Summertime Arpeggios, Anthology Gear, Stu Mackenzie

Guitar Practice

Summertime Arpeggios

To celebrate it officially being Summer (in the Northern hemisphere, at least), let's work on an arpeggio exercise over the George Gershwin classic Summertime.

'Summertime' is a well-known song from Gershwin's 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. Its slow, emotional melody and clear, poetic lyrics make it stand out. The song blends jazz, classical, and folk styles, and it’s been covered by many different artists over the years.

Guitarist Spotlight

Stu Mackenzie

Stu Mackenzie, born on October 26, 1990, in Melbourne, Australia, is the frontman, guitarist, vocalist, primary songwriter, and producer for the prolific psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Since co-founding the band in 2010, Mackenzie has led the group through an astonishingly diverse and prolific musical journey, with over two dozen studio albums spanning genres like garage rock, thrash metal, progressive jazz, microtonal psychedelia, and orchestral rock.

Raised in Victoria, Mackenzie's early musical exposure came from his father, who would sing Paul Simon and Neil Young songs while strumming guitar. He picked up the guitar after seeing AC/DC on TV, initially learning on a left-handed instrument before switching to right-handed. Entirely self-taught, he described himself as always trying to “catch up” to other players—focusing more on joining the jam than on mastering theory or technique.

As the creative engine behind King Gizzard, Mackenzie is known for his relentless experimentation. He helped pioneer the band's use of microtonal tuning, designing custom instruments to explore new sonic territory. Under his direction, the band is famous for its DIY ethos: minimal gear, few rehearsals, spontaneous songwriting, and recording sessions that prioritize raw, live energy over polish. Albums like Flying Microtonal Banana, Infest the Rats’ Nest, Ice, Death, Planets... Lava!, and Phantom Island showcase Mackenzie’s drive to constantly reinvent the band’s sound.

In addition to his work as a performer, Mackenzie is heavily involved in production, often handling mixing, engineering, and even contributing to the visual direction of the band's albums. In 2020, he was awarded Best Live Guitarist at the Australian National Live Music Awards. He has also publicly shared his struggles with Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition that has at times forced the band to reschedule tours.

Outside of music, Mackenzie is a family man—married since 2019 and a father of two. His personal life has increasingly influenced his lyrical themes, bringing new emotional depth to the band's later work. Through his fearless creativity and commitment to pushing boundaries, Stu Mackenzie has become one of the most innovative figures in modern rock music.

Key Gear

• Yamaha 1967 Flying Samurai
• Custom-built Flying Microtonal Banana guitar
• Hagstrom F-12S
• Fender American Standard Stratocaster
• Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp
• Boss DD-3 digital delay pedal
• Devi Ever Torn’s Peaker fuzz pedal

Recommended listening:

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Flight b741

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Butterfly 3000

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Sketches of Brunswick East

Gear Showcase

Anthology Gear

Anthology Gear is a boutique company based in Portland, Oregon, that creates premium guitar straps, gig bags, cases, and other music accessories. Founded back in 2009, the company began with a simple idea: to build better gear for musicians—gear that not only looks great but also lasts a lifetime.

The company was born out of frustration with the low quality of most straps and cases on the market. The goal was to create guitar straps that combined rugged durability with beautiful design - with a focus on craftsmanship, comfort, and style.

All of Anthology Gear’s products are made with full-grain leather, the strongest and most durable type of leather available. Over time, this leather develops a unique character and rich patina, giving each piece a one-of-a-kind look. Their straps are also built for comfort, using high-density padding that makes even heavy guitars feel lighter on your shoulders.

The company is known for its artistic designs. For example, their popular El Camino collection of straps feature a variety of cool-looking and colorful fabrics. Other models feature embossed patterns, distressed finishes, or custom stitching that makes each strap stand out on stage.

Anthology Gear doesn’t just look good—it’s built to last. Their straps use parachute-grade thread and reinforced construction. Many come with a 25-year or lifetime warranty, a testament to the company’s belief in making products that musicians can rely on for decades.

Over the years, their gear has been used by professional touring musicians, including Trey Anastasio, Dean Brown, and Greg Howe.

Today, Anthology Gear’s catalog has grown beyond guitar straps. They now offer matching gig bags, drumstick cases, cymbal bags, pedalboard covers, and more—all crafted with the same attention to detail and dedication to quality.

Whether you’re a weekend player, a touring pro, or just someone who appreciates beautiful design, Anthology Gear offers products that are as reliable and expressive as the music you make.

You can explore their full line of products at anthologygearwear.com

News & Notes

• Gibson announced a new signature Marcus King ES-345. It is a recreation inspired by his main guitar, “Big Red,” the 1962 ES-345 handed down from his grandfather to his father and finally to him.
• Fender announced a new Richie Kotzen Stratocaster. The made-in-Japan Strat features an ash body with flame maple top, custom DiMarzio® pickups, and a thick “C”–shape maple neck. Offered in Transparent White Burst and Transparent Red Burst, and retails for $1,799.
• U.K. guitar & music gear retailer PMT (which had 11 stores) announced they're going out of business.
• Gibson released some 'painted over' finishes in their Custom Select line. This drop features solid colors applied over the top of an original Goldtop finish.
• Rick Beato interviewed Andy Wood on his YouTube channel, discussing his approach to guitar and other instruments.

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