For most of my guitar-playing life, I’ve been trying to find the secret to becoming a better guitarist. I’ve spent countless hours reading magazines and books, scouring the Internet, and searching for teachers. What I’ve learned is this: There is no secret.

Becoming a better guitarist takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance. There are no shortcuts. This is a lesson that has taken me many years to learn. Actually, I’m still learning this lesson. The way all the guitarists I admire got better was by playing, listening, and learning. That’s what it’ll take for me and you to get better, too.

File this under “I did not know that.” Derek Trucks is the great-nephew of  baseball pitcher Virgil Trucks, who pitched two no-hitters for the Detroit Tigers in the 1950s. Derek and his family are actually big baseball fans, and he even kept a Virgil Trucks baseball card on one of his guitars for years. MLB.com columnist Peter Gammons has written an article about a recent meeting between Derek and Virgil. It’s a pretty interesting read, so go check it out. Also, baseball season is right around the corner.

This is some video footage of Joe Bonamassa playing “The Ballad of John Henry” during the recording sessions of the album of the same name. Producer Kevin Shirley recorded a lot of the recording sessions, so I’m hoping more videos of the recordings become available at some point. In the meantime, enjoy: