How To Play Bass Guitar For Beginners
February 28, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Bass-Iks, Featured, Play Guitar Like
Bass Guitar Video For Beginners
If you are a beginning bass player, there are various things you can do to instruct yourself in the bass learning process. Besides studying some theory on bass scale and practicing your slap, pop, string bending and sliding; a good way to learn the variety of sounds and licks you can generate with your instrument is to familiarize yourself with some classic base lines. By learning different licks, it becomes easier to get used to the ample bass fret board, as well as the vast selection of sounds and techniques that can be applied during play.
Drum samplers are also a popular aid for beginning bass players; thus are recommended by most established bassists as an important resource for improvement. By utilizing a percussive foundation to create your own riffs, or to simply play along a song, you will be guided by the drums through the licks’ order, and rhythm. While there is plenty of drum sampling software out there that you can buy for a reasonable price (i.e. QuickBeat), and high-tech drum machines with endless assortments of drum samples; online you can find many drum recordings for free to help you in your practice. Some of these include SuperDrumFX v1.3 and Drum Station v1.09 which can be found in various download servers and music sites alike.
In today’s video, Tony will play a few classic licks for you to learn and practice some basic – and not so basic – bass riffs. The 7 base lines will be played in order of difficulty from the following songs:
1- Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin (70’s heavy metal, blues, blues-rock)
2- New Year’s Day – U2 (Rock, pop-rock)
3- Radar Love – Golden Earring
4- Money – Pink Floyd (70’s blues, blues-rock)
5- Our House – Madness (80’s rock)
6- Tubular Bells Part 2 – Mike Oldfield (70’s blues, blues-rock)
7- Tony’s Own – Bass Slap Technique Sample*
*To play the slap bass technique properly it takes a good amount of practice. To slap a bass note, strike the string with your thumb placed, either completely parallel, or completely perpendicular to the string, always making sure to slap the string off of the fretboard. Remember, it takes some work to get it down, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t nail the technique in the first 10 tries.
While you watch the video lesson, I suggest you take a look at the bass tabs below to guide your fingers on the fretboard. Don’t know how to read tabs yet? Not to worry, it’s a fairly simple thing; take a look at our Fast Tab Reading Guide and get started!
Have Fun
Fast Tab Reading Guide
A Tab or Tablature is a form of music notation generally used for fretted stringed instruments, such as bass and guitar. The tab indicates the player what string to sound and where to place their fingers on the fretboard -as opposed to signifying the pitch like it’s the case in standard musical notation.
Since tabs give no suggestions of rhythm or tempo in their notation, their use of is always paired with a musical representation of the original tune- be it a drum sample, a lead guitar track, or simply your mental reproduction of the song. If you plan to use tabs to learn popular songs, make sure to have access to those songs so you can figure out the tempo and rhythm of the track and how long to hold down each note.
Here’s a sample bass tab:
G|——0—–| ß 1st string
D|——2—–|
A|——2—–|
E|——0—–|ß 4th string
Each line represents each string, and each number indicates the fret you need to press down on. When the number is 0 (zero) it represents an open string.
In the sample above, the strings are to be played simultaneously.
In the sample below, each string is to be played individually.
G|———-4–|
D|——-3—–|
A|—–2——-|
E|–1———-|
Tablatures also give indicatives on what techniques to apply while you play. The reference list below will help you identify each notation symbol:
(v) or (~): Vibrato
(x): Muted String
(t): Tap
(<>): Harmonics
(h) Hammer on: represented by an h in between the original note and the hammered on note. Ie. 3h4
(p) Pull off: indicated by a p in between the original note and the pulled off note. Ie. 2p4
(b) String Bending: represented by a b in between the original fret and the bent fret. Sometimes added in between parentheses. Ie. 2b3 or 2b(3)
(r) Return Bent Note: when the tab tells you to return your bent note to its original fretting position it is represented by an r in between the bent note and the original note. Ie. 3r2
(/) Ascending Slide: represented by a / in between original fret and slide fret. If you were to play on the 4th fret and slide up to the 1st it would be indicated as 4/1*
(\) Descending slide: represented by a \ in between the original fret and the slide fret. If you were to play on the 1st fret and slide down to the 4th, it would be indicated as 1/4.*
*Sometimes you can encounter longer slide references such as: 4/2\3. This would simply mean to press down on the 4nd fret, slide up to the 2nd fret, and slide down to the 3rd. Apply the same rules to even longer slide references.
Chances of Led Zeppelin 2009 Tour Shattered
Just days after publicly speaking of a Led Zeppelin Tour without Robert Plant, and even possibilities of a new band name; Manager Peter Mensch sent the world a heart chilling message: “Led Zeppelin are over!”
Rumors began in 2008, after Led Zeppelin performed a reunion tour at London’s 02 in late 07. Word was Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham were looking to tour once again in mid-late 2009, but vocalist Robert Plant was not interested in another reunion.
