ABOUT ME

LIFE

I’m originally from Lincoln, where I worked hard at gaining height and rudimentary social skills. Started playing guitar at 13. Went to university in Norwich, studying Swedish in an attempt to secure complete unemployability for the REST OF MY LIFE (and, just to be awkward, spent a year in Sweden, studying music). Now live in the endless, leafy suburbs of south London, with challenges to my unemployability provided by the following…

WORK

I’m a freelance musician and transcriber. I’ve also taught guitar in the past, but not right now. Here are some of the main things I’ve done…

bluesjamtracks
Created with my mate Jan Cyrka, this is a download site specialising in blues backing tracks, although there’s much more to it than that.

Custom Transcription
A relatively new project, in collaboration with my friend Steve Cobham. We’re offering a range of flexible transcription, notation and arrangement services.

Guitarist magazine
I’ve been their main transcriber since the mid-90s, as well as producing hundreds of technique articles, product reviews and tracks for the accompanying monthly CD.

Other magazines
My articles, transcriptions and product reviews have appeared in Guitar Techniques, Guitarrista (Spain), Guitar & Bass (France), the Korg UK company magazine and Classic Rock.

Legends
I wrote this book a few years ago. It’s an extended version of a column I used to write in Guitarist, showing how the styles of the all-time greats can be used as a springboard for developing your own style… learning by example, in other words. For each of the 24 players, I wrote (and recorded) a “mini song”, covering as many aspects of that player’s style as possible.

Giants of Blues
I transcribed all the music for this book, written by Neville Marten.

Wishbone Ash Guitar Classics
I transcribed all the music for this book (available from wishboneash.com) the first fully comprehensive guide to this classic band’s intricate guitar music. A second volume is on the way!

Alpha Course
Don’t ask me for spiritual guidance… I just co-wrote and recorded the music for their recent UK cinema and TV advert!

Gateway Computers
I co-wrote and recorded the music for one of their US TV adverts, promoting the “Yourware” range.

PLAY

The Spaghetti Factory is my home studio. It started back in 1995 when I bought a Tascam Portastudio and a couple of effects units (all squeezed into one corner of the tiny flat I lived in, the cables coiled across the floor like spaghetti) and has gradually evolved into a digital setup, based around an Apple Mac G4 running Logic Express. Oh, and there’s a few guitars, too. And some effects units. And more spaghetti.

I absolutely love composing and recording music; it’s my idea of heaven. I’m only an enthusiastic amateur, although I’ve definitely learned loads over the years, and I’m not doing it to make myself rich… my primary motive is to make myself GRIN! If you’d like to listen to what I’ve done over the years (and maybe break out in a little grin of your own) I’d be delighted. My main music website is offline while I try to settle upon a new design that I like, but there’s a small selection on my Myspace page.