Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation since 03/28/2023 in all areas

  1. I was one of the 5 that Diane mentioned (we need to come up with a name for ourselves). When I relayed my experience to my wife, she had some good advice - don't use the word "performance". Just think of this as playing in front of your friends. I volunteered to be a guinea pig in Steve's session on the basics - I provide an excellent demonstration of what not to do. But I got up there and Steve said - "Play something". So I start playing his arrangement of "Yesterday" from the Beatles Academy a couple of years ago. I know that song cold. I play it at home all the time - fairly well I think. I stumbled through the first two verses and the bridge - and then - bang. My mind went totally blank. I froze. I tried to restart. Didn't work. So Steve rescued me and continued his class. Then later that evening I played my planned "performance" of "If" by Bread (my wife's favorite). I had practiced this at home so many times I could play it in my sleep. I made it through the song - not as smooth as I would like - and since I was playing through Steve's amp (which I rarely do on acoustic at home) I could hear every mistake amplified. And yes, I could feel my right hand starting to quiver a bit, particularly as I realized the song was almost over. But you know what? I would do it again. I'll be better next time. And yes, there will be a next time.
    8 points
  2. Epilog One more day on the road tomorrow. Almost home. At Deer Run, I mopped the floor, extinguished a fire, and took my turn in front of the fireplace. (Use your imagination, it will be more dramatic.) For now, I leave you with a final lesson learned, or more accurately, re-learned. Our guest artists are phenomenal, inspirational, humble, world class musicians. But I can’t aspire to their level of play. I so look forward to hearing my fellow students perform. In them — in you — I can better imagine my future self. Yet of my two dozen companions this week, only five of us elected to play a song for the group. There was time for at least twice that number. It’s ironic that so many of us who love to make music in privacy are so terrified of performing the very same music for others. No, it’s worse than ironic, it’s joy denied. I get it. Steve gets it: “You sit in front here and you freak out.” People, please: make peace with making mistakes. I have, because what matters is what happens along the way. I knew my song would be shaky after three days of travel without rehearsing. But I reminded myself that two months ago, I couldn’t play a single note of it. It was getting better. In front of my teacher and my friends, I stumbled here and there, but I caught a little magic. You deserve some of your own. Give us what you’ve got. It might have been things I missed But don’t be unkind, it don’t mean I’m blind… You see, it’s all clear, you were meant to be here From the beginning — Greg Lake, “From the Beginning”
    8 points
  3. I’ve been wanting a PRS McCarty for a while now and my local shop got this one in the other day. I decided to trade a PRS SE Custom 24 that I never really warmed up to. So with a wave of the magic credit card, this one came home with me.
    8 points
  4. so I started the new title in this section. Steve's GG Finger-Style Fall Retreat Oct17-20 2024 (not conflicting with Halloween this year) gx169.infusionsoft.app/app/storeFront/showProductDetail?productId=366 now with BIG in trepidation I registered for this. But after the wife for the third year in a row, being able to hang out in her friends condo in Florida for a week or two and I get zero trips. I made it a point to at least have one trip this year. And not being a big finger style guy.. yeah I have a pattern I fall back on for pretty much everything. Be it Dust in the Wind or O Holy Night. I'm going.. I have a hotel booked for Tue Oct 15 to Thur Oct 17.. and plan to 'tire kick' at Gruhn's, Carter's and Gibson Garage on Oct 16th.. Still have to book my flights yet. I'm in the middle of live teacher lessons on Tues nights that my son is paying for (twist.. child pays for parents lessons LoL). But I'm not on finger style.. we're cleaning up my rock ambitions. when the paid lessons end at the end of March; I will tackle Steve's LMG Finger Style course.. so I will have only 5 short months to at least get to a reasonable 'competency' level. Oh no pressure...
    7 points
  5. Last night, my (well-obscured) guitar partner Dave and I played an 11-song acoustic set at an open mic in Elkton, MD, to an appreciative room of patrons. We opened with "Old Time Rock and Roll" and closed with "Long May You Run," more or less taking turns with vocals and solos. There were a couple of hiccups, but we had our moments, too.
