Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" is one of the most heartfelt songs in his song catalogue. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

I’d like to leave you this fine Friday with one of the best performances from Eric Clapton Unplugged. His song, “Tears In Heaven,” is beautiful lyrically and musically, and this performance captures the tune so well. It’s one of my personal favorites and, by the amount of people who have seen it on YouTube alone, it’s probably one of the more popular guitar performances in existence. Of all the bands and different styles of music Eric has been a part of, this is the song I keep coming back to time and time again. Sit back and relax while Eric Clapton, considered one of the most popular guitarists in music history, performs one of his most heartfelt songs. Enjoy.

“Tears In Heaven” is considered by many to be one of the most heartfelt songs ever written by one of the greatest guitarists in music history. Enjoy this beautiful performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRsJlAJvOSM.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoyed this performance from Eric Clapton. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt song that digs deep lyrically and is accompanied by nice chord changes. The guitar, and the men and women who wield it, is more than just an instrument. It’s a tool with the power to impact so many lives around the world through music.

Thank you,

Mike

Muddy Waters was considered one of the blues icons by fans all around the world. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

On this day in music history, April 4th 1913, Muddy Waters was born into this world. He would become one of the greatest influences on guitar players all around the world and one of the men to popularize the electric blues. Musicians in all different styles of music have claimed that Muddy has been a strong influence. Muddy performed a lot of hit songs in his shows, but one song in particular stands out to me and many other fans as well. That song is “Hoochie Coochie Man.” Although Muddy isn’t around anymore, his music lives on in all our lives and music. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did.

Muddy Waters knew he had one of the popular blues songs ever created in his arsenal. Enjoy this performance of “Hoochie Coochie Man” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERJ3rre99i0.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you dug listening to Muddy Waters and one of his most popular songs. There are a lot of people that consider Muddy one of the most iconic figures in the blues. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to learn about other great guitar icons in music history.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

The John Mayer Trio is one of the most popular blues guitar trios today. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

We can all probably remember John Mayer breaking onto the scene with the blessing of the blues legend, B.B. King, but there’s no questioning the fact that John found a lot of success and popularity when he made the transition over to his pop sound. And while he produced a lot of cool stuff there, I missed him showcasing his blues roots. Fortunately in the last several years, John must have been missing that side too because he brought in Steve Jordan on drums and Pino Palladino on bass to form one of the most popular blues guitar trios today. The John Mayer Trio was the answer I was looking for, and if you haven’t heard them yet then this might be your chance to see a different side of John Mayer’s music. I came across a good live performance of the trio’s title track, “Try,” that I definitely dug and I hope you will too.

John Mayer joined up with Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino to form one of the most popular blues guitar trios today. Check out this live performance of their title track, “Try,” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVedKbAqOA.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you dug listening to this talented trio. It’s definitely the sound I enjoy most from John Mayer and I hope he continues writing and performing with the group. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to hear more from John Mayer and gain access to an assortment of other top notch guitarists.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

Martin Harley has been touring around the world for years now.

One of the guitarists I’ve been getting into more and more lately has been Martin Harley. I saw him at a show recently with Delta Rae and ZZ Ward; the show was not only great, but I felt Martin was the standout of the three. He just came out with his slide guitar and vocals, and proceeded to blow the audience away. His music seems to be the right combination of blues roots, groove and pop so it’s easy to see that he’s gaining a wider fan base these days. I came across an interview with Martin Harley from Guitar International where he talks about his songwriting process, his love for music and guitar, and his sense of adventure. Plus, I shared a video from one of his live performances which is a great example of how I saw him perform. I hope you enjoy the show and interview as much as I did!

Here’s a little taste of the interview Martin was a part of with William Clark of Guitar International. I’ll share some of it here, but you can see the entire interview and one of Martin’s music videos at http://guitarinternational.com/2013/04/01/guitarist-martin-harley/.

William: What influences do you like to draw from when you’re writing new music?

Martin Harley:  It changes all the time. Sometimes I really work backwards through music that influences me.

I’m a really big Tom Waits fan, from the Raindog era, to Swordfishtrombone. Those albums are full of very rainy, gritty sort of sound, and it reminds me that music doesn’t have to be so personally executed, to paint the creative picture.

So, I often look back to people like Tom Waits, if I think I’m taking myself too seriously. [Laughs]

But yeah, all the delta players, from Mississippi John Hurt to Robert Johnson, all those players remain a strong influence on me. The new record, I would listen to everything from John Martin to JJ Cale to Queens Of The Stone Age to AC/DC. It really is all over the place for me, but the blues roots are there.

