DianeB

@NeilES335 is spot on about using a spoon instead of a pickaxe. It's exactly what Thomas Sterner calls "the four S's": Simplify - Small - Slow - Short.

Slimshaky, a principle that my tutors have consistently impressed on me is: economy of movement. If you’re shifting up or down the fretboard with the same voicing, relax your fingers only as much as necessary to prevent string noise. It’s not always necessary to lift them off the strings. Noise from sliding is more likely to be a problem on wrapped strings. Sometimes I struggle with this issue, too, especially on fast changes.

Doc, this thread is for the 2019 retreat. The thread for the 2018 retreat is here. Registration for the 2018 retreat is here. It's all making me a little dizzy, too! ?

Thanks for the story! Yay, Molly!

At last report, Steve has plans for Friday night, but hasn't announced them yet.

Simply beautiful, Maria. Your voice is a wonderful instrument, too!

Chris, you're making progress! That's what it's all about. The "Zone of Proximal Development," or "Sweet Spot" as Daniel Coyle calls it, is where about 50-80% of your reps are correct. You want to practice at the edge of your ability, but not so far beyond that you practice making mistakes. Slow down as needed, relax, use good technique, and you will be rewarded.

Steve, two proposals for your consideration: An index to the Live Lessons would be helpful. If you saved your scripts, this would be fairly straightforward: perhaps a few sentences or keywords describing the topic, the guest, interesting questions answered, and links to the video and any PDFs you still have available (see next suggestion). This could be a section of the discussion board, possibly in “Articles”. Yes, I know, there are at least 76 vids on the YouTube page now (sigh). Some years have passed since you completed the original Learn & Master course. Now you know how students use the course. You’ve produced the spotlight courses, supplemental videos, and countless Tuesday night lessons, and kept teaching all the while. You might want to revisit the original curriculum with this perspective. I was originally inclined to suggest a second edition of the Bonus Resources book. But probably better would be a new publication, under your own imprint, perhaps with a video to accompany it. Using the original course outline as a framework, you could place the Fretboard Workouts and spotlight courses in context. You could incorporate topics from live lessons (with those rough draft PDFs polished up), adapt the old Power Workouts/Skills House exercises, discuss the NNS, and expand a bit on music theory as you use it. You could address, in print, topics such as: working with a private instructor, playing in ensembles, and performing for an audience. It could include a bibliography of resources you recommend; no need to duplicate what’s already out there. Perhaps Dino Pastin would be interested in contributing.

That's just terrific, Cap! You're an inspiration!

An hour along, my monthly acoustic jam had lost its vibe. Two guys were playing their guitars so timidly I could scarcely hear them. The other was a talented newcomer, but curiously nervous and hyper. No one else knew his songs, so as he played them, the rest of us gradually dropped out, leaving him and the bass player to finish his tunes. We meet in a tiny art gallery that occasionally draws a visitor or two while we play. I was heaving a sigh when two young women entered, pushed in their wheelchairs by their attendants. May we listen, they asked. Of course, we said, as we welcomed them. The attendants parked their charges next to me and pulled up seats. The women in the wheelchairs were severely disabled. I smiled at them as my heart ached. They couldn't smile back, but I sensed that they understood their surroundings. One extended her arm, reaching for the bass player, trying to touch the source of the music. I turned my chair to face them. It was my turn to pass out a song. As usual, I was overstocked with ballads. I need something upbeat -- okay, this will do, I thought: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. Let's start a fight, I cheerfully announced, and kicked it off. I nodded to my jam mates and played for the new arrivals. What they heard or felt, I had no way of knowing, but the song got through. I could tell; don't ask me how. They lingered for another couple of songs, then their escorts said goodbye and wheeled them out. I fumbled with the music on my stand. For a few brief minutes, these young women, mute and immobile, lit up the room. Or so it seemed, from my chair.

My faithful companion for many years has been my 1975 Rhode Island Guild D-35. She was only about six months old when I bought her directly from the owner of a music store in Durham, North Carolina, for the then-princely sum of $200. My long arms seemed to fit around her perfectly. She is a warm voiced, full-throated dread that can fill the room. I had not encountered another like her until 2014, when at my monthly jam, a new guy pulled her sister from his case. We were both amazed; the serial numbers were about 90 apart.

