[zouk] washé / ouaché

 You probably have never heard of it, unless you hail from the caribeans : "washé" (pronounced 'ooah-shay') is a strumming technique used in zouk and compas music.
I don't know where it comes from, maybe it was inspired by funk rhythm guitar.

Anyway, if you want to learn it, well good luck with that, if this is no part of your culture (which, as far as I am concerned, is my case). Yeah, there are very scarce ressources to learn. I know one DVD where you can learn this (http://www.play-music.com/fr/product/109_00_video_guitare_caraibes.html) but it's only two small chapters... and I don't think anyone can just learn by watching (even rewinding and repeating the same part again and again).

Well, I could pick one or two tricks, though I am still not mastering the technique. Anyway, I put a short video where I demonstrate it, to help those who want to learn it.

[jazz] Lianne La Havas - No room for Doubt

"No room for Doubt":  do you know this song by young, talented singer and guitarist Lianne la Havas?

I just transcribed all the parts of the song (guitar pro file). Here is the link

We have here a nice example of what polyrythm is:

• the song's time signature is 6/8 (the two-notes chords are played on a frequency of two triplets of eighth-notes/quavers)...
• ... but if you focus on the bass, you might think the time signature is 4/4 (one quarter-note/crotchet on each beat).

Well, if you did not know what polyrhythm was, here's a lovely example of it

[jazz] A lesson by La Grive Musicienne: Cantaloupe Island by Herbie Hancock

This French, Parisian guitar teacher officiating under the nickname of La grive musicienne is fantastic.
He doesn't try to be or look cool, he's just showing the viewers how to play a specific song on the guitar, with his own arrangement (always very close to the original).
Of course it's all in french, but he really takes everthing apart, step by step, so even if you don't speak a bloody word of French, you shouldn't get lost.

Okay, there is also lots of rubbish: many songs he proposes are crap... but there are gems, too: like Cantaloupe Island, by Herbie Hancock.

I was trying to play the song on the guitar for a while, but I never found a convincing way.

But now, thanks to La grive musicienne, I know how I should work it. 

Bonus: a link to the tab >> http://pdf.lu/9wj9

[Funk] Soup for One - Chic

If you're here, you probably know this song...

Then, have a look at this video, for a demo by Nile Rodgers himself.

Well I tried to figure out his directions. Ok he's a genius but we ain't! The chords are imprecisely named (and at times, overlooked) the key is not the right one... OK, very helpful, yes, but not entirely...
But OK, this video is a gem.

Subsequently, I succeeded transcribing what he demonstrates. And you're lucky, because I'm sharing this with YOU ! Here is the link to the PDF file and the GPX file, if you have Guitar pro 6. Antoher version for IrealPro is available here ici.

[Soukous] 10 exercises to play soukous rhythm guitar

If you're trying to learn Soukous guitar techniques, well you probably already know that there is not much material available for self-tuition...
Fortunately, there are DVDs by Jeannot Bel Msumbu about the chops of the trade.
The master himself released several of his full-length DVDs on Youtube! Below, you'll find Soukous Rhythmic guitar 1.

Aren't we lucky!
I bought one of his DVDs in the past and I really could appreciate working my technique with it.
The main thing that I feel was missing is a written tablature.

So I decided to transcribe the exercises using guitar Pro. And because I'm a nice guy, I'll share them with you!