And ever since, that’s what I’ve tried to do – to create a visual effect with my playing. It’s important to take the listener somewhere.

Patrick Woods

Patrick Woods, an Indiana native, has done more than his share of paying his dues as a musician. Ever since the age of 16, he has been playing just about every single type of gig imaginable – coffeehouses, bars, clubs, restaurants, colleges, theaters, churches, street fairs, record stores, house parties, weddings, and everything in between. He could be playing a local bar one night, and a theater full of 500 people the next night in another state. For the past ten years, the road has been an endless grind for Patrick’s ambitious touring savvy.

Patrick Woods

Keep Reading to see this guy in action on his 10 String Treble Bass and to learn more about this amazing guitarist….

For the readers who may be unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your music?

I would describe it as ambient acoustic guitar music, which is widely recognized as fingerstyle guitar. It’s mostly instrumental, and I use many extended techniques such as hammer ons, tapping, harmonics,
body slaps, and neck bending. I don’t use a pick, it’s all fingers. Some players I sound similar to are: Preston Reed, Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Vicki Genfen, and mabye Alex DeGrassi.

Who are your main influences?

Well, I have too many to list, so I will have to narrow it down to about three: Joe Satriani, Preston Reed, and Alex Lifeson. What is so important about these three, is that when I first heard them, they
created a life changing moment for me.

The first is definitely Joe Satriani. I first heard SURFING WITH THE ALIEN when I was about fifteen. The whole album totally blew me onto another planet. It was the first time I realized that music without vocals could be that powerful. Just his melody lines alone, knocked me out. Every time Joe would come in with this
amazing melody, it was like he was having a conversation and saying something that was meaningful. And then there were his SOLOS! But Satriani was the first guitarist that got me out of that rock-star
wanna-be mode and into the musician mode. It really made me want to practice, and get to the next level.

Preston Reed was the one who actually made me want to switch to acoustic. I had heard Michael Hedges a few years before and was more than impressed of course, but Preston was doing something totally
groundbreaking. He took what Hedges did to the next level, and it really appealed to me. He made one acoustic guitar sound like a whole band, and you just sit there thinking “how could one guy be
getting away with this?” Hedges was a pioneer and got the ball rolling, and then Preston just took it one step further.

Alex Lifeson influenced me in a totally different way. I remember hearing Rush’s RED BARCHETTA when I was a sophomore in high school. It was like nothing I had ever heard before. The reason the song was so
unique, was because it was so VISUAL. I could actually feel myself in this car, speeding, the adrenaline, freedom of rebellion. The way Alex shaped his chord voicings around that song, was simply amazing.
Of course he can play fast when he needs to, but I think more than anything, he has the ability to orchestrate, and play things that make the song almost 3d-like. I always say that Rush doesn’t write
songs, they create PLACES. And ever since, that’s what I’ve tried to do – to create a visual effect with my playing. It’s important to take the listener somewhere.

So how did you get started playing the guitar?

I got started when I was about ten. My dad was a part time gigging musician, so I’m sure that I got the knack from him, but I’ve always been attracted to music in a big way, and the guitar for me- was a very intimate instrument. You could take it anywhere and it was very close to your body. When you strap a guitar on you suddenly become larger than life. It’s probably the most revered instrument in the world today, and all those reasons combined is really what made me want to pick it up and do something with it.

What is one influential event that helped shape your playing style, or take it to the next level?

For me, it’s definitely been playing live and with people who are light years ahead. I have been privileged to share the stage with world class players, and just watching and learning from them is a great experience. I’ve never been one of those people who gets discouraged when someone else blows me out of the water. I’ve always used it as inspiration to get to another level. Thats the kind of thing that should be happening.

Don’t be the guy who says,”gee, I could never do that.” Be the guy who says, “not only am I going
to do that, I’m going to do it better!”

What kind of gear are you using?

I currently use an Alesis nanoverb for all of my reverb effects, TC Electronics chorus and flange, mackie 450 speakers and 1200 mixing board. I have used a Wechter pathmaker acoustic for about
nine years now. My setup is pretty simple.

Describe a normal day for you. How much time do you spend practicing and playing, talking to fans, networking, etc.

I used to practice every waking hour when I was younger, but now I find a couple hours a day is all I need. I also have had a bad round with tendonitis recently, and was unable to play for a couple of
months. I’m back at it now, but I have to watch how much I play or my wrists get inflamed. However, I have been getting some helpful advice from some therapists.

I network and stay in touch with people on my mailing list as much as I can. It’s alot to keep up with, because music has only been a part time career for me so far. I work another job, and feel no shame
in saying it. It’s a tough business out there.

What are you most proud of musically?

In the past few years I would definitely say that I have gotten my own sound. This type of thing doesn’t come over night. It takes most people years to forge their own style, but after years of performing and
woodshedding I can happily say I have found what I’ve been searching for. That should make any artist or musician proud.

Any other thoughts or words of inspiration?

Just a couple. I really think it’s important to develop good music appreciation habits as well as practice habits. In other words, listen to a variety of different kinds of music to broaden your world view. I will admit that I’m not the biggest fan of country or rap, but I do respect them as art forms. I will admit that I don’t like everything. And I think that’s the way it should be. When I ask people what kind of music they like, the response is usually the same – “oh you know, everything.” That tells me that they don’t really know what they like. I think it’s possible to appreciate everything, but not be a passionate fan of everything out there.

The styles that I’m really into include jazz, progresive rock, metal, goth, classical, fingerstyle, celtic, new age, indian, folk,pop-rock, grunge/alternitave. Anything else I would probably sit and listen to, and mabey even like it, but I probably would not run out and buy it. I’m very picky about what I listen to. I don’t listen to guitar music all that much. I’m a music fanatic. Not a guitar fanatic.

Be sure to leave Mr. Woods some love!

http://www.myspace.com/pwguitar

http://www.pwguitar.com

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