How To Play Lead Acoustic Guitar

A good accompanist adds depth, sparkle and excitement to a song, punctuating it with improvised lines and well-placed chords, then stepping forward at the right point to take a solo. The trick is to enhance the performance, making a musical statement without “stepping on” the vocalist’s lyrics.

The late Artie Traum accompanied dozens of top performers in his long professional career, including many well-known singer/songwriters, and on this unique video he shows you how he used his skills to highlight and enhance the song. He provides specific ideas and examples for lead lines and how to construct a solo based on a song’s melody. You’ll learn how to move freely around the fingerboard, making the guitar “sing” with beautiful tone and musical ideas. In addition, you’ll learn special accompaniment techniques — slides, bends, vibrato and much more.

Artie is joined by singer/songwriter Diane Zeigler, whose compelling songs and unique chording provide perfect material for him to “deconstruct” his ideas for soloing on lead acoustic guitar. Each of her original tunes represents a different style, so you’ll learn lyrical accompaniment as well as funky blues riffs and country-style licks.