An Interview with Steve Trovato

IC: What inspired you to play the guitar, and how old were you when you first started?

Steve: I began playing guitar at age 12. I started playing piano at about 6 then when I saw the Beatles on TV I switched to guitar. I became obsessed with the guitar and haven’t played piano since.

IC: How much did you practice back then?

Steve: I played pretty much round the clock for the first eight years. I just played, slept and ate. I transcribed everything that I could get my hands on from Chet Atkins to Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and George Benson. I was playing in a band after about 2 months.

IC: So who were your earlier influences, and how did your tastes develop over time?

Steve: I started with the British Rock. I remember figuring out the lick for “The Train Kept a Rollin” as recorded by the Yardbirds. I played it for days. Jeff Beck was a huge influence. The Stones of course. I played mostly rock early on. When I heard Joe Pass and George Benson I went on a jazz tirade for about 4 years. Then I got into Chet Atkins. I was amazed how he could sound like a whole band playing by himself. I transcribed many of his arrangements. I think the common denominator in all of these players is a sense of melody. I can almost sing what they play. I like that.

IC: What inspired you to attend GIT at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood in the early 80’s?

Steve: I was in a Steely Dan cover band and had transcribed all of Larry Carlton’s solos. They were amazing. I heard he was a studio player in Los Angeles and occasionally taught at GIT (Musicians Institute, Hollywood California). I drove across the country in 1981 to study with him, Tommy Tedesco, Don Mock and Robben Ford.

IC: I’ve read that after you graduated (with top honors), you were offered a job teaching there… and that you gave lessons to famous players such as Frank Gambale - whom you later taught alongside at MI. What was it like being there for the so-called “glory days” of virtuoso guitar?

Steve: Yeah, that was quite a time. I remember teaching in one room and teaching in the next set of rooms was Paul Gilbert, Jennifer Batten, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson and Norman Brown. There was an expression going around then called NPM (Notes Per Minute). Everyone was so focused on technique and virtuosity that I think maybe a mini revolution in guitar was taking place. I was honored to be there.

IC: Care to share any stories about teaching / teaching with Paul Gilbert?

Steve: I know Paul really well and directed both of his instructional videos but I never taught him. He really didn’t even come to class very often. He would show up every now and then and blow everyone away and then go play with Racer X.

IC: Did you know Bruce Bouillet (of Racer X fame)? I think he went there around that time.

Steve: You know I never met Bruce.

IC: He’s sort of come full circle over this past year… playing with Paul again during the G3 tour and now with the release of his solo instrumental album.

Okay, on top of teaching and performing, you directed some of the most popular guitar instructional videos released in the 80’s. How did you get started doing those, and what did working on them involve?

Steve: Well I was involved in some of the very first instructional videos. We began doing them at the Musicians Institute for classes. I was then contacted by Roger Hutchinson (REH) to do a country video. It was one of the first REH videos. After that I became director of many that followed: Both of Paul Gilberts, both of Scott Henderson’s, Al Dimeola, Chris Immpeliteri, Herb Ellis, Vinnie Vincent, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Vinnie Moore.

IC: Is your “Country Rock” REH instructional still available?

Steve: Yes, but it has now been named, “Getting the Sounds Hot Nashville Guitar”. It is available through Warner Brothers. I have now about 21 instructional books and DVD’s on the market.

IC: Much like one of my previous interviewee's - Andy James - you’ve recently done videos for Lick Library. What do you cover in them?

Steve: One was called “The Three Kings” on Blues; I did one on Albert Lee’s style, one on Brian Setzer’s style and one on contemporary rhythm guitar with guitar great Richard Smith.

IC: With so many instructional books under your belt, is it ever difficult to continuously invent new material for them?

Steve: Not really, because I’m always learning new ideas and it’s fun to put them into a learnable format. I have now decided not to write anymore instructional material. I have spent much of my life teaching people how to play and am really neglected the fact that I am a player myself.

IC: When you were writing instructionals, how long did you typically spend on each?

Steve: Wow, a long time. It usually takes me about 6 months to write a book. It would not take as long if I had more time to devote to it but I always have so many projects that I am working on simultaneously.

IC: Do you have any words of advice for our aspiring guitarist readers?

Steve: My advice is pretty much always the same. If you want to do well in the music business you need to get along well with people. Be fun to be around. Do what you say you are going to do at the time you say you are going to do it.

IC: What’s an average day like for you? Do you still teach at the Studio Jazz Guitar Department at the University of Southern California?

Steve: Currently I’m busier than I have ever been. I am not playing at the moment because I injured my arm. I’ll be playing again in the near future. I am teaching at the University, doing lessons and interviews for Vintage Guitar, Guitar Player and Guitar World Magazines but mainly working on my new guitar instructional web site: guitarschool.net. I am really proud of it and we should be launching the site by early September.

As a faculty member at the University of Southern California Guitar Department I am exposed to some of the best guitarists in the world: Richard Smith, Frank Potenza, Pat Kelley, Bruce Foreman and Adam Del Monte. These guys inspire me to remain at the top of my game and to constantly be open to learning new techniques and styles. I think that you can never stop learning.

IC: Your debut album was released back in ’01. When are you planning to release the follow-up album I’ve heard about, “Country Jazz Guitar Master”?

Steve: Countryjazzmaster, my newest CD is being released in about a month. I am extremely proud of it. I have tried to combine my playing experience in both jazz and country to create a sound reminiscent of Danny Gatton. I think there is a niche there as not too many people can play both styles. I have a great line-up of musicians who all played wonderfully. It will be available on CDBaby.com by the middle of September (’07).

IC: How does it differ from “About Time”? Do you feel like your style is still evolving?

Steve: Oh yes. Countryjazzmaster is more stylistically pure than About Time. I have given the entire CD a theme and a mood. I have finally reached a point where I think I have a somewhat recognizable style and sound and am really trying to come up with a stylistic signature.

(Richard Smith and Steve Trovato)

About Time was a fun record. Since it was my first CD I think that I tried to prove to the world that I could play all these different styles. When I hear it these days it sounds to me like a well produced, style demo. I was well received though, and the album has received much praise.

IC: Do you still spend much time practicing and transcribing?

Steve: I actually don’t transcribe that much anymore. I did it for 20 years and learned so many licks. I wish I could remember half of them. These days I spend my time working on creating a style that is my own and that people can recognize. I work most diligently on my feel. I finally figured out that feel is more important than notes.

IC: So what’s next for you?

Steve: My focus has been working on my new guitar instructional site, guitarschool.net. It is being marketed through Guitar Center. We are very proud of it. We are using 3D motion capture technology like they use in video games and in Hollywood movies like Polar Express and Monsters Inc. The viewer can now look at a lesson from any angle, zoom in, loop passages and slow it down without changing pitch. No one has ever done this for guitar and we think it will revolutionize learning how to play the guitar.

IC: That sounds very exciting! I’m a longtime gamer so I’m somewhat familiar with the motion capture animation stuff, but I never imagined it being applied to guitar instruction.

So my standard final question is… what’s the one thing you want people to know about you?

Steve: People are always surprised to find out that my playing roots are in rock and jazz not country. I love rock guitar. I was transcribing Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck, George Benson and Pat Martino long before I ever heard Albert Lee or James Burton!

Essential Steve Trovato links:

www.stevetrovato.com

www.myspace.com/stevetrovatomusic

www.guitarschool.net

... and don't forget to buy "About Time"!

-- Dave B.