Leaderboard

A brief rundown and demonstration of the key aspects of stylistic blues guitar soloing and techniques by Griff Hamlin.

My granddaughter , on her new Ukelele that was a present from us this Christmas, and I have done a little time together. She has written her 1st song ( age 13) that I will be recording and we will be collaborating on Free Falling soon, Tom Petty. Three children, 4 grandkids and I finally have one that plays music...and sings beautifully. Fun stuff. Greg Nothing better than family!

I plan to do just that in the coming months. It will be easier from the recording perspective as I will be able to plug directly into my Zoom R24, without worrying about the background noise.

Here is a breakdown of the intro. To make it clearer I have illustrated it with an easy strumming pattern.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of flat keys, I will fear no voicing: my barre and my capo, they comfort me. —Yours truly, upon attempting Blood, Sweat & Tears

hold the string at first fret and last fret and see if there is a gap . gap is not good if more than a mm look down the fretboard from the body and see if it is straight at the 12 fret there ought to be no more than the thickness of a dime ( 5p if english) between the fret and the string tiny bit more if you hit the strings hard

The build quality was excellent and the sound is what I would be looking for in a crossover nylon string guitar. For me, the nut width was a bit more comfortable than a traditional classical guitar and I liked the brightness of the spruce top. I did compare it a cedar-topped Alvarez (the only other nylon string guitar in the store) and the Alvarez sounded quite a bid 'darker'. The Yamaha CGX122MCC looks like a nice guitar - I like the cutaway - and you can't go wrong ordering from Sweetwater. Best wishes for your search!

@matonanjin Ron, Both rehearsing and performing with her was a wonderful thing. She got the task from her violin teacher to put together a small performance with friends or family. Back then I was 1 year into the L&M course and she was in her 5th year of learning to play violin. So her musical backgroung was already much stronger than mine. We picked a traditional Scottisch folk song with only 2 chords and a nice violin melody line, so I could do the accompaniment and she could do the melody. It was my first time playing for an audience. Great experience indeed. Wim

Yes, raise the neck, it really helps.

Thanks so much Greg, you are very kind. You are also too modest, your fingers are far from flailing. ??? mark

Thanks Mandy. This time of the year is very beautiful here. We are very lucky. Mark

Well it ant going to play itself. My Grandmother

FEB GUITAR BOOK REVIEW Howdy All, Well I picked out a couple books that I have had for a few years. The unique point of my selections are that both books are written by Douglas B. Green …. Ranger Doug of the “Riders in the Sky” and he is also a singer and rhythm guitar player for the “Time Jumpers”. If you go through the archives of Steve’s shows you will find Doug and Steve talking about rhythm guitar. Singing in the Saddle: The History of the Singing Cowboy Douglas B. Green Vanderbilt University Press ISBN 978-0-8265-1506-3 The book cost about $20 and is available on Amazon or the Riders in the Sky web page. A standing ovation for Mr. Green and this book!!!! Now Ranger Doug and I are about the same age, so I totally understand where he is coming from and why I loved the book. In the 50-60s you could find me driving around in an old blue chevy with a couple saddles in the back and my German Sheppard sitting next to me in the cab. We would have the radio turned up full blast to any country and western station I could find. Before I go farther I should give the definition that separated country and western music. Country is about booze drinking, he or she doing another wrong song, and hating your job. Western songs on the other hand are about the silver moon, lazy shadows, and dusty trails … environmental songs if you will. I’m sure Ranger Doug worked his butt off putting this book together! The book starts with the introduction of cattle and horses to the americas and gradually works it way through the civil war and development of the cattle industry. Music is introduced from the medicine wagon and steamboat times. Doug has a fantastic way of writing that is very descriptive and smooth. He slowly moves you through several life times where you gain a lot of knowledge and it is a pleasure not a chore. The book does not leave you asking “what if” or “how come” questions. This is particularly so when he discusses the various movie producers and studios. The book goes from the New York stage presentations to the Chicago radio shows with many participant presented in each phase … along with their contributions to music and especially western music. Many of the people I had never heard of and others were very much a part of my life. Mr. Green has chapters on the Sons of the Pioneers, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Jimmy Wakely. If any one made a western movie with singing called for in the script they are mentioned in this book … along with their life stories. Most of the “B” westerns began during the “depression” years. Most of the singing cowboys were just guitar players looking for a job. This was the first big push for the average individual to learn to play the guitar and look for work. The book goes up through the “Riders in the Sky”, Willy Nelson, Chris LeDoux, as well as "The Sons of the San Joaquin". Now if you are close to my age you will find this book will bring back a flood of memories. At one time in my life I was the youngest professional horse show judge in my state and lot of the actors and musicians in the book would show up to a fair or powwow I was working and we would get a chance to talk horses and music. For the most part they were a great bunch of individuals working at their chosen profession. Thanks Doug for some super memories. For you who are younger music lovers … Western music became popular during the Blues, Jazz and Big Band era and each contributed to the other. This book is a true history of the guitar during this time and especially the western rhythm guitar. You owe it to yourself to read this book and add more guitar history to your knowledge. Rhythm Guitar The Ranger Doug Way Doug Green Suze Spencer Marshall Centerstream Publication 2006 ISBN 978-1-57424-204-1 Publication is available on Amazon and at the “Riders in the Sky” web page $16 The combined efforts of Doug Green and Suze Spencer Marshall created this book. Doug plays rhythm guitar for both the “Riders in the Sky” and “Time Jumpers”. Suże is a guitar instructor in the Pacific Northwest and plays rhythm guitars for the western swing big band “Way Out West”. A couple comments, found in the book, that are made by Doug are: 1) “You can play all the fanciest chords in the world, but the heart of getting that sound out of your guitar is your right hand”; and 2) “If less is more with the left hand, it is also true for the right: if you find that sweet spot on your guitar you don’t need to bang it or trash it to get the sound out.” Doug continues …. “I urge you to experiment to find the way that’s best for you”. Doug talks about his own history and the influence of Karl Farr (Sons of the Pioneers) and Freddie Green (Big Band of Count Base). He also describes his guitar collection … according to George Gruhn he truly has a “collection” not just an accumulation of guitars. Before the tunes are presented there is a discussion about each song … why it was selected and suggestions on how it should be played. A page of chord diagrams used by Doug is present although most chords are also diagramed over the chord names identified within the song. This book is just chucked full of great songs … After You’ve Gone; Ain’t Misbehavin’; All of Me; Along the Navajo Trail; Amber Eyes; Avalon; Compadres InThe Old Sierra Madres; Embraceable You; How High the Moon; Idaho; Jessie Polka; Limehouse Blues; Lullaby of Birdland; Miss Molly; Oh Lady, Be Good; Out of Nowhere; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; Racing With the Moon; Red River Valley; Right or Wrong; Sally Goodin’; Suzette’s Blues; Tangerine; That’s How the Yodel Was Born; Tumbling Tumbleweeds; Wah-Hoo; The Yellow Rose of Texas This is a chance to get rhythm guitar music that you can play and lay down as a back track on your looper … opening you up to some big band soloing. BONUS REVIEW … Ranger Doug, Andy Reiss (Also look for Andy in Steve’s archives … Steve only brings in the best!!), and Bobby Durham put out a great guitar cd. “The Art of the Archtop” Andy played the solo guitar Ranger Doug the rhythm guitar Bobby Durham played string bass and sousaphone The cover description on the disc reads …. Three old friends, a couple of stellar guests, a couple of hot summer days, a stack of classic swing tunes and a room full of priceless Stromberg and D’Angelico archtop guitars. It’s a recipe for good times and a celebration of the rich, full, exciting, romantic sound of the acoustic arch top guitar. No amps, no pickups, no electronics, just classic instruments, classic music: The Art of the Archtop. To me there is not a lie in the paragraph. The songs on the disc are: Blue Lou; Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me; Love Me or Leave Me; Besame Mucho; The Nearness of You; I Can’t Believe that You’re in Love with Me; Usted; You Took Advantage of Me; I’m Confessin’ that I love you; Stompin’ at the Savoy; Skylark; Exactly Like You. OK I am partial to Big Band and Western Swing. However this is a great disc with great guitar artists and it should be in your collection … I don’t care what age you are. There may never come another time to hear such music.

