I began playing guitar in 1977, and have stuck with it steadily ever since. For the last 20 years I’ve made my whole living from guitar, which means playing live, marketing my original music on itunes and as physical CDs, writing for the major guitar magazines, doing session work, publishing instructional videos, teaching private guitar lessons, doing clinics for organizations like The National Guitar Workshop, writing guitar books for Alfred Publications, and directing a rock-n-roll music camp called DayJams.

Staying busy is good and I’ve learned a lot while doing so. As far as I’m concerned, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right, so I stay focused upon the task at hand and try hard at whatever it is! I’ve also learned to trust myself and believe in my own unique style. I used to care too much about impressing high level players and snobby critics by trying to play more like them or utilize concepts of which they obviously approve in my own playing, but that never worked out very well. When I discovered Zen Guitar and learned how to just “be myself” on guitar, things began to fall into place for me musically and professionally! Check out these you tube videos to see what my Zen Guitar style is all about!

My live playing projects include a duo with singer songwriter, Terry Gourley, and solo clinics, which are often like little concerts in which I play my original music with backing tracks and as unaccompanied solos. I use Dunlop jazz III picks, Marshall and Mesa amps and am endorsed by Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Ernie Ball strings, and Pigtronix Pedals. My latest releases, of which I am very proud, are the Zen Shred Zone CD, which features cameos by fellow shredders Michael Angelo Batio and Mattias IA Eklundh, and The Total Rock Guitarist book/CD, which is available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Guitar Center, etc.

Upcoming releases include Moonlight, the new Terry Gourley CD with me on lead guitar and the first ever guitar instructional graphic novel, which is called Shred Boot Camp. It features a CD of some of the fastest and wildest guitars ever recorded! This will capture the fullest shred I’m capable of – plus the same from super-shredders: Dave Martone, Michael Angelo Batio, Chris Ranier, Kurt Bell, and Glenn Riley! Watch for it in late 2008!

Cheers!

Tobias Hurwitz

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