To Pedal Or Not To Pedal, Peter Bernstein Explains...

Introducing a new series from Jazz Guitar Today about Pedals. Join us to hear what jazz guitarists throughout the world have to say. First up, Peter Bernstein.
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[@newmemphiscolorways2111]

“What does MY voice sound good saying?” Amen. Beautifully put

[@jazzguitartoday]

Glad you agree! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@jazzis4u1]

Fearless player. Using lower register voicings and dissonance with confidence. Truly inventive. True artist.

[@jazzguitartoday]

True that! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@rodleaverton]

Such a wonderful interview. Peter is genuinely an open-hearted artist who has been discerning in his own personal choices. And as he said - that’s what being an artist is all about! Great advice, not just for music, but anything we do. On a guitar level, I relate to everything Peter talked about. George, Wes, Kenny, Jim, Grant - all my heroes who just plugged into the amp. But Bill, Sco, Abercrombie, Metheny are all my heroes too. 😁

[@jazzguitartoday]

Glad you liked this Rod! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@jaredforthmusic]

Totally agree with this!

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@jaredforthmusic Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@Alan-zi2rs]

Bernstein is an exceptional player he captures the sound like a photograph.. music to my ear A new twist on old music 🎶🎶🎶🎸👌🍻👍

[@irishmuso7129]

I was lucky enough to attend a concert that Peter played in Ireland recently with Larry Golding and Bill Stewart. Three maestros but as a guitar player it was a tremendous privilige to hear Peter play. He is a true successor to the classic icons such as Wes and Jim Hall. His repertoire doesn't call for any pedal effects.

[@jazzguitartoday]

That sounded fun! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@j.s.m.5351]

I saw them last week in Berlin, amazing stuff!

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@j.s.m.5351 Nice! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@braytunes]

Peter Bernstein is such a great guitar player and a guy who has really stuck to his vision and plays the way he does.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Indeed Sean! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@skywagondriver]

PB has such such conceptual clarity: He makes clear it's all about movement and line. He takes this interview topic and makes it interesting. It's relatively obvious that pedals have their place but not so much among those who truly want to explore the sound of the guitar and the harmonic content of tunes. PB wisely links this to the more important issue of artistic freedom and identity. It's a defining characteristic of first tier players that they simply have a unique sound. It's accomplished by having something to say and finding a space where it's not been said before. This is probably best explored in Harold Bloom's Anxiety of influence and Map of Misreading. I so appreciate some of the thoughts that PB has shared in various interviews and master classes on YT: "Jazz is a decorative art." "Your fingers are like dogs. You have to make them go where they don't want to go." And, in this interview: your using an "old recipe." Absolutely brilliant. Thanks much for sharing these thoughts Pete Bernstein. And thanks for your work and influence. Yes...do some concerts in the south, please.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@bbbro34]

This just popped up in my KZbin feed, and it made me smile and had to watch it. I knew Peter when we were younger when both our fathers were dragging our young selves all over the world because of the line of work they did. Really cool to see him doing well and making such great strides in his field. I even remember when Peter first started getting into the guitar with an acoustic he had just acquired. I'll give a hint, should Peter read this, it was at the Surrey Hotel on the East Side of NYC where we were staying when we first got back from overseas and he was actually at the time listening and learning early Rod Stewart tunes...don't know why I remember that, but I do. Man, talk about full circle here, I just recently did art work for Charles Lloyd who will be playing with Bill Frissell at Sony Hall in June. Pete, my initials are NF. I'm presently working at Blue Note NYC in the art dept. Crazy, man. Really cool to see you doing well and earning so much respect in your field.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Nice! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@grahamokeefe9406]

Pete is the embodiment of "tone is in the fingers".

