Stephen Bennett

About Stephen Bennett

Whether playing his great-grandfather's harp guitar, his 1930 National Steel or a standard 6-string, Stephen Bennett is a musician to hear. His playing has won awards and critical praise. In live performance and on record, his diverse musical influences and interests are joined with a lifelong love affair with the sound of guitar strings.

Books and DVDs

FINGERSTYLE FINESSE

2006 – Fingerstyle Finesse is a two cd-rom guitar course that includes breakdowns of five of Stephen’s original tunes and much more. In forty segments, Stephen emphasizes the importance of the melody in all aspects of playing and composition and shows you how to skillfully integrate harmonics and leverage the backbeat. The expert camera work lets him deftly demonstrate a variety of techniques, such as new ways of working with a capo. Stephen’s hints on playing and composing original material will help you “finesse” your playing and improve your compositional skills.

You can also download this course directly from TrueFire.com.

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Price: $29.00

 

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Harp Guitar Repertoire

2011 – New from TrueFire is this two cd-rom harp guitar course that includes breakdowns of five tunes and much more. In this course I present seven of my compositions that many people have asked me to teach over the years. Oregon, Sea Rose Beach, November, Elephant’s Dance, Issoudun, The Eye Of God, and Tenochtitlan are covered in great detail.

You can also download this course directly from TrueFire.com

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Price: $29.00

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Harp Guitar Basics

2011 – Also new from TrueFire is this two cd-rom harp guitar course that includes breakdowns of five tunes and much more. My objective with Harp Guitar Basics is to take you through a series of musical arrangements to get you acquainted with my approach to the harp guitar. I start with the assumption that you already have at least some minimal experience playing finger-style on a standard 6-string guitar. But even if you have never played guitar and somehow have wound up with a harp guitar, you will still be served well by the simple arrangements presented in the course. Tunes covered are Gentle Annie, The Water Is Wide, Bridget & Elanor, Going Home and Perestroika.

You can also download this course directly from TrueFire

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Price: $29.00  

 
  

The Stephen Bennett Fingerstyle Collection Book/CD Set

(I am out of this book right now.  Will probably have some more copies soon but not in time for holiday mailing.)

This book features twelve of Stephen Bennett’s favorite fingerstyle solos for the six-string acoustic guitar. In it, Stephen shows the same relaxed, sharp-witted spirit he exudes on stage with his insightful performance notes for these inspired guitar solos. Written in standard notation and tablature with a few altered tunings and partial capo indications, this book is recommended for the intermediate to advanced player. The companion performance CD includes all of the selections in the book.

A Walk On Winfield Row, Adirondack Lullaby, Emerald City, Funeral March Of A Marionette, Good Dog, I Knew It Was You, Kristina, Lady Bird, Life’s Too Short (to be in a bad mood), My Backyard, The Most Beautiful Sky, Tuesday Blues, Wheelbarrow Boogie

  

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Price: $22.95










 

 

  

The Stephen Bennett Flatpicking Collection Book/CD Set

OUT OF PRINT but still available at melbay.com as an e-book.

This book features twelve of Stephen Bennett’s flatpicking solos for six-string acoustic guitar. Though you don’t find Stephen flatpicking anymore, he was the National Champion once upon a time! Written in standard notation and tablature with a few altered and open tunings and partial capo indications, this book is recommended for the intermediate to advanced player. The companion performance CD includes all of the selections in the book.

Afton Mountain, Blackberry Blossom, Cooley’s Reel, Greased Pig, Indian Nation, Little Martha (Stewart), Remember, Richmond, Snowflake Reel, Tangier Morning, The Forest Floor, Waltz For A Maple Tree

  

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Price: $22.95










 

 

  

Stephen Bennett – Harp Guitar Artistry DVD

In what is neither an instructional nor a concert-style format, acoustic guitar master and acknowledged harp guitar pioneer Stephen Bennett plays ten captivating harp guitar solos, demonstrating the capabilities of this rarely heard instrument in a relaxed recording studio setting. With one exception, the traditional fiddle tune Westphalia Waltz, Stephen composed all of the music heard here. Stephen introduces each tune with insightful remarks about harp guitar history, the tunings he developed for the additional six bass strings, and the events or circumstances that inspired his compositions.

One of the original advertising claims made for harp guitars was that they would do to the standard guitar what the piano did to the harpsichord; that is, make it obsolete. This may or may not occur, but in this video you will hear some of the inherent possibilities of the harp guitar. Ultimately, you may find yourself thinking that those early claims might not be so farfetched after all; indeed, magic happens when these instruments are in the right hands, and Stephen Bennett clearly has those hands.

Join Stephen for an intimate introduction to this largely forgotten instrument and allow yourself to fall under the spell of the harp guitar!

  

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Price:CLEARANCE SALE $5!










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Stephen Bennett LIVE DVD

Given the number of skilled luthiers and guitarists in evidence today, the current era has come to be known as “The Golden Age of the Acoustic Guitar”. Among numerous richly talented players, Stephen Bennett stands out as both a supreme melodist and groove master. That said- you already have a good idea of the contents of this DVD.

With the tenacity, perfectionism, and phenomenal musicality known to his fans worldwide, one day in October of 2005 Stephen recorded 29 tunes for this DVD. Most of these tracks were completed to perfection in one take. Add the notion of performing on three distinctly different instruments- a Morris 6-string acoustic, a 1930 National Steel, and a modern Merrill Brothers copy of a vintage Dyer harp guitar- and you have not only a Herculean musical feat, but a unique listening and viewing experience. Stephen’s live Mel Bay DVD performance is one you’ll watch again and again.

  

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Price: CLEARANCE SALE $5!