Top 12 YouTube Fingerstyle Guitar Videos You Should Know

Because a Top 10 is too mainstream. LOL.

Here's a list of videos that are popular, known, influential or in some way I feel is a good introduction to vast jungle of fingerstyle guitar YouTube videos.

If you're a guitar teacher, this is a good list to introduce your students to in case they're not familiar with it.

If you're a total fingerstyle guitar geek, you've probably seen all these videos & will ask me why some videos are not included. The reason is because there's a lot of videos out there! =p

Share & comment away! =)

1. Drifting - Andy McKee

This is one of the videos that started it all off. Great lesson in playing in DADGAD, percussive playing & tapping.

2. Crazy (Gnarls Barkley) - Don Ross

Don Ross was one of my biggest influences when I started playing fingerstyle guitar. His album 'Passion Session' is still of my faves. Strongly recommended. 

3. Somebody I used to know (Gotye) - Mike Dawes

Mike Dawes covered this Gotye song and focused all his energy to get this crazy arrangement together. Epic fingerstyle guitar. 

4. Airtap - Erik Mongrain

This started a whole generation of lap-tapping guitarists. Great performance, super clean briliant playing. Love it.

5. Reality - Antoine Dufour

Antoine is a major influence to a whole new generation of players who know fingerstyle guitar via the CandyRat Youtube channel and record label. Very intricate playing and elegant textures.

6. Playing with Pink Noise - Kaki King 

This is the Kaki King song that most people know her for. Since this song, she has explored looping, different instruments and gotten even more textural and ambient. Great compositions and moods in her music. 

7. Time 2 - Ewan Dobson

 

Ewan Dobson is his own genre I think. And the look. Wow.

8. Passionflower - Jon Gomm

One of my favorite singer-songwriters/virtuoso fingerstyle guitarists. This song made him famous though my fave piece of his is his take on Radiohead's High and Dry. My dream is to tour with Jon.

9. Pirates of the Caribean - Sungha Jung

Most of my younger guitar students started playing because of Sungha. He's an inspiration to a whole generation because he showed them that it's possible for a kid to play like this. 

10. No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley) - Thomas Leeb

A huge influence to my playing after I met him back in 2003 when I attended Eric Roche's Residential Guitar Workshop in Devon, UK. Thomas is one of a kind. Also, check out Grooveyard (video link).

11. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - Kotaro Oshio

Kotaro's performance on this is a great introduction to his style which blends his Michael Hedges influences and his own sensibilities. Great touch and beautiful playing.

12. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) - Adam Rafferty

Adam is all about groove and tone. A maestro and some of the most elegant fingerstyle groove pop guitar you'll hear.

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Thanks for checking this blog post!

It's part of the new material for version 2.0 of the Percussive Fingerstyle Guitar Course that I teach. The new version is in the works...

In the meantime, you can check out my other guitar & ukulele courses here: Az Samad Guitar & Fingerstyle Ukulele Lessons

Thank you! =)

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Piazzolla - Not Only Tango in Penang (2013)

Recently, I was a part of the Piazzolla! Not Only Tango performance at penangpac, Straits Quay, Penang. Here are the photos from our rehearsals, performance as well as some adventure & food time in Penang! 

For the complete photo albums on FB, check out the links below:

Piazzolla - Not Only Tango at penangpac [Rehearsals]
Piazzolla - Not Only Tango at penangpac [Rehearsal #2 & 1st Show]
Nasi Dalca, China House & a walk in Penang
A visit to Spectrum Music, Penang!
Piazzolla- Not Only Tango [2nd Show]
A visit to Manuel Ukulele, Penang!

Thank you to everyone who came to the shows! Thank you to all friends who I met up on this trip too.

Love Penang so much! =)

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New Interview & Videos from Leaderonomics

Recently, I was interviewed by the awesome folks at Leaderonomics. This was a follow-up on the performance I did with Cheryl Tan at TEDxKL2013. We talked about how I started playing guitar, practicing, creativity and life as a working musician. In addition, I also performed a few songs.

Initially, it was slated to be a one song performance but since the audience members were so epic, I ended up playing more songs! 

Here are the videos. Enjoy! 

1. The interview

2. Hit Me Up [Performance]
 

3. Someday My Prince Will Come [Performance]
 
 
 4. Letter from Tahoe [Performance]
 

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Mike Dawes Workshop at Sixstrings, Aman Suria, Petaling Jaya

In 90-minutes, learn trade secrets from an international fingerstyle guitar maestro right here in Petaling Jaya!

Do you play fingerstyle guitar?
Do you enjoy mixing percussion, alternate tunings and grooves all on one guitar? 

If you do, then read on.

It’s a tough journey being an acoustic fingerstyle guitarist. Sometimes you practise pieces again and again but still it doesn’t sound close to the original. You wonder how to make all those percussive sounds at once along with clear high harmonics and tapped right hand melodies. Are you still just searching for answers on YouTube? How do you do that? How do you make everything sound smooth? Is there a secret?