    7 points
  6. The balmy temperatures have turned the season upside down: looks like autumn, feels like spring. It was so warm upon arrival that Deer Run had the AC on rather than the heat. I spent my first night balled up like an armadillo, then I remembered the spare blanket and space heater hidden behind the bunk beds. All better. Steve started Saturday with a lesson on movable chord shapes. Thomas Leeb returned for a workshop focusing on polyrhythms, which figure prominently in his Michael Hedges-like percussion playing. As we recessed for lunch, fellow student Jim Felter and I slipped out to the back porch where I made another, cleaner pass at “From the Beginning” — and with him playing a duet with me. What a happy surprise. Practice methods was the first afternoon topic with Steve. Bill Cooley used “Amazing Grace” to illustrate variations in progressions when creating arrangements. Then, the final, raucous, high-stakes final rounds of the GG Cornhole Championship. Last ones standing were the Pickups: David White (for the second year in a row) and partner Jim Nash. Best team name: “All Rights Reserved”, but I might be, ahem, biased. After dinner, Steve presented the Cornhole trophy, and Vanessa’s granddaughter drew the names of the door prize winners. Prizes included subscriptions to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Fishman pickups, and a Fender acoustic as the grand prize, carried home by a thoroughly deserving Bob. He left a gig in Virginia Beach at 1:00 am, caught four hours’ sleep, then drove 742 miles to join us: Matt Thomas seems human enough, but it’s hard to believe. For the next 90 minutes he blew the roof off. As we recovered in the warm night air, we didn’t need the fire pit. The rocking chairs on the front porch did just fine.
    7 points
  7. Epilog The trip home was a delightful coda to an equally happy Gathering. At Nancy and Scott Lawing’s home in North Carolina, we compared notes and played some tunes. In nearby Asheville I had lunch with Jonathan, my former guitar tutor. In that same corner of the Smokies, at Biltmore Lake, I reunited with a high school classmate. Three stops across Virginia, Tennessee, and Carolina enabled me to hit the trifecta of seeing all my grad school research partners. With a final port of call in my home town of Newport News, I returned to the house where I grew up and enjoyed dinner with the couple, now good friends, who bought it. My odyssey encompassed 13 days, 2,075 miles, and some 2,500 feet up and down. On the lonely stretches, I listened to Weather Report, Sting, Lindsey Buckingham, and astronaut Sally Ride’s biography by Lynn Scherr. Thanks for reading and all your kind words. I know many of you could not attend this year; I hope the joyful spirit of our conclave reaches you. Keep the faith.
    7 points
  8. Sunday dawned with the clouds giving way to sunshine, then back again. As Steve started the morning workshop, I settled into the press box with my reporter’s notebook, glanced around, and realized to my horror that I was the only one without a guitar. “Where’s your guitar?” Steve wondered aloud to the whole group. I buried my face in shame (!) and hurried to retrieve it. I thought we were here for the Cornhole. Matt Thomas demonstrated how right hand exercises in DADGAD can give the left hand a rest while the exercise still sounds musical. As he explained “See how it sounds when we drop to the parallel minor, from C major to C minor?” it occurred to me to raise my hand and point out how that’s a Picardy Third in reverse. I kept my mouth shut, and my remaining dignity for the day intact. Finally, announcements time: next year’s retreat will be October 17–20, 2024. Maybe, Christie Lenée again. The registration link is up. Guitars quieted, the lodge filled with the sounds of thumping staircases, rolling suitcases, and shouted goodbyes. We jotted our thanks in Steve’s memory book, messaged our photos back and forth, and loaded our cars — as the falling acorns tapped their gentle polyrhythm on the ground.
    6 points
  9. Birdsong. Acorns dropping from trees and crunching underfoot among the leaves. A lilting melody wafts into the lodge from the back porch. Laughter from the dining room. Amid the lessons and performances and animated mealtime gatherings, the small pleasures, easy to overlook, can found in all directions. Friday began with a workshop by Walter Rodrigues on arranging. As I recognized the approach chords and contrary motion, I silently thanked my theory teacher. After lunch, Grammy winner Ron Block offered his masterclass on technique, which could be summed up as: touch. He related a story about Allison Krauss describing him to another guitarist who had to fill in: “When Ron plays, it’s like he’s either talking to a baby, or talking to Jesus.” We adjourned to the Field of Honor for the first rounds of the Guitar Gathering Cornhole Championship. Details to be published elsewhere in Pseudosports Illustrated. Our evening concert was a tour de force by percussive powerhouse Thomas Leeb. We dialed it back for the day over cookies, cake, and Paulette’s hot chocolate and apple cider. IMG_3248.mov IMG_3241.mov
    6 points
  10. Today, reunion day. I began once again at the airport, this year to pick up newcomer Anne from Maine. We had time for the traditional lunch at M. L. Rose’s, then we were off through the balmy afternoon to the Franklin countryside and into Deer Run. New faces and old friends greeted us once more. A full house. What a joy to see Steve again and especially Paulette. Once we found our rooms, Steve welcomed us and we went around the living room for introductions. After a short lesson in the basics, with help from volunteers Gary and Carson, it was time for dinner. The Deer Run kitchen staff were on their game, with beef brisket for the entree and chocolate mousse cake for dessert. Now hyperglycemic as well as thoroughly unrehearsed, I led off the student performances with a shaky take on Greg Lake’s “From the Beginning”: from here things could only get better. Our evening guest was Walter Rodrigues, Jr., who entertained us with his bright, warm, and brilliant original arrangements on his customized Cordoba. We retired to the fire pit in the back for s’mores and conversation. A bright moon glowed above on a comfortably warm night as we charred marshmallows and chatted away. Finally it was time for Steve to put out the fire, and with that cue, we called it a night.
