Chris Letchford
Encyclopedia
Chris Letchford is an American
guitar
ist. He is the lead guitarist in the progressive metal
band Scale the Summit
. His technical ability has been recognized in magazines such as Guitar World
, Revolver
, and All Metal Resource.
in Los Angeles
, majoring in the GCA
program. Along with this education, he also attended Berklee College of Music
with a major in music.
While at the Musicians Institute, he formed Scale the Summit with his friend and fellow guitarist Travis Levrier, and drummer Pat Skeffington, who they met there in 2004. They added bass guitarist Jordan Eberhardt to complete the lineup.
companies. For recording and playing live, he mostly uses guitars custom-built by Luthier Mike Sherman (one 7-string and two 8-strings), as well as guitars he makes himself. He also plays a headless 7-string guitar with fanned frets, which was made for him by the Swedish company Strandberg Guitarworks. For amplification, his main rig consists of Mesa Boogie
equipment. For effects, he uses a Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra and an Ernie Ball volume pedal.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist. He is the lead guitarist in the progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Scale the Summit
Scale the Summit
Scale the Summit is an American instrumental metal band based out of Houston, Texas. It formed in 2004 and signed to Prosthetic Records.The band draws influences from other progressive acts such as Cynic and Dream Theater. However, unlike most other progressive metal bands, they have no vocalist...
. His technical ability has been recognized in magazines such as Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
, Revolver
Revolver (magazine)
Revolver is a bi-monthly rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. Before covering heavy metal, rock & hard rock solely, it was a more mainstream oriented magazine. The magazine is structured in a manner similar to publications such as Spin while covering many avenues within the heavy...
, and All Metal Resource.
Background
Letchford began playing guitar when he was 8 years old. He had over 6 years of private guitar lessons before applying to the Musicians InstituteMusicians Institute
Musicians Institute is a privately owned for-profit music vocational school located in Hollywood, California. Although not a regionally accredited school, the school offers a variety of unaccredited Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Certificate programs in fields including contemporary music...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, majoring in the GCA
GCA
GCA may refer to:*Games Convention Asia - A Video Games and interactive technology convention held annually in Singapore consisting of a public exhibition and a professional conference....
program. Along with this education, he also attended Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
with a major in music.
While at the Musicians Institute, he formed Scale the Summit with his friend and fellow guitarist Travis Levrier, and drummer Pat Skeffington, who they met there in 2004. They added bass guitarist Jordan Eberhardt to complete the lineup.
Equipment
Letchford endorses several guitar and amplifierGuitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
companies. For recording and playing live, he mostly uses guitars custom-built by Luthier Mike Sherman (one 7-string and two 8-strings), as well as guitars he makes himself. He also plays a headless 7-string guitar with fanned frets, which was made for him by the Swedish company Strandberg Guitarworks. For amplification, his main rig consists of Mesa Boogie
Mesa Boogie
Mesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
equipment. For effects, he uses a Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra and an Ernie Ball volume pedal.
With Scale the Summit
- MonumentMonument (Scale the Summit album)- Personnel :* Jordan Eberhardt – bass guitar* Chris Letchford – 8-string guitar* Pat Skeffington – drums, percussion* Travis Levrier – 7-string guitar...
(2007) - Carving Desert CanyonsCarving Desert Canyons- Personnel :* Jordan Eberhardt – 6-string bass guitar* Chris Letchford – 8-string guitar* Pat Skeffington – drums, percussion* Travis Levrier – 7-string guitar...
(2009) - The CollectiveThe Collective (album)The Collective is the third studio album by the American instrumental progressive metal band Scale the Summit. It was released on March 1, 2011, by Prosthetic Records...
(2011)