Mail from Marty

When I mailed Marty some questions about the new record coming up he sent me this answer. The letter is kind of old. I found it when I went through my In-box and I thougt some of you maybe wanted to read it.

---

 Marty Friedman

Megadeth CyberArmy Wants You!
asylumfan@aol.com

My Friends,
        I wish I could answer you each personally but I'm currently in the
midst of recording the demos for the new Megadeth album, which by the
sounds of things is going to be slamming! First I'd like to say thank you
very much for writing and to be forgiving for this late response. I've
received e-mail from literally everywhere in the world, from Siberia to
Cincinnatti,Turkey to Tokyo,Paris to Peru. I want to thank you for your
insight and opinions, I've learned alot from what you have written.


`       I've also finished a new solo Lp called,"True Obsessions". It is
available right now in Japan on EMI, it will be out in the U.S. late
September. I'm still negotiating with record labels in Europe and South
America about it's release in those territories. The U.S.version contains a
bonus track not on any other version. I found an ancient recording of the
song, "Thunder March" which was cut as a demo in 1987,( a year and a half
before the "Dragon's Kiss" version was cut) and mixed it and put it at the
end of "True Obsessions".
        For those of you in foreign countries, it's available right now on
EMI in Thailand, Korea, Malaysia. In Sept. Canada and Mexico will be added.

        Alot of you had concern for my friend Jason Becker. He is not doing
as well as we all would like, but is very positive and despite truly
inhuman conditions has created a masterpiece new album called
"Perspective". Let him be an example to us all. I truly believe and pray
that he will get better. You can contact him at PO Box 5109  Richmond,CA
94805



        I'll answer some of the most asked questions-
        My set up is a Jackson Kelley guitar (now Marty Friedman signature
model(KE-1) that has just now-finally!-gone into production)
        Seymour Duncan TB4 pickups
        Crate Blue Voodoo 120 Watt amp
        Alvarez acoustics and electric-acoustics
        Bradshaw switching system, 2 Yamaha SPX 900s Samson Concert series
wireless(live only!)Future Sonics ear monitors. Dean Markley .010-.052
strings, heavy picks. Alvarez acoustics.
        I have 3 solo LPs out right now; "Dragon's
Kiss","Scenes","Introduction" and a 4th on the way. There is more guitar on
the 4th one,"True Obsessions" than the last 2 combined. I hope that's a
good thing. I really prepared for this one, more than the others.
        I have 4 instructional videos out now:
        "Exotic Lead Guitar" (Hot Licks Video)
        "Melodic Control" (Inside Edge Video)
        "Guitar Kids Ganbatte" (Young Guitar Video) Japan only.
        "The Essential Marty Friedman" (Warner Communications) U.S. release
in Sept.- available now in Japan by Rittor Music.
        I would say the "Exotic.." video has the most difficult fingerings
and strange patterns, the "Melodic..." has the most useful direction in
creating good unique solos, "Guitar Kids..." has me speaking Japanese and
some interesting long arpeggio fingerings, and "Essential..." has the most
all around information in it and the most actual playing.
        The Megadeth tour for Youthanasi, was great,long and gratifying. It
was great meeting people from the most diverse cultures that had one(at
least) thing in common....
        Also alot of you have asked about tab for my solo albums. "Scenes"
tab is available but in Japan only through Doremi. My new album's tab will
also be available, but not until autumn.One song from "True Obsessions" is
transcrined in the May issue of Japan's 'Young Guitar' magazine, and
another in Japan's 'Guitar' and another in Japan's 'Player'.
        If you would like to send me your tapes, or any correspondence, you
can write me directly at P.O.box 12971 Scottsdale,AZ 85267-2971.
        Thanx again for e-mailing and take care of yourselves!  M.F.

P.S. My best advice to those who ask is practice your favorite music
first-so when you eventually have your own style, it will be a unique
combination of your influeces. Also, don't waste time practiing 8-9 hours a
day, get 1-3 hours of truly FOCUSED practice in at a time and leave
yourself time to have experiences and emotions from which you can
eventually draw from and put into your music.