Carl’s Gearbox
I’ve got lines for Emaj7th chords, harmony
lines, pentatonics in D minor, chord voicings
and anything that comes to mind. I’m always
writing stuff down. I’m getting ready to do a
DVD, so I’m writing five minor, five dominant
and five major lines. I have old lick books
that are completely full of lines. I’ve transcribed Brent Mason’s “Hot Wired” and then
start working on ideas from that. It’s a great
way of practicing. I’ll say, “I need a line in F#
minor that starts on the low F# and ends on
the high C#.” I’ll come up with something
new and original, then write it down. Then I’ll
transpose it into a major version, and then a
dominant seventh version. Then I’ll practice
it… to see if it fits. Then I’ve got new material—or I could go back ten pages. I can try it
again and it might lead me to new stuff.
You’ve discussed your lick book on your
Intervallic Rock video. It’s invaluable.
When it’s time to plug
in, this is what he’s
reaching for…
GUITARS
Fender ’ 61 Stratocaster
Fender ’ 58 Stratocaster
Avalon Carl Verheyen Signature Acoustic
AMPS / CABS
1964 Fender Twin
1963 Vox AC30
1969 Marshall 100 Watt Head
Dr Z SRZ- 65 Amp
Marshall 4x12 Cab
THD 2x12 Cab
EFFECTS / ACCESSORIES
Lexicon PCM- 41
Lexicon LXP- 1 Reverb
Lexicon Stereo MPX 100 Delay
Dunlop Wah
Lehle A/B Box
Stamps Tremolo Reverb
Voodoo Labs Pro Octavia
Landgraff Perfect Distortion Pedal
THD Hot Plate
TC Electronic Chorus
Hermida Audio Zendrive
VDL Professional Analogics Il Distorsore
Fuchs Plush Cream Pedal
Peterson StroboStomp 2
Boss Digital Tuner
My personal style is a direct result of the lick
book. My intervals are always larger than
minor seconds, major seconds and minor
thirds. I think in terms of fourths, fifths and
sixths. It relates to my lines and my chords.
I would say it’s a key element of your style.
The interval thing. It relates not only to my lines,
but also to my chords. I construct my chords out
of bigger intervals, so that when the bass player
is down here, I’m stretched out. The lick book
was instrumental in that development.
People who are full-time musicians run the
risk of picking up the guitar after work and
relaxing with it. They end up playing the
same stuff they play every night to relax. It’s
like the glass of wine. They play a lick, maybe
a couple of chords, improvise in D major and
it just kind of flows along. That isn’t practicing. Practicing is finding new things or getting the impossible stuff you already know
down better.
Improving. Do you play every single day?
Yeah. Not playing for a couple of days would
be really bad.
What’s your favorite Strat?
The one you saw me play live is a ’ 61 seafoam
green Strat. It’s my favorite rock guitar.
