matonanjin

@SandyB53, I remember you from over at the L&MG forum. Welcome back! Please keep us posted on your progress.

I have mentioned in this forum before my appreciation of Video Surgeon so I won't repost that. It is, unquestionably, my most used tool or aid. I use it daily. It is more hardware but I also purchased a Boss Eband JS-10 very early in my learning. I just find it more useful for slowing down and/or looping audio files (think backing tracks and GL&MG jam tracks) than doing it on my computer. One can model amps and it has loads of effects in it but I never set those up. I use it daily as well. It is also a really handy portable amp when I travel or go jam. It is easily thrown on the back seat of my car or in the overhead. These two items are indispensable to me. ps.. @Plantsman13, Santa brought me a Ditto Looper and I haven't taken it out of the box yet!

Actually, Neil I think maybe someone else got this thread off course, off topic! Where in the heck are the moderators on this forum?!?! It's blatantly obvious Steve needs to get some better ones???

Well, Neil, it's closed for repairs. Actually, it hasn't been active for a while. I don't know if it will get going again. It was fun But here is the forum for you, @Plantsman13, and a few others of us on here. Old Farts With Guitars ?

Whoops. My bad math. but still very impressive progress.

Plantsman, I'm betting you know what a "Hurst" shifter is. But I'll also bet that other than you and I there are only a few others on here that do.

Oh my gosh, Herbie Hancock! I didn't even realize he is still around. I think I wore out his "Head Hunters" album. Thanks, Stefan. I need to see if I can find that vinyl record.

We should have a poll of how many of our current members can drive a stick shift! (That wouldn't meet the rule of musically related, would it?) But I'll bet of the 1500+ current members, other than some of us oldies, most can't! ?

Let me get this correct. You started L&MG 4 months ago and you are now in sessions 9&10?!?!?!? Do you have any idea how depressed that makes me feel? ??? Seriously, great progress.

Thanks for the link, @MisterLutherMan

Mandy, thanks for the positive comments.

A couple things. First off, regarding Billy I remember reading somewhere that he has some health issues and that is part of the reason he uses lighter strings. I don't remember where I read it and, let's consider the source, the interwebs. So this cannot be more nebulous. And very likely not true. But I'll try and do some checking. Secondly, since it's my thread, I'll give an update. All you guys have suggested, as do other sources I've read, at least 10's on a hollow body. But since I'm working on bending, and it seems I am playing this PRS HB more than any other guitar, the last time I had new strings put on I went with 9's, D'Addario NYXL's. I like them and I really don't feel there is a lot of tone drop off. My two guitars I play the most, this one and my PRS Paul's, both have 9's now. I'm getting close on the finger strength on the bends and very like next change I will go back up to 10's on the HB and will probably consider flat wounds. I'll decide on the Pauls. My other hollow body, my Gibson 325 (in my profile pic), still has 10's.

Perfect timing, @columbo. I just watched part of it on AXS TV. A lot of interesting guest interviewees on the documentary. As you say, " well worth documentary". You don't have to be a Gibson fan to find it interesting. The man was a genius coming up with other inventions besides the namesake guitar such as the 8 track recorder.

Good luck to you Mike. Keep us posted on your progress.

Mine was a '54 Chevy ?

sounds like a Recording Challenge that should be for everyone @UncleHammy. I hope you get some participation.

Ben, congratulations on another beautiful guitar.

You didn't embarrass yourself at all. That point at which, after starting to learn, you feel like you are making music is great, isn't it?! Thanks for sharing this.

