George Benson The Art Of Jazz Guitar chunk 1

[kromekrush]

the things we desire and conclusions cut off receiving entirely. If we remember that arguments of the nature I see here by and large are really about interesting points of view, we can be in allowance of those points of view and continue to learn and grow. I encourage all to keep playing however you feel is beautiful. Learn as much as you can. Use what works for you and leave the rest. (I am not advocating ignorance, musical or intellectual laziness however.) Just a few thoughts.

[kromekrush]

drilled into my head for the last 15-20 years. Notice how I am not making it about right or wrong, simply what I am used to. George Benson is certainly one of the guitar masters of our time so I would be VERY hesitant to judge him or his tone from a "right or wrong" stand point. To be honest I think it shows a lot of musical insecurity and immaturity to do so. In closing I would like to say: Please remember that we cannot receive from that which we judge. Judgment only creates separation from

[kromekrush]

I would like to say that most of the arguments on this page stem from personal likes and dislikes not so much from a true concrete stand point of right and wrong. I am a classically trained guitarist trying to get into jazz so I certainly appreciate that he's showing a jazz application of the nylon stringed guitar. I do find his tone on the nylon a tad disagreeable but this has to do with the fact that I am trained with much different technique and there for a much different tone has been

[usalespaul59]

(however bagpipe IS NOT ONLY a scotish instrument, it has been a traditional folk instrument in Bulgaria for ages!)

[usalespaul59]

I don't tink there is anything "random" here, he's is just SO ACOMPLISHED a player, that he is able to play anything he hears in an instant!

[GrooveWorshipper]

6:28 is SICK

[MrMikeygaga]

I've been a fan of GB since his Giblet Gravy album was released. But this intro was sloppy and mediocre. Listen to anything by Almeida,Byrd or Bertroncini-it will be far better than this. He has no right hand technique at all;why bother with the nylon string guitar? Even this would have been much better picked on a steel string.

[toddallenhooper]

Classical guitars are nylon stringed and inherently more "squeaky." If you don't think this guy can play you don't understand music at all...

[davekeays]

@toddallenhooper depends on the recording and left hand fingering techniques.

[williampruden]

GB is a amazing player, an to take nothing away from him an this video but as a teaching tool this is useless. Basically what he is doing is doing is running thru arpeggios at a fast pace.

[davekeays]

So?

[celluloidblues]

fret noise? random notes? no: pearls before swine.

[PrivateBuckwheat]

It's pretty much impossible to play the style he does on a classical guitar without having tons of fret noise. His playing is nothing short of incredible, but sounds much better on electric guitars.

[davekeays]

@PrivateBuckwheat Depends on the style you are trying to come across with. Like autotuners, overdriven amps, and alternate tunings, electric guitars have their place but they are so overused. Tons of potentially good music has been spoiled by their presence.

[jeff551z]

i can't believe he was just using his thumb

[smoothcurevodka]

Guys, here is the best guitarist of the world..Your gossip is so exhausting..ThanK yOu..!

[zlatkob561]

I agree I do not care of it. 

[Pan3405]

Don't try to make the guitar sound like a doodlesack! It just doesn't work!!

[Pan3405]

With all respect... it sounds terrible what George does!! Only technical but with no feeling for the sound.. too much busy with (the limitations of) the guitar..

[Hamporkcheese]

@Pan3405 no feeling???? wow... 

[Pan3405]

@Hamporkcheese Sorry.. but It's obvious that he is used to the comfort of a jazzguitar An acoustic guitar means.. work!! Leave that to people like Earl Klugh..

[PC160]

Please START with George Benson. 2:20 is wasted.

[ILIAD9]

GB is one awesome cool charming man. A real inspiration.

[MrVin61]

Thank GB for you sharing your thoughts and time with the world, you truly are an inspiration to me and I like to explore also and thats how we can be unique as guitarist and a person of individualism. May God bless you always and I'll always enjoy your performances, some people just don't get it, Its a shame! PEACE my brother, someday I hope to meet you, if not I'll see you in guitar heaven :-)

[JeezoozeChrysler]

Ok I apologize if anyone got offended here . I listened to GB's other performances and I have to say he's an immense jazz player (and singer) . btw this particular performance remains crap to me. maybe he was high,who knows...still,nothing bad with that,one can't be perfect all the time

[Rrrrobbo]

nice house!

[Jourdydogyella]

are some of the people on here serious? he cant even play guitar? are you joking, he is one of the greatest jazz guitarists ever. if you knew anything about music you would realise how ridiculously amazing what he is doing is.

