Monday, February 28, 2011

Why am I doing this?

Why am I posting free lessons up on youtube/blogspot?  A couple of reasons... 

First, I get a lot of requests to teach private lessons and occasionally I do, but generally it's difficult to fit that time into my schedule and it's inconvenient for many to get to me.  So I figured I'll come to you through the miracle of the internet.  And for free!

Second, years ago I had a website of tips for worship leaders and church guitar players that many players followed.  It was on AOL Hometown, but was taken down a few years ago.  This will replace some of the content lost.

Third, I recently read this book...

Rework
It's a very quick read with many valuable contrarian tips for business.  I highly recommend it.  One of the tips was to utilize your business' by-product.  Don't think you have a by-product?  Did you know that charcoal briquettes were a by-product of Henry Ford's Model T?  He started a company to sell them... Kingsford.  Get it?  KingsFORD.  Crazy huh.  Also Wilco allowed a documentary film maker film the making of a record.  He captured the music and emotions as well.  They were recording anyway, why not film it?  The film, "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" was a by-product of the recording process.  It introduced Wilco to a whole new audience.

So this blog is going to be my by-product.  Generally it's going to about something I've done in music.  Maybe talking about a recent recording session, like I did in my second post.  Or blog about something I preparing for.  Or posting something I've shared at clinics like Reasons to Capo One, Two, Three and Four.  If it benefits me financially it will be because of the Amazon links contained wherein.  But that's not why I'm doing it.

These posts will largely be by-products of the dozens of things I do to make a living playing guitar.  Hopefully they will help you be a better guitar player.  Whether you play for fun or want to transition into something professional.

Blessings.

Capoing Reasons 4 and 4.1

A couple more reasons to capo.... to emulate an auto harp and play impossible chords.

Shubb capo...
Shubb GC-20A Acoustic Guitar Capo in Nickel

Auto harp...
Oscar Schmidt 21 Chord Autoharp

Some music by Fernando Ortega...
Fernando Ortega
Shadow of Your Wings: Hymns & Sacred Songs
Hymns of Worship
Breaking of the Dawn
Christmas Songs
Storm

Capoing Reasn #3

Kyser 6 String Capo, Black - This one is better for partial capoing, ie. only capoing the top five strings

Capoing Reason #2



Capoing Reason #2 - To contrast with another guitarist.

Original progression - Em C G D
Capo at 3rd fret play - C#m A E B
Capo at 5th fret play - Bm G D A
Capo at 7th fret play - Am F C G
Capo at 10th fret play - F#m D A E

Reason to Capo #1


To get out of bad keys like F, Bb, Eb, B etc.  A capo can make your life easier and make you sound better.

Dunlop 83 Trigger Curved Guitar Capo (Black) - curved for most guitars
Dunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo, Black Finish - flatter for nylon string guitars (this is why I was having problems in the video, I was using a classical guitar capo on a normal steel string guitar)
Shubb GC-20A Acoustic Guitar Capo in Nickel - My preferred capo for the studio
Kyser 6 String Capo, Black - my preferred capo for the stage
Shubb GC-20E Electric Guitar Capo in Nickel - my preference on the electric guitar

Some others to peruse...
Stainless Steel Deluxe Guitar Capo
Kyser Pro/Am Guitar Capo
G7th Performance Capo (Six String, Silver)
First Act MX220 Six String Guitar Capo
Planet Waves NS Capo, Silver
Jim Dunlop 7190 Russell Gtr Capo Reg - OLD SCHOOL!!!

Different Pick, Different Tone


Don't buy a new guitar when you can just buy a new guitar pick.

Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Black 1.0mm
Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Grey .88mm
Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Grey .73mm
Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Grey .60mm
Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Cream .46mm, Qty 12
Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, White .38mm

Cool Tools - Mandolin and Dulcimer


A couple of links to check out...

Introduction