In Conversation With Adam Levy [Electric & Acoustic Guitar Mastery]

[@Evy-1988]

the way he explains what he does might just actually be life changing for me. This might just be the best thing ever. Thank you ever so much

[@petergoddard1960]

Right there with you, man. Adam has been seeping into my soul for a while now.

[@nedim_guitar]

I don't feel the same way, but I am happy for you! Also, I didn't pay enough attention, so I'll have to go back to this video again.

[@periloustemple8290]

Extraordinary! He shares that same all around "whole" person loveliness that is Tim Lerch. They have that calm center from which all this musical magic flows. I have been working up some originals and gotten sort of stuck. I mean, I am still having fun, but this experience today has inspired me to reconsider what is important in these songs. Thanks for tuning me up! Love you all!

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

1:57 He did the chord! He did it, folks! 😆

[@alessandrodecarli2462]

😂😂😂❤

[@lacuna198928]

Seemed like a tribute to the pedalshow channel! haha

[@Isaac-Draper]

You know it's a great show when you immediately go and play your guitar when it's done. Thanks chaps!

[@morganroberts]

When it’s done? Before it’s finished 😊

[@mrblablablabla]

@@morganrobertsexactly!

[@jesseglickmusic]

Adam is my #1 favorite guitarist right now. All of his solo stuff is unbelievably touching. This interview came at the right time!

[@jonpardoe]

More Jazz please, from a (currently) non-Jazz player. Tim Lerch, Jocelyn Gould and now this have been some of my favourite episodes recently, despite not really being about pedals, but certainly all very much about tone.

[@mrblablablabla]

With a lot of negative stuff going on in my life at the moment, I really needed this show! Super inspirational. It really flipped a switch in my mind. I always had the tendency to fit a melody to chords that were already in place. Now I’ll experiment with just creating a melody line and fitting chords and tones to it later. I already can hear lots of ideas floating around in my mind. Truly appreciated! ❤

[@johnseaton]

Yes. This. As someone in a guitar class said once to someone else mid-noodle: "just because you CAN play, doesn't mean you always should"

[@heypockyway6652]

Some of the guitar parts on the Come Away With Me album and Amos Lee tracks were so dear to me years before I discovered they were Adam. Such a great story and a great approach to music and the guitar. Thanks TPS

[@jeremyversusjazz]

adams a super great dude and player. met him by accident one day while sitting at an outdoor cafe in nyc back in the 90’s. i was reading a guitar player mag on my lunch hour from my corporate gig, daydreaming about what it would be like to be one of the players in guitar player when up walks one of the players from guitar player…i believe he was the editor if not an editor there at the time. he introduced himself by asking “hey do u play guitar?!” like an excited kid and we chatted about guitar for a good while… then he split-“i gotta get to a session” or words to that effect. i’ve often wondered if he was heading to the Norah Jones sessions since this would’ve been exactly the time he says he moved back to New York to do those sessions. I asked him via comms on his own channel and he could not remember tho he said he remembered our meeting. so I’m just gonna say that is, in fact, where he was going and leave it at that! Nobody does more with less than adam. not even bill frisell. a true artist.

[@rinosphere]

Besides the guitar wisdom and great vibe, can I just day how good the video production is? Sound. Colour. Lighting. All on point. Well done lads.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thanks Rino. I obsess about that stuff and as time goes by, we get incrementally better at it! Mick here.

[@fotoajojo]

Met Adam back in 90s at a guitar workshop. He got on stage with Pat Martino who told him he should put his playing more forward. Glad he stayed true to himself. So measured and soulful and about giving to other musicians. So many jazz players are like talking to an alien-if you can’t understand them they have no time for you. Adam taught exactly as you see him here. No ego and really supportive of everyone’s journey no matter their level.

[@spiltmilk615]

This is a kindness, gentlemen. A+ human being and musician.

[@morecheesemt]

love it!! thank you! Bill Frisell would be a great guest too... :)

[@ThatPedalShow]

Yes he would!

[@unautomne1980]

@@ThatPedalShow Adam Levy is one of my two all time favourite players and musicians, the other one being Jim Campilongo. Thank you guys for hosting him finally ; now I'll be waiting for Jim ! And Bill Frisell would be great to host too, even if he does not seem very much at ease with speaking about himself. By the way, I had the great privilege to be able to take a few group lessons with Adam during lockdown in spring 2020 : they were not private lessons, just live sessions he was kind enough to offer during this very special time through his Patreon. I wish I were able to keep up, but it nonetheless has changed the way I play and it made me a better player. He is inspiring, and a very skilled and passionate teacher. Cheers Adam !

[@fivewattworld]

So nice to see my friend Adam here. Smart of you guys to enjoy listening to his musical life and experience. Bravo!

[@AdamMillerGuitar]

Adam is the best - thanks so much for having him on the show!

[@michaelkay611]

Thank you gents for a brilliant conversation. What Adam said around 1:05:00 about playing what you hear, rather than patterns, is as simple and profound as it gets. One thing I wonder if other folks experience: so many years of playing from patterns has constrained my imagination when I hold the guitar. Without the guitar, I can imagine melodies and lines in my head. But holding the guitar, they disappear and it takes massive effort to find them rather than default to things based on patterns. Does anyone else experience this? Learning to play simple melodies and composing your own, I suppose, and really training your ear, are the pathways out of it. Takes a lot of work. Anyway, thank you TPS!

[@grrrahg]

We had Adam play at our “house party” at a lighthouse in North Scotland, probably 15 years ago. It remains one of my musical highlights. I found him very inspiring. I play his albums frequently.

[@jamesridener3573]

Great show. Adam’s restraint and overall thoughtfulness is so refreshing. And you can even hear it in his speech. A great example of allowing yourself to be yourself.

[@scottcurry4116]

Lovely show! The jazz folks you have on the show are so beautifully chill! Adam was brilliant! Many thanks.

[@funk411]

I took lessons from him over 30 years ago in San Francisco. A great educator and a cool dude.

[@andyw6026]

Goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful man.......thank you both for bringing him to TPS and thank you Adam....

[@TheAdArchive]

You really need to get the Slowdive guys on. If there’s one band that uses pedals (a lot of pedals) and have an amazing story to tell then it’s Slowdive!

[@KyleByquist]

had the pleasure of having Adam as a teacher and mentor when I was in music school; wise beyond words and such a genuinely wonderful human

[@oldkokochen1593]

Between this gentleman and the Simon Jarrett episodes, you have created ASMR for guitarists. Well done, sirs!

[@periloustemple8290]

I so agree. I am adding Tim Lerch to that list. I know he has not been on the show (yet), but Julian Lage has that thing, too. I mean great players all - but something bigger on the inside with these cats - like the TARDIS itself.

[@groovepooper]

Great show guys! Adam is a true gem, and I absolutely devoured Norah's first two records. What's even crazier to imagine is that he played in her band together with the amazing Robbie McIntosh!

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Learning to do "... all that, all at once." is the valuable gift of a performance. Practicing "performing" along with others before entering a rehearsal space is not the same as actually listening to other players there. It's the "listening" that conditions each player to hear the other before each carries that "hearing" to the "live venue. The goal of a rehearsal is to "prove' the level of "concert" which must be "carried' so it can be "delivered". So, practicing "delivering" is greater the the sum of parts and hones those "skill elements".

[@rossgillcreative]

By far the best interview/guest you’ve ever had on the show

[@jpaw1325]

TPS and Adam Levy… what a perfect pairing.

[@kimronningen]

The greatest guy ever! What a guitar player and an amazing dude! All the stuff he said really resonates with me, and I feel the same way about wanting to be the guitar player that doesn’t do the flashy stuff. One thing that I’m not able to do it, but it does not attracts me either. This kind of playing attracts me! Cheers from Norway!

