Rhett Butler: Technical Balance

Guitarist Rhett Butler from Texas is featured here, playing his original called “Solitaire”, with a balanced mix of traditional fingerpicking and novel percussive techniques.

Here is his bio from his offical website:

“Rhett Butler is the Obsessive-Compulsive Guitarist

In 1987 he received his first guitar for Christmas. As his primary antidote against the pain and fear that he felt through his brother’s bouts with cancer, Rhett retreated into the instrument. What blossomed was a fiery work ethic that is reflected in his mastery of multiple styles and his passionate performances.

Rhett was admitted to the prestigious jazz program at the University of North Texas in 1993. Early on, Rhett developed a trademark hammer-on style that allows him to play two guitars at once by fingering each of their fret boards, coaxing filigreed harmonies and shimmering melodies without needing to strum.

Though Rhett is most well known for playing two guitars at once, don’t make the mistake of trying to classify him as a gimmick performer. He regularly features five or six different guitars during his performances.

Rhett has performed with Tommy Emmanuel, Larry Carlton, Al DiMeola, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Larry Corryell, Tony Trischka, The California Guitar Trio, Carl Palmer, Andy Timmons and many other legends of instrumental music. He is among the next generation of Texas guitar heroes.

When he is not performing, Rhett works with a large biotech company promoting clinical trials for brain cancer. The documentary, “Chasing Miracles”, that Rhett made about the life of his brother Ashley, a 28 year brain tumor survivor, was recognized in the Dallas International Film Festival in 2011. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in biotechnology/cancer biology from the University of Texas at Dallas and is writing his first book entitled, “Enthusiasm is the Enemy – 12 Reasons that We Fail to Improve Cancer Care.””

We featured Rhett in a previous post, where he was playing two guitar at the same time.

By Miche Archetto