Amazing Chord-Melody Guitar Playing & Tone With Tim Lerch

Utterly masterful playing and wisdom from our new mate, Tim!

Welcome to the show! Here's something a little bit special today…
Tim Lerch is a guitar player with a highly developed understanding of harmony and melody. Schooled in part by revered jazzer, Ted Greene, Tim has gone on to become a seasoned professional musician and educator.
Needless to say, we are delighted to welcome him to the show, where we discuss aspects of Tim’s development to date; theoretical and practical approach to chord-melody playing, and of course some discussion around sound and tone.

A few things are mentioned in the video, these are they…

Pedals & stuff in today’s episode
• JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk Mk2

Interesting bits & go-to sections
0:00 Intro playing
0:47 Welcome & introductions
2:32 Tim’s early years
6:26 Ever had a proper job?
7:54 Nerve damage?
10:32 Recognise & develop a melody
13:16 Becoming an educator
16:14 Philosophy on teaching
19:11 Balancing educating with playing
21:44 Learn, practice, play!
26:27 Melodic Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
29:59 Learning to play chord melodies
37:52 Tim’s introduction to jazz
40:41 Music in the absence of sound
43:27 Isolate the parts and orchestrate
46:25 Voice leading with basic chords
49:12 What’s each voice doing?
51:37 Understand YOUR musical vocabulary
54:46 What are the chords implying?
56:20 Learning with Ted Greene
1:08:05 Tim’s time on YouTube
1:16:36 Neck wiggling advocate!
1:18:36 Tim’s tone?
1:20:00 Tim’s right hand
1:24:17 Guitar setup
1:26:05 Draw the tone out
1:28:00 Length of the note
1:32:00 Silent trumpet?
1:33:56 Serving the song
1:35:52 Thank yous
1:37:38 Tim plays us out

Guitars in this video
• Fender Custom Shop Nocaster with Lollar Charlie Christian neck pickup
Big thanks to Jon Green for the loan of the Nocaster.

Amps in this episode
Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb with Jensen C10R speaker

Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb with Jensen C12-K speaker

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[TimLerchGuitar]

Thanks guys! The advice my Dad gave me (which I forgot to get around to sharing) was “Timmy why don’t you play a song I can recognize and play it all the way thru! “ Wisdom from a mostly non musical man Kenneth Lerch.

[fivewattworld]

Tim is one of my favorite players and one of my favorite humans. Thanks for the shout out all.

[davedavem]

"My contribution to zen literature was to abstain from writing a book."
I LOVE IT!
Reminds me of Tomo Fujita's "don't expect too fast".

[iDannyism]

"The biggest mental obstacle to learning guitar is wanting too much, to biggest obstacle to practicing guitar is wanting too soon, and the biggest obstacle to playing guitar is wanting anything." - Tim Lerch, everyones new favorite dude.

[martynharveythepoet]

Yeah - I have to say, I've watched this video several times and what Tim has to say is priceless! I've got a Masters Degree in music so I kinda know what I'm talking about (generally) and the way he explains the voice-leading and the blurred lines between melody and harmony - the importance of following the voices on a single string.. and then across strings - is perfect. Only one thing to add... when Mick asks what Diatonic music/scales are... Tim doesn't explain that well... he's correct to some extent but doesn't explain the fundamental concept: A scale or musical scheme/structure is called Diatonic when it is based around traditional (western harmony) scales which use 2 intervals - the "whole tone" and the "semi-tone"... Two tonal intervals... Diatonic. Simples! Great video... inspiring! Thanks Tim, Mick and Dan!!!

[AaronLS.]

This is the most profound guitar interview I've ever listened to. Provacative questions, fascinating answers, and the interviewers gave the space for it all to happen. Thank you!

[kilejackson]

I shared a house with Tim for about 3 yrs. and played music with him on and off for 20. No one like Tim as he is a kind and gentle man. A wonderful friend.

[bakkels]

I don't know how he did it, but Tim just left me completely disheartened and utterly inspired at the same time here 😅
I also love how Mick asks a question at 38:00 trying to bring it back to us mere mortals and Tim follows it up with another masterclass that just leaves me going "wut?"

[CurranKevin]

Tim Lerch is the Bob Ross of guitar instruction. I'm both more skilled AND more relaxed after listening to him. Absolutely terrific episode, gents.

[chuckbouscaren]

A good teacher knows the material well, a great teacher has enthusiasm about the topic. Enthusiasm is contagious and makes a student want to learn.

[davegrice]

One of the best TPS episodes ever guys. I love hearing Tim play and educate so much, and you guys really engaged him on topics that were interesting.

[eaglerayrob]

I feel like Tim did the first time he saw Ted Greene. I'm the happiest moron on YouTube today. I am in awe of Tim Lerch's talent and loving, humble character. Thank you all for a fantastic episode.

[sfstoltenberg]

"I want it to sound like the guitar player knows the song" is really an important observation. Thanks Tim!

[cowieson]

It’s hard to articulate in a YouTube comment just how brilliant this episode was. Utterly inspirational stuff. I suspect this is one of those which I’ll come back to over and over.

I wasn’t familiar with Tim, but I feel like I’ve just been led down the first couple of feet of a very long rabbit hole!

[Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Wow, talk about timing! Just this morning I went to my daughter's classroom at a HS for the preforming arts. She teaches JR High age autistic people aged 11-14. I stated piano lesson at 11 and bought myself a guitar at 14. I had practiced nearly every day the previous week but only on pieces which had stuck with me. I wanted the to hear why I still play (at 5-6 times their age). I was not there to teach them to play but to show them they can teach themselves by listening and doing. Because I am my audience and my teacher I have only need for an instrument to continue enjoying that relationship of cooperation. I needed them to see the passion at work as I explained how what I play is the result of what I did with what I heard. I did not touch on my physical issues related to playing because neither I nor they should focus on limitations. At times I am still instructed in playing by simply watching as my hands did things I had not planned. Creative musicians don't sit staring at a blank page willing it to be filled in so they can play. The play and them remember and then record and them edit the also change the way they play a piece (even of their own) over time.

[scattystormborn]

I’m glad that you promoted his book! After hearing Tim play, I purchased it immediately as a Father’s Day gift for pops

[DS-mk]

So great to hear from Tim Lerch. His TrueFire courses have been great fun, and his overall approach is inspiring.

[jeffro.]

I love Tim's "candle" methaphor about teaching-- that's the way I've always approached it. He & i are from the same generation and have the same approach to life and music....
I LOVE finding someone like that, i wish we could pal around together for a couple days, at least. Time well spent!

[avischachter]

Great episode, with many great moments. One of my favorites was when Tim mentioned he went off the grid for like 13 years, without picking up a guitar, and Mick’s expression gets wider and wider until it clearly said “dear God, Tim is Obi-Wan Kenobi”.

[alperademi]

Tim Lerch has been a friend to the show, and you've done him justice by documenting this...thank you!