Steve Morse: The Definitive Steve Morse: Guitar DVD

This DVD gives students and teachers direct access to Morse's thinking about how technique serves style, not the other way around. He deconstructs his own playing across multiple idioms (country, Celtic, classical, bluegrass) rather than presenting a single method, which makes it invaluable for guitarists who want to understand how diverse influences can coexist in one player's voice.

Watching Morse teach feels like sitting in with a working musician who genuinely wants to share how he thinks about his instrument. The production balances technical depth with accessibility; there is rigor in the harmonic and picking analysis, but the tone remains conversational and encouraging rather than academic.

Intermediate to advanced guitarists who have solid fundamentals and want to see how a master player integrates multiple genres and techniques into a unified approach. Teachers working with students interested in fusion, rock, or stylistically diverse playing will find this especially useful as a supplementary resource that models how technical study connects to musical expression.

• Study the picking segment carefully and apply those mechanics to scales you already know; the printable PDF materials make it easy to isolate and practice specific picking patterns without rewinding repeatedly
• Focus on the scale concepts section in relation to one style at a time (country chicken pickin', then Celtic voicings, then classical passages) rather than trying to absorb all styles simultaneously
• Use the interactive Music Man Guitar feature to follow along on your own instrument, pausing to physically position your hands as Morse demonstrates rather than watching passively
• Work through the double-stop and voice-leading material slowly with the DVD paused; these concepts require physical understanding, not just visual observation

This works best as a supplementary resource in private guitar instruction or advanced ensemble contexts where individual students pursue stylistic depth alongside ensemble work. A teacher might assign specific sections (picking techniques, scale concepts, a particular style breakdown) as homework between lessons, using the DVD to introduce concepts that the teacher then reinforces in person.

• Hybrid picking and alternate picking techniques applied across multiple musical contexts
• Double-stop voicing and voice leading in classical and country idioms
• Connecting scale positions and understanding spatial relationships on the fretboard
• Banjo-roll phrasing and bluegrass melodic figures translated to guitar
• Chicken pickin' and muting techniques for country rhythm and lead playing
• Recognizing and applying Celtic melodic contours and ornamentation
• Equipment selection and tone shaping as components of individual style