Eric Johnson Chordal Technique

[AcousticShred]

Hey everyone, relatively new to the forum. I was hoping either some big eric johnson fans (if there are any here) or someone else could help me out. In most of Eric Johnson's instructional videos, he plays all these unique chords. They aren't strummed but they are hybrid picked. I havent been able to find out any information about how he is able to seamlessly integrate them into his improvisations but I have a figured out a couple of voicings. Often, he will voice the chord with 3 notes root-fifth-third in that order. He does lots of alterations and hammerons but he is so graceful and melodic when he performs them. He barely uses them in his songs so I was wondering if you guys know the name of this technique and anyone else who uses it. Thanks

[satch_master]

I have seen Eric Jonson on the G3 1996 and he is amazing. He is just a great rhythm guitarist as much as a fast lead guitarist.

I know what your talking about how he does all those amazing chords but i don't know what it's called. I'm sure someone will be able to help you out here. And welcome to IBM!

[EricV]

I am not even sure whether this is a special technique or anything. I mean, I am not sure whether there is a name for it.
The fact is that he often throws in beautiful chord voicings, and switches from a lead to a clean tone and plays chord passages. He uses techniques such as the "fake koto" stuff, or strumming above the neck, or tapped harmonics ( "Trademark" ) to sound them. Some of the voicings he seems to like a lot appear to be those Hendrix-type chords with the P5 on top ( b- and high e-string ), open voiced triads ( which he also often arpeggiates when soloing, i.e. in the intro of "Cliffs Of Dover" ), and huge chords like Em11.
So I think it´s less of one special technique, but instead just a very thorough knowledge of chords and voicings, a great clean-sound and technique, and a good ear for interesting solo passages and song arrangements.
If any, maybe you could consider it a different type of chord soloing, yet it´s not comparable really to the jazz-style playing.
I think one of the best examples would be the intro of his first instructional video, where he keeps switching from a solo-sound to his amazing clean-tone, and from solo-licks to chordal parts.
He used to write articles for Guitar World, and in two of them he explained his use of open voiced triads. Maybe you can find some of those articles.
Hope this helps
Eric

[Schooligo]

He used to write articles for Guitar World, and in two of them he explained his use of open voiced triads. Maybe you can find some of those articles.

compliments of Eric V and the great people at the Web archive check out these links:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020209230705/www.guitarworld.com/lessons/artists/1996/9611.johnson.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20020209232006/www.guitarworld.com/lessons/artists/1996/9612.johnson.html

[EricV]

Schooligo
Thanks for those links. I always forget about the web-archive. Those are the ones I talked about. I recommend to try out the licks and exercises in there... I like them lots, and some of them have found their way into my playing at some point
Eric

[AcousticShred]

Thank you guys so much, open voicing triads was exactly the name I was looking for. I spent 2 years posting at the Zentao message boards and already I am liking this one better. Thanks again

[EricV]

AcousticShred
Glad you like it here. Try using the web-archive Zatz linked to to search for the other colums EJ wrote for the mag, there were about 10-12 of them AFAIR
Oh and a belated welcome at ibreathe
Eric

NP: Brad Paisley - Who Needs Pictures

[phantom]

Here is the link to all the Lessons:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020204082656/www.guitarworld.com/0100/framesets/lessons.html

:) Great stuff!

And thanks Zatz for bringin' it up!

[Zatz]

And thanks Zatz for bringin' it up!

Oops! :) I guess we have to thank Schooligo for that ;)
Great links indeed!

[EricV]

Oops sorry ! Of course I meant Schooligo ( even though Zatz deserves a lot of credit for other stuff as well ! ) =)
Sorry for the mix-up, and thanks for the link, Sven
Eric

[live]

AAAHHH I'm becoming crazy, so much stuff and so rare time!!!!!
Great links btw!

[EricV]

By the way, I have been listening to his newest album a whole lot ever since Monday, and I like it lots. Regarding chordal stuff... the things he does in "My Back Pages" ( cover of a Dylan-song ) is beautiful... not only the voicings and chord movements he uses during the verses, but also the piano-parts in the bridge.
If you haven´t heard the song yet, head over to www.ericjohnson.com , there is a video with some rare live- and studio-footage, with the studio-version playing in the background
Eric

[mattyvegas43]

Thanks for the great links!