Well, Ike just blew through on his way back to the sea. 60mph straight-line winds that lasted for three hours. And we're 800 miles away from land fall. Scary to think how it was for those folks back in TX. I only lost three sections of fence, a few shingles, and the power was out all day.
The good news was the power was out, which meant there was nothing to do but play gutiar.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Right Hand Pick
I've been working on my right hand trying to get a convincing pick style sound out of my thumb and index finger. There are just some styles that need that pick sound/attack, but I never have a pick at hand. I'm using the thumb for downstrokes and the index for the upstrokes (ala Albert Collins).
It's coming along quite well, I suppose, but it does bring up an interesting observation about how completely muscle-memory becomes integrated. I suddenly feel like a complete beginner when practicing my new pick. It's been a long time since I felt this...ahmm...clumsy while running scales I know in my sleep. It's sort'a cool. It is making me examine all kinds of little angles and positions as I teach my hand how to do it.
So why post it to the blog? I guess just to suggest that if your feeling a little bored with your playing, then try to mix it up a bit with a strange technique. You will reap an instant return to that "beginners" mind.
It's coming along quite well, I suppose, but it does bring up an interesting observation about how completely muscle-memory becomes integrated. I suddenly feel like a complete beginner when practicing my new pick. It's been a long time since I felt this...ahmm...clumsy while running scales I know in my sleep. It's sort'a cool. It is making me examine all kinds of little angles and positions as I teach my hand how to do it.
So why post it to the blog? I guess just to suggest that if your feeling a little bored with your playing, then try to mix it up a bit with a strange technique. You will reap an instant return to that "beginners" mind.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Which came first, the Guitar or the Music
Okay, I must address this. I am often accused of being a bit philosophical about how important music is to human existence. My guitar buddies will roll their eyes when I look past the rippin' solo they just did and comment on how "honest" or "raw" it was.
Now I truly believe that the guitar is the perfect instrument, but I'm sorry, the music comes first. How many students down at the local music store quit because they mistakenly thought their love for the guitar culture could somehow be converted to music. It can't be done. Oh you might learn some licks, but if you don't at some point fall in love with the music, you will slam into a brick wall as a guitarist.
So if I at times sound a little too "jasmine and incense" about this whole guitar/music thing it's because I believe we are artists, and every one of us, from classical to metal, brings something important to the world.
Now I truly believe that the guitar is the perfect instrument, but I'm sorry, the music comes first. How many students down at the local music store quit because they mistakenly thought their love for the guitar culture could somehow be converted to music. It can't be done. Oh you might learn some licks, but if you don't at some point fall in love with the music, you will slam into a brick wall as a guitarist.
So if I at times sound a little too "jasmine and incense" about this whole guitar/music thing it's because I believe we are artists, and every one of us, from classical to metal, brings something important to the world.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Music Appreciation...The Guitar Way
Sunday afternoons in September are made just that much more special when music is added. Take today for example:
There was a slight breeze, the lingering effects of a far off hurricane, and the late summer humidity didn't seem too awful.
We were sitting on the back patio. My wife sat to my left. The hound was at my feet. A guitar was nestled in my hands. All together this created an image of peaceful living that is just dang hard to beat.
I wasn't really playing anything especially challenging (my thumb is still a little tender) just noodling over a simple chord progression. [Later I did work (if you can call it that) on some of the Fuller stuff.]
It would be impossible for me to describe how enriching it is having music in my household. I want everyone who aspires to guitar to know this aspect of making music. I believe, with all my being, that the path of the musician changes your life. Changes you!
There was a slight breeze, the lingering effects of a far off hurricane, and the late summer humidity didn't seem too awful.
We were sitting on the back patio. My wife sat to my left. The hound was at my feet. A guitar was nestled in my hands. All together this created an image of peaceful living that is just dang hard to beat.
I wasn't really playing anything especially challenging (my thumb is still a little tender) just noodling over a simple chord progression. [Later I did work (if you can call it that) on some of the Fuller stuff.]
It would be impossible for me to describe how enriching it is having music in my household. I want everyone who aspires to guitar to know this aspect of making music. I believe, with all my being, that the path of the musician changes your life. Changes you!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Learn More and Better
To learn more and to learn better is a goal of mine. I guess I'm looking for the shortest distance.
The Perfect Guitar
I'd like to talk about my guitars.
My classical is an Esteve GR 9, I believe. It is actually a Dauphin branded guitar. It is fantastic. An all solid wood, top student model and boy it really sings. I've had it over 10 years and will never part with it.
