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Learn Dave Matthews' 5 Best Riffs

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews is renowned not just for his soulful voice and poetic lyrics but also for his distinctive guitar style that's as unique as his music itself. When it comes to Dave's guitar playing, rhythm is the name of the game.

Picture this: intricate fingerpicking patterns interwoven with percussive strumming, creating a rhythmic tapestry that's both mesmerizing and infectious. Dave's approach to the guitar is like a dance – fluid, dynamic, and full of surprises.

At the heart of Dave Matthews' rhythmic style is his incredible technique. He effortlessly strums the strings, coaxing out melodies and rhythms that are heavily influenced by African music.

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One of the hallmarks of Dave's guitar playing is his use of unusual time signatures and syncopated rhythms. He's not afraid to push the boundaries and experiment with different rhythmic patterns, creating a sound that's both complex and captivating. Whether it's the infectious groove of "Ants Marching" or the laid-back vibe of "Crash Into Me," Dave's rhythmic prowess shines through in every song.

In a world of cookie-cutter guitarists, Dave Matthews stands out as a true original. His rhythmic style is as distinctive as his voice, and it's a big part of what makes his music so timeless and unforgettable. So next time you listen to a Dave Matthews Band song, pay close attention to the guitar – you just might find yourself dancing along to the rhythm.

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Strymon BigSky MX Review

Big time processing power in a reverb that you can explore for a lifetime.

An astoundingly lush and versatile reverb of incredible depth and flexibility. New and older BigSky algorithms included. More elegant control layout and better screen.

It’s pricey and getting the full use out of it takes some time and effort.

$679

Strymon BigSky MX
strymon.net

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Strymon calls the BigSky MX pedal “one reverb to rule them all.” Yep, that’s a riff on something we’ve heard before, but in this case it might be hard to argue. In updating what was already one of the market’s most comprehensive and versatile reverbs, Strymon has created a reverb pedal that will take some players a lifetime to fully explore. That process is likely to be tons of fun, too.

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Reader Guitar of the Month: 2018 CCL Deco Custom

The 2018 CCL Deco Custom, in all its Pelham blue glory.

This reader solicited the help of his friend, luthier Dale Nielsen, to design the perfect guitar as a 40th-birthday gift to himself.

This is really about a guy in northern Minnesota named Dale Nielsen, who I met when I moved up there in 2008 and needed somebody to reglue the bridge on my beloved first guitar (a 1992 Charvel 625c, plywood special). Dale is a luthier in his spare time—a Fender certified, maker of jazz boxes.

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An Introduction to Expression Pedals

It’s this easy!

This convenient, easy-to-use controller can open up an entire world of sonic shape-shifting. Here are some tips to either inspire you to try one or expand how you’re currently using this flexible, creative device.

If you’re not yet using expression pedals, you should consider them. They have the power to expand and control your sonic universe. For the uninitiated, expression pedals are controllers that typically look like volume or wah pedals. Of course, traditional volume and wah pedals are expression pedals, too, but they are dedicated to controlling only those two effects.

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