“These kids today don’t understand real music.”
This is a claim that gets parroted often in the Cover Band Central Facebook Group, and elsewhere in the world of music purists.
Part of CBC‘s mission is to debunk that myth, while also attempting to inspire said younger generation.
Gone are the days where children playing instruments is a novelty. With Gen-X and Y kids growing up and being influenced by the music that their parents loved, there are youngsters who are learning how to play well at an early age. One such prodigy is Australia’s Taj Farrant.
According to his website, Farrant was inspired to get a guitar (courtesy of his father) after he saw AC/DC in concert. Now just 11 years old (his birthday is May 21st), Farrant has been shedding for at least 4 years.
The first video ever posted on his YouTube channel is a cover of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” that contains a couple of stellar solos for a 7-year old…or for any guitar player for that matter.
Since then, Farrant has racked up nearly 30 million views of his 150+ videos — which include covers of guitar greats such as Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Angus Young, Jimi Hendrix, and more.
This kid has already made a huge splash in the music world; appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Australia’s Got Talent, getting major endorsements from Gibson guitars and Elixir strings, and even being invited to jam on stage with Carlos Santana in 2020.
There are a ton of killer clips we could have chosen, but we went with this song due to its recent popularity with Chris Stapleton’s version, and the flawless execution of Farrant’s playing. Just listen to this kid’s tone, his timing, his pick squeals, and his overall feel. It’s cliche’, we know, but Taj is wayyyy beyond his years. He’s only 9 here.
Watch the video below, then share this article for others to enjoy.
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Do you have a clip worthy of Video of the Week? Send an email to steve@coverbandcentral.com with a link to the clip (must be a YouTube video) and a brief summary as to why you should be chosen, and you could be our next selection!
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