    6 points
  11. My ears were still ringing when my head hit the pillow. I made a note to myself — “Retune, stupid, you’re still in DADGAD” — and fell asleep in minutes. After breakfast I retuned and made a final slow pass at my song, then back to Trevecca. As usual, a few people needed to leave early, so we were missing a handful this morning. I think there was only one no-show. Steve led us though “Uptown Funk” once more — a Mystery Song from last summer. I can read the music, I’m but totally lacking in funk, whether downtown, midtown, or uptown. Our Student Showcase is always a delight. Steve takes so much joy in an hour when he can relax and watch his students go. We had blues, rock, pop, fingerstyle, instrumentals, riffs, and from-the-heart singing. There is magic in offering a musical gift to your friends. Jerry Measimer crafted one of his beautiful wood fedoras and donated it for a silent auction to benefit Instruments of Joy. The winning bidder was David Robinson, who will surely wear it well. Then the moment came for Steve to say: “See you next time.” We shared our parting thanks, handshakes, hugs, and congratulations. I caught a glimpse of little Theodore, now on his feet, steadied by his father Daniel and mother Grace, thinking perhaps, “At last, I’m out of that stroller and now I can do some real damage.” We scooped up the music stands, stacked the chairs, and stuffed and latched our guitar cases. We wrote our thank you’s in Steve and Paulette’s memory book, made one last trip to the Gathering store, and loaded our cars. I reached for my keys, and my thoughts turned to my late friend Gregg Cobler. It was Saturday afternoon of my first Gathering in 2014 when he called me out of the blue and suggested meeting for dinner. “My friend, I know you were here with us. Your old Strat ain’t mine to keep. I’m just taking care of it now, together with Julio. See you on the other side. And go, Chiefs.” So will you please say hello to the folks that I know Tell them I won't be long They'll be happy to know that when you saw me go I was singing this song We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when But I know we'll meet again some sunny day Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, “We’ll Meet Again”
    6 points
  12. Electric day dawns with almost all of us holding acoustics. Almost. I spotted a pair of microminiamps, if you can call them that, parked on the shelves of music stands. You can’t say these people don’t know how to shop. Picking and strumming technique comprised our morning workout. Bart Walker returned for a blues masterclass, and you couldn’t call it anything else. Pick your player: BB, SRV, Santana, Buddy Guy, before you can finish asking for a demo, Bart is already at the turnaround. He’s articulate, humble, and seems to revel in our company. Over at the grill, my lunch tab was once more snatched away (see last year’s Gathering report) by another kind benefactor. I returned to part two of Bryan White’s songwriting workshop, dismayed at having to excuse myself early just as it was getting interesting, to attend to my setup slot with Greg Voros and Julio. I toted my Strat across the hall to where Julio was finishing up on David Robinson’s guitar — Greg was resting his hands today — and I took a seat between Greg and David. The next hour and a half were simply bonkers. The three of us jabbered about basketball, stage fright, and suddenly being asked to play for an audience on the spot, three things we all seemed to have in common, more or less. Julio finished with David’s guitar and I handed over mine. No sooner had I reported that something was a tad wonky somewhere, maybe fret wear, than a dozen others arrived and took seats. It was time for Greg’s setup class, and my Strat was now the patient on the table. Yes, I got the Blue Plate Special: a tiny twist to the truss rod, high gloss fret polish, pickups tweaked, the wonky G string nut slot corrected, and final intonation check, all narrated by Greg and recorded for posterity by Dave White. It will probably cost me at least a filet mignon in Asheville to get a copy of his video. By the time I returned my duly blessed Strat to the car, Steve’s blues jam was in full swing. I couldn’t concentrate. I was already light headed from walking back after lunch with David, talking Olympics and Coach K. And that was before the setup. Now I’m supposed to remember these licks?! Barb and I hit M. L. Rose’s for dinner, then it was over to Gruhn Guitars. Just as I was about to shoot a Polaroid of the mural, our official photographer Chuck Thompson arrived. “Hey, Diane! You’ve got the Polaroid!” (I had previously warned him that cameras were my primary weapon of choice, before guitars.) Inside, Steve and Will McFarlane tuned up as we took our seats. Almost time to go. The chat moderator had just posted the heads up on the forum when Steve leaned over to tell me we couldn’t go live tonight; we had connection problems. So I folded up my iPad, poured a cup of Greg Voros coffee blend, and listened as Will held court. Later, I got to say goodbye. He remembered me from my first Gathering. We both recalled living in Durham, NC, in the late 70s (I was in grad school at Duke — well before the Coach K days) when the only music store in town was at Northgate Mall. I don’t know if Will bought anything there, but it’s where I got my Guild acoustic. Upstairs, drawn like moths to a flame (“They’re like addicts in