CHECK IT OUT: Free Jazz/Fusion guitar lessons from Mike Outram!

Just spotted on Twitter, Mike Outram, has just posted not one not two but twenty-nine short guitar lessons for FREE!

Each lesson comes with audio, transcriptions and analysis of the ideas used:

The Jewel Box Vol.1 is a free, downloadable collection of 29 short guitar lessons, complete with audio, notation, tab and a brief explanation and analysis of the ideas presented along with suggestions for developing the ideas in your own way.

Dive right in and download the whole thing from here for absolutely free by clicking the ‘download’ link on the music player below. All the notation/tab etc., is included in the download.

The lessons range from simple to complex, so for an example of what’s included, here are two of the 29 PDFs included in the download: a simple one [listen] featuring some laid-back, funky comping, and a more complex one [listen] featuring a syncopated, chromatic fusiony solo. And, if you want, all the audio can be previewed in the player below.

Feel free to share it and pass it along. That would make me very happy

Mike Outram

Table of Contents:

4 Ways To Target Chord IV
4 Ways To Approach The Turnaround
How To Solo Using Triplet Groupings
Jazz Fusion Solo & Miscellaneous Bending Techniques
Jimi’s Chords, Wes’s Octaves, Metheny’s Phrasing And The Tri-Tone Substitution
4 Burning Lydian Dominant Licks
Unlocking The Super Locrian
Mixing Major And Minor Pentatonics Ala BB King And Rhythmic Scale Exercises
Making The Changes: Using Triads 1
Making The Changes: Using Triads 2
Making The Changes: Using Triads 3
Making The Changes: Using Triads 4
Making The Changes: Using Triads 5
Making The Changes: Using Triads 6
How To Use Octaves And Chords In The Style Of Wes Montgomery
Double-Time Soloing In The Style Of Wes Montgomery
Simple Funky Comping Using 3rds & 7ths
Funky Soloing In The Style Of Grant Green
Four-To-The-Bar Comping Using Inversions And Passing Chords
Spacious And Simple Comping On A Laid-Back Funky Minor Blues
Phrasing Expansion: Inflections And Articulation
A Documentary About Cuddly Pets And Their Owners
Suspended Harmony – Focusing On The 4th
4ths, Consecutive 4ths, Damnation And Pain
Contrasting Simple And Extended Minor Harmony
A Rhythm Gtr Part Using Sextuplets In 12/8 Phrased In Groups Of Five
Anticipation, Chromaticism, MelodicUppyDownyism, Syncopation And Sleepless Nights
Fingerstyle Constant Bass With Improvised Upper Part [exercises]
Fingerstyle Constant Bass With Improvised Upper Part [solo example]

COMPETITION: Guitarist Of The Year 2010

Can’t believe I missed the announcement, but the grandaddy of Guitar Competitions, Guitarist Of The Year, has returned!

I remember this competition way back when it first launched in Guitarist magazine, when Dave Kilminster became the first winner and also when the one and only Guthrie Govan triumphed in 1993.

It’s great to see it return and can’t wait to see what talent it uncovers.

Britain’s got guitar talent – and Guitarist is going to find it! The London Music Show 2010 will see the long-awaited return of the Guitarist Of The Year competition, so enter now for the chance to win fantastic prizes, and to battle it out at one of three live finals held at the London Music Show on 8, 9 and 10 October at the ExCel Centre.

THE COMPETITION
Guitarist Of The Year is actually three competitions in one…

Young Guitarist Of The Year (open to GB residents aged 16 or below on 8 October)
Guitarist Of The Year (open to GB residents aged 17 and over on 9 October)
Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year (open to all GB residents).

The final of each competition will take place on a separate day at the London Music Show.

HOW TO ENTER
All you have to do to enter is send an MP3 of an original composition, either with or without backing track, that’s no more than four minutes long. Our panel of independent judges will pick a shortlist of the best entries based on composition, technical ability, taste and feel, performance and delivery – and the finalists will face off in one of three finals before a panel of expert judges and industry figures.

The winner will win some amazing prizes – stay tuned for details – and will enjoy the prestige of being crowned Guitarist Of The Year. The winners will also be featured in Guitarist magazine and will have the chance to open Guitarist Of The Year 2011.

Before entering, be sure to read the Terms & Conditions very carefully by clicking here.

To enter, click here.

The closing date for entries to Young Guitarist Of The Year, Guitarist Of The Year and Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year is 5pm GMT Monday 16 August 2010.

The shortlist will be announced at www.guitarist.co.uk on 1 September.

VIDEO: Steve Vai talks about the origins of the JEM and the new Floral 2 JEM

Steve Vai ( at Jemfest X! ) talks about his iconic signature guitar the JEM as well as showing off the new Floral 2 JEM:

INTERVIEW: Andy Wood dofret.co.uk Interview

Another great interview over on dofret.co.uk with upcoming US guitar wizard Andy Wood:

Q: You are a Suhr Artist, as well as playing Tom Anderson guitars. I heard on the grapevine that Suhr are in the process of designing an Andy Wood Signature model? Are these rumours true? Can you give us a sneak insight into the specs? What is it like working with Suhr?

A: Yeah man, all I can say is that im EXTREMELY honored to be a part of the Suhr family. Ed Yoon found my music about 2-2 1/2 years ago and since then its been great! John (Suhr) is one of the worlds greatest guitar builders (as well as an all around cool dude), all of the guys that work out there are super nice guys, and not to mention the company I get to keep on the artist roster, I mean some of the other Suhr artist are downright FRIGHTENING players! As for the rumors of an Andy Wood sig model.. I dunno what I’m allowed to say but, I can say that the Suhr guys are working with me to come up with some very fun and unique things in the very near future, it will definitely be something special and something very shredneck! My specs are based on my current 2 Moderns, but I’m trying out some different pickups. I currently use the popular SSV and SSH+ combo but I’m in the process of trying out all options and going with what suits my stuff the best. There is also something that will hopefully pass the Suhr inspection and make a debut on the final product, I can’t say yet what it is, but I can say its something I have yet to see on a Suhr before And of course it will have my favorite secret weapon, the “redneck mod”!