My steel string is a Masterbilt EF. I like it. It feels good in my hand, but... I can't say that I haven't been looking for another. It's a good guitar, but...it doesn't feel like mine.
I know that's not my usual point of view. I'm usually much more pragmatic than that. If it's well in tune with a decent action, then I say make your music on it. But this is different. Maybe there really is Mojo in a guitar. Anyway, I'll play it everyday, and I'm going to play it till it wears out. Then I'm going in search for my holy grail.
My classical is an Esteve GR 9, I believe. It is actually a Dauphin branded guitar. It is fantastic. An all solid wood, top student model and boy it really sings. I've had it over 10 years and will never part with it.
My steel string is a Masterbilt EF. I like it. It feels good in my hand, but... I can't say that I haven't been looking for another. It's a good guitar, but...it doesn't feel like mine.
I know that's not my usual point of view. I'm usually much more pragmatic than that. If it's well in tune with a decent action, then I say make your music on it. But this is different. Maybe there really is Mojo in a guitar. Anyway, I'll play it everyday, and I'm going to play it till it wears out. Then I'm going in search for my holy grail.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Maintaining My Classical Roots
When I began playing, many years ago, I started by studying classical guitar. I was not especially interested in classical at the time. I was, however, interested in Latin American music, but I went to the local music store for lessons and I pointed to a classical as being what the guitarist I liked played and the rest, as they say, is history.
It didn’t turn out too bad; I do like classical music in general and classical guitar in particular. I stayed with it for a few years, and then branched out on my own toward styles.
I still maintain my classical technique. I find the Julio Sagreras Guitar Lessons (both vol. 1-3 and 4-6) to be quite nice. They have the flavor I enjoy while still requiring solid classical technique that keeps my chops up. I highly recommend them.
It didn’t turn out too bad; I do like classical music in general and classical guitar in particular. I stayed with it for a few years, and then branched out on my own toward styles.
I still maintain my classical technique. I find the Julio Sagreras Guitar Lessons (both vol. 1-3 and 4-6) to be quite nice. They have the flavor I enjoy while still requiring solid classical technique that keeps my chops up. I highly recommend them.
Friendly Reminder
Well, in good Labor Day weekend fashion, I was spending Sunday working on some chores and flat smashed my right thumb. Yeah, ouch!
Oh well, the beat goes on.
I’m working up Blind Boy Fuller’s “You’ve Got Something There” to a performance level, and my little accident today gives me the perfect opportunity to practice separating the piece into it’s parts: Melody, bass (Ok, I’ll be skipping most of this one.), right hand, and left hand. I always preach that this is a good way to be sure you’ve got a good internal representation of a number.
It really shouldn’t take a mishap like a thumb smashing to remind us to practice our good habits. Should it?
Oh well, the beat goes on.
I’m working up Blind Boy Fuller’s “You’ve Got Something There” to a performance level, and my little accident today gives me the perfect opportunity to practice separating the piece into it’s parts: Melody, bass (Ok, I’ll be skipping most of this one.), right hand, and left hand. I always preach that this is a good way to be sure you’ve got a good internal representation of a number.
It really shouldn’t take a mishap like a thumb smashing to remind us to practice our good habits. Should it?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Secret of Successful Guitar Practice
What is the number one secret to continuous progress on the guitar? What does a beginner have to do to be better tomorrow than they are today? We all know the answer: Practice.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
It’s not a joke. Every musician knows that to get better on the instrument they must practice. The two most important aspects of that practice are consistency and targeted material. Consistency of guitar practice, daily guitar practice, is the foundation of advancing in musicianship. Selecting the right material, while highly important, rests entirely upon sitting down and actually practicing it. Unfortunately, the order of these two is often reversed.
The Practice routine
Knowing that practice is what leads the beginner to master level guitar skills that every guitarist desires, the student creates a intricate plan, a map that will lead to the lofty goal of their hearts desire.
Depending on style of play and musical preference, the material to be studied is laid out in a regimented campaign. Scale work, fretboard layout, ear training, new material, and old material are each listed in turn. This is a good and necessary step for every musician. To know where you are going and how you are going to get there can avoid many pitfalls on the road to mastery. Then a time is set to spend on each facet of the plan, and suddenly the great map becomes a tyrant.
Now the plan has a block of time associated with it, if that time is unavailable, then the whole session gets scrapped with an exasperated, “I just don’t have time to practice today.” Then tomorrow, then the next day, and so forth until the realization strikes that no progress is being made. Here the guitarist will generally berate themselves over their lake of commitment and through the guilt trip laid out matters are made worse. But there is a better, simpler solution.
