Welcome to the Blues, Country, and Rock Course

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 included in the course.

My Musical Background

I suppose I've been asked to do this because of my background. Musically, I come from a place that's very much rooted in blues and rock. I also play a lot of country music.

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

I've had the pleasure 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 it has been fantastic. I'm hoping to pass on much of the knowledge I've gathered over the last 15 years of being a professional musician to you through the Music Gurus and Rock School course.

What to Expect

I've thoroughly enjoyed learning these pieces, as I'm sure you have too.

Techniques You Will Learn

There's a wide range of techniques involved, starting from:

• Simple Fundamental Techniques (at the beginning)
• Advanced Techniques (towards the end of higher grades)

This is a big journey that you are embarking on, and I'm excited to accompany you.

Key Concepts

We'll cover:

• Double Stops
• Pre-bends
• Hybrid Technique
• Pedal Steel Bends (where you're pre-bending and holding notes)

By the end of this course, you will have developed a multitude of techniques and, hopefully, a wealth of musicality and ideas in your playing that you can take forward in your musical journey.

Building Solos

We're going to discuss a lot about building solos, specifically:

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

I'll be sharing many pointers, tips, and tricks that I've learned over the years to help you in your development.

Conclusion

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