Wow we are off to a great start for this month's challenge it is the second day of the month and already we have entries from @mark_h, @WATSON43, @V7#5b9 and @Wim VD, great job everyone, keep them coming!

@mark_h Your promo vid is really nice. As far as I’m concerned you played smoothly. Non-rigid timing gives it more feeling. Bum notes? What bum notes? You meant to play what you did, that’s it!

Some weeks ago, I recorded an accoustic version of Misty. So I thought this would fit here as well.

Thank you! I really like it. Amazing how much better it sounds when you play it!

Here is a recording simply to demonstrate the song structure, chords and tempo.

Here's my submission. I saw a guy do this arrangement on YouTube and I really liked it. KG_What a Wonderful World_February 2018 challenge.mp3

I played it using the basic strum pattern for 4/4 time. I'm unclear what the dots mean and the a and e on the 1st and 3rd beats. So if someone wants to post how it should sound I would be grateful!

I like your singing!

Thanks for getting this off the launch pad Mandy. I miss the contributions that were part of the old forum that Ian and Fretless fronted previously. I will be on an extended trip in Feb. and am not sure whether I would have the time (or the guitar with me) to contribute this month, but I may be in reserve for something if things get stalled. I am not particularly skilled at mixing or creating drum tracks however. I do encourage all who have even the remotest interest in recording and joining in a pool of fun to jump in and play. Greg

I hope this month Has as many contributors as last month, what a great turnout! Thanks for taking the time to keep it going uncle hammy and thanks for this months challenge Watson43. I Hope this is ok.. it’s an electro-nylon played through a Roland mobile AC amp. The audio was recorded live outdoors, direct to the mics of a Zoom H4n. The loop was created live on a boss RC3. It’s a little promo vid I made for my wedding services. It was recorded in my garden a couple of weeks ago. There are lots of timing mistakes, bum notes, and I even wandered off at one point. But you don’t have to be perfect for people to enjoy what you do. ??? Mark

Great to see and hear you UHammy. Thanks again for running this monthly challenge it’s a great idea and gives everyone a push to perform for others. Mark

For me, this was well worth watching. Thank you for posting.

I stopped by the local Taylor dealer yesterday during my lunch break and played an Academy 12e-N. It is part of Taylor's entry or 'budget' line of guitars that are made in Mexico. It has a laminated back and sides (although I couldn't tell) and a solid spruce top. Other features include Taylor's ES-N pickup and preamp and a built-in armrest that was very comfortable. If you are looking for a crossover type of nylon string guitar, this one might be worth checking out. Note: You can see short demos of the guitar at the link above.

"If you don't play you can't play"