Massimo Varini: Guitar and A Whole Lot More

Massimo Varini: McAlifunk

Here’s guitarist Massimo Varini with a very captivating

performance (you know, with the guitar and the pedals) that I really think you will enjoy.

Massimo does percussive, the tapping, and a lot of really great melodic playing in this vid. The song entitled “McAlifunk” is a very cool song that you will probably want to listen to again (hey, that’s what I did).

Now when I went and found his bio material, he seems to be doing very well with publishing guitar educational books and materials. In fact, it said in the bio that he couldn’t keep up with it and had to get a big company to do the work..

Well, I’m not surprised… if his guitar instruction is any where near as good as his guitar playing… just sayin’

Here’s some of  Massimo’s bio material (self written):

was born in Reggio Emilia on 30.07.1970 and have lived in Carpi (Modena – in the north part of Italy) ever since I was a child.

Musical Studies:
I started with self-teaching methods, then studied harmony and arrangement so hard until I was called to teach these subjects at the Music Academy of Modena. In 1993 I joined a specialisation course at G.I.T. in Hollywood-L.A. My studies continue by means of different methods: videotapes, magazines, etc.: exams never end!

Professional Career:
My career started in 1989 and up to 2006 I worked with some of the most famous Italian and foreign singers, arrangers, producers and musicians (see attached list).
I had many different experiences as guitarist/actor in TV serial CRI CRI with Cristina d’Avena-1989, as sound technician and programmer in various recording studios, as session man with the most famous Italian and foreign singers, as composer, arranger and artistic producer (artistic producer, arranger and co-author of NEK’s most famous album “LEI, GLI AMICI E TUTTO IL RESTO” reached the top of music charts – also thanks to the song “LAURA NON C’È” presented at S. Remo Festival, awarded with six platinum records in Italy and many other abroad, in many Countries, also receiving the EC Award for 1.000.000 copies sold in Europe (about 5millions all over the world). After that the success keeps on with “IN DUE”, “LA VITA E’” and the other LPs.
While recording “la vita è” (nek – warner – 2000), was a big honor arranging strings and recording them with the London Session Orchestra at Abbey Road – LONDON
I also had several live tour experiences with various artists (in Italy and abroad) and TV ones (S. Remo, Festivalbar, Vota la Voce, Roxy Bar, Segnali di Fumo, Guitar Game, and abroad: Top of the Pops, Don’t Forget your Toothbrush etc. etc.). During Summer 2002 in Nek & Laura Pausini hit single “Sei Solo Tu”, the most played single, my guitars were very appreciated in Italy and abroad. From 2003 I had been Artistic Director of “Sanremo Rock Festival & Trend”, of which I managed also the TV artistic direction.
In 2005 I produced 3 songs for ZECCHINO D’ORO (Antoniano – Bologna – on RAI1)… in the charts: first, second and fifth!!!
2006 february, Laura Pausini won the GRAMMY AWARD for the best Latin Album: I played acoustic and electric guitars in every song. February 2006… 1st in the charts with Ivano Fossati (electric and acoustic guitars).
From 1994 each year, I have been playing guitars in most albums that hit international and italian music charts!
From 1994 each year, I have been playing guitars in most albums that hit international and italian music charts!

Projects as solo player:
In 1994-95 I recorded my first instrumental LP as solo player in my home studio “PROGETTO FUSIONE” that had a quite good success among “insiders”. I worked at this CD as author, arranger, programmer, sound technician and player of all instruments used
In 1998 my 2° solo LP is issued: PROGETTO FUSIONE II – LA VENDEMMIA
In the second half of 2001, together with Andrea Rosatelli and Valter Sacripanti made the “Massimo Varini Trio” which starting from the music of the 2 Massimo Varini previous CD gives birth to new musical tunes published in “Massimo Varini Trio” CD. This one is distributed by Self Distribuzione and sold in Italian Music Stores.
In March 2003 after many request of my fans I published a new version remastered of “Progetto Fusione” (my first CD), containing 37 MP3 of my musical (demo) tests from 1998 to 1991.

Writing and Teaching activity:
“Since ’95 I have been co-operating with various sector specific magazines (with my own page, reports on instrument tests and articles published on “Axe Guitar”, “Strumenti Musicali”, “Guitar Club”, “Futura Music”). In 1998 I started co-operating with Gruppo Editoriale Jackson writing for the supplement to the magazine “Strumenti Musicali” concerning the use of guitar in a recording studio (the sound of samples present in articles, is on INTERNET).
In 1997 PLAYGAME Music (distr. CARISCH) publishes my didactic video about “creative guitar” entitled “Create your phrasing in Pop-Rock guitar” and a book explaining a similar method, completed by CD-CD ROM (1998). I was very involved ins this new experience, considered the great success among critics and public (the video was one of the best sellers in Italy), and I was called to hold teaching stages throughout Italy (in Rome at the Super Guitar School organised with the co-operation with the magazine AXE Guitar, in Milan at CPM in co-operation with the European Community) 
In 2001 after a year of great success in the site www.massimovarini.it, supported by Kymotto Music I published my first didactic book “La Chitarra Solista” (Solist Guitar)
Again in 2001/2002 Playgame publishes 2 other didactic videos of the Collection “Suonare nello stile di…” (Playing the style of…”): “Suonare nello stile di The Edge (U2)” e “Suonare nello stile di David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)”. In November-December 2001 and January-February 2002 these videos are the best sellers among didactic videos!!

In the years 2002/2003 I could issue 2 new didactic books with my own publishing company: “Tecnica Razionale” (Rational Guitar Techniques) a book for guitar player “training” with CD-Rom video, mp3, midi files, etc.; and “La Chitarra Solista” (soloing guitar)… but… the request were too big and I made my educational product being distributed by a major company: Carisch (Italy, France, Spain).

In September 2004 “Chitarra Solista” is newly issued and distributed by Carisch (best seller in 2004).

In October 2004 Carisch issues the new method: “Professione: Chitarrista”, a complete method on guitar arrangement (best seller in 2005).

In December 2004 I could issue a completely self-made and produced (recording and video) DVD, distributed by Carisch. This is the first volume of a complete Collection: “The Sounds of Guitars”. This DVD is suddely the best seller among italian didactic videos.” see more