Nairon
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Posts posted by Nairon
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Thanks for the resources guys. I really appreciate it. I'll check it out.
Nairon
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Hi everyone,
I'm at the session 11 on the LMG course and trying to memorize the pentatonic patterns and where the major and minor roots are etc which is slow but steady progress. But one thing I can't understand; if a major and minor pentatonic scales have the same notes (like C major and A minor), what is the purpose of having the two? How can they be used in practice?
My music theory knowledge is very basic so I'm sure there is a lot that I'll be missing.
P.S. I know it's February but this is my first post for the year I think so Happy New Year to everyone
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Nairon
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Hey, haven't posted progress for a little while. Anyway hope everyone is doing great. Recently I've been working on moon river. Trying it fingerstyle so hopefully I didnt miss the mark too far although I may have in parts of it... lol. Anyway hope you enjoy.
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On 4/25/2022 at 9:12 AM, Gary Nelson said:
Hang in there, @Nairon. Just when I think I have my Barre chords down, I'll encounter an arrangement that requires me to rethink and practice more! By the way, there is a nice simple arrangement of Moon River in the book "100 Most Beautiful Songs Ever for Fingerpicking Guitar" that is available on Steve's store site. No Barre Chords required!
Thanks. Glad to get the encouragement. I'll check out the book. Hopefully, in a some weeks, I'll have the basic barre chords clean.
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Hi Everyone,
I've been working on this from the Song Hits. Just wondering how you successfully get the Eb9 chord (thrid line, second measure). More specifically, the two fingers to hold down the first three strings. Trying different things but its a little buzzy. In the video, I think Steve leaves it up to the student but I'm just searching for some ideas on what works.
Nairon
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5 hours ago, matonanjin said:
Yes, @Nairon! As @Gary Nelsonsaid, "Hang in there". It will come. We all found it "rough going" with barre chords. Keep in mind with barre chords there is the extra element of developing finger strength in order to master them. With everything else that you have learned so far it has been a matter of learning and practicing the technique to improve it. With barre chords one must also build up the muscle strength for the fingers forming the barre. That just takes time to build that strength and there is no shortcut.
If you have learned the different Fifth and Sixth string forms and you are comfortable with them, consider moving on. If you know the major, minor, 7th, minor 7th and sus form for both 5th and 6th strings, if you have them firmly entrenched in memory, I think Steve would be ok with your moving on. Just continue to allocate some practice time each day to developing that finger strength.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on your progress.
Thanks for the encouragement. Another issue I found that really makes the strings buzz is when the strings are pressed by the joints of the index finger so even when I try to keep my finger straight and bring my wrist forward etc I still always have to reposition the finger till it stops buzzing. Hopefully that problem goes with time too.
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I'm learning Moon River in the Hits and following the 5th string barre chord chapter in the learn and master course. Got to say its some rough going with the barre chords so far but improving really slowly. I could see myself spending a lot of time before moving on from barre chords.
In this song I noticed that there are variations in the chords themselves which is also adding to the challenge.
Either way, its such a beautiful song.
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On 1/11/2022 at 10:52 PM, gotto said:
Fishman Loudbox for sure. I have played through my Line 6 PA, even with effects, it does not compare to the Loudbox. You can use the Fishman also for vocals in a pinch, and I have seen bar performers do it. Yes you can use it in a small gig. I have myself. I own both the battery and Artist models, plenty loud.
Greg
Thanks for the useful feedback.!!
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So far for me this chapter is a big step up in difficulty from the previous one in the L&M course. I've been at it for over a month and can't seem to get rid of the buzz when changing from one barre chord to the next unless I really really slow it down. or that screech when I move up and down the fretboard. Slow and steady wins the race I guess. Hope everyone is enjoying the journey and progressing well.
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16 hours ago, SandyB said:
The Learn and Master Guitar Course is the Greatest Course I have Ever tried and took me the Farthest I have Ever been in my Guitar Learning Journey. I made it thru Session 4 before I had to Stop. My Left Rotator decided to cause me Pain and eventually near Total Loss of use of my Left Arm. I wasn't sure What caused it but what I couldn't do was Play my Guitar any Longer. I had gotten thru Session 4 (But not the Bonus Resources) and was able to Play Many of the Songs in Time with the Backing Tracks of Session 4 as well as many of the Songs in Time with the Backing Tracks from the Hal Leonard Easy Pop Melodies Book. I even Recorded them on SoundCloud. Check them Out, I am there as SandyB53.
