Cover photo of the album (currently out of print/out of commerce) in which Frank Pilato interprets Paganini's celebrated 24 Caprices.
Although it was not selected as the cover for the album Stories, this photo gained wide visibility. The image was, in fact, published in numerous guitar industry magazines, establishing itself as an iconic shot.
A look behind the scenes: the orchestration phase of Frank Pilato's next album (2026) immortalized in this shot.
This photograph, captured in an intense live context, documents Frank Pilato's earliest artistic period. The shot chronologically precedes both his professional experience in Los Angeles as a sideman and the launch of his solo career.
This shot comes from the professional book created during Frank Pilato's time in Los Angeles, when he was active as a sideman.
This is the photo that will be part of the promotional and graphic material related to Frank Pilato's new album, scheduled for release in 2026.
Signed photo by Frank Pilato. This was the intended, but unused, back cover art for the album Spectri.
Signed photo by Frank Pilato. This was the intended, but unused, cover art for the album Spectri.
Spettri” is nothing more than a brief yet intense initiatory journey in six long stages: an ever-evolving emotional and artistic collection. A true metamorphosis designed to provoke a clear surge of awareness, evoking fears and consciously pushing toward a possible resolution of the emotional blockages of the human condition. Each track speaks to a specific state of the soul: feelings, fears, and spectres in all their delicate and subtle nuances. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered in six days using the first two takes of every session: it is, in every respect, a Live EP. This work was entirely produced by the Tuscany Region in collaboration with Toscana100band and ControRadio. “6711 Yucca St” The title is simply the composer’s first residence during his stay in Los Angeles, at 6711 Yucca Street in Hollywood. This track gathers many influences, ranging from rock to jazz to fusion. “Spettri” is a collection of thoughts, concepts, and ideas drawn from particular moments in each of our lives. The Spectre that sooner or later each of us is forced to face. “Oktophobie,” inspired by Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Oktophonie, represents the summation of human fears. “Psicomagia” is drawn from the thinking of Alejandro Jodorowsky, and this piece is the result of an improvisation inspired by a Jeff Beck live performance. “Golden Vanity” is nothing more than the “recognition of the sacred,” in the form of a dedication to the great Maestro Miceli, who passed away a few years ago. “L’Innamorato,” also an improvisation, expresses that particular condition that invites us to reflect and question our emotional life. The album was entirely produced by Frank Pilato with Regione Toscana, ControRadio & Toscana 100 Band. Composer – Editing – Mixing – Mastering by Frank Pilato. Frank Pilato: guitars Francesco Micieli: drums Luca Giachi: bass Lorenzo Furieri: keyboards Stefano Chianucci: vocals and lyrics on Golden Vanity.
This method presents 20 exercises designed to develop technical control and melodic fluency over the II–V–I progression, one of the pillars of modern harmony. Each study is written in standard notation and tablature (TAB) for direct and practical application on the instrument. Below every score, a detailed explanation clarifies the melodic, harmonic, and technical ideas, creating a seamless link between theory and performance. The material explores the II–V–I progression in depth, introducing non-diatonic modal substitutions on the V chord to expand harmonic color and expression. All exercises are meant to be transposed into all twelve keys, ensuring a complete and flexible command of the progression. The method suits jazz, rock, fusion, and modern players, offering both solid technical study and creative freedom. Each exercise functions as a short melodic etude, musical, practical, and designed to refine both technique and phrasing. Study Agenda 1. Start slowly: practice each exercise at a low tempo, paying attention to tone, timing, and articulation. 2. Read and analyze: follow the explanations under each score to understand how every melodic line relates to its harmonic background. 3. Gradually increase speed: once the notes and phrasing feel comfortable, bring the tempo up while maintaining control. 4. Transpose to all keys: play every study in all twelve keys to internalize shapes, fingerings, and harmonic functions. 2 5. Use the backing tracks on MuseScore: each of the 20 II–V–I exercises comes with its own built-in backing track on MuseScore. Practice directly with these play-along tracks, slow down the tempo, loop difficult sections, and work on your time and phrasing in real context. 6. Experiment with styles: interpret the same material using swing, straight, rock, or funk grooves to strengthen stylistic versatility. 7. Integrate the ideas: apply the melodic and harmonic concepts in solos, improvisations, and compositions to make them part of your natural vocabulary. This method is a comprehensive and practical journey through the II–V–I progression, guiding you from technical precision to musical expression and from study to performance. Frank Pilate
The 20 Melodic Patterns Outside About the Author Frank Pilato is a renowned jazz fusion guitarist, educator, and recording artist, celebrated for his innovative approach to improvisation and advanced melodic vocabulary. With decades of internship and teaching experience, he has performed internationally, led masterclasses, and released numerous recordings, standing out as a bridge between tradition and contemporary expression. About the Book The 20 Melodic Patterns Outside is a focused and practical guide for guitarists who want to master the art of stepping outside the key with control and intention, using systematic melodic strategies. 20 fully explained melodic patterns for effective outside playing Examples on how to apply the patterns over dominant chords, atonal settings, and chromatic progressions Practical tips on resolving outside lines back to the tonal center Exercises to develop fluency, timing, and phrasing in advanced improvisation Includes isolated guitar tracks and full-band versions with backing track Technical transcription provided, including detailed right-hand picking indications Whether you are an experienced improviser searching for new tonal colors or a student eager to break free from strictly diatonic lines, this book will equip you with the tools to move confidently between inside and outside playing.
