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5/7/08: Western Swing Style Guitar


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Lesson of the Day: Western Swing Style Guitar with Ray Benson

 

05.07.2008

 

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If you're going to learn Western swing guitar, you might as well learn it from one of the best, and Ray Benson—one of the founding members of legendary Western swingers Asleep at the Wheel—is certainly that, and much more.

 

Asleep at the Wheel made its way from humble beginnings in Paw Paw, West Virginia, all the way to its current home base in Austin, Texas, and released 20 albums and earned nine Grammy Awards along the way. Though the lineup has changed throughout the years, Benson has remained at the helm as the band's driving force. He's also managed to become of the foremost authorities on playing Western swing music. His knowledge of this unique style is unprecedented, and his ability to convey its techniques are invaluable.

 

Today's lesson features Benson demonstrating the basics of playing Western swing rhythm, and focuses on the traveling bass lines of Eldon Shamblin. He also takes a look at the comping and damping methods employed by Western swing legend Freddie Green. This short lesson is taken from the DVD Learn to Play Western Swing Guitar from Homespun, and the rest of the 80-minute DVD expands on every aspect of this exciting hybrid of country, jazz, and blues, inlcuding how to create hot lead lines and apply them to well-known Western swing songs like "Faded Love," "Roly Poly," and "Milk Cow Blues." You also get the added bonus of hearing Benson trade some licks with legendary fiddle player Johnny Gimble.

 

Click here for today's fabulous lesson >>

 

And please don't forget to check back tomorrow for yet another great lesson from Gibson Lifestyle!

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