Sol Philcox Instructional DVD is out....

[Spidercaster]

..and here's the link.

http://www.solchops.com

(No affiliation with the guys who made this, just a PSA. )

[ole AZ]

This is fantastic to see. I'll be getting one for sure!

[xjazzy]

That's great.
Just don't like the way they try to sell it...

[Ignatius]

Originally Posted by xjazzy

That's great.
Just don't like the way they try to sell it...

Great news for Sol, who is a smoking good player and he seems like a great guy as well. I wish him all the best and look forward to hearing more from him.

But I have to agree with you about the way the video is marketed, i.e. you don't need to learn any of those boring and useless silly old scales . What they're not pointing out is that by copying these licks, in many cases you ARE learning a scale.

I'm sure it'll be a very useful DVD to some players, but personally I don't much care for this whole "here's how you play this lick" instructional method. I downloaded a Doug Seven video a couple years ago that was the same way. I can learn these licks on my own, but I want more insight into how these players use them and why they work in certain contexts.

[Flashback]

Slow downnnn.

[PixelMover]

Originally Posted by Ignatius

I can learn these licks on my own, but I want more insight into how these players use them and why they work in certain contexts.

And this is the information which is never proffered - Seven always ran around my questions.

Not disgruntled.

I wish Sol the best of luck and hope this endeavor brings in a little income.

[Flashback]

I just hope once he stomps out his territory he relaxes and starts songwriting. Its cool you are a country shredder. But one of the things that always makes me turn to a WAYLON style player over a MASON style player is the songwriting.

And in no way am I taking a shot at Sol. I think the kid is pretty amazing. But I just hope as he gets older he starts making more memorable tunes.

[Mark Moore]

I understand why these "licks" videos do so well. Some people have trouble translating scales and modes and all that theory into something they can use in their own playing. Teaching licks puts it in context, and eventually, hopefully, the student will have that "AHA!" moment and connect the dots.

Neither good nor bad, just a teaching method.

Good luck Sol!

[Ignatius]

Originally Posted by Mark Moore

I understand why these "licks" videos do so well. Some people have trouble translating scales and modes and all that theory into something they can use in their own playing. Teaching licks puts it in context, and eventually, hopefully, the student will have that "AHA!" moment and connect the dots.

Neither good nor bad, just a teaching method.

Good luck Sol!

Agreed. Everyone learns a little differently.

[golfnut]

Originally Posted by Mark Moore

I understand why these "licks" videos do so well. Some people have trouble translating scales and modes and all that theory into something they can use in their own playing. Teaching licks puts it in context, and eventually, hopefully, the student will have that "AHA!" moment and connect the dots.

Neither good nor bad, just a teaching method.

Good luck Sol!

Although its fun to learn the licks of those that shred them its kind of pointless except for as fun in your basement. Learn theory and develop your own style.
That being said I do have one of Danny Gattons DVD's as well as Brent Mason, Ray Flacke, Tony Rice and Albert Lee. I've never learned every lick off the DVD's and almost never use the licks as they were shown but have taken ideas and used them my way. So all in all they are not a waste.

[Spidercaster]

Originally Posted by Flashback

I just hope once he stomps out his territory he relaxes and starts songwriting.

As Sol and I are friends, I've gotten to hear numerous examples of his songwriting, and (IMO of course) his songwriting skills are up there with his playing skills.

[DblStop]

Way to go Sol,this cat has some serious Tele chops and he's a good dude to boot he's got abright future ahead of him.I had the pleasure of talking with Sol a few months back I contacted him thru the Tele page and he gave me his cell number we got to chat a bit and he is indeed a nice young man with loads of talent,he's gonna go far.Sol keep up the great work my brother you rule!!!!Mark Moree aka DblStop

[Telemarkman]

Just an hour ago (it's late night here) I played Brent's "Hot Wired" CD to my brother, who's more of a jazz player, and he loved it - both the soft jazz tunes and the lightning country stuff! What an amazing player Brent is, as well as a great writer of music!