After about 6 months, my Left Rotator began to Heal (I never sought a Doctor, just accepted that I might lose use of that Arm, and for a While I did). About that Time I decided to pickup my Guitar and Resume my Learning Journey when My Right Rotator decided to Become Painful. Again I didn't Understand WHY but I Stopped Playing in order and Hoping that my Right Rotator would Heal as the Left one did...Over Time. Still No Doctor. After about 6 months or so, just as the Left Rotator had, my Right Rotator began to heal and I was once again able to use my Right Arm.
Just as I thought Life was Getting Better I received a Call and was asked to come Operate a Very Large Construction Dump Truck on a Project where they would be building a very large Mini Storage Facility on about 10 Acres of land. I accepted the Job Offer and Off to Work I went. After about 3 months of Working one day I hit a Rut at pretty fast Speed, lifting my Seat and Jolting me Pretty Hard when I felt my Neck Pop....Sharp Pain but I finished out the Day. The Next Day the Pain was Intense and I was Unable to Work. The Only Position I could get ANY Relief was Laying Down, the Moment I sat up, The Pain became Intense. I did seek a Chiropractor and an M.D. for this one, the Pain was far to Intense under Normal Sitting to Ignore it. Neither Doctor was able to do very much to Fix the Pain, Only Mask it with Pain Meds which had some Other Not So Nice Effects at which time I stopped the Prescription Drugs and decided to just Rough it out as best I could with Tylenol and Advil. Those pain relievers Managed the Pain but Not Enough to Return to Work nor do anything else for that matter including Play my Guitar.
After several months, my Sister called and told me she found a Chiropractor who could Fix my Neck Issue, the only problem was he was 200 Miles away from Me. I accepted the Referral and sure nuff...He Fixed my Neck Issue and the Pain was Finally Gone. I was able to now Function relatively Normal for the first time in nearly 2 years. I went on to Self-Study and acquire My Insurance License to provide an Income and Today I am still an Independent Insurance Agent and Work from my Home Office. What a Gift from God.
So Time passed by and I had not picked up my Guitar in Years but Remembered the Joy Learning to Play my Guitar had brought me in the earlier years so I picked up my Guitar and Believe it or Not.....I couldn't Play a Sour Note, much less a Song. I had lost my Muscle Memory and was no longer able to Read the Music as I had in the Past. I really didn't Expect Anything Less.....it had been Several Years since I had looked at any Sheet Music or Picked up my Guitars....They were Stowed away in their Cases....Collecting Dust.
I got an E-Mail from one of the Music Suppliers with Deals Deals Deals.......I Found One. I saw a New Fender Telecaster and I had always wanted one so.....I Bought It! My Wife asked Why was I buying a New Guitar when I hadn't Played the ones I had in Years.....My Reply.....I'm Fixing to Start. She kindly walked away and didn't give me any Grief (Bless Her Soul).
That was in the 1st week of December this Year...2021. I received my New Telecaster and took it straight to the Guitar Shop for its Initial Setup. I have gotten it back but have not Plugged it in or tried to Play it yet. I had Started putting Ceramic Tile in my Living Room for my Wife. I like Carpet, She Likes TILE. Tile Won! I am not a Professional Tile Guy but I can get it done as I did in our Kitchen and Dining Room many years ago....and it is still holding up. The Living Room has Whooped me 9 Ways from Haydees.....but I am Determined to Complete it. That Story would be Another Book so I will Spare y'all and Not Include it....
Back to My Guitar.....I have began at Session 1 Again and doing very Well other than the Pain of Learning to Fret Again and the pain of the Muscles in my Left Arm that I had Overcome in the Beginning. What I Know...Is I WILL Get Thru It.....Again. It is Amazing how quickly things Come Back to You. I am in Session 2 and am able to Play the Exercises in the Book in near Real TIme/Tempo. So what I do know, is I am going to be Fine and it is Just a Matter of Time until I get Back to Where I Left Off.
