We Feel You, Boston
[ 04/21/13 show notes from Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast Episode 102]
In this week’s show, there are 2 students in the Spotlight, the Question of the Week isn't a question at all, News is about how you can win an Eastwood Classic 6 and Take Note is called, "I'm Impressed."
The terror attack in Boston colored everything. We’re not that far from Boston. and my peers and I have not been the same since 9/11. I don’t look at cloudless Tuesdays nor planes overhead without flashing back to that traumatizing day. A young man dear to us ran in the marathon. Alex is like a son or nephew to E-Rex and me. We just love him. Anyway, I don’t usually have TV on during the day, when I am home, but on Monday, I did. When whatever I had on in the background was broken into by the news report, I instantly texted him. Fortunately, I got through before they shut down the cell service. Alex went out with the elite runners (what else is new? He’s elite at everything he does) and had showered and was eating when I reached him. We were thankful for Alex’s safety, but so dismayed about the lives that were shattered. Boston has a whole other vibe. It’s a nice town and I’m sorry its population was held captive to the vile deeds of terrorists.
I must shamefully admit I have not yet returned the call from the dad who has the little five-year-old son for whom he's seeking guitar lessons. I will call him. A few things wreaked havoc with my schedule this week.
Guitar Center has been bombarding me with advertising. I received a postcard advertising their used gear trading expo, on Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28. Just last week I received an email of something called a create your own clearance. It offered $10 off a purchase of $49 or more, $30 off a purchase of $199 or more, and $150 off the purchase of $750 or more. That Create Your Own Clearance period has passed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a sale like that with some regularity coming from the big music stores.
My week was brightened up. I received a wonderful early birthday gift from one of our dear friends, Ernie, for a rather significant birthday that’s looming next month. So what was the gift that our dear friend Bernie bestowed upon me? It was a beautiful long-desired iPad Mini.
To say I’m thrilled with it would be an understatement. iI’s so extremely useful: this week I dictated my podcast notes on it rather than typing the notes out. It was convenient to speak them when it was opportune, without having to be near my desktop Mac. I loaded it up with the all apps I use on my phone, which were also available for iPad. Sometime ago I considered purchasing an iPad but it wasn’t in our budget. At that time, I compared the beautiful large Retina Display of the standard iPad and the smaller non-Retina Display and the great portability factor of the iPad Mini. For my particular lifestyle the Mini is preferable. It’s big enough for me to keyboard comfortably - especially in landscape mode, yet small enough to take just about anywhere. So receiving the Mini was a tremendous surprise and such a welcome blessing. Need I say that it interrupted some of my usual life activities during the past week? I couldn’t help but customize it so I could maximize it’s usefulness and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to just flat out playing with it, too. I’m going to really enjoy it.
My DR strings are still sounding beautifully and I'm liking them. I’m easily
I have some email from listeners regarding the nine cords I discussed last week. In the majority of the emails readers or listeners were asking why it matters and who cares whether there's a root in a 9 chord or not.
It is my hope as a musician and instructor that it does matter to you whether the chord has a root or not. I also hope that more of you than not are aware of what they are playing musically rather than being clueless. I suppose it is of no importance whatsoever to know whether a chord contains a root or not if understanding what you play is of no interest to you.
The Boston terror attack was terrible and our prayers are with the families that will never be the same. In your compassion for the Bostonians, please don’t forget the survivors of SuperStorm Sandy. Sandy NJ Relief Fund will efficiently use 100% of your donation to fund and mobilize qualified and competent organizations to assist in restoring life to the New Jerseyans who are still picking up the pieces, nearly 6 months later. Thank you for everything you have done or will do.
You just have a few months to visit the full blown Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. IVisitors are welcomed 1-5 on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. After June the exhibit will shrink to a small permanent installation. I'll check the specific date.
Lou Pallo, the Les Paul Trio and several jazz luminaries have created a terrific homage to the genius guitar player and inventor. Check out, Thank You, Les.
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Arno and Bridget. This month is riddled with vacationers. All of the schools in the area have different spring break weeks, so my schedule hasn’t been full for the past several weeks. I’m glad Bridget is not the only guitarist in the Spotlight. There’s room for everyone!
Arno has a busy busy busy life and even though the 2 bands for whom he plays drums played this past weekend and there were rehearsals for that, and even though he’s a family man and businessman, he managed to eek out time to play. He’s making excellent progress in his weaker areas, and that’s to be recognized and praised.
Bridget is doing excellently. She takes her practicing seriously. You go girl.
I’m looking for Shira and Aviv to move into the Spotlight and remain there. Chicks, you’re just short of your best, and that’s what it takes. Since you’re friends, you should inspire each other.