What if you could get an insight into the mind of a true master? Someone who the Evening Post calls 'Completely Spellbinding’.

Get into the mind of Mike Dawes.

YouTube fingerstyle guitar star Mike Dawes is a young steel string guitarist from the South of England.

Since discovering the music of Pierre Bensusan at an early age, Mike has been completely dedicated to the guitar (along with the more obscure music that comes with it).

Currently residing in the South of England, Mike has been stunning audiences and critics with his guitar playing since 2008. His music often defies description, taking influence from Celtic, Rock, World and Popular music.

YouTube fingerstyle guitar star Jon Gomm says, “’Mike Dawes is a F***ing awesome guitarist!’

Imagine knowing how to get out of ruts. What would a virtuoso do to get out of a rut? Daniel, one of Mike’s students had this to say:

'You're a really good teacher thanks, you've made the most challenging aspects of my technique seem so easy to overcome, and I'm well on my way to getting out of this rut!' - Daniel (US)

This 90-minute workshop will help you get out of your rut and get your fingerstyle playing to the next level. You’ll get to learn from a maestro, understand your instrument more and know how to practice fingerstyle guitar like a boss.

With over 2.8 million cumulative views of his YouTube videos, Mike has garnered critical acclaim especially since his cover of Gotye ‘Somebody I used to know’ became a viral video hit.  

“Astounding Virtuosity” in the words Grammy Winner Gotye himself!  

Mike has performed alongside, and in support of some of the world’s most highly respected musicians, including:

Seth Lakeman
John Renbourn
Tommy Emmanuel
Pierre Bensusan
Erik Mongrain
Thomas Leeb
Jon Gomm
Guthrie Govan
Pino Forastiere
Trace Bundy
Petteri Sariola
Chris Wood

Mike has done workshops all around the world including at UK’s Academy of Music and Sound in Swindon. Here’s how he did:

'Mike, the feedback I've been getting is great and I'd love to have you back next year. It seems to have been one of the best masterclasses we've ever had in Swindon so hats off to you sir...students can be difficult to please!' - Steve, Academy of Music and Sound

The workshop will be a packed 90-minute session with Mike Dawes, up close and personal. One of Mike’s UK students had this to say about a session with Mike:

'He's a fantastic teacher! my mind is still trying to process a mere hour of his knowledge' Matt (UK)

And you will get not just a mere hour, you will get an hour and a half! That’s 90-minutes of wisdom in person from YouTube sensation Mike Dawes.

Remember, there are only 15 slots for participants for this workshop. We could have had more but we wanted for the workshop to be the very best for the special dedicated 15 students.  This will be a premium learning experience in an awesome environment.

Mike is so epic that he has performed and lectured alongside Guthrie Govan! Here’s what Rob Chapman of Chapman Guitars had to say:

'Mike Dawes is not only an unbelievably awesome guitarist, he is also an incredible teacher with a brilliantly approachable style, that's why I booked him to play AND lecture alongside Guthrie Govan at Monkeyfest' - Rob Chapman (Chapman Guitars)

You could study with Mike by travelling to Hampshire/Surrey in the United Kingdom and spend over RM8,000 (flights between RM3,000 to RM5,000 and RM240 or more per night for accommodation in addition to travel and food costs). This is a possibility for a serious student but not everyone can invest like this.

Instead of all these added expenses and logistics, we are bringing Mike Dawes to Aman Suria, Petaling Jaya. Right at the cozy space of Sixstrings, you’ll get to study with a world-class maestro.

How much is the cost for this investment?

Early Registration: RM100/per person
Walk-ins: RM120/per person  

Remember, there are only 15 slots available for the workshop.

To register today and secure your place:

1. Transfer the workshop payment of RM100 to  Hong Leong Bank 22500002427 (Sixstrings Sdn. Bhd.)

2. Email a photo of the deposit slip or e-mail with transfer info to enquiry@sixstrings.com.my. Make sure your e-mail heading is ‘Mike Dawes Workshop Payment’

For any inquiries about the workshop, call Sixstrings at +603 7887 5171

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to bring my guitar?
Yes, you’ll need your guitar so you can try out examples that Mike will teach. This is a hands-on workshop so to get the most out of it, you should have your guitar with you.

2. Is there an age limit?
No.

3. Will there be handouts on the material Mike is teaching?
Yes

4. What level do I have to be to enroll in this workshop?
The workshop is for intermediate and advanced guitar students.

5. Will Mike be performing at the workshop?
Mike will demonstrating examples from his music. For the performance, catch Mike concert at No Black Tie. Info is here: http://www.azsamad.com/mikedawes 

Candor Music & ZT Amplifiers

Thank you Steven Cheah Fah Jung of Candor Music Sdn Bhd for providing me with the ZT Lunchbox Amplifier. 

[FB Photo Album: Picked up the ZT Lunchbox Amp from Candor Music]

You can catch me using it during my solo electric guitar showcase/workshops across the Klang Valley.

For more info about the solo electric guitar shows, click here: http://www.azsamad.com/electric

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