Today’s Q and A is a very cool one. It features Gianca Facoetti, who is a guitar teacher from Italy. He’s also a software engineer and at fachords.com he provides tutorials and tools to help the worldwide guitar learning community. Enjoy!
Bands and Inspiration
Your favourite guitarist?
There are many: Steve Morse, Stochelo Rosenberg, and Dave Murray, to name a few.
Who’s the best band/artist you have seen live?
I remember a marvellous gig by Opeth during the Damnation tour (it was 2003, if I remember well).
What’s your favourite album?
It’s impossible to say, but I’d like to mention Forse le lucciole non si amano più, by Locanda Delle Fate, an italian 70’s prog band.
Favourite song to listen to on a depressing day?
The whole The Angel and the Dark River by My Dying Bride.
Greatest guitar piece ever recorded?
“Altitudes” by Jason Becker.
You as a Guitarist
Most difficult thing you’ve ever learned to play on guitar?
6 strings arpeggios sweep picking perfectly sync with the metronome.
Who’s your favourite guitarist and/or biggest influence ever?
A masterclass with Steve Vai in Verona, Italy, changed my life.
What’s the first song/riff you ever learned on guitar?
“Paranoid,” first the riff and later the lead guitar part.
Why did you choose to play the guitar?
It was love at first sight after I watched the documentary: Year & a Half in the Life of Metallica Part 1 & 2.
What’s the first guitar you owned?
It was a bad copy of the Charvel Dinky.
Self-taught or formal lessons?
Mostly self-taught (at that time there were no YouTube lessons) with sporadic lessons with experts on some specific topics.
Your Music and Gear
What’s your most embarrassing moment on stage?
I was playing the clean guitar intro of “Fear of the Dark” and my guitar was completely out of tune!
The best moment of being a performer so far?
It was an Italian music festival with a big audience and great bands, we became all friends at the end of the day.
Where do you find your inspiration for song ideas?
While walking, or noodling on the couch.
Tips and Advice
What does a typical day of your practice routine look like?
In these days, I don’t have a precise structure, it depends on the period. Sometimes I practise a riff, other days a scale, other days a chord progression.
Tips you’d like to share with other guitarists?
You can learn scales and it’s good, you can learn chords and it’s good, but learning progressions will allow you to connect the dots.
Greatest ever chord?
The dominant chord is the key to making meaningful tunes.
Best advice for beginner guitarists?
Learn chord progressions as soon as possible and try to incorporate into them any other concept you’re approaching.
The best tip or one piece of advice you were ever given as a guitarist?
Again, learn chord progressions!
General thoughts on learning guitar for our readers.
As our beloved instrument is strongly based on patterns, it’s crucial to be always 100% aware of what you’re playing and don’t allow muscle memory to go in autopilot mode.
Another tip is always to play over a backing track or a reference note, in this way, you’ll develop your mind-ear-finger connection better.
Fun Stuff
Song to romance your other half with?
Maybe I’m banal but I think that “Nothing Else Matters” still works great for this kind of things.
Which superhero would make the best guitarist?
I see well Wolverine taking a full 6 strings bar chords 😀
Festival you would most like to play?
I would like to have a time machine to go back to 1998 at Gods Of Metal in Milan, with Black Sabbath and the Pantera original band.
Most underrated band ever?
Savatage, they created really great albums!
What’s next for you?
I have been recording fragments and ideas for a new recorded album, but it’s still not clear to me what I’m aiming for, I’ll tell you when I’ll figure it out!
Thanks to Gianca for a very insightful Q and A. I love reading his emails and tips and he has been an inspiration for me. I hope he inspires you too! Leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of this Q and A.
Add Comment