There are so many greats moments throughout the history of rock guitar. Definitely far too many to fit into any sort of written recollection. Nevertheless, there are a few times in rock guitar history that are remembered more often than others as being amongst the greatest. So without further adieu, and in no specific order (how could you?), here's a few classic myths and moments in the pages of rock guitar history.

Artistworks founders, Patricia and David Butler, came to visit me at my house in Portland this week. We are celebrating me reaching over 5000 Video Exchanges at the Rock School. We also made plans to improve the site design, and to shoot new videos to add to the main Rock Guitar course. I've been teaching at Artistworks for over 5 years now, and it's been an amazing musical journey, as well as a chance to make friends with musicians all over the world. I've been teaching guitar for over 30 years now, and I've experienced every possible way of interacting with students (one-on-one, small groups, large clinics, instructional DVDs, etc.) I've found that the system of teaching at Artistworks has been the MOST EFFECTIVE by far. Even compared to teaching in-person one-on-one, the Video Exchange format at Artistworks works better. It gives me time craft the lesson and perform it with a focused explanation, and it gives the student a video that they can watch again and again, at their own pace, and to fit their schedule (plus the very good "pressure" of performing on video themselves.) 5000 Video Exchanges in 5 years is proof that I love this way of teaching. And every single one of these happens because YOU have sent me a video with your playing and questions. Let's keep this musical conversation going. Rock Guitar lives because of YOU. 

Thank you, and... Rock and Roll!

Paul

Hi folks... I'm back from a very enjoyable week in Beijing, China.

I was invited to give a concert and masterclass at the Wood Road Acoustic Guitar Festival and also judge the Beijing Acoustic Guitar Competition.

Also performing at the festival was the brilliant German guitarist Soenke Meinen, Karlijn Langendijk from the Netherlands, and Japanese fingerstyle guitarist Yuki Matsui.

It was almost impossible for me to get any internet access while I was in Beijing (which is why you haven't heard from me this past week!) but I'm now back in my studio and catching up with responding to all your video submissions.

Since getting back from China I've been busy in my studio filming video responses for my students here at ArtistWorks and also finding time to record tracks on my 1969 Conde Hermanos classical guitar.

I'm finding adapting to nylon string a little challenging at times but it's making me approach the guitar, and music, from another perspective as the classical guitar "speaks" in such a different way. Many of the ways I phrase on steel string just don't work on nylon string, and the dynamic range is something I'm having to get used to.

I know many of the players here play nylon string, so I hope you'll enjoy these tracks when I make them available at the end of the year.

I've still got another eight tracks to record... so wish me luck!