The man with a black Chapin T-Bird, scorching tone and astounding technique brought his mojo to the UK recently and stopped by to film a very special private lesson… David Mead is your guide.
When you meet Josh Smith, it soon becomes apparent, that he’s as big a gear head as you’re ever likely to meet. Everything in his signal chain is there because it’s survived rigorous comparisons to other units in its class – and his style is a riotous mix of red raw country, searing blues and the slickest jazz that simply stupefies the senses.
He’s been playing since he was three years old when his father surprised him with a guitar for his birthday. “I banged it around for a bit, then at six I asked to have lessons,” he laughs when we sit down for our chat.
By the time he reached 12, Josh started attending blues jams in his native Florida. “The first time I went I got up to play at this well-known blues club in Fort Lauderdale and the crowd went crazy,” he says. “In retrospect I realise it’s because I was four foot five with a little baseball cap and the guitar was bigger than me… I was hooked and thought, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life’.”
A move to LA at 22 saw Josh working his way up on the session and sideman scenes, but now he’s breaking out to do his own thing. A self-confessed obsessive where tone is concerned, we asked him when his quest for the ultimate gear began.
Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
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Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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.
