Album Notes

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Barrett Tagliarino started playing guitar at age 9. He studied privately with Tony Bowles, who now tours with Hank Williams, Jr. Barrett attended Indiana University, and then made the move to Los Angeles in 1984.

Barrett's extensive performing experience includes tours of Asia and Europe. In Los Angeles, Barrett has appeared on every stage from the Whisky-a-Go-Go to the Viper Room. He's recorded commercial projects for ARCO, Sony, Miller Lite, the Food Channel and MTV. He has been a full-time instructor at Musicians Institute since 1987, and chairman of the MI teachers union since 2001. Barrett also served as Rock Department Head at Hohner Musikschule in Vienna, Austria, in 1994.

Barrett has written four instructional books: The Guitar Fretboard Workbook, Chord Tone Soloing, (both MI Press/Hal Leonard), Music Theory: A Practical Guide for All Musicians, and Play Ukulele Today! (Hal Leonard). Classic Rock Guitar Soloing is his DVD, also available from the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Currently Barrett is an author and editor for Hal Leonard, and has been gigging on guitar with Gis Johannssen's Big City, an LA country band. He's also recently played with Jimmy Fuller (of original "Wipe Out" by the Surfaris fame), and Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys. He is recording a second guitar CD of his own compositions, and working on more instructional titles as time permits.