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Here is a quote from Steve Krenz. I think it is beautiful. "Let me explain. Playing guitar, as with any creative endeavor, for the vast majority is not about "being the best". (Forgive the upcoming metaphors) It's about breaking through something - it's about creating something. It's about pounding against the concrete layer put over us in our daily lives by this hardened world to eventually find a crack to burst through our flower. It's about saying to this hardened, cynical world, there's more to me than just my role - I was made to create something. I'm not putting this as eloquently as I would like but I hope you understand. We create because we were made to create. It's why we try to paint, to sing, to play a guitar. Learning guitar is not a talent show. It's not about who sings the best or plays the best. It's about getting the music that's inside of us out."

Yes, yes, yes. I stand by every word of this - even more so. - Steve

What is the deference between a fiddle and a Violin ? My Daughter plays the violin . she calls it a violin . I call it a Fiddle. She asks whats the deference and I say { Attitude }

Tuesday February 6th, 2018 Topic: Fiddle & Guitar Harmonizing with David Varnado 7pm Central Time US You can watch the lesson HERE. Well, the topic of this live lesson has shifted around a bit but there's been a quick change in plans. I'm honored to have Hall of Fame Fiddle Player, David Varnado stopping by. David has played with Vince Gill, the Time Jumpers, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Paycheck, Chris LeDoux and the Grand Old Opry. He plays fiddle (violin), electric mandolin, and guitar. David will be playing a few tunes and showing us his amazing guitar harmonizer that he developed. This should be a fascinating show, catching a true great as he's passing through Nashville. There will be music, laughs, giveaways and more. I look forward to seeing you there! Watch on our Guitar Gathering YouTube Channel HERE - Steve

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

Hello colder! Over the past couple of decades, I have played guitar on a few worship teams and led at times as well. My current church is fairly large and has some very talented and professional level musicians so I have only been able to play for evening services. Because of this, I joined a little group which uses music to minister outside the walls. For the past three or four years I have been part of a group who visits assisted living facilities every month. Some of these people get zero family or other visitors so we have an impact by playing, singing, chatting, hugging, etc. They are blessed and so are we. I would like to share a true story which I witnessed in a memory care unit late last year. Nearly every time we played and sang at this place, a lady I will refer to as Jane, would come into the day room with big smiles, sometimes giggle, and occasionally hum but not a word from Jane's lips. Over a period of months, Jane became more animated and would walk around us as we played and sang. Again, just smiling, giggling, and humming. The staff occasionally would gently help her back to her seat as her sense of personal space didn't exist. She would get within inches of my face while I was seated playing guitar. One particular day, my fretting hand was hurting so I laid down my guitar and sat next to Jane. As our pianist started into the next song, I grab a song sheet and proceeded to smile back at Jane and point to the place we were at as the group sang. About mid chorus, suddenly, Jane is singing!!! She isn't even reading the lyrics. She knows the tune and the lyrics by heart. The staff and our group could barely contain ourselves. This went on for a few songs. Then, she went back to just smiling and giggling and I got back to my guitar. Later, I learned from the staff that Jane had never spoken a single word to anyone since she was brought to the facility. We had been singing and playing for about two years in this "memory care" unit. I never had a clue how God was going to impact my life when I walked in that day but I walked out about ten feet off the ground - God had blessed my socks off with what is the most miraculous event I have ever experienced. I had the most peaceful sense of being right where God wanted me, when He wanted me, and how He wanted me. If your church has a hundred or more people in attendance, there are likely other instrumentalists sitting in the pew you can connect with. If you have several hundred attendees, I guarantee you there are other singers and instrumentalists on the sidelines willing to join one who stands up and takes the lead in a new or revived music related ministry. Step 1. Pray. Step 2. Share your heart for worship with your pastor as well as other musicians. Step 3. Ask your pastor for information on other ministries where music is or could be utilized. Step 4. Ask for names of people who also enjoy playing and singing. Then initiate personal contact. Step 5. Keep practicing with ALL types of Christian music. (I never expected to be playing hymns every month versus contemporary Christian music) Step 6. Make yourself available to every opportunity. Post an advertisement on the bulletin board to start up your own group if no other opportunity presents itself. This will be a powerful learning experience whether the group thrives or dries up on the paper. Step 7. Practice resting in God and meditating on His word as His timing is perfect.

