matonanjin

@revster, congratulations on retirement. And congratulations on the new Gretsch!

Wim, I have now hung around these forums, formerly L&MG and now Guitar Gathering, for a few years. You are one of the very few that I have seen finish all 20 sessions of L&MG. What an accomplishment and you are an inspiration for all the rest of us trying to learn guitar and finish L&M. Congratulations and thanks for all that you have contributed to these forums during your presence here.

Everybody, thank you for the nice birthday wishes. I had a really enjoyable day even though I didn't play guitar as much as I would have liked! ? My wife took me to Guitar Center and I tried out the studio monitors that I had talked about in the other thread. Then she took me to a new restaurant that we have been wanting to check out and then a movie. Thanks again.

Thanks Randy. I meant MR5's.

Great point, Fretless. I used to frequent a lot of photography forums and I would hate it when someone would ask for equipment advice and not state a budget. Then that is exactly what I did.? No, I'm not going to spend $10,000 or even $1,000. But beyond that there isn't much budget restraint. I don't want to spend as much as a guitar but I don't wnat to get something that a year from now I will wish that I got something better. Yours is the 3rd or 4th recommendation (other forums) for those M-Audio BX5's. So they must be well liked. You know how I hate GC but our two locally owned stores don't have monitors to listen to. So I am off to GC today? Thanks, Randy. Apparently Mackey has upgraded the BX5's with a MK2 version. But I can't find them anywhere. When I go into GC later I'll see if they carry them.

What does everybody use? What do you recommend? It has become obvious that I need better monitors for my home studio. I have been using tiny little speakers hooked to my computer which has worked fine for just listening to music. But I have finally gotten my guitar running through my computer for recording. I should say I finally got it hooked up properly. My Line 6 POD HD 500X is serving as my sound card and my DAW recognizes it! Woo Hoo! It's only taken about a year? What do you knowledgeable users recommend for monitors?

@DianeB, I am so very proud of you! And for a great cause. It had to be a lot of fun and it looks like some very well chosen set selection! And those were some tasty leads and looks like he's got some good vibrato going on. You are an encouragement to all of us.

Six, I couldn't agree more. That is the point, very circuitously, that I was trying to make. I wasted a lot of time getting my DAW set up and then learning it. Only to come back to using my Boss for "quick, dirty" recordings of my practice. Probably not accurate to say "wasted" because should I ever want to record something I want to share, I have that knowledge. But I don't need that quality of recording just to critique my practice. I can get every bit as depressed listening to my playing with a very quick recording! ?? Thanks for your input.

Lefty, I bought a guitar interface, a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and a Multitrack DAW, Reaper. It wasn't that big of financial investment: $100 for the interface and $60? for Reaper. But it was a HUGE investment in time getting it connected and, especially, learning the software. I used it a lot. For a few months. And I haven't used it in at least a year? Now, if I want a quick recording I use the record feature on my Boss EBand JS-10. Is it multitrack, mixed high qulity recording? No, but then neither were my recordings with Reaper??? But for a quick, dirty recording to audit my playing the JS-10 is perfect. You have your backing track ready, hit the red R button, hit play and when your done hit stop. Then play to listen. It saves it automatically with a new name in one's "User" list. The nice thing about the JS-10 is it does so much more. It comes with different Amp simulations and a ton of effects. If you're working one of Steve's lessons or a lick or anything you can slow it down and loop it. It's not a cheap solution but it has been one of my most used learning tools since I started guitar. There are quite a few on here that also use it. For just recording yourself I'm sure any one of the solutions above, from cell phone to Zoom recorder is going to work. And your thread has reminded me I need to record myself more. Thank you.

@jumiclads, Never Too Late! Welcome back to you. Good luck, post here when you have questions or frustrations and keep us appraised of your progress.

Define "record their practice sessions" please. Record your playing to an audio file for review? or, Log your time practicing? So you have a record of daily time practiced, etc.

@Blue Dog, you have more than a week before it sells. Save up!

@Dave White, I figured one time at my current rate I will get through all the guitar learning materials that I have in about 2064. It is embarrassing how many lessons and books I have. And I just bought more! But I had to have these!!!? I bought: Robben Ford's Urban Blues Revolution Jeff Scheetz's Street Theory for Guitarists In The Jam: Robben Ford Sessions

At least according to Rick Beato. This is interesting. You will notice he didn't say "Greatest" but ones you need to know. I'm not sure why you need to know these particular ones. He never really said it but I assume he means most influential. He starts with some classical guitarists in 1929, goes to Charlie Patton and then through the list ending up with the usual suspects, Hendrix, Clapton, Page, et al. But I found it interesting and wasted some time when I should have been practicing.

