DVD Video
Hal Leonard Corporation - Feb. 2006

The intro to this instructional DVD is captivating on its own. It's Joe sitting in front of his Marshall Silver Jubilees and Buddas, Strat in hand. He wails on lead for a minute or so, and then introduces himself and the DVD.

The first section delves into the diversity of the Fender Stratocaster. The inclusive demonstration is loaded with techniques and facts. Joe samples the instrument's triple pickup capabilities: neck, middle, and bridge, also showing how each is manipulated by the volume and tone pots, the position selector switch as well. Of course, those familiar with the Fender Stratocaster know already the diverse and beautiful tones the instrument can evoke; however, watching and hearing Joe run through the various sounds is a learning experience in itself. With so many attractive instruments on the market these days, this presentation easily reminds us that the Stratocaster is still one of the most diverse guitars in existence. From country to rock to blues, even Wes Montgomery-like jazz, Joe explains how he gets the sounds he desires from his Strat. If you want to learn his violin sound, reminiscent of the technique used by both Jeff Beck and Roy Buchanan, he displays it here in detail, stressing also how easy it is to do.

Joe plays his Gibson Les Paul R9 in the next chapter, stating it's one of his favorite guitars in the whole world. Again, he goes through the different sounds and tones he can obtain with the instrument, its differences by pickup selection, and the uses of the volume and tone pots. The disparities between amps in relation to the guitar, clean or distorted, are examined as well. As with the Strat, the volume manipulation is shown. Plugged into a Marshall amp, Joe flaunts some nice, creamy, yet heavy sounds with this guitar.

The next selection is done with his signature Gigliotti GT guitar. This is an incredibly beautiful instrument, both in appearance and tone. With it, he discusses techniques in playing rhythm guitar. He explains how to acquire the Leslie rotating speaker sound while using power and conventional chords, which is often very crucial in adding dimension to music, especially within a blues-rock trio. The following chapter gets into soloing in length. The elements that aid in individualizing guitarists are discussed: vibrato, phrasing, muting, and fretboard exercises.

Next, and overtly important for players intent on learning the Joe Bonamassa style, is slide technique. He chooses his Chandler LectraSlide for this. Afterward, he goes into extensive detail about his effects pedals and their proper usage, not overlooking the fact that many people overuse them. After getting into a discussion of his amp setup, he speaks of the plexiglass baffle he uses live. Anyone who has seen a Joe Bonamassa show knows that even though he can sometimes get pretty loud, it's done tastefully, minus the earsplitting feature many players can't seem to control. The baffle works nicely. His theory for micing amps is very interesting as well.

Overall, Joe Bonamassa - Signature Sounds, Styles and Techniques is a very informative and interesting instructional DVD. The sound quality is very good, and the video complements the discussion adequately. As we all know, practice makes perfect, but players such as Joe Bonamassa possess the ability to make it look easy. He presents a well-rounded discussion of the instrument and related gear, and gives an inspiring display of his guitar playing style in a personable and appealing manner.