Exercise no 9 (opus 35)

LAST MONTH, WE delved into the all-important topic of developing solid pick-hand timing when strumming. To me, that’s where the groove is: the pick hand is the timekeeper, and I’ve spent a lot of time

THERE ARE VARYING degrees of guitar hero, but Carlos Santana is a name you’d expect to find near the top of any list. Like Jimi Hendrix, Brian May or Slash, Santana has transcended guitar music and pe

In the 19th century there was a widely held belief that technique could be gained by devoting many hours a day to the practice of specially composed exercises and studies, and that the skills gained c

When we think of all things Italian, in general terms, what do we think of? And how does that translate into music? As a musician, one might think of the heightened emotions of the Romantic era – spec

Each person is unique. And we all function differently. In terms of how we go about learning a craft, some of us thrive on the visual/reading aspect while others prefer to be ‘hands on’ from the outse

This month Alex Bishop unravels the intricate fretwork of a century-old concert mandolin