Shows
2019-11-2111 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastWampler Pedals (with Brian Wampler) Ep072Brian Wampler is the founder and CEO of Wampler Pedals. Brian joins Aaron Sefchick, Joe McMurray, and Miles Harshman to discuss the world’s largest pedalboard, his favorite guitar effects pedals, how he spends his work-days and approaches design, and guitar amplifiers.
Recently, Brian participated in breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest guitar pedalboard (with Rob Scallon and several other effects pedals companies). He tells the guys about his experience and about meeting Alex Lifeson (the guitarist of Rush).
Brian tells the guys about his favorite pedals from Wampler Pedals. The guys want to know how he spends hi...
2019-11-1458 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastJazz Guitar and Online Success Part 2 of 2 (with Jens Larsen) Ep071Jens Larsen is a Danish jazz guitarist who has become an internet celebrity for his YouTube lessons. Aside from his incredible jazz guitar chops, he has posted over 700 YouTube videos, has acquired almost 150,000 YouTube subscribers, and recently released two books. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick sit down with Jens to talk about his journey, how to approach jazz as a player and as a teacher, musical gear, online success, practicing, composition, and recording.
Jens has become famous through his YouTube lessons on how to play jazz guitar. In Part 2/2, he says that he originally started posting transcriptions of jazz solos, then...
2019-11-0752 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastJazz Guitar and Online Success Part 1 of 2 (with Jens Larsen) Ep070Jens Larsen is a Danish jazz guitarist who has become an internet celebrity for his YouTube lessons. Aside from his incredible jazz guitar chops, he has posted over 700 YouTube videos, has acquired almost 150,000 YouTube subscribers, and recently released two books. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick sit down with Jens to talk about his journey, how to approach jazz as a player and as a teacher, musical gear, online success, practicing, composition, and recording.
In Part 1 of 2, Jens tells of his years playing on the streets of Copenhagen, followed by his studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague (in the Nethe...
2019-10-311h 01
Fret Buzz The PodcastSongwriting and Composition Part 2 of 2 (with Paul Barsom) Ep069In this episode, Aaron sits down with composer and multi-instrumentalist Paul Barsom of The Weed Garden to discuss his project’s latest release, Boy Interrupted.
Paul’s career as a composer and teacher of musical composition spans over 30 years and has influenced numbers of composition students and musical educators, including Fret Buzz The Podcast alumnus Tony Scaltz.
As a result, Tony makes a guest return to the show to join Aaron and Paul on the mic and discuss the genesis and recording of Boy Interrupted and the various styles and musical idioms the album invokes. In addition, the guys explore how...
2019-10-241h 02
Fret Buzz The PodcastSongwriting and Composition Part 1 of 2 (with Paul Barsom) Ep068In this episode, Aaron sits down with composer and multi-instrumentalist Paul Barsom of The Weed Garden to discuss his project’s latest release, Boy Interrupted.
Paul’s career as a composer and teacher of musical composition spans over 30 years and has influenced numbers of composition students and musical educators, including Fret Buzz The Podcast alumnus Tony Scaltz.
As a result, Tony makes a guest return to the show to join Aaron and Paul on the mic and discuss the genesis and recording of Boy Interrupted and the various styles and musical idioms the album invokes. In addition, the guys explore how...
2019-10-1758 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastAmp Modeling (with Ryan Brown) Ep067Ryan Brown of "The Great Noise" joins Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray to talk about amp modeling (the Line 6 Helix), improving live shows with technology, and social media marketing.
Ryan and his band decided to make the jump from tube amps and analogue effects pedals to all digital equipment run direct into the PA system. He uses the Line 6 Helix Guitar Multi-effects Floor Processor, which gives him nearly infinite tonal options in one unit. Ryan explains how the Helix uses impulse response to simulate the sound of a guitar amp, speaker, and microphone. He also mentions some other useful tips for...
2019-10-101h 14
Fret Buzz The PodcastAcoustic Fingerstyle Guitar part 2 of 2 (with Don Ross) Ep066Canadian guitarist Don Ross is a legend in the acoustic fingerstyle world. With decades of experience, he employs modern techniques, altered tunings, and a strong melodic sense to write memorable songs. Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray have a fun and informative conversation with Don about a wide range of topics including his musical journey, his guitars, acoustic guitar pickups, traveling with guitars, songwriting, recording, his most memorable shows (good and bad), and much more.
Part 2 of 2 begins with a discussion about Don's approaches to songwriting. He expands on how he uses altered tunings to solve compositional problems and expand the ran...
2019-10-031h 06
Fret Buzz The PodcastAcoustic Fingerstyle Guitar part 1 of 2 (with Don Ross) Ep065Canadian guitarist Don Ross is a legend in the acoustic fingerstyle world. With decades of experience, he employs modern techniques, altered tunings, and a strong melodic sense to write memorable songs. Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray have a fun and informative conversation with Don about a wide range of topics including his musical journey, his guitars, acoustic guitar pickups, traveling with guitars, songwriting, recording, his most memorable shows (good and bad), and much more.
