https://www.guitargathering.com/community/index.php?/discover/Guitar Gathering Community - All ActivityenOh no, algebra!Sat, 18 Jul 2026 21:54:40 +0000I like that they are called "Student Concert times" vs "Performance". Seems both imply some stress.Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:57:07 +0000“Winding my way down Baker Street” I expected to find Sherlock Holmes at 221B but not the case. I stumbled into Raphael Ravenscroft. He’s the Saxophone player you hear on “Baker Street”. Raphael was a session player hired by Gerry Rafferty. Just another story about a session player “making a song great” and walking away with $53 dollars for his time. Probably the most famous saxophone solo of all time. There was some disagreement over who wrote the riff. It probably was Rafferty but it wasn’t new.The same riff can be heard on “ Half a Heart” released in 1968.And of course again in 1997 when Lisa Simpson played it. Her mentor of course was the famous saxophone player “Bleeding Gums Murphy”. What about Gerry Rafferty? He writes songs like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. What really got my attention was his bands name “Stealers Wheel” a rock band formed in 1972.It seems the name comes from his money problems with his music producers. A cycle of theft. “Clowns on my left and jokers on my right” if I didn’t know better I would have bet he was raised on the banks of the Potomac. But hey, I could be just “stuck in the middle with you”.Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:11:52 +0000What a wonderful week! I know you will miss it all, as I will miss your excellent writing about it. And the breathtaking photos. Too bad they can't start a weekly or bi-weekly online gathering like we have with Steve. Or could they? No money in it, and several teachers, but it's something to think about. The video you posted of Within, Without by the Beatles is amazing. You spent time with some of the great ones this week. Wishing you safe travels, Diane. See you in a Tuesday GG soon!Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:42:22 +0000Awakening at 5:45 am all this week was made easier by the planet’s rotation turning my bunk such that the full radiation of the nearest star was right in my eyes — before almost everyone else in the United States, except those on top of Cadillac Mountain next door. These broken Venetian blinds get the assist. It helped that breakfast was waiting for me, and I didn’t have to cook it. The early birds at the dining hall had their coffee and commisserated at the picnic table. So began Friday, and the final verse of our collective song. Some classes put final touches on their pieces for this afternoon’s performance. I would be in Shawn’s rhythm ensemble and Denise’s open tuning ensemble. Those final three hours were go-go-go. After lunch we took our group photos, collected t-shirts and hats, made final arrangements for those who needed a ride to the airport, and clarified check-out details. My friend Beth set out for Shawn’s quick intro to MuseScore, and I stretched out to rest. We gathered our gear one last time and hiked up the slope to the administration building and set up for the 3:00 student performances. I was in the first ensemble, Shawn’s Creative Rhythms, where my assignment was simply to lay down E9, A7, and B7 in James Brown’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”. It’s a safe bet no one here signed up for funk. Ain’t no drag, ‘til you have to hit those 16ths. Yow! Beth was part of Denise’s Beyond Cowboy Chords ensemble, and their tune was “Melissa”. Then I was back up for Denise’s Open Tunings class take on “Big Yellow Taxi” in open D. With the audience singing and those open strings ringing, it was really cool. I ran the battery on my phone all the way down taking videos, which I will upload when bandwidth permits. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner of tasty Mexican fare as the shadows grew long across the campus, while the twelfth root of 2 continued to silently side-eye me from the chalkboard. Chuck, who has a daughter who teaches college physics, is doing his part to help me inquire whether there is some other meaning to this Mystery of the Universe. Meanwhile, the adult beverages emerged from the dorms as Mike, David, Shawn, and Jas traded eights, or maybe twenty-fours, for the sheer fun of it. When their guitars were finally packed up, with the sun going down, we moved indoors for the farewell party. “I am really going to miss this next week,” I sighed to everyone I met as the hugs and handshakes were passed around. I’ll miss the crunch of the sandy gravel underfoot as I walk to the cafeteria, and the comfort of being back on a campus again. I’ll miss the chipmunks and ferns at my feet. I’ll miss seeing the rising sun and the North Star. I’ll miss these amazing teachers prodding me, testing me, coaching me, good-naturedly needling me, inspiring me, and taking me places I’ve never been. I’ll miss the music, the kind that emerges only from the hearts and hands of the sincere and meant only for equally appreciative souls. But most of all, I’ll miss my companions in music. In the end, we are all students on our own journeys. Their joyous company leaves me beyond grateful. There is a universal look in someone’s eyes that says: “You speak my language. I understand you.” Those expressions on the faces of my friends, a