William: Looking back a little bit, how was it having your previous studio album, Drumrolls For Somersaults, reaching the top of the iTunes U.K. blues chart last year?

Martin Harley:  Surprised. [Laughs] But yeah, it was great! I worked very, very hard on that record with the band, and it’s a record I’m very proud of. It’s great that it charted so well in the U.K. upon it’s release. We didn’t pop the champagne or throw CDs out of hotel windows or anything, but it was still a very pleasant surprise.

Martin performed at the Bing Lounge late last year, and fortunately the lounge does a great job of capturing the performance for all of us to enjoy. Check out Martin Harley, his slide guitar and great vocals at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjx_Enrv5ag.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about Martin Harley and seeing him perform in his element. Martin has a cool message and some very interesting experiences in the music industry. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to learn about other guitarists that are trying to write their own stories in the music history book.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

There are precautions you can take to ensure your guitar survives a flight on a commercial airline.

More recently, we’ve all been hearing tragic stories of guitars being damaged by airline companies  because sites like YouTube have made it really easy to spread news all over the globe. But the truth is, it’s been happening ever since guitarists started flying in commercial planes. So what are some of the things you can do when you book your flight knowing that you’re taking your guitar along with you? There are a lot of suggestions from musicians, both professionals and hobbyists, that could make the difference when it comes to traveling safely with your precious cargo. I came across an article recently from The DIY Musician that offers a few of these sacred tips that we might all want to consider before that next flight. And no, the first suggestion isn’t to travel by bus. Take a look at some of the precautions you can take on your next flight.

The DIY Musicians released an article recently in response to all the media attention damaged guitars are getting from their experiences with commercial airlines. Take a look at a few of the suggestions below, and find the entire article at http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2013/03/flying-with-your-guitar/.

1. Book seats towards the rear of the plane 

If you’re flying a commuter plane, your guitar is most likely going in the hold (unless you can talk the attendants into letting you take up the whole coat closet); but if it’s a bigger plane, there’s a chance you can take it on as a carry-on item.

You’ll increase those chances the earlier you board the plane. By booking a seat at the back of the plane, you’ll get on the flight early, head straight back to your row, stuff that guitar in an overhead, and sit down quickly. Now it’s everyone else’s problem. They have to fit their carry-on items around your guitar.

2. If you’re given a gate-check tag, take your guitar on the plane anyways 

A certain amount of playing-dumb can be helpful. If you’re told at the gate that you need to leave your guitar at the bottom of the jetway (so it can be placed in the hold), let ‘em put the tag on the handle of your guitar. THEN — carry your guitar handle so your hand conceals the tag and walk onto the plane. If no one stops you, refer to tip #1 for further instructions. If you are stopped…

Make sure you visit the link above to discover a few more vital tips for traveling with your guitar. These tips can make the difference between your precious cargo arriving in one piece or several pieces. Then again, there’s always traveling by car too. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to hear more tips for taking care of what most of us consider priceless, our guitars.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

Wes Montgomery was one of the early pioneers of the jazz guitar.

One of the greatest early pioneers of the jazz guitar was definitely Wes Montgomery. His tasteful playing and unique style of playing the guitar, using only his thumb in his right hand, must have been really something to see live. Fortunately there is footage from some of his live performances for all of us to enjoy, including this concert I found from Holland in 1965. Wes, and the jazz group backing him up, play brilliantly in this half hour concert. The sound and video are very high quality as well, so it was a very enjoyable experience for me. I just reclined in my chair and enjoyed the whole concert. I hope you’ll do the same once you hit play.

Wes Montgomery recorded and filmed a live concert in Holland in 1965 with pianist Pim Jacobs, bassist Ruud Jacobs, and drummer Han Bennink. The concert was filmed and sounded great, plus the musicianship is top notch all the way around. Make sure you turn up your volume so you can hear the banter from Wes between tunes. Enjoy the concert at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krE3s3XY1P0.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoyed hearing from one of the great pioneers of the jazz guitar, Wes Montgomery. It makes me so happy that people with access to this unique footage of taken the time to share videos like these for all of us to enjoy. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to hear more special concerts from some of the greatest guitarists in music history.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

John Jorgenson is known primarily is a gypsy jazz guitarist, but also has some good advice for aspiring rock guitarists.