In part 1 of 2, Don tells Aaron and Joe about his musical upbringing in Canada and his early influences. He talks about how his love of R&B m...
2019-09-2652 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastJazz Vocals, Music School, Vocal Technique Part 2 of 2 (with Darden Purcell) Ep064Dr. Darden Purcell is a jazz vocalist and the Director of Jazz Studies at George Mason University. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick have a wonderful time talking with Darden about her musical journey, her duties as a "Director of Jazz Studies," how to transition to singing jazz music, and specifics on vocal technique and practice.
Part 2 of 2 is packed with useful information and tips regarding vocal technique and practice (applicable to all styles of music!). Darden tells the guys about vocal habits such as speaking and singing on vocal fry, scooping into pitches, and falling off at the ends of word...
2019-09-1956 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastJazz Vocals, Music School, Vocal Technique Part 1 of 2 (with Darden Purcell) Ep063Dr. Darden Purcell is a jazz vocalist and the Director of Jazz Studies at George Mason University. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick have a wonderful time talking with Darden about her musical journey, her duties as a "Director of Jazz Studies," how to transition to singing jazz music, and specifics on vocal technique and practice.
In part 1 of 1, Darden tells the guys about how she started singing jazz music, her experiences singing in the U.S. Air Force Band, her time working and performing in Nashville, and her experience in graduate school at the University of Illinois. They discuss the mus...
2019-09-121h 08
Fret Buzz The PodcastBacking Tracks, LA Music Scene part 2 of 2 (with Quist) Ep062Quist has built an enormous online presence through his jam-backing tracks, and he recently performed as the lead guitarist for Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music). This Danish guitarist has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Coachella, Glastonbury, and Abbey Road Studios, and has established himself in the Los Angeles music scene. Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray enjoy an awesome conversation with Quist, diving into his musical journey, his jam-backing tracks, the LA music scene, and building and maintaining an online presence.
In part 2 of 2, Quist talks more about the origins of his backing tracks, and how he built a f...
2019-09-0557 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastBacking Tracks, LA Music Scene part 1 of 2 (with Quist) Ep061Quist has built an enormous online presence through his jam-backing tracks, and he recently performed as the lead guitarist for Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music). This Danish guitarist has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Coachella, Glastonbury, and Abbey Road Studios, and has established himself in the Los Angeles music scene. Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray enjoy an awesome conversation with Quist, diving into his musical journey, his jam-backing tracks, the LA music scene, and building and maintaining an online presence.
Quist tells the guys about his musical beginnings, playing his dad's guitar at age 6 and touring as a...
2019-08-2953 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastJazz Flute, Piano and Voice (with Jennifer Gammill) Ep060Jennifer Gammill is a jazz vocalist and flautist who won the 2018 VEER award for "Jazz Album of the Year" in southeastern Virginia. She also performs with co-host Joe McMurray in a jazz duo called "Blue Orpheus." Aaron Sefchick and Joe talk with Jennifer about her background in worship music, jazz flute, teaching music to large groups, songwriting, jazz conferences, and online presence/social media marketing.
Find out more about Jennifer Gammill at:
Website: www.jennifergammill.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifergammill/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Gammill-Music-2108057676121720/.
Subscribe for more videos like this: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq_-Theg...
2019-08-2258 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastPapadosio, Synthesizers Part 2 of 2 (with Billy Brouse) Ep059Billy Brouse is a founding member of Papadosio, a band that has enjoyed tremendous success playing a unique blend of electronic jam band music at major festivals and concert venues, including a recent performance at Red Rocks. Billy plays keys/synthesizers for the band, and he joins Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick on the show to talk about Papadosio, music festivals, the band's use of Ableton Live for both songwriting and live performance, other bands on the scene, and synthesizers.
Billy tells the guys about his musical influences. Then he recounts the story of how he and the other guys fo...
2019-08-1553 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastPapadosio, Synthesizers Part 1 of 2 (with Billy Brouse) Ep058Billy Brouse is a founding member of Papadosio, a band that has enjoyed tremendous success playing a unique blend of electronic jam band music at major festivals and concert venues, including a recent performance at Red Rocks. Billy plays keys/synthesizers for the band, and he joins Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick on the show to talk about Papadosio, music festivals, the band's use of Ableton Live for both songwriting and live performance, other bands on the scene, and synthesizers.
Billy tells the guys about his musical influences. Then he recounts the story of how he and the other guys fo...