gift of music shared, are tonight my prized souvenirs. IMG_3925.mov IMG_3927.mov IMG_3929.mov IMG_3930.movSat, 18 Jul 2026 10:05:49 +0000Cooler air Thursday morning put most of us in sweatshirts, at least outside. The day’s schedule went out by e-mail at 5:45 am, and we resumed our earlier program overload. Shawn’s creative rhythms class has been a revelation and a workout as we’ve examined both imaginative strumming and melodic variations. Denise has a new convert to alternate tunings. Today, we covered open D in “Simple Twist of Fate”, “The Water Is Wide”, and “Big Yellow Taxi”, which we agreed would be our ensemble song. Shawn wants the fingerstyle class to do a group performance tomorrow afternoon at the wrap show. I offered to join the Drone Section, and he said that’s fine. With those two assignments, I’m dropping my second solo bit. I passed up a midafternoon elective block to rest. Those sessions were for more one-on-one with blues, vocals, and how to participate in jams. After my nap, I left the guitar behind and set off for Shawn’s class on stagecraft, expecting general tips on performance. But only two other students were there. “Where’s your guitar?” Shawn asked. “I didn’t expect to need it,” I said. “But, tell you what,” I continued, taking the chair directly opposite him. “Were you around for my Tuesday night song? Critique me.” (See video above.) ”Which song did you do?” “Sweet Surrender.” “Oh, yes, here,” he said as he offered his guitar. “Refresh my memory.” Thus began a half hour professional critique of my introduction, stage presence, posture, and singing — my main concern. It was priceless, personal coaching. I took a chance by performing not my safe song, but the one I really wanted to do, even though I knew it was not ready. This was my reward. The evening program called for jams, and mine lasted over two hours. Simply terrific. So much talent and generosity. We closed it out on “I’ll Fly Away”.Sat, 18 Jul 2026 01:54:33 +0000I just heard this news and am busy downloading the fretboard workouts I bought. I've always just accessed them via the links, but now they're in storage. What a shame that the company and its highly user friendly, quality platform is going belly up. I had a couple rentals from video, too, that were set to expire next year.....I need to finish those by November.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:50:00 +0000“The meeting place for young people” The Star Club in Hamburg. The club must have been the indoor “Woodstock”of the early 1960s.When trying to figure out why Liverpudlians seem to have started their careers in this club I came across another strange band name “ The Liverbirds” my first thought was Liverpool ( Liv- r -pool) but I was wrong it was ( Ly-ver) “Liverbirds” .The worlds first all girls Rock and Roll Band. They like the Beatles moved the “MerseyBeat” to Germany. They have an interesting story and at the same time a sad one. When Jimi Hendrix met them he was curious to learn which one was Mary seems she “rolled the best joints”. They always wanted to play in the states but ended up turning down their change to open in Las Vegas because the club insisted they play top-less. The “Female Beatles” looks like America lost its change to meet a talented group because of some dolt. But what about the name “Liverbirds” it turns out to be another story about the “ Muddy Pool” I’d never heard. The Mythical Birds protecting sailors and the residents of Liverpool. Two 18 ft copper birds with wing spans of 24 ft. Chained down so they can’t fly away, if they did the River Mersey would burst its banks. Those “Scousers” continue to amaze me. Oh one more thing; when the Liverbirds (band) met the Beatles John Lennon told them “girls can’t play the Guitar” which turned out to be a great motivator for them to prove him wrong. And yes the copper birds protecting Liverpool have names Bella and Bertie. PS.Why Hamburg? The Reeperbahn and die sundige Miele.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:14:22 +0000Cooler air Thursday morning put most of us in sweatshirts, at least outside. Rain moved in briefly mid-afternoon during one class, then clear skies returned. The day’s schedule went out by e-mail at 5:45 am, and we resumed our earlier program overload. Shawn’s creative rhythms class has been a revelation and a workout as we’ve examined both imaginative strumming and melodic variations. Denise has a new convert to alternate tunings. Today, we covered open D in “Simple Twist of Fate”, “The Water Is Wide”, and “Big Yellow Taxi”, which we agreed would be our ensemble song. Shawn wants the fingerstyle class to do a group performance tomorrow afternoon at the wrap show. I offered to join the Drone Section, and he said that’s fine. With those two assignments, I’m dropping my second solo bit. I passed up a midafternoon elective block to rest. Those sessions were for more one-on-one with blues, vocals, and how to participate in jams. After my nap, I left the guitar behind and set off for Shawn’s class on stagecraft, expecting general tips on performance. But only two other students were there. “Where’s your guitar?” Shawn asked. “I didn’t expect to need it,” I said. “But, tell you what,” I continued, taking the chair directly opposite him. “Were you around for my Tuesday night song? Critique me.” (See video above.) ”Which song did you do?” “Sweet