Busy touring with Allison Krauss, Plant explained his focus was entirely on that project; and that another Led Zeppelin Tour right now, would just deflate the band’s legacy.
But in September of 2008 the London Sun published the news that Robert Plant, after his unyielding reluctance to take part had Okayed the coveted tour and would be participating in the reunion. The world celebrated the warming news but skepticism of it being just a rumor haunted many.
And so it was. In late 2008 the tables turned with new information that Robert Plant wouldn’t participate; followed by news in January of a Robert Plant-less Led Zeppelin Tour. Manager to the band, Peter Mensch, stated that the band would tour – with or without Plant – and was in the process of looking for a new vocalist. Mensch also mentioned the possibility of the band not touring under the Led Zeppelin name.
Just days after making these statements, yet months into the beginning of this informational (and emotional) rollercoaster, Peter Mensch reported what no Led Zep concert-deprived fan wanted to hear: “Led Zeppelin are over! If you didn’t see them in 2007, then you missed them.” Mensch’s tactful delivery also explained that the band had tried several vocalists, but upon not finding a fitting replacement, they decided not to tour or record altogether.
A sad but wise decision given that Robert Plant’s voice, such as Led Zeppelin’s sound, is complementary, unique and irreplaceable.
According to Billboard, and from Mr. Plant himself, when asked about reforming Led Zeppelin, he only expresses frustration. “. It’s been both frustrating and ridiculous” [to hear rumors of a reunion) he said. This is a clear hint that we won’t be seeing him onstage amongst Jimmy Page, Jason Bonham or John Paul Jones anytime soon, and that it was, after all, just a rumor.
But who is to say the trio won’t be, in fact, playing under a new name; and perhaps releasing a new recording in the future? In my wishful thinking, I hope that if Led Zeppelin is, in fact, over that it won’t necessarily mean Page, Jones and Bonham will not form a new band sometime down the road.
Hopefully, we will get to hear some more from all these talented musicians, on-stage or off-stage; whether it’s under the Led Zeppelin name, or not.
ZZ Top founder, Billy Gibbons, Collaborates on Russian Metal Band’s New Release
The guitarist is to guest star in Pushking’s new album ‘Duets’, along with Deep Purple members Ian Gillan, Glen Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner, and many more.
Russian metal-rock band Pushking are featuring high-profile collaborations in their upcoming album named ‘Pushking – Duets’, produced by Fabrizio Grossi. The release will pack 19 songs that the band has been playing since 1996, perhaps as a brief timeline of their constant evolution.
Amongst collaborators, ZZ Top founder and Houston native Billy Gibbons stands out. Born in 1949, Gibbons began playing guitar as a teenage boy. Also founding member of the 60’s band Moving Sidewalks that once opened for the Jimi Hendrix Experience – he is known for his 1959 Gibson Les Paul (a.k.a. Miss Pearly Gates), his industrious guitar riffs and infamous coin string-picking technique.
Gibbons formed ZZ Top in 1969 along with Frank Beard and Dusty Hill, and released 14 albums with commended popularity. He has played with various music icons, including B.B. King, John Mayall and Les Paul.
On Pushking’s new album, Gibbons will be performing in the song ‘Knight Rider’, and will be collaborating both on lead guitar and vocals.
Pushking’s forthcoming release will be also guest starring Deep Purple veterans Joe Lynn Turner (also from Rainbow), Glen Hughes (also from Black Sabbath) and Ian Gillan (also solo) to aid in their heavy metal/bluesy approach.
Other artists also include American rock singer and songwriter, Alice Cooper, American hard rock guitarist Paul Stanley (KISS) and English rock singer Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatraz).
The new albums release date has not yet been confirmed, but it is scheduled to be out on sale before the end of this year.
Blues Bash at Clayton Center to star Johnny Winter and John Dee Holeman on March 14th
The Clayton Center, located 15 miles from Raleigh in North Carolina, will be holding the 4th Annual Blues Bash on March 14th, at 8pm. The show will feature the performances of bluesmen Johnny Winter and John Dee Holeman, in a mix of the many blues subgenres and assorted influences that have shaped the musicianship of each artist through the years.
John Dee Holeman, originally from Orange County and currently a Durham, NC resident, will be bringing the country, folk and jazz into the equation, as well as the blues filled vocals that are prominent in his works. Influenced by Blind Boy Fuller and Thomas Kurt amongst others, Holeman began playing the blues when he was 14. Despite not being a professional artist, Holeman is of high demand in the music world, and keeps busy playing for small and big concerts alike. Recently John Dee participated in the 7th Annual Fishin’ Blues Tournament, hosted in Puerto San Jose in Guatemala, and played side by side with Little Freddie King.