Plan B
Instead of the negative self-talk, prepare a second study plan; call it plan B, which will be ready for those days when the grand scheme is just not possible.
Simply put, be prepared to grab the guitar and do something constructive when you may only have ten minutes to play.
One approach to the “short session” is to just play a piece from your old material. Often this approach will be the best. It is enjoyable, gets the physical exercise of playing, and keeps your chops up for your repertoire. After all, learning guitar is all about playing music.
But, all that hard work you put into the grand scheme does not have to be completely abandoned. If time does not permit working through the whole list of target material, then pick just one, say scales or chord progressions, and work through those for the time available. These quick sessions can be made easier by having the material in a notebook for convenience instead of leafing through six or seven books.
An important way to make these short sessions more convenient is to have a guitar always at hand. If your main guitar is too valuable to leave out buy an old pawnshop “beater”. Leave this guitar out in places where you might grab it while waiting for the coffee to brew or a program to load.
It could never be understated how important consistent practice is to advancing at guitar. To have a well thought out plan and to pursue that plan everyday will, step-by-step, turn your dreams into guitar reality, but do yourself a favor and have a backup plan.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
It’s not a joke. Every musician knows that to get better on the instrument they must practice. The two most important aspects of that practice are consistency and targeted material. Consistency of guitar practice, daily guitar practice, is the foundation of advancing in musicianship. Selecting the right material, while highly important, rests entirely upon sitting down and actually practicing it. Unfortunately, the order of these two is often reversed.
The Practice routine
Knowing that practice is what leads the beginner to master level guitar skills that every guitarist desires, the student creates a intricate plan, a map that will lead to the lofty goal of their hearts desire.
Depending on style of play and musical preference, the material to be studied is laid out in a regimented campaign. Scale work, fretboard layout, ear training, new material, and old material are each listed in turn. This is a good and necessary step for every musician. To know where you are going and how you are going to get there can avoid many pitfalls on the road to mastery. Then a time is set to spend on each facet of the plan, and suddenly the great map becomes a tyrant.
Now the plan has a block of time associated with it, if that time is unavailable, then the whole session gets scrapped with an exasperated, “I just don’t have time to practice today.” Then tomorrow, then the next day, and so forth until the realization strikes that no progress is being made. Here the guitarist will generally berate themselves over their lake of commitment and through the guilt trip laid out matters are made worse. But there is a better, simpler solution.
Plan B
Instead of the negative self-talk, prepare a second study plan; call it plan B, which will be ready for those days when the grand scheme is just not possible.
Simply put, be prepared to grab the guitar and do something constructive when you may only have ten minutes to play.
One approach to the “short session” is to just play a piece from your old material. Often this approach will be the best. It is enjoyable, gets the physical exercise of playing, and keeps your chops up for your repertoire. After all, learning guitar is all about playing music.
But, all that hard work you put into the grand scheme does not have to be completely abandoned. If time does not permit working through the whole list of target material, then pick just one, say scales or chord progressions, and work through those for the time available. These quick sessions can be made easier by having the material in a notebook for convenience instead of leafing through six or seven books.
An important way to make these short sessions more convenient is to have a guitar always at hand. If your main guitar is too valuable to leave out buy an old pawnshop “beater”. Leave this guitar out in places where you might grab it while waiting for the coffee to brew or a program to load.
It could never be understated how important consistent practice is to advancing at guitar. To have a well thought out plan and to pursue that plan everyday will, step-by-step, turn your dreams into guitar reality, but do yourself a favor and have a backup plan.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Guitar at Hand
It’s morning and I must confess that grabbing my guitar for a few minutes practice was not the first thing I did. In fact, the first thing I did was to put on coffee water, and then I picked up the guitar for a few minutes practice.
I always have a guitar at hand. This was not always so. For years I thought my guitars were too valuable to be left out and they were locked away for safekeeping. Unfortunately, out of sight often means out of mind. My enjoyment (not to mention my progress) with the instrument suffered. Now, my favorite (also my most expensive) instrument is always sitting out waiting for me to grab it up and have a tune. If you want to improve, to increase your playing time, I suggest you do the same. Keep a guitar always at hand.
I always have a guitar at hand. This was not always so. For years I thought my guitars were too valuable to be left out and they were locked away for safekeeping. Unfortunately, out of sight often means out of mind. My enjoyment (not to mention my progress) with the instrument suffered. Now, my favorite (also my most expensive) instrument is always sitting out waiting for me to grab it up and have a tune. If you want to improve, to increase your playing time, I suggest you do the same. Keep a guitar always at hand.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
