Get to grips with string bending
Plus, will this pick make you a better player?
This week’s newsletter is packed with awesome links for all types of guitarists - we have Kerry Marshall’s tips on playing songs by ear to Dweezil Zappa’s beginner lessons straight from Eddie Van Halen. There’s also some advanced rhythm guitar with Jack Ruch, string bending practice with Ben Eller, and Marcus King channeling mental health into his music. Plus, Satch and Vai are joining forces as a band in 2025, and there’s a new pick you might want to be on the lookout for on Kickstarter. Let’s get into it!
This week’s guitar links!
How to Play ANY Song by Ear - I loved this video from Kerry Marshall. Kerry's been putting out some great, concise videos lately that focus on topics that every guitarist should know. This video dips into how to play any song by ear - from focusing on bass notes, seeing if the song is major or minor, and using the Nashville number system. If you're just getting started on guitar, you should watch this vid!
BEGINNER GUITAR TIPS Edward Van Halen Showed Me! - What if your teacher as a beginner, was Eddie Van Halen? That's exactly the scenario that that Dweezil Zappa was in, when he was growing up. He recently shared some helpful things that EVH showed him early on. Stuff like tuning with harmonics, making your own effects by using technique, and more. Dweezil's channel is a treasure trove of good guitar content that you should totally check out.
Mark Tremonti: Creed and Alter Bridge's Post-Grunge Guitar Hero - Mark Tremonti has been kicking butt for decades at this point, but he's really flying high these days because Creed is back in action. Mark sat down with Rick Beato for a fun interview. Did you know Tremonti can sing Sinatra songs as good as he can play a heavy rock riff? The two discuss Tremonti's flexibility amongst styles, how he works on songs, and a lot more. This week, Guitar Player also clipped a recent interview Beato had with Warren Haynes, where he discusses two things that every guitarist needs to be doing - you can check that out here.
What Guitarists Get Wrong About Playing With Others - If you're looking for even more ways to improve as a guitarist, you should check out these ideas from your rhythm section counterparts. Basists and drummers talk about things they'd like to hear from guitarists - including being aware of stage volume, getting a feel for the rhythm section and locking in with them, and helping them clear up their gear after a gig. Ok, I added that last one...but I feel like they always need a little extra help, right?
Advanced Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson! - I watch nearly every single Jack Ruch video. His playing is always phenomenal, and his lessons are always well put together. This week, Jack is talking about advanced blues rhythm. Everyone always wants to rip solos around blues jams, but being able to play great rhythm and let others shine, will really set you apart. Jack goes over a few different chords you'll need, and even throws in some Robben Ford-isms.
“The pick that makes guitar easier”: Introducing the PickTwist – a new 3D pick that will make you a better player… and never slip out your hand - It's not often that something like picks will get me excited, but I'm actually looking forward to trying the PickTwist. The company is going to be running a Kickstarter, starting in mid-January. The pick is supposed to help with not slipping out of your fingers, reduce tension, and improve tone, to name a few benefits. What do you think of this pick?
How to MASTER String Bending... This WORKS! - One thing myself and other guitarists usually wince at, are bad bends. It’s a technique that can make you sound amateurish on guitar, or epic if you hit the bends just right. Ben Eller put out this great video that focuses on some simple techniques you can try to improve your bends. This idea isn’t new, but the way that Ben presents it in an etude is a fun way to practice it.
Guitarist for Snarky Puppy Plays His Biggest Guitar Parts - Whether it be with Snarky Puppy, the Fearless Flyers or on his own, Mark Lettieri has been playing a lot of really good guitar over the past couple of years. Mark recently sat down with Vertex effects to play some of his most awesome guitar lines, and talk about some of the gear he uses. Looks like there are some deals on the gear too, if you’re interested in any of these pedals.
Marty Schwartz Interview: Becoming The World's Guitar Teacher - Marty Schwartz has been teaching guitar online for as long as I can remember. I liked this video because he talks about his philosophy on teaching (which I loved), how he made a living playing guitar, why YouTube has been so important for him, and more. Oh, and he talks about D’Addario a bit as well - I’ve been going back and forth between Ernie Ball and D’Addario over the past couple of years, and really enjoy playing both brands’ strings.
“I have a Southern accent, and it’s the same on the guitar. I adapted the guitar to do the talking for me when I was too shy”: Marcus King on why your fretboard has its own language – and how mental health became his muse - Marcus King has been tearing it up over the past few years. I liked this interview with Guitar World, where they discuss his album Mood Swings, and how guitar has become a comfort for him. What I really enjoyed was Marcus touching on mental health, how it affects everyone in different ways, and how it informed his songwriting.
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai unite to form The SATCHVAI Band - After decades of playing their own music on countless stages around the world, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are finally putting together the SatchVai band! We're going to have a tour in the summer of 2025, with new music arriving shortly before that. I feel like anyone who loves instrumental guitar music has been waiting for this for a long time. I can't wait to see what songs they come up with.