August 2010 Blog Posts (21)

Hi,

I live in Tijuana, México, and I began to study guitar 4 years ago. In the last year and half I've be trying to learn to play acoustic blues. I have bought several methods and I have found that a lot of them are very useful (John Miller, Ernie Hawkins, Stefan Grossman and Kenny Sultan audio books and DVD's.) I would like to be in contact with players in the San Diego area (San Diego, La Mesa, Chula Vista, San Ysidro) who might have studied from these books, with an obvious…

I've just moved to Mill Bay and am looking for others to jam with. My level of play is Advanced Beginner (or Retarded Intermediate) mostly, although I've played for a good while, and can do well at some songs; simpler arrangements. That said, I enjoy jamming with both those more experienced/better players and those less. It is the joy of playing with others that floats my kayac. I play guitar and banjo.

I hosted "slow jams" in Alaska and California which worked reasonably…

Hi there, travelling to TO next month on a bit of a holiday,was wondering if anyone knows of a good guitar shop or the like I might spend some time wandering through in Toronto? Not looking for anything specific (but have been pondering a nice Alhambra nylon cross-over for awhile, like most guitars in NZ, pricey as!)

Oh, places to go for jam sessions or the like too if known?

Cheers

Steve

Although this may be an old and perhaps worn out topic, I am seeking out opinions and observations regarding bone/ivory bridge pins and saddles. Has anyone compared bone to ivory and if so, what observations have you made. I am new to this community so please forgive me if I am 'beating a dead horse'. Thanks

If a song doesn't work for you - consider changing the key...

There are two main reasons for changing key:

For ease of playing - possibly using 'friendler' chord shapes

(Plus the new key may give you some 'free' open bass strings...)

And ease of singing - to avoid straining your voice.

Occasionally I move out of the guitar friendly CAGED keys - view my Youtube song…

If you have a song that doesn't work...

Try changing the key.

Jump off the 'tramlines' of familiar chord progressions.

You can of course go further and change the rhythm...

Or the chords...

Try to 'Jazzify' it...

Even 'Bluesify' it...

These steps will quite often unleash potential that you didn't know you…