The Legendary Guitar of James Burton
The Legendary Guitar of James Burton James Burton is highly regarded in the industry with a roll call of famous names who have sought his contribution to their music: Randy Newman, Gram Parsons, and Emmylou Harris among them. On this DVD he covers vibrato, stringbending, pick & finger techniques, solo construction, slides steel effects and his trademark “chicken pickin’” style.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Fun to watch, not really an instructional video
This is really more of a demonstration video than an instructional video. Like many great players, Mr. Burton is not a guitar teacher, so you have to be ready to capture what you can from what he shows on the video. This DVD was originally released as VHS. The hot licks people added sections that slow down the examples so you’ll have a chance to figure out what James is doing. I consider it a good resource that I will go back to over time, but not really a how-to guide. I recommend viewing this in a player or on a computer that will allow you to do your own slow-down and repeats.
5 Stars James Burton Style Guitar
James plays over chords and his chording style is different, which gives him a pretty unique sound. If you want some rockabilly licks, this is probably the best place to get them… and he’s got everything in slow motion at the end of the DVD. I’m having a ball picking up on this stuff.
Great!
4 Stars James Burton – DVD Review
This one is for musicians and I enjoyed every minute of it. James demonstrates some of his more famous riffs and, for many of them, it was interesting (depressing)that for all these years, I have not been playing them properly.
What a great sound from the guitar and his style is unmistakable – there are some really great licks to be had from this if you like country rock.
One dissapointment – he did not demonstrate Johnny B Goode, which is one my all time favorites.
4 Stars Good
I remember Burton playing for Ricky Nelson and always liked his style.
This DVD does a good job.
5 Stars Insight into an Original
This guy developed a style and technique that not only has been a foundation for generations of guitar slingers that followed but is still an inspiration today. The cat can just play! The next best thing to a few private lessons. Highly recommended.
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George Benson The Art of Jazz Guitar
Eight-time Grammy-winner George Benson covers chord substitutions, turnarounds, the Wes Montgomery style, and more. He demonstrates his signature scat-style singing on the groundbreaking This Masquerade and soloing over the famous On Broadway vamp. Also included are several virtuoso solo jazz and blues guitar performances by Benson himselffurther proof, if it were needed, of his total mastery of jazz guitar.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Out of tune throughout.
I’m a big George Benson fan and this DVD really amazed me. Apparentely, he played everything on it without any preparation. My jaw just dropped. That said, it’s a pity that he didn’t even bother to tune his guitars before as he should. They are totally out of tune all the time. It could have been a much better DVD.
1 Star Misleading
If want to see a great guitarist noodle in what is essentially an in home jam session then this is the DVD for you. If you want to learn jazz guitar you might as well take the case it comes in and put strings on it. There is no real content here related to teaching jazz at all (he does his version of “Danny Boy” for God’s sake!)
5 Stars A Very Good DVD From the Master
This DVD is excellent in the way it focuses on Benson’s hands while he is playing but a word of warning, this is not a ‘put your finger here’ type of video although it does come with a transcribed booklet that includes both TAB and standard notation. But if you have knowledge of various scales and modes you can really put what he is talking about to good use. When he shows you how he solos over changes using a 2, flat 2, 1 progression instead of a 2, 5, 1, it helps if you are able to comprehend what he’s talking about. But if you DO understand and put George’s suggestions to the test, you will be rewarded. The best part about it is that you will sound like YOU and not him. If you DO want to sound like him, he shows you some of the tricks he likes to employ (wait til you see the part about ‘rattling the keys’). I love this DVD. As another reviewer noted, there is a problem with some of the guitars going out of tune but in all fairness these were NEW instruments, not George’s personal ones. I think the idea was to set everything up so all George had to do was sit down and play. At any rate, this is a very good DVD and even if you aren’t familiar with various scales and modes just watching him play by himself is well worth the price of this video. Thanks for sharing George.
5 Stars Good enought, but it cames in a pretty big case (it didn’t fir at my mailbox and the postman return it to the box office).
