What I’ve learned from Casper Hejlesen

[@casperhejlesen]

Awesome work, Paul! Thanks a lot for checking it out 🙌🏻

[@henrikpilegaardrasmussen7696]

I had a private lesson with Casper in Copenhagen recently, what an amazing player. His way of thinking when it comes to improvising is pretty unique, always thinking about how to perfect the music as a whole, and not how to play the best solo or play something "cool". Everything is serious and has meaning. Glad to see the internet is taking notice!

[@bubblevest1544]

If you haven’t listened to his album yet, do yourself a favor and listen. Wonderful material and production is very nice.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Just downloaded it! Gonna enjoy listening to it in between my driving lessons. 👍

[@davidwoods358]

Love the tone of that neck humbucker ... a clear and expressive voice for the piece, as is the heart you put into its strings.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks David, cheers for such a nice comment.

[@ArjanLoeve]

Great job! It was great to see Casper going from 500 subs to over 3000 in a week. I think this video will support him even further. Your added flavour was really nice, I really liked it. The explanation was really good too! Thank you

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Arjan, I’m delighted you liked the vid. And here’s hoping Casper gets all the recognition he deserves. An amazing musician.

[@mikemorgan4774]

Every episode gets better. You have the gift Sir.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Mike! 🍻

[@caculoblanco]

Stunning…

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you caculoblanco 🍻. Delighted you liked the vid.

[@hiroprotagonitis]

knew all you slow jazz motherfuckers were in touch with each other! such a phenomenal school of guitarist thought with such distinct voices! all excellent

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks man, delighted you liked it. 🍻

[@grahamt33]

obviously classically influenced -thisis so beautiful and cliche free -Bravo !

[@jamesemerson4102]

I learned this exact passage too! from Caspers Eb Improvisation on that old Gibson SG. Beautiful piece of music and lovely use of inversions and very interesting use of intervals that I have never really thought of playing. He's a wonderful musician!

[@antoonhermans8953]

Thats the great thing about music , everybody can make his interpertation of any already played piece of music , its a bit like cooking a good meal , you have the basics ( pasta , rice or whatever ) and then you dress it up with some vegetables and spices ect. of you're making / fantasy .

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

I like your analogy Antoon 🍻

[@frankbolam7812]

Thank you for another great video, best wishes and Happy Easter to you and your family from Glasgow 👍🎸❤️

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Cheers to you Frank 😊

[@mark1webb956]

Love it. Beautiful tone. I'll check out Casper.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Mark 👍

[@davidpepper442]

Hey Paul, hope you're having a great weekend! This piece was really moving. I watched Casper's video as well and I really love your interpretation. Cheers

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Glad you liked it. Cheers David 🍻

[@Taylort3b]

Thanks for the link Paul. Always looking for new music for the soul. Unfortunately my fingers no longer stretch that far.😢 cheers.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks for watching, as always Taylort3b 👍. Yes, I think I I’ve done myself a minor injury with some of those stretches 🤣

[@p90bridge]

You made me cry today and I thank you for that

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

@@p90bridgeWow. Well thank you man, that means a lot to me 🙏

[@ianandy1234]

Awesome work, love both your playing, comes from the ❤️ heart hats off

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Ian, cheers 🍻

[@jamesemerson4102]

There is a dutch Guitarist that blows my mind and I've been learning his stuff for a while. His name is Reinier Baas. Absolutely out of this world amazing music and guitar playing. I highly recommend!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks James. I’m gonna give this Reinier a good listen 👍

[@iantaylor827]

Thanks Paul Great content as always. I hadn't heard of Casper - beautiful player.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks for watching Ian 👍

[@mikemorris2159]

Wonderful. Your vids always bring me joy.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Mike! 👍

[@chrisjones6386]

I just love this song and am not advanced enough to figure it out on my own. Thanks very much, new subscriber! 😊

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Delighted you liked the vid. And cheers for subscribing 👍

[@robhead22]

Oh yes!!! So sweet!!! Thank you!

[@grantbuchanan3616]

A lovely piece Paul

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Grant 👍

[@Taffafilms]

Hey Paul. you know the way they say that everyones have its own touch on the guitar and everyone is different? Well...i watched the original from Casper and heads up for the composition of this piece of music (wich is no little) but Paul your touch elevates this to the roof. It's like a different song to be honest. Great stuff.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Wow, I love that you said that. Thank you TaffaFilms. You’ve made my day 🍻

[@gregmock6808]

Brilliant lesson Paul!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Greg! Cheers

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful Easter long weekend also Sunday is my younger sister birthday Paul ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Well Happy Birthday to your sister 🍾😊. Cheers Aminahmed

[@stratpod]

very unusual and lovely, I'd struggle with the stretches but sounds fantastic , when you do it 😜

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Charlie. Yeah, gotta admit it was tough trying to make my hands do yoga moves !!

