Up To Speed

Alex Bishop is busy in the workshop crafting acoustic guitar necks - but can he keep up with his students?

- Alex Bishop

As guitarists, nothing can be better for our musical development than being forced to play in a way that takes us outside of our comfort zone. It's so easy as we get older to strum along with the same old tunes and find ourselves stuck in a rut. When I was younger I remember trying to learn a Wes Montgomery solo after years of hacking away at Jonny Greenwood-style riffs on my Telecaster, and later bringing home a cheap five-string banjo upon which to learn bluegrass. I recall my dad muttering, "Jack of all trades, master of none..." as he passed my bedroom. But I'm pretty sure he just didn't like the banjo very much.