The One Thing All Great Guitarists Do

[@TomKaszuba]

Your teaching is truly inspirational. On a side but important note…….the lighting for these videos is pitch perfect. I’m a photographer and I love the superb minimalist light. It’s both rich and dimensionally attractive.

[@jcbak]

I see so many play guitar on KZbin. You stand out because you play music and take that approach in your instruction. Great job.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you very much. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@darryl4323]

Wow! Thank you!

[@darryl4323]

I got message from you saying that I won. Maybe it was a bot scammer?

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

So glad you talked about it all the way to the point of the rhythm section. I play a lot more rhythm than lead and learning how to play dynamically is so important.

[@robertlivingstone3364]

I just bought a copy of your guitar, a Harley Benton Goldtop with soap bar p90's. Delivered from overseas it was less than $300. It's fantastic. Another helpful video with great playing, cheers.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks! And enjoy the new guitar!!

[@portsideguitar1981]

I friggin love that guitar. Such an amazing instrument!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks. Me too!

[@glennmickelson8239]

Thanks for the reminders. I’ve been working on this lately. My favorite example of this concept is Ronnie Earl.

[@VitalBigras]

Love this lesson ! ❤

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!!

[@tonythue8113]

Great as always Jeff. Still laughing at the "yelling with their instruments" line. Reminds me of many jam sessions and open mics I've attended in my playing lifetime.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ha! Yes we’ve all been there!

[@bruceskelton8160]

cool guitar. Nice thoughts for inspiration.

[@crazywisdom2]

One of the most valuable lessons I have ever heard ! Great Vid !

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!

[@paulreese3071]

Outstanding video Jeff! RF is indeed a Master of dynamics as the video illustrates, along with the other players you mentioned. I've always felt JB's "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" is such a monumental example of what the guitar is capable of expressing and dynamics is such huge part of that piece. Two more TeleMasters who used dynamics is spades were Roy and Danny! The live version of "Sleepwalk" that Gatton plays which can be found on YT is a Master Class in dynamics! Again, thx Jeff for a great post!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you !!

[@seankent1807]

Excellent playing as always! Very expressive & interesting phrasing…and engaging dynamics for sure 👏👏👏

[@robert_starling]

Great lesson / tips as usual. I pick up so many subtle things in your videos and teaching. Thank you Jeff!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@philjones8693]

Definitely something to work on. Thanks Jeff!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks Phil!

[@taggmanibanez]

Step one to having your picking Dynamics even come through at all, buy a 54 gold top.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ha! Not true actually but I’m saying it doesn’t help…

[@TheMrMRsmoke]

@@JeffMcErlain you’re saying that 54 gold top with p90s or guitar with p90 in general not gonna help dynamic? Even without picks and compressor the p90 will able to pickup nuances of something hitting the strings

[@guitar梦]

看过很久以前，你讲解关于单块效果器的视频系列，受益匪浅，感谢🙏

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@istvandejesus]

Recently Im gravitating towards finger style playing. I find it to be surprisingly more controllable when in rhythm parts. And since I’m not the fastest player it fits my style at this stage of my guitar journey.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Excellent!!

[@no59do56]

Cool organ track. You heard the Dirty Mule...

[@jpalberthoward9]

I like what you said about yelling with your instrument. Sadly, that is an all too common tale, and it tends to make electric guitars, and the people who play them into public enemy number one. But in all fairness, I can sort of understand why that happens. It's frustrating to try and play something subtle when people are ignoring you and talking over you while you're trying to be dynamic. I think maybe a lot of guys just give up and go full schizo ballistic just to be heard. Audiences can often be rude and indifferent to what you're trying to do. Dealing with that is a whole other subject in itself. I had started to become friends with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown shortly before he passed. I never missed a show when he came to town. One night, he was playing a "Unchained Melody" and people down front kept talking over him and laughing. Gate grabs the mic and hollers: "QUIET!! CANT YOU SEE I'M UP HERE PLAYIN'? IF YOU WANNA TALK, GO OUTSIDE!" They shut up pretty quick. I asked him later "does that bug you when people do that?" He said " Nah, not really, I was just messin' with them. If I want people to listen, I just go play over in Europe or Japan" Gate was a mature artist with many decades of experience behind him, so he could handle any situation that came his way. A lot of bands don't have that problem because everything they do is loud and fast, start on "10 and stay there all night" but it does get old sometimes, and these days I prefer listening to somebody who has a full spectrum of dynamics. I also notice that the more dynamics I use in my own playing, the more everybody is willing to stick around and actually listen.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks for this!!!