a poppy field” according to a certain videographer who will remain nameless) we milled about George Gruhn’s prize collection. I bought some shirts as gifts for friends. Just as the cashier, Britt, rang up my card, someone passed me a discount coupon, but too late. I started for the door, and tried to wave her off, but Britt wasn’t having it. “What size do you wear?” she insisted. I gave Chuck his Polaroid portrait, accepted Britt’s offering, and followed Barb out the door, my feet ten feet off the ground. This old guitar ain't mine to keep Just taking care of it now It's been around for years and years Just waiting in its old case It's been up and down the country roads It's brought a tear and a smile It's seen its share of dreams and hopes And never went out of style The more I play it, the better it sounds It cries when I leave it alone Silently it waits for me Or someone else I suppose Neil Young, “This Old Guitar”
    6 points
  13. Finally!! I got my slat boards up and the hangers attached. This is going to be so nice!!!! If anyone is interested here they are, left to right: 1) Martin M-36 2) Gibson 325 3) PRS Santana 4) Fender Stratocaster 5) PRS Paul's (My favorite!!!) 6) Martin 000-15M 7) Seagull S6 Classic 8. PRS HB1 9) Yamaha Pacifica 10) PRS SE Santana (I posted this photo in the members gallery but thought I would post a thread😎)
    6 points
  14. We are unofficially under way. I was slumming around Carter’s Vintage Guitars today, craning my neck for the telltale cap and golf shirt, but Dave wasn’t in sight. The shop was busy and I had nowhere to sit with a guitar, so I turned south in the direction of the aroma. No, not Hattie B’s — I mean that new guitar smell. I visited with Britt and Benjamin — Greg was off — and indulged my Macpherson crush a while. Sigh. Back at the hotel, on a hunch, I texted Dave and learned I had just missed him and Keith at Carter’s. We met for dinner at Bonefish Grill, aware that the Deer Run menu doesn’t extend to filet or scallops. Pro tip: if you go to Carter’s, take a Land Rover; that parking lot is brutal.
    5 points
  15. One more brilliant morning rolling down the ridge west of Knoxville. One more slow climb through the shade at the entrance to Trevecca. And one more gaze at the neat rows of name tags and t-shirts waiting inside the Jackson music building — 34 of them. I arrived at lunchtime to find a dozen students clearing gear from the performance hall and loading it into a truck. Steve and Gary waved me off to finish prepping the room for tomorrow, so I relaxed with Paulette in the hallway. Through the window I could see a couple of yellow-vested workers adding final touches to the new seven story residence hall. But will it ever be filled? As a retired college teacher, I’m aware of the toll the pandemic exacted on higher education, especially small colleges. Steve confirmed my suspicions: enrollments here, like elsewhere, have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. It’s 2023, and Trevecca is surely feeling the financial pressure. Preparations all in place, I steered over to the City Winery, hoping to do some shopping, only to be greeted by a sign at the front door: “Closed for Private Event”. Oh, well, everybody has to pay their rent. Call me the breeze I keep blowin' down the road Well now they call me the breeze I keep blowin' down the road I ain't got me nobody I don't carry me no load J. J. Cale, “Call Me the Breeze”
    5 points
  16. It was a hot one today, but clear skies above us. Time to return to the the spider climbs and the Phil Keaggy stretches. Teacher and students were still standing, but barely. Ron Block led the morning masterclass on fingerpicking. “Hey, Dave! Sean!” Flash! Bzzzzzt! ….and, ack! This Polaroid film is too darn slow for a room painted totally black. I’ll make it up to them later. We cleared away the music stands and crowded together for Chuck Thompson to take our group picture. Steve welcomed Dr. Vernon Whaley, provost of music education here at Trevecca and we extended our thanks. We also greeted Joshua MacLeod of Instruments of Joy, who acknowledged the many guitars that we have donated to his organization which are now in the hands of impoverished music students all over the world. Our own Trevor Lee taught an introductory DADGAD lesson: “This tuning will change your life,” he said, and I had to agree that could be true. Session guitarist extraordinaire Tom Bukovac fielded a flurry of great questions in his afternoon masterclass; we just kept pitching them and he was equal to it all. We closed out the working day with Steve’s advice on overcoming performance anxiety. I have about 18 hours to internalize it. Tonight Doug and I took in the Midnight Riders, an Allman Brothers tribute band, at Third and Lindsley. Loud and wicked good. I had to duck out after the first set; the Student Showcase is in the morning. Yet again, my check was snatched away. A fitting finish to the day. Thanks, pal. See you on stage tomorrow. There's a night bird singing, right on through till the dawn And the streets are still ringing, with people carrying on It's been so long waiting, just to be here again Anticipating, all the time I could spend In the heart of the night Poco, “In the Heart of the Night”
    5 points
