New Fiddle Guest: Lena Jonsson
Mon, 12/02/2013 - 6:27pm
Topics: darol anger, fiddle
...and we're back with an announcement about a new fiddle guest: Swedish fiddler Lena Jonsson. Lena has been playing fiddle since she was six, and specializes in Swedish and Scandinavian fiddling. This series of new fiddle lessons includes several performances (including Darol on the Mandocello for some), a multi-part discussion, and also Lena teaching a traditional Polska tune. Click on the picture to get to the new section!
...and we're back with an announcement about a new fiddle guest: Swedish fiddler Lena Jonsson. Lena has been playing fiddle since she was six, and specializes in Swedish and Scandinavian fiddling. This series of new fiddle lessons includes several performances (including Darol on the Mandocello for some), a multi-part discussion, and also Lena teaching a traditional Polska tune. Click on the picture to get to the new section!
New Mandolin Lessons: Chanukah & Minor Swing
Tue, 12/03/2013 - 4:57pm
Topics: mandolin, mike marshall
Seasons Greetings! We got a couple new mandolin lessons up in the Additional Tunes & More area.
The first one is a Chanukah song called "Oifen Pripitchik" - which translates to "By the Fireplace". The next lesson is the famous Django Reinhardt tune "Minor Swing"… there has been a lot of discussion on here about this one so Mike's recorded a 4-part lesson that goes over some great ideas and variations for the chords, melody, and ways to think about improvising leads over the song.
UPDATE: We just added another one: Silent Night, a new three part lesson that breaks down the holiday classic by chords, melody and variations.
Seasons Greetings! We got a couple new mandolin lessons up in the Additional Tunes & More area.
The first one is a Chanukah song called "Oifen Pripitchik" - which translates to "By the Fireplace". The next lesson is the famous Django Reinhardt tune "Minor Swing"… there has been a lot of discussion on here about this one so Mike's recorded a 4-part lesson that goes over some great ideas and variations for the chords, melody, and ways to think about improvising leads over the song.
UPDATE: We just added another one: Silent Night, a new three part lesson that breaks down the holiday classic by chords, melody and variations.
California Banjo Extravaganza - Set 1
Wed, 12/04/2013 - 1:58pm
The first set of the "California Banjo Extravaganza" is now available! We recorded this at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, CA: featuring Bill Evans, Sammy Shelor, & Jim Nunley on guitar. Bill Evans moderated a clinic that focused on Sammy Shelor: his band, his history, and his playing. There are 4 sets total, so stay tuned for more coming soon! Click on the picture to watch the first part: "Lonesome River Banjo Banjo".
Free Beginner Guitar Lessons Now Available!
Wed, 12/11/2013 - 2:52pm
Free beginner guitar lessons now available
Now you can access a brand new series of beginner guitar lessons for free! This easy-to-follow, step-by-step program offers high-definition video lessons that walk you through the fundamentals of learning acoustic guitar - including all the essential guitar chords, picking, strumming, easy acoustic guitar songs, and much more. Taught by the great guitarist Scott Law, Acoustic Guitar 101 is the perfect way to get you playing fast!
New Performances & Mandolin Lessons
Thu, 12/12/2013 - 2:29pm
Great news, we've got some more mandolin lessons up in the Additional Tunes & More area: "Big Man From Syracuse", and "Soldier's Joy". As a bonus, we also have Mike performing these tunes with Caterina Lichtenberg from their recent performance at the Freight & Salvage. These are also both new VE categories, so you can submit your own versions of these tunes directly through the lesson pages now for Mike's feedback. To get to the new stuff, there's a link the lessons on the left and a link to the performances on the right if you click on the images below.
Great news, we've got some more mandolin lessons up in the Additional Tunes & More area: "Big Man From Syracuse", and "Soldier's Joy". As a bonus, we also have Mike performing these tunes with Caterina Lichtenberg from their recent performance at the Freight & Salvage. These are also both new VE categories, so you can submit your own versions of these tunes directly through the lesson pages now for Mike's feedback. To get to the new stuff, there's a link the lessons on the left and a link to the performances on the right if you click on the images below.
California Banjo Extravaganza - Set 2
Fri, 12/13/2013 - 4:29pm
Set 2 of Sammy Shelor's "California Banjo Extravaganza" is now available. This time they go deep into the concept of "right hand drive". Lots of gold nuggets in there to pick up in this 4-parter, find it in Music+ area or just click on the picture!
Becoming a Complete Musician: Interview with Scott Law
Mon, 12/16/2013 - 2:04pm
We first met Scott Law in 2011 when he came to the ArtistWorks studio in Napa, CA to play acoustic guitar on a few of Darol Anger's Fiddle Lessons. Needless to say that all went great and we became big fans immediately. We stayed in touch with Scott and would often run into him at summer festivals and also had him back in the studio to play acoustic guitar for some of Andy Hall's Dobro Lessons. All the more reason why we're very excited to have him on board here for a series of free beginner guitar lessons we're calling Acoustic Guitar 101. We asked him some questions while he was here to find out more about his background and his approach to teaching guitar.
New Album from Tony Trischka: "Great Big World"
Tue, 12/17/2013 - 3:26pm
Topics: banjo, Tony Trischka
The new album from Tony Trischka, Great Big World, is now available for pre-order on Amazon! We asked Tony some questions about this album in our recent interview, so we're very excited to see it all coming together. It won't officially be out until February 4th, but you can reserve your copy today. As a bonus for his students here, Tony will be recording a new lesson based on one of the new tunes. All the more reason to reserve your copy now! Click on the image to pre-order Great Big World from Amazon.
"Here likeminded creative musicians (Steve Martin, Aoife O Donovan, Noam Pikelny, Larry Campbell, Abigail Washburn, Ramblin Jack Elliot, and many others) are brought together to receive Tony's clear mandate: inhabit a song and make it your own. Who else but Tony Trischka would dare to include a Single String Medley, just what it sounds like, and also have the imagination and verve to pull it off!"
- From the Amazon Review
California Banjo Extravaganza - Set 3
Fri, 12/20/2013 - 2:51pm
We've just put up Set 3 of the "California Banjo Extravaganza" series: The History of Sammy Shelor. You can find in the Music+ Area, or just click on the picture to get right to it.
Free Download From Tony Trischka's new album
Tue, 12/24/2013 - 11:38am
Last week we announced that the new album from Tony Trischka, "Great Big World," is now available for pre-ordering. You can also download a free song from the album through the form here, just enter your email and you'll get a link for an MP3 download of "Belated Wedding Hoedown/Angelina Baker." From all of us here at ArtistWorks, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
