Frank Gambale Clinic - Reliable Music - Charlotte, NC

Frank Gambale demonstrates his guitar technique in this guitar clinic. Performance was sometime in the mid 80s. At Reliable Music in Charlotte, NC. Reliable was the premier music stores in the area and always had the best gear and performances. Reliable sadly closed like most of the other smaller music stores.
If anyone has any other clinics from Reliable Music, please post.

[@GeorgeBonez]

Best music store ever! I live 30 mins away in Gastonia so I hung out in this store at least twice a week when I was in Hight School. I actually got to go to a Tom Scholz clinic when he released the Rockman effects processors. I walked out with the Rockman sustainer, Choris, EQ, flanger and the foot controller and I bought it all on credit. 😂 I bought my first Kramer guitar there and an ART processor. OMG I probably still owe that place money 35 years later! Lol 😂 Man I was so glad to find this video. It was so nice to see this awesome place again!

[@boreed5734]

This guy is so insanely good, diffinately one of the best ever!!!. hard to find words that captures his talent nothing seems appropriate.

[@mlkimpi3511]

L Love

[@amsedelm]

I love Franks playing during this time. His tone and choice of notes is better for me than these days.

[@MisterPoppy-sc1sj]

Hey he's old now

[@elusivelectron]

For anyone wondering, everbody heard whitenoise in the background while going about their daily lives. It's not the recording, background whitenoise was always present until the 90s.

[@LucasGonzalezTube]

@@elusivelectron XD

[@jefffisher598]

A Present for the Future era was his peak sound aesthetic

[@davidwhite2465]

Not only is Frank a bad ass player, he’s a great teacher!

[@tommyvictorbuch6960]

Came across Frank some 15 years ago, and never looked back. Great sweep picking system.

[@ericnaylorguitar]

thanks for posting, takes me back to when I attended G.I.T. in 86-87 & he was one of the instructors, loved going to his open counseling sessions great player & nice guy 👍

[@ZalMoxis]

Frank is absolutely an all round superb player and bloke.... what a joy to watch....

[@WillKriski]

Glad he taught stuff. I asked Vinnie Moore about economy picking once and he said yeah I get the picks for 10 cents each.

[@disorder5546]

rofl

[@downsfreak]

:D

[@xwarx1000]

Hahaha

[@joshmuz9018]

Hahahahaha

[@EthnHayabusa]

Vinnie rules, haha.

[@draper858]

I was into frank a lot during this time. Learned alot from his music and playing

[@kickinit333]

I was at one of these clinics in San Diego. It was eye opening to say the least. He's a great teacher.

[@evalex71]

This was absolutely incredible. Thanks for sharing this treasure

[@SH-pq5zq]

So underrated over the years...guy can REALLY play! Amazing straight-ahead jazz player too! Plays fast, AND musically fast.

[@itsianwood]

Not sure in what circles you think he's underrated :-) He's always been one of the big names (I mean highly rated indeed) wherever I've been looking - for decades.

[@ivonsmith4255]

I bought a VHS version of his Speed Picking & Monster Lick tuition in mid 1991 in New Zealand. That first song is etched in my brain. I still don’t sweep! 😂 Frank has such amazing technique. Met him at a clinic in 2017 in Malaysia.

[@r.l.jeffries1091]

Thanks for posting this.

[@ChrisGordonMadAxeMan]

This clinic must from 1988, because Frank answers a question from the audience and mentions with regards to the Electric Band "we have an album being released in a couple of weeks Eye Of The Beholder" an album released in May of 1988. The fact that he was playing a track Leave The Ozone Alone, simply means that it was a piece of music that he would later release on an album.

[@karilamervo5343]

The first time in my life I witness Sweeping Statement performed live before my very eyes...what a piece of gold and thanks to mr. Anderoid (y)

[@fusion5866]

Yes, it was 1988. Caught him on the same clinic tour at Horseshoe Music in Portland, OR. I think I still have the handout - printed on pink paper, IIRC.

[@karlsalocks]

Amazing upload. This is a gem

[@clintn6677]

I miss Reliable Music. My mom used to take me there all the time as a kid. They used to have the friendliest staff there and never hesitated to hook a guitar up to gear they very well knew me as a 12 year old kid couldnt afford.

[@Thermocouple2short]

same here, I remember the 80s guitars, all the different colors hanging on the wall,

[@P3t3rPizzarelli]

I'm bludging at work in Australia, watching another guitar player from Australia give me a lesson that took place on the other side of the globe but it's from 30 years ago and I can watch it in slow motion. What a time to be alive. Still can't play modes though

[@kane6529]

If you can play major scales then you can play modes. For instance play an A Major scale over An E Major chord and you are playing the exact notes of E Mixolydian

[@sean1121970]

I'm bludging at work in Australia watching this 11 months after you were 😂

[@alfredosierra2612]

Check "Modes, no more mystery", by Frank

[@calzguitar]

Thanks for posting this!!!!!