The DVD cames in a pretty big case and it didn’t fir at my mailbox. So, the postman return it to the post office and I’d to go to the post office and loose my time… One of the reasons that I choose Amazon is cause you don’t have to move to shop something. I’m always busy and I hate drive to the post office and loose my precious time…
2 Stars Not Instructional
Benson is a jaw-droppingly great guitarist on his records. Sadly, on this Hot Licks DVD, he noodles around for 90 minutes on two out-of-tune and toneless guitars without explaining what he is doing and why. As another reviewer wrote, some talented people are not necessarily good teachers. For excellent instruction, I recommend the DVDs by Joe Pass and Danny Gatton.
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Learn to Play Electric Guitar Beginne
House of Blues and The Rock House Method have joined together to bring you a unique and comprehensive beginner electric guitar program. Jam-packed with a full spectrum of techniques and components, this accelerated program will have you playing immediately! Through easy-to-follow personal lessons with world-renowned instructor Kevin McCreery, you’ll start with the basics of holding and tuning your guitar, then be guided step-by-step through chords and scales, lead patterns, practice tips, rhythm techniques, and various exercises. Play along with bass and drum backing tracks, and have fun while learning about the history of this amazing instrument that changed the course of modern music. Also includes 32-page lesson book and online web membership to www.rockhousemethod.com for 24-hour lesson support. Ask the Teacher, interactive tools, sheet music, student forums, download backing tracks, tuner, metronome, and much more!
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars more for people that have had experience
I thought the dvd was good but in the middle I found myself rewinding and rewinding a ton just to understand and follow along. he does describe things very well still but goes a lil to fast. I recommend it for people who want to learn to play the electric guitar!
5 Stars perfect for beginners
great DVD to learn all the necessary basics in learning to play guitar. A must for any beginner. DVD is great with different camera angles, great teacher, etc..
5 Stars Great Beginners DVD
Really impressed with this DVD. Great instruction and the music is not outdated or boring. I’ve tried several learn to play guitar DVD before but this is the first one that really seems to keep me interested in coming back.
4 Stars House of Blues Review
Not too bad of a video but I need one little bit not too advance.. but great for people that learn at a fast pace..
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Buddy Guy Teachin the Blues
A unique chance to learn from the greatest Chicago Blues guitarist of them all! Buddy reveals what he learned from Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker, and Lightnin’ Hopkins in a DVD lesson of exceptional quality. Buddy shows you a whole bunch of licks, techniques and styles including 9th chord licks, country blues finger-pickin’, double-stop licks, turnarounds-plus some exciting jamming with Junior Wells and Arlen Roth. A supreme lesson in The Blues from the man Eric Clapton once called “by far and without doubt, the best guitar player alive!”
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Not for Beginners
This is Buddy Guy doing a Master Class in blues guitar playing. While I found it fascinating to watch his technique (right hand, especially -he plays with his fingernails like a Flamenco guitarist)I am years away from being able to reap any reasonable benefits. Unfortunately, this is marketed as if it were suitable for anybody, and it clearly is only for somewhat accomplished players. The picture quality was not good, with the color balance way off: everything was purple.
5 Stars The Bluest of the Blues
The is a fantastic DVD a must have for all guitarists. It gives you the nuts and bolts to play authentic vintage blues. Buddy lays it in your lap. The slow motion section (which does not alter pitch) is outstanding. How anyone can say anything else is beyond me, do not delay, if you want to play the blues, GET THIS DVD NOW!
4 Stars licks like the pros
I have this Hot Licks video on VHS, and I really like it. It’s true he isn’t playing his licks from his records, but he’s teaching the blues, going back to Muddy Waters and Lightning Hopkins all the way to the I guess the 90s, by way of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. It’s like blues music appreciation lessons… aren’t you supposed to slow down records to learn licks like the pros?
It does repeat itself, maybe Arlen Roth could of fixed the continuity, and it could put you into a trance with it’s slow pace, but that’s what you want music to do anyways, isn’t it?
5 Stars Wow! I’m Glad I got this!
Review is about Buddy Guy: Teachin’ the Blues
I almost didn’t get this DVD because of the negative review on this site.
Man! I am SO glad I didn’t listen to that review and bought it anyway!
I figured it would be worth the price to watch Buddy Guy, even if it wasn’t such a good teaching tool, so I ordered it. I was very pleasantly surprised.
First, It DOES come with a booklet of tablature that’s tucked right in the clips of the front half of the case.
