Difficulty rating: Medium – Difficult

As a teacher, it is apparent that most player’s primary concern’ when improvising or writing a solo’ is note choice, what scales work over what chord etc. It is very rare that any consideration is placed on how they should play something rhythmically. If I ask a student to play a very simple four-note pentatonic phrase and then alter it, 99.9 % of the time they will change the order of the notes, not the rhythm. This becomes more apparent when it comes to ‘shredding’, the word that is used in the guitar world for playing anything quickly.

Continue reading “Guitar Lesson: Progressive Techniques — Alternate Picking Part 1” »

The latest “15 questions” feature is with guitarist Lewis Turner. UK based Lewis recently launched his instrumental solo album “The Beckoning Silence” that fuses a mix of musical genres played to an extremely high standard. Guitar Jar caught up with Lewis to quiz him on his guitar equipment, technique and how he manages to write some of those amazing lead guitar runs…

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Due to the amount of time I travel & stay in hotels for work assignments, I’ve recently got into the habit of taking an electric guitar on the road with me to try and get a couple of hours of practice in as and when I can. To make the most of this valuable practice time, I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap multi-effects pedal that I can use with headphones, whilst providing me with a range of overdrive, distortion & modulation effects.

Continue reading “Digitech RP55 Modelling Guitar Processor (Multi-Effects Pedal) Review” »

This review was submitted by Guitar Jar contributor: Tom Fisher

I have always been a fan of Zvex stuff, very unique and high quality. I used to own an original Fuzz Factory, so I knew they made good stuff. This pedal is meant to sound like a cranked Marshall and I wanted something with a bit more midrange and less fizz, and this really fit the bill for me. Also the boost section being based on a Super Hard On is a big bonus and being placed after the distortion is what I used to do with boost pedals, so it was perfect for me.

For me this pedal is my distortion, my solo, my boosted clean sound, it just does so much for me and with only 4 knobs!

Continue reading “ZVEX Vexter Series Box of Rock Review” »

Would you like to contribute to Guitar Jar? If you own guitar equipment, anything from plectrums to 1959 Les Paul’s, why not submit a user review?

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Lewis Turner is a very talented guitarist, so much so he’s employed as the head of guitar at the West Hertfordshire College and is a registered teacher with the Registry of Guitar Tutors and Bromley Youth Music Trust. Lewis can often be found playing live around the UK and has also been involved with session work for other artists.

Continue reading “Album review: The Beckoning Silence by Lewis Turner” »