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Photo from Jax Hollow
Mesmerize is to have someone's attention completely so that they cannot think of anything else: “I was completely mesmerized by the performance”. If you are a guitar player, or a fan of guitarists, then you will not disagree with the abilities of the some of the greatest guitar players of all time. Some that include the following:
Eddie Van Halen
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Slash
Jimmy Page
Keith Richards
Prince
Jeff Beck
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Angus Young
Realistically, the list will never end. There are some distinct guitar players, that will never get the accolades that they deserve. The riffs and solos that came from these artists were unforgettable. You can search on You Tube for the chords and notes of the songs they pioneered. The platforms for discovering how the riffs are played, will enable you to sound like your favorite guitarist. But not exactly. I have heard guitar players attempt to copy the originals, but there is always something lacking.
Originals are authentic and require what copyists cannot provide. Which heart. Often, we do not know what originally inspired EPIC riffs and licks. I have interviewed many artists, but there is always so much more to their inspiration than what is conveyed in an interview. With that said, you still want to play like your favorite artist, right? Well, it is going to take a lot of work, and additional help from unorthodox methods, and technical assistance.
How can you sound like Jimmi Hendrix with electrifying guitar performances?
Jimi Hendrix is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time. His innovative techniques, including feedback manipulation, distortion, and unique chord voicings, revolutionized the way the guitar was played in rock music. He was well known for his guitar licks and solos that would mesmerize anyone guitar enthusiast. Jimmi was a guitarist that didn’t know how to read music. Every sound and effect were generated by him, and a bit of technical insight.
As talented as Eric Gales is, he would never compare himself which such a guitar legend as Hendrix. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with trying to follow in the footsteps of the great legends of the past and present. In fact, it can even help you to improve your guitar skill set when you have someone that inspires you to be your best. I have my own guitar players that are influential when I play.
If you are at that point, where you are wanting to aspire to a guitar phenom, then our guest today is perfect for you to emulate. Her name is Jax Hollow.
INTERVIEW WITH JAX HOLLOW AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: Hello Jax. It has been a while since we had a chance to chat. How have
you been, and what have you been working on as of late?
Jax: Hey there, glad to be back at Guitar Thrills! We have just released our second full length
album, “Come Up Kid” available for streaming everywhere. You can also purchase your very
own copy at jaxhollow.com/shop
Guitar Thrills: Nice. That is excellent to hear.
Guitar Thrills: Your guitar playing ability has been compared with some heavy weight
guitar players. How do you feel about the comparisons to Jimmi Hendrix and EVH?
Jax: That is quite the comparison, I’m very inspired by the Guitar Greats and love to play
Hendrix / EVH songs & riffs, as well as many other artist, most of them seem to come from the
60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I just like talented musicians who play real instruments I guess.
Guitar Thrills: It is exciting to hear feedback from some reputable resources. Does it
influence your belief in yourself? Does it change you in any way?
Jax: I’m still light years behind my heroes, but I’m honored that some people hold me in high
regards. It won’t change anything though - I’m a songwriter at heart and will always be.
Guitar Thrills: Recall when you first started playing the guitar, was it important to you to
have a guitarist that you could try emulating? Who influenced you to become a guitar
player, and what was it about their style that made an impact on you?
Jax: That will always be Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant combined. I was just as mesmerized by
the Dragon Fire bellbottom pants Page wore, while ripping the most iconic guitar solos known
to man, as much as I was by the free flowing and pure expression that Plant carried with his
vocals and lyrics. It had quite the impression on me, as I watched every YouTube video I could
find of em and studied what they did for hours.
Guitar Thrills: You are more than a guitar player. You can also sing. Which part of being
an artist do you enjoy more, and why?
Jax: Luckily, I can change hats quickly. If I’m getting nowhere trying to write a riff or a chord
progression, I can set it aside and go purely off of lyrical ideas/ or start humming something
that isn’t tethered to a set of rules- the way a chord might keep you from singing notes outside
of it’s triad walls. I like being an artist, it’s always made more sense to me. Songs are king, and
will always be.
Guitar Thrills: Do you write your own music?
Jax: Yes, everything that I’ve released is my own original music.
Guitar Thrills: Do you read sheet music, and how long did it take you to master it?
Jax: I can if I have to, but I haven’t had to, so I won’t (:
Guitar Thrills: Would you say you have a special technique for hand placement on the
guitar? There are plenty of methods, but not all of them are suited for every guitar
player.
Jax: I don’t think I have a special hand placement or anything, but I would say that I’m not
afraid of taking nuances from many genres across the board, and implementing them into their
own new purposes. I’ve studied classical guitar techniques, to sweep picking, and everything
in between, so that when my brain tells me it wants to hear something, my fingers don’t get in
the way of not being able to replicate that idea for me.. If that makes sense.
Guitar Thrills: I know you play a Fender Strat, but is there another guitar brand that you
love playing? Is there one that you just refused to play, due to the way it sounds, weight,
etc.?
Jax: I’ve since ditched Fender and am now a proud Tom Anderson artist! I’ll be at the Tom
Anderson booth Jan 24th for NAMM 2025. I’m totally in love with the Anderson’s playability,
wide range of diversity, quality and tone. Guitars that I refuse to play include the big chunky
neck boys, like Gretsch or a few Gibsons/ Epiphanies that I can’t seem to get my little fingers
around. If I ever could find a Gibson Les Paul with a neck made for me - then t’d be a game
changer, but I have yet to come across one.
Guitar Thrills: What are you currently working on, and is there something we should be
looking forward to hearing from you soon?
Jax: I’m currently writing and touring! Come see me live! We’ve got our Great Lakes tour
coming up in January and more shows around the corner! See them all at jaxhollow.com/
shows
Guitar Thrills: Awesome. I want to thank you for joining me today. There are a ton of
questions, that I would like to cover in another interview. Would you like to chat again
soon?
Jax: For sure, and thanks for having me!
Guitar Thrills: Excellent.
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
