Joe Satriani - Instrumental Hero - G3 2007 Update

Joe Satriani Interview

On the eve of the new G3 2007 tour, this time with fellow virtuoso guitarists Paul Gilbert (of Mr Big, Racer X and solo fame) and John Petrucci (from progressive metal titans Dream Theatre) Joe found time to give Alloutguitar an update on life as arguably the premier instrumental guitarist of the last two decades.

Did you grow up in a particularly musical family or environment?

My sister Marian played guitar and my mother Katherine played piano and I started playing guitar when Hendrix died. He was – and still – is my number one guitar hero.

As perhaps the most famous guitar teacher of modern times, what were your own experiences of having lessons?

I tried lessons with a local guy who tried to teach me simple songs not related to rock music. I quit after three weeks and started learning from books instead. Getting through songs was easy, making them sound good was hard. I can’t remember what I was trying to play first, but most likely it was something I wrote myself.

When did you first start a band?

Within a few months I was playing with some friends of similar ability. We were awful but had a great time playing together in my basement!

Did you learn how to read music from the start, and did it come naturally?

I knew how to read from my drum lessons back when I was nine years old. Guitar is a bit harder to read, so I didn’t focus on it so much.

As a player renowned for theoretical knowledge and technique when did you start to pay particular attention to these aspects of your playing?

My high school music theory teacher, Bill Westcott, was a great guy. He taught me how to sight sing, trained my musical ear and got me immersed in music theory at a young age. I loved it; it answered so many musical questions I had and became an essential part of my musical development. As mentioned above, the theory stuff came in high school at the age of 16. About the same time I was trying to practice a few hours everyday, going beyond the normal stuff and trying to learn every scale, chord and technique there was to learn.

What was the local scene like for bands and venues?

High school dances and Battle of the Bands, small clubs and parties, that kind of stuff. My first ‘real’ gig was at a dance at Carle Place High School, and I was 14 years old.

When did you start gigging regularly?

By the time I was 15 I was doing weekend gigs, leaving home for a few days to play out on the Island at strange clubs.

Did you do much work on learning Jazz standards – going through the Real book?

I spent time learning bebop back when I was still living in NY. I took some lessons from Lennie Tristano and worked very hard at making it a part of my musicality.

Have you ever gigged trad jazz?

Yes, as a bass player though. I played gigs accompanying a piano player.