[Pauly]

...is a very nice video from Eric Johnson, just stumbled across it and it's not your average video full of exercises... well there's plenty of exercises but it's cool seeing him cover his ideas of tuning, picking, fingering, string dampening and all those other little nuances that make up his playing. Great playing and tone too, obviously.

[distressed_romeo]

Cool...I've been contemplating picking that one up for a while. I may fork out the cash for it next time I visit the music stores in Bath.

[Drew]

Shawn's been telling me I need to watch this for years.

[Shawn]

It's probably my favorite instructional video. I really like JP's Rock Discipline because I really think Petrucci is one of the most talented guitar players out there. His style is more what i'd like to play. Eric Johnson however, rules as everybody here knows. His first vid, Total Electric Guitar is impressive for it being 1990, it is way advanced. I can't believe the techniques he has. At first, I couldn't learn anything but then I gave it a shot and persisted to learn his techniques. EJ is just too damn good, it's ridiculous.

[Ibanez_Dave]

Great video

I know what you mean about this one, Shawn. I had the same problem at first. It's definitely not one of those "licks & tricks" lessons (mainly because I don't have the skill to pull off what he's playing ). But when you stick with it you can learn so many cool little nuances that will eventually creep into your playing and make it better. The part about tuning had some of my non-musician friends rolling their eyes, but it really makes sense once you try it. Good stuff. I'm gonna have to watch it again soon.

[Pauly]

Having had it magically appear on my computer, I think I'll definately purchase it when I see it somewhere, since I like collecting the HotLicks videos. I need the 2nd tape though, only got the 1st one so far, it's great stuff though.

[Shawn]

The first technique I learn off that video was the double string bend, only because it didn't take me long to nail it. On the last chorus on Cliffs Of Dover, he does this double string bend. I couldn't pull it off at first but as soon as I saw how he did it on the video, it made sense to me. Another technique I learned is Circle "bounce" picking with speed and accuracy. It's hard to pick as fast as him that accurately with his wide intervals, on that video, I can see how he's doing it....and it's hard. I attempted the Harp technique which he does alot on songs such as Venus Isle, Manhattan, etc. where you pluck the string with your thumb while your index finger is placed on the sweet spot of the note, octave. Tommy Emmanuel does the same kind of technique on his acoustic playing, plucking each string right after another at a high speed ascending/descending. It's amazing how well EJ pulls this off. It's taking me some time to get this one down.

Also, I love how he does his Chet Atkins/Jerry Reed stuff too as well as how he demonstrates Hendrix's approach to rhythm playing. I really like his Wes Montgomery influenced technique too. The whole video covers alot and I think every guitarist out there should check the videos out.