[@cozmic2498]

this was before water bottles..nice, takes me back

[@johndkastel7972]

Handful of guitarists guitarist last century, he's one of them.

[@aircooled0801]

AWESOME piece of history!!! Thank you for sharing!!! I miss the good old Reliable days more than anything!!!

[@smoovegittar]

Great cat personally, and scary proficient on that gitty. Mad respect.

[@ylst8874]

My top guitarist !

[@clusha2]

Awesome Fraank. Thanks for sharing!

[@joep963]

21:36 Ionian 28:48 Dorian 33:45 Phrygian 40:31 Lydian 55:22 Mixolydian 1:00:50 Aeolian 1:04:52 Locrian

[@theoperator9474]

Dontcarian

[@davifernandeslima01]

thanks man!

[@tanner_uncut]

lol

[@tanner_uncut]

Modes: I Don't Play Les Mauls After Latherbating

[@DeezChords]

1:28:30 Spike's Song

[@adamhansbrough1714]

1:26 Finger-ease! Now we know his secret, guys! me: **immediately orders finger-ease on amazon**

[@5starcomment]

I couldn't afford it, so I went with stickers...

[@HRT--]

The great teacher... legend

[@rudyecheverri7654]

Beautiful player 🤓🥁👍🏼

[@jamesha175]

fast forward 10 years and he was wearing the leather trousers. but he was still one of the absolute best of electric guitarists.

[@nylonsteel]

Cool upload!

[@horstlippitsch]

Awesome Sound!!!!!

[@scottyg5403]

I'm not even a guitar player and I can appreciate the talent of Mr. Gambale! Excellent!

[@emersonfernandes9664]

Fenomenal! Um dos melhores guitarristas do planeta, Frank! Qual foi o planeta que você veio antes de chegar na terra?

[@EVEROSFP1]

Frank hardly get answers in some very simple questions he makes... His stories are very pleasant to listen to.. amazing musician and really cool guy!

[@roveroverdover11]

OMFG! I was there!

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

Did you know what key it was in? G D A?

[@wilvelmedina7459]

@@MICKEYISLOWD 😂😂😂😂😂😂 D; Ionian sound A: mixolidian G:Lidian

[@ericksaulchangperez9388]

What Gear was this exactly?

[@roveroverdover11]

@@ericksaulchangperez9388 I'm thinking Mesa head through Marshall cab. Dont know what effects exactly

[@ericksaulchangperez9388]

@@roveroverdover11 thanx

[@MisterPoppy-sc1sj]

God bless Frank

[@kermheat]

wow !! thanks a lot !!

[@user-ty6do8yz4l]

Same stage I saw a drum clinic at. AJ Pero and Allen White. 1985 I think. Reliable Music was the main fixture in Charlotte's rock music scene. The place was awesome! Around this time Tony McAlpine did a guitar clinic as well. Golden days! Their battle of the bands, every summer, was RIDICULOUSLY awesome!! I still play licks I learned from the guys at Reliable.

[@TheRocknrollmaniac]

Wow, what a great teacher... patience!

[@dan_perry]

Ahhh, good ol reliable music. I spent half of my teen years there.

[@clintn6677]

Me too. I would trade both guitar centers and sam ash to have Reliable back.

[@zenosonik]

I'm the guy that won the guitar! Holy cow!

[@karlsalocks]

Were you actually a FG fan back then? After all, playing lead guitar well was at a premium back then. Awesome stuff either way

[@zenosonik]

KGS 1982 Indeed I was, and I had him sign my copy of The FG Technique Book.

[@ColeGaskins]

Do you still have the guitar?

[@zenosonik]

Cole Gaskins Sadly no.

[@ProfileP246]

Cool! But why’d you not shake franks hand?

[@rootinteuton966]

I miss Reliable Music, along with so many other places in Charlotte that are no more e.g. Central Sun, Father Sam's, Infinity Images, The Blowout, Pterodactyl Club, 4808 , 1313.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

Yes i miss The pterodactyl club and reliable music.

[@kevincarpenter8194]

Yep, if I'm not mistaken, Reliable hosted battled of the bands contests. Enjoyed 4808 when it was on Central and later downtown (when Charlotte still referred to it as downtown) as well as 1313. Lots of good bands at 1313. Saw The Black Crows on their debut album tour, Driving and Crying and an underrated local band out of China Grove - The Squids. I believe 1313 was a casualty of arson. Then again, maybe it was doomed from the start with that address 🤔

[@soulsey]

I remember being there in the 80s and they were playing Triumph's Fight the Good Fight over the speakers. Does anyone remember Mother's Bar and Grill on South Blvd.?

