VIDEO: Slash playing live on ‘Rise Today’ with Alter Bridge!
November 4, 2010
This popped up on the interwebs a couple days ago but I had to share.
Great HD video of one of my guitar heroes playing on one of my favourite songs by one of my current favourite bands, live!
Too awesome.
VIDEO: Satch talks about his current Marshall rig
November 2, 2010
Thanks to Dan for the heads up!
CHECK IT OUT: Steve Vai Guitar Techniques online Berklee Course
November 1, 2010
Now this is a Vai’s fan dream come true.
Steve Vai has teamed up with his old school Berklee to offer a 12 week online course:
Berkleemusic Exclusive: Gain a deep understanding and command of the playing styles, repertoire, techniques, and musical concepts of guitar legend and Berklee alum Steve Vai. This online course, the first ever of its kind, presents an “under the hood” look at the work of one of the world’s most influential guitarists. Through playing exercises, listening examples, hours of never-before-seen video, song transcriptions, performance assignments – and even a live chat with Vai himself – students will not only learn the secrets behind Vai’s best known compositions and virtuosic techniques, but will also learn how to improve their own solos, chord and rhythm playing, and overall voice on the guitar.
Each week, the course spotlights a different Steve Vai composition and explores all the relevant topics and techniques related to that song, including soloing, rhythm playing, scales, bending, tapping, sweep picking, sliding, time feel, tone, bending, articulation, and use of the whammy bar. You will learn to craft and perform lead lines like those in the Grammy-nominated songs “Tender Surrender,” “For the Love of God,” and “The Attitude Song.” You will learn to execute the seemingly impossible two-hand tapping, pull-offs, and other ear-bending licks from songs like “Building the Church,” “Juice,” and “Jibboom.” You will also listen to a number of Vai’s first-hand anecdotes and inspirational lessons, including many behind the scenes stories about playing alongside the composer and guitarist Frank Zappa.
The course will also explore the circular vibrato, the incredibly precise artificial harmonics, and the virtuosic sweeps that Vai is known for. In addition to dissecting Vai’s tunes, the course places a heavy emphasis on “how” and “why” each tune was written, allowing you to grow not only as a performer but also as a composer, all the while finding your own unique voice on the guitar. This course is co-authored by Steve Vai, who will be an occasional guest instructor in each course section. Steve Vai Guitar Techniques is taught by members of Berklee College of Music’s renowned guitar department. All students will receive detailed, personalized feedback on their work from an esteemed member of Berklee’s guitar faculty, who will be leading this course on a week-to-week basis.
The course syllabus is outlined in detail here. Looks pretty amazing the only kicker is the price which comes in at $1,395 (For-credit tuition) or $1,195 (Non-credit tuition)!
But then again, you get to learn from the man himself












