Customer Reviews

Albert Lee-Instructional Guitar DVD

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just got the DVD, but it is barely different than my VHS copy. In fact, it looks like it was made from a production copy (like the one we've all purchased) and not the master. Very high contrast, tons of video noise, 'clay face' artifacts and piss poor soft image. Audio sounds as good as it did before. Sheesh. Oh well, at least I didn't have to digitize it. This video has been around since 1983. Albert is fascinating. The tab is confusing for some of the licks, which are in a non-standard tab format. Get your right hand ready, and prepare to get frustrated! 2 stars DVD, 5 stars Albert, 3 1/2 stars instructional.

Only half the examples have REAL tab. The rest have a number-intensive second-rate substitute for tab. This so-called educational video has other shortcomings as well. Albert Lee is not a very good music teacher. His "slow" playing is way too fast. Combine that with the lack of REAL tab and you've got a DVD worth passing up. You can find Albert's licks on the web for free, in accurate REAL tab.

As a guitar lifer, I enjoy learning new techniques. After seeing Stanley Jordan perform on a local TV morning show, then at a high-profile, yet intimate, jazz club in Seattle, I was amazed. Now to find this DVD, I guess I am truely enlightened;-)

This DVD covers not only his performance technique, but he discusses how he began and evolved his technique from childhhood. Mr. Jordan can be described as an artistic engineer of musical technique.

He discusses his guitar modifications, equipment flexibility, early invention attempts, and the origins of his playing style. He is a jazz-style virtuoso who can't resist throwing in licks from Hendrix & Page.

If you're a budding, or seasoned, guitar player who thinks the latest metal shredders are gods, buy this DVD ... then look more closely at your prior idols. Many of them acknowledge Jordan's influence. Breadth AND depth of talent (not just stage presence) is HERE.

I am an intermediate level guitarist interested primarily in blues. I wanted to learn a little more about country guitar and was especially interested in Albert Lee. I am very disappointed with this product. The DVD is very limited and practically worthless. Lee is an amazing guitarist with lightning speed, but this does not translate to a good instructional program. I say this with a doctorate and over 30 years of experience in education. Lee presents his "licks" so quickly that they are impossible to follow. Even when he slows down to show the lick a second time, it is still very difficult to follow. He does provide an instructional booklet with all of "the licks", but unless you read music fairly well, this is also useless. Over half of the DVD focuses on Lee showing off his guitars and only a small part is actual instruction. However, this doesn't really matter because the instruction that he does present is almost impossible to learn from. It would have been far better if he would have slowed down and shown each part of each lick in a way that non-expert players could comprehend.

I first heard Stanley Jordan way back in the late 80's -- a cut from his 'Flying Home' CD on the radio. What attracted me about this cut was 1) the clear timbre of the guitar; and 2) unique picking. So I bought this CD as well as his first CD, 'Standards, Volume I' from 1986.

'Standards' blew my mind. I couldn't believe I was hearing only 1 guitar player...I would have sworn I was hearing 2 guitarists! The reason is because of his 2-handed technique which allows both his left and right hand to play notes and/or chords at the same time, like a piano. He does this by tapping, not strumming. For example his left hand taps out a base line, or whatever pattern he wants, while his right hand accompanies the left hand, again like a piano.

This allows him to play incredible, heavenly music. In this DVD Mr. Jordan gives about an hour-long presentation on all the facets of his style, from beginner techniques, to tuning, listening and improvising. He also talks about his gear and demonstrates alot of really fascinating effects. At one point he sets up 3 guitars and plays all of them, if you can imagine!

He is a musical genius, in my opinion. I use the word 'genius' because he reinvented the guitar to suit his own musical needs, to go beyond conventional guitar-playing. For example he can play counterpoint style in the fashion of Bach because of the independence of his hands. The independence gives him alot more freedom musically.

I wouldn't recommend this DVD to Guitar-Hero types. That's not what Jordan is about (playing riffs as fast as you can to be the 'fastest and fiercest'). He's actually into the therapeutic effects of music, and as an undergraduate music student he developed his own music software. A very interesting guy!

For those interested in Stanley Jordan, or new ways to play, this is a wonderful DVD to get a better idea of what can be done. It is interesting to watch, and well presented.

This is a great video but you're going to have to work at it. Let's face it, this guys work is complex so take it slow. Take it slow, TAKE IT SLOW! The tab is unusual but I've found that the 3rd or 4th time through it gets easier. Don't expect to be able to finger pick if you've never done it before. I've been finger picking for 45 years and had to switch to different fingers due to the use of a flat pick. When I was in High School I decided to put on the picks every time I picked up the guitar. It took a long time but I got very good and now, at 62, I'm doing the same thing only w/o the thumb pick. And I still have to practice with the thumb pick as I don't want to lose that skill! Good pickin on ya!

I've been a real fan of the guitarist (and singer) Albert Lee for a long time now. The world's best! This instuctional DVD gives me all. Just buy it if you intend to learn and compare to the very best!