Arpeggio Practice, Eddie Roberts, Maxey Archtops

Guitar Practice

In several past newsletter issues we worked on breaking up chords into arpeggios, but mostly focused on short chord progressions, and 2-octave arpeggios.

Today, let's practice a different approach. Below, well go through all the diatonic chords in the key of G, using 1-octave arpeggios - all staying within in once scale position.

Here is the scale position we'll use:

Below, we break it up into arpeggios. To form these chords, we're starting with the first note (G), and playing every other note from the scale. Then do the same thing with the 2nd note (A), and so on.

We play these ascending and descending, and then alternating between ascending and descending.

Guitarist Spotlight

Eddie Roberts

Who is Eddie Roberts?

Eddie Roberts is a true funk powerhouse. As the guitarist for The New Mastersounds and The Lucky Strokes, he has spent decades playing tight, groovy, and soulful licks that make people want to dance. His style blends blues, jazz, and funk, mixing smooth technique with raw energy—kind of like Grant Green meets Jimi Hendrix.

He has also toured and recorded with his band Eddie Roberts’ West Coast Sounds, and teamed up with Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars, 30th Congress) and Adam Deitch (Lettuce/Break Science) in the group W.R.D..

The Backstory

Born in the UK, Eddie fell in love with jazz, blues, and soul music at an early age. He played in different bands while developing his sound, but in the late ‘90s, he started The New Mastersounds. Inspired by classic ‘60s funk and soul, the band created a tight, high-energy groove that quickly gained a huge following.

What Makes His Playing Special?

• Pure groove – Every note counts. No wasted space.
• Jazz meets blues meets funk – The perfect mix of skill and feel.
• Amazing tone – Warm, punchy, and full of vintage soul.

Why You Should Care

Eddie Roberts doesn’t rely on flashy solos or crazy speed—he plays to make you move. His live shows with The New Mastersounds are packed with energy, fun, and deep grooves.

If you like bands like Soulive, Grant Green, James Brown, Lettuce, or The Greyboy Allstars, you’ll love The New Mastersounds.

Keys to Eddie's Sound

• Uses a heavy pick and heavy strings (D’Addario .014 to .052)
• Uses a lot of both left & right hand muting
• He picks every note, and doesn't use any hammer-ons or pull-offs.
• Uses half-step slides often

Influences

• Grant Green
• Wes Montgomery
• George Benson

Key Gear

• 1965 Gibson 330 hollowbody guitar with P90 pickups
• Fender Twin Reverb amp
• Dunlop Crybaby wah
• EP Booster pedal

Recommended Listening

• The New Mastersounds: The Nashville Session (Vols 1 and 2)
• The New Mastersounds: Made for Pleasure
• Eddie Robert's West Coast Sounds: It's About Time
• W.R.D.: The Hit

Check out Eddie Roberts

The New Mastersounds | Instagram | Facebook

Gear Showcase

Maxey Archtops

What is Maxey Archtops?

Maxey Archtops makes high-quality, hand-carved guitars for serious musicians who want incredible sound, a smooth feel, and a stunning design.

Founded by guitarist Josh Maxey, this boutique guitar brand focuses on creating some of the most responsive and expressive instruments available today.

The Story

Josh Maxey isn’t just a guitar builder—he’s also a jazz guitarist, teacher, and passionate music fan.

He grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and started playing guitar at 12 years old. He later attended The New School in New York City, where he earned a degree in Jazz Performance and studied with well-known musicians like Rodney Jones and Charles Tolliver. Since 2003, Josh has been a full-time guitar teacher, offering online and in-person lessons in Denver, Colorado. As a recording artist, he has released over 10 albums, with his music played on jazz radio stations worldwide.

After years of performing and teaching, Josh founded Maxey Archtops to bring together classic archtop designs with modern playability.

To create these guitars, Josh works with skilled builders in Beijing, China—small, top-tier workshops known for their world-class craftsmanship. Once the guitars are built, they are sent to their California warehouse, where the final setup, including fretwork and electronics adjustments, is completed.

Key Guitar Models

• GH1 & GH3 – A small-body archtop inspired by Paul Languedoc. It features a 13” bout, 24 frets, and a 25.5” scale length, with cutaway horns for easy access to higher frets. Built using traditional archtop methods.
• Lark – A fully hollow, single-cutaway archtop with a 13” body. It includes Seymour Duncan ’59 pickups, offering a wide range of tones.
• Night Owl – A double-cutaway archtop with a unique design. It comes with a spruce top and maple back and sides, or a fully curly maple body. This model features Seymour Duncan ’59 humbuckers with series, parallel, and split-coil options for extra versatility.

What Makes Them Special?

• Handcrafted, high-end guitars – No mass production, just expert craftsmanship.
• Premium materials, incredible tone – Built for deep resonance and long-lasting sustain.
• Designed for serious musicians – Whether you’re a jazz guitarist or a tone enthusiast, these guitars deliver exceptional sound.

Why You Should Care

Maxey Archtops are made for musicians who want a well-built, lifetime guitar with warm, rich, and full jazz tones. If you're looking for something different from the big-name brands, these guitars are a fantastic choice!

Check Out Maxey Archtops

Website | Instagram | Facebook

News & Notes

• Taylor released a new Super Auditorium acoustic guitar. Part of their high-end 800 series, it's a new take on their signature Grand Auditorium body shape. It's designed for rich, deep low-end response with round, woody trebles, and to respond well to soft or hard playing.
• Gibson announced new acoustic Special models - American-made Gibson acoustics sold at a lower price point than most other Gibson acoustic models. The Special models are built with all-solid tonewoods, have satin nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, & include L.R. Baggs electronics.
• Fender started selling aftermarket guitar necks from their American Vintage II line.
• Gibson announced a new Firebird Platypus guitar model; offered in 3 finishes.
• Jimmy Page criticized the UK Government about new Artificial Intelligence proposals, saying the technology is exploiting musicians.
• Fender is offering a bunch of free upgrades to its Mod Shop, including deluxe locking tuners, Shawbucker humbucker pickups, and a white blonde chambered ash body.

Book Recommendation

The Practical Guide to Modern Music Theory for Guitarists

Looking to brush up on your music theory knowledge? The Practical Guide to Modern Music Theory for Guitarists is a really useful book. While there are a lot of general music the makes it much more beneficial than just learning general concepts. It does a good job at breaking things down into small chunks, and you can take your time and work through it at your own pace.

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