The key to all music is one thing people....phrasing. I apologize but for some unknown technical reason this video doesn't quite start at the beginning when you first turn it on.
Robert Baker I'm pretty sure I found this because of your recommendation, a very heartfelt thanks to you for that and to Tom. Having a very ROUGH day today in the middle of a few; and questioning why I even bothered playing guitar etc etc (all the same old sh*t we go through from time to time) and these short videos are proving to be not only entertaining, but an inspiration to strap on my big boy pants and play my way out of this. You may never understand how important these videos have been. Thank you again.
I first saw Tom Britt when I took my wife to see Patty Loveless in the '90's. The tall slim guy just stood there doing what needed to be done with an AC30 and a BF Fender until Patty went to sing a tune that was gonna rock. Tom let loose with a raucous slide intro that Patty loved so much she just let him go for a few minutes longer. Tom is the definition of humble - no showboating, just the goods. That was the 1st time I saw the fingers used behind the slide - years before I saw Sonny Landreth. I just in the last year discovered Jack Pearson after watching a Lee Roy Parnell interview. The interviewer asked "Who do you think are some great unrecognized guitar players" Lee Roy says "Jack Pearson", then said nothing else. Thank you Tom for inviting us into your garage.
3:00 The first FOUR NOTES I heard you play when you were 19 years old instantly convinced me about the depth of your gift. I hit the talkback and said to you, "Who are you and what can I do for you?"
I agree Jack Pearson is on of the greatest to ever pickup a guitar, and to top it all off he’s usually favors playing a fender Squier and few effects!! 👍🏽
My favorite guitarist is Phil Keaggy he has so many instrumental tracks I just love the music not all songs need words it just takes you some place and it is unique to how you feel Keep it up thanks
Jack Pearson - enough Said ! First Time I saw him was in 1995 at a bar near Murfreesboro Middle Tennessee College ! I was at a guitar camp and Pat Bergeson was the featured teacher ! Good Times !
I'm downloading all these vids just in case they're removed somehow/the world ends, so I can go over and over em like you said you did with that tape. Things are really shit for a lot of people at the moment but stuff like this genuinely helps and its something to look forward to, so thanks again Tom. Keep em coming!
Long post, sorry. Here’s why one guy said you sounded douchy. I was 15 and just starting. Knew the first pent box and 1st position chords. A way more experienced, older player told me when asked, how do I get better. He says. Put on Allmans Stormy Monday and find a 10 note phrase that you think make the song better. Man I listened and listened and finally hear a dickey phrase that I thought should have gone a different direction and I worked out what I heard in my head. Man I worked. When I played it for him with the record playing, he asked who showed me that and seemed kinda pissed. I said no one, I just heard it in my head. He never showed me another thing. When I related that story to some other musicians, years later, they thought I was being duchy for thinking that it’s the best lesson I ever got. I still don’t really get it but I kinda get it. It’s old as time and they still call it jealousy.
Mike Bloomfield is the guy I think of with his phrasing. The way he communicated a feeling through guitar was unique to me. Out of the modern guys these days, Gary Clark Jr stands out. He has great instincts and such an interesting note choice that is so smooth.
When I was a young man in college, several of my friends and me were regulars over the summer at a local bar which was owned and operated by a gentlemen named "Tony". He and his wife "Vivian" were in their 80's, and operated that place every day. We played shuffleboard and made many friends in that place. It was a place of respect between the owners and patrons. "Tony's" words of wisdom......"Best darn beer in America is Rolling Rock". I think RR has changed a bit since then (bought out). Used to have some skunk notes which I liked. But hey.....here's to another guitar player who likes his beer from the glass lined takes of Latrobe, PA! Tom, thanks for what you do!
I remember talking to you about that 23 years ago Tom. I sat with my then Girlfriend and said “How good does a person have to be to be teaching the best guitar player (you) that I have ever seen?” That had a huge impact on my philosophy of life. Do you remember telling me no matter how good you are, there is always something to learn? Never think you are the best because then you won’t want to learn. I’m still amazed.
Great interview with Jack Pearson by Marty Schwartz, April 2018 YT. Insights into his history, his various guitars and how he uses them, various styles. Good stuff, super nice guy.
