iFingers Guitar Experience

Blues Guitar from Three Cat Clem

ifingers — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 12:28:16 +0000

I love the blues. It can lift you up with it’s simple but earthy funk. Three Cat Clem is a fine example of what I like about blues music. Creating a righteous mix out of hard and heavy beats, with some extremely potent blues and slide guitar playing. Definitely one to watch.

Three Cat Clem Links

Gabor Szabo

ifingers — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 16:10:06 +0000

The Sorcerer

Carlos Santana has for a long while been one of my favourite guitarists. He has that special something that seems to transcend the realms of normal music, and take it to an altogether higher plane. In my quest to learn more about Carlos, I discovered one of his influences, that maybe helped put the magic in his playing.

Gabor Szabo was a Hungarian born guitarist and Carlos was a big fan:

“We used to fool around with ‘Gypsy Queen” because I loved Gabor Szabo so much. I used to see Gabor play a lot in the Bay area. He’d seem to lock himself into a certain position and just put everyone in a spell. He was the guitar player who took me out of B.B. King — otherwise I’d still be with those Chicago and Texas blues cats. ‘Gypsy Queen’ was our way of doing his music.”

I managed to get a copy of The Sorcerer a while back, and really enjoy Mr Szabo’s approach to the guitar, weaving circular, hypnotic patterns, which are deeply infectious and contagious. The Sorcerer was recorded live at the Jazz Workshop, Boston in 1967.

Unfortunately I never got a chance to see him live, but his recordings live on, and will no doubt influence future generations of players. Enjoy.

Gabor Szabo Links

Your top 3 guitarists?

ifingers — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:21:06 +0000

What guitarists would you put in your top 3? If push comes to shove, I would pick:

Jimi Hendrix
Mark Knopfler
Angus Young

But what are your top 3 guitarists?

iPod Hi-Fi - my new guitar practice amp

ifingers — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 02:49:44 +0000

My new iPod Hi-Fi may become my new practice amp, when I can find time to practice…

It has a nice tone, add a splash of Guitar Rig and I reckon we should be cooking…

The seat of guitar lust

ifingers — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:56:29 +0000

Look what I heard in the GarageBand Guitar Forum,

“Wood feels musical. I’ve played aluminium and stainless steel guitars that were flawless in sound and action, but they’re cold - literally!

Wood, being an insulator, feels warm, and sunburst colours remind us of nature and warm sunshine.

That’s the seat of guitar lust.”

Kilroy de Geek

D e e p

Moleskine ‘Note’ Book

ifingers — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:26:11 +0000

My new Moleskine

I have for a number of years been a fan of Moleskine notebooks (not Moleskin), I use them for lyrics, song ideas, passwords and other data I really can’t afford to lose. I got a Moleskine Music notebook for my birthday and am very pleased that I did.

Great little Note Book

For a music notebook it is a little small, but what it lacks in size is more than justified by it’s useful pocket-friendly size. My guitar lessons have paved the way for me to use this little beauty. Before, I would have used tab to etch out my music, but now I am a (s l o w) music reader and writer. I will be making good use of this portable note machine, alongside other celebrated Moleskine users like Van Gogh, Chatwin and even Pete Doherty.

Restring in a classical way

ifingers — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 14:07:45 +0000

After the air on my g string (and Gabriela style strumming) resulted in a snap. I decided to put some new strings on my guitar. I put some nice new Augustine strings; “The Superior Concert String” on my Admira 1000E. Segovia played them too so I suppose they must be superior, but I am not superior enough to know if they really are.

The whole process is quite straightforward, and if you like me are more used to stringing steel stringers, this tutorial is a good place to start.

Guitarists and the Mac (Slight Return)

ifingers — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:55:08 +0000

James Bouchard is one of my favourite guitarists. He uses a Mac to record his music and I had the pleasure of listening to this beautiful piece of music today - I suggest you do the same. You can discuss the song too.

James plays with Boston Band Union Label and is also one half of The Fritters with Kelli King.

If you play guitar and use or are thinking about using a Mac. Checkout the MacIDOL guitarists forum

Guitarists and the Mac

ifingers — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 14:01:52 +0000

If you make music on a Mac and play guitar, sign up for Guitarists and the Mac in the UK. This time with Boyan Chowdhury, guitarist from The Zutons. Get some Zuton fever in your playing - I’ll see you in London.

Rodrigo y Gabriela, La Scala, London

ifingers — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:22:54 +0000

I managed to get one ticket for Rodrigo y Gabriela at La Scala. I tried to buy two, but it would seem I got the last ticket! Seems that I have been blessed, I managed to get right at the front of the gig too, which was great so I could check out their chops. I was really impressed by their performance. I was standing right in front of the bass bins, and the dynamics that these two Mexican guitarists produce, reminded me a little of the Young brothers. Angus and Malcolm even with electrics would be hard pressed to out gun these two nylon axe monsters.

Rodrigo was more than keen to point out that what they do is not flamenco. They have a very unique sound, mixing up metal, classical, jazz, pop and dare I say it flamenco, but this was no Paco de Lucia gig. They did a great version of the Floyd’s Wish you were here - and Rodrigo used a beer bottle as a slide. Gabriela’s rythmn playing is awesome, very passionate and extremely fast, I will keep practicing and maybe one day I might get near to what she does, but alas I reckon I might be wasting my time. If you ever get a chance to see these two play - do it. They really are something else!