> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://vividguitar.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Watermelon Man, Tyler Ramsey, News & Notes - URL: https://vividguitar.co/watermelon-man-tyler-ramsey-news/ - Published: 2026-08-18T14:00:06.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T17:48:44.000Z - Description: The newsletter for guitar players. - Author: Vivid Guitar - Tags: Newsletter [![](https://cdn.getmidnight.com/f655f096d6a1f6fbcbed5d050759ab54/2025/03/JamPlay-Banner.png)](http://prf.hn/click/camref:1100l4at3q?ref=vividguitar.co) 💬 If you want to acquire a new skill, you must practice it in context. Learning enhances practice, but it doesn’t replace it. If performance matters, learning alone is never enough. - Josh Kaufman **In this week's issue** 📩 - Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man - Spotlight on guitarist Tyler Ramsey - New & Notes *Was this email forwarded to you?*[ *Subscribe here*](https://vividguitar.co/)*!* --- ## Guitar Practice ### Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man This week, let's take a look at Herbie Hancock’s classic “Watermelon Man”, applying it to guitar. “Watermelon Man” is one of the most recognizable compositions from his 1962 debut album, *Takin’ Off*. Built around a funky, blues-inflected groove, the tune has a deceptively simple quality that makes it a great study in rhythm, harmony, and space. Hancock later revisited the composition in a radically different, more percussion-driven version on *Head Hunters* in 1973, turning it into a landmark of jazz-funk. In the key of F, the main progression has a strong blues character, moving between **F7 and B♭7**, with **C7** providing the dominant pull back toward F. The repeated movement between F7 and B♭7 gives the tune its earthy, bluesy foundation, while the dominant-seventh harmony keeps the progression from sounding like a conventional major-key pop progression. It’s also a good example of how a relatively small harmonic palette can leave plenty of room for rhythmic and melodic creativity. When improvising over the progression, thinking in terms of **F blues/F minor pentatonic language**, while also targeting the chord tones of each dominant-seven chord, can produce a sound that fits the tune without becoming overly complicated. **Rhythm:** ![](https://cdn.getmidnight.com/f655f096d6a1f6fbcbed5d050759ab54/2026/08/image-1.png) **Head Lead Tab:** ![](https://cdn.getmidnight.com/f655f096d6a1f6fbcbed5d050759ab54/2026/08/image.png) --- ## Guitarist Spotlight ### Tyler Ramsey ![Tyler Ramsey | Image Credit: Gus Philippas](https://cdn.getmidnight.com/f655f096d6a1f6fbcbed5d050759ab54/2026/08/Tyler-Ramsey.jpg) Tyler Ramsey | Image Credit: Gus Philippas Tyler Ramsey is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Asheville, North Carolina, whose music draws from folk, country, blues, and indie rock. His guitar playing is often quiet and spacious, with fingerpicked patterns, unusual tunings, and melodic lines that give his songs a strong sense of atmosphere. There’s a relaxed, natural quality to his playing that makes even intricate guitar parts feel effortless. Ramsey’s musical roots run deep into American folk and blues. He has cited players such as Mississippi John Hurt, Mance Lipscomb, John Fahey, and Leo Kottke as influences, and you can hear that connection in his fingerstyle approach. Rather than using the guitar simply to accompany a song, Ramsey often treats it as another voice, allowing the guitar parts to carry as much emotion and personality as the vocals. He became more widely known during his time with Band of Horses, joining the group as lead guitarist and songwriter in 2007\. He spent roughly a decade with the band, touring extensively and contributing to several albums, including the Grammy-nominated *Infinite Arms*. At the same time, he continued developing his own music, releasing albums such as *A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea* and *The Valley Wind*. After leaving Band of Horses in 2017, Ramsey returned his focus to his solo career. His 2019 album *For the Morning* featured a mix of intimate songwriting and atmospheric guitar work, while 2024’s *New Lost Ages* took his sound in a somewhat more expansive, rock-oriented direction. Throughout those records, his guitar