Preston Reed

photo www.seymourduncan.com

Preston Reed (born April 13, 1955, Armonk, New York) learned first guitar chords from his guitar playing father, practicing his favourite Beatles and Stones songs. He took the guitar again at age 16 and began to compose his own songs influenced by Leo Kottke and John Fahey.

Later inspired by such artists as Stanley Jordan, Michael Hedges, Eddie Van Halen and Jeff Healey, Preston developed his own, highly individual and percussive style of playing guitar.
His guitar style is characterised by the use of percussive effects he generates with both hands on various parts of the guitar body. He uses both hands for tapping (two-hand tapping) and frets chords with his right hand (right-hand fretting). He often plays with both hands from above the guitar's neck.

Reed pushed himself to go beyond the standard fingerpicking styles he'd perfected. Since 1979, he has recorded thirteen albums and three videos and toured across three continents. He continues to tour and gives regular workshops where he passes on the techniques he has developed for extending the acoustic guitar's possibilities.

Artist website: www.prestonreed.com

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