Worldwide tapping

Joel Rodrigues

Born in 1977 in Bento Gonçalves

(Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil),

he approaches the guitar at age 11 with the guidance of M. Marcos de Ros in his city, where he also deepens the study of harmony and the practice of improvisation with Júlio Herrlein. He also follows master classes and lectures by Mozart Mello, Frank Gambale, Daniel Sá and Nelson Faria. It is the work of guitarist Stanley Jordan that mostly influences his guitar technique: for a long time he devoted himself to the study of the so-called two-handed tapping, and to combine the musical need with this new expressive way he developed his own guitar in collaboration with the Brazilian violin maker Cherruti.

After several years of specialization, he produced his own DVD "Um só Brasil" with Kiko Freitas, one of the greatest contemporary Brazilian drummers.

In addition to the concert activity in various formations, he has participated in various festivals in Brazil obtaining numerous awards (including Honorable Mention at the Guitar Festival Cover Guitarra & Souza Lima, São Paulo, 2008; First Prize and Honorable Mention at the Estadual de Festival Music Sesi Descobrindo Talentos, 2009; Second Prize at the Festival de Musica Instrumental para Viola, Violão and Guitarra with the song Um só Brasil in 2010 and First Prize with Manhãs de Maio in 2011).

Having moved to Italy in 2013, he currently holds workshops and guitar clinics aimed at tapping technique and plays in various formations on the rock, jazz and Brazilian repertoire.

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