I moved to Nashville in 2000. I came from a small town and played guitar in a bunch of bands there. We had terrible drummers lol. No one ever counted off the beginning of songs LOL. It was not a good music scene to say the least. When I first moved to town, my first gig was going to help run sound at 3rd and Lindsley for a few months. I had never been there. That's the place, for me, that blew my head off with talent, and tone. I used to see Gary Nicholson there with his band. I remember when Kenny Greenberg would play with him sometimes. Just amazing. I saw Mike Henderson there for the first time. Also, Jack Pearson of course. I had never heard slide played like that in my life. I remember when the Players started playing there. Just a killer band. What an amazing place to influence one's guitar playing. I've never taken it for granted. Love your stuff! stay safe.
Playing guitar without making a face is like eating food (or drinking beer) without tasting it. Love your playing Buk, it’s inspiring! Keep em’ coming.
Thanks for sharing these, Tom. You're being so generous with these battlefield insights. It's also great seeing you more and more comfortable in front of the camera for a format like this. Stay safe and healthy. I love these guitar hangs.
Too humble, Tom :) Been an active guitar listener and a huge fan from Hendrix, Page, Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Prince, Slash, Satriani, George Bensen, I like your playing just as much as I love those 6-string legends.
Brother, I would love, when this corona virus thing is finally over, to have a face to face lesson. I live in Sparta, Tn.... i would drop everything... and be where you needed me to be in an hour to be a student... I want to be a better musician and I know this is the right step because it scares me shitless just to ask you... let alone follow through with a lesson... thank you for sharing on RU-vid... this is a real gift.
You with your tape at your lesson with Tom Britt is me right now 10 videos in to your channel in one sitting. I've learned more in one hour than I have in the past year.
I'm an old(ish) dude, and I only realized the importance of vibrato within the last 10 years or so. Incredible! When to hold, when to shake, how fast. Bend up, hold it, and give a single wiggle of vibrato right before you go to the next note. All these things I wasn't even thinking about before. Somebody told me that I had great vibrato when I was a teenager, and that always just stuck with me for some reason. I didn't work on it, or even think about it before. As far as I was concerned, I still had that guy's blessing from when I was a kid!! Haha I'm still just intermediate, but my vibrato game could possibly fool someone to think otherwise!! Great clip. Definitely gonna check out those two guitarists. Love these videos. Thanks so much!
My wife's fav singer is Whitney Houston too! BTW, Monika is phenomenal singer. But here similarities between us end...;) Wait! I play guitar! Since I was 10... but when I see and hear guys like you I start to doubt if I am on a right way. Yesterday I had my 45 birthday and here comes middle age crises. I've been fighting with my left hand illness for 10 years now but maybe it's not physical, maybe it's in my head...(?) I am 20% of a guitarist I used to be. Your videos inspire me to keep on trying to break this wall... Thank you. Maybe one day I regain freedom in my hand. I am searching for your video where you explain how to get great sound on big arenas, stages. Where is it? 🙏🏻 Good people, anyone could link the video here Tom talks about that? 👆🏻
I saw an interview somewhere with Chris Poland and he mentioned that sometimes not using vibrato can have the effect of making a note stick out and get noticed. I found that observation interesting and it made me rethink when and how I use vibrato.
I totally missed the boat on Jack Pearson in the late 90s. I lived in Nashville for 5 years and kept seeing showbills plastered up with his name on them, but never went by to catch a show. 20 years later I stumble on to a youtube video of Jack, and I think my chin is still dragging across the floor. Huge missed opportunity not seeing him and soaking in everything I could from those shows!
Phrasing is the hardest part of playing for me and what I never stop trying to improve. Thanks for telling me I just don’t have it and it’s just born into some of us. The rest can aspire. Bahaha haha haha. Your probably right and I’m totally cool with that !!! This means a lot to all of us out here on the inter webs. Much appreciated sir!!!
very good episode....one thing about Derek Trucks and Ry Cooder and phrasing....that trailing vibrato and slide playing are surely connected....this episode made me want to try slide playing...
you know, you spend most of your life doing something like playing guitar -- not at a pro level, obviously, but enough time spent to be a significant portion of your life -- and then you watch videos like this from a true craftsman. oof. really, though, vibrato is a direct translation of a guitarist's confidence, mastery -- and most importantly, that signature sound. i just watched a few jack pearson vids -- thank you for that recommendation -- and he completely exudes confidence and mastery through his use of vibrato. these videos are great, man, thank you. i hope you at least find a little value in the positive comments here -- i know the negative comments seem to get noticed more, though. btw, keep angling for that rolling rock sponsorship -- getting a domestic beer sponsorship is the true measure that a musician has 'made it'.