playing remains central without ever feeling like it is trying to show off. In 2026, Ramsey teamed up with longtime friend and My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel for *Celestun*, their first album together. The two had known each other for more than a decade and had spent years playing shows together before finally making a record. The album began during the pandemic, when they exchanged guitar parts and ideas remotely, eventually finishing the songs together in Nashville. *Celestun* is a particularly good showcase for Ramsey’s guitar playing. The nine-song album was recorded almost entirely with acoustic guitars and was originally intended to be instrumental. Ramsey and Broemel’s parts blend so naturally that it can sometimes be difficult to tell who is playing what. There are only a few vocal tracks, including “Flying Things,” which features The Secret Sisters, and a version of Neil Young’s “Sail Away.” What makes Ramsey’s playing stand out is that he rarely seems interested in playing simply for the sake of playing. His parts are carefully chosen, melodic, and full of small details. Whether he’s playing with a band, working on his own songs, or trading acoustic guitar lines with Broemel, he has a knack for making the guitar feel like an essential part of the story rather than just an instrument in the background. ****Check out Tyler Ramsey** [Website](https://www.tylerramsey.com/?ref=vividguitar.co) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tylerramseymusic/?hl=en&ref=vividguitar.co) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/tylerramseymusic/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu-LVPWqiVAx0YD3w45xIeg?ref=vividguitar.co) --- ## News & Notes 🗞️ - **Guitar World** posted a new [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hLY46Zaye8&ref=vividguitar.co) with **Julian Lage**, where he discussed experimenting with different pickups, sitting in with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, advice for aspiring jazz guitarists, and more. - **Joe Bonnamassa** joined the [**The No Cover Charge Podcast**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlC8AjXOvNc&ref=vividguitar.co) for a deep dive into guitars, amps, tone, and life on the road. Joe shares why he's now using digital Fender Tone Master amps alongside his legendary Dumbles, and explained what finally changed his mind about modeling technology. - In other **Joe Bonnamassa** news, **Martin Guitar** announced [0-10E Retro Joe Bonamassa](https://www.martinguitar.com/00-10E-Retro-Joe-Bonamassa.html?ref=vividguitar.co) and [00-18 Joe Bonamassa](https://www.martinguitar.com/00-18-Joe-Bonamassa.html?ref=vividguitar.co) signature acoustic guitar models. - **Fender** released a couple new colors for their [Player II Series guitars](https://www.fender.com/collections/player-ii-series?ref=vividguitar.co) \- **Cactus Gray** and **Rallye Orange**. - **Fender** also released a few new colors for their [American Vintage II guitars](https://www.fender.com/collections/american-vintage-ii?ref=vividguitar.co), including Surf Green, and 3-Color Sunburst. - **Jam Pedals** announced a limited run of a '[Monterey '67](https://jampedals.com/shop/monterey-67/?ref=vividguitar.co)' mini multi-effect pedals, which combines their Retrovibe and Fuzz Phrase Si together into one pedal. - Jazz guitarist **Tim Lerch** posted a new video sharing his [favorite chord moves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyHzA%5FOemjo&ref=vividguitar.co). - **Paul Reed Smith** [joined ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poDO36AXWhI&ref=vividguitar.co)**Zzounds** to discus the origins of the 25" scale length PRS uses on the majority of their guitars. - Wilco frontman **Jeff Tweedy** was interviewed by Guitar World, where he shared his greatest gear bargains, and offers a little advice for anyone who is in the market for a new guitar. - Pete and Lee from **Andertons** posted a new [overdrive pedal shootout](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9oNVTIxdKY&ref=vividguitar.co) vid, featuring pedals from Free The Tone, Shin’s Music, Vemuram, Wampler, Browne Amplification, Crazy Tube Circuits, Tone City, Mad Professor and more. --- **Enjoy this newsletter?** Please forward to a friend or hit reply to share your thoughts.🤘