Texas-based guitarist David Grissom has played with lots of different artists and bands over his long career. Best known for his early work with Joe Ely, Grissom has toured and recorded with John Mellencamp, the Dixie Chicks, Chris Isaak, Robben Ford, Ringo Starr, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, the Allman Brothers, and many more.
"I've done three recordings with Buddy Guy, actually," he said. "Including the most recent album in 2011 that won a Grammy Award."
Grissom has been featured several times in Guitar Player, Guitar World, Musician, and Vintage Guitar magazines and is the author of the book A Guide To Blues/Rock Guitar Soloing, as well as a DVD on playing the instrument.
He's one of Texas' premier rock, blues and Americana guitarists, and if you attend the Guitar Workshops Plus on August 12 to 17 at Quest University you'll get to learn the riffs of the trade from him and other world-class artists like Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big and Dave Martone.
"I'm really looking forward to the workshops," said Grissom. "I've been to Vancouver several times touring, and I loved it there."
This is the second time Grissom has shared his knowledge and experience at a Guitar Workshop Plus.
"I don't do a lot of private teaching," he said. "I've taught a master class, and I just finished a new instructional DVD, though."
For Grissom, the workshops allow him to share his vast knowledge and experience on a more intimate level.
"It's an opportunity for aspiring musicians to sit with someone who's been doing this for years and making a living," he said. "It's not necessarily teaching scales, but practical things like how to get a gig and advance your career."
But Grissom said he would also share tips on making it as a successful session musician and becoming a better player.
"As a studio player, in general, a big part is to be a chameleon," he said. "In my case, I've been lucky enough that people call me in to do what I do, instead of imitate a style. But the first priority is to play the song, and be a team player. There's also an importance in finding your own voice. The guitarists who stand the test of time are those guys who you can recognize just from the first few notes."
Grissom found his own unique guitar voice at an early age.
"Growing up in Kentucky as a kid in a small town, nobody told me not to mix blues, rock, jazz and country," he said. "But today with Youtube and blogs, which I didn't grow up with, people tend to be overly critical and stifle creativity."
So Grissom said he plans to encourage aspiring players at the workshop to find their own voices.
"A big part of being a guitarist is improvising and soloing," he said. "As well, as trying to be part of a band. So my workshops will focus more on specific aspects of my playing that they may not get from other teachers. In the end, it's really gratifying and rewarding to be able to pass along things I've learned over the years. It's a really great program, and you just learn so much from everyone in such a short amount of time."
If you're interested in studying multiple styles, courses, and levels with some of the industry's leading musicians, go to guitarworkshopplus.com and register for the August event at Quest University.
Tuition is $850 per session, and there is also a $50 registration fee.