If you’ve ever heard of the guitarist John Jorgenson, you probably know he’s a brilliant guitarist known mostly for his work in the gypsy jazz guitar world, but the truth is he has a lot of influence in all sorts of styles of guitar. I came across this great, simple rock guitar lesson from John where he talks about one of the guitar companies he uses quite a bit and some easy tips for aspiring rock guitarists that you can take right to the stage. John’s teaching style is simple and relaxed, making him a great player to learn from, and even in this short lesson he covers quite a bit of ground for all of us to enjoy. I hope you dig watching the lesson as much as I did!

Although John Jorgenson is known mostly for his gypsy guitar skills, he comes off great in this short rock guitar lesson for Guitarist Magazine. Check it out here for some cool rock guitar tips at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iy3wmGwst0.

Watch this video on YouTube.

There is more cool content from John Jorgenson and Guitarist Magazine available online so i encourage you to go check it out. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk for learn more tips from other stellar guitarists in the music industry.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

The Matt Schofield Trio has been turning heads at blues festivals all around the world.

The Matt Schofield Trio has turned a lot of heads from fans of the blues, jazz, fusion, and simply guitar fans all around the world. This guitar/organ/drum trio has taken the conventional “power trio” and given it a twist with the Hammond Organ player playing the bass part and harmony. Currently the core lineup in the band is Matt Schofield on guitar and vocals, and Jonny Henderson on the organ and key bass. Drummers seem to rotate regularly. There have been a few other trios in this configuration including the fusion groove group Soulive and the jazz trio, the Larry Goldings Trio, and all seem to write music that compliment the organization of the group nicely. I wanted to share a couple of videos from the Matt Schofield Trio as they have been gaining more and more popularity at blues festivals all around the world. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Matt Schofield produced this live performance and interview for MattSchofieldMusic to share with all of us over at YouTube. Check out some slammin’ music from the trio and a little bit of history from the young guitarist at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ra39_j6mbk.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Matt also sat down to talk about some of the chord embellishments he uses on a simple 12 bar blues. He goes pretty quick and doesn’t outline them very well, but offers a little bit of advice that you may take to heart. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qut0dKGoZu0.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Matt Schofield as much as I did. He has a great trio that is definitely helping the British Blues scene stay alive. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to hear from other young guitarists that are doing their part in this crazy music industry.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

Jeff Beck brought in one of the most popular bass players in the business, Tal Wilkenfeld. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Jeff Beck has always been in a musical land of his own; always producing great stuff that can’t be considered mainstream but is followed by a worldwide fan base. Beck’s latest group he has been on the road with is a powerhouse quartet featuring popular drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bass phenom Tal Wilkenfeld, and keyboardist Jason Robello. The quartet recorded a live concert at the club Ronnie Scott’s in the UK so now we can all enjoy their stellar musicianship online. I picked one of the more complex tunes out of the set, “Scatterbrain,” to share with you today. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did!

Jeff Beck has put together a powerhouse quartet in his latest touring band. Check out the group in action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxnjBqz_kY&noredirect=1.

Watch this video on YouTube.

There is plenty more footage available online from this concert and other shows they’ve played together so I encourage you to dig into it all and check it out. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to hear from more of the top guitarists in the industry.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike

Esperanza Spalding has captured the attention of music fans all around the world. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Occasionally here at Mike’s Guitar Talk I like to cover an artist proficient on our cousin instrument, the bass. In this case, not only am I featuring a great electric bass player, but also an upright bassist and extremely good singer. And to go even further, she’s playing a writing parts where she’s playing bass AND singing at the same time. Esperanza Spalding has quickly climbed the ranks of jazz musicians to one of the most popular players in the scene today. For those of you who have tried playing the bass and singing at the same time, you know how difficult it can be, then to top it off try listening to the part’s she’s playing in her songs. That’s exactly what we’re going to do today. I collected a couple of live performances from Esperanza featuring her unique and complicated compositions, her stellar playing and beautiful voice. I hope you dig these videos as much as I did!

One of Esperanza’s biggest hit songs is “I know you know.” Couple that with another one of her hits, “Smile Like That,” and you get this great live mash up at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aRC3YY3svs.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Esperanza also played a great show on Austin City Limits back in 2009 with her group and this was one of my favorites songs from the show. Enjoy “Jazz Ain’t Nothin But Soul,” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-ZoSW2QO8Y.

Watch this video on YouTube.

I hope you enjoyed these performances as much as I did. Esperanza has become one of the jazz artists I look forward to hearing more from in the current music scene. Subscribe now to Mike’s Guitar Talk to learn about other up-and-coming guitarists that are making big waves in the music scene.

Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Mike