BrianG

This place looks fantastic. I'd love one of those Papoose style guitars ...but well outside my affordability range. Brilliant.

Yes Cliff Richard was an English star following Elvis' rise, and the Shadows (renamed to avoid confusion with the American group) was his backing band. In the early to mid 1960s Cliff recorded with the Shadows and the Shadows also released instrumentals in their own name. Pre the Beatles and the rise of the British beat groups, they were really the top acts, both together and separately in the UK and Europe. They both remained hugely popular in the 1960s but the Shadows had less hits as instrumentals became less popular. Hank Marvin is the UK version of Duane Eddie but without the saxophones. I say that tongue in cheek. As kids learning guitar, everyone in the UK learned the Shadows' songs note for note. Cliff Richard still records and is still a big star on the UK.

Been slow to get round to this one, but this session is absolutely fantastic. Always turn to 12 bar blues for jamming with others and noodling. This adds another dimension to doing this. A pdf of the chord shapes used would be great, but part of the learning for me is sometimes working out what variations Steve is doing here himself. I used to watch the old Gruhn's sessions with guests in the same way. I always looked forward to them duos. Here we have Steve explaining some variations and styles you can do. Really great! Many thanks Steve.

Need you love so bad! He was tremendous. Always understated - less means more! A great singer and one of the very best guitarists.

Thanks NeilES335 this is a great revision session. And particularly the jazz comp at the end. I tend to unthinkingly always go for the four string version.... but that 6 string one is fantastic on the the last example.

Wow! Watch this! It really opens your eyes - aka mind? - about what notes and solos you can make over chords. Thanks Steve. I'll get my looper going straight away.

Kirk Fletcher is absolutely fantastic and so much fun. I caught him on one if his videos a few years ago - talking about blues guitar sounding like a horns section etc. I tried to copy it note/chord by chord. Really worth having a go.....but hard work. Since then I have tried to get to see him whenever he's is on tour here. He is inspirational to watch live .....he just enjoys it so much. See him in a small club if you get the opportunity. Seems to have upped his weekly (daily?) videos during lock-down. As matonanjin says, not so much guitar lessons as talking about all his influences and types of music and playing. Just great to watch and follow-up whatever he's been talking about. Brian

Thanks Steve. I seem to recall the earlier one too - so long ago?!!! Good to watch and great to see Steve's working notes. Blimey!

I found this series really good and to be honest I am exercising regularly with it and to some extent still working on it. It adds so much and I am using to to learn the fretboard more. So it takes time and needs committed working on - for me. I am generally a picker using the thumb and first two figures for the triads and it works fine for learning the shapes and the notes in the fretboard. I am however keen to improve my pick technique so I am do more of this too. I find the triads needs a restricted attack - tighter wrist? rather than what I would call strumming. But that may just be me!

Wow, thanks for putting this topic and the link up, which I have shared to friends. I thought I was such a wimp moving from 10s to 9s - "not strong enough wrists for barres etc". But I have liked them on my strat and electro-accoustic. In my mind was always thinking I would perhaps make it back to 10s. Not now! By the way I use Roto Sound. Do you know them? Made just down the road from me in the UK. Great strings.

Great lesson. Although it moved quickly over some things it was really interesting and made me think musically and get trying things on my guitar. It's great when Steve gives us the "trade secrets". In particular, the jazzy arpeggios over chords using the 3rd. Just to make sure I got it right, say over C major was it Em, over C minor Emajor, and over C7 was is it Em b5? It was so interesting to see the flattened 5th of the minor third chord was the 7th of the dominant chord. Never really understood why and how flattened 5ths worked before. Am I right? Brian

Apologies Steve....Although guitar practicing is still regular, on-going and very enjoyable I haven't been catching up with your Tuesday sessions as much as I used to. Lots going on here!!! But we had a beautiful balmy night in London yesterday and I caught up outside with your Monday session on the Boutique Guitars Showcase. And what a great session that was. Not the usual evening or content but you and the guitars were brilliant. Many thanks. They're here on 30 October so I am putting that on the calendar. Promise to try and get into the routine of watching your Tuesday nights again and getting more active on the Guitar Gathering site again. As ever, thanks to you for all you do for us. And regards to Greg. Brian

Thanks Neil. He's got such a relaxed easy voice and style. Where did you find them? Any links?

