Sometimes an artist comes along who just plays…well…differently. They not only have their own voice, but they have a unique way of reaching deep down into their...
My father studied art in Florence, Italy. We moved there shortly after I was born and stayed until he graduated five years later and moved us all back to the US...
Being a jazz virtuoso is no easy task. But for Sheryl Bailey it’s all in a day’s work. Whether she is sharing the stage with jazz luminaries, or doing her much ...
I made my first European trip when I was two years old, just as my two older brothers had done before me (although I believe I was in the womb on one of our fam...
This version of the fiddle tune Black Mt. Rag is inspired by the playing of Doc Watson, a pioneer in American guitar playing. Doc was born in Deep Gap, North Ca...
I’m going to tell you about how my session with one of my favorite artists went last week, but first, I have to start out by painting you all a picture of the d...
Here ye, here ye! Audiophiles, guitar aficionados and enlightened children of the ‘Fire — prepare thy ears and hearts for magical music from the artists and...
The life-blood of TrueFire’s student population is the lifelong student of guitar. Each issue we’ll get to know one of these passionistas of guitar.
TF: What...
A skunk stripe is a dark strip of wood on the back of a guitar neck used to cover routing for a truss rod. When an unpainted neck is made of a light-colored woo...
Fear is a powerful thing. It can make you do things you don’t want to do. It also can prevent you from doing the things you really love.
If you’re reading this...
One of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists that ever lived is the incomparable Albert King (April 25, 1923 – December 2, 1992), known for his inc...
The one thing that I have run across in my 25+ years of teaching guitar is that it is not an easy instrument to learn. Thousands of people buy guitars every yea...
Legendary British guitarist Jeff Beck is many things: an iconoclast, innovator, trailblazer, pioneer, musical genius, one-of-a-kind daring adventurer, a challen...
Anyone working with TrueFire’s blues courses is likely also very familiar with Corey Congilio. His playing is impeccable and soulful. His teaching ski...
Pentatonic scales are the foundation for blues and blues-rock guitar soloing. Most people break the pentatonic scales into five separate patterns, but I like to...
I remember the first time I saw Andy Timmons live. It was at a NAMM show, at the Ibanez booth. Frank Gambale was doing a demo and asked Andy to get up...
Jeff Scheetz, TrueFire’s Educational Director Interviews Frank Vignola and his student Jan Knutson.
Jan Knutson may have only been playing guitar for 4 years...
Excited about this edition of Riffage! Explore the sounds of the artists and educators featured in this edition of RIFF. Click the download button below for...
A Three-Part Story on Home-Studio Recording
After learning the basics, there are those of us that eventually will want to raise the bar, even in our home...
Behind every commercially successful artist is someone you’ll never see in the spotlight — the manager. They won’t make the cover of Rolling Stone or Time Magaz...
I don’t know too many guitarists with a Ferrari in their garage. Even the thought of that seems a bit incredulous unless were talking about the likes of Eric Cl...
Whether you’re looking for a great software engineering job or a cushy job with a law firm, it’s not always easy finding work you love. Good work is...
If you look up the definition of yin and yang, you’ll be informed that “in Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how apparently opposite or contrary forces...