I'm a person who loves to read quotes for inspiration in all areas of life. So I thought I would start this thread for quotes about guitar or music. So if you have a favorite or run across a good one please post. Heck there are probably at least a hundred from Steve that inspire me. This first one I'm sure everyone has read but I like it. "Sometimes you want to give up the guitar. You'll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it you're gonna be rewarded." Jimi Hendrix

While some think of Jazz as "cats on the piano", many modern blues players have very effectively used so-call "jazz chords" in bringing a fresh approach to the Blues. None more so, in my humble opinion, than Robben Ford, a great performer and teacher (as it turns out) who demonstrates here how the addition of 9th's and 13th's to the usual 1 - 4-5 progression adds some much needed interest. Not hard at all... try it!

I wanted to share a bit about my preparation for this lesson. David called and gave me about 6 or so songs he wanted to reference tonight. The songs were "San Antonio Rose" by Bob Wills, "I'll be there" by Johnny Bush, "Faded Love" by Bob Wills, "Wine me Up" by Faron Young, "Slide off Your Satin Sheets" by Johnny Paycheck, "The Other Woman" by Ray Price, and "Pass Me By " by Johnny Rodriguez. It's been strangely emotional preparing for this live lesson. Few know this, but when I was growing up in Texas there was only one kind of music playing - country music like these songs. I quite literally have not listened to these songs since middle school yet I heard them so much around our house then I remember them clearly. It's like opening up a time capsule to then. See you tonight. Steve

Now this is old time "Down East" Maritime Fiddle Music. "Don Messers Jubiliee" .. I heard this on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ) every Saturday night as a kid, just before "Hockey Night In Canada"... with Foster Hewitt "He shoots, He scores!"

Hey Blue: Now these are Fiddlers, Cape Breton style. That's in Canada for you Yanks. https://youtu.be/xx9f9IGQq7w

Mandy, Thank you for the warm welcome! And I love the analogy “athlete in training”, makes perfect sense! Will definitely be back as my progression continues; I am so glad I came here! Janice

This saturday i bought a new guitar, I went to the shop to play the drs1 from martin but i ended up buying a blueridge br40. OMG, what a guitar for almost half the price of the martin so i am very pleased. Nice deep bass, plays like butter, good resonance and she reacts very fast. She has a sitka spruce top so its a little brighter then the sapele top from the martin Drs1 and laminated back and sides from mahogany. I went out for a solid back and side but that blueridge played soooo damn good... I knew just a little about that brand and i thought that for that price only seagull has great guitars but to anyone who wanna buy a new guitar for +- 500 dollars, check out a blueridge!!! greetings

A cup of tea and a piece of cake would be nice!

Hello Tpettygirl, I am so glad that you have posted on this forum. I see you have been given some great advice already. I remember getting frustrated with the chords early on myself. I have small hands and when I first started doing them my finger placement was terrible, they sounded dreadful and they hurt so much that I could only do a couple of bars at a time. My chords did not really blossom until a lot later. Here is what I did. I practiced the 2 chords for short bursts each day in between doing my other learning from the course. It was ages before I could get them right and they stopped hurting me. Now that I look back I understand that there were 2 processes going on. The first was that by practicing the chords I was gradually stretching out my hand and building up the muscles necessary to be able to play them. The second was that I was building up muscle memory. Its kind of like eating while you are watching a dvd. You do not need to concentrate when your hand goes up to your mouth because your brain/muscles in the arm, fingers and hand remember how to do that. You are an athlete in training! I hope this helps. Keep in touch with us to let us know how you are getting on. Mandy

I'm working on ideas. Won't be able to record until month end at the earliest as I will on a trip for several weeks. Greg

Thanks DianeB, Ordered both books and thanks for the encouragement!

