Steve Morse | Episode 7 | The No Cover Charge Podcast
Legendary guitarist Steve Morse (@DeepPurpleOfficial, @kansas, Dixie Dregs, Flying Colors) joins Tyler Larson (@MusicisWin) for an in-depth conversation about his incredible career, songwriting approach, and unique guitar philosophy. Steve breaks down tone secrets, composition techniques, and stories from life on the road with some of rock’s greatest bands. From his early influences to collaborating with John Petrucci and Eric Johnson on his new album Triangulation, this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast is a masterclass in musicianship and creativity.
For all things Steve Morse, visit http://stevemorseofficial.com
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Jared’s missing in action
1:05 – Introducing Steve Morse: the virtuoso, the pilot, the legend
2:03 – Steve explains his “tone knob wah” trick
3:25 – The dad jokes begin (and never stop)
5:13 – Comparing guitar styles to accents and language
7:09 – The origins of Dixie Dregs and “electric chamber music”
10:08 – Writing with Kansas and the struggle to stay creative
12:54 – Warmups, discipline, and John Petrucci’s pre-show routine
14:26 – The art of writing for trios and musical counterpoint
17:09 – Steve on phrasing, melody, and early influences
23:04 – Steve’s four different ways to compose music
25:14 – The story behind Smoke on the Water—the “right” and “wrong” riff
27:04 – Montreux Jazz Festival and finding his own guitar voice
28:46 – How Steve accidentally joined Kansas (and why he left)
35:31 – What it’s like leading the Steve Morse Band today
36:50 – JAMMING WITH STEVE MORSE
42:26 – New album Triangulation and collaborations with Eric Johnson & John Petrucci
The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there’s never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you’ll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.
Whether you’re a lifelong shredder or just love music, you’ll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that’ll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.
Plug in and hang out.
#Steve #Morse #Episode #Cover #Charge #Podcast
Originally posted by UCByw94IQQkzfiIlRc9PZzgA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yik6rFGHeAE
Steve Morse and his bands have always been my most favorite music ever! Tyler, I have loved your videos and playing for several years now – Thank you for doing this! Well done y'all!
One of the greats of the golden days ???? for sure. Such a cool, down to earth dude too
Amazing stuff. keep up the good work Tyler & Jared, can't wait for your next guest.
Great video! Subscribed thank you ????
20:53 Does anyone know name of a song?
Love that game recognize game acknowledgement at the end, it really is great to see some of the bigger creators in this space coming out with some really high quality work atm, …a million miles away from yet another product release drop shill. My sincerest thanks ???? *The M.I.W. Tyler, Dines, and Scallion banger concepts of recent has been on another level, with an honorable mention to Robert Baker/Dan Huff too
stellar playing gents
wifey got the house my red Porsche and my dog … fn bs… ohh and most of my BTC… fn uhhhhhh$&@“@&$
just happen to remember I’ve got cassette tapes from Capricorn Records demos with Steve and The DixieDregs, seems like they’ve got ‘ not for sale’ written on them, also white albums from Capricorn Records The Allman Brothers and written on them as well is ‘not for sale ‘ i believe they’re promotional copies like for radio stations… I have to look around at my parents house and see if I can find them… after divorce I moved everything back to the parents house in my old bedroom… ain’t that how it goes.., lol ???? …
sadly though, same reason why they never chased fortune and fame, or whatever reason, same sad shit they choose not to want to be interviewed.. sucks
Steve rules. This podcast is really great. Keep going.
no cap …
and ohh yeah, some of them totally blow away most everyone that the world has ever heard of and known about… seriously totally f’s their best performances up , blowing them away… melting their whole bodies down to the ground… ashes and dust are all that remains…
ohh yeah , my idea was to start a podcast / YouTube channel interviewing them…
I’ve had this idea for decades, know how we hear people talking about the people, the artist who are at the so called top… you know, the ones who signed the big recording contracts and get multiple millions promoting their music, and of course they get most of the attention and admiration of supposedly being the best musicians, but I personally have been around the block as they say from the age of 13 began playing professionally and I know firsthand that there’s musicians ( guitarists ) who chose not to pursue a professional career, chose not to for whatever reasons, not to go after what most say is the way they should have went, in my opinion everyone has their own path to choose to go down… my opinion and I’m right…????????% …
im gonna give it ???????????????????????????????????????? that’s 5 metal horns up … yeah
man , still rock’N to Tyler and Steve… this cover of When The Levi Breaks was a greatest of great ideas… glad you thought of it…
????
well now he’s talking bout the ATL days… and it’s possible it was one combo amp and he just sounded like 10 guitarist …
in both interviews..
win a prize, how many times does Steve say Greece …
I remember reading about Steve driving to go fly a 747 I guess it was and playing while heading to work, maybe that’s what I remember reading but anyway he’d made a or invented a board like thing that represented the neck of a guitar that he’d practice his guitar licks on.. true story, I think.. lol ????
really enjoying the content here.. Steve is one the greatest guitarist of my generation at least, many generations from now will listen and appreciate his musical compositions…
Having Steve Morse smile like that (38:26) at something I played is a picture I’d frame. Awesome man!
Excellent jams! Excellent interview! Steve Morse has been my favorite guitarist for many years and it's always great to hear his stories from one band to the next – I love all of the bands he's been in.
Great interview and stellar playing! I had the privilege of catching The Dixie Dregs with Steve Morse at a small club back in the early ’90s, hands down one of the best-sounding bands I’ve ever witnessed. Met Steve afterward, and he was as humble and gracious as he is talented.
Sometimes I feel like screaming ????
Had the pleasure of seeing Steve Morse twice with Deep Purple and he is one of those people where I don't think there's anything possible on guitar that he can't do. I put him in the category of people like Jeff Beck, they both can make really hard things look effortless. It's like they can simply do whatever they are hearing in their head instantly.
Loving the podcasts, Philip Sayce pleeeease. ????????????????????????
Thanks so much for this, Steve came across as a fantastic guy
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!
One note per string alternate picked arpeggios on a distorted electric in 1976? Using Bach inspired compositional methods in a hard rock ensemble in 1976? Combining rock, classical, jazz, blues and bluegrass and Celtic idioms in 1976? Way, waaay WAAAAAAAAYYY ahead of his time.
Steve never ceases to surprise with what will come out of his guitar at any given moment. In spite of his physical challenges, the guy still rips!
The best interview I've ever seen. Great job.
Excellent. Class act. Great interview
awesome- so fun and Steve sounds awesome. thanks for sharing the wisdom steve and thank you tyler for mking it happen. great job both!!!
What a sweet man! Also Tyler that was some awesome playing!
O Hell yes thank you ????????
It would be nice to see one day Michael Lemmo on the podcast ????
first mp3s i downloaded from napster: dixie dregs. mind blown. but jennifer batten did it first: sat next to her for 2h in a dingy bavarian pizzeria aged 14 after a digitech gsp2101 clinic she gave in the local musicstore in front of 200 gaping guitarists, some in lederhosen. mind blown, i bought my first electric. SO: can ANYONE get hold of jennifer Batten? she also did the string damper thingy before steve. love him but he never credited her. BRING ON JENNIFER BATTEN! she has some stories to tell….
i love this man