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Nominated and selected by the TrueFire community, the following ten players join TrueFire’s 100+ Gifted Guitarists You Should Know list in recognition of their extraordinary talent and musical prowess. They are listed in no particular order. Click here to see the full list and learn more about this series.
Frank Vignola
Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Frank’s pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the planet.
Born on suburban Long Island, Vignola was raised in the New York area. The Italian-American started playing the guitar at the age of five and grew up admiring a variety of guitarists. Far from a jazz snob, Vignola never listened to jazz exclusively and was also a major fan of rock, R&B, and pop. The guitarists that he admires range from Django and George Barnes to rock icons like Frank Zappa and Eddie Van Halen. . .
As a young adult, Vignola studied at the Cultural Arts Center of Long Island and went on to enjoy an enormous amount of sideman gigs in the 1980s including recording and touring with the likes of Madonna, Leon Redbone, Ringo Starr, and others.
Frank has written 18 guitar instruction books for Mel Bay Publications and has recorded several educational products for TrueFire. He has performed hundreds of clinics and master classes at major universities and colleges throughout the country including Julliard and Boston University. Frank currently tours with Vinny Raniolo sharing his signature gypsy jazz style with fans around the world.
Official Website: http://www.FrankVignola.com/
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Tommy Emmanuel
Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia’s most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans almost five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. Tommy’s unique style – he calls it simply “finger style” – is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Rather than using a whole band for melody, rhythm, bass, and drum parts, Tommy plays all that – and more – on one guitar.
Born into a musical family, Tommy and his older brother Phil were considered child prodigies. Tommy got his first guitar at age 4 and was taught by his mother. He learned by ear, with no formal instruction, and has never read music. By the age of 6, he was already working as a professional musician in the family band, variously named The Emmanuel Quartet, The Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers.
In Nashville in 1999, Tommy was honored by his mentor, Chet Atkins with the title of Certified Guitar Player for his contribution to finger style guitar, a rare distinction shared by only three other people in the world (Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner and John Knowles). It was a crowning moment for Emmanuel and a title the self-proclaimed “humble, uneducated, country kid” from Down Under takes very seriously.*
Official Website: http://www.TommyEmmanuel.com/
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Howard Morgen
Howard Morgen, six and seven-string guitarist/clinician and arranger has written fingerstyle jazz guitar columns and arrangements for Guitar Player, Guitar World, Acoustic Guitar, Fingerstyle Guitar and is currently a columnist for Just Jazz Guitar magazine. In addition, Howard is the author of The Gershwin Collection for Solo Guitar, The Ellington Collection for Solo Guitar, Ten from Guitar Player, Solo Guitar Insights, Fingerstyle Favorites, Concepts, Preparations (Warner Bros.), Paul Simon for Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar (Amsco Pub.), and Fingerstyle Jazz Images for Christmas (Mel-Bay). His solo CD Howard Morgen plays Gershwin has won critical acclaim. He has been a guest artist/teacher during Jazz Week at the National Guitar Summer Workshop in Connecticut (1995-1997) and was on the faculty of the Guitar Study Center of the New School in Manhattan and the Jazz Studies Program at C.W. Post Campus, Long Island University.
Among Howard’s students over recent years are singer-songwriter Paul Simon, Edie Brickel, Carly Simon, Christine Lavin. His bio is included in Maurice Summerfield’s The Jazz Guitar, Its Players and Personalities Since 1900.
His new instructional video, Fingerboard Breakthrough, is now available from TrueFire, and it will give you an entirely new perspective on the fretboard. His recent book Through Chord-Melody and Beyond (Alfreds)—with accompanying CD of songs and video by Howard Morgen and Howard Alden—is now available.
Official Website: http://www.HowardMorgen.com/
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Doyle Dykes
Although influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and musicians from the country of Chet Atkins to the rock and roll of Duane Eddy and the Beatles, Doyle has developed a distinct, recognizable sound that amazes audiences with skill while capturing hearts with sincerity and soul.
