Getting sick is a drag. I'm heading to the doctor today. I'm a smidge concerned—I seem to have caught something a little more severe than a cold. At any rate, in regards to yourself, stay safe and healthy.

All that said, I've been trying to better utilize my time away from the realm of singing in other ways—like working on Ted Greene arrangements for solo guitar!

Let there be no mistake: Ted Greene was one of the most amazing and versatile guitar players you have probably never have heard of (unless you are a musician). He wrote several books on chord study and single note soloing—and many fine guitar players in southern California used to take private lessons with Ted, before he passed away. I first heard him through my friend Marcus McMillan, who studied with Ted for several years. He would record his guitar lessons with him. They were a blast to listen to. It was immediately apparent the guy was beyond the normal boundaries of guitar ninja gaiden territory. He was somewhere else entirely.

His knowledge of voice leading, inversions, and chord voicings made him the foremost authority on cracking your skull in two as a listener. You need only buy his books to get a grasp of this. He was a brilliant mind—a trailblazer in terms of the chords he used—no exaggeration necessary. The only players I’ve heard use the chord voicing he found, are his students. That is why I study these songs. They are equal parts inspiring—and I learn these chord shapes within a utilized context, which is priceless in and of itself. I have already started writing some songs that use some of these tasty vibes.

There is always a nugget or passage in these tunes that are extremely difficult to play. If you are a guitar player, I’m sure it might be apparent just watching—however, if you take a crack at playing some of them, I’m sure you’ll see what I mean.

Speaking of which, here is a link to Ted's website should you have any interest in perusing:

tedgreene.com

Enjoy!

- Mike