Hi, Cort, There are many delightful music-related and historical sights in the Nashville area. A good place to start your planning is the official visitor’s web site, visitmusiccity.com. If you’re a fan of country music, then visits to the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame are in order. Considering how far you are traveling, I recommend allowing some time to escape the city and enjoy the Tennessee countryside; it is beautiful. Weather permitting, of course: it can be hot and humid in late June, and summer thunderstorms are fairly common. We don’t know yet what Steve has planned for Friday night or Saturday morning, so I’m leaving those time slots open. After the Saturday morning session, Steve and Greg will probably start packing up their gear as we say our goodbyes and everyone goes their way. Saturday night presents a good opportunity to enjoy the show at the Grand Ole Opry (so far Tenille Townes and The Steel Woods are scheduled that night; others will be added as the date approaches). Unless someone comes up with a better idea, I plan to go to Third and Lindsley Tuesday night to see Mandy Barnett. Stay tuned to the Gathering Facebook page to see what’s cooking. Looking forward to seeing you!

40%, with two lucky guesses! Apparently, Hal Blaine didn't play on anything worthwhile

Hi, Cort, Dave just described my own feelings and experiences with the last three gatherings very well. If there is any prerequisite at all, it is to share your joy in learning to play guitar. Just like Dave, I’ve had a few moments when I wished I knew more theory, or could just keep up. So I watched, listened, and learned what I could. Steve gives careful thought to who leads the workshops. He seeks artists that we’ll not only admire and respect, but who can relate to us as students. They are aware of how varied our skills are. Look at Dave’s picture with Phil Keaggy. All of us who’ve attended have similar memories of moments with the professionals who generously gave their time to advise, encourage, hang out, and joke around with us. I fondly remember Will McFarlane showing me his family pictures on his phone. Don’t expect three days of guitar craziness in Nashville to send your skill level through the roof. But you can expect to make some true guitar friends. That’s priceless. The shared experiences keep the fire inside burning. I wouldn’t encourage you to travel halfway around the planet if I didn’t think so. Bring some songs to play for us.

Very cool, Dave. I believe I see the Coricidin bottle that Gregg got for Duane when he was sick, and on which he learned his first slide moves. Thanks!

From here, it looks like an Ab7 with Eb in the root: Eb-Ab-C-Gb. The next one is a C7, and the last an Eb7.

Ron, you might look into having OBD installed (On Board Diagnostics). These are some common error messages. — Diane 0000 Tuning error 0001 No root 0002 Wrong octave 0006 Wrong third 0008 Wrong guitarist 0101 Cowboy chord 0205 Unsympathetic wife/husband/dog 0222 Played through repeat sign 0224 Ignored modulation 0404 Note not found 0986 Cold hands 2000-4999 Miscellaneous operator error 5555 Power chord overflow 8005 Three sharps and two flats/full house 9998 Replace strings 9999 Replace operator

For April first, a favorite thread, edited for flow, from the old forum in early 2017: I was in love with my new PRS. I still am but there is something wrong with it. I have been primarily working pentatonic scales and Steve's Speed and Agility course since I got it. I decided to try to play Europa by Santana and it can't play it!!!! Europa by Santana. Come on. Santana is known for PRS guitars. Any self-respecting PRS guitar should be able to play Europa! What should I do? -- Matonanjin Maybe if you could get Santana to play the guitar than it would remember how to play. -- Uncle Hammy Sounds just like the problems I am having with my Strat. It won't play a darn thing that is in my brain. -- Grog I have a better idea, just send me the PRS, I have 14 guitars but don't have a PRS, it would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance, -- Dan Brown Thanks guys -- you saved me. I was just about to buy a Clapton Custom Shop Strat. Now I am having second thoughts. -- Dave White Ron, you could send this guy a note. You’ll probably have to get past some suits, or whatever they’re called in La La Land these days. Good luck. Mr. C. Santana c/o Creative Artists Agency 2000 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067 -- Diane Thanks, Diane. I will contact Mr. Santana. I'm sure he'll get right back to me. -- Matonanjin Mr. Santana will pass the guitar to his tech who will declare it ready to play. I on the other hand will spend a great deal of time correcting its inability to play in your hands. -- PatIAm Pat, I know that. The guitar is on the way to you and I sent you a tracking # by PM. I only said to Diane that I contacted Mr. Santana to make her feel like I appreciated her comment. But Sssshhh! Don't tell her. I don't want her to know. -- Matonanjin OK. I understand your wanting to make Diane feel appreciated. She is indeed a wonderful person. We should just continue to talk behind her back in private. -- Pat Dear Carlos, Sorry about the mixup with Ron's PRS. The problem was just the usual, operator error. Good to see you on Tavis a while back. Anyway, have a safe trip down under this spring. Give my regards to Cindy. See you in Bethlehem in August. Best, Di cc: Ron, and most everyone on the internet

Happy birthday, Sylvain!

What a burst of sunshine! Enjoy!