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!

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.

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.