Guitarist PAUL GILBERT (MR. BIG, RACER X) is featured in a new interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com. An excerpt is available below:

UG: As you were learning the guitar, were there certain techniques or things that were difficult for you? Did it all come easily?

Gilbert: "Technique absolutely did not come easily to me. I had to practice a lot. But I could feel the practice working, and I would get really excited about how I could sound in the future. I used to look forward to summer vacations from school, because I could put in full days of practicing. And again, my main motivation was that I could really feel that I was getting better. I think the only thing that did come easily was that I could hear rhythms. I remember playing the riff to 'Hey Bulldog' by THE BEATLES, and none of my friends could play it. I must have been around 10 years old. It wasn’t hard to play, technically. But the rhythm had a swing and some syncopations that were tricky if you couldn’t hear them. I had listened to the song a lot growing up, so it felt natural to me. My friends could put their fingers in the right place, but they couldn’t get the groove to flow. That was the first time that I felt like I pulled ahead. But there were always guys who were faster than me. I was must more patient, so I eventually became fast too."

UG: Was there a moment in time after mastering some solo where you thought to yourself, “I’m getting better?”

Gilbert: "The most exciting day of my guitar life was when I learned how to bend a string. I can’t remember exactly how it happened, but I immediately recognized that it sounded like JIMMY PAGE’s solo in the breakdown of 'Heartbreaker'. And for the first time, my guitar playing sounded real to me. I still love bending strings so much. It gives the guitar a voice."

UG: What is it you love about teaching?

Gilbert: "Mostly, I’m just excited about all these guitar ideas that I have, and I want to show them to somebody. But I have gotten deeper and deeper into the art of teaching itself. I’m fortunate because I’ve had a lot of experience teaching one-on-one or with small groups of students. I learn so much if I can hear the students play. I immediately know where to focus, and what they need. That varies radically depending on the level and interests of the student, so I have to be ready with a wide range of information and ideas. It has truly improved and inspired me as a guitar player to teach these different levels of students. And in the end, we’re all just musicians having a good time playing music and talking about music."

Click here for the complete interview.

As previously reported, the daily schedule for Gilbert’s upcoming Great Guitar Escape is now available.

The first annual Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape will take place July 9th - 13th at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Guitar players of all ages, levels and styles are invited to join Paul Gilbert and other expert musicians for this experience focused on the techniques, styles, and life of the modern working musician.

Full details can be viewed at this location.