[@poppaboppa6000]

Great stuff here. Tons to analyze and dissect even if you're already familiar with modes

[@slipensnowboard]

Frank is using his FGM 100 signature, so the video was made in early 90s (91 i think). Some songs come from the Thunder from down Under album published in 1990 (i did not watch the video entirely atm, but the clinic seems to end at 1h48). THANKS a lot for this contribution by the way ! Frank is THE MAN :)

[@AndreFerreri]

Thank you for the correction!

[@Andy1979G]

Nope, It is an Ibanez 540s-LPF, it is basicly the model where Frank's Ibanez FGM serie is based on..... Frank used this model before his signature serie was released. When you look close on the headstock of the model he's playing you can see his whole name 'Frank Gambale' on it. He put it their himself he told me once;-)

[@slipensnowboard]

Mmmh ok. I was pretty sure he was using his FGM during this clinic (the same he used in his REH video releases) and the Leave Ozone Alone track made me going totally wrong :D

[@ziegunerweiser]

The Ibanez s series was also known as the saber, I'm not a big testament fan but I noticed Alex Skolnik playing a red saber in their video titled the legacy

[@karlsalocks]

Frank is indeed amazing.

[@albertplaysguitar]

Man, I thought I wanted to play like John Petrucci, but Frank is like the Lukather version of JP. I love it...

[@thehowtochannelz]

What a man!

[@RichardCowdrey]

if he's using that Mesa, he's making it sing

[@lawoliveira9349]

The best of the word

[@646879]

Monster player.....one for the history books..

[@markbra]

They are star struck

[@dowdgregory7105]

This was a nice find after his Mode No more Mysteries video was taken down or made not viewable in US

[@nickkellie]

Actually this has to be '88... He mentions he has 2 albums out and the latest is "present for the future" and he says the latest elektric album isn't out yet "eye of the beholder" ... has to be 88 or 87 at the earliest. I guess that we are hearing an early version of Leave the Ozone alone

[@nylonsteel]

What tune is after Ozone?

[@luigisari677]

Sounds like an early idea of "Robo roo" from "Thunder from Down under" album. Not sure but the arpeggios sounds in that way. Anyway in this clinic Frank explain many things of "Modes no more mistery" VHS lessons.

[@martinpalmer3575]

Well Spotted, Nick

[@Billbill80s]

i get the impression you are a little bit of a fan...

[@NormDPlume-mc5dh]

Saw him present this clinic at Apple Music in Portland, Oregon in 1988. While I don't remember the exact date it was definitely no later than September. And probably no earlier than April. Closest I can pin it down but 1988 for sure for the one I attended.

[@hanovergreen4091]

Frank The Master!!! Best Wishes man!

[@talimoa5413]

Toooo good👌👌👌

[@VidCruzer82]

Really cool thanks, any chance you could re-upload this in a higher resolution?

[@yournamehere7182]

That guitar was his Excaliber & they were very sword like guitars as well🎸⚔

[@Billbill80s]

1:28:26 great rendition of 'spikes song' without extreme reverb/delay

[@drumbyte]

1987 was the year. He was born in 1958 and said in this video that he has been playing for 22 years. He started playing when he was 7 according to this article in Vintage Guitar www.vintageguitar.com/2896/frank-gambale/

[@guitarttimman]

Wait! Who plays like this? Only Frank does. I guess the best Guitarist in the world. Damn!

[@josephvotta6698]

That first song is great! It's called "Leave The Ozone Alone" ! Frank wrote it! His playing is not only fast and fluid - he actually sounds wonderful!

[@lonewolf1053]

Thank you sir for the title...good song!...

[@jefffisher598]

Is the original vhs copy of this recording still around? This deserves a proper deinterlaced conversion at 4k 60fps.

[@Fast4VVard]

Whats the second song he plays??

[@pedrojoia298]

Does anyone have aback track of this song ??spike's song?

[@user-er3zw8ti9c]

Anyone can tell me the name of the second song?

[@Igor.nogueira]

qual o nome dessa musica que ele toca em 8:00 minutos?

[@MrCezzars]

GENIAL

[@UncleDanBand64]

Wow

[@clusha2]

Interesting 4ths topic and example at 44:10

[@gscgold]

Anybody have an idea what he sprayed on his guitar at the beginning?

