) to gypsy jazz phrases (p70) we love all manner of guitar playing and hope that enthusiasm rubs off on you too. Of course, for a rounded musician it’s never just about the mechanics but the theory too, so that there’s an understanding of why great playing works well. With this technique and theory focused information throughout GT you’ll develop into a much deeper and knowledgeable musician. And it pays off as countless readers around the world have shown over the decades that GT has been available. Until the next issue, keep happy, keep listening and keep playing!