Zohar Argov - As of Today - Guitar Cover

About As of Today

Few guitarists outside of Israel's music scene have spent much time with the catalog of Zohar Argov, but "As of Today" from 1977 rewards the effort. The song sits in the warm overlap between Middle Eastern melodic sensibility and Soul, and that combination makes specific demands on how you phrase a note. The guitar work here leans on sustain and controlled vibrato rather than busy runs, so even passages that look simple on the tab require a confident, unhurried touch to land right. Pay attention to where the melody breathes: rushing the phrase kills the feel entirely. If the vocal melody is guiding your lead line, isolate the trickier turns of phrase in the Practice Toolbar and loop them slowed down until the phrasing feels natural rather than mechanical. Getting the dynamic shaping right, knowing when to push and when to pull back, is where the real work is on this one.

• The soul-influenced phrasing demands slow, expressive vibrato rather than fast picking, making clean note sustain the primary technique to develop.
• Melodic lines in this song follow a Middle Eastern scale flavour, so practicing each phrase in isolation will help you internalize the intervals.
• Use the Practice Toolbar to loop and slow down any phrase where the vocal melody turns quickly, keeping your intonation and timing solid.