[@joshmuz9018]

How did he bald so rapidly he looks like he would have hair forever on his mod thirties. Crazy amazing player. Love frank

[@angelonapolimusic1907]

Never got hair, he used to wear a wig. Then with time I guess he felt more comfortable not wearing it anymore.

[@joshmuz9018]

@@angelonapolimusic1907 serious? Never knew that

[@angelonapolimusic1907]

@@joshmuz9018 Yup friend, real story.

[@Sperzel]

@@joshmuz9018 it was an 80s thing, decade of the mullet ;)

[@pequeuxdarleux1480]

Frank: small in size: big in talent

[@dustsculpture]

The best version of 'Leave ozone alone'.

[@rubeng3m]

suscribed. Thanks

[@slmemoric9740]

prelijepo nice

[@giulianorocco7346]

Name music number 2 please ✌🎸

[@dorisnebel4150]

Back then he played with light speed!!

[@universaltopix]

Doris Nebel He still does

[@wayneker445]

can anyonetell me what the 2nd last mode was, i didnt hear him say waht it was because probably assuming everyone has the handout...

[@dustsculpture]

Aeolian

[@wayneker445]

thanks man now im off to practice and slowly realise i need to start again and break my guitar.

[@alainmetalbible5150]

GUITAR MONSTER

[@launiz]

Is this prior to his dvd “Modes: no more mysteries”?

[@jamesrockford2626]

this is late 80s you can tell by the guitar and the amp.

[@garyjohnson9631]

you are a very smart man

[@chrisdunnedrummer]

...and the backing tracks 😄

[@pascaljeanne8002]

hahah he's so good ! he can play everything ! he wants !

[@lewisjones4158]

1:41:25 Didn't even shake Frank's hand wtf

[@ProfileP246]

I noticed that too.

[@rhetttanner1598]

Name of second song?

[@twintron]

I wonder if in the early days of G3 (Vai, Satch and guest) if they ever considered Frank. I suspect they did but dismissed the idea because he would make them look bad.

[@wilvelmedina7459]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 exactly now a day he make look them bad

[@BenMcrea61]

Even Guthrie Govan says not to even try to play like Frank unless you are very very advanced. Franks playing is literally on another level.

[@wiseguy9202]

I put Frank in the Shawn Lane category. Extremely advanced techniques yet not quite what was popular in the 80's. Which obviously those that adopted the hair metal ways became more mainstream like Vai, Malmsteen etc.

[@twintron]

@John William I just found out Gambale and Holdsworth did an Album together called ‘Truth in Shredding’ it’s absolutely ridiculous in a great way.

[@Gregorypeckory]

@@wiseguy9202 I think you're overthinking it. Frank simply chose to pursue a career in jazz as opposed to rock which has a far larger audience, true at least since the fifties, decades before hair metal

[@wander6476]

Que frescura,véi a música é boa demáis

[@Rayquesto]

1:28:10 Spike's song.

[@SuperHotrod4]

What is the song at 21:30! Awesome!

[@thanosfisherman]

It's not a song it's an impro demonstrating Ionian mode

[@Hassan_Omer]

Great share, the only thing i didn;t like is the guitar winner should at least have the decency to shake Frank Gambale's hand when he was on stage!

[@ssquid69]

Is that Mk IIc+ ?

[@dan_perry]

Andrzej Kamiński It's probably a MkIII. I got mine from that same store in '89.

[@winstonsmith8240]

He's not bad for a beginner.

[@zero15388]

what modes would work best over the blues? Dorian, I guess?

[@AndreFerreri]

Pentatonic scale is not a mode but the best for blues (with the blue notes added). You can also treat each chord like a dominant 7th and use mixolydian mode. Dorian can also work depending on what key center you are thinking about.

[@edsadler3801]

Tons because blues are primarily dominant chords. On the V7 chord you can use any note other than the major 7th and the perfect 4th. That would include phrygian dominant, half whole diminished, lydian b7, mixolydian b6, whole tone scale. There are more but that is off the top of my head.

[@zero15388]

@@edsadler3801 is there such thing as modes for a pentatonic scale, or do they only occur with the major scale?

[@DriveSMR]

I miss the Ibanez days

[@TheRealSandleford]

The question I would have had is sure you are using the mode but theres more to it than just the mode I mean in the examples you are not just using it.... theres blues scale and chromatics and all kinds of stuff going on...

[@Rayquesto]

1:27:29 Al di meola style.

[@gooddogtrainingservices5351]

Is that Rick beato?!?

[@justincase6151]

Fast fret lol! I forgot all about that stuff.

[@vanguard4065]

Justin Case not fast fret. it is a spray called fingerease

[@georgevillanueva6926]

Thought I was the only one that had questions about it .. then I thought it was WD-40