[bobgure]

Man, this is SUCH a treat!

Heaven.

[mrdomo1949]

George...Son!.... Put that thing down and pick up that electric.....Dang!

[outtacastatv]

@kramer87 yes but not as big a mess as that shit

[AlexBeston]

yup, more obvious when you see him speak. very slightly out.

[AlexBeston]

not sure if sound & vid match up during the playing (which is good ofcourse)

[outtacastatv]

the first thing he played was a fuckin mess!

[TheCommnTalk]

Apparently you all haven't seen the other six videos. 

[Moshpith]

Nylon string is definitely not his forte. He should study under Earl Klugh if he wants to learn how to play a nylon string fingerstyle jazz improv. If this was all I knew about him, it wouldn't be that positive.

[AlexBeston]

@Moshpith disagree here.

[Moshpith]

@AlexBeston No problem, that's why they call it art, it's all individual taste. I play nylon string and this technique is nothing like what he can do on electric. If you want to hear what a master improviser on nylon string can do, listen to Klugh's intro on It's Only a Paper Moon. Sounds like three guys improvising at once in counterpoint. Clean, clear, pure melody...

[visog]

So he's got his Ibanez JAZZ guitar next to him but he plays his classical acoustic for his JAZZ guitar video? His thumb is amazing but kind of not what he's known for unless he's doing the odd Wes style piece. Didn't realise he's Irish/Scottish with a Welsh voice. Very Celtic. Example 1! What a racket! He's a god of guitar but not guitar videos obviously.

[alyfahmy]

Man he can't fingerpick :P 

[guitarfella581]

if he used the flamenco finger style his life would be alot easier instead of picking with the thumb use picado!

[ksdgslgk]

@guitarfella581 He uses the same technique as Wes Montgomery one of is biggest influence

[noisyneil]

"hi, i'm woody man."

cool, man.

[marticho]

9:27 ... did he say Pacher

[jjmatashi]

To those who complain about "fret noise" and "random notes" I say ... let's see your own video.

[roccckkerrr]

@jjmatashi not to mention he isn't using a pick

[Sunderlanding]

@jjmatashi I always hated that argument. Just because you don't have a video doesn't mean you can't complain about something if it's a valid complaint. A better argument is "if you don't like fret noise start playing keyboard" fret noise it what makes a guitar sound the way it does.

[Googlegnome]

What a friggin' thumb...!

[mickhutchinson]

He's great

[hairy0pothead]

Did it go really low at the end for everone else or just me?!

[33rdPatriot]

Many artists "channel" spirits. Is this true of GB also?

[resedaud]

HI!!!!!! SOY GEORGE BENSON!! Y SOY EL MAS CAPO DE TODO EL MUNDO!!

[bixmosguitar]

GB is one of the best jazz guitarists of all time. he was a huge influence when I was learning jazz. the classical was not a good choice - jazz guitar is his instrument. his technique is flawless, ideas brilliant, tone-beautiful. he was a singer first, he often scats his solos, his ear is perfect, he plays no random notes, he hears every note he plays. didn't like all his material but listen 2 bad benson #1, bensons cookbook, breezin, benson/farrel, white rabbit. sosmooth7 is correct

[JeezoozeChrysler]

he might be famous,but the amount of fret noise /messy notes /random chords he makes when playing makes him really painful to listen to me...

[ThomasBCullen]

this is inhumane to the guitar world

[MrChrisweezy]

if someone can write down the chord THx

[L0elyricz]

I just like to fiddle!!

[burnindownthehouse]

Wow, that stuff he played in the beginning when he was just improvising is really tough because it is some odd form of fingerpicking. Very skilled fingerpickers are the types of guys who are the hardest to learn from because you never really know exactly which fingers are picking the strings. It all looks like a hodge podge of random picking. I had this same problem trying to learn from a Buddy Guy instructional video. He fingerpicked so much that I couldn't figure out what he was doing.

[contrabaixo10]

Thank you for this wonderful video

[DrStench13]

It's really amazing to me how he gets some of the smooth sounds actually out of an acoustic guitar.

[HAWAIKIBROTHER]

where do i go to get george benson guitar lessons?dvds?download off the net?

[arnolf]

shit!

[MIKEHLADY]

" I just like to fiddle"

[krelbar]

All with his thumb...sheesh!

[knowledgeispowerLA]

@krelbar he his downstroke style from Wes Montgomery

[woodlist]

Polkadots and Moonbeams. 