Greg, I could not agree with you more and you are not being argumentative. "Smitten" is a great word for the way I also felt when I first heard "Sultans". How many times did I play it? And it was Mark's unique fingerstyle playing that created that hook, that catchy rhythm that was such a breath of fresh air at the peak of disco. But was it a cool solo in the strict sense or a guitar solo? I would argue that Brothers in Arms has a much "cooler" or "greater" Strat Guitar Solo. But there is no arguing that Sultans of Swing is one cool Strat song. Two things: 1) My wife and I were in Las Vegas a couple (few?) years ago to celebrate our anniversary. For which we went to the top of the Stratosphere for dinner. They actually had a very good cover band playing and they did an outstanding job of covering "Sultans". Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the band. They did " capture the vibe of the original" and I went up to them as we were leaving and told them so. Even though the lead guitar player was playing a semi-hollow Gibson (335?) ? Somewhere in my mountain of cd's I have a recording of live version of "Sultans of Swing". It's doubtful that I can find it and I'm not sure where I got it or where concert was. But if you think what you've heard so far is "cool" just wait. There is about a 5 minute intro of the rest of the band jamming and then Mark comes in with that riff. I can visualize his coming on stage and starting in. Should I find it pm you. Ron

If you are thinking about any TrueFire lesson they are all on sale. I think every course they offer. They held their annual 4th sale and as they so often do rotated course every hour that were on sale. And, as they did last year, after the sale was over listed everything on sale. I don't know why one would try and catch the one you want when one knows they are ultimately listing everything?? Anyway now is the time. TrueFire 4th of July Sale. I picked up 3 I have been wanting.

Really? Well according to Guitar World anyway. Well, according to Chris Gill at Guitar World anyway. We haven't had any discussions like this on here for a while. No arguments please. Keep it civil. But according to Mr. Gill here are the 6 Coolest Strat Solos Ever. What do you think? Me? Jimi Hendrisx: Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Check David Gilmour: Comfortably Numb. Check. Not just one of the Coolest Strat Solos ever. One of the greatest solos ever. Period. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Texas Flood. Sure. But Dire Straits. Sultans of Swing? I love this song but Coolest Strat Solo ever? Nope. And the rest of them? Meh.

Congrats on finishing S13. We are no longer "neck and neck"? I just started "Johnny's E Blues" so I will be here sometime yet. I hope not much more than a week. See you in S14 soon. Don't wait for me!

@Brad Baugh, Knowing your a horse person, in addition to a guitarist, I'll tell you I get to Moses Lake every couple years to judge a horse show. I don't think that is very far from Spokane. It's an NRHA (National Reining Horse Assoc.) approved reining show and always a nice time.

Yes, @CapM

Absolutely beautiful, Mike. Enjoy Trisha for a lot of years.

Yes, you can own the Gibson SG that Tom Petty played on stage! Tom Petty Stage Played 1965 Gibson SG Cherry Electric Guitar and Hat Worn on Stage and in Traveling Wilburys Music Videos. The opening bid is only $150,000! I wouldn't think it was worth it EXCEPT it comes with the hat Tom Petty wore ? If anyone on here buys it be sure and post a "NGD" thread!

Changes I'll feel you say Obi Wan?

When I'm playing at home I never lose track. I'm always right on track. With my weekly jam every time I'm playing the rhythm, I lose count of where I'm at. Your immediate response, most likely, is, "You're nervous". But I really don't think I am. We're not on stage. Just three guys with guitars jamming. It is always on the first four bars. I will switch to the IV chord either one bar early (on the 4th bar) which is what happens most of the time, or I will play 5 bars of I chord and switch, obviously on the 6th bar. As I said it just 3 guys jamming. Last Wednesday I started the rhythm, just an easy shuffle, and I don't know how many times the guy playing lead to my rhythm would go, "You're early ( or late)" So is there any secret to trying to keep in time AND play the rhythm clean AND count bars? ?? Or just experience?

Wow, Opie. A lot of effort and a lot of viewing material there. I'm sure everyone appreciates it, especially the GG participants. Thank you for posting.