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“ Dickey Betts and Duane Allman would jam in a room , and next thing you know the ideas start flying and magic happens .”
Learning new stuff and playing together still happens , Rude says . “ A few minutes ago Frank was in the back ( of the bus ) playing guitar , jamming on some weird set of jazz chords . I do the same thing . I ’ ll get bored and want to try something different . It ’ s not like we ’ re going to play in a jazz trio or something , but just learning a couple of different chords or a song that you normally wouldn ’ t do opens up your mind so much ,” he continues . “ It ’ s more of a mental and spiritual thing at that point , where it guides you to different places and makes you think about songs in different ways .”
TESLA Dave Rude by Igor Vidyashev - Atlas Icons
And it ’ s inspired the band while working on a new collection of songs with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen . “ Save That Goodness ,” the first to be released , blends the best of Tesla ’ s acoustic and rock roots with a gospel singer .
“ It reminds me of ‘ Little Suzi ’ or ‘ Gettin ’ Better ’ – A positive message that ’ s like the early days with a gospel singer who sounds like Aretha Franklin . She ’ s amazing .”
Rude believes that growth as a player comes by dedicating a little time to the instrument every day . It ’ s something he practices and suggests to the students he still teaches when not touring .
“ Sometimes older students are working or have a wife or kids – regular life stuff that they have to do – and guitar is a hobby . So they won ’ t do five minutes a day , but they ’ ll play for two hours on Saturday . That ’ s cool , but it ’ s not nearly as effective as playing for five minutes a day . Like , before you go to bed , practice going from a D to a G ten times .
32 GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER DIGITAL EDITION JANUARY / FEBRUARY