Eracer_Team-DougH

Yes I was at Steve’s Summer  Gathering in 2016 when Colin first came out from 

he played Somewhere Over the Rainbow 

I reminded him of it this past fall and he played it again this time with even more.

wish I could retire. Can’t. 
 

yup tendinitis in my fretting hand and forearm tell me that I’m not 20 anymore 

Good question Nancy. I’ve been working TrueFire lessons past few years, mostly trying to Blues Solo. . Still nothing compares to Steve’s LMG series.

Jan-Mar2024 I worked with a local music teacher/store so I could play live at their bar jam night. which went really great (sadly no video) 

Take’n Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive.

i sang and pulled off all 3 (although short) Randy Bachman solos. Still brings a smile just thinking of it.

Then I used Steve’s LMG FingerStyle course from April to Oct 2024 made it into Session 4 before fall retreat. 

The LMG FingerStyle did help (and I should continue but…haven’t )

But i was already doing some fingerstyle before that when I played in the church choir. 
 

Steve’s retreat. We did play but it’s not an intense playing schedule as I would have hoped . It’s more lecture based format I found. 
Steve morning warmup is straight out of the LMG FingerStyle course. 
Guest instructors have lots and lots of knowledge and not a large time frame to impart on it. They try but as I said above it works out more lecture based format.

Colin Hill lecture was the most interactive. When he was having us play along . 
Side note: make sure you’re sitting in front of the instructor. I sat off to the side for Colin. It was hard for me to visual follow him, had to rely on the printed material. 

my most playing live was in church on acoustic. But I much prefer electric British/Texas blues.

After Fall retreat I went back to my TrueFire Blues solo course and started preparing for acoustic Christmas songs. Right after Christmas TrueFire announced a “10wk Boot Camp” online program for free. I signed up and did the first couple of weeks till work interrupted it. 4 more weeks to go on it. Still nothing compares to LMG  

I had been working on Layla fingerstyle  for 5 months  and it’s not like I haven’t been playing in front of others before but when it came time for student performance I got super nervous and derailed pretty good 

if you’d like to see how I struggled with it  , one of the students videoed it; I’ll send you a link to my google drive. 
let me know if you want to see it. 

out of 30 only 15 played the student concert  . So it’s not mandatory but I’d recommend it.

others had to stop their song and start again to calm themselves down. Typically not recommended in live performances. But in this learning venue it is fine if needed to do so. 
 

yes I need to go back for “redemption “ 🤣 but will be some time later (years??)

Steve has lots of free time in the day in there, usually after 3 pm-6  

the concerts by the instructors are great 

Deer Run accommodation are good  , I didn’t know the guys I bunked with  (they seemed to know each other) worked out fine. 
food was good too. Enough quantity if you wanted 3rds 

would I go back again? 
yes, 

it’s great being able to hang out with like minded musicians/guitarists.

i had looked into going to the guitar retreat in Bar Harbour Mane that Dianne goes to https://www.guitarintensives.com/

and was considering it. 
similar rural retreat acoustic playing like Steve’s 

then I found https://guitarworkshopplus.com/

more rock/blues oriented and closer to home and not having to take 2 flights to Bar Harbour was really tipping its head that way. But…

Might be something I do in 2026. As my brother has me going to Florida feb23-mar2 and my wife has 3 trips planned this year so tossed out my guitar plans 

long story made story: haven’t continued the fingerstyle, 

wished there was a bit more interactive playing at Steve’s.

i plan to finish off the TrueFire boot camp then see if I can get in with the teacher/store again and work on another song for the schools bar jam night  

Chat any time   
Doug

the car/van practice was out of time utilization.

it didn't really kick into full gear till I moved up to guitarist in the choir. then I needed to practice the weekly songs as much as possible, so I utilize a certain amount of 'wasted' time like when the wife is shopping. there's nothing for me to shop for.. so I play.

volume pedal.. you don't need one. (yet or ever depending on you need)

amp's .. I'm a tube guy, they just sound the best.. a 5w tube amp and pretty well hold its own with more powerful solid state amps.

my 'overkill' Traynor YGL2 30w tube amp.. and I have the master volume at 1 and it's still too loud for my house.

a 1w tube amp will fill most living rooms just fine.

It' A little tight esp with a winter coat on. Not so much in the van 2nd row.

I try play every day. I' Not the best guitarist here on GG/LMG but I try.

NeilES335 can play circlesaround me.

By I play rhythm every week in church which takes all my time from the course.

Btw volume thing... Steve K is a keep it all on 10 guy and uses a volume pedal. Where Bonamassa uses his guitar controls 

Cheers

I got hooked on Job B back in 2006 but really started tracking him in 2011.. 

I can't do it at home, amps are just too loud for the house (even the master is on 1.5 my guitars are still on like 2-3). but in my car.. I have the battery powered amp on like 9

when I'm doing something clean, I back the volume down, when I need distortion I turn the volume on the guitar to 9.