About Griff
At 36 years old, guitarist Griff Hamlin has already enjoyed a successful and varied career that has spanned nearly 2 decades. He is constantly active as a session and performing guitarist and vocalist for a wide variety of musical groups, sometimes performing as many as 200 concerts per year. His musical styles cover rock, blues, country, jazz, and classical music.
His career began in high school where as a junior he began teaching private lessons and doing gigs around the Boston, MA area. In 1989, he moved to Orange County, CA, where he has continued to teach privately, and continues to enjoy an active career as a freelance guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, and songwriter.
In 1998 he attended the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music where he had the opportunity to study and perform with such guitar legends as Steve Trovato, Pat Kelley, Frank Potenza, and Joe Diorio.
Griff has recorded two solo albums, one of original blues/rock songs in 2000, and one live concert recorded in Krosno, Poland in May of 2004. His first album garnered him an Orange County Music Award nomination for “Best Blues.” In addition, he has performed on countless demo recordings, and several independently released albums, most notably by classical guitarist, Eric Henderson, who once humbly introduced Griff at a concert as “the greatest electric guitarist in the world.”
Griff has also done two European tours in support of his own music, and has performed overseas for US troops in Turkey, Italy, and Korea. Griff has also been a regular performer at Disneyland off and on for nearly 10 years, and has done gigs for high profile clients such as ABC Television, The California State University Fullerton Alumni Association, Toyota, Maleluca, Sunrider, and many others.
Griff currently lives in Corona, California with his wife, Laura, and their 3 children.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
hello dear Griff i am very proud to know u aim living in Lebanon and i play guitar since thirteen years i know all Arabic scales and all the rhythm and chords i compose my songs and i have my special music i like the blues and special i your stile last week i compose a song on e minor penta tonic and i add a note to make oriental blues and it was wonderful all peoples love it i want to send it to u if u can tell me how. i want to buy all your books and method and c.d. i have a friend in u.s.a. and he will buy to me he will back to Lebanon at august so please tell me where can we find it??? finally god bless u and b with u i hope someday playing together and make a mixer songs blues with oriental note 4 all universe thank u very much 4 your free lessons
Griff,
With a wife and three children, how do you manage to do what you do? Thanks for the three courses……I think I’m reverting back to my childhood.. and still having fun……later.
cowboy
Is there a difference between “PlaythebluesUnleashed” and “PlayingthroughtheBlues” PTTB?
Thanks
Just purchased a guitar, and have absolutely no knowledge or experience playing music. I have been practicing with your beginning licks. Is your CD course Beginning Blues Guitar right for me? I seem to be wasting time just ‘flitting around’ the internet looking for the right help!
+1
GOOD LUCK Griff heres hoping you go on stage
with the one of your choice. You deserve it.
Ray Bassett
Joplin,Mo.
whew man out of sight you got my vote I am also from Boston best wishes
Just purchased a guitar, and have absolutely no knowledge or experience playing music. I have been practicing with your beginning licks. Is your CD course Beginning Blues Guitar right for me? I seem to be wasting time just ‘flitting around’ the internet looking for the right help!
Griff, working on your “Blues Guitar Unleashed” and don’t understand your chord descriptions. Explain the I, IV, and V chords so I can work with them until I get them right. Then I can move on with 7th and 9’s, etc. Thanks. Drew
Griff:Came to Santa Clarita in 2008 but was born and raised in Peabosy,Mass.We might of been neighbors But I started life in 1946! Just got your course,can’t wait to start.So I think I will!
Griff,
are you still giving lessons in Rancho Santa Margarita?
-paul
Just ordered beginning blues cant wait to start
Griff,
I purchased Playing Through The Blues as while back and finally had a chance to work through it – excellent instruction … on point, clear, and useful! I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for an introduction to playing blues guitar.
Thanks,
Glenn
I live in garden grove , orange co, and wondering if you teach privately in corona ?
The lessons that appear missing are the solo examples.
Griff
I have the Playing Through the Blues and the chapter 5 examples are missing from the video and mp3’s – would you have the video and mp3s that you can send
Thanks
Rob Sartorius
Edmond, OK
Hi Griff,
i think you’re great teacher, the lessons are very understandable. I will thank you for your good works..
Regards
Onur Ercan – Istanbul/Turkey
Ive been messing around with the guitar for years,but really couldnt get it right it wouldnt sound good so i would quit for awhile,i hope you lessons will help cure that.I really love the blues.Thanks.
Now I see that you are not from POLAND——ED