Acoustic Guitar Sessions Presents Preston Reed

Inspired by Jorma Kaukonen’s alternating bass fingerpicking and the American Primitive stylings of John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Preston Reed has developed his own unique multi-voiced fingerstyle technique, which he has dubbed “integrated percussive guitar playing.”

In our interview with Reed, he discusses these influences, along with other “tapping” players such as Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Healey, Stanley Jordan, and Michael Hedges. In addition, he recalls his first real performance–opening for Allen Ginsberg, of all people–as well as the influence he’s had on a younger generation of players like Kaki King.

Reed also talks about how he developed his custom Mark Bailey acoustics: a long-neck baritone and a jumbo. Best of all, he performs a pair of impressive numbers from his most recent release, In Here Out There: the groovy “Funkin’ at the Junction” and the delicate “Waltz of the Snails.”

For more Acoustic Guitar Sessions, check out the archive.