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How to Play Guitar Like Tommy Bolin - Example 1a - Guitar Lessons

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Uploaded by on Dec 29, 2009

More guitar lessons: http://bit.ly/TrueFire

THOUGH HIS LIFESPAN WAS CUT TRAGICALLY SHORT TO JUST 25 YEARS, guitar legend Tommy Bolin (8/1/51-12/4/76) accomplished more than most people who live three times as long. A self-taught prodigy, Bolin liked to work, and his track record proves it. A member of Zephyr, one of Denver's best-known psych-rock bands, and later Energy, a highly experimental instrumental jazz-rock jam band that touched on world music long before anyone thought up the title, Bolin went on to receive the highest accolades from the crème de la crème of '70s fusion and rock, replace two living legends, and develop an avid cult following. (Check out the heartfelt liner-note tributes from Jan Hammer, Narada Michael Walden, and Joe Walsh on 1996's From the Archives: Vol. 1 Rhino, and Steve Vai's message on The Ultimate: Redux Friday Music.) Bolin's solo repertoire, documented on Teaser and Private Eyes, was startlingly diverse. On Teaser alone, brash rockers (The Grind and Teaser), evocative and anthemic semi-acoustic ballads (Dreamer and Wild Dogs), Latin-tinged jazz (Savannah Woman), funky and balls-out fusion excursions (Homeward Strut, Marching Powder), reggae-flavored grooves (People People), and wailing slide guitar solos all comfortably shared real estate on the same disc. The same goes for the plethora of archival releases that continue to surface. Because of that diversity, it's hard to cram Bolin's entire oeuvre into a single lesson, so we'll concentrate on his electric, non-slide approach to soloing and a few powerful song riffs. Saddle up your Strat and let's dig in.

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Top Comments

  • You just can't really play like Tommy Bolin...

  • Hilarious! This shows you how to COPY a lick Tommy played, Not HOW TO PLAY LIKE TOMMY.

    In the 6 years I was friends with Tommy, I saw him play for Many Hundreds of Hours.

    It flowed from the cosmos into his being, and his flavor was added without needing to think. It was effortless and flowed out anew each song. He constantly evolved songs and innovated on the fly. Being gifted is not a matter of practice.

    Have fun but don't presume you will ever be in that league. Reality friends, REALITY.

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All Comments (17)

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  • this guy is a joke...:p

  • How do you create the dual videos? The regular video and the insert.

  • Only Tommy could play like Tommy.

  • @037cfu You said it perfectly,it was like some kind of energy (n.p.i.) gave Tommy so much talent.Tommy made it look so easy to play like he did without any effort.I believe some kind of force gave Tommy the ability to play like he did.Even the guitar legends that have been playing forever could not accomplish what Tommy did in his short career,he was only 25.Thats the real sad part.,i still wonder sometimes what Tommy would sound like today.I do know he would be on top of the world.

  • its true - u r not gonna playing like Tommy from watchin these players vids on utube.

  • @037cfu Reality is: sure TB was incredibly gifted, 1 in a million. but everyone has some talent, and pracitce does matter. i've seen fantastic players burn out and disappear coz they didn't practice enough and just thot they were the only one. you dont even know how gifted u r until you develop your talent and that takes time, practice and exposure to other styles and players. i agree tho that there were few if any ever like Tommy.

  • The only way anyone is gonna play like Tommy, is if they have 8 strings on the guitar and 7 fingers on one hand. :)

  • @037cfu I think the point is a lot of people would like an insight into Tommy's style, no-one is going to be able to play exactly like Tommy' we are the sum of all our influences and our individual selves as well. I don't think he's saying he can "play exactly like Tommy" mate... You are taking the title a little too literally...

  • @037cfu 10-4 THAT Man,not many have the feel of speed ball Bolin,and do not mean that in any derogatory mean's at all,I knew some of his friend's.....you my friend were blessed !!

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