Winner of the National Heritage Fellowship Award in 1988, and North Carolina’s Folk Heritage Award in 1994, Holeman is expected to put on a thrilling performance and to be a remarkable complement to Johnny Winter’s guitar.
Winter’s legacy extends since the 1960’s, 15 years after he was born in Texas on February 23rd. Johnny moved on from his first ever band Johnny and the Jammers to later release albums such as ‘Johnny Winter’ (68) ‘Saints & Sinners’ (74), ‘Nothin’ but the Blues’ (77) and his more recent Grammy nominated album ‘I’m a Bluesman’ (04). Also a producer, Winter produced the albums ‘Hard Again’ and ‘I’m Ready’ by Muddy Waters, helping Waters achieve two Grammy Awards.
Having recorded over 22 official albums, and over a dozen unofficial ones; Johnny Winter is known for a heap of accomplishments he has built throughout his career.
Known for essential guitar blues with a twist of rock, Winter’s music style, along with John Dee Holeman’s will be the perfect ingredients for a well-blended Blues Bash concert.
The show will be taking place on March 14th at 8PM. Tickets (US$ 22) can be purchased directly at Clayton Center’s box office, via phone at 919.553.1737 or online, at www.etix.com.
February Blues Album Releases: -Johnny Winter, John Lee Hooker and Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones’ new solo album Coming Back Hard, recorded by Delta Groove Productions, was released February 17th. The new recordings feature the artist’s soul filled vocals, and a glimpse of Jones’- Chicago influenced –blues. Recently performing for the Mannish Boys in their CD “Big Plans,” Jones began his career in the late 1950’s in Chicago, and is considered one of the greatest blues artists to still record today.
John Lee Hooker has forever been a true veteran of the blues genre, influencing many great artists and aspiring performers alike. Shout! Factory’s new release – 50 Years: John Lee Hooker Anthology – encompasses a double album that features 32 songs by the legendary blues guitarist, including his 1948 hit “Boogie Chillen” and special collaborative work with Muddy Waters, Carlos Santana, Larry Veeder and Bonnie Raitt. Also released on February 17th, John Lee Hooker’s Anthology will sure quench the music thirst of many classic blues enthusiasts.
Johnny Winter’s Live Bootleg Series Vol. 4 was released February 10th by Friday Music Records. This 4th volume of an archive series includes 10 tracks, 9 live songs and an acoustic representation of Muddy Water’s “Rollin’ and Tumblin’”; with the assistance of drummer Tom Compton and bassist John Paris as Winter’s support band. Once producer of Muddy Water’s Grammy Award-winning albums ‘I’m Ready’ and ‘Hard Again’ in 1987 and 1988, the musician, songwriter and producer follows a classic blues style that is overly hard to resist.
Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to be held at Cleveland’s Public Hall on April 4th, 2009
The Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame announced the 2009 Inductees on January 14th. Their Induction Week Event will begin on March 28th, closing on April 4th with the official Induction Ceremony that will be held in Cleveland. After 12 years of it historically being featured at New York’s Waldorf Astoria, the ceremony will take place at Cleveland’s Public Hall in Northeast Ohio.
For the first time in their 24-year history after its foundation in 1986, the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame has opened the Induction Ceremony to the public, selling out tickets within weeks of announcing their sale. The ceremony will be broadcasted Live on Fuse TV and streamed online on various different websites for the rest of the world to witness.
Inductees are only eligible for consideration 25 years after their debut release.
The 2009 inductees are:
Performer Category:
Jeff Beck
Little Anthony & The Imperials
Run D.M.C.
Bobby Womack
Metallica
Early Influence Category:
Wanda Jackson
Sidemen Category:
Bill Black
Spooner Oldham
DJ Fontana
The announced inductees in the Performer category are hip-hop New York based group RUN D.M.C., the 1960’s R&B, soul and country influenced performers BOBBY WOMACK and LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS. Also the heavy thrash metal group METALLICA, and legendary blues-rock/heavy-metal influenced guitarist & former member of the Yardbirds, JEFF BECK. Jeff Beck has been credited with 4 Grammys for Best Rock Instrumental Performances, and deemed one of the ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’ by Rolling Stone magazine.
Inducted In the Early Influence category was 50’s American country music singer WANDA JACKSON. Jackson was merely 15 years old when she released her first recording.
In the sidemen category, drummer DJ FONTANA and bassist BILL BLACK (who both played in Elvis Presley’s band) were inducted, as well as American songwriter, keyboardist and session musician SPOONER OLDHAM. Oldham has contributed to hit songs such as “I never loved a man” by Aretha Franklin, “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett; as he has performed with music legends Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Jackson Browne.
Eric Clapton 2009 Confirmed Tour Dates
The musician is performing in Japan, with Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, and U.S.A to follow in his upcoming schedule.
