Welcome, and hello fellow guitar junkies! Over the next few months we will discuss and pinpoint critical attributes required to truly be considered a master guitarist. I’ll provide examples of what to do, and what not to do, what to think, and what not to think. Hopefully, this exercise will provide a clear and prosperous vision for you and your playing style.

Over the last 25 years you’ve seen both the rise and fall of a guitar nation turned to mush. We’ve somehow lost sight of the true ingredients that built the legacy of our forefathers. Guitar gods like Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Jeff Beck meticulously crafted a foundation of gold. Now, 10 and 30-year-olds alike sit back, pop Doritos, “wail” for a few, and tear it down brick by brick.

In modern rock music it is extremely difficult to find a flawless blend of talent, technique, and soul. While artists like Audioslave and Velvet Revolver have set the course back to mainstream, there are a plethora of others “sucking” for a grandiose living. Why is this? That’s easy, “KBCC”: Kids Buy Catchy Crap.

When the “Industry” decided to popularize amateur lookers for a quick buck, we lost the great concert and the great guitarist. Reality check: No one spends hours a day fine-tuning their craft when it only takes 15 minutes to learn the sh@t we're being spoonfed! I hope I touched a “chord” here with a few fellow “musicians” out there.

Next month we’ll start with building your catalog of legends for inspiration. Then you can go show the world what it truly means to be one of those few, the legends.