Old friend, former colleague, mighty fine guitarist and all-around good guy, Jeremy Gilless, has been gracious enough to bring us this lesson on arranging pop tunes for solo acoustic guitar.
The song: “Amber” by rap-rock-reggae fusion band, 311.
As a musician and instructor, Jeremy is in heavy demand in the Baltimore/Annapolis area here in Maryland. He has 20+ years teaching and 30+ years playing, as well as a degree in Music Education/Classical Guitar from Towson University. His former students include current Peabody Conservatory faculty, as well as members of Jimmie’s Chicken Shack and Kelly Bell Band.
Jeremy is extremely well-rounded as a player, owing at least in part to the fact that he enjoys so many different styles of music. In fact, it’s a little surprising that his classical chops are so good, given that his 70′s funk chops are so good! He also plays rock and jazz with equal authority.
Basically, he can make you sick. 
Fortunately for all of us, Jeremy does NOT fall into the “great player, mediocre instructor” category. He is a devoted guitar teacher who communicates the nuances of the instrument with patience and skill. And with more than 60 students per week, he invests plenty of hours honing his teaching chops as well as his guitar chops.
In the following lesson, Jeremy shows us how to incorporate all of the “band” aspects of “Amber” – the melody, the solo, and the rhythm section groove – into a solo acoustic performance. This is the type of arrangement that can be tricky conceptually and technically, but working at it will only increase your awesome factor. Continue reading ““Amber” for Solo Acoustic: A Guest Lesson by Jeremy Gilless” »