In the Meantime, a Young Man who was Helping me with some Jobs around the House (My Heart Condition doesn't Allow me alot of Physical Ability) he had mentioned His Granpa had showed him a few Chords back in the Day but he was Interested in Learning to Play Guitar also. I offered to Practice and Learn With Him here using My Equipment and he Accepted the Challenge. I went so far as to Purchase him a Gibson Learn and Master Guitar Course of his Own as he plans on Purchasing a Guitar and Amp of his Own and to be able to Practice at Home. What A Gift! This Time as I Continue my Guitar Learning Journey....I will get to Share that Journey with a Friend. It doesn't get Any Better than That.
I have Shared My Story in Hope that someone who might read this Post may have been thru some Difficult Times also and had maybe Given Up on Completing their Guitar Journey or was Struggling with Completion of the Learn and Master Guitar Course. I would like to Say to Them.....Pick it Back Up and Even Start Over Again of Necessary. It is Absolutely Worth It. The Joy of Leaning to Play is Incredible and Nothing Compares to the Felling of being able to Play Guitar...and Play Songs YOU Enjoy. It is Absolutely Possible....All You Need is HEART and Commitment. If You Do Not Giveup.....You Will Learn to Play Guitar with the Learn and Master Guitar Course. My Advice.....Take your Time.....Period. Allow yourself Time to Acquire the Knowledge of the Skills and Your Muscles to Condition to Things they are not Accustomed to doing. Spend just a Little Time....Every Day if at all Possible for maybe 30 Minutes in order for your Brain to Not become Overwhelmed nor your Muscles in your Arm and Wrist to become Overly Painful and if you began to feel Alot of pain, take a few days Off and Allow the Muscles to Recover and then Go Back At It. It is a Process that Every Guitarist has Endured...Including Steve I am Sure.
When We Begin the Guitar Journey, We are ALWAYS in a Rush to Get to the Place whee we can Play Songs so we Naturally Rush the Process, Only to Fail when we haven't Totally Absorbed the Material and Skills we need to Play The Songs we want to Play. It is Natural and I'm about Sure 90% of Guitar Students have made this Very Mistake. This Time, Slow Down and Take it Slow, One Step at a Time and Absorb All You Can. Practice until you are Sure you have Learned the Skill and Then Move Forward. There is No Time Limit and if You don't Quit....You Will Learn to Play your Guitar, I am Sure of that since I made it Far Enough Along to be able to Play some of the Songs I wanted to Play...Not ALL of Them but some I never Believed I would be able to Play.
I have looked at Many Guitar Courses since I began My Journey....In My Opinion, The Gibson Learn and Master Guitar Course is The Greatest Course Available still Today. Steve Krenz has a WAY of Teaching like Nobody Else. The Other thing is his Training is not about learning to play some little Short Riffs that you Memorized. He Teaches How to Play Music the Right Way with All The Skills you need to become a Respectable Guitarist. You Need to be able to Read Music in order to Learn to Play Full Length Songs as they were Recorded. All the Skills Steve Offers will take you to a Place you Never Believed you could be. Some of the Former Learn and Master Guitar Students have turned out be be Highly Respectable and Talented, some even joined or Created a Band. You Get Out....What You Put IN.....Nothing More. Don't Give Up...Ever!
I started My Journey when I was 53 Years Old thus the Nickname SandyB53. I am Now 60 and looking forward to Completing The Learn and Master Guitar Course. You Can Too....Let's Do It!
Thanks for sharing your story and all the best to you as you resume the journey!
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4 hours ago, Oldjock said:
I have been using the Fishman Loudbox Mini for my acoustic guitar and have been very pleased with it.
https://www.fishman.com/portfolio/loudbox-mini-amplifier/
As for your future looper purchase, I have been using the EHX 720. Almost purchased the Ditto but with the EHX720 I can save 10 loops, that swung it for me.
https://www.ehx.com/products/720/
Henk
Thanks for the feedback Henk. Always good to hear from someone who has the experience using the product. I see from the link that there is a battery operated version which is kool. Do you think it could be used for playing in a small setting like a restaurant or something like that?
