GUITAR SUPERSTAR 2006 2ND PLACE WINNER
SIX STRING THEORY 2011 SEMI FINALIST

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  Biography

The contrapuntal elements of Patrick's music have long been loved and revered by many fans of acoustic solo guitar. Ever since the age of 16, the Indiana native has been playing every kind of gig imaginable, from coffeehouses, clubs, and street fairs to 500-seat venues. He cites his main influences as Joe Satriani, Alex Lifeson (of Rush), Preston Reed, and Michael Hedges.

Being more influenced by rock than acoustic music, Patrick has carved out his unique brand of acoustic instrumentals that are complex enough for advanced musicians, but melodic enough for the simple music lover. He is an avid acoustic player, but he is no traditionalist, and employs techniques that go beyond average fingerpicking. These include string snaps, octave hammer-ons, harmonic sprays, flamenco strums, and punchy bass lines that all go together with a rythymic pulse. This ambitious way of communicating on a single instrument won him second place in Guitar Player Magazine's 2006 GUITAR SUPERSTAR, in front of judges Joe Satriani and Steve Lukather. He has also played in other contests such as the National Winfield Competition, the Canadian Guitar Fest, and has been a semi-finalist in the Yamaha Six String Theory Competition. He has opened for and shared the stage with other national and regional acts such as, Michael Kelsey, Pete Huttlinger, Brian Henke, Katie Reider, Lindsay Mac, Doug Smith, Andy McKee, Blues Legend Guy Davis, and many more.

In the past ten years, Patrick has recorded four full length studio albums POWER FIELDS, VORTEX OF DISCOVERY, GONE BEFORE MORNING, and CANDLELIGHT UTOPIA. NIGHTLANDS, being his first demo, was recorded in 2000. For the first several years of Patrick's career, he used two guitars at his live shows: his trusty acoustic Wechter Pathmaker, and an electric ten-string treblebass – made by Sergio Santucci in New York City. In the Fall of 2008, Patrick decided to retire the Treblebass from his repertoire, in favor of an all-acoustic set. He has followed through with this decision, and has played shows with only one acoustic guitar ever since.

Patrick also has changed acoustic guitars, as of spring 2011. After playing Wechter for several years, he found luthier and friend JJ Donohue to build him a custom made single cutaway, with east Indian rosewood back and sides. It provides a much thicker, warmer sound, and this guitar has been used to record the last two albums.

©2023 Patrick Woods | Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist