Guitar Practice
Let's learn a progression.
The goal here is to learn some jazzy chord voicings you might not be familiar with (or that your fingers might not naturally gravitate towards). The audio example is played at 85bpm, but start by playing it as slowly as you need to. These voicings are most easily played finger style (or a combination of pick and fingers).
Guitarist Spotlight
Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot is an American guitarist known for his gritty tone, adventurous spirit, and wide-ranging musical interests. Born in 1954 in Newark, New Jersey, he was exposed early to rock, jazz, and soul music, and later studied classical guitar. While he has strong technical skills, Ribot became known for valuing feel, sound, and expression over clean perfection, often using rough textures and unexpected note choices to tell a musical story.
He first gained major attention in the 1980s through his long-running collaboration with Tom Waits. Ribotās cutting, often distorted guitar sound played a huge role in shaping albums like Rain Dogs, Franks Wild Years, and Bone Machine. His playing on these records showed how he could balance chaos and control, adding tension, humor, and emotion without ever sounding flashy for its own sake.
Outside of his work with Waits, Ribot has collaborated with an impressive list of artists across many styles. He has worked with Elvis Costello, John Zorn, Marianne Faithfull, Norah Jones, Robert Plant, and many others. Ribot is especially known in experimental and jazz circles for his work with Zorn and the downtown New York music scene, where his openness to risk and improvisation has made him a highly respected voice.
As a bandleader, Ribot has led several influential projects, including Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos, which explored Cuban and Latin music, and Ceramic Dog, a loud, politically charged trio blending punk, rock, and free jazz. These groups highlight his interest in rhythm, groove, and social commentary, as well as his willingness to challenge both listeners and himself.
Ribotās guitar gear reflects his practical, no-nonsense approach to music. He is most closely associated with vintage Fender guitars, especially a heavily worn 1960s Fender Telecaster, though he has also played Jazzmasters and other solid-body electrics. He often uses small tube amplifiers and relies on simple effectsālike overdrive, fuzz, and reverbārather than complex pedalboards. For Ribot, gear is a tool, not the focus, and his sound comes more from his touch, phrasing, and fearless attitude than from any specific piece of equipment.
Marc's latest album, Map of a Blue City is a deeply personal album that puts his songwriting and singing front and center, alongside his unmistakable guitar style. Blending folk, jazz, and experimental sounds, the record feels raw and reflective, showing a more intimate side of an artist known for pushing musical boundaries.
Marc Ribot - The Author
Marc recently released a book: Unstrung: Rants and Stories of a Noise Guitarist
It's a fun, thoughtful, and sometimes surprising read that feels a lot like a conversation with the him. Instead of telling his life story from start to finish, Ribot shares short essays, personal memories, imagined movie ideas, and reflections on music and creativity. He writes with humor and curiosity, touching on life on the road, making art, and choosing your own path as a musician. The book gives an honest look at how one of musicās most original guitarists thinks about sound, art, and staying true to yourself.
Gear Showcase
Limited Edition VinteraĀ® II Road WornĀ® '60s TelecasterĀ®
Fender recently released a few Vintera II Road Worn Telecasters in limited-edition colors - Blonde with a maple fretboard, Burgundy Mist Metallic with a rosewood fretboard, and Lake Placid Blue with a rosewood fretboard.
Fenderās Vintera II Road Worn series is designed to evoke the look, feel, and sound of well-played vintage instruments from the 1960s. They are finished with a thin layer of nitrocellulose lacquer, giving them subtle checking, gentle wear patterns, and a semi-gloss finish that mimics decades of play without going into heavy relic territory.
Tonally and physically, this Telecaster stays true to its heritage. An alder body gives it a balanced, articulate tone, and an early-ā60s āCā-shape maple neckāpaired with a 7.25ā³ radius fingerboard and vintage-tall frets give a comfortable, era-correct feel.
Vintage-style mid-ā60s single-coil pickups give you that unmistakeable Tele chime, and a 3-saddle bridge with slotted steel saddles contribute to the classic look and string-through-body twang. Vintage-style tuning machines help maintain stable tuning and period aesthetics.
The Limited Edition Vintera II Road Worn ā60s Tele captures the spirit of mid-20th-century Telecasters with faithful specs and an aged finish that feels instantly familiar under your handsāideal for players who want vintage vibe straight out of the case without paying vintage prices.
Key Specs:
- Alder Body
- Road WornĀ® Nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- 7.25" Fretboard Radius
- Early-'60s "C"-Shape Neck
- Vintage-Style Mid-'60s Pickups
- Vintage-Style 3-Saddle Bridge with Slotted Steel Saddles
- Vintage-Style Tuning Machines
News & Notes šļø
- šŗ Paul Davids did a deep dive into the "Golden Era" of Fender Stratocasters, exploring the evolution of the Strat from 1954-1966, demoing a different model from each year.
- š„ Guitarist Chris Buck hinted at a Yamaha Revstar Signature model (something fans of his have been clamoring for) in an online masterclass video.
- šŗ Robben Ford partnered with Guitarist for a lesson on bringing a jazz influence to your blues soloing.
- Guitarist Chris Rea passed away at age 74. Chris was known as a virtuoso slide guitarist, for his distinctive gruff voice, and for blending blues, soul, and soft rock.
- Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, died at 65 after an undisclosed illness.
- Cooper Greenberg from retailer Alamo Music Center posted his predictions for the 2026 guitar market, sharing some thoughts on both electric and acoustic guitars.
- Anderton's Music posted their audience-voted "Andertons TV Awards" - showcasing the Gear of the Year for 2025 across various categories.
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