Featured Flatpicker for April 2003- Paul Gustafson
Name:
Paul "Gus" Gustafson
Age:
47
Town:
Sugar Hill, Ga.
Hometown (if different from current town):
Rock Island, Ill.
At what age did you start playing guitar?
11. When I was 8 I saw this big old cowboy on TV playing a guitar, and asked my mom to let me start playing. I had to beg for 3 years. :0) I took guitar lessons for 5 years.
First guitar:
Don't know, it was a rental. My folks didn't think I keep playing. I got a really nice electric one on my 13th Birthday. My first acoustic guitar was a Yamaha back in 73.
Early Influences:
In 1968 - My dad, Roy Clark, and Earl Scruggs. When I was a kid, the only Bluegrass I ever heard was from watching the B. Hillbillies TV Show. My family listened to classical and jazz, and I never attended a Bluegrass Festival until the mid 80s. I did see Lester Flat at WKU in 77. My dad was a big influence on how I practiced. He was a jazz pianist (hobby), and worked hard at it. One day, I was getting real frustrated on learning a tune (lots of cross picking), he sat me down, and told me to work it until I had it. Well, an hour later there it was. In 75, I bought Happy Traum's BG book, and learned Under The Double Eagle. I stopped after that one because it was too hard, and I was too lazy back then to work out the others.
In 1992, I bought a Martin D16, and found my first Steve Kaufman book, Championship Flatpicking. It took me 6 months, and 4 swollen fingers to learn 3 tunes out of that book. In 96 I started jamming for the first time with a good friend, Bo Parker, and haven't stopped since. I have been to 5 SK Kamps, and going to this year's as well.
First gig:
1972, Battle of the Bands, Louisville, Ky Fairgrounds playing Grand Funk's, Into The Sun, on stage in front of hundreds of people all clapping. What a high that was. I'm not a stage player today, just a jammer.
Acoustic Guitars you own:
My pride and joy is a 1953 Martin D18. Baby Taylor for business travel.
Favorite Guitar:
My wonderful old beat up Martin D18
Your Style, and how you developed it:
Flatpicking - In 1968, I was taught to play a song like it was written, and then move on to the next. To this day, I can play those songs I learned the very same way, note per note. However, over the past 6 years, I have learned to have fun with tunes, and try to improvise. Today, I learn the main melody of the tune, and then just let myself go while trying to stay in the correct Key. I have finally realized that playing by ear in a jam is more fun.
Practice Regimen:
I use Band in the Box, and set the song to play at least 10 times in a row. This allows me to warm up picking out the melody, and then I try to improvise around it. I watch various guitar videos while I'm on the treadmill exercising. This allows me to mentally take in what is being taught, and not be distracted by my own noodeling on the guitar. I attend a weekly jam, which is great for ear and timing training.
Favorite Artist(s):
David Grier, Norman Blake, Brian Sutton, Steve Kaufman, Robin Kessinger and John Moore to name a few.
Is there anything else you want people to know about you, your playing style or your views on today's music in general?
Well, I really love to jam, and I am really trying to listen better and keep my timing on track. This is very important, and the key to making a tune sound really great. Everyone should be serious about their practicing, in order to have fun jamming.
Archives:
Terry Barnes
Paul 'Gus' Gustafson
Gary Smith
Bryan Kimsey
David Dugas
Allen Shadd