Three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, CBE and 18-time Grammy Award-winner Eric Clapton simply is a timeless icon of music history.
Known both for being a former member of great bands such as The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, as well as for his remarkable solo guitar work and collaborations, Clapton has played with stars like The Beatles, Roger Waters, Dire Straits and Joe Cocker, amongst many.
Clapton’s 2009 World Tour began this February in Japan, and it is currently 3 dates into the tour. Featuring special edition tickets due to Clapton’s 35th anniversary since his debut in Japan in 1974, the musician will be playing in Tokyo on February 18th and 19th, traveling to Saitama and Budokan for 2 shows with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck on the 21st and 22nd, only to return to Tokyo on the 24th for 3 more solo performances.
Along with Clapton, this year’s shows will feature musicians Doyle Bramhall II on guitar, Chris Stainton on keyboards, Willie Weeks on bass, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums and Sharon White & Michelle John on backing vocals as his supporting band.
After closing in Japan, Eric Clapton and his group will be then hitting New Zealand’s Vector Arena on March 4th, moving on to Australia from the 7th to the 14th of that month.
The Australian venues Clapton will be playing at include the Hunter Valley Hope Estate Winery (07/03), the Sydney Entertainment Centre (08/03) and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (11/03).
The songwriter will be taking a brief break before resuming his tour in Dublin’s O2 Arena, in Ireland, on May 11th, then moving on to the UK for two consecutive weeks of performances.
The UK Tour opening show will take place in Liverpool’s Echo Arena on May 13th, followed by one performance at the MEN Arena in Manchester on the 14th, and sixteen consecutive shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London from the 16th to 31st of May.
Along for the ride will be 1990’s blues group the Arc Angels (featuring Charlie Sexton) who will be presenting the supporting act for each of Clapton’s concerts in the UK.
Following the UK tour, Clapton will be stopping by 15 cities in the U.S.A. starting June 10th with former band mate and fellow guitarist Steve Windwood. Clapton and Windwood had formed the group Blind Faith in 1969 after Cream’s dissolution in 1968. Following the opening act in East Rutherford on June 10th, the performers will be moving down to Philadelphia, PA (12/06), Washington, DC (13/06), Columbus, OH (15/06), Chicago, IL (17/06); St. Paul, MN (18/06), Omaha, NE (20/06), Denver, CO (21/06), Dallas, TX (23/06), Houston, TX (24/06), Glendale, AZ (26/06), Las Vegas, NV (27/06), Oakland, CA (29/06) and Los Angeles, CA (30/06).
Clapton was born in Ripley in Surrey, England on 1945 and got his first guitar in 1960. In more than 45 years of musicianship, the artist has recorded many hits, both in his former bands as in his solo work. Deemed one of Rolling Stone’s ‘100 Guitarists of All Time’ and the only musician to be a triple Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Eric Clapton is one the most legendary, iconic and influential guitarists still active today.
Deep Purple Confirms Tour Dates for 2009
First date is set to be at Japan’s International Forum in Tokyo, on April 9th.
Heavy metal’s pioneers Deep Purple have confirmed several dates for their 2009 performances. Beginning April 09, the band will be playing in Japan until the 13th of the same month. By May 1st they will be in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia; taking a break before hitting Norway, Denmark, Sweden Finland, Turkey, Greece and Lebanon in early July.
They will also performing at the British Motor & Music Festival in London on July the 30th, after which they will head to Estonia, Ukraine and Moscow for more shows.
The band has also announced, but not yet confirmed the dates for their 4-show UK tour in November of ’09. Deep Purple is temporarily scheduled to begin their UK Tour on November 10th at the Manchester Apollo, followed by consecutive daily performances at the Glasgow SECC, the Birmingham LG Arena and the London HMV Hammersmith.
The confirmed dates can be found at the band’s official management website: www.deep-purple.com
IMHO
Not sure about this line up called ‘Deep Purple’ no Richie Blackmore, not to mention Jon Lord is missing Mmm will have to give it a listen.
T.J.
Eagle Rock to Release Rory Gallagher, Paul Rodgers and Jeff Beck Live Performances in March ‘09
Eagle Rock Entertainment has many releases scheduled for this year, some of whic
h feature the works of music legends Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers and Ian Gillan.
Set for release on DVD and BluRay is guitarist Jeff Beck’s must-see performance at London’s Ronnie Scotts in 2007. The concert documentary titled ‘Jeff Beck Performing this Week’ is set for release March 31st. 2009, presenting collaborations from Eric Clapton and Joss Stone, amongst others.
Paul Rodgers Live in Glasgow BluRay will be released that same day; featuring Rodgers 2006 UK Tour and an anachronous assortment of songs that he has played throughout his career. The new release encompasses tunes from his days as front-man in bands FREE, Bad Company, The Firm and Queen. Alongside interviews with the musician, bonus features include a special performance of “Sunshine” by Rodger’s son, Steven.
