Why I'm Going Country (and so is my gear)

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[skate_oasis]

I want to hear the AC/DC audition fail story!
I am definitely not a country fan (although I respect the genre for the amount of fun they all seem to be having) but I have long thought country guitar playing (and tones) were seriously incredible. I love chicken pickin' and hybrid picking! Guys like Daniel Donato are out there using tons of phase and modulation effects in country which also makes me so happy. Awesome video mike!

[The_Lord_Of_Confusion]

Mike, I need to know that AC/DC audition story

[florisvanlingen]

Eventhough it's called a tremolo arm, it's actually a vibrato. Tremolo is about volume whilst vibrato is about pitch. Think of a tremolo effect of quickly rolling on and off the volume of your guitar.

[mitchellphillips]

Mike is like an older brother that has awesome stories and you learn a lot from.

[maestro]

Love your channel Mike. Not a church goer or a country music listener, but your videos keep me coming back. Thanks for that.

[Antoniolovesjesus]

Mike, great video, I saw this at work and knew I had to watch it once I got home. I am 16, and also a worship guitarist and a country lead guitarist for a small group. It's such a great genre, if we are talking classic country that's what I like.

[mattmuzic]

Hey brother, love this. As a chicken picking neophyte myself, I’ve found most of the country tone comes from your right hand, your aggressive attack. Hybrid picking, I recommend a thumb pick to start, naturally changes your phrasing. And, plucking strings upward with your index and middle finger gives a super spank that is vital to that sound. I’ve found I can make almost any pedal or amp sound country. Give it a pluck, you won’t regret it. God bless.

[RelicOnMaui]

The Fender solid-body Tele and pedal steel electric was literally MADE for country-Western . It was adapted to Rock&Roll. Hardtail Strats are my favorite, which is why I love my Squire Fender ‘51
I just recently pulled my BOSS M-550 out of storage... several BOSS pedals all in one unit.. fewer cables, fewer power supplies to pack. I actually use little besides distortion, reverb/delay and occasional chorus for my entire gigs. I don't attempt to replicate studio post--process effects, on stage. I try my best to NOT multitask on stage. I want an uninterrupted audience connection. Looking at, and addressing the crowd, instead of "fiddling with gear". Some performers on stage look more like they are practicing at home, staring at their hands and equipment. I want my audience to FEEL I am playing just for them, with no self distractions. An as soon as I adopted that, my tips zoomed to sky-high. Like players seldom believe. Not just $20s but C-NOTES... as a solo performer?

[BeejayMorgan]

I grew up inundated with country music, and for a long time, I rejected it the same way you did. Now I listen to it quite a bit. Country has become all genres. If you sing about mama and have a bit of a drawl, you've got a country song. Doesn't matter if it sounds like southern hard rock, hip hop, pop, or old-school country. Now I've started writing it. Probably going to start releasing country singles. Eventually all music will be country and country will be all music... 😳

[afurinperil]

The "trem" system on guitars is actually misnamed. It's Actually vibrato because you're changing the physics of the strings and making them drop in pitch. A tremolo pedal changes the VOLUME of the signal. not the pitch. So a tremolo pedal doesn't reeeaaally replace the effect of using a whammy bar. I will grant that most people wouldn't notice or care, just thought it was worth noting

[stevecassidyguitar]

Tremolo on Guitar = Vibrato. Tremolo on amp/pedal = Tremolo 🤠👍

[ariella]

As brand new Guitar player and living in the Nashville Area, I loved this video and I love your channel. Keep it up...

[jefffixesit]

Mike, I like your style! I'm 68, self taught, raised on classic rock, born in the bluegrass country of southeastern KY. I hated country and bluegrass, but I find I understand it musically on some primordial, maybe genetic level. I've learned to embrace my inner country boy, and cherish the mashup of Hendryx, Van Halen, Zappa, and me! I'm calling it "Jeffusion", bc I'm also embracing my inner nerd!😅

[kevinkaol]

used to hate on country players till I heard Brad Paisely play on that Game of Thrones solo, , , , even Nuno Bettencourt & Tom Morello were impressed

[MashaT]

Omg I read that title and thought you were moving to Nashville. Don’t ever leave the NY area — you are a treasure here! I can say “here” as a lifelong Bronxite who landed in Queens 5 years ago. NYC needs more amazing musicians and story tellers like you!

[stephenbennett]

You should look into Vince Gill, he's a singer/ guitarist mostly known for his country music in the 90's. He's one of the best country artists of all time, and it's not the type of country you'll be expecting.

[boblittle]

I am like your second take on country: Yeah it's fine, but it's not really my thing. But I do recognize the sheer talent a lot of the country musicians have. When I hear someone like a Marty Stuart or a Glenn Campbell or someone like that, I'm always amazed.

[masterWindu_]

60s-90s is the best music genre for sound and feel ever.

[tobins]

OK, if you have to ask if I want the story, just assume a yes from me. Your story telling is on par with your playing. Simply awesome, and very fun to listen to.

[musicsucks]

A lot of modern country is mindless pandering. Where the lyrics are not really lyrics they’re just lists of things that sounds country and lots of analogies. BUT if look at country through the 80’s 90’s and 00’s there some really well written and beautiful stuff . Some of the greatest songs of all time are country.