
How It Pays To Pay Attention
The late Albert King must have been impressed, honored, and even maybe a little bit taken aback when Stevie Ray Vaughan performed with him for the TV special In Session on December 6, 1983. Stevie was 29, Albert 60, both respective blues guitar greats. In the banter that went back and forth between songs, Albert talked about how SRV (who he didn't even recognize prior to being informed) was "little stevie", the kid that would sit in on guitar with Albert in Texas. Albert ackn

Doing too much in music: how to keep it simple
I heard him playing as I walked up the stairs to the wide double doors. He was good - young - but good. I could hear his influences and study immediately. It sounded like jazz, it sounded like blues; it was an eclectic Miami mixture. I thought about what I was to do now as I put the gear that I did have down on the old church floor. This was an audition, one that I almost did not go to because I did not have all of the equipment necessary to showcase my abilities. I did not h
How did I learn guitar?
I first picked up the guitar when I was thirteen. I was inspired by my best friend in middle school and also by all of the grunge on my computer. It quickly became my main passion, and I was easily practicing up to four hours a day. So what did I practice, and how did I learn? Books, yes books. I quickly developed a habit of studying from music books everyday. I bought tabs and notation on Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wes Montgomery, etc. Many artists spanning all gen