Carlos Santana - Tech Session

Immerse yourself in the soulful, fiery world of a true guitar icon with the ‘Carlos Santana - Tech Session’, a premier online guitar course from Lick Library. This comprehensive program is your gateway to mastering the unique blend of Latin rock, blues, and jazz fusion that defines Santana’s legendary sound. If you have ever been captivated by Santana’s expressive vibrato, soaring sustain, or infectious rhythms, this course provides the expert guidance you need to infuse your own playing with his signature passion and flair. Guided by the expertise of Jamie Humphries, you will deconstruct the essential techniques and musical concepts that have made Carlos Santana a guitar hero for generations. This is more than just a collection of licks; it’s a deep dive into the very art and soul of expressive guitar playing, designed to elevate your musicality and unlock your creative potential.
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Jamie Humphries Tutor, Professional Guitarist
Image of tutor: Jamie Humphries

Lessons Included in this Course

1 Lesson
2 Performance

Course Content Overview

This course offers a structured and in-depth exploration of the techniques that are central to Carlos Santana’s guitar style. You will learn to move beyond simply mimicking his licks and begin to understand the musical thinking behind them. The lessons are crafted to provide practical, actionable steps that will build your technical proficiency and your ability to play with genuine emotion.

Here’s a breakdown of the lesson contents:

  • Signature Santana Techniques: Master the expressive bending and soulful vibrato that make Santana’s playing so recognizable. Learn to use the harmonic minor and Dorian modes to create that authentic Latin rock sound.
  • Iconic Licks and Riffs: Learn to play the legendary licks and riffs from Santana’s most famous tracks, including “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” and “Europa.”
  • Rhythmic Phrasing: Develop a strong sense of rhythmic phrasing and learn how to lock in with the groove, a crucial element of Santana’s music.
  • Sustain and Tone: Discover the secrets behind Santana’s famous sustain and learn how to achieve a similar tone with your own gear.
  • Improvisation and Expression: Go beyond scales and patterns and learn to improvise with feeling and emotion. Understand how to use dynamics and phrasing to tell a story with your solos.
  • Performance Pieces: Apply what you’ve learned by playing through complete performance pieces in the style of Carlos Santana, accompanied by high-quality backing tracks.

This Course is Ideal for Players Who...

This course is perfectly suited for intermediate to advanced guitarists who are looking to expand their musical vocabulary and add a new dimension to their playing. It is especially beneficial for those who want to:

  • Learn the secrets of a true guitar legend and incorporate his techniques into their own style.
  • Develop a more expressive and soulful approach to their playing.
  • Improve their improvisation skills and learn to create memorable solos.
  • Master the art of Latin rock and add a new genre to their repertoire.
  • Understand the importance of tone and learn how to shape their own signature sound.

What will I achieve from completing this course?

The ‘Carlos Santana - Tech Session’ is a highly effective learning tool because it offers a comprehensive and structured approach to mastering a complex and nuanced guitar style. Jamie Humphries is a world-class instructor who has a deep understanding of Santana’s music and a talent for breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand lessons. The course features high-quality video lessons with multiple camera angles, accurate tabs, and professional backing tracks, providing you with all the tools you need to succeed. By focusing on both the technical and the musical aspects of Santana’s playing, this course will not only make you a better guitarist but also a more expressive and creative musician. It’s a journey into the heart of one of rock’s most iconic guitarists, and it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

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** Disclaimer **
*This product is not endorsed by or made in association with Carlos Santana nor does Carlos Santana perform or appear on this course.*

Carlos Santana - Tech Session by Jamie Humphries

Introduction

Welcome to the Carlos Santana - Tech Session by Jamie Humphries, an in-depth guitar lesson series available on Licklibrary.com. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of Carlos Santana's distinctive guitar style, renowned for its melodic richness, soulful expression, and technical brilliance. Jamie Humphries, an experienced guitarist and educator, meticulously breaks down Santana's techniques and performances, providing valuable insights for guitarists aiming to enhance their skills and capture the essence of Santana's iconic sound.

Lesson Breakdown

Lesson Overview

In this series, Jamie Humphries focuses on dissecting various techniques that define Carlos Santana's playing style. Each lesson is crafted to help you understand and master these techniques, offering detailed explanations, demonstrations, and practical exercises. By engaging with these lessons, you'll not only learn to play Santana's licks but also gain the ability to incorporate these elements into your own playing.

Techniques Covered

Vibrato

Vibrato is a fundamental aspect of Santana's expressive style. It involves oscillating the pitch of a note to add emotion and depth. Learning vibrato will enhance your ability to convey feeling and sustain notes effectively.

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking is essential for achieving speed and precision in your playing. By alternating down and up strokes, you can navigate complex passages with greater efficiency, a technique Santana uses to deliver his fast, fluid lines.

Legato

Legato playing, characterized by smooth, connected notes, is achieved through techniques like hammer-ons and pull-offs. Mastering legato will allow you to play faster, more fluid passages with minimal picking, creating a seamless flow in your solos.

Tapped Harmonics

Tapped harmonics add a unique, bell-like quality to your notes. This technique involves tapping the string at specific points to produce harmonic overtones, adding a layer of sophistication and intrigue to your playing.

String Bending

String bending, a staple in Santana's solos, involves pushing the string to alter its pitch. This technique adds expression and emotion to your playing, allowing you to mimic vocal qualities and create tension and release.

Performance Context

In addition to the technical lessons, Jamie Humphries also performs various pieces in the style of Carlos Santana. Seeing these techniques applied in a performance context is incredibly beneficial. It allows you to understand how individual techniques come together to form a cohesive musical expression. Watching a skilled performer like Jamie Humphries can inspire you and provide practical insights into phrasing, dynamics, and musicality.

Benefits of Learning Santana's Techniques

Learning Carlos Santana's techniques offers numerous benefits:

  1. Expressive Playing: Santana's style is renowned for its emotional depth. Mastering his techniques will enable you to infuse your playing with similar expressiveness.
  2. Technical Proficiency: Techniques like alternate picking and legato enhance your technical skills, making you a more versatile guitarist.
  3. Improvisational Skills: Santana's approach to improvisation can help you develop your own improvisational abilities, allowing you to create memorable solos.
  4. Musical Phrasing: Understanding how Santana constructs his solos will improve your sense of phrasing and musical storytelling.

Conclusion

The Carlos Santana - Tech Session by Jamie Humphries is a must-have for any guitarist looking to delve into the intricate and soulful world of Santana's music. Through detailed lessons and captivating performances, Jamie Humphries provides a clear pathway to mastering the techniques that make Carlos Santana a guitar legend. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, this course will enrich your playing and deepen your appreciation for one of rock's greatest guitarists.

Techniques List

Embark on your journey to guitar mastery with the Carlos Santana - Tech Session by Jamie Humphries, and bring the soulful, expressive style of Santana into your own playing.

Jamie Humphries playing the guitar.

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Jamie Humphries

Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...

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