FGH-0019: Interview with Don Ross – National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion & Composer

Summary, Episode 19: In 1988, Don became the first Canadian to win the U.S. National Fingerpick Guitar Championship. He won again in 1996, still the only two-time winner of the competition. Don has toured regularly since 1989, across Canada, the USA, a dozen European countries, Japan, Taiwan, China, Australia, Russia and India. https://vimeo.com/373542503 He has played live and on recording with U.S. guitarist Andy McKee, Canadian singer/guitarist Brooke Miller, Canadian guitarist Calum Graham, & Toronto bassist Jordan O’Connor. Don composes scores for television, radio and film, and does production and recording engineering for a variety of other musicians. He's released numerous CDs and DVDs for the Candy Rat Record label, including his new album, A Million Brazilian Civilians, on CD and see-through orange vinyl. (Timestamps are for audio version of the podcast.) * 2:49 Welcome Don!* 3:52 Don's earliest musical influences.* 6:50 Don as a composer first, guitarist second.* 8:40 Discovering Leo Kottke's approach...music with humor.* 9:20 Exposure to modern composers Steve Reich, Xenakis, John Adams.* 10:40 Don talks about composing for film & TV.* 15:44 We discuss alternate tunings and why Don Does uses them.* 22:33 Why composes away from the guitar.* 24:04 Music - Don plays his composition - "A Million Brazilian Civilians."* 27:33 Don's relationship to classical guitar.* 31:04 I ask Don about his live sound setup.* 32:50 Keep it simple...we talk pickups, pedals and other guitar nitty gritty.* 34:53 Don tells his "pedalboard on the highway" mishap story.* 39:46 What are Don's hobbies outside music?* 41:25 His best advice for musicians.* 44:47 The guitar tablature "trap."* 50:22 Ending credits & podcast contact info.* 53:14 Music - Don plays his composition - "Seven Seven Four." Don's Links: * https://donrossonline.com/* Don on Facebook* Don on Youtube* Don on Twitter* Don's band project is called "Don Ross - Louder Than Usual" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwRe8h1TIYM Don Ross plays his original composition "Seven Seven Four" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPvV2gzZJ5c Don Ross plays his original composition "A Million Brazilian Civilians" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTIcdedfEjc "Don Ross - Louder Than Usual" plays "Groovy Sunflowers" Never Miss an Episode - Subscribe NOW!