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Ben Stohr

Atlanta, GA  USA
November 07, 2005
489 plays
15,044 views
Just me, my laptop, a MIDI-guitar and a Chapman Stick!
Band/artist history
I've been involved with some form of music since 2nd grade. I learned to play guitar sometime around 13-14 years old. I played drums in the high school marching band. That was about the time I was playing in garage bands and recording 4-track music at home. Learned 12-string guitar and piano (on my own - lot with lessons). Continued to playing in bands after high school. Recorded a few demo CDs. Started playing out with bands and as a solo act. Purchased and learned MIDI-guitar. Still doing all that 10 years later. Ordered my Chapman Stick in 2001. Had an opportunity to travel to Norway and live there for a year. Recorded a CD of MIDI-guitar and Chapman Stick Music. Returned to the United States. I continue to try to build something meaningful while trudging through the daily grind.
Have you performed in front of an audience?
I have recently moved to the south side of Orlando. I would like to play out, but I am still looking for places to do that.
Your musical influences
Early on I payed attention to Eddie Van Halen and Metallica. But I learned a lot of guitar on old Beatles tunes, too. I really got into Stanley Jordan and 2 hand tapping on guitar. I grew up listening to Hendrix, Yes, Rush, Pink Floyd and Queen. I think those groups formed my music sensibilites when I was younger. Lately, I like Bela Fleck and John Scofield. I've been getting more and more into the electronic/ computer interaction with my music.
What equipment do you use?
Brian-Moore guitar with built-in MIDI pickup. 10-string Chapman Stick with MIDI pickup on the melody side. Boss GT-5 effects unit and Roland GR-1 string to MIDI translator. I use a HP laptop running Reaktor, Reason, Ableton Live, and Max-MSP.
Anything else?
I try to have the laptop enhance my instrument playing without taking over. There are some sequenced parts, but I try to keep that at a minimum. The software is used to generate backgrounds based on the MIDI output of the instrument I am playing live.
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Rock & Instrumental Rock Music artist from Atlanta, GA. New songs free to stream or download. Add to your playlist now.