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One For The Guitarists

I've been playing guitar for a loooooooong time. Almost 35 years. A lot of folks will tell you I'm pretty good. I still think my best playing was when I was 15.  But if there's one thing I have learned, it's that a lot of guitar players sell themselves short. They tend to rely too heavily on effects.

Now I'm not putting down the stomp boxes. I own a couple of them (although I rarely use them). It's fun to make some weird noises with them...and sometimes, it's nice to enhance your sound with them. That said, too many pickers hide behind them. A distortion pedal hides a multitude of sins. Throw in a delay, a wah pedal, a chorus, and a few dozen other effects, and your actual playing, your real skill, is hidden behind a wall of noise.

QUIT SELLING YOURSELF SHORT!

OK, we all wish we could play like Danny Gatton or Joe Pass. They were geniuses. Sadly, a lot of younger guitarists out there probably have no idea who these cats were. So, if you're a guitar player or you know a guitar player (especially a young player) please show them these videos.

These are some of the best of the best. Very little effects, if any, are being used. I'm not say that these are the guys you HAVE to listen to...but you probably should. There are countless other GREAT guitarists out there. I just picked these cats off the top of my head...because they are all so damned good, they will hopefully inspire you to find your own sound...without the effects. Then, should you choose to use effects, you're going to sound even BETTER!

Remember: the guitar has 6 strings. You have 10 fingers. You have the advantage!

Enjoy!

M

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