by Rafael Nery

Guys! This month We have an interview with Marcelo Barbosa, Guitarist for Khallice,Zero 10 and Tritone.

01-Hi, Marcelo, How are you doing? Thanks for talking to us. Please start talking about how you start playing and what was your region's guitarist scene like?

I am Fine,Thanks, and you don't need to thank, because it's a pleasure to contribute for a communication vehicle of my favourite instrument.I wish Guitar Clinic long live and success.

I was born in Brasília and I started playing when I was just a boy,12 or 13 years old.It was 1988 and Color hasn't already opened the doors for importation.Some friends of mine decided to form a band and I wanted to participate...lol.As long as I Know, from that group just me and the drummer (who nowadays sings) became professional musicians.In that time there were only National Instruments and at the most with low quality.Books, Video-lessons and this kind of thing were unreal.The only ones who had access to this stuff were persons who studied in the USA, usually at GIT and Berklee.Since I was born there was musical culture in Brasília.Not specifically guitar, but things like bands.When I was a young boy,I had some teachers,but it was closer to a kidding due to my age. When I hit 16, I start studying seriously and start thinking about being a professional musician. It was when music business was changing, there were some good teachers here,many of them from USA with a lot of informations and equipments.It was cool, in that time, have contact with this stuff...

02- What are your advices for people who want to become professional musicians?

When I started saying at home that I would be a musician I hadn't a completely support from my family.I believe the reason for that was money and no one in my family was a musician.My concern was about my career get successful, If it didn't get successful I would be in trouble...lol.I used to study many different styles and I used to try don't avoid reading musical, harmony and this kind of thing which is really normal for a beginner to leave behind. I've played on dance parties with singers, I have been teaching since my professional beginning, I did some records,besides writting songs and perform at night concerts. Nowadays the most of musician thinks that they don't need to wake up early,there's no time to arrive at work etc. They think that sometime someone is going to find them, then they will win a lot of money. Reality is most of them don't get even close.For me, music is a job like any other, but with a lot of advantages.To become a good doctor, you need to study for years and take this serious.It's like everything in life and with music it wouldn't be different.Usually who wants to be a winner has done a lot of effort and sacrifices. Well, at least with myself it was like that.

03-How is administrate a great and big school as GTR ? How to do the learning method and classes work?

When I found GTR,I had a dream for doing something bigger for Brasília guitarist scene. My idea was about to take all the information that didn't exist before. The first teachers were my advanced students and until now this goes like that. Nowadays there are three schools in Brasília with 40 teachers, teaching electric guitar, bass, singing and acoustic guitar. Fortunately, this is getting bigger. It's really great to see persons who started with us and nowadays has a professional career. The Guitar method was written by myself, and it has been always changing due to my new researches. Instrumental classes are always private. The same subject can be showed in different ways depends on student age, style or intention. Parallel to this practice activity , we have theory classes,musical apreciation, perception beside frequently workshops.

People who wants to know more about the school can visit www.gtr.com.br

04-Your work with Khallice has been generating good rewards. Please, tell us a little about the band and about band's purpose.

Khallice is one of my projects and it started more than 10 years ago.There were some unactivity time, but the band is active since the releasing of debut album in 2003. We got signed with Hellion in Brazil and recently we have signed with the known Magna Carta.We are going to releasing a live DVD and the second CD. For sure, It will be ready in first term in 2007.Magna Carta has relaunched our first Cd, which is called "The Journey", out of Brazil. We are having a nice accepting from specific media and public. Our work is prog metal with influences from "Rush" and "Yes" to "Dream Theater". The biggest expectative is an international tour after the releasing of the new album.

05-You have already had the opportunity for writing to guitar magazines ? How did you receive the invitation and how was to work on this like ?

Actually I am writing for Cover Guitarra at this moment. Since I was a teenager, I used to buy and read these magazines. It is a pleasure and honor to participate on their columnists team. The first magazine that I worked was the extinguished "Guitar Class" and I receive the invitation because of Sydnei Carvalho's indication. I stayed there more than a year and the editor, Valmyr Tavares, became my friend. When he started working at Cover he invited me to participate on the columnists team. I live in Brasilia and the team works in SP, so there's no much interaction with the them. Monthly I write my column and send via e-mail to Valmyr, who edits and publishes them. It's really peaceful and I love doing that.

06-Recently, your name has been saying at guitarist scene for replacing Frank Solari at Tritone. When and how did you receive this invitation ? How are people accepting this?

Well, since the beginning of second term in 2006, Serj has been talking to me about this possibility. At that time, he and Edu were deciding about myself and a second name and that is the reason for it just comes now to the public. I know Edu and Serj for many years and both are an influence as good musicians and human beings. I think the first Tritone album is one of the coolest things I have heard in guitarist scene. Serj is releasing his solo album, which has already a track recorded by Tritone. By the way, I really recommend Serj Cd. It is a good Cd in every aspect. Getting back to Tritone, I believe that this year yet we can do something new. But first of all, Edu's CD has to be released and the second album of Khallice too.

7-You endorse some companies,tell us about it.

Nowadays I endorse Tagima guitars,Santo Ângelo cables, Elixir Strings and Nig Pedals.The aim of an endorsee is basically publish, via his ways, products from the company and make the public get trust on this. I have been working with this companies for some years (the most of them). At Expomusic in 2006 I introduced my signature guitar, MB-1. Another dream that came true. Besides the work at divulgation, we also help the company to get better with their products showing them our market where we actuate. It happened with Elixir Strings and also in Nig Pedals. We had a prototype and a huge contact with the responsible engineer. I think that seriously companies has been alert with that. It's the best way to publish and develop new products and don't disappoint.

08-About the recording process, which one are your favorite equipments?

It depends on a lot of conditions(Available time, place etc)... I have lots of equipments and I love my Mesa Boogie sound, which is a valve amplifiers, using a Shure SM-57. The problem is when I am gonna do a recording at my Home Studio, late at night. I can't put this loud. So in this kind of situation, I usually record my guitar in line. I have got a POD XT Pro and I have been getting nice results with that.The equipments and instruments depend on what the song is playing. I really love the work as a producer and sometimes you can use three different guitars in the same song. As I said before, it depends on available time and available equipment. Don't be afraid to experiment.

I went to New York for a trip with my mother, who had never travelled abroad. Before I go, coincidentally,I looked at Greg Howe's website, who is one of my favorite guitarist all over the world, and I saw an advertisement for private classes. At that moment, I decided that don't matter the distance, I would enjoy this trip for taking some classes with the master. I got in contact with him and I have found that he was living in Easton, a little city 3 hours of New York. Perfect! I booked my two afternoons of classes, 5 hours an afternoon. The coolest thing here is that he is really a nice guy and we become friends. Last Year, I went to USA again,but this time to west coast, where I participated at Namm, one of the biggest fair in the world. Some days before I leave, I found that Greg had moved and lived in a place 20 minutes of Los Angeles, city where I would be. It's obvious that I booked more lesson and I could see one of his concerts. We also watched a CAB concert, band of Tony McAlpine, myself, him, Cassie (His wife) and Sydnei. It was awesome...lol. He was the responsible for the indication to Magna Carta to Khallice's contract via his partner Mike Varney.

10-Marcelo, thanks for the interview and leave a message to Guitar Clinic visitors.

I thank you, I hope I had contributed in some way for your formation with my answers. I thank all the people who likes my job and I wish good luck for everyone who wants to follow art way.

More information at www.marcelobarbosa.com.br

Thank all of you !

GTR: www.gtr.com.br

Marcelo Barbosa allowed Guitar Clinic to use his photos.