ShadowBoxer86

I have read that SG's are known for a slightly flexible neck, which some performers (like Pete Townshend) use to their advantage. Just do a search on line and you will see what I mean. If you don't like that feature or the neck dive they are prone to I would send it back, but some people love them. Since you are going to the garthering next week, bring it and ask Greg Voros what he thinks. He is really good and has set up everything I have. See you next week. GH

Steve, how about some useful arpeggios using the minor harmonic scale and how to incorporate them. Thanks, see you next week. GH

Just ordered our tickets for Jack Pearson. Just be aware if you have to call ticketweb for help getting your tickets they will add an additional operator assist fee so try to order them on line if you can. Total was $42.73 for 2 tickets GA no reserved seating. Hopefully we can all go in as a group. See you then. GH

@Blue Dog Time to work on slide guitar until you heal. Too bad Rick didn't show us his slide technique since his finger was cut.

Hi Steve, you might have to rename that show "Every guitar has a story" LOL. It would be great though to get some performing and playing tips from Rick since he has probably seen it all in his lifetime. You did a good job keeping him focused and talking even if he couldn't play last night. Thanks

That's what I like, little nuggets I can understand and learn quickly.

Robben, 1) What are your favorite arpeggios that you like to teach intermediate guitar students? 2) Could you discuss harmonic minor scale and diminished scale patterns and how to use them? 3) Which of your videos best teaches these subjects and has print outs? I really need to see a pattern printed out when I study these things. Thank you, George Howard

Y, That is a lot of work just to copy and save those lessons. So far, I print the tabs on the ones I think I will like and have made it through page 20 of 30, so that was quite a few lessons with 5 lessons per page. The video images are small and around 5 minutes each. If you type "control +" several times you can enlarge the screen. I think these lessons were done from about 2007 to 2012, but there are some real gems in there. If anyone knows how to copy all of these lesssons at one time let us know. It is a shame that Gibson has taken these lessons and those that Steve did off of their web site. I would think these lesson sold a lot of guitars for Gibson.

Looks like Gibson may be closing this link. I did find it again on what may be a spanish site so if you want any of these great lessons I would try to print or download any that look interesting to you. Not really into all of his slide guitar lessons at this time, however there are many other lessons that are pretty good. Many of them like Steve's pro tips that he did for a while. See if this link works. http://espanol.gibson.com/Lessons/Arlen-Roth-Lessons/Search.aspx Kind of worried if it is secure or not, (does't say https)

Me too Dave. I have that copy of Canon in D pasted in one of my classical books labeled "play this one instead".

I recently saw that the Gibson site is posting more lessons by Arlen Roth. These are similiar to the lessons Steve used to do for Gibson. Nice short videos on one subject including tabs and MP4 videos. So far there are 23 pages with about 5 free lessons per page. I have been working on these for the past 3 weeks and have been through over 30 of the lessons so far. I have found several that I really like and of course the price is right. Wish Steve was still doing these. (Glad I printed most of his lessons before they took them down.) Here is the link: http://www.gibson.com/Lessons/Arlen-Roth-Lessons/Search.aspx?type=lessons&page=1

I started the L & M Guitar course when I turned 60. Took me 18 months of solid work to complete it, no short cuts, just treated it like a college course and stuck with it. I avoided any other side tracts so as not to get distracted. It took six months to complete the Blues Spot Light course, and backed that up with "Blues Grooves" from Steve that I won on one of the live lessons and finished that one 2 months ago. The L & M Fingerstyle course was the hardest and that took me about 14 months to complete. I like that one so much I spent a year just learning classical music from "Classical for Guitar" that I also got from Steve. I figured if studying classical was good enough for Mark Knopfler it probably wouldn't hurt me to do the same. During that time I also finished the L & M Song Hits. I did not memorize them, just learned them to be able to play them with the printed music. Now, I am doing what I really wanted to do in the first place...learning rock and roll songs. So now after 4 and a half years I feel like I can play most any intermediate songs (classical, blues or rock) and now it really doesn't take that long to learn riffs. If I hear it (over and over LOL) I can figure it out. (Yes, it was worth it.) Still working full time as well. If I can do it, anyone can. You don't have to be gifted. The only week I don't practice every day is when I go to Chicago to a week long medical meeting after every Thanksgiving as I have for the last 32 years. If I behave, my wife might let me stop by the Chicago Music Exchange this time though. Good Luck to the rest of you on your own guitar journey. GH