Also up for release in late March is Ian Gillan’s DVD/BluRay One Eye To Morocco, recorded with the line up from the popular album ‘Live in Anaheim’. The Deep Purple vocalist presents in this solo album tunes influenced by 50’s rock artists such as Ray Charles, Little Richard and James Brown.
Last, but certainly not least, is guitarist Rory Gallagher’s Live in Cork DVD/BluRay release – also set for March 31st. The video is a remastered version of Gallagher’s performance at Cork’s Opera House in 1987, filmed by Irish television and originally released on VHS as ‘Messin’ With The Kid – Live At The Cork Opera House’. Bonus features include Rory Gallagher’s Discography, pictures and stories from his early days and a short documentary titled ‘Big Guns’.
Free – History of a Band
February 15, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Featured, Guitar Central, Play Guitar Like
Free was a British band that formed in Battersea, London during April 1968. An imminent result of the British Blues boom of the late 60’s, and influenced by the many artists that collaborated with the movement’s birth, Free adopted a hard blues-rock musical style. After having played together in the R&B band “Black Cat Bones”, 17-year old guitarist Paul Kossoff and 18-year old drummer Simon Kirke wanted to move forward. Having had recruited bassist Andy Fraser, who at 15 years of age had already performed with high profile bands such as John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, the band was only missing a lead singer. Found not long after at a Brown Sugar concert in Finsbury Park’s ‘Fickle Pickle’, Paul Rogers was summoned by Kossoff to complete the final lineup of the band.
In November 1969 the group recorded their first studio album, ‘Tons of Sobs’ which wasn’t released until the following year along with their second, self-titled album. The debut of the band, however, was overlooked until the release of their third follow-up ‘Fire and Water’ in 1970, featuring the song “All Right Now”. An exceptionally acclaimed hit, the song placed #1 in UK’s rock and single charts and #2 in the U.S.A’s; also setting the band in excellent musical standings. Later, in 1990, it was recognized by the ASCAP for amassing over one million radio plays and awarded by the British Music Industry when the two million mark was reached. The release of a #1 song and a #2 album facilitated Free the opportunity to land a spot in 1970’s Isle of Wright Festival. A 600,000 people event, with shows from notorious blues-inspired groups such as The Who, The Doors, and guitarist Jimmi Hendrix; the festival provided the band with an even bigger public exposure. In addition, it allowed them to exploit one of their best abilities as a musical group and for which they’re still renowned for; their live performance.
During September of 1970, Free released their fourth disc ‘Highway’. Not selling well and under-placing on the 
charts, the album forced the band into retreat. Due to the inconsistency of sales and reputation, personal differences between Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser, and the drug-abusing tendencies of Paul Kossoff the band broke up on April 1971. Despite their dissolution, the group still released their fifth, farewell album ‘Free Live!’, only to reform during early 1972 in an attempt to help Kossoff overcome his drug-addiction. In June of the same year they released their 6th album ‘Free at Last’, also lacking in popular recognition, at which point Andy Fraser left the band fed up at Kossoffs predictable unreliability.
In replacement of Fraser came in Japanese bassist Tetsu Yamauchi and an extra member, keyboardist John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick, was added. The new, short-lived lineup was called ‘Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit’ and released Free’s final album ‘Heartbreaker’.
In early 1973 Free ultimately disbanded. With Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke forming Bad Company, Andy Fraser creating the Andy Fraser Band and Paul Kossoff going solo as the Back Street Crawler; this was finally the breaking point of the group.
Three years later, on March 19th of 1979 and at the age of 25, Paul Kossoff died of a drug-related heart condition on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. Roughly a month shy of the ‘reunion’ tour the former members had planned featuring the Backstreet Crawler headlining Bad Company; Kossoffs death marked the final chapter of the band.
A band of young members and fresh ideas, Free marked the post British blues boom period of the 70’s. Along with other bands and guitarists that emerged during and after the boom, Free experimented with and partly founded many of the various applications of a new genre that are still influencing musicians today.
Did you take that all in? Good! Then, on with the lesson
[Here is the backing track for you (to download backing track right click ’save target as’ )
B.B. King to Play 4 Concerts in UK with John Mayall
B.B. King to Play 4 Concerts in UK with John Mayall
The late June ‘09 Tour will hit Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London.
Despite having had announced retirement from international touring in 2006, B.B. King is set to play four arena concerts in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London at the end of June. Both King and John Mayall (75) – a blues-rock pioneer for his release of ‘Bluesbreakers’ in 1966 – will be splitting performances, each of them taking over one half of the show.
King had last performed in UK during his 5-date UK Farewell Tour in 2006 with Gary Moore. Now 83, with over 15,000 performances and 61 years of music making under his belt following his debut in 1947, King continues to represent music’s crème de la crème.