[@brettliebermanmusic]

Read his book a few months ago. Well worth the read. I have been playing for 34 years and still learned some new tips.

[@thomasspieth6001]

TPS. Thanks for going in depth with Adam Levy!

[@BaronsDuju]

Such a relaxed and comforting demeanour about this guy.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

My greatest musical pleasure is the arranging of my own or other's compositions which then become more my own in the process. Later the increased pleasure in the sharing of that arrangement when other players notice some "beauty" added. To impress others is like a beating, but to gift others is a sharing well received.

[@40WattPodcast]

An absolute inspiration - I love Adam Levy and I’ve never heard a more earnest laugher in my entire life ❤

[@jesseshookman8502]

Adam is so cool. His "Come Away With Me" solo turned my head the first time I heard it - it's so great, so musical.

[@bustalick335]

Great episode, guys. Now I will have to go down the rabbit hole, which is Adam Levy😊😊😊😊

[@macsarcule]

Just brilliant. What a great interview. So much learning! So great! ✌️😌🎸

[@PaddyBlight]

Came in not really knowing anything about Adam… but this is up there in my favourite episodes. I wish all my students would watch and absorb the wisdom within!

[@mattbrammer]

Wow! What a lovely legend. I've been shopping at Bandcamp already!

[@goswo]

YES. Adam is The Boss and such a fine Gentleman ❤

[@WillBrahm]

Adam is so great. Thank you guys

[@mardin56]

First rate conversation and invaluable guitar wisdom.

[@jakeallama22]

I love Adam’s style! My favourite solo to date is the solo from nightingale when he was playing with Norah Jones.

[@bobmorris5864]

So enlightening. Thanks for doing this show. Melody and harmony are everything to me. Thanks SO much TPS.

[@cmpoole]

Spry is an awesome album, Adam is such an expressive player.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

What I pay "solo" is nothing like what I bring to a "band". When I'm given an opportunity to "solo" it's less a true solo and more an opportunity to "receive", "interpret", and then "return" to "tune" back to the band. Those three phased keep me "in" the band and 'in the moment" of the assemblage of player's performance. I believe my playing grows more during a performance when I "stay alive".

[@psychonaut689]

Another great episode TPS. It's not about complexity necessarily, but hearing the beauty in the notes and sharing this with others. Fab!

[@MichaelWatts]

Just the most gorgeous player out there

[@BCarpenter2314]

Adam Levy, Simon Jarret, Tim Lerch... imagine them all together in some sort of jam. The sounds you might hear for the first time would be astonishing! Cheers!

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

As a fingerstyle acoustic guitar player (not the tap/slap type) who moved to electric blues lead, and then solo original instrumentals on acoustic, then electric I never feared repetition. I use the core blended "riff" within a partial chord exploring a rhythm as base for the next reply expanding the piece. Later, to accompanying myself when I added singing, I realized repetition of playing was required but I could move up or down the neck and into different fingerings for effect. Then, I was invited to join a horn band and tried to morph into a triad azz box player. I ended up using a 339 and keeping my ears open for what was missing while keeping my playing minimal (except for the frequent solos). Now I am joining them in an expanding repertoire slowly diverging from "real book" tunes. More Pop, R&B, and blues, and some Bossa Nova.

[@Colinjohnmusic]

Nice to see Adam classing up the joint here, not that you two need that. Such a tasty anti-hero musician, a consummate professional. Bravo!

[@chrisegg7936]

I promise I was paying attention to the actual important lessons but also it's really cooling seeing the EAE limelight, a pedal designed in collaboration with Touche Amore, on a player like Adam's board!

[@mattelder9147]

Definitely gonna try the simple melody in different keys and different places. The simple melodies should drive learning.

