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Cataract surgery in both eyes came out great. I didn't know the world was so bright and colorful. I complained that it seems as though I often feel some irritable thing in my right eye, and Lo, they looked and informed me that my lower lid has some eye lashes growing backwards. I said that's weird, and they said no, it's quite common and informed me it's some long name I can't pronounce. Still think it's wierd, but next week I go to a specialist who'll pluck them and correct my situation. Talk about medical specialists! But they still can't correct my astigmatism, which means every darn page of sheet music I use has to be enlarged. Even so, they say I don't look like I'm eighty-seven, and I reply "You ought to see the world from my side of the eyeballs!" Lotsa luck. Best, John

I haven't posted about Lakota Leathers in quite a while. Allow me the indulgence. If you are looking for another guitar strap I encourage you to at least take a look at those offered by Lakota Leathers. They are high quality and, speaking from experience, unbelievably soft and comfortable. I now have around 5or 6 of them. There a few members on here who also have them and have offered their very positive experiences in the past. And their straps are made by members of the Lakota tribe in South Dakota. Shannon County, SD, which is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, is the poorest county in the United States. I'm not asking you to purchase a Lakota Leathers strap for that reason. I am suggesting you take a look at their product because it's a fantastic guitar strap and I love mine. Should you decide to purchase one you will help provide some economic support to people desperately in need as an additional benefit. ps. I have no business relationship with Lakota Leathers. I just like their product and think you may as well.

Hello Everyone! Well, after 5 weeks I'm done with session 4 lessons and bonus material - easily the most challenging session yet.. Thank you Steve Krenz!! This course is really working for me so far. You would have to know me to know how hard it as been for me to slow down and be patient with myself. I'm all in with Steve's learning style, and it is paying off for me. It is a constant tradeoff for me - I'm still not entirely happy with my sound, but when I go back and play a session 2 exercise or song I'm pretty stunned at how much sessions 3 and 4 moved me along. Lots of progress and lots still to learn. I'm confident that if I stick with the plan I'll get where I want to be. On one of my earlier attempts at learning guitar (in my 20s), I had a private teacher and I was using William Leavitt's Modern Method For Guitar. I didn't stick with my teacher or with Leavitt. My life and career trumped my guitar, and I was not successful. I found my Leavitt book last year and tried to start going through it. I made it about 10 pages into the book. The problem is that the material gets pretty complex pretty quickly, and I didn't have anyone to shepherd me through it. No knock on Leavitt - it is good material (from Berklee no less), but it definitely requires a patience I've never had and a good teacher to dole it out. I feel like the L&M method is like taking the Leavitt course, but with an accomplished professional musician guiding you. Truth be told, the L&M course is not as technically complex as Leavitt, but is way more practical, and definitely more fun. Bottom line - as a checkpoint, I pulled out my Leavitt book the other night and was able to play some exercises and songs that are pretty far beyond where I've ever been before. I'm working on a duet Etude from the book with a way more experienced guitar buddy of mine. Steve said to celebrate completion of session 4. I bought myself a new guitar strap, and I gave my Taylor a thorough spring cleaning and a new set of strings. And oh, yeah, I'm going to see Pat Metheny here in Knoxville on April 7. To session 5 and beyond!!!

March 19th, 2019 Topic: Celtic Guitar with Shane Hennessy! "...a brilliant young guitar player!" - Tommy Emmanuel Shane Hennessy is a virtuoso guitarist, composer and songwriter from Ireland. Known for his unique virtuosic approach to the acoustic guitar, his musical style has won praisse from musical giants Nile Rodgers of CHIC and guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel, with whom Shane has shared the stage. Here are a few videos.... Watch it live at 7pm Central tonight HERE Great music, giveaways and more. See you there! Make sure to subscribe to our Guitar Gathering YouTube Channel HERE Learn all you can - Steve

I have two, and they are definitely my favorites!! Unbelievably soft and comfortable, and going on probably 5+ years and they are still going strong!

R.I.P. Mr, **** Dale- "Master of the Surfing Guitar". Used to listen to him on the radio growing up in California, back int he day of surfing and surf music.....**** Dale, Jan & Dean, Beach Boys, etc........

Hank Williams' S.S. Stewart archtop is now available at Carter Vintage Guitars. Wow - if this guitar could talk... Nice appreciation for a guitar purchased for $14 in 1946. If one of you buys this, please bring it to the summer conference. 🙂

I have a couple of them and they are my favorites. A bit of an expense but superior quality makes them a value to me. Greg

Amazing................I have 4 pedals and can't keep all the settings in my head!

Cliff, first off, and most importantly, you did not look stupid. Or if you did!, we all have? And secondly, SLOW IT DOWN! I don't care what the issue, what the error, what the problem, what is frustrating you. 97.3% of issues can be solved by slowing it down. As Barb ( @K9kaos) said, " way, way, way, down". I wish I would have learned this a lot earlier in my L&MG studies. I slowed it down, but not enough. I still get impatient and don't slow it down enough. Just the other day I was working a blues lick that had a pull-off on the 5th string and it took a while to register to slow the #$%^ thing down! Lastly, a couple above mentioned Session 4 is a "biggie". It will take a while. It took all of us longer than we anticipated. If you haven't glanced at it or started it, the real "meat" for this session is in the bonus materials. So be prepared to be here a while. And please keep us posted on your progress.

RIP King of the Surf Guitar. **** Dales dies at 83. How many of us loved that " twangy" Strat sound of the 60's? I did. " CBS Los Angeles points out that Dale had never let age slow him down — he was on the bill for a show May 31 in Agoura Hills, California, and July 14 in San Juan Capistrano. "