2019-08-081h 03
Fret Buzz The PodcastFingerstyle Guitar, Acoustic Pickups part 2 of 2 (with Matt Thomas) Ep057Matt Thomas has won several international fingerstyle guitar competitions (twice in "contemporary thumbpicking" and once in "open style"), is an avid harp-guitar player, and has played with some of the biggest names in the acoustic guitar world (Tommy Emmanuel, Stephen Bennet, and many more). Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray talk to Matt about his personal journey, fingerstyle techniques, acoustic pickup systems, recording, and gigging.
In part 2 of 2, Matt continues telling the guys about acoustic amplification. As any acoustic guitarist eventually realizes, amplifying acoustic guitars can be difficult if you want to preserve the natural sound of the guitar and avoid th...
2019-08-0158 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastFingerstyle Guitar, Acoustic Pickups Part 1 of 2 (with Matt Thomas) Ep056Matt Thomas has won several international fingerstyle guitar competitions (twice in "contemporary thumbpicking" and once in "open style"), is an avid harp-guitar player, and has played with some of the biggest names in the acoustic guitar world (Tommy Emmanuel, Stephen Bennet, and many more). Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray talk to Matt about his personal journey, fingerstyle techniques, acoustic pickup systems, recording, and gigging.
In part 1 of 2, Matt tells the guys about meeting Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, and Stephen Bennett at a harp guitar convention when he was a teenager. He then goes on to explain and demonstrate percussive methods on...
2019-07-251h 02
Fret Buzz The PodcastFingerstyle Guitar, Online Success Part 2 of 2 (with Adam Rafferty) Ep055Adam Rafferty is a jazz guitarist-turned fingerstyle guitarist who has found huge success through YouTube, as an online guitar-coach, and as a touring performer. Check out his awesome fingerstyle arrangements of tunes by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, as well as jazz standards. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick have the opportunity to talk with Adam about his journey, his internet success, his method of arranging for fingerstyle guitar, his gear, and his experiences with copyright law.
In part 2 of 2, Adam tells the guys about his Maton and Cole Clark guitars, his AER amp, and the rest of his gear.
Aaron and...
2019-07-1856 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastFingerstyle Guitar, Online Success Part 1 of 2 (with Adam Rafferty) Ep054Adam Rafferty is a jazz guitarist-turned fingerstyle guitarist who has found huge success through YouTube, as an online guitar-coach, and as a touring performer. Check out his awesome fingerstyle arrangements of tunes by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, as well as jazz standards. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick have the opportunity to talk with Adam about his journey, his internet success, his method of arranging for fingerstyle guitar, his gear, and his experiences with copyright law.
In part 1 of 2, Adam tells the guys about his career as a jazz guitarist and teacher in NYC and why he now spends the majority...
2019-07-111h 01
Fret Buzz The PodcastCarbon Leaf’s Guitarist part 2 of 2 (with Carter Gravatt) Ep053As the lead guitarist of Carbon Leaf, Carter Gravatt has successfully toured and recorded since 1992, crossing paths with huge names in the music business (Dave Matthews, Blues Traveler, the Avett Brothers, and many more). What's especially fascinating about Carter is that he performs not only on electric and acoustic guitars, but also on an incredible number of other instruments including mandolin, banjo, violin, cello, lap steel, pedal steel, bouzouki, hurdy gurdy, dobro, and probably more! In part 2 of 2 of this interview, Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick enjoy talking with Carter about songwriting, and approaches to improvisation.
The guys discuss songwriting a...
2019-07-0459 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastCarbon Leaf’s Guitarist part 1 of 2 (with Carter Gravatt) Ep052As the lead guitarist of Carbon Leaf, Carter Gravatt has successfully toured and recorded since 1992, crossing paths with huge names in the music business (Dave Matthews, Blues Traveler, the Avett Brothers, and many more). What's especially fascinating about Carter is that he performs not only on electric and acoustic guitars, but also on an incredible number of other instruments including mandolin, banjo, violin, cello, lap steel, pedal steel, bouzouki, hurdy gurdy, dobro, and probably more! In part 1 of 2 of this interview, Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick enjoy talking with Carter about his story, Carbon Leaf, musical influences, and gear.
Carter t...
2019-06-271h 08
Fret Buzz The PodcastTrademark Law for Musicians (with Marcella Dominguez) Ep051Musicians are often confused about what a trademark is or if they really need to register their trademark. Marcella Dominguez, a trademark lawyer, joins Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray to discuss the benefits and costs of registering a trademark for your band or music business.
As an example, because Metallica trademarked their logo, nobody else can use something that looks or sounds like "Metallica." This protects them against impersonators hoping to profit from their success - nobody else can put on a show or event and falsely use the name "Metallica" to bring in an audience, nobody else can perform un...
2019-06-2051 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastMastering (with Chris Graham) Ep050Are you confused about what mastering really is? Are you tempted to skip this important step in the process of preparing your music for distribution? Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray bring in the esteemed Chris Graham of Chris Graham Mastering and the Six Figure Home Studio Podcast to talk about the final polish in the process of preparing your music for release. According to Chris, mastering is "optimizing a music track for goosebumps for the most people on the maximum number of listening devices."