  17. Every year I come back from the Bonamassa Blues Cruise (aka Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea) raving about what a great time it was. Because it was!!! 😉 It is consistently one of my wife and my greatest musical event of the year. Just such a great time. If you are ever considering it, don't hesitate. Just do it. But one of the additional benefits is that so many years we have met up with fellow members of Guitar Gathering, or as @Steve Krenz likes to call them, us, our "Guitar Family". And that is exactly what happened again this year. My wife and I had so much fun going to concerts with, having breakfast with, chatting with (about guitars of course) and just hanging out with @Tom M and his lovely wife, Sheila. The cruise is, as I have said so many times, one of our favorite times ever. Tom and Sheila just made it even better. From L-R: Tom M, Yours truly, Mrs. matonanjin, Mrs. Tom M
    5 points
  18. Hello Friends; Well, I finally played my first ' jazz gig / jam session ' in a public venue. Some may recall I've been looking for quite a while for the right players and setting. I recently found a jazz trio (on Facebook ) that plays Sundays regularly at a cafe' , about 45 min drive away. They invite basically anyone to come and play whatever instrument and style they play. After contacting the leader, a jazz guitarist with 50 yrs of playing experience, and sharing some of my recordings and Jazz Studio collaboration videos, he was quite keen for me to attend. I practiced a few tunes ahead that I know well, and showed up early. The group was very friendly, & welcoming. There was a good drummer, bass player as well, who play together regularly. I listened for their 1st set, about 45 minutes, then sat in with them. We played a few tunes I had prepared for , Autumn Leaves, Black Orpheus, Summertime, and a G Blues. I stuck mostly to comping rhythm, except playing melody on Summertime, while the other players took turns soloing. I had a little trouble hearing the 'changes' , ( drums were loud, right behind me) but I was told I did very well. I though I could have played much better but for the first time I guess it was OK. There was also a very good trumpet player playing with us, which I really liked. So... it was overall a good learning experience ( 'diving into the deep end' as the leader put it) and great to meet and play with some good musicians. They invited me back anytime, so I left on a positive note. Next time ( a few weeks) I'll know more of what to expect. Cheers; Neil
    4 points
  19. Doug - I felt the same way when I went for the first time. But trust me, you will be fine. And I highly recommend Steve's Fingerstyle Course. Hope to see you in the fall.
    4 points
  20. I've been wondering about her! From Vulture and New York magazine, this link might be active only a short time. She has a brief Wikipedia entry. Back in October 2020, months after Diondre Cole dared to inquire “What up with that?” to viewers at home, a pink guitar beckoned from the stage as Saturday Night Live returned to its normal studio programming. There, just off to the right and in the back of the opening monologue frame, was guitarist Maddie Rice making her debut as part of the show’s live band. Young, hip, and barely 30 years old at the time, the newest addition of the Saturday Night Live Band was notable for a few reasons….
    4 points
  21. Keep watch in your area for "Immediate Family," Denny Tedesco's follow up to "The Wrecking Crew". Now in limited screenings, it goes into general release December 15. Or watch at home. Waddy, Kooch, and the gang finally have their moment center stage.
    4 points
  22. Here are some videos of our guests performing. Walter Rodrigues (blue shirt), Ron Block (black shirt), Thomas Leeb (goatee), and Matt Thomas (blue shirt and glasses). IMG_3221.mov IMG_3241.mov IMG_3254.mov IMG_3295.mov
    4 points
  23. Hello everyone. I'm Camper on this site. Why "Camper", well... I grew up camping along the Mississippi River in what people call the "Quad Cities" there in Illinois. Moline, East Moline, Rock Island and Davenport Iowa. I served in the USAF during the Vietnam War and spent time in Asia. I somehow ended up in Japan and would you believe its 2023 and I'm in Japan. I returned to Japan in 1993 with the family. I'm a full -time cyclist here. ( not pro ) But I cycle Japan. I have a blog on a cycling forum if anyone here wants to see my adventures, let me know and I'll send you a link. My interest in life these days is to enjoy what the Lord has given us. I cherish everyday here and I do my best to get out and see the beautiful nature that God has provided us with. I joined a while back but I never posted here because I was always cycling and just completely busy. Steve has the live stream and for me it is 10 am in the morning, Tokyo time. It's great timing for me. As for being a guitar player, well, I tell people I have a guitar. LOL. My strength is in song writing. I write my own songs and strum the guitar with melody notes in the background. That is my style, oh, I can't sing, so I sing like talking, my style. Country music is what I was brought up on. So I guess that really had a big impact on my songwriting. My gear: Gibson Les Paul Studio 2013 model. Its the year Gibson used a different wood for the neck. A Donner Telecaster style guitar. Check out the Youtubes on this one. Great value. Under $200. A Squire Fender Bronco short scale bass Fender 40 watt bass amp A Boss Katana 7 watt amp ( a fun little amp I also have 2 ukuleles. Well, I'm happy now to be part of this friendly community of guitar player.
