Acoustic and electric guitarists can enjoy playing swing, whether they prefer Brian Setzer, Benny Goodman, Big Sandy or Django Reinhardt. There's that driving rhythm (lots of chords and progressions to learn) and the inventive, up-the-neck soloing. Fred demystifies it all and shows you lots of chord and single-note patterns, plus classic tunes. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
Fred Sokolow 6:30-8 pm Wednesdays, Feb 8-Mar 14 (6 sessions) $150
Learn to play the Bossa Nova classics by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa while gaining a fuller understanding of chord chemistry. You'll combine beautiful right-hand rhythms with intoxicating chords. B.Y.O.B.
Cheryl Saunders 8-9:30 pm Thursdays, Dates Pending (8 sessions) $180
Raise your skill level by learning eight great alternating and walking bass blues tunes. Learn single note lines, crosspicking, banjo rolls and more. Taught by 2007 Topanga Banjo-Fiddle Contest Fingerstyle Guitar Champ Pete Steinberg. Pete gives you the real thing, not a diluted approximate! You need to play alternating bass guitar style to fit in.
Pete Steinberg 8-9:45 pm Thursdays, Dates Pending (6 sessions) $150
The most requested song for classical guitarists, "Classical Gas" was a big hit for Mason Williams, a writer for The Smothers Brothers TV show. You'll learn to play it at this entertaining workshop. Attendees should be intermediate finger-pickers at least (you don't need to be a classical guitarist, but it wouldn't hurt to have played a little classical). Stan Ayeroff 3-4:30 pm Saturday, Date Pending (1 session) $40
In the late '50s and ealy '60s, just before the rise of surf music, there were a bunch of cool instrumental hits on the radio with great musicians playing on them (such as Link Wray's "Rumble," "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny, and "Green Onions" by Booker T. & the MGs). One of the biggest was 1956's "Honky Tonk, Parts 1 & 2" by organist Bill Doggett. It featured great guitar by Billy Butler. In this workshop, we'll learn this great tune with all of Billy's solos, analyzing exactly what's going on in each one, especially his use of 3rds and 6th chords. Stan Ayeroff 3-4:30 pm Saturday, Date Pending (1 session) $40
Through a detailed study of the classic song "Rose Room," you will learn many of the licks, tricks and techniques of "Gipsy Jazz." We'll go over the rhythm guitar part, the melody, and Django's solo (two choruses), and you'll receive a transcription of the solo in standard and tab notation. Chord charts and some of Django's favorite licks will also be included in this one-day workshop.
Stan Ayeroff 3-4:30 pm Saturday, Date Pending (1 session) $40