[@jazzguitartoday]

Indeed Graham! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@johnl.6930]

So we’ll explained and expressed Peter! This will be a wonderful series. Thanks for posting and sharing this interesting conversation. Can’t wait to hear what other artists have to say.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Very glad you enjoyed this John! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@billreeve3245]

Just saw the trio last month at SF Jazz close up. I was eight feet from Peter and it was amazing to get to see/ hear his hands on the guitar from up close. As expected his touch on the instrument is so cool.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Nice! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@twli]

I like the very focused approach to this. Thank you.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Very welcome! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@rubiera58]

Cool interview. Many years ago (1981) went to pre-concert dinner with Robert Fripp's guitar tech on a Frippertronics gig, and he was marveling at Fripp's mastery of his pedal board, knowing precisely what sound he would achieve. The tech contrasted it with another guitarist with whom he often worked, John McLaughlin, who would play around with pedals but never really knew what sound might emerge. Sounds like Peter's description of Jim Hall's approach. Perhaps it's a telling metaphor about the difference between someone labeled as a "jazz" musician vs. other genres? Allowing, perhaps even encouraging "accidents" to respond to in real time as a source for inspiration and creativity.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Cool Insight Rubiera. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@spacejazz6272]

I've seen bill frisell do similar things re: allowing the pedals to do their own thing and responding to the results

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@spacejazz6272 Indeed Stephen. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@skywagondriver]

Also: Compliments to PB for using the term "reactionary" correctly. Very rare.

[@Abcdef12396]

I love how Bob just laughs everytime Peter mentions a certain pedal he has used.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Indeed! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

I like Bernstein, he dos a nice version of Monk's "Ruby my Dear".

[@jazzguitartoday]

Yes he does! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@sondogs98]

What a fukin legend! 🙏

[@jazzguitartoday]

Indeed Sonny! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@fabiosky4368]

the best environment for PB is jazz organ and drums ,what a good sound of his nice archtop and so swing oriented and soo melodic,met him for lessons in la Spezia Italy years ago in jazz festival, nice talking bout the favorites,and he was so at disposal for questions and playing together , ciao from Italy

[@jazzguitartoday]

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[@pallhe]

Great stuff.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Indeed! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@brandex2011]

Thank you for this, Peter. What a great, and really objective explanation of how and why guitarists choose to use effects. Except for medium reverb, I play, clean, and it's often difficult to explain to people - even other musicians - why I choose that mode. So, it's wonderful to simply say, as you have here, "That's the sound I like, and, in my mind, I just don't imagine any effects other than the reverb that adds an illusory sound of open space. So, I'm not drawn to any other digital enhancements. No disrespect to Metheny or Frisell - or anyone." (I hope that was a fair synopsis, because it makes for a humble but authoritative explanation for me to use when pressed.)

[@jazzguitartoday]

Glad you liked this. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@zackaaron8921]

Knowing the works of Peter, I was thinking this would be a conversation about when to “pedal” over changes (like over a ii - V). 😂. My jazz professor would always talk about a bass player friend that would get tired and pedal to much. They called him “Pedals” lol.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Pretty much pedals of the electrical variety... Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@amedeonicoletti2690]

❤❤❤

[@jazzguitartoday]

Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@edcherry9282]

I saw Jim Hall up close a couple of times in Europe..he had a octave divider and chorus pedal and used them VERY sparingly..

[@intuneorange]

Jim told me one day he knew it was time to leave the Merv Griffin show when they gave him a Wawa he stuck it out for a while to pay for some college for his daughter.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Good to know Ed! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@intuneorange Fun story! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@boco1951]

Jim Hall used pedals when he wanted a different sound. I bought a stereo chorus in the eighties to try for that sound I still just sounded like me not Abercrombie or Metheny:(

[@jazzguitartoday]

Cool Bo. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@agindertube]

I knows it's about pedals. But I'm curious what Peter had said about the role of the amp or the guitar. Both perhaps very important for the "personal" sound we are longing to find (especially, when you decide not to use pedals)

[@jazzguitartoday]

Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@fabiosky4368]

the best question for all jazz players? how creating licks and improvising? and how to create your own sound? this is why jazz is for few people.ciao from Italy

[@jazzguitartoday]

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[@damovanb]

when I play with my trio, I use a stereo chorus and light distortion pedals only to add more color to a trio situation. audience responds to different sounds. they are not a crutch. actually I get hired as a supportive player because I play clean. a good guitar, chord and amp are my first choice. pedals can be surprising according to music, sound levels and mostly the style of music you are playing. I do like Sco's pedal sound though...

