The Chetboard

When I first started playing guitar, I was strictly an electric player, and I played the songs that were popular among my friends. In the 80's, it was mostly what is considered classic rock (Led Zep, Cream, Hendrix, Mountain, etc) as well as the current hard rock/metal that was popular at the time.

I always liked playing loud. I still do, though my focus has changed over the years, and now I mostly play FingerStyle tunes...but still, there is that younger self in me that loves power chords, volume, and distortion. Nothing wrong with that.

Anyway, today I had one of the rare opportunities to play with a group of people who only play rock. We were allowed to pick 5 songs each, and given several months to learn the tunes before the jam. On of the better tunes we played was an Iron Maiden track called "Aces High".

When I got home tonight, I searched on YouTube for a version of the song....just to compare. I found a classical guitarist playing the tune, and thought I would post it here. He does a great job....though he does speed up at certain times. Anyway, I thought some of you might enjoy this.

Thanks,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM8209Gl ... ata_player

That was interesting George. What I find in many rock tunes is ... short repeditive phrases... Nothing wrong with that, it's just seems to be a common trait in many rock songs. I guess all tunes have quite a bit of repetition. I suppose if I knew more about song writing I might even understand why it is so common. Anyway, I like all guitar music except for things like rap, which thank goodness is not a guitar thing

George,
I'm sort of like you...I played with a band when I was 18 or 19.
I strayed away from the Chet stuff and ventured into rock.
I really got into Stevie Ray Vaughan and even bought a reissue 60's
strat with Tex Mex pickups and re-issue '59 bassman and tried to get
that sound. I still enjoy sitting in with bands here and there and I love
playing rhythm. I think it's good to be versatile. Some of the best players
can play all styles. A good example of that is John Jorgenson...he can play
practically every style.

Another guitar player that I enjoyed listening to many years back was Rik Emmit from the Canadian rock group, Triumph. He was very versatile, playing rock, blues, jazz, and even some classical style pieces. I never tried to play his stuff, but I enjoyed listening to it.

Bill B.

I forgot to mention Brent Mason as well....what can I say the man is genius. I put him right in there with Chet, Jerry, Paul, Lenny, Hank Garland, Scotty Anderson,Odell, and Sonny Thomas.

Sonny Thomas is one heck of a picker, he use to play with Leroy Van Dykes band. If you hear him...you'll wanna
go back to the woodshed and stay there.

Phil,

Stevie Ray was the reason I started playing guitar. When I was a kid, I saw him appear unannounced at the 1984 Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam. This would have been when his first album, "Texas Flood", was out. I only knew about him from having been in a Hit Parader article, where it said he was not going tour tour with David Bowie, for whom he had played on the "Let's Dance" album. He knocked my socks off...and I wanted to play guitar.

I was lucky enough to see him play 5 times....including a show about a month before he passed in the helicopter crash.

Today, there are so many players who cop his style that it is hard to remember how fresh and exciting he sounded back then.

SRV was something special.