Welcome to Blues, Country, and Rock Music Learning

Hi, I'm Marcus Bonfanti, and I've been asked by Music Gurus and Rock School to take you through some of the blues, country, and rock music on the course they offer.

My Musical Background

I suppose I've been asked to do this because of my background. Where I come from musically is very much a blues and rock place. I also play a lot of country music.

• Started out playing in rock and roll bands when I was younger.
• Became a session musician for a little while, playing with some pop music acts.
• More recently, I've become more specialized in rock and blues.

I've had the privilege of working with some of my heroes, including:

• Eric Clapton
• David Gilmour
• Shuggie Otis
• Ginger Baker
• Van Morrison
• Tom Jones

I've learned a lot from these experiences, and they have been fantastic. I'm hoping to pass on this knowledge that I've gathered over the last 15 years as a professional musician to you through the Music Gurus and Rock School course.

What to Expect

I've enjoyed learning these pieces, and I'm sure you have too. There is a wealth of technique to explore, ranging from:

• Some simple but fundamental concepts at the beginning
• To advanced techniques towards the end of the course at higher grades.

It's a big journey you're embarking on, and I'm looking forward to going on it with you!

Techniques You'll Learn

• Early Focus: Double stops and pre bends.
• Expansion: Later on, we'll dive into hybrid technique and pedal steel bends, where you'll learn to pre-bend and hold notes.

By the end of this course, you will have:

• A lot of technique
• A wealth of musicality and musical ideas in your playing

These skills can then be applied in your own way.

Building Solos

We will talk a lot about building solos, including:

• How to start and finish solos
• Ways to express yourself

I'll be giving you lots of pointers, as these are things I've thought about over the years and learned, little tips and tricks that have helped me along the way.

Conclusion

So, good luck with everything! I hope you gain a lot from this course, and I'm looking forward to teaching you.