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Rock Guitar Virtuosos

Rock Guitar Virtuosos

Rock Guitar Virtuosos

Advances in Electric Guitar Playing, Technology, and Culture
Authors:
Jan-Peter Herbst, University of Huddersfield
Alexander Paul Vallejo
Published:
December 2023
Availability:
Available
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781009055970

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    The guitar has been an integral part of popular music and mainstream culture for many decades and in many places of the world. This Element examines the development and current state of virtuosic rock guitar in terms of playing, technology, and culture. Supported by technological advances such as extended-range guitars, virtuosos in the twenty-first century are exploring ways to expand standard playing techniques in a climate where ever-higher levels of perfection are expected. As musician-entrepreneurs, contemporary rock guitar virtuosos record, produce, and market their music themselves; operate equipment companies; and sell merchandise, tablature, and lessons online. For their social media channels, they regularly create videos and interact with their followers while having to balance building their tribe and finding the time to develop their craft to stay competitive. For a virtuoso, working situations have changed considerably since the last century; the aloof rock star has been replaced by the approachable virtuoso-guitarist-composerinnovator-producer-promoter-YouTuber-teacher-entrepreneur.

    Product details

    • Published: December 2023
    • Format: Paperback
    • ISBN: 9781009055970
    • Length: 112 pages
    • Dimensions: 228 × 151 × 6 mm
    • Weight: 0.18kg
    • Availability: Available

    Table of Contents

    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Establishing a canon
    • 3. Overview of electric guitar playing techniques
    • 4. First-generation rock guitar heroes
    • 5. The emergence and decline of shred
    • 6. Guitar technology, playing, and culture in the twenty-first century
    • 7. The virtual scene, and how contemporary virtuosos make a living
    • 8. Conclusion
    • References
    • Appendix.

    Authors

    Jan-Peter Herbst , University of Huddersfield

    Alexander Paul Vallejo