Leaderboard

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

Currently, my recording facilities are not favourable and I’m still focusing on practicing jazz etudes, but since the theme is fitting I thought I’d use my old recordings. This is really old stuff. I recorded those almost 5 years ago for a couple of initial monthly challenges. It’s kind of funny for me to listen to these amateurish attempts today. I really should take some time to rerecord them to find out if I’m still dying of laughter listening to them. “Blowing In The Wind” Bonus track “Yesterday” should probably stay home.

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

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

We don’t have the “Helpful Guitar Resources” Forum yet, so I’m putting it here for the time being. I have a couple of publications from FUNDAMENTALCHANGES and I find them to be very well thought out and structured. The site has a pretty big selection by now, and everyone can find something for themselves.

It has been brought to my attention, thank you @bruster, that some members are pinning their exact address/location on the member map. We want to know where members are from. It is fun/interesting to see our membership from around the world. But it is probably good enough to narrow the location down to city and state/country. When I first pinned my location I was asked if I want to use my current location and I answered "Yes". It put the pin right on my house. A couple days later I rethought this and moved the pin to somewhere in Omaha. I'm not even sure where I have it. I hope I'm in a nice neighborhood. The member map is only accessible to members. So perhaps I'm suggesting excess caution. But if you have the pin right on your house you may want to consider moving it. And, obviously, it is entirely your decision how precise you want your pin to be. Should you decide to move it there is an easy option to do so.

I don't play electric guitar but if I did I would want to play like this guy. Very interesting video but pretty much over my head.

Anyone interested in John Mayer's playing may want to check out last month's issue of Guitar Techniques magazine. I say last month because I just got March's issue in the mail. Since, being a subscriber, I am supposedly to get issue before the newsstand I'm not sure which one will be available on the newsstand. If the February one is gone you can order back issues here. Looks like a pretty good article. About 7 pages of lessons and 10 or so audio files. The lesson is listed as "Moderate" skill level but I always seem to find they rate their lessons fairly conservatively. That is to say I would call their "Moderate" actually "Moderate/Advanced".

"One of the secrets to my sound is almost beyond explanation. My battered old Martin guitar, Trigger, has the greatest tone I’ve ever heard from a guitar — and I’ve played a lot of guitars, including a lot of other Martins that were the exact same model as Trigger.A lot of guys in the band have been with me for decades, but Trigger has outlasted every musician I’ve played with, and after all these years, I have come to believe we were fated for each other.The two of us even look alike. My musician pals haven’t carved and written their names on me the way they have on Trigger, but we’re both pretty bruised and battered.The holes I’ve worn in Trigger are from my pick zinging up and down a million times on the face of an acoustic guitar that’s not supposed to be played with a pick, but at this point those holes are part of what makes Trigger sound exactly right.”- -Willie Nelson

Really nice, Mark. Very nice. I distinctly remember a very wise man once telling me, " I reckon only you noticed any flubs. "

Interesting video rkl312, thank you for posting it. You can do quite a few of these techniques on acoustic guitar and Steve does teach them further on in our L&M guitar course (probably not the whammy bar stuff). Just off the too of my head: bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, tapping and there is lots of great stuff on soloing. It really is an amazing course. Some of these techniques are really great for acoustic blues to name just one instance where they are used. You are going to love it!

Thanks Mark, and congrats on your Marbella Wedding Guitar Song. The Spanish environment must be offering great inspiration. Wim.

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.

Very cool Mark, sounded silky smooth. Well done. From the video, it looks like you have it really rough over there Ian

I pinned my location by using the closest city. My marker started moving up the West Coast. I just put my address minus the city, since I live in the county, and it has stayed in place.

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

Problem is, you can't always follow the drummer. Sometimes the song opens with guitar. If you want to see a drummers head explode, don't adequately develop your own time keeping skills and lead in to a song noticeably too fast/slow, or worse, let the beat wander. Opening a song playing rhythm guitar is among the most daunting challenges for me at this point in my development and a skill I regularly work at using backing tracks and working to ingrain the rhythm, so I consistently hit it right when the drums/band comes in. Good band mates can cover if you are off a touch, but a backing track cuts no slack so its a good excercise. There is no doubt more woodshedding with the 'nome would have been a good thing for me.

I really like the idea of a Guitar Book section. I love to read and learn. I hope some of the rest of you will provide some books you have found to be interesting. Here are a few I have read ... I will present others if you are interested. Guitar Capo Mastery: A Step-By-Step guide to Using Your Capo Like A Pro Sean Laughton ISBN: 9781520664446 2017 Got my copy from Amazon $8.95 Before reading this book I really knew nothing about capos; I considered them cheaters for people who could not play the guitar ... but I was wrong. The capo actually can provide many benefits. Mr. Laughton has broken his instruction into 3 areas: 1) Getting to Grips with your Capo, 2) Unlocking the Power of your Capo, and 3) Mastering your Capo. The book begins with the correct application of the capo and the goes to keys and scales. It shows several ways to use the capo and what happens to the music with its application. He also includes a list of songs on You Tube that he uses to demonstrate the use of the tool. This is a small book … 67 pages, but it has a lot of information in it for all grades of guitar players. Recommend Teach Yourself The Guitar Dale Fradd NTC Publishing Group LCC card number 92-80885 1990 (Originally published in 1932) 122 pages You probably will have to check Abe Books or Ebay for this book. I bought my copy in an airport book store many years ago. This is a small book in structure … 5”X8”. When I bought my copy I carried it with me on my travels for something to read. The book is a full study of the classical guitar. Like most guitar books the text begins with how to select the correct guitar (classical in this case). It covers Basic Right and Left Hand Techniques and the basic theory of music. Various chapters also present the phrasing and interpretation and playing with others. The two areas I liked the best are the historical outline about the development of the guitar and the final chapter that is a glossary of terms used in guitar music … the neat thing is the terms are defined and shown in the original French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Yes, the book is in English Highly recommend if you can find it. In Search of My Father: A Warm, True Story by the Daughter of Merle Travis Pat Travis Eatherly Broadman Press, Nashville TN ISBN 0-8054-5727-5 1987 191 pages To start … “yes” Pat Travis Eatherly is Thom Bresh’s half sister. If you are at all interested in Merle or the early Nashville and picking scene this is a must read book. Like many of the country singers i.e. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, etc. Merle had a mixed and at times rough life. To review this book is hard because you are trying to cover the entire life of a man in only a couple sentences. Dale Evans Rogers (Yes, Roy Rogers wife) wrote about this book … “Every parent and child should read In Search of My Father. This poignant, real-life story reveals the deep need to love, communicate, and care between parent and child. Pat has been painfully honest in this account”. Chet Atkins wrote the forward to the book … “Merle Travis could write you a hit song and sing it; he could draw you a cartoon, play you a great guitar solo or fix your watch!” My interest in the book is because I love the Travis and Bresh playing. And to add to it my dad was one of 18 kids born in Kentucky to the same ma and pa. One of his brothers started a butcher shop and Merle worked for him hauling meat around in an old model T or A. He became very close to the family and in the book there is a picture of my aunt presenting Merle the key to the city (Drakesboro, Ky). Merle came through my town many years ago and I saw him perform. I was with others at the time and could not remain behind to meet him, but I left a note asking him if he would like to come out to the house for some Baugh’s BBQ. As I walked into the house after the concert the phone was ringing and it was Merle. He had another engagement the next night and could not come out but we gabbed on the phone for over 45 min. I met “The Breshman” a couple years ago and it truly brought back memories. Be ready to laugh and cry if you can find this book. I found my copy on eBay. Well worth the read!!!!!!