Doyle’s early years as a guitarist took him around the world as he toured with The Stamps Quartet and later with Grand Ole Opry Star, Grandpa Jones. Doyle has since returned to the Grand Ole Opry for numerous performances, many appearing live on national television. As an endorser and clinician for Taylor Guitars, Doyle has designed a very successful signature guitar. The Doyle Dykes Signature Model Taylor guitar (“DDSM”) features an amplification system by L.R. Baggs, deemed as the Doyle Dykes Hexaphonic Pickup System. Doyle also helped design his signature Rivera amplifier, called the Sedona, designed to accommodate both electric and acoustic instruments. Doyle’s signature instruments and equipment have influenced the musical instrument industry on a global basis.
Whether to a guitar player or music enthusiast, Doyle’s music will make a lasting impression on anyone given the opportunity to listen.
“Doyle is one of the finest finger picking guitarists around. I sincerely admire him as a person and as a musician.” – Chet Atkins, CGP
Official Website: http://www.DoyleDykes.com/
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Dave Weiner
Dave Weiner is one cool dude. He’s been Steve Vai’s touring guitarist for the past 11 years. He’s been teaching at GIT for the past couple years. He created and hosts the web-based guitar education show “Riff Of The Week” which started in November of 2005 and has aired every single Wednesday since garnering claims from fans as “the best guitar-related podcast on the internet.” Now most guitarists would be thrilled to be able to have that resume, but to top it all off, Dave has released 2 solo albums, the most recent being “On Revolute” which was released in May 2010. He is currently in the process of writing his 3rd and 4th records.
Official Website: http://www.DaveWeiner.com/
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Lincoln Brewster
Brewster got a love for music from his mom. He began mastering a variety of instruments —including a stunning prowess on the guitar. It was this incredible talent that caught the attention of mainstream labels, landed Brewster a “gig” playing with rocker Steve Perry (formerly of the band Journey) and earned him a mainstream record contract by age 19… Brewster walked away from the promise of rock stardom to take a job at his local church…
Since that time, Brewster has performed and crafted songs that have helped shape the sound of today’s modern worship while also climbing Christian radio charts. These include global anthems such as “Today Is The Day,” “God You Reign,” “Everlasting God,” “Salvation Is Here” and “The Power of Your Name.”
So after six acclaimed albums and multiple hit songs, where would Brewster’s musical journey take him next? As it would turn out, inside himself. This personal approach to songwriting has yielded Real Life, a dynamic worship collection that features Brewster’s guitar expertise set against a backdrop of soaring songs of faith. Featuring co-writes with Jason Ingram, Hillsong Music’s Mia Fieldes and Dove Award winning writer Paul Baloche, it’s a project that examines and celebrates life through the perspective of someone who has truly lived.
Official Website: http://www.LincolnBrewster.com/
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Don Latarski
Vintage Guitar Magazine describes Latarski as, “a guitarist of great taste and chops to match.” As a finger-style guitarist, Latarski has forged a unique style of playing that draws heavily on the blues and jazz traditions. Originally from the Detroit, Michigan area, he has been in Oregon since 1973. He has shared the stage with a number of artists including Mason Williams, Bobby McFerrin, Charlie Baty, Paul deLay, and the Eugene Symphony Orchestra.
He has written numerous books on the subject of guitar playing and has released 14 recordings. He is currently Head of Guitar Studies at the University of Oregon, teaching a variety of classes in Theory, Jazz, Funk, Blues and Recording Technology. He also operates a recording studio, Crescent Records.
“While many musicians with such prodigious gifts would find the temptation to showboat irresistible, on Deep Play the song and the groove always come first. This kind of performance requires musicianship of the highest order and, on occasion, some high-wire, without-a-net guitar. Even when whompin’ on the whammy or bending strings almost to the breaking point, he’s ever mindful of the intrigue of a remark left unspoken, the way a deft sketch engages the eye in a manner that a detailed painting cannot, the seductive mystery of spaces between notes. Less is more.” – Tom Wheeler, former Editor of Guitar Player magazine
Official Website: http://www.DonLatarski.com/
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Justin Sandercoe
Justin Sandercoe is a London based guitarist, songwriter, performer, producer and educator who grew up in Tasmania (an island off the South East coast of Australia) but has been based in West London since 1996. His creation, Justinguitar.com went first live in July 2003 as a small web site offering a few lessons as a sample to promote private lessons.
