Graham Greene Guitar Clinic

Classic Sounds in Kelmscott played host to an evening equal parts educational and entertaining in presenting the Graham Greene Guitar Clinic on Wednesday 15 July.

In association with WA-based Ormsby Guitars and Mesa Boogie Amplification, the home-grown guitar legend took to the stage for an up close and personal look at his electrifying musicianship, the equipment used to shape his tones and his lifelong journey as a working musician. 

Over the course of two hours, Greene gave entertaining insights into his enduring music career, from his innocent beginnings on the ukulele in the Kimberley, through to lessons with legendary WA guitarist Cliff Lynton, high-grossing cover bands, tour support slots and encounters with rock stars. Interwoven into the open and honest narrative were performances of several Graham Greene classics, both from his latest album and previous works, the highlights of which were a blistering version of the award winning Impressive Hair from Leap Of Face and Chicken Soup For The Soul from Down Devil’s Road. The latter track in particular showcased Greene’s refined maturity as a guitarist, switching seamlessly between clean, traditional blues licks and inventive overdriven flourishes.

A long time endorsee of Ormsby guitars, Greene recounted his early dealings with luthier Perry Ormsby, from when the latter volunteered to serve as guitar tech on some Ice Tiger reunion shows in 2004, through to test-driving some early guitar builds and the eventual official endorsement of a West Australian guitar brand that continues to grow in popularity both at home and abroad. Greene’s GG-6 and GG-7 signature models were heavily utilised throughout the song performances. In addition to these models, the fixed-bridge guitar played on the aforementioned Chicken Soup For The Soul was a standout in its rich and balanced tone. Not utilised as part of the performance but on display nonetheless was one of Ormsby’s multiscale guitars. Greene made specific mention of the philosophy and design behind these unique instruments that feature a fretboard with frets that fan out across the neck at angles that benefit the overall tonality, rather than more traditional vertical frets.

Keen to impart his knowledge of the instrument, Greene took the time during the clinic to outline and demonstrate some of his trademark stylistic components, including two-handed tapping, whammy dives, natural and artificial harmonics, and arpeggios. At one point in the clinic, Greene made reference to the importance of the journey itself over the destination, and hinted at the possibility of hands-on guitar workshops in the near future as well as a return to local stages. Continuing a career spanning over three decades thus far, it would appear that the guitarist has plans to continue to contribute to the WA music industry that he has had a big part in shaping. This is great news not only for Greene’s existing colleagues and fans, but also for new musicians entering the industry in need of talented, experienced role models.

Originally published in X-Press Magazine