Chris tells the guys his story of how he became a musician, started producing music, and fel...
2019-06-131h 06
Fret Buzz The PodcastGuitar Gear (with Blake Wyland of The Tone Mob) Ep049What is your guitar-gear nirvana? Is it a trip to your local guitar shop, a trip to NAMM, or perusing the internet for video demonstrations? Maybe for your gear curiosities you should also be looking to podcasts, as there are a few that do a great job of exploring this ever-growing industry. On episode 49 of Fret Buzz the Podcast, Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray bring in Blake Wyland, the host of the Tone Mob podcast and a co-host of the Chasing Tone podcast (alongside Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals).
Blake tells Aaron and Joe about his background and how he got...
2019-06-061h 14
Fret Buzz The PodcastBuilding Acoustic Guitars 2 of 2 (with Marc Beneteau) Ep048Marc Beneteau has been building custom acoustic guitars out of his workshop in Canada for 43 years. He builds such high quality instruments that many modern virtuosic acoustic fingerstyle players (including Don Ross, Tony McManus, and Dustin Furlow - our Fret Buzz Episode 28 and 29 guest) choose to play Beneteau guitars. If you play or simply appreciate acoustic guitars, you won't want to miss this conversation between Marc and Fret Buzz co-hosts Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray.
The guys talk about the renaissance of acoustic guitar music, with players like Don Ross, Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, and others pushing the limits of wh...
2019-05-3046 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastBuilding Acoustic Guitars 1 of 2 (with Marc Beneteau) Ep047Marc Beneteau has been building custom acoustic guitars out of his workshop in Canada for 43 years. He builds such high quality instruments that many modern virtuosic acoustic fingerstyle players (including Don Ross, Tony McManus, and Dustin Furlow - our Fret Buzz Episode 28 and 29 guest) choose to play Beneteau guitars. If you play or simply appreciate acoustic guitars, you won't want to miss this conversation between Marc and Fret Buzz co-hosts Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray.
Marc's fascination with building guitars began in 1974 when he saw legendary John McLaughlin with a custom guitar in a magazine. He tells the guys his sto...
2019-05-2349 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastCarbon Leaf, Touring, Making It Big, Part 2 of 2 (with Barry Privett) Ep046As the frontman of Carbon Leaf, Barry Privett has successfully toured and recorded with the same band since 1992, crossing paths with huge names in the music business (Dave Matthews, Blues Traveler, Avett Brothers, and many more). Over the course of their continuous 27 year career, he has learned many things about music itself, the music business, record labels, touring, and strategies for keeping the peace among band members. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick enjoy the opportunity to dive deep into the world of one of the music business' hardest working bands!
In Part 2 of 2, Barry explains how the band adjusts its vi...
2019-05-1657 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastCarbon Leaf, Touring, Making It Big, Part 1 of 2 (with Barry Privett) Ep045As the frontman of Carbon Leaf, Barry Privett has successfully toured and recorded with the same band since 1992, crossing paths with huge names in the music business (Dave Matthews, Blues Traveler, Avett Brothers, and many more). Over the course of their continuous 27 year career, he has learned many things about music itself, the music business, record labels, touring, and strategies for keeping the peace among band members. Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick enjoy the opportunity to dive deep into the world of one of the music business's hardest working bands!
In Part 1 of 2, Barry tells the guys about the beginnings of...
2019-05-0959 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastDrums, NYC Music Scene (with Graham Doby) Ep044Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray bring in drummer Graham Doby to discuss drums and the music scene in New York City.
Graham tells the guys about his musical journey, including playing jazz in high school and studying jazz drumming at George Mason University before moving to NYC to work as a full-time musician. Graham remembers playing at different venues in Washington, DC while he was in music school, and Joe and Graham reminisce about ear-training classes at George Mason with Dr. Anthony Maiello. The guys also contemplate the value of Berklee College of Music as it compares to other music pr...
2019-05-021h 11
Fret Buzz The PodcastSeattle, Lead Guitar, Writing and Recording an Album Part 2 of 2 (with Brent Lyons of Solving Sounds) Ep043In Part 2 of 2, Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick continue their conversation with Brent Lyons of the "Solving Sounds" podcast. They talk about the process of writing and recording an album, the popular music scene, and the way that society consumes music.
Brent tells us about his approach to writing and recording an album from start to finish. He writes songs in batches, with a focus on the overall sequencing and journey of the album (think Pink Floyd's "The Wall"). The guys discuss the virtues of creating music for art versus promotion. Brent talks about how he writes individual songs...
2019-04-251h 00
Fret Buzz The PodcastSeattle, Lead Guitar, Writing and Recording an Album Part 1 of 2 (with Brent Lyons of Solving Sounds) Ep042In Part 1 of 2, Joe McMurray and Aaron Sefchick are joined by Brent Lyons of the "Solving Sounds" podcast to discuss his podcast, the Seattle music scene, approaches to lead guitar and music theory, and guitar effects.