    4 points
  24. My cover of Brad Paisley's version of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" on my Taylor K24ce. A spur of the moment recording on my iPhone to see how it would sound. Trimmed the ends and added a fade in/out in iMovie, added a little reverb in Garage Band, and voila, here it is, warts and all.
    4 points
  25. How wonderful it feels to back among our guitar family. It’s now so familiar: the welcoming campus, the smiles of recognition, the handshakes and hugs. We’re slightly smaller in number this year, but no less eager and engaged. Steve warmed us up in the morning with a chord workout. Our new friend Gareth Pearson, the “Welsh Tornado”, led a masterclass in Chet Atkins-style techniques that he infused with encouraging lessons about the big picture of learning guitar. Today, Nashville rested on the northern edge of the storms to the south, so we escaped with overcast skies and only a few raindrops as we walked to lunch. The renovated dining hall was closed — few students on campus — but the equally updated downstairs grill was open to us. Our contingent arrived all at once, to the momentary panic of the staff. It certainly was an improvement over last year’s sweltering slog down to the Subway. Steve taught a fingerstyle workshop to the handful who didn’t skip over to Bryan White’s songwriting class. Collin Hill is touring and couldn’t attend this year. Bryan is an excellent guitarist and offered insights that were splendidly complementary to those of Kim McLean’s in prior years. Then we divvied up for blues with Steve and jazz with Andy Reiss. We finished our lessons with a group jam led by Steve and his thoughts on finding your own musical voice. My fingerstyle retreat roomie Barb and I tracked down an Applebee’s for dinner, then we returned for Gareth’s blazing acoustic concert. I suppose it’s the old teacher in me, but I seek out the first timers — Steve issues them white lanyards — to welcome them. As we were settling in this morning, a newbie took a seat next to me. His name was familiar. He looked a little familiar. The “N” logo on his shirt: “Northwestern or Navy?” I asked. “Oh, Navy,” he proudly replied. Yes, it was indeed that David Robinson, Naval civil engineer, left handed Telecaster player, NBA star. Then I'm walking in Memphis Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale Walking in Memphis But do I really feel the way I feel? Marc Cohn, “Walking in Memphis”
    4 points
  26. Epiphone decided to refresh some models for 2023 to celebrate their 150th anniversary. So I thought it would be a good time to get the Casino. Well, it arrived with a few minor detail oriented shortcomings. The output jack was loose. Tone knob for the neck pickup came off easily. I fixed both issues. The pickguard “E” started to peel off. Initially, I was gonna reglue it, but I decided to remove the whole thing. The guitar looks much better without it, anyway. There’s one more thing I will have to work on. After checking the setup, I measured the nut height at the first fret, and I’ll have to cut the slots to improve tuning stability and intonation. I’ve done it before on my Broadway. Overall, I’m happy with the Casino. The guitar is well made. It looks and sounds great. Although the playability is fine, it will improve when I file down the nut slots. Now, I didn’t get it just because the Beatles had used the Casinos. I got it because of the following factors: Hollow body Light weight Comfort (16th fret neck joint makes the 24.75” scale length feel shorter) Less prone to feedback than my Broadway Loud enough acoustically to practice unplugged Great jazz sound when plugged in Historically, the Epiphone Casino is essentially an equivalent to Gibson ES-330 with some small cosmetic differences. This one was made in China, but I’ll give it a score of 9 out of 10 due to the above-mentioned issues.
    4 points
  27. @Apostata Hi, there, and welcome to the forum. Dominant seventh, ninth (as in G9), eleventh, and thirteenth chords all contain a flat 7th. Such chords are assumed to be dominant unless otherwise expressed (Fm9, Gbmaj11, Adim7, Bbaug7, etc.): G7 = 1-3-5-b7 = G-B-D-F G9 = 1-3-5-b7-9 = G-B-D-F-A Learning to spell chords is a valuable skill. I created a chord construction worksheet, located here, that might help you. I consulted a professional music teacher to make sure I had it right. I hope it's useful to you.
    4 points
  28. Here’s my rendition of Session 10 Intro. Next up will be Canon in D. https://on.soundcloud.com/dKZ1VXvbXdQ3zpau9
    4 points
  29. And I would say that her long thin fingers contribute to her success, but then I look (in amazement) at Steve's fingers!
    3 points
  30. And she talks some theory here, pentatonic and dorian. I've always admired her. She and Molly Tuttle were classmates. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154217701324119
    3 points
  31. Version 1.0.0

    2,066 downloads

    Welcome to this two-part lesson on Blues Licks: Easy to Pro. Make sure to download the free PDF of the licks (Music/TAB) before you watch the videos below. Learn all you can!