Surrender.” “Oh, yes, here,” he said as he offered his guitar. “Refresh my memory.” Thus began a half hour professional critique of my introduction, stage presence, posture, and singing — my main concern. It was priceless, personal coaching. I took a chance by performing not my safe song, but the one I really wanted to do, even though I knew it was not ready. This was my reward. The evening program called for jams, and mine lasted over two hours. I cranked it down to double drop D on “Helpless” as if I had been doing it all week. Simply terrific. So much talent and generosity. We closed it out on “I’ll Fly Away”. IMG_3919.movFri, 17 Jul 2026 03:09:55 +0000Now this, whatever this is. Not my best, but the best I had at the moment. Beth, thanks for the video. IMG_3890.movThu, 16 Jul 2026 20:28:40 +0000The law of unexpected consequences hits home. Recently when working on a lesson that required reading and playing in the 5th and 12th positions I found that I was struggling. I’d been playing certain etudes so much that were based on patterns and shapes I unknowingly was losing my ability translate whet I was reading to the neck.I also got into the frame of mind that playing the 5th position meant staying in that small section of the neck, forgetting that all it really meant was what fret your index finger is on when you start and not limiting where you can play. Ironically by going back to Mel Bay lessons for practice material I rediscovered his F,D and A shapes that unlocked 36 chords mostly inversions on the neck.I always wondered why Mel never mentioned the CAGED system. I knew he was a Jazz players and they used that system back in the 1940s. it took another 35 years to reach the majority of players.The shapes Mel taught may actually be more useful to me. That material is in his lesson 4 book. Now I know the importance of paying attention to note names as you practice and not just shapes.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:26:57 +0000Alan, Don, and Shawn on Coffeehouse Night. This was prepared in advance. Hold on to something. IMG_3884.movThu, 16 Jul 2026 12:32:11 +0000Gorgeous pics! And yes, I am flipping out! I am in David's online monthly membership group, The Fingerstyle 5. David Hamburger, along with Steve Krenz and Justin Sandercoe, have always been my main guitar gurus. I look forward to watching those videos later......thanks, Diane!Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:55:36 +0000Wednesday dawned humid and hazy from Canadian wildfire smoke. After two somewhat overscheduled days, today was mercifully pared back. We have roughly divided into two camps: blues with Mike and David, and fingerstyle, rhythm, and tunings with Denise and Shawn, where I am. The blues unit is the larger one, and by some accounts, uncomfortably so. The rooms we use for classes are almost all dormitory common areas which can only seat about 10. I’m little more than spectator in Shawn’s classes, which is to say much is just beyond my current grasp. But that’s the nature of a camp. Today Denise took us into open G tuning for the Stones’ “Wild Horses” which was a healthy stretch for me of the unfamiliar but manageable. Our jam was once more a delight. And a full block of late afternoon sessions was cut to give us time to relax. I took full advantage with a long nap before dinner… …where David Hamburger pulled up a chair next to me. Really? I thought. I must be dreaming. He’s great company. No wonder he has such a devoted following. Nancy will flip out when she reads this. After dessert I slipped down the slope to the dock, where I found a like minded soul appreciating the ocean breeze, low tide, that familiar ocean smell, and a now cloudless sky. Blissful… …but even that was no match for the faculty concert. Mike, Denise, David, Shawn, and Cindy — the vocal teacher — gave us two and half hours of pure joy. When the performers plucked away the chairs before me, I found myself on the front row to soak it all in at arm’s length. Wow, just wow.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 03:23:33 +0000More from the Coffeehouse: IMG_3894.mov IMG_3893.mov IMG_3891.movWed, 15 Jul 2026 23:09:32 +0000A bit of “Summertime” with the some of the gang In Denise Adorante’s jam class: IMG_8871.movWed, 15 Jul 2026 18:40:18 +0000Certainly get lots of playing time at this conferenceWed, 15 Jul 2026 17:15:09 +0000Thanks, Diane! Nice to read some good news this morning instead of just the headlines (DST year-round?! and I won't go into political news). I like the range of music there.....Beatles, Neil, Metallica. Speaking of range, take care of your vocals.....California Girls and Sweet Surrender hit some high notes. Hope you can share some videos later!Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:11:35 +0000We’re finding the groove. Today, as expected, was a continuation of Monday’s lessons. Shawn had great examples of tunes that vary rhythm with each measure: some James Brown, some Metallica, some Beatles. With Denise we reviewed yesterday’s tunings and studied Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” in double drop D. Then back to Shawn for fingerstyle with a Carcassi exercise and “Dear Prudence”. I capped my study day with another small jam session with Denise, where I might have overtaxed my voice on one of my own selections, “California Girls”. I was tired, tonight was Coffeehouse night, and I hadn’t rehearsed my song in almost a week. So I skipped the voice class to get some rest before dinner. At 7:30 we filled the reconfigured dining hall for our open mic “Coffeehouse Night”. Tables were topped with snacks and sodas, and Anthony and Mike rigged the PA system. Alice dimmed the lights, Mike Dowling kicked us off, and the show was on. We had the full spectrum of both musical tastes and proficiency. A couple performers said this was their first open mic. Some of my fellow campers can hang right in there with the pros. My turn was 15th of 22 — so two thirds of us (32) performed. I began with This Week in Unnecessary Music Theory, briefly explaining the significance of the Mystery Symbol on the other side of the wall behind me, and noting that nobody around here seems to know who wrote it on the chalkboard, or why. Which brings me to The Sensitive Female Chord Progression, as now illustrated by “Sweet Surrender”. It was okay-ish. Not recently rehearsed, and my voice was all over the map tonight. It happens. I gave it my best. Videos later. Tomorrow night, it’s the faculty’s show.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:24:51 +0000Was Jim Nash at the finger style retreat we both went to? I moved out of Portland a while ago and now live south of there.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:56:47 +0000Nice pictures, it looks like a nice college.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:52:43 +0000So much natural beauty there! And the library would be a haunt for me for at least an hour. Better food and longer hours sounds like more bang for your buck this year! I know I would enjoy the jams (in lieu of performing!) as well as the classes. So glad the week is off to a great start, and keep the great writing coming! Thanks, Diane.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:40:00 +0000I just learned that Pete Best wasn’t the only drummer that left the Beatles. The Beatles went through 6 others. I also didn’t know that in between drummers Paul McCartney filled the position. In the beginning the Beatles didn’t think a drummer was necessary for their band. A German tour forced them to find a drummer and a Bass player so Stuart Sutcliffe was the “fifth Beatle”. He never left Hamburg when the tour ended .His dream was to be a painter.He died in 1962 from a ruptured brain aneurysm Pete Best claimed it was Stuart that actually came up with the name Beatles. Stuart’s girl friend was the one who suggested the ‘Mop Top” haircuts. I always thought of this story in terms of money.Pete had the winning “lottery ticket” only to lose it before the lottery office opened. It turns out instead of earning hundreds of millions he did end up with about 9 million dollars thirty years later from the Beatles Anthology released in 1995. PS. Stuart’s photo is among those on the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts album cover.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:23:03 +0000Sounds like a blast Dianne. Enjoy! See you in October.Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:44:04 +0000Our first full day began at 8:45. I’m back with the brilliant Shawn Persinger for creative rhythms. We touched on funk, reggae, Zappa and I can’t remember what else. On to Denise Adorante for alternate tunings, leading off with drop D and inverted drop D. For lunch I passed on the pork sandwich — for obvious reasons — and elected to help finish off the leftover steak, which was much improved form last year’s offering. I texted my band to remind them I would miss our 2:30 rehearsal because, you see, I have mission critical things to do, so there. After lunch, back to Shawn for fingerstyle work, then to an eagerly anticipated course in vocal improvement by CIndy Scott. Then back to Denise for a jam. I brought the gang “After the Gold Rush” and “Come Monday”. Yes, three full afternoon sessions. This year we start earlier, shortened the lunch break, and extended the afternoon. After dinner, another jam with Denise and Beatles songs. We wrapped at 9:00, for a total guitar workday of almost 8 hours. Intense enough yet? The jams were a blast. I just cut loose. I’m a familiar face now; I know where I can add something and when to sit back. Everywhere I look there’s someone showing me something interesting. On the guitar. Today was sampling day, meaning if you’re not sure what course track to follow for the week, you can still change tomorrow. But then you are expected to stay with that instructor so the lessons can build upon each other and no one gets left behind, or so we hope. This means I will not be able to report on Mike Dowling’s or David Hamburger’s sessions, but I do know they are popular and have no shortage of students. David joined me for breakfast today and asked me what I liked to play. I said, “I’m stuck in the seventies, and I never met a major seventh I didn’t like,” which drew a laugh. And yes, he was enormously relieved that Jim retrieved his Collings from the airport. The Mystery Symbol is back on the cafeteria blackboard again this year, alone with simply “Welcome!” It’s visible in the photo below. Not a soul I’ve spoken to knew its significance, or who put it there. Alice, our host, did not know. The librarian said it had been there since Friday. I am on a mission from Pythagoras to get to the bottom of this!Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:39:49 +0000