Leaderboard

I always play with my right heel up in the air from the ball of my foot to get a little lift on the guitar. This can become quite uncomfortable during long practices. So I ordered this from Amazon and tonight is my first time using it. It is amazingly comfortable. I recommend to anyone who likes their right leg a little higher than the left.

Or How To Tell When Someone Studies Music Theory Too Long...............

Jack was a featured guest at last year's Guitar Gathering. What an amazing evening for all the attendees as he is a wizard with the guitar and was a wonderful interview for the students. So nice to see others recognize his contributions with this honor. Greg

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

Apparently our Jack Pearson was honored by the Tennessee State Capital. I say "our" because he has been on our Live Lessons and at the Guitar Gathering. I met Jack last year on the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Cruise and what a nice, humble man. I got to speak with him for about 15 minutes after one of his workshops. There is a also video of his playing "Tennessee Waltz" at the Tennessee Senate and I'll see if I can find it and post it as well. I got this from Facebook.

I'm loving this!!!! - Steve

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."

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!

Diane, I never heard of that documentary. So I just looked it up, watched the trailer, and ordered the DVD. I will be sharing it with our music group to encourage them too. Thank you for telling me about it.

Sounds good!

Nice!

Everybody remember, or be aware, to be able to watch it on YouTube and Chat, so that you can can pose questions to Steve you must have a Google account. To be clear, you can watch it on YouTube without an account. But you must have a Google account to be able to log in, chat, and pose questions. Most people probably do have a Google account. But in case not, it's a very easy process to sign up. If you need/want to create that account you may want to head over to YT a little bit early to do so.

Mark, what a wonderful testimony. It reminded me of the 2014 documentary, Alive Inside.

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

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

OK folks, I have created a bass track for our song. I recorded it using my Lindo Purple Dove bass guitar routed through a Yamaha THR5 set on clean and I used Modern Stack as the amp in GarageBand. I am not a great bass player so do not expect too much!

Funny Except Jazz should say.. cat running across piano

Lovely guitar. Congratulations. Enjoy. It really is a beautiful instrument. You should post a little sample of how it sounds.

That is a beautiful guitar. The colour is gorgeous. Congratulations.

Wow, that is a definite home run out of the park guitar. Stunnig color.

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

Love one wife and play many guitars!

Wow! your new PRS is a beauty!. You will enjoy this wonderful guitar for many moons. Dave

Beautiful.. wow . Enjoy . Isn't it great to have wife's who encourage us

Not sure why you are sweat'n it Ron. There always seems to be this stigma with guitarists that the best will only play standing and from memory. Long ago I decided that I will play and perform in a manner which suits me. During a 10 song set I will sit on a stool for 8 of them, only standing when I share a mic with another player. Play for yourself first, and go slowly, trust your own skills. One extra thought since we were talking about straps in another link. I have noticed that an extra width strap of 3" is much more comfortable. After using the 3" strap, the 2" feels like it is digging in. Henk

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.

Wow! Beautiful guitar. Congratulations!!! I'll bet that is a fun way to play! Ben

Wow, nice find. I love playing my PRS II hollowbody, and yes it is ultra-light. For those of us who have had back surgery as myself, a wonder to behold....or should I say , just to hold. Love it and yours is a stunner!. Enjoy and congrats. Greg

That is sweet in whale blue. Congratulations, very clean and classy looking. Feather light with good tone. Great to have wives who can appreciate a special guitar. Enjoy hearing the good news.

Can I borrow your wife the next time I plan to go guitar shopping...just kidding, I'm jealous on both parts. That is a stunning guitar. Enjoy its tone and weight.

And I’m sure the playability of the instrument is excellent, too. Congrats on acquiring this gorgeous piece of work. Enjoy!