    3 points
  32. That’s why I can’t go into stores anymore, $10,000+ guitars are too appealing even though I know they’d make me a better player 😂
    3 points
  33. Ha! I love the discussion. Of all the guitars I've owned, I still think if I had to choose one - based on just "loving to play" factor and not value. I still think I'd choose my Yamaha Nylon string. Again, this is strictly just for my personal opinion. Here are my reasons... 1) It's acoustic. I can play it in any situation (other than a very loud situation) - with or without power. Just grab it, sit on the couch and play. 2) It's easy to play. The nylon strings make it very easy to physically play. This means that long after my hand strength starts to fade on other instruments, I'll still be able to play this one. 3) It's a smaller body size. It just fits me better. I'm sure I'd like any sort of parlor size guitar. I just prefer the smaller to larger size guitars. A side note - this also makes it lightweight and easy to carry. 4) Finally, and most importantly, I just enjoy playing it. I can play classical, fingerstyle, jazz and whatever else on it. I can't do bends and distortion on it but that's ok. I can honestly say, if given a choice of "you can only play electric or acoustic guitars for the rest of your life" I wouldn't even hesitate and gladly walk through the acoustic door grinning. - Steve
    3 points
  34. Yep! The movie about my Guitar God - Carlos Santana! Tickets on sale in a few days (Aug 24). In selct theatres September 23 and all theatres September 29. https://www.carlosfilm.com
    3 points
  35. 3 points
  36. We are less than a month away from our fingerstyle retreat. For the benefit of any first timers, and to give Steve a break, I offer this little heads up. In a few days, we can expect Steve to e-mail registrants with a survey, asking: Will you need a ride to or from the airport? Can you provide a ride? Do you want a guitar setup appointment? Do you want to perform in the student showcase? Do you have any special dietary or ambulatory needs? Do you snore like a chainsaw? (Okay, maybe not that.) Steve will also request a photo of you, preferably with your guitar, to use in the slideshow that will run in the main room to introduce everyone (see photo below). Deer Run Retreat will not admit any guests before 3:00 pm sharp on Wednesday, so time your arrival accordingly. And we must be out no later than 12:00 noon on Sunday. We will be in close quarters, carrying our guitars up and down stairs from room to room. Floor space will be limited during lessons. A compact guitar stand like the Cooperstand is recommended. Bring whatever materials you may need for taking notes, and perhaps a tabletop tripod if you want to record performances. Steve and Paulette will likely have the store items for sale. You might want to have some cash to purchase artist CDs, as sometimes they are not prepared to accept cards. Finally, because we will be in close quarters for three full days: please consult your physician and consider updated vaccines for influenza, covid, and RSV. We want to be healthy, happy musicians! See you soon!
    3 points
  37. Thanks, @DianeB!!! Here is the full trailer:
    3 points
  38. There’s less than two weeks to go before our annual crazyfit, so I will pass along some past advice for the benefit of the first timers. If that’s you, I also recommend reading the threads from 2022 and prior years. The Conference: In every room, we’ll be surrounded by rows of chairs. An acoustic is probably more versatile for the workshops and jams. If you want to play your electric in the student showcase, there will be cables, amps, microphones, and a professional audio system. The main room will be locked and secure when we’re not there, so you can leave your gear. Make sure your guitar cases are well labeled; there will be a hundred black cases lying around -- in a black room. Other than the obvious (picks, tuner) I recommend bringing: pencils and a small notepad, business cards, a , and cash for lunch, Greg Voros' setups, and other incidentals. I also pack sticky notes, staff paper (theory geek), my chord block stamper, foot rest and a small seat cushion. Trevecca has music stands. If you have a specific kind of strings you want Greg to use, bring them with you, otherwise he will use D'Addarios and you might not have a choice of gauge. Steve will have items from his GG store on display for sale. I've attached the 2023 preliminary schedule below. Trevecca: At this writing, Steve reports Trevecca will not have food service on campus. If so, Steve will allow a 90 minute lunch break. Last year many of us just made the short walk to the Subway at the entrance to Trevecca. There will be on-campus housing this year. The conference is held in the Jackson music building at the back of the campus. It has ample, secure visitor parking. Get your bearings with the campus virtual tour. A few scenes of the Jackson building are near the end of the video. Housing: Trevecca is providing on campus dormitory housing at $65 per person per night; make your reservation . Steve has secured a conference rate of $119/night at the Holiday Inn Express Brentwood about 15 minutes away. This expires May 30. Express-style breakfast is included. Use the conference code of GGC when you book online, or call the hotel directly at 615-309-8860 and ask for Erin Helms. I recommend making reservations now, because we are entering peak tavel season and hotel occupancy will be high. There are several other hotel options nearby. Be aware that Nashville can be hot and humid in mid-June, and the Jackson building can be quite cool. In Town: No Summer NAMM again this year. Steve will devote Saturday morning to the Student Showcase and a workshop. That afternoon there will be a songwriters’ show at 3rd and Lindsley. Tickets are also available for Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry, which will likely reach full capacity. The Nashville City Winery is another popular venue. Here's the Nashville Visitor's Guide. Steve will soon e-mail registrants with a survey asking: Do you want to reserve a setup with Greg? Can you help with logistics (ride sharing, for example)? Do you want to perform in the student showcase? He will also post a GG 2023 Facebook Group for registrants. So, this is what I have as of May 30, and things can change. Updates will follow as needed. GG2023 Updated Schedule.pdf
    3 points
  39. I just got notice this morning of the next Crossroad Guitar Festival. I really thought that the last one would be just that, the last one. But here we are. And we just, as in within the last couple weeks, got our tickets to Clapton's concert in Denver in September, just before the Crossroads Festival. Look at this Lineup!!! Is there anything that I wouldn't give to go to what probably really will be, this time, the last one? I don't know what that would be! Heavy Sigh.