Seeing the popularity of YouTube, Justin began making instructional guitar videos in December 2006, initially filmed and edited by his friend Jedi. As of October 2010 his YouTube instructional videos have been watched over 75,000,000 (yep that’s 75 million) times and the web site receives well over 20,000 unique visitors a day!
After over 15 years of writing songs, Justin released his debut full length album on the 28th February 2010. It contains 13 tracks which include two instrumental guitar songs and 11 vocal pop folk tracks that draw comparisons to Neil Young, Crowded House and Wilco.
Official Website: http://www.JustinGuitar.com/
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Andy Wood
Andy Wood is generation Y’s emerging guitar rock phenom. You may be saying to yourself, “Then why have I never heard of him?” That’s because up until the age of eighteen he was busy mastering the mandolin and bluegrass.
Andy spent most of his childhood playing and competing in bluegrass festivals. Touring the bluegrass circuit with his cousin and grandfather provided Andy with the necessary exposure that helped refine and sharpen his skills. Andy and his cousin held various state championship titles. At the young age of sixteen Andy finished second in the world championship mandolin contest in Winfield, Kansas.
Fast forward a few years. Andy’s curiosity and appreciation for music drew him into the world of electric guitars. The new instrument was familiar due to his experience with acoustic instruments, but at the same time, allowed him to manipulate his sound in ways never before possible. He began studying the styles of Nashville session players such as Brent Mason and Albert Lee.
It was not long before Andy had immersed himself in new styles such as jazz, swing, fusion, and rock. Andy began to study other guitar greats such as The Dixie Dregs, Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai. Shortly after, the young guitarist began incorporating their influences into his own style.
At the age of 22, Andy was drawn back to competition in the form of Guitarmagedon, a guitar contest sponsored by guitar center. Andy was a face in the crowd of 3,400 other contestants, but he quickly made his presence known as he began to rip through complex notes that had top level musicians dropping their jaws. Four years after picking up the electric guitar, Andy was crowned the champion of the prominent tournament.
Not long after winning Guitarmagedon, Andy became a founding member of the rock group Down from Up. They have toured with Seven Dust, Drowning Pool and 10 Years. Looking for an outlet for styles other than hard rock, Andy also released his debut solo album A Disconcerting Amalgam. This instrumental record covers a broad range of genres including fusion, rock, metal, and acoustic bluegrass.
Today, you can find Andy in the recording studio (a.k.a. his second home), at clinics around the country teaching hosts of up and coming guitar prodigies, or live onstage in front of his rapidly growing fan base. No matter where you catch this emerging musician, if you get the opportunity to hear him play, he will blur the lines of preconceived genres.
Official Website: http://www.AndyWoodMusic.com/
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Carl Verheyen
Carl Verheyen is not just a guitarist, he’s a musician. He has been called “One of the Top 10 Guitar Players in the World” by Guitar Magazine and deservedly so because he is a master of the guitar.
In his 40-plus years of playing the instrument, Carl has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically-acclaimed musician with ten CD’s released worldwide and is commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction. He has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 25 years, playing on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows. Carl has graced the pages of countless industry publications and been the subject of numerous articles chronicling his rise to the forefront of the modern day guitar scene. Carl has won numerous polls and musical honors in the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
A member of the smash hit British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. As the creative force behind The Carl Verheyen Band, he has released an impressive and eclectic discography that showcases his endless talents across a wide array of musical genres.
Official Website: http://www.CarlVerheyen.com/
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Tagged: Andy Wood, best guitarists, Carl Verheyen, Dave Weiner, Don Latarski, Doyle Dykes, frank vignola, gifted guitarists, greatest guitarists, guitarists, howard morgen, Justin Sandercoe, Lincoln Brewster, tommy emmanuel|
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