Hey Steve, Not been able to watch many lessons of late so I was in catch up mode when I went into this one. I have skated around modes for ages - do I need to know them? - but this was the "bees' knees". Really brilliant. You made it all so simple to understand plus a pdf......and moreover inspiring. Made me want to get the looper going immediately. And perhaps even better still play along with my daughter - who was similarly impressed. A great lesson! Steve you were at your very best!!!! Many thanks.

Wow Ian, I am jealous! I am keeping it free in my diary - just in case, but you seem to be a lot further down the road. We did Nashville to Memphis and then Clarksdale in 2017. Best holiday ever.....went to Gruhns and met Greg etc (everyone regarded that as a real high point) but sadly missed out on meeting up with Steve. That was the only downside. What about the new flights direct to Nashville from London? Brian

Many thanks Diane. You made it sound absolutely fantastic. It's as good as any sales pitch and just makes you want to be there. Ah, if only...…..

Thanks for a brilliant lesson again Steve. You're just a natural when you just talk to us all like that. Simple patterns, as you say, - but the chords can feel like an alphabet - but they make you think and want to try things out.

Just looked at this lesson on catch up. Watching live is not easy! Fantastic lesson Steve. Many thanks. They're always great but this was you (and us?) at your best - just you, us, some technique and theory....and of course your impromptu use of the looper! What an inspiration!...…. I suspect though, I'll be doing more finger stretching exercises for the last shapes. I have let these lapse over the last few weeks!!!! Still have the old Skills House Money Chords PDFs which I always find time to go back over. Years ago - pre-Skills House... I think - you used to go a fantastic tune using these open chord shapes. Starting above the 12th and running all the way down? Sounded great. I love going back to it and these chords.

Just caught up with this. What a fantastic lesson and such a great bloke. I will go back and try and pick up those routines -using open E etc, that Adam spoke to Steve about.

I particularly like the variety and range of guests and sessions Steve provides. The breadth of guitarists and musicians that come along are always very interesting and often open up ideas that I frequently follow up. I could easily be just focussing on blues and jazz, but Steve’s sessions open up loads of new things and ideas. Also, the variety of interactive sessions with Greg; George Gruhn, discussion about guitars, music theory, and playing with others – Will Macfarlane comes to mind, keeps the whole thing fresh and stimulating. Where else would you get this? Also, I must say Steve never uses the sessions to promote long term funding commitments like many other sites do, almost from day one! Somehow Steve always seems to promote supporting me in what I am doing, and not pushing me in any one direction. I personally like this ....and I know I can always ask Steve for advice etc. I am concerned however about how Steve finances for all this. I would like to do more to support Steve and what he does. Is buying the odd course/exercise really enough? I particularly like Steve's weekly impromptu comping with guests. They are always uplifting. My aspiration is to be able to do that well with others I meet and play with. Steve's and guests enjoyment of these sessions is just fantastic to watch but also acts as encouragement to me. I would love some sessions on this. I also like Steve’s sessions on listening to the songs – adding to it and not trying to dominate, and looking for smarter ways of playing the chords (like a Nashville pro would!). I enjoyed the jazz fretboard work out. As a Brit I feel I miss out with the live sessions - OK I could stay up late! I also would love to get to one of the gatherings - Summer or Autumn but that would take a lot of forward planning. One day!

Hi Steve, Started picking up on yesterday's lesson. The bit about substitutions was very helpful and I will go back and give it more attention (for my note book - your suggestion ages ago).....but I have to say that intro was fantastic (as ever!). This one seemed to be full of "money chords" ..am I right? I still have the Gibson's handouts. I could try and copy it chord by chord from the video or is there any chance of getting a copy of the chords/tab you were using? Brian

Caught up with the session with Molly. She was very good. Our good luck, she's on a UK tour shortly and so I hope to get to see her in London on 8 May.