I like to learn something new like this every practice session. Just listening to Paul describe each note of the pattern was helpful. It helps to reinforce the material just to hear it again. Steve had some good patterns in the L&M program as well. I saw one on the old Gibson site that Arlen Roth showed for a fretboard run of pentatonic scale similiar to the one Steve taught us.(haven't seen anything new on the that site for a long time though)http://www.gibson.com/Lessons/Arlen-Roth-Lessons/Lessons/The-Longest-Pentatonic-Scales.aspx

Great, looking forward to it. Been working on classical since I finished the fingerstyle course last year. Still have a little trouble with timing on the more complicated pieces. Probably my own fault for relying on the tablature. If I hear someone play a piece correctly its easier, just more depressing when watching an 8 year old rip through a piece like its nothing, LOL.

Yay!! I'm glad it is this week and not last week. Just got power and cable back in Swansboro, NC Sunday evening after >10 days of no power due to Ms. Florence. Actually brought most of my guitars to my office in Jacksonville (and slept there) because of the heat and humidity in the house 88%. Can't wait to get back into my practice routine. This lesson on using capos will be a good start. Thanks for all you do Steve.

I was just reviewing this in Fretboard Theory again by Desi Serna, but Jazzy Beatle just said it all in a nutshell. I had read it a few years ago during my 15 minute lunch breaks. It makes much more sense if you actually hear it when it is played. Helpful pneumonic for modes: I Don't Play Like My A** Looks. GH

Thanks Steve. This type of live lesson is my favorite. Even if it is review for something I already learned it is worthwhile. The examples on how to use those chord shapes and then recording them to solo over was great. I will get a looper to practice this...as soon as I find a good bargin on ebay.LOL. George

Maybe time to learn slide guitar while you wait for it to heal. Good Luck.

Hi Steve, 1) Is it frowned upon to change the fingering on classical musical pieces to use notes that you can play cleanly instead of the Phil Keagy type fingerings as written. In particular for Tarrega's Study in E minor I had a hard time cleanly holding down the high A(on fret 5) in the 7th bar with my little finger and instead switched to the B 7 pattern in position 1.https://spinditty.com/learning/Tarrega-Study-in-E-Minor-Easy-Classical-Guitar-Arrangement-in-Standard-Notation-and-Guitar-Tab 2) And also,... is it a sin to add notes or flourishes to these classical pieces such as in bar 8 and 16 of the same piece. Thanks, I don't want to get stoned to death if someone who was a classical enthusiast heard me add or leave out a few notes.

It was easier with so many people to use an acoustic during the classes. I would think that if you had something like a battery operated Line 6 POD you could use earbuds so you could hear yourself play your electric it might be ok. They had an amp in the classes that I went to that they passed the cord around during a few of the sessons. I ended up leaving my electric in my hotel room until it was time for a set up with Greg. I brought a music stand last time and if I can get one in time I'll bring a portable guitar stand. See you all soon.

Has anyone found any good shows for the Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings that aren't scheduled so far?

I'd like to do the same with all of my old music books, but the manager at Staples told me it was about $10/book. That's more than what I paid for a few of them. Need to find someone else local who does it. I hate clipping and bending the old books on my stand, (makes them fall apart after a while). The spiral bound edge makes it easier to copy the songs I like and then tape them together so they fold out on the music stand without stopping and turning pages.

Steve, 1) Could you review the names of the other scales besides the major scale that we need to know and what are their patterns. I have been trying to jam with some of the you tube videos that mention natural and harmonic minor scales and then blending those in with pentatonic scales. For example this one: 2) How do you switch or blend these scales with the pentatonics. 3) I like trying to play along with these and other similiar tracts. It really makes you think about where you are on the neck. Thanks, See you in June. G.H.

Dave, I was looking myself for a material safe for all finishes, but haven't had any luck. Maybe Greg Voros at Gruhn Guitar's can give us some suggestions since he repairs vintage finishes. I have read that some people cover their foam with a soft cloth that has no chemicals in it. If you do a search on "Damage to guitar finishes from foam or rubber" you will see what I mean.

Hi Dave, great project. I need to do the same thing. One note though. I saw that you used closed cell foam for the contact areas. This type of foam is known to cause color changes on nitrocellulose finishes and can make some lacquers soften and peel off so you might want to check that out before leaving a $4K Les Paul or 335 on it. George