[@jthiessen4157]

Adam is the most unlikely KZbin star which is maybe what makes him so interesting. He supports others so effectively he nearly disappears himself but he's so good at it that eventually some attention comes around

[@dwaynejessome1728]

What an entertaining 73 minutes! A soft spoken giant giving us a peak at a world that I want to know so much more about. Great interview Gents & thanks for giving this type of an interview a platform

[@UnitedEffect]

I was a little surprised that Dan hadn't heard of Jimmy Wyble. It's certainly worth checking out his recordings and educational material. Jimmy Wyble, George Van Eps, et al are worth knowing about for some wonderful harmony! Give them a listen guys. Adam Levy was fortunate to have studied at Dick Grove's School Of Music and with Ted Greene...! I completely get what he says about a guitarist's role is like that of a horn section, and with "chord melody" so many look at it from the root or bottom to the top, which is "backwards". Perhaps it should be called melody chords... looking at it from top to bottom...! Thanks for another wonderful show!!!

[@timhall7771]

So this video drops today... ...a few years back I discovered John Smith through a TPS video with him (and more recently another one), and last night I got to see him play live - so good, so glad to have found his music here - and today I learn of someone new to me who (arrgh!) I just missed and will have to look out for in future. Thanks for bringing us the good stuff!

[@DavidComdico]

Adam is a great teacher and musician. And those Collings sure are beautiful. Great show.

[@kristofer_merritt2923]

Keep these coming! This was a beautiful lesson and conversation. Could have listened to several hours of you guys and Adam.

[@wallqvistphotography4937]

Man, if he's looking for a new buddy I'm there. What a wonderful guy!

[@jeremiahMc11]

I love watching players like this that do that swaying thing while they play. It's like he's dancing with his guitar and I guarantee on some unmeasurable level that it improves everything. 34:11

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Yes! The germ of an idea thrives or withers with its acceptance. In music the acceptability always comes down to the arrangement which includes instrumentation which is suited to those who would accept it.

[@BerniM10]

Agree wholeheartedly re the Tim Lerch reference. We (I) spend so much time chasing other people's sounds and trying to get into stuff that's seen as cool.. It's good to be reassured about following your own path.

[@blues61]

Thank you TPS! Thank you Adam Levy!

[@jt3483]

Still watching this, but had to pop in while I remember... Gerald Wilson was my Jazz Appreciation Professor at UCLA! Such a cool guy and infinite knowledge ❤

[@johnelcanrab2114]

Amazing intro tone. Great player. Great human. Great episode.

[@SSvebor]

Now, that's some wonderful stuff.

[@jrchanning]

This was terrific, what a great player Adam is and the way he talks and explains things is rather hypnotic !!, great episode 😄

[@anthonyalfredyorke1621]

Great show LEG END'S, what an interesting Artist I don't know this man's work but now I'm going to find out more, a lot of what he says is a little beyond me but he makes me want to know more. What a Gentleman , to have the confidence just to be yourself is a hard earned thing. PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE ❤❤.

[@mattkeating1396]

That was an amazing show. Such simple and useful advice too

[@WoolyFox]

Really enjoyed this episode, very timely for me in my playing journey. I have been focusing on playing only the top 3 or 4 strings in my band's song arrangements so I don't end up playing the same parts as the rhythm player. Voice leading is a useful skill and melody driven progressions are amazing.

[@gregdittman7610]

I feel like I just got out of church. The message was not flashy, but it was profound.

[@timchalmers1700]

Excellent video! Thanks guys!

[@joetoe9207]

So soothing

[@jimgroce9487]

Such a lovely guy, thanks for getting him on.

[@jhowellkc]

Always loved Adam’s writing from way back. One thing that’s always stuck with me is his thing of using the “kernels”. Even in noise rock, it’s helped me get out of my own way when it’s what’s needed.

[@pj_day]

Adam is such a deep, tasteful player. Everything you need, nothing you don’t. Completely refreshing.

[@DaveElke]

Excellent hang and insightful interview. Thanks guys

[@gurrgurr1023]

Wow, so inspiring!