[@stratpod]

@@paulstaffordcook8799 😀

[@marco.terracciano]

Bellissimo… as always!!!!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you Marco 🍻

[@iwokeupthismorning2]

Nice touch

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thank you 👍

[@moose6676]

Great playing once again, love the sound of the Stormy Monday humbucker Paul, what is the string spacing as I’m thinking of fitting the same pickup. All the best for 2025. 👍🏻

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Glad you like the Stormy Monday Moose. I love it too 🍻

[@williamweiss3620]

How often do we feel with our minds at first impressions only to realize that we are not as we should be. Love you all Paul. Love you all Bill.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Bill 😊

[@hifi_man]

I wanted to try this today

[@nlumby]

...that guy is great, very 'clean' ...interesting your choice of quitar? ...similar in a way to Mancuso who is beyond amazing

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks for checking it out Neil 🍻

[@JazzGuitarFan72]

Love the playing, it’s a beautiful piece! Still not sure what a “half step rub” is though. Maybe I will pick it up on the next video. Great stuff, Paul, as always.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Delighted you enjoyed the vid. Yes, a “half step rub” is just a way of saying that two notes are being sustained that are 1 semitone apart, i.e. an Eb note being played at the same time as an E note. An absolutely horrible idea in theory…. and yet, if done in a certain context, can be intriguing. Hope that helps.

[@JazzGuitarFan72]

@@paulstaffordcook8799 Ah, that makes sense. Thanks!

[@wallqvistphotography4937]

Right on!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Johan. By the way, you mention that I should check out Mark Goldenberg. Any particular album you recommend?

[@wallqvistphotography4937]

Yes the album Trio. It’s on Spotify if you use that. Cheers

[@drewbarries]

❤❤❤

[@roebel666]

Try with Hi-le-sen :-) Danish is not easy. :-) Did´t knew him, but now I do. Thanks Paul.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Roebel 👍

[@7wheels]

Cool ❤

[@williamhurrelbrink3324]

All roads lead to the TELE!!

[@plantagenant]

You need to get the Casper Hejlesen Friar Tuck hairstyle...We all know that's where the tone really lies.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

I agree! That’s where I’m going wrong 🤣

[@matthiasscheffler548]

Checked him out (Casper) and this chap is a genius

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks for checking him out. I agree, it’s gonna take me a while to work out what the heck he’s doing 🍻

[@mooseymoose]

Lol, we run in the same circles. Just saw your comment on the Knopfler Suhr guitar vid the very last thing I watched. Subbed a while back to Casper too.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

If we lived in the same city, I bet I’d run in to you in the local guitar store 🤣😊. Cheers Mooseymoose, glad you’re still tuning in to my wee guitar show.

[@mooseymoose]

Lol, maybe if I ever left the house! But to play the chord namer, it would be a min9 if the note on the D string was included, but as it stands it is a c7sus2. 👍@@paulstaffordcook8799

[@Arthur_My_Dear]

👏😊

[@kladenf03v]

You pronounce his last name Hi - le - sen. Heard him for the first time approximately 10 years ago and he just keeps improving. But he always seemed to be so fantastically musical

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks Kladenf03v. Yeah, he’s got the X factor. Just a wonderful player. 🍻

[@VicRiver94]

Just watch some vids from Casper Hejlesen and... i guess it's time for you to buy an SG ? following the same Tobias Hoffman/Jaguar path 😂

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Got one on order! Na, just joking 🤣. It’s funny, despite Casper making it look cool, I just can’t get my head around the looks of an SG. I just keep thinking Tony Iommi

[@johndodson4527]

Your fingers are smoking a little bit.just saying.peace.😊

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

You’re right 🤣. Cheers John

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

First

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

🤣, well I’m delighted to welcome you Thor. No prize unfortunately, but hey, I appreciate you jumping in so quickly! Enjoy your Saturday evening mate 😊

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

@@paulstaffordcook8799 Thanks, I'm just 4 minutes in, into the video yet. So far it's a good way to spend a Saturday night 😄

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

@@paulstaffordcook8799 It's such a wonderful piece of music. I like the route your melodic journey is taking you Paul. Casper is a great inspiration for sure, but I really appreciate the interpretation you do and that you share your break down of the piece. Thank you. One question, not related to this... I now noticed that your Les Paul have the neck pickup flipped. I'm guessing it is intentional, and also that it's not related to how Peter Green had it. Is it to have more treble from the neck pickup? I'm asking because I'm just about to do a test if it will give me a bit less dark sounding neck pickup. Cheers!

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Thanks for your words Thor, I’m delighted you like where I’m going. Although sometimes I wonder if my subscribers would rather I went back to my roots and just turned the Les Paul up real loud and did some Gary Moore impersonations 🤣. As regards my neck pickup? It’s my own little nod of respect and admiration to both Peter Green and his wonderful burst. It’s simply a flip of the pickup and has zero affect on the tone (to my ears). It’s certainly still in phase, unlike the real Green, Moore, Hammett guitar. I’ve no plans to swap it back to normal, as I like being a bit different 😊

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

​@@paulstaffordcook8799 I love Peter Green and even dissected a pickup to flip the magnet to get to his out of phase tone on the Heerby Les Paul I had a while back. I could never get used to it so I put it back to normal again after a short while. However, I have been thinking that flipping the neck pickup like you have it must do something because you get the pole pieces closer to the bridge, if only a wee bit. I must investigate. I feel a new youtube video on the topic coming up 😆

[@Biffinnbridge]

Sort your hair out

[@MrWylde-s2k]

You should tab them out Paul if your busy life affords us the luxury. Beautiful playing and the tele really does hold its own.