I use this method almost every day. It's really great not having to set up the amp, cables etc. Instead of the amPlug, I bought the Vox amPhones https://www.long-mcquade.com/19560/Guitars/Guitar_Effects/Vox/amPhones_Lead_Active_Guitar_Headphone.htm#add-to-wishlist ($139.99 CDN about 25% less in the USA) These are good quality headphones with the amp built right into the headphones, with out having to use the bulky plug in unit on the guitar. They work great! I didn't have a set of headphones at the time so i got 2 units for the price of one. The lead from the phones has a 1/4" jack with an adapter to 1/8 " . so you can use it with all your music players, cell phone, or the small jack on your regular amp. There are several models, with different tones. I got the "Twin" model for the Fender clean tones. My only critique is that the volume, tone, gain and on/off switches are very small. It's powered by 1 AA battery which has a decent life.. just remember to turn it off. You dont need the phones on to use them with a music player. And they're so portable... I take them with me to the cottage, travelling etc. PLUS... I bought a 1/8 male to male lead ($10) so I plug the amPhones (separate jack) into my computer or phone for Lessons, backing or jam tracks and the like. I can practice late at night (as I am want to do ) for hours and not disturb my dear wife. :-) I actually seldom use my "real " amp. (I've been thinking about a different amp, but with these, I don;t really "need" one. Worth every penny.

Thought I’d spice up Griff’s Fretboard Diagram PDF with my own. If; in addition to the black, red and blue dots; you want to visualize the forms in terms of intervals like this: Feel free to download my two PDF files: Five Major Blues Forms.pdf Five Minor Blues Forms.pdf

I am in. I just wanted to bump this post because it is getting buried.

Thank you for the encouragement Steve. I am inching closer to completing the intermediate workout. When I was starting on this I would do the workout and wonder how in the world is this going to make me any better? But doing the exercises has "leaked" into other areas of my work. Like hand strength and improved finger stretching. And accuracy of picking and pinky use. It's funny, I want to complete and do well so I find myself practicing for practice. Meaning I work on the moves so that when the clock is running I have a better chance of improving my speed and accuracy.

Well it ant going to play itself. My Grandmother

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

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

Here's one The guitar is the easiest instrument to play and the hardest to play well. Andres Segovia

"Don't be so serious. Playing should be fun, that's why they call it playing". A guy I was chatting to in the pub. Ian

All these Birds all Have some thing in common. Narrow Mindedness. It's ok to have a favorite kind of music. Problem is If you shut your self off from The others. Then you are limiting your enjoyment. Because its all tied to gather. Ernie Ball

'It never has bothered me that I can’t do it YET! Tomorrow I will be closer – don’t be discouraged by the barriers.' John Knowles C.G.P. (at the Fingerstyle Guitar Gathering, November 2017)

Chet Atkins (in response to someone saying ‘That looked easy.’): ‘It didn’t use to be.’

Diane that's exactly why I started this. Great quote!

But finally and ultimately, music remains an intensely personal issue. Maybe the most important commitment you can make is to the music fan that lives inside of you, to find out just what it is about music that really, really knocks you out. In that discovery, you'll find most of what you need to know to take you wherever you need to go. All of you here have roads ahead of you that will be filled with good musical days, the ones where you feel like you can play or hear anything, and bad musical days, the ones where everything you do sounds like a bad Madonna tune. But that variety, that sense of unknowing, that feeling of having to make it up yourself, that sense of adventure — that is what music is at its best, and that's a big part of why having a life as a musician is so much fun. —Pat Metheny, Berklee Commencement Address, 1997

"If you miss practice one day, you can tell. If you miss practice two days, your friends can tell. If you miss practice three days, everybody can tell." - Chet Atkins

Yes that is exactly what he said.

“If it sounds good and if it feels good, then it IS good.” - Duke Ellington

UncleHammy, a great quote and Will McFarland did say this. As I understand his entire quote was, "I'm not a neurosurgeon. If I make a mistake playing guitar, nobody dies." What bothers me (or did) is this came just before my 2nd neurosurgery

"If I make a mistake playing guitar, nobody dies." - Will McFarland at the 2015 Guitar Gathering.

Ha, It's in the challenging things that we improve. Never shrink back from a challenge. You conquer them just like you conquered the easier things. One line at a time. One practice session at a time. Until, one day, what once looked impossible is now not so hard. You'll get it. Keep going. - Steve