ALBUM: Free download from upcoming Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto album “Take Your Pick”

Larry Carlton is offering people a free download from his upcoming album with Tak Matsumoto ‘Take Your Pick‘

You can grab a free copy of the song ‘Tokyo Night’ by entering your name and email address here

Here’s the official blurb on the new album:

“TAKE YOUR PICK”

This unique paring of modern Eastern and Western guitar styles promises to deliver a collection of music unlike any other.

Eighteen‐time Grammy nominee, three‐time Grammy winner and all‐time guitar great, Larry Carlton established himself from his first recording, A Little Help From My Friends. His studio credits include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. He went on to perform with the Crusaders and then with the multi platinum jazz super group Fourplay. With 30 albums to his credit and having performed on over 100 albums that have gone Gold or Platinum, Larry Carlton has set a standard for artistry that spans three decades.

In 2008 Larry Carlton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Guitar Player magazine at the historical Ryman Auditorium and was presented the “Titan of Tone” award from Premier Guitar Magazine at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Larry also picked up 2 more Grammy nominations in 2009 bringing his career total to 18 nominations with 3 Grammy wins! Larry’s “Greatest Hits Rerecorded ‐ Volume One” released by 335 Records was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album and “Fortune Teller” from Fourplay’s Energy was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

“It must have taken more than one lifetime of music to produce Larry Carlton, he is the sum and son of a long lineage, beyond time, and beyond rational explanations of dedication or practice, the work of his hands speaks grace and passion and timeless knowledge. Listen, learn and be profoundly moved.” ‐ Sting.

“If Royal Scam is the definitive Steely Dan guitar album, then Larry Carlton is the reason why.” ‐ Walter Becker

Championed in his homeland as the most renowned guitarist in all of Asia, Tak Matsumoto is equally revered as chief songwriter, guitarist and producer of the Japanese rock band, B’z. Counting a legacy of 12 albums, B’z truly means big business, having sold a combined 80 million units in Japan alone, not surprisingly making them Japan’s best‐ selling band in history. 2002, in particular, served as a landmark year for Tak with the Japanese release of his much heralded instrumental albums, Hana and “Dragon From The West”. Hana, most noticeably, garnered rave reviews, its powerfully flowing melodies evocative of scenic horizons of the Orient. The album’s bonus track, “Trinity,” finds Tak stretching the boundaries of “rock” guitar, blending different tastes in the melodies while retaining the same distinctive Japanese spirit. Instrumental Guitar (Electric (Heavy) / Rock/World). In 1999 he was given his own Signature Model Les
Paul by Gibson and was added to Gibson’s signature artist club. He is the only guitarist from Asia to be added to the club.

Album Track Listing:

1. Jazzy Bullets
2. Nite Crawler 2010
3. The Way We Were
4. Islands of Japan
5. Neon Blue
6. Tokyo Night
7. Hotalu
8. East West Stroll
9. Easy Mystery
10. ao
11. Take Your Pick
12. A Girl From China

COMPETITION: guitarnoize.com 3rd Birthday Bonanza Giveaway!!

Want the chance to win top guiar software, pedals, DVDs, strings and straps!?

I knew you would.

Then check out guitarnoize.com’s 3rd birthday giveaway competition.

Yes it’s that time of year again when I celebrate the birth of my beloved blog by giving my readers the chance to win some very cool prizes and have I got a great bundle of gear this year! So here’s how it is going to work all you have to do to be in the running for one of the two prize packs below is to fill in your name and email into the form below, I will then use random.org to choose a winner from the entries, don’t bother entering more than once I am going to strip out duplicates before I draw the winners. The competition is open to anyone in the world, just make sure you use an email address you check often so I can get in touch for your address if you are the winner.

1st Prize:

IK Multimedia Software Bundle containing : AmpliTube 3, T-RackS 3 Deluxe & Sonik Synth 2 – http://www.ikmultimedia.com

Mad Professor Forest Green Compressor – http://www.mpamp.com

Catalinbread Pareidolia Harmonic Mesmerizer – http://www.catalinbread.com

TC Electronic PolyTune – http://www.tcelectronic.com

Dunlop Engineering prize pack including a years’ supply of strings, strap and t-shirt – http://www.jimdunlop.com

Elixir Guitar Cable – http://www.elixirstrings.com

Rock House Method Jeff Loomis and Alex Skolnick Instructional DVDs – http://www.rockhousemethod.com

2nd Prize:

IK Multimedia Software Bundle containing : AmpliTube 3, T-RackS 3 Deluxe & Sonik Synth 2 – http://www.ikmultimedia.com

Cubis Effects Custom Modded PROCO RAT – http://www.cubisteffects.com/

Elixir Guitar Cable – http://www.elixirstrings.com

Truefire.com Juiced Blues Course – Progressive Comping and Soloing Techniques for Electric Blues – http://truefire.com/

DSL Straps Tribute Series Leather Strap – http://www.dslstraps.com.au/

All you have to do is just fill in a very small form before July 16th with the winners being announced on July 19th.

INTERVIEW: Guthrie Govan Lick Library Q&A

Guthrie Govan gives some great answers to questions that didn’t make the live webcast from Lick Library:

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