[@JohnB1956]

Awesome... Sometimes the penny drops, the last few weeks I been practicing "shell chords" using just 2nd. 3rd and 4th fingers on my fretting hand. (My first finger got a bit mangle in 1981)

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Exactly! Elements which make up music are validated when the hearers experience a broadening or deepening of sensory abilities. First response is always how it makes the hearer "feel" .his can differ with the "mood" requirements of the listener. There is always a intellectual component but, if it has to be explained, it hasn't been "gotten". Any playing technique (and with any terminology) which enhances the "getting" should not be held "off limits". Styles of music have developed in response to enabling the response of some cultural subset. Those "subsets" are brought more closely together when "crossover" occurs. Ay time appreciation becomes noticed beyond "cultural boundaries" the listener has "crossed over". It's not the label, but the people, which count.

[@DirtyDavesDirt]

Another great show, I always enjoy listening and learning from these extraordinary people.

[@RobbieBarnby]

Awesome! Love Adam's playing.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Hey Robbie, love yours too man!

[@justinguitarcia]

The maestro of patient playing

[@RobertSaxy]

19:47 I’ve always said that electric guitar took over the job of the horn section in pop music, that’s why I’ve always been attracted to it 43:38 the key to being able to follow your ear is knowing where/if your writing it could just be knowing how to get to the notes are and then being comfortable finding them 1:00:51 the thing I think makes music the powerful art form that it is is that it is the manipulation of spacetime, here on earth we get to experience it as sound

[@kcole4001]

A brilliant, very enjoyable and informational show! Mr. Levy certainly has a natural and comfortable way of explaining the subject, I found it quite revealing. Bravo! 👍👍

[@justinguitarcia]

Oooo cant wait to watch this, Adam is a true master

[@nicomiguelguitar]

The best! I often think about voice leading as, "just play the closest note you possibly can," and it tends to work out.

[@jakekatzsound]

That EAE Limelight pedal is a joint venture with some of my friends in the band Touché Amoré (whose band couldn't be audibly further from Mr. Levy's style it seems). Clayton and Nick both very intentionally play single coil Fender guitars through Fender (or similar amps) and use it all to create some very excellent, heavy post-hardcore music; genre labels be damned. What a delight to hear the Limelight used in such a different context.

[@nealpike6611]

Touche amore are one my favourite bands I squealed when I saw the limelight

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

I keep hearing of this "age window" limitation to learning. A range of time within which a person reinforced sensibilities of mental, physical, and emotional correlations most easily (naturally) is associated with the so-called "teenage" years. Maturity is marked by the ability to continue growth beyond the "easy" years. Relatively effortless correlating is a mark of immaturity.

[@ShaneOBrien]

Another great show with such a talented guest doing such beneficial thoughts to all guitar players, words of wisdom. Even if viewers don't know at the 1st viewing, the interaction and discussion shared between all three of you folks will, absolutely have influences on us guitarists, sooner or later on, when we think about what you all had shared together. That's regardless of each of our preferred styles of music we play at home or at gigs. Long way of stating how cool of an episode this truly is. Thanks Men.

[@carfishquixote]

Fantastic interview. Thanks for this.

[@ronrumsey3205]

Wonderful!

[@astewart9410]

Posted just as I’m off to work. Will watch later, looking forward to it!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Great to see you on here my friend!

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

A few years ago, my church music director said he wanted the entire band to go acoustic, for a day. Well, there were already two acoustic players, so I plugged mine into the same multi-effects pedal and we used the "in ears" as usual. I did acquiesce to playing seated. Afterward he told me most people 's feedback was that I sounded exactly the same. Success! If we'd actually been allowed to rearrange, I could have fallen into an acoustic role - but I knew I wouldn't prevail with that argument.

[@ElPedro212]

I was having just that most miserable morning and this was just the absolute best, thank you so much Adam

[@petebrown6204]

i accidentally played the intro at 1.5x speed. Sounds awesome! 🙂

[@davidhawkins9206]

This is great. Thankyou! Please consider getting Rich Hinman (Adam Levy bandmate) on the show with his pedal steel. Would be really nice to showcase that instrument