He has collected many empowering acknowledgements during his career such as three honorary doctorates in music by Mississippi, Yale and Brown University; over 15 Grammy’s -including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 – and a prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom, given to King by President G.W. Bush at the age of 80.
B.B. King’s top works include songs “The Thrill is Gone”, “Every Day I Have the Blues” and “I Like to Live the Love”; as well as albums ‘My Guitar Sings the Blues’ (1986), ‘Blues Summit’ (1994) and ‘Live at the Apollo’ (1992) between many, many others. His numerous collaborations have aided iconic artists such as Eric Clapton, Jimmi Vaughan, Robert Cray, Bo Diddley and U2.
IMHO
B.B. King is one of the greatest blues players of his style around. He has sporned so many good players to take up the blues guitar. I am really looking forward to these up and coming performances.
T.J.
David Gilmour-Pink Floyd, Collaborations and Solo Works
February 9, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Guitar Central
David Gilmour’s musical talent has been shining through ever since he began his career in music. From lead guitarist, to solo artist to producer, David Gilmour is an innate ambassador of guitar music all over the world. Whether you know him from his work with Pink Floyd, his insane guitar skills or his charitable reputation, David Gilmour the man, is the unnamed spirit behind a lot of the rock based music we hear today.
David Jon Gilmour CBE was born on March 6th, 1946 in Cambridge, England. Perhaps one of music’s most talented guitarists and composers, David Gilmour’s blues based, rock inspired guitar work has lead many musical masterpieces.
From instrumental sounds to classic Gilmourish tones and distortions, David Gilmour has raised the bar for many guitarists. Despite having being a low profile performer during his musical career, he has managed to excel and stand out in his endowment.
Known for his clear phrasing and warm sounds, exact note bending skills and feedback oriented treble pick-ups, Gilmour embraces the early Rock n’ Roll style and clean Strat tones of artists such as Hank Marvin. His slow rock riffs, delay/speed intensity licks, fuzz and chain effects distortions over clean sounds has attracted the attention of numerous guitarists and musicians, alike. Gilmour’s musical knowledge extends beyond guitar skills, as he can dominate sounds in the bass, banjo, harmonica, keyboards and synthesizers as well. An avid Fender enthusiast, David Gilmour’s guitar collection includes over 300 instruments, including many of his Pink Floyd playing guitars – like the ’55 Esquire and the ’79 black Stratocaster- Telecasters and a ’55 Les Paul Goldtop between others.
Gilmour’s interest in guitar playing began at The Perse School in the late 50’s.
Upon meeting Syd Barrett in his high school years, Gilmour began learning and exploring the guitar world, unaware that one day in 1968 he would replace Barrett’s role in the legendary band Pink Floyd.
After a short 3-years in his first-ever band Joker’s Wild, Gilmour left in 1966 to be recruited just one year later by Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason.
In ‘68 he joined Pink Floyd as their new front man, vocalist, and lead guitarist and went on to record a total of 14 albums with the band:
1. ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967)
2. ‘A Saucerful of Secrets’ (1968)
3. ‘Soundtrack from the Film More’ (1969)
4. ‘Ummagumma’ (1969)
5. ‘Atom Heart Mother’ (1970)
6. ‘Meddle’ (1971)
7. ‘Obscured by Clouds’ (1972)
8. ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973)
9. ‘Wish You Were Here’ (1975)
10. ‘Animals’ (1977)
11. ‘The Wall’ (1979)
12. ‘The Final Cut’ (1983)
13. ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’ (1987)
14. ‘The Division Bell’ (1994)
15. ‘P.U.L.S.E.’ (1995)
Pink Floyd’s 8th and 9th releases, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon” and ‘Wish You Were Here’ in 1973 and 1975, respectively, brought enormous recognition to the band and provoked Roger Waters (bassist) to take control over the writing of their follow-up albums “Animals” (1977), and ‘The Wall’ (1979).
In 1978 David Gilmour released his first self-titled solo album, having had drifted from the new Roger Water’s controlled Pink Floyd.
Gilmour’s solo album was close to the Pink Floyd style. According to Richard Mahon, guitarist and co-author of Comfortably Numb: A History of The Wall, Pink Floyd 1978-1981 Gilmour’s first solo album was “the perfect balance of guitar sounds and styles between Pink Floyd’s 1977 release ‘Animals’ and their 1979 release ‘The Wall’”.
The album followed a natural Pink Floydian evolution within its content. It begins with an instrumental introduction (track 1:“Mihalis”) followed by the escalating intensity of Track 2 – a Gilmour cover of the song “There is no way out of here”, originally by a British progressive rock band called Unicorn. Mid-album there is a slowing point with a melodic ballad named “So Far Away”, followed by “Short and Sweet”, which includes a guitar riff that follows the same chord changes as Pink Floyd’s masterpiece “Run Like Hell”.
