Wow, it's amazing to see this. I'm the guy asking the first question in the segment of this video. I was a shy 20 year old at the time in this 1982(or 83?) master class held at USC for only about 20 of us mostly studio and maybe some classical guitar majors. It was an honor to be there and a pleasure to be able to see it again. This was shot by the late Duke Miller and the late Paul LaRose. I'm not sure how this video got out to the public but I'm glad to be able to relive that day again.
I can't believe that Lenny revealed all of his secrets. What a great guy! It's equally amazing how few guitarist have adopted his approach. It really is the best way to play close-position chords quickly on guitar.
As amazing as how adept Lenny was at harmonics, it was never apparent to me until now that so many of the notes he played were -not- harmonics! The balance between the two is astounding. I've often wondered why no one's taken his place in all these years, but it seems perfectly understandable now.
I met Lenny in the early 80's when he was visiting Toronto. Hearing him play solo and in trios was certainly a highlight of that time. Some interesting things: in his guitar case he carried a small artist's portfolio with prints of impressionist landscape paintings. He said that he would look at them to inspire his playing/improvising. Also, when I offered him my right hand to shake he nodded "No" and offered me his LEFT, thereby protecting his nails. A pure and honest musician.
A Renoir print in his guitar case, inspired Lenny to paint impressionist music. He’s one of the rare genius’s who not only have the virtuosity to play these things, but just as importantly, the creative vision to go beyond. Looking outside the atypical box, adding these elements to his collective arsenal & palette. There’s the story about him literally falling flat, right on his face, protecting his hands. 🇨🇦
I spoke to Kirk Sand, the man who built this guitar. The scale turned out to be only 22.75". I think the reason it still sounds mellow even with such a short scale is because the neck pickup is adjacent to the 19th fret instead of the usual 22nd or 24th fret. He built it a long time ago & didn't have all the specs at hand, so that's all I know. Mr. Sand says that no one knows what happened to the guitar.
@passionpicking John Knowles' book "Lenny Breau - Fingerstyle Jazz" (Mel Bay Publications) has a chapter on the subject. It's worth getting a copy because the information in it comes directly from Lenny. The independence exercises for fingerstyle are excellent, as well. If you look up Ted Greene and Tommy Emmanuel here on YT, you'll find a number of video lessons that are very good.
@JustAGuitarPlayer Lenny's hometown is about 30 minutes from me. im only 19 and my mom had talked to one of my buddies moms and told me about their cousin, lenny breau. now who would of thought that it would lead me to the finest guitar player ive ever seen?...your story is really cool i thought i would share mine, even though it is far from being as awesome as yours
@@D13fs bro my comment is literally 10 years old and you just come in here with “I don’t agree with your opinion” like a robot. Literally nobody on the earth thought that was a good idea or wanted it to happen besides you you fucking weirdo
@@D13fs what kind of sociopath goes around to 10 year old comments and just states they disagree. Like are you that inept st social interaction you’re hoping to not be challenged by a response because it was ten years ago? Or if you just make a statement you don’t have to explain yourself? I hate everything about your lack of self awareness
I went looking for this after seeing Lukather's Star Licks video, he mentioned Lenny talking about this trick he applied in the song Mama. I've been close by ear but never quite understood the alternating thing until finding this!
I have so much respect for people like Lenny who just figured out things like this by listening to records. How spoilt we are these days with content like this
This is a short-scale, so that the 7th string, (high a?), doesn't break, & "impossibly" wide stretch chords are in reach. Does anyone know the exact scale length? I think it's probably 23.5", like a Gibson "Byrdland". That ax had a extra-narrow neck, & this one's extra-wide, so proportion's are too different to be sure. Jaguars are 24", Mustangs are 22.5"; they both sound "wrong" to me, while Lenny's sounds very "right". / Does this guitar still exist somewhere?
its like he could sit there and answer any question about how to play the guitar. not everyone can answer EVERY question. Lenny Breau through his spiritual musical practice has left us all an almost secretly raised bar in creativity. if i had a time machine.......
So great...does any body knows if there is a book written about that topic of harmonics à la Lenny Breau.., or which book would be the best talking about Lenn'ys Harmonics?????
His son Chet could probably be a source. He seemed to try and learn as much about his father's playing as he could, and was a teacher in my home town of Winnipeg.
I've only just discovered Lenny Breau and wow, I'm floored by his talents. He makes these things look effortless but I'm sure he is not kidding when saying that it may take 6 months or maybe 6 years to work up the right hand to this kind of skill level.
@@ChrisSamuel1729 I honestly don't know his catalogue of music well enough to make recommendations but can highly recommend this short documentary th-cam.com/video/-BvvC0Vnlcg/w-d-xo.html I also really enjoyed this song, which was the first time I heard him play th-cam.com/video/LhGjQ3QPydA/w-d-xo.html
That guitar was built by Kirk Sand of Laguna Beach, CA and Kirk has the guitar in his store. I have played it and it is very challenging. The 7th string is a high A and is the first string, while most 7 string guitars have the extra string as the 7th string.
