ABILITY RATING
Info Key Various Tempo Various CD TRACKS 4-10
Moderate/Advanced
Will improve your… Playing with good groove Classic & modern blues vocabulary Melodic blues soloing
JOHN’S TECHNIQUE
John Mayer performs much of his electric guitar work fingerstyle and this direct contact with the strings provides timing, timbral and dynamic nuance. He also ‘hides’ a plectrum between the first and second finger of his picking hand, which he retrieves to perform funky strumming and more standard blues soloing. He can switch between these techniques remarkably fluently and even exchanges phrases using the two techniques. Mayer also uses the Hendrix-inspired fretting-hand thumb to play notes on the sixth string which aids muting and chord embellishment. These all provide an intimate control, complexity and nuance of timbre and tone, a goal mirrored in his enviable roster of instruments, amps and effects.
Get the Tone
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THE MOODY BLUES
This month Stuart Ryan delves into the picking style of this British prog legend whose acoustic guitar has powered many a Moody Blues song.
WAYNE KRANTZ
This issue Nick Mellor provides an insight into this brilliant jazz stylist, focusing on his approach to improvising over static chords.
OPEN G TUNING
Open tunings are great fun and can help create exciting new ideas. Simon Barnard shows how to incorporate open G tuning into your playing.
RODRIGO GOUVEIA
Last month we featured Mateus Asato, and mentioned the importance of the neo-soul style in his playing. Here we turn to his fellow Brazilian, the master of neo-soul fusion.
MARK KNOPFLER
Our topic this month is a master craftsman as both guitar player and songwriter. His style is unique and his influence spreads far and wide.
U2
Martin Cooper checks out the chiming pedal delay tones of this stadium-filling band from Dublin, Ireland, and guitarist The Edge.
LUTHER ALLISON
It’s blues with a touch of soul this month, as David Gerrish explores the dynamic, expressive style of an often overlooked Chicago bluesman.
JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio
This month Declan Zapala explores the music of Austria at the turn of the Romantic period with a fiery caprice to level up your fingers and unlock your inner virtuoso.
THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau
John Wheatcroft explores the playing of a session ace _ and blazing blues-rock maestro who graces the top-flight m band of singer-songwriting legend, James Taylor.
VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern
This month GT welcomes this slide guitar virtuoso. If you've been wanting to take your slide playing to the next level then this is one's for you. With Jon Bishop.
