Guitar Explorations with Bill MacKay: New Perspectives on the Neck

Adult Group Class / Guitar Program

Join acclaimed Chicago guitarist Bill MacKay for the first in an exciting new series of workshops presented at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Guitar students with any experience level and an open mind can join Bill to start unpacking some elusive, subtle, and mind-expanding topics. These presentational masterclasses will incorporate performance and discussion from Bill intertwined with hands-on guitar time for the students.

The first in the series, New Perspectives on the Neck will open doors to the less-travelled areas of the fretboard. Incorporating singe-string melodic exploration, scale patterns, chord shapes as well as discussion on timbre, texture, mood, and feel, students will gain a deep understanding of how to practice and play in those areas of the guitar fretboard that they might not yet be experienced. A lot of us spend a lot of time on the first 4-5 frets. Join this workshop to gain some pathways to different, fresher parts of the fretboard.

Chicago-based guitarist, improviser, composer, writer, and singer Bill MacKay has spent the past 20+years cementing his name as one of the most inventive and talented American guitarists. 

An innovative and prolific artist, Bill has compelling solo records (most recently 2024’s Locust Land); collaborative albums with Ryley Walker, Nathan Bowles, and Katinka Kleijn; and projects with bands BCMC (with Cooper Crain) and Black Duck (with Charles Rumback and Doug McCombs of Tortoise). 

From the avant-garde to the traditional, Bill uses his guitar and voice to manifest sublime beauty and effervescent grace like only a select few around the world can.

Photo Credit: Ryan Sarnowski