The album also features “Raise my Rent” a completely instrumental solo by David Gilmour, and a closing song called “I Can’t Breathe Anymore” that mixes it up with clean electric tones, distortion effects and power chords, that are then mellowed into an instrumental passage that concludes the album.
His piece “Comfortably Numb” was finished too late to be included in his first solo album thus was featured in Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ in ‘79.
During this time, keyboardist Richard Wright was fired amidst production of ‘The Wall’, causing further disruptions in the relationship between David Gilmour and Roger Waters during the making of the film for said album, and the recording of their follow-up 1983 release ‘The Final Cut’.
Seeing that ‘The Final Cut’ barely represented Gilmour’s music style, he went on to record and release his second solo album ‘About Face’ in 1984.
Gilmour’s second solo album included more varied sounds aside from that of Pink Floyd, and even added a love song which starred Pete Townshend lyrics called “Love on the air”– a limited topic in the Pink Floyd repertoire.
‘About Face’ also covered several social issues, such as the nuclear bomb attack fear that reigned the world in tracks ‘Out of the Blue’ and ‘Cruise’, the last of which featured reggae passages – an oddity in Gilmour’s bag of sounds.
Another song with lyric contributions by Townshend in his second solo album was “All Lovers Are Deranged”, what Gilmour calls his “heavy metal song”. ‘About Face’ eventually reached the top 20 in the UK charts.
The album’s 2nd track, called “Murder” -homage to John Lennon’s homicide, and a representation of his music with the unmistakable Gilmour touch – is an acoustic tune than mutates into rock, with the signature Pink Floyd sound.
In 1985 Gilmour took control of the band upon Roger Waters’ departure. Waters’ had said Pink Floyd “was a spent force creatively”, but in 1987, following a legal dispute over the Pink Floyd name the continuing and re-instated members of Gilmour, Mason and Wright released ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’ which reached #3 on the UK and US charts. In 1994 the follow-up and last studio album ‘The Division Bell’ was released, granting them their first and only Grammy Award for their tune “Marooned”. The final album under the Pink Floyd name, ‘P.U.L.S.E’, came out in 1995 featuring live performances in both CD and video.
Despite continuing the Pink Floyd legacy after the departure of Roger Waters, David Gilmour became a session guitarist and producer for many musicians’ recording projects. His collaborations included projects with B.B. King, Supertramp, Paul McCartney, Elton John in ‘The One’, Paul Rodgers in ‘Tribute to Muddy Waters’ and Roy Harper and Jimmy Page in ‘Whatever happened to Jugula?’, amongst many others. Performing many times for charity purposes and many others just to promote his work, David Gilmour has kept – and still keeps – busy producing, recording, and performing:
In July 1985 he appeared on-stage with ‘The Bryan Ferry Band’ at the Wembley Stadium for a ‘Live Aid’ concert.
Later that year he joined Pete Townshend in Deep End and later supported him and The Who in 1996, the same year Pink Floyd was inducted into the U.S. Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1999 Gilmour took part in yet another of Paul McCartney’s projects ‘Run Devil Run’ and toured along with McCartney’s band in an extended collaboration.
Gilmour also appeared on MTV’s Unplugged, presenting an acoustic solo version of Pink Floyd’s “Shine on You Crazy Diamond”.
Additionally, he performed following Robert Wyatt’s Meltdown Festival at the London’s Royal Festival Hall in 2002, presenting three semi-acoustic concerts along with other invited friends and guests.
In 2004, Gilmour played at a 50-year celebration of the Fender Stratocaster at the Wembley Stadium. Guitarist magazine later deemed him the “Best Fender Guitar Player Ever” according to a poll that included other music heroes such as Jimmi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.
One year later Pink Floyd would reunite for a one-time performance at the Live 8 charity concert in London’s Hyde Park. It was this same year that the band was inducted, this time, into UK’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame and David Gilmour was made a CBE for his services to Music by the Order of the British Empire.
David Gilmour released his third solo album, ‘On an Island’, in 2006. This follow-up made the UK charts at #1, and the touring for the new solo album included guest musicians such as Richard Wright, Dick Parry and Guy Pratt.
‘Remember That Night – Live at the Royal Albert Hall’ was released in September of 2007 featuring an ‘On an Island’ performance in Gdansk’s 26th Anniversary of Solidarity concert. The show filmed by director Gavin Elder, starred composer Zbigniew Preisner’s orchestra, whose orchestrations were created in base to Gilmour’s new solo album.
Gilmour’s musical talent has been shining through ever since he began his career in music. From lead guitarist, to solo artist to producer, David Gilmour is an innate ambassador of guitar music all over the world. Whether you know him from his work with Pink Floyd, his insane guitar skills or his charitable reputation, David Gilmour the man, is the unnamed spirit behind a lot of the rock music we hear today.
