Instructor Interview - Doc Simon

Here is the third Guitar Tricks instructor interview... Over to you, Doc Simon:

How long have you been an instructor at Guitartricks?

I joined Guitartricks on Sat July 06, 2002 and had my application to be an instructor accepted on Fri, 10 Sep 2004. During the interim time I spent a lot of time on the forum and used to moderate the recording section. Unfortunately, life just got too busy and I have now given up my moderating duties though you can find me at www.studiotrax.net, which is really worth checking out if you are interested in recording music. Currently I have 105+ lessons most with video published at Guitartricks and I am in the process of upgrading them to HiRes video as soon as I can. I span many different styles of guitar playing but still enjoy playin’ the blues first and foremost.

At what age did you start playing guitar?

I was 8 years old I think. It is bit blurry really as it was a very long time (30 years) ago.

Did you have lessons, or are you self-taught?

A bit of both really. I started out being self taught but found my self being stuck in not one but many ruts. Taking some lessons helped me though I don’t imaging it is the answer for everyone as different people like to learn in different ways. Personally I think the best way forward is what ever works for you and makes you happy, whether it is learning to shred like a monkey and strumming acoustic songs sittin’ round a camp fire.

Do you play any other instruments, besides guitar?

I sing (badly) and enjoy playing bass & drums. I use a Peavey Cirrus 4 string with active pickups and have a Yamaha DTExpress II electric kit, which I regularly batter mercilessly, especially if I have had a rough day at work.

What was your first guitar?

I started out with a ¾ size nylon string Spanish guitar and hated it. I had lessons for a year and dropped them ‘cos I never practiced and was terrible! Then the old hormones came along and around the age of 12 or 13 I borrowed a really nasty “no name” strat copy from a friend which I used to plug into the Hi-Fi and overdrive by turning the gain way up. It was horrible but I couldn’t put it down. About the age of 14 I got hold of a Hondo Explorer, which I fell instantly in love with…until a few year later when a Squire strat came along.

What sort of rig do you currently use?

I have a bunch of different rigs that I use for different things. My favorite recording rig is a Variax 700 into a PodXT into the computer. I also have a couple of Marshalls’ that I love dearly, my main squeeze being a TSL100 (kitted out with high gain JJs) / 4x12, all tube half-stack that I love to play either my Les Paul of my PRS CE24 through. Devastating!

What's your dream rig?

I may have just described them, though maybe a Soldano half-stack would be nice! I bet the PRS would sound good through it.

Who was your biggest influence, both musically and in general?

That’s a tough one. Motorhead, Leatherface, China Drum, Bob Mould, The Stranglers, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Stiff Little Fingers, Hendrix… all the usual villains.

What musician do you most admire and why?

I don’t know that I have a favorite. I think I admire anything played well and from the heart.

What is the best guitar playing lesson you ever learned?

Pentatonic and blues scales and bar chords…life affirming and altering at the same time. And very useful.

How has your taste in music changed over the time you've been playing, if it has changed at all?

I still like the young and fiery stuff, especially when I’m working too hard and the world is going too fast. Recently I am listening to more varied music. I really enjoyed Clapton’s Crossroads concert. If you like Guitar, check this out everyone from Vai to ZZ top. Fantastic.

What was the first song you learned to play all the way through?

Crazy train. Just a cool song with some relatively easy tapping !!

What's the most challenging piece of music for you to play currently?

Any and all I think. Challenges lie in different places in different pieces. A technically easy piece may be challenging in that you don’t want to over-play the piece but don’t want it to be boring. A technically tricky piece maybe technically challenging however you then have to be careful not to sound too sterile. I guess it is just, whatever it takes to sound good !

Thanks Doc... You can check out Doc Simon's instructor profile and lessons here...