HOT COUNTRY

101 Learn the nuts and bolts of high-tech country lead guitar.

- TOM KOLB

LET'S FACE IT - quite a few of us die-hard rock guitarists are a little bit country too, whether we're aware of it or not. Think about it: Our rock and roll forefathers, players like Chuck Berry, Scotty Moore, Cliff Gallup, Eddie Cochran and James Burton, sprang up from the rockabilly era, which was a fusion of blues and country. In the 1960s, George Harrison introduced millions of Beatles fans to his Chet Atkins-inspired fingerpicking on his Gretsch guitar. Don't forget the country-in-fluenced southern rockers of the 1970s, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as prog-rock legend Steve Howe's sizzling twangy onslaughts in many Yes songs. Hell, even Eddie Van Halen tipped his hat to the genre in Van Halen's "Finish What Ya Started." And speaking of heavy hitters, Zakk Wylde and John 5 are known for dipping into the country vernacular in their solos.

Whether you plan to plow full-bore into the world of country guitar or are just a little bit curious about what all the hubbub is about, this lesson will give you the tools you need to start rubbing shoulders with masters of the style -

players like Danny Gatton, Albert Lee, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Bryant, Roy Buchanan, Joe Maphis, Brent Mason, Brad Paisley, Tony Rice, Roy Clark, Jerry Reed, James Burton, Jerry Donahue and Johnny Hiland - to name just a few. So come on little doggies, put on your boots and spurs, hop into the saddle and let's take a trail ride through fundamental country lead guitar techniques, advanced licks and string-bending tricks.

GEAR