Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolinwas an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr, The James Gang, and Deep Purple; in addition to maintaining a notable solo career...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth1 August 1951
CitySioux City, IA
CountryUnited States of America
play rolling records
I used to listen a lot to Rolling Stones records and play along with them when I was first starting. It's a good way to learn, jamming around basic music.
home play action
I'll play drums a lot at home, and it will help my wrist action.
thinking guitar play
I think the way I play the guitar is very percussive. I play a lot of rhythm chops as though I were playing congas or something.
player style littles
I have my own style, but it's different for each kind of music. There are certain little characteristic things every player has.
writing opportunity play
When I got to LA and was with the James Gang, I got the opportunity to write a lot, to play in front of large audiences, make some money.
running play matter
Lots of times it really doesn't matter what notes you play, but what notes come before and after a run.
guitar play i-can
I can't do anything but play guitar.
play subconscious knows
I'll hear something in my head, then eventually play it. But it's a subconscious thing. Most of the time I really don't know what I'm playing.
american-musician
I replaced Walsh, I replaced Blackmore, now I just gotta be me.
two guitar years
I started on drums when I was 13 and played them for two years. Then I went to guitar for a year, played keyboards for a year and a half, and went back to guitar.
growing
How do you stop somebody from growing?
writing practice people
For me, practice isn't doing scales but doing things like writing, jamming with other people, or playing gigs.
trying steps used
I used to try and take things in leaps and bounds. Now I've realized it's got to be step by step.
solo form teach
Blues teaches you to develop coherent solos, because the form you're playing over is so basic. You have to develop leads that go someplace.