matonanjin

Everytime I get away from chords or strumming for a bit and then come back I am reminded how much work I need on them. I've been working blues scale intensely so probably perfect timing.

Doug, congratulations on a really nice looking new guitar. Enjoy!

I don't name my guitars which is curious because we name our cars. Mine is "Sudio". Interestingly, after getting my last guitar my wife asked, "What are you going to name her?". As if I had been naming guitars all along. I just report it. I don't explain it.

What a stunningly gorgeous guitar, Neil! I have absolutely no doubt it is going to be the tone machine you described. Enjoy it a long time.

Two children on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are going to have the opportunity to learn guitar. Let me digress for a moment. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is Shannon County, South Dakota. According to US statistics it is the poorest county in the United State. Just a couple statistics: per capita income is $9,286. 1 in 4 children, yes 1 in 4! , is born with fetal alcohol syndrome. Each year a musician friend of mine, Larry Dunn, puts on a benefit concert, The Toy Drive for Pine Ridge, to get toys donated for Christmas for the kids on the Pine Ridge Reservation. If you want more to read about Larry and his efforts you can do so here. Every year I go with Larry to deliver the toys and what a heart warming experience it is. I'm not sure how the conversation came about. But @PatIam and I were discussing about some of these kids having access to a guitar and learning to play. Actually, what we were discussing is how unlikely it is for that to happen. We all know about Pat's repairing guitars. Immediately Pat said, "Why don't you let me send some guitars along?" And just a few days later guitars showed up up for me to do just that! Here are two children, that if not for Pat, would never have the opportunity to learn. I took for each of these a Hal Leonard "Method Book 1" and TrueFire has a "Learn Guitar 1. First Steps for Beginners". I need to check to see how they are doing! Pat, both these kids said to tell you "Pilamaya"! (Thank you in the Lakota language>) Aroja Thunder Bull: Jace Fire Thunder:

Six, your thesis is probably a very intelligent way to look at this. A case is not airtight so the humidity and temperature are going to equilibrate. So the only difference is the protection the case is providing from that impact damage. I have heard of guys on some of these forums that always keep all guitars in cases. The obvious disadvantage is one doesn't have a guitar immediately available to grab for that quick few minutes of practice. You know how when you get that new car and you announce to the family, "There will be no eating in here!". How long does that last? I just got the new PRS Hollowbody. Since it has been home it has gone in the case after every practice. I wonder how long that is going to last!

I could watch it on Hulu and watched it last night. I almost forgot about it but fortunately @Dan Brown sent me a text just before it was set to air and reminded me! It was excellent, at least in my opinion. It will be interesting to see others' opinion. The whole Pattie Boyd episode of his life went a little too long in my opinion. I fully realize she is pivotal to the Layla project and the album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs". It just went a little too soap opera and could have been shortened. A minor quibble. It should be required viewing for any Clapton fan or for any blues fan actually. An interesting reminder how the blues were brought back to the US by EC and the rest of the "British Invasion". I don't know that I learned anything about Clapton that I didn't already know as a result of reading his autobiography. But it was an entertaining 2 hours and I highly recommend it.

Brad, I've been meaning to respond to this and keep getting distracted. Sorry for the delay. What kind of horse shows and what state? I am a National Reining Horse Association approved judge and an American Quarter Horse Association approved judge. And, again, what state or where are you from that you attended Powwows? I'm about an hour from Winnebago and Macy, NE. They have two huge ones every year that we often hit. Of course, we have quite a few smaller ones here in Omaha area. And my mother is from South Dakota, the Rosebud area ( a town called St. Francis) and that is Powwow country! I used to spend a lot of time there, summers, when I was young.

Pretty hard to believe. Sweetwater has them for that $99 and free shipping. I didn't like some of the solid colors (I know some people will) but I like the Cherry Sunburst. How can you go wrong at that price.

And I would like to know the answer as well. Sylvain, good to see you posting. I had heard just the opposite. If you're not going to play a guitar for an extended period of time it is a good idea to store it in its case. But that was from some self-proclaimed expert in a forum (not here) so we can guess the value of that response. We need to hear from the expert, Mr. Voros. One thing is for certain. That is one gorgeous Les Paul, Sylvain.

Greg, if I could get you to expand on this. What is the "ideal" humidity to keep one's music room at? And failing keeping it at that ideal, which I'm sure I'll fail, what is an acceptable range that one can live with? Thanks, Ron Petersen

But do they have good food? I did something similar. I just moved the pin a few miles from my house.

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.

Steve, Is there any talk (or thoughts) about Corey Congilio coming back this year?

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.

Neil, I couldn't agree more. When I started reading your post and it talked about blues players using "jazz chords" my mind immediately went to Robben Ford. He is one awesome guitarist. I have his course Blues Revolution. ( I also have Rhythm Revolution and Chord Revolution) It is way above my pay grade at this point. When I finish L&MG, and then L&M Blues, it will be one of the first things I tackle "post Learn and Master". Thanks for posting this.

Studying this, it looks like there are different versions of it: There is a Classic rock version and the Sweetwater description says, " Vox amPlug Classic Rock G2 headphone guitar amplifier, and enjoy some authentic rock 'n' roll guitar tone. " There is a G2 versions which states, " Vox amPlug AC30 G2 headphone guitar amplifier, and enjoy some authentic British Invasion tone. " And there is a Metal version, which states, " Vox amPlug Metal G2 headphone guitar amplifier, and enjoy some authentic metallic grind. " There is also a Bass version. Hmmmm. I'm guessing I'm going with the British tone one. (Maybe I should figure out my looper that I got for Chrsitmas and haven't plugged in yet before getting another toy. Naaa.)

Limatje, I trust you know the rules here! No Pictures? It didn't happen! Let's see pictures!!!! Ps. Congratulations on the new guitar.!

Don, thanks for posting this. Very interesting. I had seen this somewhere but didn't move on it. I'm going to seriously look at it this time.

It doesn't seem to be free any longer but it is only $11.99. Well worth it. It says that price is only good for 3 hours which, of course, is the digital version of late night shopping channels, "Call now!" But I'm signing up at that price. If I had time I could threaten some people around me, friends, wife, etc. with my singing and they would pay it. But I'm just going to sign up

"At this point am I just being too critical of myself?" Probably. You've only been at this barely over a month! Don't worry too much about the chords for the first four lessons. Those chord shapes are there in the early lessons for you to start memorizing the shapes and start to get the chords to ring out clearly. Concentrate on the learning the single notes for these first lessons. You will start studying chords seriously in Session 5. Good luck to you and welcome to Guitar Gathering.

Anyone interested in John Mayer's playing may want to check out last month's issue of Guitar Techniques magazine. I say last month because I just got March's issue in the mail. Since, being a subscriber, I am supposedly to get issue before the newsstand I'm not sure which one will be available on the newsstand. If the February one is gone you can order back issues here. Looks like a pretty good article. About 7 pages of lessons and 10 or so audio files. The lesson is listed as "Moderate" skill level but I always seem to find they rate their lessons fairly conservatively. That is to say I would call their "Moderate" actually "Moderate/Advanced".

Really nice, Mark. Very nice. I distinctly remember a very wise man once telling me, " I reckon only you noticed any flubs. "