And how anyone can become as good as yourself in such short time, is beyond me ...

[Ignatius]

Not to take this thread sideways, but here I go anyway.

I've noticed a really interesting thing that's almost universal among great players, and it's their verbal eloquence and ability to express themselves well. Sol, I thought your reply was very well expressed - especially considering you're just a punk kid.

But it really is fascinating to me that most of the players I admire are all (seemingly) very intelligent. It makes you wonder whether the same neural circuitry that is used for musical expression is also the same circuitry used for verbal expression.

Just thinkin'.....

[Thorpey]

yeah... these dvds look good for a bit of fun and insight into the stuff he tools around with (notice the reference to an arlen roth record ;)

... but as mentioned not much good for anyone ACTUALLY trying to LEARN guitar as a whole!!!

I do however wish Sol the best of luck, as he is a fellow Brit, a year younger than myself... and damn he tans my hide on that tele of his!!! GO FOR IT LAD!!!

[rodeo_joel]

I also can't wait to get ahold of a copy of this one. I've seen multiple vids on the advertisers site already and this DVD looks like it's a great learning tool.

I agree with what's been said, their marketing approach is a little irritating and over the top with the exaggerations

"If you learn 5% of these licks you'll be a monster player already!!!!"

like that...

but i take nothing away from Sol and his actual ability to play. I'm sure this will be a great video for the ages!

Cheers!

[MandyMarie]

I'm excited for Sol and I'd absolutely LOVE to check these out!

My biggest problem is utilizing "licks" I learn in a band setting - I chicken out and play it safe. A lot of the clips I watched on the website are things I think I could actually USE live - I'm dying to watch these DVD's with a Telecaster in my lap!

[sean79]

Originally Posted by MandyMarie

I'm excited for Sol and I'd absolutely LOVE to check these out!

Me too. Good luck, Sol.

[surfoverb]

That kid is a monster player...Good for him hes got a chops video.

The ad is pretty silly IMO. No boring scales or excersizes? Its pretty obvious this kid knows his scales and spent many boring hours practicing. This is the only way to get good, obviously.

[soltwanger]

hey everyone, thanks so much for the kind comments and interest in the DVD's in which I am featured. I would like to just state that I have nothing to do with the price or the promotion; I know it is a little cloying and clearly directed at youtube guitar morons. so sorry!!

however, regardless of this I do believe it is by far the best instructional country guitar tuition resource ever made; and tacky advertisements or not, guitarcontrol's production was top notch and I couldn't be happier with how the final result came out, hence why I am so willing to associate myself with the products themselves.

ok now onto the questions/assumptions:

Originally Posted by surfoverb

Its pretty obvious this kid knows his scales and spent many boring hours practicing. This is the only way to get good, obviously.

wrong, wrong and wrong. I don't know any scales. nor have i ever 'practiced' anything that I found boring. I couldn't agree more with Mark Moore's statement that teaching licks and riffs as opposed to scales and exercises puts everything into appropriate context and creates a direct understanding. I know that my learning and teaching methods work, I spent over two years in England teaching lessons to young kids, all of which had been taking professional lessons from qualified teachers for years and had nothing to show for it other than a few scales and a considerable lack of interest. after two months or so, EVERY single student would be coming back to me yelling with excitement about the jimi hendrix or redd volkaert CD's that I had given them, and they all started to develop a deep fascination with guitar gear and tone. And most importantly, they had all began to develop a complex and sincere understanding of the music I was teaching them, and their technique just followed suit without the need for exercises or scales. I had 11 year olds playing blues solos that wouldn't be out of place at a weekend warrior jam, and even had them (crudely) playing country and jazz styles too. I never claimed to have any kind of divine knowledge, but I know how to mentally stimulate people in the way that is needed to play guitar.

Everyone is capable of THIS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperfocus

and all it takes is a little barrier-breaking, I can't promise to completely do this in the DVD's but the concept is there.


sorry to get all passionate and excited on y'all, but this is something i really care a lot about; and I intend to write a book about it one day :-)

thank you all.