Truefire - Fingerstyle Survival Guide (2015)

Every new generation of musicians pays homage to the great artists of past generations. The young artist studies the music of their heroes and mentors, often times learning their recorded performances note-for-note. After years of diligent practice and focus, the young artist starts to develop their own musicality and creative prowess. While still influenced by the masters they studied, the young artist brings fresh perspective, creative innovation and even advanced technical skills to the genre. Such is the evolution of art.

We first met Brooks Robertson at the Chet Atkins Convention when he was just fourteen. Even then it was clear he had the focus, drive and opportunity to become a master of fingerstyle guitar. He also had the heart and initiative to earn the respect of the great Buster B Jones who took him under his wing as a student (here’s what we witnessed in 2007).

“I was so fortunate to have Buster B Jones take me under his wing at a young age and guide my studies with fingerstyle guitar. Buster was a master of so many different styles of fingerstyle and he encouraged me to learn as many different approaches, techniques and styles as possible ….to watch, listen and study as many of the masters as possible… and then take it all and craft my own sound and style.”

What Buster and we didn't know is how skilled and passionate Brooks would become as a teacher. We’re proud to welcome Brooks to the TrueFire family with his Fingerstyle Survival Guide.

“This Fingerstyle Survival Guide is a road map of sorts to discovering your own sound and style. I’m very excited to have this opportunity to pass along all of the essential techniques and concepts that I’ve learned from my own mentors, throughout my own studies. These key learnings have been instrumental in helping me become a more creative, better fingerstyle guitarist and I’m hopeful they will help guide your studies as well.”

In the first section of the Fingerstyle Survival Guide, Brooks presents and demonstrates 16 key concepts and techniques: Movable Chords: 6th & 5th String Root, Movable Chords: Top Four Strings, String Transference, Left Hand Dynamics & Decoration, 1/2 Step Slide Embellishments, Boom Chick: Alternating Thumb, Boom Chick: Patterns, Syncopated Picking Patterns, Banjo Rolls, Waltz Patterns, Skipping Patterns, Fingernail Click Patterns, Right Hand Dynamics & Tone Concept, Cascading Harp Harmonics and Cascading Harp Harmonics.

In the second section, Brooks shows you how apply all of the key concepts and techniques across 7 performance studies:

Keep It Movin’: Traditional country boom-chick sound in the key of E
Into The Trees: Jazzy, funky feel with fingernail clicks and banjo rolls
Waltz For One: Beautiful fingerstyle waltz in the key of C
Jessica Sue: Ballad with string skipping patterns and left hand inversions
Carol: More boom-chick with a tune in the key of A minor.
Jonesin’: Buster B. techniques with a flair of Jerry Reed in E minor.
Waking Up To Dream: Fingernail clicks, rolls and cascading harp harmonics

Showing an educator’s maturity way beyond his years, Brooks composed the performance studies to be extremely accessible for the intermediate player and still ear-pleasingly sophisticated enough to holds its own in anybody repertoire. Brooks first performs the studies and then breaks them down move-by-move with impeccable clarity and patience. You will also get tab and notation for all of the key examples and performance studies.

If you’re passionate about fingerstyle guitar, you will find Brook’s Fingerstyle Survival Guide to be an indispensable companion on your learning journey.

Thanks to psycholoko



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