The worldwide community of guitarists and musicians is one of the main reasons why TrueFire is where it is today. With our students’ input and feedback, we stay motivated to continue to expand our library and improve our music e-learning experience. So, while we spend a lot of time highlighting our incredible faculty and content, we think it’s time to move the spotlight on some of our most passionate users.
In this Student Spotlight series, we’ll be showcasing a member of the diverse TrueFire community and sharing their thoughts with you. We hope you find yourself inspired. Ignited we stand!
Student Spotlight: palucincy
Your Name:
Paul S.
How long have you been a TrueFire Student?
20 years. First heard of it from Backbeat Books “How to Play Blues Guitar.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself as a musician:
Total hobby player 70 years old been playing on and off since was 20 but really started trying when my son, at age 10, wanted to learn. That was 24 years ago. So very non-traditional.
What attracted you to TrueFire at first?
The monthly CDs I used to get were fun, but there was a course titled “Blues University” that I still have, and I would like for TrueFire to reissue it in a downloadable digital format. I don’t own a good CD player anymore since I’ve gone completely Apple Lossless or FLAC with my music collection. 2000 CDs took up too much space, and we are downsizing in old age.
What are some of your favorite TrueFire courses or lessons?
Anything blues but I like David Hamburger’s and Jeff McErlain’s courses. I hunt and peck and am totally undisciplined. Also, Brad Carlton is awesome.
How has TrueFire helped improve your playing?
Maybe but it’s me, not the material. I don’t play with other people. I literally have never played with another individual in a jam setting. I’ve always been the old guy nobody wants to play with (even my son, who is a metal guitarist and bass player). Playing along jam tracks irritates me for some reason, so I play to the drummer and bass player in my head and try to do self-accompaniment.
Why do you use TrueFire, and how often?
Just brings in something fresh frequently, and I use it most days early in the morning with my coffee for an hour or two.
What is your favorite feature of the TrueFire learning experience?
The tab follow-along with the video.
Who is your favorite TrueFire Educator and why?
I have followed David Hamburger for a super long time. He is the right combination of high skill level himself but softened just enough that I can get into his zone of articulation of the material. Many of the instructors play faster than I will ever be able to, and I honestly think they look really sloppy, but they sound great (Robben Ford, for example), and I cannot understand how they are doing it. Recently, I have also been paying attention to Joe Robinson, and I enjoyed the Bob Margolin course.
What would you like to see more of at TrueFire?
This is a highly technical thing, but I would like to see a “study” course like classical guys do that is totally picking hand related. Something like “100 Right Hand Picking Patterns.” I have an old Hal Leanord book by Larry McCabe titled “Blues Band Rhythm Guitar” that really gives good attention to the picking hand as an example.
Any other comments?
Keep it up.
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