[mNareznoy]

any one have the booklet plz?

[cawabunga360]

what song is he playing at the beginning of the video, and can i get the tabs

or anybody tell me the chord progression?

[CHARANGOTOTAL]

grande benson

[ConerTheStoner]

Un-fucking-real. Nothing else to say

[jwallguitar]

0:01 I thought he was gonna ask me out on a date.

[CAGED1702]

Hey badman5551 - Brent Mason respects George Benson and even borrowed a coupla licks from him, so...it is all about the music, man. Peace..!

[boradelic]

I quote, "GOODLUCK" studyin' with George Benson.

[smashingpoop]

does he have an instrumental album? because i don't really like the singing

[nassreiskulturen]

@smashingpoop "Beyond the Blue Horizon" is a great one.

[Boblw56]

I "fiddle" too, but somehow, with not so satisfying results.

[Fyuesiy]

George Benson start @ 2:20

[guitaralbert0]

woody's a good guitarist himself, met him about a month ago

[scottyraw13]

why hello woody man

[nickf1229]

george benson always reminds me how much i have to learn!!

[stoob1969]

that guy introducing has a voice made for jazz

[brettniles]

All thumb rest strokes motherffffffffff that shit is hard.

[muzo56281721]

Whenever I hear G. Benson play solo guitar, initially I find myself giving myself a ticking-off not to let emotions flow out in tears of joy. The wonderment of his playing pulls at the heart-strings within; especially his ballads - fantastic!

[hiphopsucks96]

0:01

Stay away from us woody men!

[HiImJerry8]

how do you even think of playin like that!? i mean hes using a freakin nylon guitar and his thumb and hes killin all my hopes and dreams of learning jazz guitar!

[CaptAntiGravity]

Hey, i had this dream and i was playing guitar with an Alien Band (alien beings that could easily manipulate their respective instruments)..anyway, "Sir George Benson" steps up to one of our gigs out at Area 51 (by the way the band was called "AreaFiftyOne")..and i said Hey Man Brother George where you coming from Man??

And you will not believe this...he said that he was training to be the new "Mohamed Ali" Boxer!!!WTF!!That's when i quickly woke up & quickly put on George Benson's "Maquerade"!!

[Metalclub1]

Shit !!

I didnt know he can play guitar.....

[rain1ny]

Great guitarist, but should stay away from the nylon string guitar, I've never heard a nylon string guitar sound do bad!!!

[dylanlawless1]

I'd love to be Georgie's neighbor. Waking up in the morning with sweet melodies wafting through the open window, and chatting about jazz over a few beers and BBQ in the garden. Wouldn't that be cool.

[6XstringXsamurai]

not that he would need to, buy i'd like to see him play a 7 or an 8 string.

[badman5551]

brent mason will kick his black ass

[jamboliboli]

@badman5551 Yeah cos that's what Hot Wired country bastards do, kick black people's arses.

[1Mellodee]

@badman5551 - Fuck you! No Way...

[ryanneglect]

it's funny, george says it didn't work THAT time. to us listeners that was flawless and beautiful. i'm sure he knows mistakes he made during it but it was just so incredible. man i wish i could play like that! haha

[BAYBOYJER]

Whats the first song he plays?

[ekke62]

@BAYBOYJER "Polkadots and Moonbeams!

[ekke62]

@ekke62 OK, one time would have been enough, but I did not see the post appearing on the top of the page. Sorry..

[OrisLover]

God damn this man is harmonically free!

[metalkyled]

"One of my parent's is a decendent of Ireland, hehe." Benson has character.

[DudeWheresMyDeLorean]

I also noticed he's playing with his thumb like Wes Montgomery. However, that sound doesn't really take on the classical guitar. Perhaps if you're playing in the style of Django Reinhardt. He's best suited for electric.

[badman5551]

he's way to one dimensional.....now go listen to brent mason and shut up.

[ryanneglect]

@badman5551 your comment is way too one dimensional. i listened to brent mason, ur comparing that guy to george benson? you must be an idiot. unless your comment was a joke. i truly hope it was a joke.

[QuantumPlenum]

"There are never two days alike with the guitar..."

[BuddLightbrain]

This is George just chillin out with a relaxed "fiddlin" about, not a stage performance, we all do this don't we, when we practice? This is a generous insight into George's playing and relaxed persona. It is like having him at home, having a guitar lesson, brilliant that he has given his time to do this, thanks George.