Imagine how much easier this would be if the high strings were on top and the bass strings on the bottom. When George Benson took me to his dressing room to pass his 1955 Gibson L5 back and forth, to help me to decide about playing lefty like Jimi or lefty like me, he said some of the best guitarists he knows plays like that. He said I'm not scrunching up my fingers to play lead and my barre chord finger is over the bass notes already, if I ever get into jazz guitar playing. My guitar was a Fender Stratocaster. We never mentioned holding all the strings for feedback.
He thinks he is so much better than everyone else just because he can play the guitar. At least my hair doesn’t look like that. What’s this dude’s problem?
Wow, it's amazing to see this. I'm the guy asking the first question in the segment of this video. I was a shy 20 year old at the time in this 1982(or 83?) master class held at USC for only about 20 of us mostly studio and maybe some classical guitar majors. It was an honor to be there and a pleasure to be able to see it again. This was shot by the late Duke Miller and the late Paul LaRose. I'm not sure how this video got out to the public but I'm glad to be able to relive that day again.
JustAGuitarPlayer you were lucky to have been there
Hi, what's a track of his you'd recommend? I've only today heard of this fascinating guitarist. Thank you.
@@ChrisSamuel1729 listen to the “living room sessions” with brad terry
@@owenfield818 my guitar teacher does shows with brad terry
I can't believe that Lenny revealed all of his secrets. What a great guy! It's equally amazing how few guitarist have adopted his approach. It really is the best way to play close-position chords quickly on guitar.
Dude was a true genius.
Mike Stern likes those old black Yamaha solid state
amplifiers.
As amazing as how adept Lenny was at harmonics, it was never apparent to me until now that so many of the notes he played were -not- harmonics! The balance between the two is astounding. I've often wondered why no one's taken his place in all these years, but it seems perfectly understandable now.
I met Lenny in the early 80's when he was visiting Toronto. Hearing him play solo and in trios was certainly a highlight of that time. Some interesting things: in his guitar case he carried a small artist's portfolio with prints of impressionist landscape paintings. He said that he would look at them to inspire his playing/improvising. Also, when I offered him my right hand to shake he nodded "No" and offered me his LEFT, thereby protecting his nails. A pure and honest musician.
Hi, what's a track of his you'd recommend? I've only today heard of this fascinating guitarist. Thank you.
@Chris Samuel
Freight Train or Morning Bells are both really good songs he did.
@@ChrisSamuel1729 Tennessee Waltz
A Renoir print in his guitar case, inspired Lenny to paint impressionist music. He’s one of the rare genius’s who not only have the virtuosity to play these things, but just as importantly, the creative vision to go beyond. Looking outside the atypical box, adding these elements to his collective arsenal & palette.
There’s the story about him literally falling flat, right on his face, protecting his hands.
🇨🇦
I'm so sorry he's not here to show us what's up his sleeve next. I love Lenny. He's the epitome of a musician's musician. I wish I'd met him.
like a Holdsworth, Gatton, Van Halen or Hendrix...they're just on a different wavelength
The Bill Evans trick is just brilliant! So simple and effective
I spoke to Kirk Sand, the man who built this guitar. The scale turned out to be only 22.75". I think the reason it still sounds mellow even with such a short scale is because the neck pickup is adjacent to the 19th fret instead of the usual 22nd or 24th fret. He built it a long time ago & didn't have all the specs at hand, so that's all I know. Mr. Sand says that no one knows what happened to the guitar.
did you use you're baby... you're baby finger? XD
I think he got this guitar built purely custom. I would like to know what the specs of his guitar are because I'm looking to build a 7 string.
@TheRealKurtJames
I'm a fanatic too, but no need of reposting the same comment over all videos of him.
Lenny used the word "like" in almost every sentence lol
xd
like... every one?
@passionpicking John Knowles' book "Lenny Breau - Fingerstyle Jazz" (Mel Bay Publications) has a chapter on the subject. It's worth getting a copy because the information in it comes directly from Lenny. The independence exercises for fingerstyle are excellent, as well. If you look up Ted Greene and Tommy Emmanuel here on YT, you'll find a number of video lessons that are very good.
@JustAGuitarPlayer Lenny's hometown is about 30 minutes from me. im only 19 and my mom had talked to one of my buddies moms and told me about their cousin, lenny breau. now who would of thought that it would lead me to the finest guitar player ive ever seen?...your story is really cool i thought i would share mine, even though it is far from being as awesome as yours
You need to go see his brother Denny Breau play. He plays all over Maine.
this is great. the man was a musical encyclopedia... genius.
thanks for this z2yu.
I can listen to lenny breau talk for hours. I wish there was more masterclass footage like this available.
its amazing how fluently he plays the instrument but it sounds like he struggles to explain it, he was just made for the instrument plain and simple
I don't agree with your opinion at all that 'he struggles to explain it'.
@@D13fs cool nobody asked you
@@ApexChrisHansen Okay, your reply explains a lot.