Nairon
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Hey everyone,
I'm looking to buy my first amp for my acoustic guitar (and a looper pedal but that's another topic). Anyway, I saw that some people also use portable PA systems like the Bose S1 Pro. Does the acoustic guitar amp have an advantage over a PA system in terms of quality of sound?
The use would be for playing at home and eventually small venues?
Nairon
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On 12/2/2021 at 11:12 AM, matonanjin said:
It is now!😏 Great job on this. I remember working "Heartbreak Hotel" in the Song Hits and what a fun song. Thanks for posting this. Maybe your posting will encourage some others.
Yes this was fun. Honestly, its hard to play the chords to that song without hearing Elvis singing it in your head. I ended up checking out a lot of his videos online while learning it.
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18 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:
@Nairon good job,
Its 4 verses long, might want to record a longer track
Thanks man. I'll definitely look to make some more lengthy tracks as I progress through the lessons.
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Hey everyone,
Seasons greetings. Not sure if this thread is still active but I just thought I'd share a short clip from Elvis' Heartbreak hotel I was learning recently from The Song Hits, songbook.
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8 hours ago, Wim VD1 said:
For my November recording, I combined 2 Chet Atkins inspired tunes (from ActiveMelody) with lead guitar added in the second half.
Wim.
Very groovy!!
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On 11/2/2021 at 1:21 PM, Wim VD1 said:
For me, the melancholic nature of your song suits the autumn theme perfectly.
Congrats on reaching session 6. It's great that you combine working on the L&M materials with learning the songs you love.
Well done, I enjoyed listening.
Wim.
Thanks @Wim VD1 Enjoying the L&M journey so far. Long ways to go but loving the content of the course. I recently bought a new acoustic (Takamine GN51CE) so it's a got me extra motivated.
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Hey everyone,
Not sure if this "falls" (see what I did there) in with the Autumn theme but let me know what you think. Reached session 6 in L&M and I decided to do Scarborough Fair.
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On 8/3/2021 at 3:55 PM, Fretless said:
More so with acoustics than electrics it is important to go and try these guitars before you buy because wood varies depending on the particular tree it came from and what weather that tree has had through its life.
A few years ago I wanted to buy a guitar as a gift for a great children's worker I worked with one summer. His faithful old guitar was a mess. I went to my local guitar shop and headed straight for the Yamaha and Fender acoustics. I was a bit surprised that the sound was okay but not seductive and they weren't finished or set up as I would have hoped. I started trying some others in the shop and I stumbled on a pretty unknown brand (Klema) and it was like velvet in my hands, so nicely made, so easy to play and the sound was beautiful. That was 400 euros, not a lot short of USD$500. I am not suggesting you hunt down a Klema but go into a shop with a good selection of electro-acoustic guitars and be prepared to find which guitar feels and sounds perfect for you.
And don't forget to let us all know what you get!
@Fretless, I finally got the new guitar. Where I'm from I couldn't find a store with many guitars that have solid tops to choose from so I ended up eventually taking a chance on an online purchase from Sweetwater. (Excellent service, btw. loads of patience explaining and answering questions from a rookie like me).
Anyway, I bought the Takamine GN51CE, solid spruce top and walnut back and sides. To be honest I've never played a steel string apart from my Fender FA-100 so the difference in sound and playability was amazing.
The last time I felt like this, I was a child at Christmas. lol.
Nairon
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7 hours ago, Fretless said:
Hello Nairon,
Rosewood has been a standard for many years and creates a warmer sound than maple fretboards. Some rosewood species are becoming endagered and that restricts their availability. Alternatives are being tried, including the two you mention, baked maple and even manmade fingerboards such as Richlite and Micarta. Expect rare species on only top end guitars and other rosewppd species on guitars across all quality and price bands.
Ovangkol is said to be a relatove of rosewood and so will have similar properties. Given that not all species of rosewood are thought of as the pinnacle of guitar sounds, I expect ovangkol to be used on mid-range (and thus mid-priced) guitars.