A Well Fired Cannon-Pachebel Variation
February 1, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Tony Jones
Hi All,
This is my variation of Pachebel’s Cannon. I call it ‘a well fired cannon’ I played it on my PRS Swamp Ash Special, on the bridge pickup & a Yamaha APX5 12 string Acoustic.
I have placed the backing track I made here for you to download , so that you can jam too it. Anything in D seems to fit
well-worked-canon-backing-track
Enjoy
Tony
Billy Powell Passes On
February 1, 2009 by T.J.Jones
Filed under Featured, Guitar Central
Billy Powell, born William Norris Powell on June 3rd of 1952 in Corpus Christi, TX, died on January 28 of 2009 at the age of 56 due to an apparent hear attack in his northeast Florida home. Original member and keyboardist to legendary Southern-rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 2009, Powell seduced the rock world with his unique sound and skill, as has inspired many piano and organ players that have followed his extensive musical career.
1952-1970
Billy Powell was born to a military family and lived, for a period of his childhood, in Italy where his father, Donald, was stationed with the Navy. Upon his father’s death to cancer in 1960, Powell moved back to Jacksonville, Florida with his mother Marie and siblings Ricky and Donna. Shortly thereafter, Billy developed his interest in music while attending the Sanford Naval Academy in Florida. During his years at the Academy, Powell took piano lessons and learned the theory behind his passion; later switching to Bishop Kenny High School were he met future Lynyrd Skynyrd co-member, Leon Wilkenson.
1970-1977 Powell in Lynyrd Skynyrd
Powell’s history with Lynyrd Skynyrd began after graduating from high school in 1970, when he began work as a roadie for the legendary group – then called One Percent.
Schoolmate Leon Wilkenson joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1972 in replacement to bassist Larry Junstrom, along with Powell who was admitted into the group after impressing Ronny Van Zant with his own introductory version of Skynyrd’s hit song “FreeBird”
Lynyrd Skynyrd went on to sign contract with MCA records and their success soared for the following years with hits like “FreeBird”, “Sweet Home Alabama” and “What’s Your Name.” The band’s unmistakable style was best articulated in albums such as their debut record ‘Pronounced ‘lĕh-’nérd ’skin-’nérd’, follow-up ‘Second Helping’, live album ‘One more for the Road’ and their most acclaimed title today, ‘Street Survivors’ featuring the rocking guitar performances of Steve Gaines.
The 1977 Tragedy & Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Dissolution
The band toured and impressed with their 3-lead guitar attack and complementary piano harmonics until tragedy spoke on October 20th, 1977 when the Lynyrd Skynyrd’s touring plane crashed on the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana – 3 days after their fifth release. The accident cost the lives of Ronny Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, as well as that of pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot’s William Gray. Billy Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, yet was the first surviving band member to leave the hospital, and the only one able to attend the funeral service that followed the crash.
After the tragedy Lynyrd Skynyrd dissolved, and Billy Powell, along with surviving members Gary Rossington, L. Wilkenson, and Allen Collins formed The Rossington-Collins Band from 1979 to 1982. Later in 1987, Billy briefly joined the Christian rock band called Vision, leaving said group to perform in the ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour’ in 1989.
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991
After the tour, the band decided to continue the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, reforming in 1991 and recovering the infallible 3-lead guitar attack in 1996 upon the new membership of Hughie Thomasson and Rickey Medlocke.
In spite of going through several line-up changes after the death of members Leon Wilkenson and Hughie Thomasson in 2001 and 2007 respectively, Billy Powell continued his unconditional devotion to Lynyrd Skynyrd and went on with the show until his death in 2009.
Lynyrd Skynyrd performing at the Champlain Valley Expo in Vermont in 1998, on a Steppenwolf tour. (Left to Right) Rickey Medlocke, Hughie Thomasson, Johnny Van Zant, Billy Powell, Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkenson.
Billy Powell Passes On
After a history of heart problems, Billy Powell suffered a heart attack in his Orange Park home on January 28th a little before 1AM. Despite having called 911 for a breathing difficulty and receiving CPR upon paramedics’ arrival, the musician and songwriter was pronounced dead on January 28th, 2009 at 1:52 AM. Due to his medical history, no autopsy was required.
Jonny Van Zant expressed the band’s pain upon Powell’s loss and said upcoming shows in Orlando, Louisiana and Mississippi will be cancelled. “We’ve got to lay our brother to rest,” he said. “That old saying, the show must go on, always counts. Unless you die.”
A man of faith and loyalty and perhaps one of the best and most talented piano players the past will heed, Powell has blessed the world with his music, and marked the blueprint of music history with his talent. Maybe we can hear some of Powell’s music legacy through the guitar work of one of his sons, Brandon, on Syntenic.
He will be missed.