Brent tells the guys about the different sub-scenes in Seattle, from indie rock to heavy sludge rock to folk and acoustic. He also talks about the transforming landscapes within the scene, including old venues closing down due to gentrification, and the challenge of "pay-to-play" gigs.
The guys talk about Brent's Solving Sounds podcast, its release schedule, and some of its memorable moments.
The episode e...
2019-04-1854 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastDrums and Public School Music Teachers Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Shaun Rodgers) Ep041In the 2nd half of our interview, we continue our conversation with Shaun Rodgers. In part 1 we talked a lot about Shauns current projects and teaching music in the Virginia public school system, and in part 2 we talk about the University of Maryland's music department and about drum kits. Shaun is a former colleague and bandmate of hosts Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray, playing drums in their original band, the Kairos Quintet.
Shaun graduated from the University of Maryland's music department, and we ask him to detail his experience. He tells us about his reasons for choosing the University of Mar...
2019-04-111h 02
Fret Buzz The PodcastDrums and Public School Music Teachers Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Shaun Rodgers) Ep040Shaun Rodgers joins the show to talk about drumming, teaching music in the Virginia public school system, and the University of Maryland's music department. Shaun is a former colleague and bandmate of hosts Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray, playing drums in their original band, the Kairos Quintet. The guys reminisce on the collaborative writing approach and overall professionalism of that band.
Shaun tells us about the different bands that he is currently playing in around Northern Virginia including:
- Broken Ground Band: a 1990s/early 2000s cover band (www.brokengroundband.com)
- Half Pint Harry: a band featuring tiny instruments (www...
2019-04-041h 04
Fret Buzz The PodcastJazz and Higher Education with Dr. Shawn Purcell Ep039Dr. Shawn Purcell, who teaches jazz guitar and jazz arranging at George Mason University and performs for the U.S. Navy Commodores, provides us with many insights into his story, learning and teaching music at a collegiate level, touring with the Ringling Brothers Circus, and his career as a military musician.
Shawn, Joe, and Aaron discuss methodical and efficient practice routines, working with new students to develop these practice routines, and the need to adjust these practice routines to prepare for different sorts of gigs and musical opportunities.
Shawn's story takes us from his youthful days of Led Zeppelin, Ozzy O...
2019-03-281h 37
Fret Buzz The PodcastDrums and Music for the Under-Resourced (with Joe Hamm of El Sistema) Ep038Drummer and music educator, Joe Hamm, joins the conversation as we learn about the El Sistema philosophy of providing music programs to under-resourced kids, the social value of music, the role of the drums within the context of a band, and touring.
Joe Hamm gives us his musical and educational background, and we talk about melodic drumming, ear training, and the deprivation of sounds and colors.
The philosophy of El Sistema was created in Venezuela in 1975. It focused on the idea that an orchestra is a community and thus models the larger society. Organizations that adhere to the El Sistema ph...
2019-03-211h 10
Fret Buzz The PodcastHosting FM Radio (with Guest Host Steve Black)Steve Black may have conducted over 1500 interviews of famous musicians and bands over the past 30 years, but Aaron and Joe use the opportunity to get Steve's story of what it's like to be a rock radio host. Steve tells us about how his incredible journey started back in 1989 at a radio station in Detroit, Michigan, and how a blizzard gave him the chance to run his first radio program. We dig into Steve's take on what makes a good radio personality, how he runs his own show, and how he sets up interviews and then prepares for them.
Steve tells...
2019-03-141h 13
Fret Buzz The PodcastGigging, Military Bands Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Jason Cale) Ep036We dig into the experiences of Jason Cale, an incredible guitarist out of Southeastern Virginia. Jason gives us insight into playing in military bands, cultivating an original sound and leading a professional band. With formal training in classical and jazz music, Jason is very influenced by blues and fusion guitarists like Allen Holdsworth, Greg Howe, Ritchie Kotzen, Robben Ford, Jimmy Herring, Frank Gambale, Eric Gales, and Joe Bonamassa. He is also keen on blending blues, funk, and gospel into his music.
The guys discuss gigging bands, the impact of horn and piano players, professional rehearsals, and how to play to...
2019-03-0745 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastGigging, Military Bands Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Jason Cale) Ep035We dig into the experiences of Jason Cale, an incredible guitarist out of Southeastern Virginia. Jason gives us insight into playing in military bands, cultivating an original sound and leading a professional band. With formal training in classical and jazz music, Jason is very influenced by blues and fusion guitarists like Allen Holdsworth, Greg Howe, Ritchie Kotzen, Robben Ford, Jimmy Herring, Frank Gambale, Eric Gales, and Joe Bonamassa. He is also keen on blending blues, funk, and gospel into his music.
