Jason Becker, Serrana arpeggios. I still shake my head every time I see this. It's sheer brilliance. I still don't think there's a guitarist out who comes very close to his accuracy and fire. Well, a few, but not in '88!!!!

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George Lynch in the studio. Yeah, he's a little sloppy, yeah, he's all buffed out and is tanner than a tan guy, but I tells yah, his vibrato is PERFECT and he does burn, check it:

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Paul Gilbert Intense Rock. Probably the biggest display of chops ever. This was Paul at his craziest. I will admit I'm not that into him now, as I hate his pentatonic stuff, but this is sheer brilliance. Shrapnel label should have done a Jason Becker/Paul Gilbert album circa '87. That would have been BOMBASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

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Greg Howe jammin' on Sunny. This is pretty much improv for Greg. He's just nuts!! He's really the only guy on the Shrapnel label you can hear get better after each album, it's insane!!!!! His techniques are just full on!!!

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Guthrie Govan jamming over Jimi backing track. This is the new guy on the bliock, been playing since he was 4 or something. Mastered pretty much every technique there is. His album rocks as well, now if we can only get to to join the drak side and play METAL!!!!

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Enough for now. Rawk!!!

One of our friends in here, Damien, asked what he songs he could start learning by ear. I'll give you a list of what I used, and you can go from there.

AC/DC: Highway to Hell, Back in Black, For Those About to Rock.

VH: First Four CD's.

Dokken:Tooth N' Nail, Under Lock and Key, Back For the Attack.

The ac/dc stuff is good for just straight ahead rock and moving forward with ear training, The VH stuff is great for playing both rhythm and lead all in the same breath, plus you get to hear the first real shredder (after Hendrix) tear it up proper!!!!

Dokken has George Lynch, another version of Ed with the MEANEST vibrato!!!! The songs are kinda wimpy, but this is just solo magic right here. George has a great blend of feel and burn. Great solos, vibrato, and phrasing.

If there's problems with this list or you want to add to it, feel free.

When I wasa teenager, this was all I did. Throw a record on the record player, and start dissecting. Sometimes between 4-6 hours a night.

What has eartraining done for me? Well, a real quick one; I can learn 4 songs for my cover band in one hour the day of rehearsal. Ha ha!! Don't tell them!!! But yeah,  I can learn solos quickly, songs quickly, and I can show students solos note for note in a short amount of time.

Indulge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ummm, lots on for today. I need to add some people in my links section, and that's about it. I also have to film some Dime inspired stuff for Dean TV, doubt there'll be time today. And of course, Dr Nick rehearsal tonight. Wejust got an exclusive contract with AES, who books lots of th pubs/clubs out here. It's kind of a big deal. So we'll be able to eat for the next few months!! Food!! Yay!!

Practice!!!!!!!!!!!

So picture this:

I'm sitting on a plastic chair in my living room, watching Zappa's Baby Snakes on DVD.

My wife Alex is dyeing my friend Wll's hair. He's 26 and wants the grey out. I'm arguing with some fool on msn regarding the mayonesguitar competition, and I think that's it.

From the baby snames dvd, I love the Black Page, the keyboard and drum solos,and Punky' Whips.

And yesterday I tried on one of those army 'fake bush' jackets..you know, the ones the real freaks wear?

I want the whole suit!!!!