Laurel fingerboards are already available on some guitars, pretty much all at the budget end of the market, so read into that what you will. I have not played a laurel fingerboard but with today's guitar-making technology even budget guitars are better made than many were 40 or more years ago. The question will be how does it contribute to the guitar's sound along with other budget-priced woods on a budget guitar, and in what condition will it be in after years of continuous use. That I am not sure.
As far as bridges go, I have to admit that I don't have any specific knowledge or experience to push you in one direction other than the harder the wood the more likely it is to get the string vibrations to the guitar top with less damping or colouration of the sound. I tend to think of ebony and rosewood but I expect I can be shown to be out-of-date as other tested and proven woods crop up with increasing frequency.
What sort of guitar are you looking for and what sort of music do you play?
@Fretless Thanks for taking the time to answer in so much detail. I was looking at the solid top guitars with electronics up to the 550USD mark. I'm still making my way through the L&M course and the Hits so learning different styles atm. Something versatile and good value for money. After combing through brands like Yamaha, Takamine, Guild, Breedlove, Alvarez and Ibanez (solid top Martins and Taylors were way out of range and I wasn't sure about the Martin high pressure laminate), I narrowed it down to three Takamine GN30CE, GF30CE FXC. GN51CE and one Ibanez AC340CE.
Still on the lookout though.
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Hi everyone,
What type of finger board and bridge material is best for acoustic steel string guitar among Rosewood, Ovangkol and Laurel? I've been looking to purchase a new guitar for some time now and finally narrowed down to three or four models. Anyway, I've noticed these three materials being used and was wondering if it really makes a difference apart from how it looks.
Let me know what you think.
Nairon
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Worked on Cold cold heart by Hank Williams from the Song Hits session 5 this month. Still working at the strumming accuracy but so far so fun.
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On 7/18/2021 at 11:11 AM, Wim VD1 said:
Rosedale Blues is a slow steady thumb blues in E from David Hamburger's Fingerstyle Blues Factory course on TrueFire.
Wim.
@Wim VD1 the blues sound real mellow. Really like it.
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On 7/10/2021 at 10:23 PM, Eracer_Team-DougH said:
well I tried to get this done for the June Challenge. but didn't work out.
You have two choices.. you can listen to the no vocal version or add lots of ear protection and listen to the vocal version.
This is out of Steve's Song Hits.. Session 5 if you will.. there wasn't much in the way of rhythm track to the song, so I ran the melody mostly on the neck pickup of a Epiphone Sheraton semi-hollow, the solo (I must come up with a more inventive solo idea) was switch to the bridge pickup and yes.. is "just" the melody played in the 12th position.
it was a mix of mic'ing the speaker and since I run a very loud 30w tube amp, I have an attenuator on it that has line out .. so the lead is a mix of the two types of inputs.. speaker and speaker emulation.
the rhythm track was done on my acoustic straight in to the mixer.
last was my Dean Edge 4 bass to give a little more bottom end..
(if your ears are bleeding.. don't sue me.. you were warned about ear protection)
@Eracer_Team-DougH This was a lot of fun to listen to man!
When is it time to consider acoustic treatments
in Guitar Gear, Amps, Effects, Pedals
Posted
Hi Everyone,
Recently, I've been trying to record a backing track with my steel string acoustic guitar for a song that I wrote (finally trying to get that dream of writing my very own song off the ground). Anyway, just a little background, I'm using a zoom H1N recorder which doubles as my audio interface. The built in XY condenser microphones pick up well especially when I am playing individual notes. but when I strum chords, it gets really muffled even though I am adjusting the levels so it doesn't seem to clip. When I playback the recording on a headphone or another speaker, it definitely sounds different from what I hear when playing it live. I've tried different mic placements but honestly, it still doesn't sound clean, especially the bass notes.
Of course, I'm still on my guitar learning journey so my technique is coming along but it's a work in progress so there's that.
But it got me thinking whether I should just invest in an audio interface and a condenser mic or whether I should try some acoustic treatments first. I usually record in my living room which is about 20' x 12' x 8' dimensions.
Would love some advice on this.
Nairon