10 Best Classic Blues Guitar Songs
Wed, 08/05/2015 - 11:49am
click here for free sample blues guitar lessons!
There's something about the blues that connects with people on an emotional level. The music itself was born out of the struggle of human experience, and who can't relate to that?
Keith Wyatt has a ton of great information about the history of the blues in his lessons here at ArtistWorks. The blues sound we all love today came out of the African American experience of working in the fields and singing in church. While certain chord structures and lyrical forms can be traced back to Western Africa, most people were first exposed to the blues in the rural south during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, specifically in the Mississippi Delta. It was here that many musical tropes started cementing themsilves in the blues, such as harmonica accompaniment and the use of slide guitar. As many African American folks migrated to large cities after World War II, major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Memphis and St. Louis became Meccas for early blues musicians.
Here are 10 classic blues guitar songs that reflect that journey.
RockyGrass 2015: A Volunteer's Perspective
Thu, 08/06/2015 - 12:21pm
Topics: bluegrass
We have been participating at RockyGrass since 2011 and this year we had a great group of student volunteers helping us get the word out about ArtistWorks to their fellow festivarians. Here are a few observations about this year’s 43rd annual RockyGrass Bluegrass Festival from one of our volunteers, Peter Ostrowski:
The Line-Up for this year’s RockyGrass had something for everyone. There is so much to see and do each day, you don’t want to miss much.
Don't Miss the Bryan Sutton Band!
Sat, 08/08/2015 - 12:47pm
Don't miss the Bryan Sutton Band playing this August at a fun place near you!
- 8/12/15 City Winery, Chicago Illinois citywinery.com/chicago
- 8/13/15 The Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN dakotacooks.com
- 8/14/15 Sugar Maple Festival, Madison WI sugarmaplefest.org
- 8/15/15 Kent Stage, Kent Ohio thekentstage.com
- 8/16/15 The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI theark.org
Back in the Studio This Week
Sun, 08/09/2015 - 10:34pm
Topics: guitar, paul gilbert
I've got a few more days of rehearsal before heading back in the studio with legendary producer, Kevin Shirley, to finish my newest solo album. I'm having a great time playing my Ibanez custom-shop white Fireman with DiMarzio P90-style pickups. I also brought my old violin-shaped Ibanez PGM700 out of storage. I've got it tuned to an open G tuning that I use for one song. The band is sounding fantastic, with lots of three-part vocal and guitar harmonies thanks to Freddie Nelson and Tony Spinner. And my rhythm section of Kevin Chown (bass) and Thomas Lang (drums) is huge, heavy, and groovy. I can wait to get it all recorded and mixed... and get on the road again (next year.)
Thank you,
Paul
Nr 1 selling album in the world!
Mon, 08/10/2015 - 11:52am
Hey all,
I'm hoping everybody had a fantastic summer season so far. I'm back in Sweden now after several weeks in Korea and a vacation in Spain. I'm very happy and proud to be part of the Nr 1 best selling in the world last week.
The South Korean boy band Super Junior's latest release "Devil", including my co-write "Forever with you" made it to the top after selling approx 85 000 physical albums during its 2nd week (currently at a total of 140k albums).
The song is a catchy funk/disco number with inspiration from legendary 70's acts like Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang and Stevie Wonder. It has a lot of live instruments in the production and there is also a big vocal arrangment that I did together with one of my co-writers.
Let's get started practicing alot of guitar again now when summer is soon coming to an end. Looking forward seeing many new student submissions in the master class area.
There will also be new lessons and performances posted soon. As always, let me know if u have any questions, the forums are always open.
Best Regards Andreas
'
Recording Finished!
Fri, 08/14/2015 - 10:44pm
Topics: guitar, paul gilbert
All the recording sessions for my new solo album were finished today. We completed 14 songs (13 of mine, plus one cover) in just 8 days of recording. This is what happens when you record "live" with a great band. Everything happens quickly! A huge thanks to (from left to right) Tony Spinner, Freddie Nelson, Thomas Lang, and Kevin Chown, for fantastic playing and singing. And of course Kevin Shirley did an amazing job producing. Mixing begins next week at Kevin's studio. I'll be taking the weekend off to spend time with my family, and then I'll be back to make Video Exchanges on Monday. My experience teaching here at ArtistWorks has improved my playing over the last three years, so I'd like to thank everyone at ArtistWorks, and all of YOU, for helping to keep me excited about guitar and about how to fit guitar into songs that... ROCK!
Thank you,
Paul
Win A Rare Studio Experience!
Tue, 08/25/2015 - 3:29am
Win a rare recording studio experience playing and recording Martin's vintage and rare guitars at his private studio in Scotland.
Here's the link... http://martintaylor.com/giveaways/studio-2015/
Here's a video (Part 1) of Martin in his studio playing and talking about some of his guitars.
Update from Chuck Loeb: New album with Eric Marienthal Released
Tue, 08/25/2015 - 6:40pm
Hello Everyone!
It's been a pretty busy summer for me, between touring, production and CD releases. My collaboration CD with ArtistWorks' recent addition, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, "Bridges" dropped last Friday. It is a project I am super proud of which also features ArtistWorks jazz bass instructor John Patitucci, and I hope you guys check it out.
Also -- we just mixed and mastered the Fourplay 25th Anniversary CD "Silver", and it is all set for a U.S. release in November. It features the core group of Bob James, ArtistWorks' own Nathan East, Harvey Mason and myself -- along with special guests Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton & Kirk Whalum.
Happy 99 1/2 B-day to Svend Asmussen!
Sun, 08/30/2015 - 12:55pm
Hey all,
Summer is soon over and autumn is coming little by little. I'm hoping all of you have had a great summer with many memorable musical moments. I've had a great summer but not much vacation though, been working really hard on finishing a lot of songs for the fall/winter releases in Japan and Korea. I also have a few songs coming out this fall with European artists in countries such as Spain and Romania.
I wanna take the opportunity to congratulate the legendary Danish violin maestro Svend Asmussen on his 99 1/2 birthday, which took place this past Friday. Svend has been active on the international music scene since the 1930's and he has had the opportunity to play with pioneers like Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton and many more throughout his long carrer. Inspired by players like Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith and Grappelli, Svend created a swinging fidle style of his own and became a big star not only in Scandinavia but also world wide.