Thanks for the great video series. I’m the character that makes the titanium Furious Slides for Joe Walsh. Love hearing you play, and I really like your attitude, and your musical tastes. Stay safe.
Just watched a few vids of Tom Britt, yowzee! It became quickly obvious to me that he can "think" his notes and then put them to the guitar as if he was actually thinking the guitar, man there's no emulating that, he just has it brother. I have listened to Jack Pearson for years and always dig it when he shows up to the stage playing a Squire and makes it sound like nothing else on anybody's guitar rack, amazing player indeed.
I remember walking out of Carter's a few years back and hearing this guitar coming out of the open windows at Pour House across the street. The tone was captivating and thankfully my wife stopped me before I walked into traffic in a trance. We sat down for brunch right in front of the stage and watched Tom Britt & Jonell Mosser put on an absolute clinic. Tom just sat there with his deluxe pointed at the wall and a few pedals on the floor (no pedalboard) and played some of the most dynamic guitar I've ever heard. We went back nearly every Sunday for over a year. So good. Glad to hear him mentioned!
Tom, can you give us a link for so I can buy a cd or some tracks online I really dig your style and philosophy on music. Phasing....forget everything else, it's your unique expression, it defines the beauty in the music or as Scott Henderson says I would rather hear Albert king drop his guitar than someone playing with any expression.
Thanks, Buk! These lessons as so valuable to me. Just even talking about guitar, that is a lesson in and of itself. And screw those guys who dont get it and all the hate, but like they say, if you dont have enemies, you aren't doing it right. On a plus side, I guess the asshole who thumbs down all your videos is int up yet.
I think I can define when my awareness of just what you can do with a guitar solo struck me most powerfully, it was when I first heard David Gilmour's solo on 'Dark side of The Moon' on Time, the F#m - A with Dmaj7 - Amaj7 chorus...that was an epiphany, agreed Gilmour is superb.
I was at Vinnie's studio one day and they were working on his daughters track. I loved the guitar work and it was Jack on one side and you on the other, man it was sweet
If you want to talk about phrasing, listen to the album version of Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop....the solo is like a conversation. Definitely playing through the changes but more like a horn player. Amazing stuff.....
Thanks Tom, yep phrasing is inherent in the player alright, I've got to practice really hard to get near to what you and other top players do naturally. After a while I can attain some of what I feel is great timing and phrasing..........gives me a great feeling!!
Intermediate guitarists don't even think about vibrato, they have automatic vibrato that happens involuntarily - "Sick i do vibrato all the time!!" Constant vibrato is the sign of an amateur guitarist - "Shit!"
I never thought you looked irritated. People just love to shit on others. Let's ignore those dumb comments about appearance and talk music. Anyway, I look forward to these daily vids now. Thanks!
Jack is insane! I never heard a guy make a slide sound like a voice before until I saw him play. I didn't know about Tom tho, RU-vid search here I come!
I'm gonna step out here, but I'm 51% on board with just about everything this cat says....this pandemic and him have brought some sobriety to our normal hyped non credible realities.
Well said Tom. I’ve enjoyed these daily posts you’ve been putting out. It’s not how you play it but how you say it! Phrasing and vibrato is our voice and the less is more theory hits home with me aka David Gilmore! Jack is an absolute Monster but I’d really like to hear more of who he his? He can morf himself into any technical style but I don’t know. What are your thoughts about Steve Luke? Be curious to hear that?
Correct me if I am wrong Tom, to have "better" phrasing, one needs "better chords progressions", and THIS is where the beauty of Gilmore-Pink Floyd-solos' lies, those solos, besides amazing technique, have "great chords progressions" to begin with! This also attaches to one of your earlier points, "listen to the song first" and as I say, it will "give you the solo-melody", IF again, you listen for it! instead of just playing the same riffs one knows already. Peace and ty!