[@jpalberthoward9]

@@JeffMcErlain My two favorites from Gate were "Okie Dokie Stomp" and "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens". Just those two were worth the price of admission every time!

[@chrisg5271]

Love to you ! Awesome advice

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks Chris!

[@no59do56]

Wow ! Coooool tone.

[@jeremyhickersonsalem]

sure love to hear you play the blues, your taste is right in the area of what I really like, that Clapton/British sound and all the players that influenced them

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank so very much!

[@Win1forQuinn]

Is that a '52 Les Paul, Jeff? Haven't seen you play that beauty before. Great lesson - keep up the good work!

[@JeffMcErlain]

‘53. 😉

[@silverwings1843]

Very few are aware of pick hold and placement. And the tonal quality thereof...

[@no59do56]

Good tips

[@bbrotherton6345]

I wonder how many players never learned or considered this technique. I quickly had a near meltdown as I tried counting fingers and toes. How 'bout this.....10 to the 1M power.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi Jeff, thanks for another great lesson. I just love everything about that Goldtop. What cool hoarse and raspy tone. Would you say it is mainly coming from the pickups in that guitar? Cheers, Thor

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yeah probably the pickups. These early ones are pretty spanky.

[@dwstoeckel4740]

Thor and mcErlain…. Two of my favorite players …

[@stratman9449]

like with so many other things....let 10 guitarists play the same riffs on their own....and you'll be surprised what you get to hear.....everybody has their "own" perception and take on some displayed sample....we all "hear" what we hear...and draw our own conclusions......thank god....😀 and yes...of course "dynamics" are what make the difference to all music.....it gives life to it.....cheers Jeff...as always you're spot on...

[@jimhaubert6747]

Is that a vintage LP or a stressed custom shop? Love the tone on those soapbar pickups!!! Love my LP's!!! Love your playing!!!

[@jimhaubert6747]

I also teach my students that the pick hand is just as important for dynamics, the right hand sets the emotion, great point!!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Hi Jim, glad you liked the video!!!

[@allanbowen5574]

Jeff what you set your Reverb at

[@Fastfritz63]

Great video, did you happen to catch Jeff Beck while he was on the East coast? I saw him 2 weeks ago in RedBank, NJ

[@JeffMcErlain]

Unfortunately not. It’s the first time I missed him when he’s toured. I waited too long and the prices became a little too outrageous.

[@Fastfritz63]

@@JeffMcErlain I'm sorry, a while back, I sent you an email to ask if you wanted to go to Count Basie, I had an extra ticket that I would have shared at face value with you! I live just a few miles from the venue and it was easier to get tickets the day they went on sale...Oh well, maybe next tour, when he's not with Johnny Depp...

[@jessejacobs3792]

Pulling out the vintage

[@JeffMcErlain]

😉

[@no59do56]

Schofield Bump. Ago go go

[@Rich-NH]

You’re killing me with that tone though. How can I get that in my bedroom studio? Are you using the Two Rock with attenuation? What cab/speakers?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks! Yes that’s the Bloomfield drive into the ox. The it’s the punchy green back cab with a 421 and the ribbon mic.

[@gnawbabygnaw]

Sweet

[@tracyfarmer2287]

The biggest ears win.

[@JeffMcErlain]

True!

[@kodykindhart5644]

Not just guitarists Dynamic is the name of the game

[@JeffMcErlain]

Amen!!

[@niguel4438]

Beautiful, less is more notes. Thanks.

[@Mondoslug]

Yeah man...that guitar is you.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

The one thing all great guitarists do is practice their asses off for years.

[@Tonetwisters]

They change their strings on a REGULAR basis, as in every couple of weeks.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Every other night or every night on the road.