[@jazzguitartoday]

NIce Damon. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@ReesesPieces634]

still waiting for my Freeze pedal... that and a looper are key. Use them for learning and tuning ....maybe a good reverb

[@jazzguitartoday]

Good to know Steve! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@KINIONBEATS]

there are no limits to what you can be...... word up

[@jazzguitartoday]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@edwardjons8684]

Great interview.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Glad you enjoyed this Edward. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@davidblazye9408]

Great stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed this chat. Peter Bernstein has a pretty soulful and sorted view of things I reckon. I've not really listened to him I must admit so he's going on my list. If anyone has any suggestions for recordings etc for me to check out... then hit me up folks! ;0)

[@jazzguitartoday]

Will do David! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@damovanb]

if you haven't delved into Bernstein, you're missing a lot. he's such an in the moment player. tone, touch, taste, harmonic vocabulary, he's got it all..

[@damovanb]

if you haven't delved into Bernstein, you're missing a lot. he's such an in the moment player. tone, touch, taste, harmonic vocabulary, he's got it all..

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@damovanb Great to know. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@joelang4078]

Can you guys put these on streaming services? I'd consume them so much more readily.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Thay are all here on YT Joe. Enjoy! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@joelang4078]

@@jazzguitartoday I meant apple music, spotify etc.

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@joelang4078 So you want us to charge you for something we offer for free?

[@jazzguitartoday]

@@joelang5765 No Joke. This is how we do it at this time. Thanks for your suggestion.

[@dry509]

Newbie here. Can I make an amp sound better as in a more warm tone by using a pedal? Make a cheap amp sound better for Jazz by adding a pedal?

[@jazzguitartoday]

Vague answer here... Maybe but not neccessarily. A good pedal will probably not compensate for a cheap amp. You will have to try and see if you like the need result. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@DenisDeS-Pb]

for this sutuation is better to use good preamp pedal and plug into Di-box, Line or mixer than to use a bad amp

[@arosalesmusic]

You should interview Frank Potenza

[@jazzguitartoday]

We will Keep that in mind Alexis. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@mwyatt222]

To me if youre playing a 60's strat or es 335 that has impeccable tone on its own youre ruining the signal by running it thru any added circuit. You may as well play a squire or epiphone if youre using a pedal tone-wise. There are very few pedal circuits that are truly transparent. l'll occasionally take my Marshall JMP 50 watt combo out and use a 70s dunlop wah and a uni-vibe but l will unplug them and go straight 10ft cord into the amp when theyre not needed and theres a huge difference.

[@jazzguitartoday]

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[@nicholasgronewold3217]

Unless you're in the top of the top skill wise, you should probably count on being a working guitarist playing many gigs in different styles. pedals are just another tool that will diversify your skill set. Even if it's not your thing you're probably going to be put in a situation that requires them eventually.

[@jazzguitartoday]

True that Nicholas! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@JackTheSkunk]

IMHLO jazz players are so far ahead of the rock guys that they don't NEED any enhancements save for a slight touch of reverb.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Really depends on what the music asks for Jack. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@yohenson]

you see? thats how he got good.

[@jazzguitartoday]

Indeed! Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@Alan-zi2rs]

George Benson cook book lmao 🤣😅

[@jazzguitartoday]

Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@raymondkarlsson9794]

Music, as rhythm, melody and harmony comes first, right...? Not ”sound”, through pedals, please!

[@jazzguitartoday]

Absolutely Raymond, pedals allow us to add color to the basic structure if the music needs it. Many times we enjoy the clean sound better when it fits. Thanks for watching and for your input! Please feel free to Like, Share and Subscribe to our channel.

[@idontwanttousemynameyoutub7538]

I don't think anyone's saying that you can use pedals and not know how to play - you still have to play the instrument. The argument against technology has no end - how far back do you go? There are some that still believe that a guitar with pickups is "cheating". Practise. That's the answer.

[@jazzguitartoday]

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