Lenny Breau (1941-1984)

Lenny Breau is perhaps the most advanced harmony player of all times on the instrument. He's surely the guitarist who came the closest in achieving to the kind of freedom keyboard players have over chords and voice leading.

He stated himself that he was trying to "play the guitar like a piano" : performing melodies and accompanying himself in the lower register. Some believe that is why he employed mainly 7-string guitars in his later years. That sound can be heard on his solo recordings.

This great jazz guitarist also developed unprecedented techniques in the use harmonics on the guitar. In some cases you have to "see it to believe it"

... he said himself that he was playing "stuff that's supposed to be impossible, but I spent over twenty years figuring it out" ...

It's hard to believe that only one guitar is
being played the first time you hear him!

Surprisingly, Lenny Breau not very well known outside of the jazz guitar and fingerstyle circles. That is mainly due to his "yo yo" carreer and his early death, at age 43.

More importantly, Lenny was starting to get the respect he deserved when he passed away. His influence has been growing and it's peaking nowadays. His legacy lives on through the re-releases of some lost and rare out of print recordings

To get an idea of what Lenny Breau is all about, I highly recommend checking out this solo recording : Cabin Fever. If it's your first time, you'll most likely be blown away.

For the readers : Here's a biography that really does Lenny Breau justice... (click here)

Note from the webmaster : As I'm more of a "listen - play - imitate" kind of person, my only recommendation would be : listen to all of his recordings and try to play some parts you like! (see transcriptions below)

Influences and Playing Style

Mr. Breau was Canadian and found interest in jazz in his late teens. His main pre-jazz influence was country/western (while performing and touring in his parents' band) and later on he was attracted to jazz, classical and flamenco music.

As there is "too much to handle" technique-wise, here's a point-form that describes his style :

Very, very, very unique voice on the instrument
(no one comes close to sounding like Lenny!)
Seamless mix of his influences : country, flamenco/classical, jazz
Fingerstylist (strictly)
Used a thumbpick (after hearing Chet Atkins)
Used various acoustics, archtops, classical and electric guitars.(some with 7 strings)
Creative (and incredible) use of harmonics on the guitar
Plenty of chords and "chord melody" playing (amazing harmonization, of course!)
Some bursts of linear improvisation without comping
World-class flamenco and classical chops
Influenced by the great Tal Farlow

Video, Licks and Transcriptions

Lenny plays "What is this thing Called Love" :

(That track can be found on the album "Cabin Fever")

Get Transcription excerpts from the video HERE

More Transcriptions

Another great transcriptions provided
by David Toule (www.DavidToule.com). Lenny plays "Georgia" :

Get the Transcription HERE!

Some Great Albums

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