The guys discuss gigging bands, the impact of horn and piano players, professional rehearsals, and how to play to...
2019-02-2847 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastSynthesizers and Sampling part 2 of 2 (w/ Guest Host, Paul Gaeta) Ep034We explore synths, drum machines, samplers, LoFi music, studio monitors and so much more with the help of Mr. Paul Gaeta, an electronic music producer and manager at the Moog Factory in Asheville, NC.
Paul explains how he came to work at Moog, and then tells us about his electronic music project, which utilizes a Juno 60 synth. He also tells us about his lofi project and the copyright problems that arise from sampling songs.
We delve into Paul's musical writing process, and Joe explains chord theory by comparing chords to cookies. No matter what instrument you play, a synthesizer could...
2019-02-2144 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastSynthesizers and Sampling (with Guest Host, Paul Gaeta) Ep033We explore synths, drum machines, samplers, LoFi music, studio monitors and so much more with the help of Mr. Paul Gaeta, an electronic music producer and manager at the Moog Factory in Asheville, NC.
Paul explains how he came to work at Moog, and then tells us about his electronic music project, which utilizes a Juno 60 synth. He also tells us about his lofi project and the copyright problems that arise from sampling songs.
We delve into Paul's musical writing process, and Joe explains chord theory by comparing chords to cookies. No matter what instrument you play, a synthesizer could...
2019-02-141h 04
Fret Buzz The PodcastConcerts and Music Festivals Ep032Aaron and Joe delve deep into their memory banks as they share tales from the many concerts and music festivals they have experienced. As a musician it is incredibly important that you attend live shows: it fuels your passion for making your own music, it helps you learn how to build set-lists to hold an audience, it's FUN, and so much more.
The guys talk about seeing bands like Rush, Big Something, Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, the Black Crowes, Metallica, Megadeath, Blink 182, Tedeschi Trucks, Pat Metheny, the Yellowjackets, Tito Puente, Mark Whitfield, Mike Stern, Bon Jovi, Jeff Healey, Pearl Jam...
2019-02-071h 12
Fret Buzz The PodcastMods for Guitar, Amps, Pedals and Gear Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Miles Harshman) Ep031In part 2 of our discussion with Miles Harshman, Miles continues telling us about being a student at Berklee College of Music: his famous roommate, the ensembles available to students, etc.
Then we really dig into the details of modding guitars, amps, and pedals. Modding is a way to get new sounds out of the equipment that you already have by changing physical components of that equipment. Miles shares a wealth of information on how to change/improve your gear by changing out capacitors, rectifier tubes, pre-amp tubes, and power-amp tubes, speakers, etc. Did you know that changing out a rectifier...
2019-01-3147 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastMods for Guitar, Amps, Pedals and Gear Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Miles Harshman) Ep030Who doesn't love to talk about guitar tone?? Aside from the obvious fact that much of your tone comes from your fingers, it is also greatly affected by your beloved gear: your instruments, amps, effects pedals, etc. Lots of the gear that you purchase off the shelf can actually be improved or changed through mods / modifications to the internal circuitry - some of which you can do yourself. We bring in guitarist, amp technician, music teacher, and Berklee graduate, Miles Harshman, to give us the ins and outs of musical equipment.
In Part 1 of this conversation we dig into guitar...
2019-01-241h 06
Fret Buzz The PodcastFingerstyle Guitar Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Dustin Furlow) Ep029In part 2 of Fingerstyle Guitar, Dustin gets into his process of arranging his compositions and how he goes about coming up with his melodies. The guys also discuss one of his original songs, "Elder Tree", the role of an audience, how Dustin was approached by booking agents, the process of booking shows/tours, concertsinyourhome.org, Dustin's connection to fingerstyle and his solo show, his practice routine and resources that he recommends.
dustinfurlow.com for more information
Fret Buzz The Podcast
fretbuzzthepodcast.com
2019-01-1757 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastFingerstyle Guitar Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Dustin Furlow) Ep028Joe and Aaron bring in guitarist and vocalist, Dustin Furlow, to discuss all things fingerstyle guitar. The guys talk about influential fingerstyle guitarists including Tommy Emmanuel, Stephen Bennett (harp guitar), Andy McKee, Tony McManus, Garreth Pearson, Don Ross, Mike Dawes, Adam Rafferty, Adrian Legg, Alexander Misko, and Matt Thomas. They look into approaches to choosing the right keys for solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements, as well as alternate tunings such as DADGAD and open D tuning. The guys dive seriously into the details of nail maintenance and acrylic gel nails for fingerpicking.
Dustin, with his wealth of experience playing and performing...
2019-01-101h 07
Fret Buzz The PodcastMusic School and Job Opportunities Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Cole Holland) Ep027In this episode of Fret Buzz The Podcast, we continue the conversation with Cole Holland about his musical work on a cruise line. Cole tells us his path once he exited Berklee School of Music and how he happened upon the opportunity to join the B.B. Kings All-Stars at sea. He also goes into his setup and what rehearsal looks like. Finally, the guys get into a bit of guitar theory and what a daily practice routine entails.
