WorkshopLive is adding teachers and lessons all the time these days, but shredster Tobias Hurwitz has been there all along. Tobias is a big fan of Steve Vai and Michael Angelo Batio. He has also picked up the mantle from the late Philip Toshio Sudo, author of Zen Guitar. The Book of Six Strings, by Philip and Tobias, is due out soon and will complete the message started in Zen Guitar.

Tobias has been a teacher for the National Guitar Workshop and DayJams for years. He has written or contributed to seven books and CDs on guitar technique, including 7-String Guitar, Punk Guitar Styles, Learn How To Transcribe for Guitar and Getting Your Sound. His CDs are The Way of Zen Guitar and Painted Sky. His web site offers samples from both CDs and (if you're the impatient type) 6 sample licks that are under a minute long and just monstrous.

The Online Studio Jam links in The Practice Room's left column has a link to a video of Tobias playing; it shows a quieter but no less impressive side of his music.

Tobias teaches beginning and advanced rock guitar for WorkshopLive. His advice: "Practice the music you really love, not what happens to be trendy."

PS: He is also the evil genius behind Shred Planet

Tom Heany