The Complete Guitar Technique System was born on the front lines of my career, when I stepped in for guitar legend Allan Holdsworth in Andrea Marcelli's Stories project alongside Jeff Berlin, Gary Willis, and Mitchell Forman. Faced with extreme technical and musical demands, I created a fully customized, progressive method unlike anything I had studied from icons like Frank Gambale or Pat Metheny — a system built for real-world performance at the highest level. This book delivers a structured path to total technical freedom, organized into three precision-engineered sections: Diatonic patterns for pure melodic contexts Chromatic patterns for advanced outside playing Hybrid patterns blending both worlds for limitless improvisation All the exercises are provided in Guitar Pro format, so you can listen to the examples, follow along, and even customize them to suit your own needs. You'll also get a comprehensive PDF book where every picking pattern is explained in detail — from right-hand and left-hand techniques to hybrid picking — making this a complete, all-in-one method.
Immerse yourself in an exclusive musical journey with our special CD package: Stories + Specters + YOU This package includes three acclaimed albums that encompass a unique mix of genres and style. Perfect for music enthusiasts, this collection will give you a true sonic experience.
ALLAN HOLDSWORTH TRIBUTE CD Many years ago, while sipping Allan's favorite beer, in a well-known Venetian pub, Paolo Volpato had the idea of creating a project that included some of the best Italian guitarists who shared a love for Allan Holdsworth and who were detached from a concept of Commercial merger. All this not to establish which genres have greater artistic dignity, but simply to accept and respect the intimate nature of a project made out of love for a great artist, Master and friend who passed away. Only in 2017, after the passing of our beloved Allan Holdsworth, that project started to come to life. Paolo Volpato contacted Seven Guitarists privately to perform an unreleased piece and in addition he proposed me to take care of the Masters of some pieces: I accepted. "YOU" is the title of the project and it is our humble tribute to this great artist that we have listened to and loved all our lives. I'd like to thank Paolo Volpato Gianluca Barisone Marcello Contu Livio Lamonea Tommaso Colafiglio Alessandro Giglioli Francesco Cassano and Loris Furlan of Lizard Records. Not being a commercial project, by purchasing a copy, you will be supporting not only the music, but also the artists who composed it. Album in Limited edition of 300 copies and I will only have 40.
Debut solo album by guitarist Frank Pilato, playing the music of Andrea Marcelli, for a very special project, with a story over 20 years long. Andrea Marcelli after recording two critic acclaimed albums for Verve/Polygram "Silent Will" in 1989 and for Verve and Lipstick Rec. "Oneness" in 1991, composed the music for the new album "Stories". This new project was partially recorded in June 1993, engineered by Allan Holdsworth, as the first recording made in his newly built Brewery studio in Vista, California. The music was envisioned by Marcelli for an electric guitar as main soloist. Holdsworth could not play due to contractual problems so the album was not finished. During the following years Marcelli kept playing Jazz world wide and moved from Los Angeles (1989) to New York in 1997 and then to Berlin in 2001. He always had in mind to finish his project "Stories". Some years later he finally came into contact with Italian young and talented electric guitarist Frank Pilato, who also lived and played for a while in Los Angeles. Frank took the challenge and responsibility to successfully record and finally finish the album, in 2015, together with engineer Matteo Guasti at the Labella Studio in Florence. Pilato also wanted to contribute with a new composition and recorded with Marcelli an unpublished guitar/drums duo! The band includes an exceptional rhythm section with Marcelli's long time collaborator pianist Mitchel Forman, plus bassists Gary Willis and Jeff Berlin! A very special project which embraces over 20 years of personal stories.
