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 on the course they offer.

My Musical Background

I suppose I've been asked to do this because of my background:

• Musically, I come from a very blues and rock place.
• I play a lot of country music as well.
• I started out playing in rock and roll bands when I was younger.
• I became a session musician for a little while, working with some pop music acts.

More recently, I've become a bit more specialized in rock and blues. I've had the pleasure and privilege of working with some of my heroes:

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

I've learned a lot from these experiences, which have been fantastic. I'm hoping to pass on this knowledge 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 will too.

Technique

There's a wealth of technique to explore, ranging from:

• Fundamental techniques: Simple but essential skills at the beginning.
• Advanced techniques: More complex techniques toward the end for higher grades.

This journey you're embarking on is exciting, and I look forward to being a part of it with you.

Key Concepts

We'll cover topics including:

• Double stops
• Pre bends
• Hybrid technique
• Pedal steel bends

You will learn how to pre-bend and hold notes, which will enhance your technique and musicality. By the end of this course, you'll have a range of techniques and musical ideas that you can freely explore in your playing.

Building Solos

We will discuss:

• Starting and finishing solos
• Expressing yourself musically

I'll share many pointers and tips I've learned over the years to help you out, and I'm eager to pass them on to you.

Final Thoughts

So, good luck with everything! I hope you get many valuable insights and techniques from this course. I'm excited to teach and to see all the progress you'll make!