Cole Holland-
hollandazemusic.com
2019-01-0344 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastMusic School and Job Opportunities Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Cole Holland) Ep026In Episode 26 of Fret Buzz, Aaron and Joe talk to Cole Holland of hollandazemusic.com. We discuss Cole's early musical journey and the preparation that led him to Berklee School of Music. We dig into the program and special ensemble offerings at Berklee and how they may or may not differ from those of other music programs. We look at the entrepreneurial skills required to make a living as a professional musician - self-promotion through a personal website and social media, understanding our tax system, etc.
In the next episode we will dive into Cole's year as a cruise ship...
2018-12-271h 10
Fret Buzz The PodcastBass Guitar and Jam Bands Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Randy Nicklas) Ep025Today on Fret Buzz Aaron and Joe continue their conversation with Randy Nicklas, a touring bassist and music teacher. The guys talk about how to approach writing a bass line, the importance of being aware of the drums, different teaching styles and ways to approach your instrument, feeling the music beneath your fingers, bassbandicootmusic, the out of body experience you get with performance, and music therapy.
bassbandicootmusic
2018-12-2052 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastBass Guitar and Jam Bands Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Randy Nicklas) Ep024Today on Fret Buzz Aaron and Joe feature the awesome Randy Nicklas, a touring bassist and music teacher. The guys discuss Randy's musical journey along with stories from the road from his time touring with Broccoli Samurai. During this time Broccoli Samurai had the opportunity to open for popular jam bands like Umphrey's McGee and Pidgeons Playing Ping Pong.
The guys discuss whether you should play a 4-string or a 5-string bass guitar as well as different bass amps and effects pedals. They explore the role of the bass guitar within the context of a band, approaches to chord progressions...
2018-12-1346 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastClassical Guitar (with Guest Host, Nick Lee) Ep023In today's episode we talk about the cross-over of jazz and classical guitar, Andrés Segovia's role in the classical guitar, getting work as a classical guitarist, why classical guitar isn't as popular, what to look for when buying a classical guitar(woods, strings), nail upkeep and angle, a funny nail story, calluses, where to start when interested in classical guitar, different exercises and books to consume, players to check out, and alternate tuning.
Thank you to Nick Lee...
https://fretbuzzthepodcast.com/
2018-12-061h 09
Fret Buzz The PodcastRecording and Mixing Part 2 of 2 (with Guest Host, Tynz Hampton) Ep022In part 2 of Recording and Mixing, the guys get into topics like where to start with a mix, how to approach mixing drums, an audio engineer vs. a producer, preproduction and communication, laziness and stealing music, having the client mix with you vs. mixing on your own, and expectations of an audio engineer.
Tynz Hampton - District Entertainment Recording
derecording.com
2018-11-2940 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastRecording and Mixing Part 1 of 2 (with Guest Host, Tynz Hampton) Ep021derecording.com
This week Joe and Aaron sit down with guest host Tynz Hampton and talk about taking care of yourself before the studio, releasing your music now, the fear of putting yourself out there, mixing in a sonic space, the Fletcher Munson Curve, and taking a breaks for fresh ears.
2018-11-2241 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastSetup, Maintenance, Repair (with Guest Host, Larry Berwald) Ep020In this weeks episode Joe and Aaron have Larry Berwald of rosewoodguitarrepair.com in the guests chair. They get into the subject of how to care for your instrument and the things you can do to help extend the life of it.
2018-11-1554 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastThe Recording Studio tips and tricks from the Fret Buzzards Ep019Aaron and Joe begin the process of familiarising those who may not be as knowledgable in the studio envirornment. Making sure the palyer in in top condition, using the right microphone and experimenting with mic placement, cables, and the interface/preamps.
2018-11-081h 08
Fret Buzz The PodcastAnd all that Jazz Ep018Aaron Sefchick and Joe McMurray discuss the influences that jazz has had on their lives. They talk about the jazz guitarists (and other instrumentalists) that originally made them excited to listen to and/or play jazz, including Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, Grant Green, and many more. Whether you are interested in playing jazz or just listening to inspiring music, this ever-evolving genre has many different flavors to discover.
2018-11-011h 09
Fret Buzz The PodcastWatch Your Tone of Voice (with Guest Host, Brent Barker) Ep017This week, guitar virtuoso Brent Barker joins the Buzzards as a guest host to discuss how to develop and maintain an original voice, sound, and style in the face of an ever changing music industry.
Topics include: staying true to your sound and artistry, adapting to shifting trends in modern music, reinvention of playing style, learning new ways to express traditional techniques, the future of instrumental guitar music, and so much more.
