Browsing Month July, 2009

“Jazz Guitar Soloing Concepts: A Pentatonic Modal Approach to Improvisation”

“Jazz Guitar Soloing Concepts: A Pentatonic Modal Approach to Improvisation”

Posted July 20, 2009 at 5:14 pm | No comments

The pentatonic scale is often the first scale guitarists learn when they begin to explore the realms of blues, rock and jazz improvisation. Though most guitarists learn the basic fingerings of this oft-used scale, maybe in different keys and positions across the neck, few players delve deep into the scale’s vast harmonic and melodic possibilities. Whereas rock and blues players such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Hendrix and Jimmy Page made careers by using common application of the pentatonic, and its closely related cousin the blues scale, during their improvised solos and riffs, jazz musicians such as Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Mike Stern have applied their knowledge of modern harmony to the pentatonic scale, greatly expanding the array of sounds and tonal colors that this scale can produce. In his book Jazz Guitar Soloing Concepts: A Pentatonic Modal Approach to Improvisation, Dr. Ronald S. Lemos dives into the modern world of the pentatonic scale and presents an exhaustive volume detailing the many harmonic and melodic variations this commonly used scale can produce.

Posted in: Instructional Book Reviews, Jazz, Reviews

James Burton Interview: Master of the Telecaster

James Burton Interview: Master of the Telecaster

Posted July 10, 2009 at 1:54 pm | No comments

To say that guitarist James Burton is busy would be a gross understatement. With his 70th birthday right around the corner, the Louisiana native shows no sign of slowing down. After a highly successful career as both a leader and a sideman spanning more than 50 years, most guitarists would be looking forward to hanging up the axe and enjoying some time off, but not Burton. Having recently returned from performing in Holland with the TCB band, he’s busy preparing for the

Posted in: Classic Rock, Guitar Hero Interviews, Interviews, Rock Interviews