Not Trigger. But Willie Nelson Owned Guitar Signed by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Others is up for auction. Opening bid is $2,800. Actually, I'm surprised the opening is not a little higher. But who knows what it will go for. From the description, " Willie Nelson Owned Guitar Signed by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Others. A vintage Japanese-made Kor/Sonic acoustic guitar, serial number 222N, previously owned by Outlaw Country icon Willie Nelson, signed on the body in black felt pen by fellow legendary Country artists Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings (who signs "Ol' Waylon", Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, and Rita Coolidge, as well as P.J. Ryan (who inscribes "To Willie"), Ron Richardson, T.F. Micholson, and H. Leopold ("My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" is written above Leopold's signature in an unknown hand). Guitar was gifted to Buck Jones by Willie, and was left to Buck's girlfriend after his passing. Though it's unknown if this guitar was played by Nelson, it exhibits playwear consistent with other guitars played by the Red Headed Stranger, most notably his beloved Martin, Trigger. Also included with the lot is a red bandana - much like those worn by Nelson - that was wrapped around the neck of the guitar upon consignment, and four color photos of Buck Jones and his girlfriend in the company of Willie and band. Guitar is in Fair condition, with very heavy playwear - including 1.5" x .5" hole below the strings, signatures show some fading, and some crazing to the finish. Hard case included. "

I don't know if that will be the case, Neil. But one question I had was answered in an article in Premier Guitar: “As a musician, I have always treasured my Gibson guitars and I have the utmost respect for the iconic Gibson brand and those who choose to play Gibson guitars,” said Curleigh. “Gibson has been a pioneer of craftsmanship and innovation in musical instruments and has been synonymous with shaping the sounds of generations and genres for more than 100 years. I am very honored to play a leading role with this iconic brand.” A business man, who is also a musician, is encouraging.

Triple-o, you have received some great suggestions and I couldn't add much to what has been said. I think most blues jams stick to the usual suspects when it comes to the set list, at least in the beginning: Sweet Home Chicago, Born Under A Bad Sign, Killing Floor, Further On Up On the Road, Tore Down, Shake Your Money Maker, etc. I don't know how much time you want to invest, but TrueFire has two course dedicated to preparing you for a jam. I own them both (of course I do) but haven't unpacked either one yet. Jeff Scheetz's Blues Jam Survival Guide and Andy Aledort's Jam Night Vol. 1 Actually this latter one is a 3 volume set and what I linked you to is Volume 1. I can't recommend either because, as I said, I haven't started either. But they looked interesting enough that I purchased them. At first glance perhaps Jeff's is a little more theoretical and Andy's slightly more song specific, but that appraisal could be wrong. I am so very spoiled because the two guys that I jam with Wednesday nights are dramatically better than I am. And a portion of each night is spent on their teaching me. So far they don't seem to be getting very frustrated with me!?? We're all looking forward to getting some reports back from your jam, @Triple-o.

Mike it seems like you were in absentia for a while. Great to have you back here posting. Your contributions here are always welcomed and appreciated.

Sorry, for being so late to the party. I don't know if this "list" will help you. You can put in any scale and then it will list the 5 boxes' position on the fretboard. You can click on the box you are interested in and it will highlight that box or you can click "all". It will work for minor and major scales. http://www.freeguitarsource.com/Minor_Pentatonic_Scales/A_Minor_Pentatonic_Scale.html

It looks like a great plan. If it were me I think that I would increase the amount of time on Lesson 4 a little bit since, presumably, that is your "core" lesson. If you need to rob from some area then do that from Speed and Agility. But that is such a trivial suggestion. The important thing is that you have a plan. So many people sit down to practice and a they do is jam or just putz around on a guitar. I am certainly known to do such. You have a plan that includes working on techniques to improve your playing. And, almost as importantly, your plan includes at least one area to keep it fun. I think this plan can do nothing but move you towards becoming an increasingly better player.

Another of the blues greats, Otis Rush, passed away over the weekend. I had gone to Chicago to take a lesson from a blues guy, Paul Kaye, and he said if I want to learn to play blues I should study Otis Rush. From the Washington Post, " "A self-taught, southpaw guitarist who played a right-handed model upside down, Mr. Rush developed a quavering guitar sound and a throaty baritone voice that frequently burst into falsetto. Fusing rhythm-and-blues and the country blues of the Mississippi Delta, he exerted a profound influence on an entire generation of musicians. Among his chief acolytes were the British guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, who recorded a cover of Mr. Rush’s 1956 song “I Can’t Quit You Baby” for Led Zeppelin’s debut album. Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan named his rhythm section after the bluesman’s 1958 song "Double Trouble" in which Mr. Rush chronicled the economic anxieties of African Americans on Chicago’s South and West Sides"