@@D13fs bro my comment is literally 10 years old and you just come in here with “I don’t agree with your opinion” like a robot. Literally nobody on the earth thought that was a good idea or wanted it to happen besides you you fucking weirdo
@@D13fs what kind of sociopath goes around to 10 year old comments and just states they disagree. Like are you that inept st social interaction you’re hoping to not be challenged by a response because it was ten years ago? Or if you just make a statement you don’t have to explain yourself? I hate everything about your lack of self awareness
he should be in the Canadien walk of fame.
7 strings before all...
A wonderful person!
Lenny knew what was required!
genius is too small a word.
I went looking for this after seeing Lukather's Star Licks video, he mentioned Lenny talking about this trick he applied in the song Mama. I've been close by ear but never quite understood the alternating thing until finding this!
I have so much respect for people like Lenny who just figured out things like this by listening to records. How spoilt we are these days with content like this
Brilliant playing. Another thing harmonics can do is extend the upper range of the guitar.
This is a short-scale, so that the 7th string, (high a?), doesn't break, & "impossibly" wide stretch chords are in reach. Does anyone know the exact scale length? I think it's probably 23.5", like a Gibson "Byrdland". That ax had a extra-narrow neck, & this one's extra-wide, so proportion's are too different to be sure. Jaguars are 24", Mustangs are 22.5"; they both sound "wrong" to me, while Lenny's sounds very "right". / Does this guitar still exist somewhere?
There is a book on him that answers some questions, called: One Long Tune.
@@Frenk160rpm thank you! Didn't know there was a Lenny Breau book!
the guitar painter
Lenny lived with Paul La Rose around this time. This was shot in Music 103 I believe.
Looks like it, glad this is on TH-cam!
that feeling when a video you searched for answers all the questions exactly correct. what a treasure
Big thanks for posting this lesson. It's hard to communicate how beneficial this is to guitarists everywhere wanting to know this technique.
@JustAGuitarPlayer this is from a dvd called, Lenny Breau - Master Class. it was released in 2006
Genius
its like he could sit there and answer any question about how to play the guitar. not everyone can answer EVERY question. Lenny Breau through his spiritual musical practice has left us all an almost secretly raised bar in creativity. if i had a time machine.......
man what a great time that must have been something tells me you're more than'' just a guitar player'' too.
Thanks so much.
I wondered how he got that ascending maj 7 voicing.
My all time favorite jazz guitarist
@ShredMiyagi he was a master thats for sure
fucking brilliant, and he really explains it well
are you talking about the god (the big lie in the shy lol !
Where is that guitar today?
So great...does any body knows if there is a book written about that topic of harmonics à la Lenny Breau.., or which book would be the best talking about Lenn'ys Harmonics?????
His son Chet could probably be a source. He seemed to try and learn as much about his father's playing as he could, and was a teacher in my home town of Winnipeg.
and in the beginning god created youtube lol !!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this!
'wow' not only one of the greatest players ever but one of the greatest human beings of all time.
You knew him personally?
I've only just discovered Lenny Breau and wow, I'm floored by his talents. He makes these things look effortless but I'm sure he is not kidding when saying that it may take 6 months or maybe 6 years to work up the right hand to this kind of skill level.
Hi, what's a track of his you'd recommend? I've only today heard of this fascinating guitarist. Thank you.
(Preferably harp harmonics focused, thanks)
@@ChrisSamuel1729 I honestly don't know his catalogue of music well enough to make recommendations but can highly recommend this short documentary th-cam.com/video/-BvvC0Vnlcg/w-d-xo.html I also really enjoyed this song, which was the first time I heard him play th-cam.com/video/LhGjQ3QPydA/w-d-xo.html
@@hearpalhere I'll check them out. Thank you!
@@ChrisSamuel1729My favorites are 5 o’clock bells/Mo Breau, and Cabin Fever.
Wow
awesome man, i bet that felt awesome
Genious
this is awesome
I wonder who has that guitar now ?
That guitar was built by Kirk Sand of Laguna Beach, CA and Kirk has the guitar in his store. I have played it and it is very challenging. The 7th string is a high A and is the first string, while most 7 string guitars have the extra string as the 7th string.
God has It. He listening to his favourite guitarist play It right now
Imagine how much easier this would be if the high strings were on top and the bass strings on the bottom. When George Benson took me to his dressing room to pass his 1955 Gibson L5 back and forth, to help me to decide about playing lefty like Jimi or lefty like me, he said some of the best guitarists he knows plays like that. He said I'm not scrunching up my fingers to play lead and my barre chord finger is over the bass notes already, if I ever get into jazz guitar playing. My guitar was a Fender Stratocaster. We never mentioned holding all the strings for feedback.
He thinks he is so much better than everyone else just because he can play the guitar. At least my hair doesn’t look like that. What’s this dude’s problem?
6 months to 6 years to do it smoothly..Dayam! Where are the videos where he looks like a Zen Master giving the guitar a good flailing?