Beyond the Limits of Wood and String
By Joel Champagne
Guitarist videos on YouTube can seem like grains of sand on the beach — countless in number and nearly indistinguishable from one another. But Andy McKee does not merely play the guitar. He transforms it into a waterfall of strums, taps, and percussive beats that strike me as almost magical in their production.
Born in Topeka, Kansas, Andy started playing the electric guitar at a young age, but switched to the acoustic at age 16. Having mastered techniques inspired by the likes of Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Billy McLaughlin and Preston Reed, he created a relationship with the guitar that is entirely unique.
Andy’s music transcends the simplicity of his YouTube videos (now boasting millions of views apiece). They never show anything but him sitting in a chair, holding his guitar or harp-guitar, but the music shatters everything I ever knew about playing a guitar. His hands fly across the instrument utilizing every part simultaneously, from strumming along the entire length of the neck, to string taps, to percussive hits. He creates more sound than some bands.
T
he music that results from this remarkable playstyle engages the audience and sweeps them away. Other artists have their gimmicks to draw viewers. Andy relies on his visually stunning techniques and music that resonates within the listener. Audience members do not just hear; they connect.
The YouTube comments section shows how truly astonishing Andy’s talent can be. Known for its profanity, and general negativity, the comments section for YouTube videos pollute nearly every video they react to. Comments on Andy’s most popular video “Drifting,” with more than 16 million views, show a different tone; 
“Absolutely Beautiful”
“Good G0d man you R0cK”
“wow
this song is f***ing moving man
gives you such a good vibe
like everything is great
wow”
It comes as no surprise that Andy at one point held the top 3 spots on YouTube’s most popular list. The videos, posted by independent record label Candyrat, continue to rack up the views, and boost Andy’s popularity. He has released three CDs and contributed to a collection with fellow guitarist Don Ross. McKee is currently on tour in Great Britain.
Find out more about Andy Mckee on his website.
CDs featuring Andy McKee
All images courtesy of andymckee.com
Drifting
