Dvds - instructional stuff

**mandocrucian** · Dec-16-2006, 7:37pm

Browsing through Elderly's videos pages, some of the titles piqued my interest. But just because someone is a name player doesn't necessarily translate to a superior instructional video. Anyone have any of these and care to comment on them? (Rather than posting the descriptions, I've just included the link to them.)

<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>DVD - SINGING WITH THE FIDDLE: ACCOMPANYING OLD TIME SONGS AND BALLADS taught by Bruce Molsky

DVD - IN THE TRADITION taught by Giovanni Hidalgo
Introduces basic sounds, tuning and technique of the conga; patterns of son montuno, bolero, charanga and danzon; and multi-percussion applications of those forms. 90 min.

DVD - BEYOND BASICS: FUNK GUITAR RHYTHM CHOPS taught by Allan Slutsky

DVD - PLAYING IN A 3-PIECE BAND taught by Arlen Roth, with Double Trouble

DVD - AMOS GARRETT - STRINGBENDING: A MASTER CLASS

DVD - ANDY SUMMERS GUITAR taught by Andy Summers

DVD - ERIC JOHNSON: THE FINE ART OF GUITAR taught by Eric Johnson

DVD - ROBIN TROWER: CLASSIC BLUES/ROCK GUITAR

DVD - THE LEGENDARY GUITAR OF JAMES BURTON taught by James Burton

DVD - ALBERT LEE - COUNTRY BOY

DVD - B.B. KING: BLUES MASTER

DVD - JOHN SCOFIELD: JAZZ-FUNK GUITAR taught by John Scofield

DVD - TUCK ANDRESS: FINGERSTYLE MASTERY

DVD - RHYTHM IN YOUR RIFFS - STRUMS, PATTERNS AND GROOVES FOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR taught by Bob Brozman

HOW TO PLAY THE ENGLISH MELODEON, VOLUME ONE: BEGINNERS taught by John Kirkpatrick #
(Is there a Vol. 2?)

DVD - LEARN TO PLAY CAJUN ACCORDION: VOL. 2 - INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED TECHNIQUES #taught by Dirk Powell, with Christine Balfa guitar & vocals</span>

NH

<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>(an omission)DVD - TOMMY EMMANUEL - UP CLOSE taught by Tommy Emmanuel

and evidentally there are two additional Volumes in The John Kirkpatrick How to Play the English Melodeon instructional series</span>

**Blork** · Dec-16-2006, 9:09pm

I can't say i've seen any of these DVD's, but i did have the opportunity to sit in on a molsky fiddle class at my university(as a harmonica player). He spent over an hour going over many scalular vocal and instrumental excercies to better link these abilities. Many interesting musical excercises were prevented. I recall a few simple sung fiddle tunes with instrumental harmonies, than a B part where the roles switched.
Fun time, being encouraged by a master fiddler to practice singing pitches with a fiddle rhythm through the harmonica while playing a completely different pitch. Had a nasty burp for a few hours. Darn draw notes present an intriguing problem...

**jk245** · Dec-16-2006, 11:26pm

If you are looking for good historic DVD'd, I happen to like the following:

HIGH LONESOME, THE STORY OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC, featuring Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, Flatt and Scruggs, etc.
Northside Productions.

BILL MONROE, FATHER OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC.
Windstar Home Entertainment

GRATEFUL GAWG, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman
Sony Classics Release/Acoustic Disc.

For instructional DVD, I like

SMP's BEGINNING MANDOLIN
and
SMP's BLUEGRASS MANOLIN FOR INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED PLAYERS
Specialty Music Productions

Some of these are available from amazon.com and musiciansfriend.com

**mandocrucian** · Dec-31-2006, 6:33pm

I find it hard to believe that none of the guitar playing folks here have never watched at least a few of those DVDs (Albert Lee, James Burton, Trower, Tuck Andress....). Oh well...

I'm just interested in seeing something that doesn't rehash the same old basic theory and technique, and offers something more unique or idiosyncratic in approach and application.

NH

**wdrysd** · Dec-31-2006, 7:01pm

I've seen the Molsky one - competent, but scholarly.

Three piece band - kind of a showcase for the guitar
player w/o much discussion on what roles/or variations bass and drums could take. Very SRV.

I've seen an earlier Amos Garrett instructional on rhythm guitar. He had a lot of fun, and covered some good information not available elsewhere. I thought the organization was good as well. Based on that, I'd look at this one.

I'm interested in the Brozman one, and am lucky enough to have a local store that rents instructional and concert videos. I'll get a look at the tape next weekend or so. I noticed some interesting info on his (Brozman) website re: rhythm and progressions.

Wilson Drysdale

**Walter Newton** · Dec-31-2006, 8:09pm

I've seen the Tuck Andress video, it's been a while though. From what I recall you do get a pretty good overview his (unique and unconventional) style and some of his techniques....he's someone who gives a LOT of study to every aspect of his playing, check out some of the stuff on his webpage (for example this article) for an example of his thorough and very thoughful approach.