[jamboliboli]

What's the standard he is playing here?

[Kraeezeu]

hes tryin to do the montgomery thing..nice try

[douskara]

What a genious!!! Superb!

[sosmooth7]

George Benson is one of the greatest guitarist of all time,and while he may be compared to others or vice versa no one can mistake his style. When I hear his music it makes me appreciate what music is really about. When I listen to George's music I just want to stop and hear it,because I know its going to be something really special. I really love the way he melds many styles of music together. To me he is the epitome of what music appreciation IS!

[johnnyutah1231]

What a gehtoo ass sounding danny boy. I love it.

[Albigatnz]

nopick.

[fatalbert51888]

this dude licks georges balls

[PsychoSidVicious]

7:00  "i just like to fiddle" hehe so do i!

[xXironraiderXx]

so the guy in the intro is lying his ass off!! lol 

[rODIUMuk]

fuck ME! That is amazing

[LuXguitaR]

lal ofc its a maj7 ^^

[LuXguitaR]

03:46 What is that chord called? bassicly it's the Major 7th Arpeggio ^^

[81beuk]

bravo george  benson comme delvis bellocq génis du jazzzzzz

[MDefsquad9]

@romienomie I was just saying no biggie just curious..but yea your who cares?..music is music no matter how you play it look django used three fingers on his left hand up and down all over the fingerboard and made wonderful music. haha

[inky960]

@MDefsquad9 Django really used only two fingers, didn't he? For single-note leads, I mean? I read somewhere that his ring finger and pinky had virtually NO muscle strength, at all, so he could only cram them in the right spots and make chords using them. Those big whole-neck arpeggios he did (so fast!) were two finger deals. First and second finger. Don't think he used his thumb either. Am I wrong about this?

[MDefsquad9]

@inky960 haha I think u might be correct on that..i was observing some of djangos styles on youtube..like django is a prime example and breaks the barriers that anything is possible and that u dont have to follow rules all the time..like two fingers?..like wow man..the mind is something esle..djangos mind is something esle eh?

[inky960]

@MDefsquad9 Yes - Django was amazing. And yes, it's all in the mind. : )

[tzuiop]

@inky960 Django could use pinky and ringfinger and thumb at chords, but all his solos played with 2 fingers. Check "J'attendrai" to see him playing on film.

[dixon654654]

7.01 i just like to fiddle lol

making love down by the fire with george benson

[dixon654654]

why has he got slippers on?

[ChapterVIII09]

@dixon654654

because he can :)

[lumpfish99]

i can play guitar hero.....

[TomTrix99]

Probably the greatest jazz guitar virtuoso alive!

[romienomie]

@TomTrix99 Ever!

[MDefsquad9]

I see he cant really finger style like his buddy earl klugh..its all good..I wonder if benson can picado pic index and middle?

[romienomie]

@MDefsquad9 who cares?

[leadimprov]

That classical guitar sounds like crap. Why's he playing jazz on that garbage?

[RafalNitkaBialek]

Must say I find its sound slightly annoying. This, however, is caused by his articulation rather than the guitar itself, I would say. I think it's just simply not adjusted to such kind of instrument...

[musiclan80]

@RafalNitkaBialek george benson is a genius of jazz, not imitate what is created by guitarists conservatory. there are guitarists that they spend a lifetime playing what others think. george benson shows you what is what is on your mind.

[kalpal67]

@musiclan80 haha what?

[rbcrazyriderrb]

@musiclan80 what the hell are you talking about

[JeezoozeChrysler]

@musiclan80 hahaha too bad he plays more random notes than anything else. Plus BENDING on a classical ? Sorry but this sounds like crap to me.....

[ttrent1233]

@JeezoozeChrysler You must not play any instrument because random notes don;t exist. Furthermore, you must not know jazz because there is definitely no such things of random notes. Also, you must really be new to music because everything in music is suggested which mean random definitely don't exist. O yeah btw, don;t you think some of the noise might come from subpar audio equipment. This seems kinda old.

[DrakenGuardz]

@RafalNitkaBialek Wow.

[BuddLightbrain]

@RafalNitkaBialek Annoying? Think the point is missed!

[RafalNitkaBialek]

@BuddLightbrain True; the point of my comment (which was a reply to the one made by leadimrpov).

[RAGmusic1]

Thank you for uploading this! Been looking for these vids for ages and can now watch them again.

Greg.

[highintel]

My God!

Is he sitting next to Kryptonite or something?

[scofelice]

very good