    3 points
  40. Tonight: Elkton, again with my pal Dave — now in view!
    2 points
  41. Steve, Thank you to both you and Paulette for continuing to share your gift of music with us through the in-person gatherings and the Tuesday Live Lessons. Although a bit disappointed, I am sure we all appreciate the need to stand down this year and regroup. Maybe you and Paulette can take a nice vacation in June instead of working around the clock to put on the conference! In the meantime, we will see you on the live lessons and look forward to seeing you in person in the fall.
    2 points
  42. Good thing he wasn't a drummer!
    2 points
  43. While reading about alternate tunings I was saddened to learn that musician George Winston died this summer, on June 4, 2023. He is best known for his solo piano compositions that helped define New Age music — although he preferred to describe his style as “rural folk piano”. He also played harmonica and acoustic guitar. I discovered George in the eighties and was fortunate to have a front row seat to see him perform in 2018. He was frail from his battle with multiple cancers, so I remember a poignant, graceful performance.
    2 points
  44. I saw Santana in San Antonio about 20+ years ago. It was a great concert. It was fascinating to me that he didn't change his sound at all. He had one sound and used it on every song. It was just his sound. In an age of everyone chasing everyone else's tones and pedalboards, it was wonderful to see an artist as just who they are. - Steve
    2 points
  45. Every year since Mike and Adele first proposed the the gathering (2007/2008??) , I wish I was there. this year is no different amazing job Steve / Paulette, guest instructors (and all the helpers) put on every year,
    2 points
  46. Thank you both for this. Much appreciated. Learning theory can feel like being in math class -- difficult to make sense of things sometimes.
    2 points
  47. Hey Diane, Hope you are having a great start to the week. I wanted to let you know I followed your link in the above message. I watched the video with Pete Huttlinger and found it VERY informative and inspirational. He was so talented, I am sorry he passed much too soon. His website has a lot of good resources. I appreciate the home splash page quote "Don't just live, live well". I think it's a good thing to aspire to. Thanks for getting me to the video, Gene C
    2 points
  48. Mohammed, Diane has given you a lot of good information. I thought I would share with you my current practice lesson 1. Hand stretching exercise. (I do this while preparing my morning coffee and usually under warm/hot water.) 2. 15 minutes work on scales,modes and arpeggios, those needed for my core material.I use a timer. for all my practice, if I take a break I stop the timer. Once I learn the material I will use a metronome to improve, it’s not my favorite tool and if I don’t have a fairly good “handle” on what I am playing the metronome doesn’t help. 3. 15 to 30 minutes on my “Core Material”. This practice period my core Material is Autumn leaves melody 5 th position, (jazz standards) Sundance, 5th position. (Mel bay) 12 bar blues solo 5th position, (activemelody on-line) This particular practice routine can last months.(I usually work on more than one thing to keep my sessions interesting and to avoid fretting hand fatigue. 4. 15 minutes chord melody chords for Autumn Leaves, barre chords and other chords used in the 12 bar blues solo sheet music. 5, 15 minutes working on a solo for Autumn Leaves. I am using scales and arpeggios I worked on in the first fifteen minutes of practice.plus, I also searched the internet for material for Autumn leaves done by better players and found two etudes and one solo to help me create my own solo. 6. Have a lesson plan with all the material organized. so you aren’t wasting time looking for chords or patterns. Have a major scale worksheet and a fretboard worksheet. I keep all the material in a folder. 7. in the evening I usually spend a little time reading music theory pertaining to my lesson and listening to the song I am trying to learn. Beginners have it easy. The material is already prepared in their guitar course. A private teacher will also have lesson plans ready to go. My “Guitar Goal” is learning to play the blues, “ if you sound good, you're probably not practicing.” unknown
    2 points

About us

Guitar Gathering is a community of guitar lovers of all types and skill levels.  This is a place of learning, support and encouragement.  We are unapologetically positive.

If you've come here to gripe, demean others or talk politics then this isn't the place for you.

But if you've come to talk guitars, ask questions and learn from professionals and guitar learners from all over the world then come on in!

Get in touch

Follow us

facebook feed

Recent tweets

×
×
  • Create New...