Now about the DVD; It has a “play” function that lets you just watch it like any other DVD, which may be all that some do. AND, it has a lesson function that lets you play each lesson individually – in either real time or slow motion and still have the right tone and sound to the notes played. In this mode there is also a box on the upper right of the lesson screen that says “loop” for repeating the lessons.
It also has a “tuning” function for getting your guitar tuned properly.
There is more that I haven’t explored yet (some of the “special features”) But I’ve seen enough already to know that this will be a very useful learning tool, as well as being good for watching Buddy play.
If you will listen to what he is doing and follow his instruction, there is a ton of useful stuff in this DVD to learn. You just need to stay with it like you would any lesson material. And Buddy tries to encourage you all through the video. He leaves a very good impression.
If I could contact him somehow, I’d say great job Buddy!!
Of course, if you just want to watch it and not take the time to learn, then you can do that too with the “play” function.
5 Stars Excellent way to expand your blues vocabulary!
If you’re expecting a “how to get started on the blues” video, looks elsewhere. You should at least know the basics of blues soloing and rhythm to be able to play the stuff in this DVD. I would recommend this for mid-level players who want to expand their blues vocabulary in a way similar to the raw, pure sound of Buddy Guy.
As Buddy himself says on the video, you learn other people’s stuff and eventually put in your own things, making them unique. This DVD is great for sparking ideas. It also has a lot of fingerpicking blues, something I’d like to get into.
The slow-motion section of the examples are very helpful, and Buddy’s comments are spot-on and even inspiring.
Buy it!
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Johnny Hiland Chicken Pickin Guitar
Meet one of Nashville’s true guitar stars as Johnny Hiland takes you through some key aspects of country playing. As well as chicken pickin’, he covers double-stops, pedal steel licks, pick-and-finger hybrid picking, banjo rolls, and lots more. He’s also joined by Arlen Roth, Bill Holloman, and Shannon Ford for some truly memorable band segments.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great tutorial!!!
This video provides detailed instruction in an easy to use format. Not only does Johnny Hiland explain the material, he plays through each lick slowly and the licks can be slowed down to half speed while retaining the proper pitch. The material he provides is practical and usable for the average guitarist. As a bonus, there are three live performances where Johnny Hiland shows off his virtuosity. It’s worth every penny.
4 Stars Arlen! Put some pants on!
Johnny Hiland is a terrific country picker and you’ll learn some interesting techniques for playing country-style guitar, as well as ways to incorporate a steel-guitar sound into your playing. However, Arlen Roth shows up to jam dressed (inappropriately!) in some really ugly shorts, displaying a truly gnarly-looking pair of legs, and, with his afro-style hairdo, ends up looking like Richard Simmons smarter-but-not-a-whole-lot-smarter brother. Ugh!
4 Stars Chicken Pickin’ Guitar
Chicken pickin’ guitar, the first instructional DVD from country picker Johnny Hiland, does not disappoint. Great detailed footage of instructional material, as well as a few amazing performances that are worth the price of the DVD alone. My one problem was that the term “chicken pickin’” is usually associated with the concept of hybrid picking, which is hardly demonstrated on the DVD at all. It has tons of great country style licks, steel guitar type licks, bends, etc. However there were maybe only one or two licks that demonstrated hybrid picking, which was what I had hoped to learn fom this DVD. Perhaps this should have been titled something more along the lines of “country guitar”, just my two cents though.
All in all the DVD is great, but I’ll stress that it is NOT for beginners by any stretch. The material is definietly aimed towards the player that already has some damn good picking chops built up. But again, Johnny is a great teacher, a great guy, and he can really play a guitar! Johnny also gives some info about his gear, and a tab book with all the riffs is included. If you want to get into some country playing, check out Chicken Pickin’ Guitar!
4 Stars Excellent pickin’
This is basically a training DVD for advanced Guitar players. However, Johnny Hiland is a “jaw dropping” guitar player and although I’m not a guitar picker I am an experienced musician. Hiland is one of the finest musicians I’ve ever seen. He is a wonderful combination of technical skills, talent, and amazing musicianship. The DVD was worth the price just to see and hear him play his amazing music.
4 Stars Chicken Pickin’
This really is an advanced lesson but is well worth it. The live performance’s are a great bonus too.
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