2018-10-161h 00
Fret Buzz The PodcastAn Evening at The Big Top Ep016In this episode, Aaron, Joe, and Tony deliver their top picks for the albums most influential on their playing styles, techniques, and overall musicianship.
Sit back and relax this hour, as the guys run down their favorite riffs, licks, tones, recordings, noises, chirps, and echoing mountain ranges- all in the name of “Fret Buzz The Podcast’s Best of The Top”
2018-10-091h 00
Fret Buzz The PodcastDown at The Crossroads Ep015This week, Aaron and Joe share their stories of reinvention following relocation to various cities and work experiences. They discuss the intersection of their own musical journeys, perspectives on academic music training, developing a foundation in ear training, and their evolving definitions of musical success.
Today’s episode is dedicated to cough drop companies around the world, as Tony seeks an endorsement to combat his severe laryngitis.
2018-10-021h 04
Fret Buzz The PodcastTest Your Metal…Part Two (with Guest Host, Taylor Nordberg) Ep014This week, renowned metal guitarist and bassist Taylor Nordberg reunites with his Blacknote Studios mentors, Aaron and Tony, to join the Fret Buzz team as a guest host as the fearsome foursome angle their picks, lock their wrists, and perfect their Dio hand gestures to discuss all things metal. Topics include: working as a metal musician, the appeal of metal as a changing genre, how to play within various forms of metal, bringing metal music out from the underground, self-promotion, and so much more.
Small donations of chewed up picks, cracked cymbals, and after show neck braces can be made...
2018-09-251h 00
Fret Buzz The PodcastTest Your Metal…Part One Ep013Like the Gods of Valhalla, the Fret Buzz warriors attack with power, speed, and precision in their first two-part episode on Metal music.
Today’s topics include elements of classic and contemporary genres of metal, approaches to learning metal guitar, influential bands and albums within metal genres, and the sheer physical force of Death metal.
2018-09-1839 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastLet Me Drive, Man! (with Guest Host, Brian Quinn of Candlebox) Ep012In this week’s episode, Tony’s childhood friend, Candlebox’s own, guitarist Brian Quinn, takes a guest chair and joins the guys to discuss those ever elusive ingredients for professional musical success: drive, motivation, and perseverance. Topics include: the importance of reinventing your musicianship, studying new techniques on the road, the science and art of networking, developing a business mind, and guiding your career according to “the dream”.
Today’s recording, editing, mic placements, and other amenities were generously offered by friends, family, and interested neighbors. With kind smiles, we thanked them all and said that we got it all covered...
2018-09-111h 08
Fret Buzz The PodcastAll The World’s a Stage Ep011This week, Aaron, Joe, and Tony circumnavigate the globe and discuss how World Music has made an impact on their personal playing and writing styles. They examine the connections between various ethnic rhythms and melodies and their applications by musicians in modern Western music. They guys also explore the importance of maintaining a global awareness in one’s level of musical artistry and thinking.
All of today’s content is supported by The Fret Buzz International Gift Shop, whose mission is the worldwide distribution of Fret Buzz Logo t-shirts, post cards, travel logs, and popsicles to fans at all corners of t...
2018-09-041h 10
Fret Buzz The Podcast…But How Long Will This Take? (with Altan Aydin) Ep010This week, guitarist Altan Aydin joins Aaron and Tony to address that plaguing focus of every young player’s mind: how to become good on the guitar. They share their experiences with moving from novice to proficient player, discuss the many struggles along the path, and offer invaluable suggestions to both new and more experienced guitarists in order to maximize practice time.
So, be patient, stop whining, and know that you will understand it all...very...soon.
2018-08-281h 08
Fret Buzz The PodcastFret Buzz The Podcast, Episode 009: Art is What You Can Get Away With Art is What You Can Get Away With Ep009On today’s episode of Fret Buzz, Aaron, Joe, and Tony delve into what it means to truly live and work as an artist in a modern world. They compare today’s expectations of artists to those of years past, and share their own experiences with learning about how to make art that resonates with people on a deep level. Stories and insights abound, so get on your smocks, open new project files, and ink your quills, as the guys chew on everything art.
Today’s episode of Fret Buzz was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci, Jimi Hendrix, and the Muses...
2018-08-2157 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastLet’s Band Together Ep008In this episode, Aaron, Joe, and Tony deliver their hard-earned insights into that crown jewel of musicianship: the band. They dig into best and worst band experiences, effective collaboration, proper preparation of material, best “etiquette”, and so much more. All comments in this episode were voted on and approved in a democratic manner by a committee of serious and dedicated rockers at Fret Buzz Headquarters.
2018-08-1553 min
Fret Buzz The PodcastIt’s a Musical Life Ep007This week, the guys share their thoughts on establishing and maintaining a musical lifestyle in a modern world. Topics include: balancing home, work, and performance schedules, balancing family and musical projects, redefining the concept of the modern musician, changing public perception of the working musician, and much more.
2018-08-151h 00