NeilES335

Very nice Mike... With the Princeton, are the 2 "Instrument" inputs for 2 guitars, or is 1 a "clean channel" and the other "dirty" ie distorted channel? How do you find the clean tones? When you say there a lot of "headroom", does that mean you can turn up the volume with little or no distortion until it gets really loud? Is the amp suitable for playing at home or is this more of a performance "gigging" amp? I'd appreciate your input while shopping around... Regards; Neil

I'd really like to hear from someone who attended the Gathering "Jazz " workshops; Lesson content, experience, etc. Any comments?

Is anyone else here currently working on S17 or S18? I'd like to hear your comments and experiences at this stage.

So here it is about 8 months later, and I'm still working on this S17. (really? ok, ok....excuse time; I didnt play much at all from Feb to now...that's business you know) I do have the patterns down pretty well in Key of F, and moving to Key of D and Bb does not seems to be that difficult. I'm trying to focus on saying and playing the notes to get the most out of the exercises, and I'm a lot more familiar with the fret positions above the 5th - 17 th position. This really hammers the major scale into your brain, and visually you tend to recall the note for a given fret much quicker. I didnt realise until last night there is a playalong jam track for this so I'll have to get into this ... man, Steve's hammer on pull of advanced version is quick! I find that I really just LISTEN to the intervals, (this must be what they mean by " Ear Training" ... I thought that was playing with your ear... wouldnt that be painful ? lol) In most cases, my fingers just "go there" to the appropriate fret by repetition. It is a lot of repetitious work, but like most things that it does pay off. Those artists you hear playing effortlessly didnt get that way by just watching it on video! Another fretboard knowledge test is to name a key and find and name all the notes in that key in succession as quickly as possible.Then find all the A's, Ab's, B's Bb's, C's etc. on the fretboard say and play them. Betcha cant do it the first time! Meanwhile I've drifted into S18 also, and basically finished the workbook session there, although not the bonus S18 yet. And in addition, I'm working on a Sandra Shermans ("Greeetings from Austria!" )"Easy" Chord Melody arrangement of "Autumn Leaves" which I found on YT. I'm hoping to have "Autumn Leaves " in playable shape to record in the near future. (I have a way to go to match anything that @Wim VD1 or @mark_h is putting out lately... WELL DONE GUYS!) I must say that learning Steve K's "Fretboard Workout - Jazz Chords " and the "Major Scales" has made this possible. For those approaching S18, I highly recommend you do this course first. It will all make a lot more sense.

I believe that Steve had posted that topic "Hearing the Changes" as an upcoming Live Lesson, so.that is quite possible.

Thanks to our intrepid reporter @DianeB !

Now if I could just find a small clean sounding tube amp with a jazz tone that doesnt cost a ton...

How many official "attendees" are participating in this years' GG confernence?

Congrats... there is that about tubes. Classic British tone.

Thsnks Mark, just a quick look at this site reveals a extensive jazz guitar resource, much of it free. @markmuse And Congratulation on finishing the LMG course! It's no small feat for sure👍🎸

These lessons are by the Rev. Robert Jones, a great player in his own right They come from his new course on Truefire, You can watch a sampling of the course with several lessons free here; https://truefire.com/blues-guitar-lessons/reverend-robert-jones-traditions/the-blues-tradition-introduction/v49256 Current price for steaming and instant download is $29.25 I liked Jone's commentary on the history of the Blues, putting each song in context. Here's a sample of his solo performance in 2017 in Munro Michigan. Rev Robert B. Jones and Davy Knowles performing at the 30th Annual Black History Month Blues Series at the Ellis Library in Monroe, Michigan http://www.davyknowles.com http://www.revrobertjones.com/ SHOW MORE

Is anyone else working on S18 (more/less) at this time? If so, how is it going for you?

Steve ; Ive been looking around for an amp that delivers that classic "jazz tone" , mostly for practice and play at home or small a small venue. I've looked at and and tried several... (Fender Blues Jr, Pro Jr. IV, Roland JC 22, Princeton ; ) any suggestions (that don't cost 2 arms and a leg) ? Tube or solid state? Vintage or New? What do you use playing small venue or home for this? Thanks; Neil

Yes, that would be good...Steve I got kinda stuck on S17 of the LMG course, with memorizing the arpeggio patterns. Just memorizing them doesnt really seem very useful....Could you please review the patterns, and demonstrate how to use them in a melodic fashion, while playing a melody or improvising? Thanks a lot.. Neil

Yes. Continue to do the finger stretching exercises several times a day and in a few weeks you will notice a difference. Stretching up to the 6th low E wont be a problem and your flexibility will improve.

@Twalumba Welcome to Guitar Gathering and the Learn and Master Guitar program! We're glad you're here and excited about your guitar learning journey ahead. You"ll find lots of help and support here as you learn from what I believe is the best self study course available today. Be sure to ask qiestions in the appropriate forum and join us for Live Lessons as per schedule. All the Best ! Neil

Most of you who have been playing guitar for even a little while, will have heard of the basic 1 - 4 - 5 blues, and the Delta Blues variant pioneered in the 1920''s by Robert Johnson, and many others like Howlin' Wolf. While the form is quite often the same, the variations, licks and runs created by this early Bluesmen still resonate today. Im not given to posting YouTube links often, but this one opened a few doors for me so I thought I'd share it. Enjoy. and another with a really good explaination/method of a fingerpicking style

A truss rod adjustment normally fixes this problem. Sounds like your neck has a "back bow" ie the truss rod is too tight. Try it again.

Its tempting to work on several things at once. However at your stage I recommend you stick to mostly the course material and maybe Song Hits or the Hal Leonard book. That is plenty. S4 as I recall is a big session which could keep you occupied for a while (several weeks of maybe months) Dont overextend yourself. Keep it simple and you will come out ahead in the end.

@Wim VD1. that was amazing... very polished.. great technique and very "musical"👍🎸

@Mustafa ; Welcome to the Guitar Gathering family! You certainly have had your challenges. As far as guitar is concerned, all of us have had times of great improvement, and other times when we feel discouraged or unmotivated to study and play. Losing your teacher, it's understandable. I recocommend a self study program by our group leader and teacher Steve Krenz; "Learn & Master Guitar".Its available through the store on this website. Seek out the company of other guitar students. Play and practice with them. Participate in this community where there is a wealth of experience and knowledge all for the asking. Listen to great guitarists that you love to hear. Remember the great feeling you have inside when you're playing. Set side a time every day to practice, and do it whether you feel like it or not. Your motivation will return and you will improve and enjoy it again! All the best! Neil

@Steve KrenzI'm hoping some of it will rub off... not playing much at all lately; stalled...

Maybe Joe has the right formula for becoming a seriously good guitarist. A love of music, combined with living in the outback hundreds of miles from anywhere, a guitar, and not much else to do except practice and play every waking moment including waking up at 4 am to practice 4 hours before school! Then win a talent contest, become known in you country, then gamble it all and move to America and start all over were no-one knows you. Talent yes, but there's a lot more to it don't you think?

Thanks @Steve Krenz A good one for my buddy @Eracer_Team-DougH who juggles hymns in church every Sunday. I've seen the music, and there are, as you say, often chord changes every beat!

@Kbore Wow... what a gorgeous piece ... congratulations 👍 sir.