This week's question isn’t, so I thought I’d give you a brief rundown of the Crossroads Guitar Festival last weekend, here, in NY. We won’t see one of these again, for 3 years.
It was the fourth Crossroads festival Clapton has presented, every three years since 2004, and musicians clearly enjoy it. The majority of this year’s headliners — among them Buddy Guy, B. B. King, Jeff Beck, Los Lobos, John Mayer, Robert Cray and Vince Gill — were recidivists, coming back for the chance to mix and match repertories and trade licks with peers. Also performing were Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, Quinn Sullivan, Keith Urban and Albert Lee. The Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Gregg Allman Sonny Landreth and Allan Holdsworth. I’m sure I missed some of them.
The concerts were filmed for release as a DVD. The festival was a guitar-geek utopia. Video screens showed close-ups of fingers and fretboards more often than faces. According to the Times, what came through the two nights was the pleasure of musicians listening to one another. With tradition in their fingers, they were still adding their own hand-played flourishes, full of respect and primed for one-upmanship.
If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.
Links Email Me if you'd like to submit a Question of the Week or suggest an additional segment topic.
If I use one you submit, I'll send you a Guitar Technique Tutor pick.
In the news this week is your opportunity to enter for your chance to win an Eastwood Classic 6 from Premier Guitars! This Giveaway ends May 3, 2013, so get on it if you’re interested.
The Eastwood Guitars Classic 6 features the famous 1960’s Country Classic look, the Eastwood Classic series offers great balance and feel. Available in 4, 6 or 12 string configuration - with or without Bigsby on the Classic 6 - this semi-hollowbody, set neck design is one of Eastwood's top selling models. This Eastwood Classic 6 Walnut Guitar prize package comes with an Eastwood Hardshell Case and is valued at $750. Nice guitar if you’re the one who wins it.
Here are its specs:
◦ Body: Bound Laminated Maple, Flamed Maple Top, Bound F-Holes
◦ Colours: Walnut, White, Orange, Black
◦ Pickups: Two EW-Retro Humbuckers
◦ Switching: 3-Way
◦ Controls: 2 Volume 2 Tone
◦ Bridge: Fixed Tun-O-Matic Bridge
◦ Neck: Bound Maple, SET neck
◦ Finger Board: Rosewood, MOP Sharks Teeth
◦ Scale Length: 24 3/4"
◦ Width at the Nut: 1 5/8"
◦ Hardware: Gotoh style Nickel/Chrome
◦ Strings: #9-#46
◦ Case: Extra
◦ Unique Features: Unique MOP Fret Markers and Volume Knob Positioning
◦ Suggested Retail: $629.00 US (Street is about $499.00 US)
Eastwood may not be one of the first guitar companies you think of when someone says, who are the builders who make great guitars. Here’s a little background:
Since 2001, Eastwood® has been creating some of the most exciting Electric Guitars the world has ever seen. Their RADICAL VINTAGE REMAKE series feature a variety of models based on popular sixties designs - from the classic Mosrites to their top-selling AIRLINE - they capture the excitement and style of the originals. Each year the prices of the originals skyrocket - they are getting harder to find and harder to play! Eastwood®'s focus is to make top quality replicas - that cost less and play better - so the average musician can experience the excitement of playing one of these beautiful vintage guitars as their everyday axe.
All Eastwood® Guitars are fitted with high-quality modern components that offer an optimal playing experience that far exceeds their 1960's original counterparts. It is hard to find a guitar these days that oozes more vintage style than an Eastwood®! All Eastwood® Guitars are setup professionally before shipping to customers.
All Eastwood® Models are subjected to extensive research and development to continually raise the level of performance. At the same time, the folks at Eastwood are very careful to maintain an affordability level that their customers expect. These elements combine to deliver peak performance and higher quality than the originals at a much lower price. Hey, good news for lefties: It looks like that for this model the lefty and righty cost the same. I could be wrong, but that's how it seemed on their web site.
My take note topic this week is I’m Impressed. Sounds like it’s going to be admiring remarks about someone, right? Well, I mean impressed in a general sense, not the often used complimentary way.
This is for you younger, no so experienced players. Often, in this segment or in the Question of the Week segment, I stress discipline, the proper way to approach conquering those areas in your playing or understanding that need work and so on. But today, I want to talk about how you can sabotage your audition, or fall short at your next gig. I’m not saying all “young” guitarists fall into this category, but some most certainly do. I was at a coffee shop recently, and I affirm that I’m a partially voluntary and partially involuntary eaves dropper. I can’t help that I have extraordinary hearing, so I overhear conversations -- whether drinking my joe or at a restaurant etc. I overheard some young dudes talking and as soon as I heard the word “amp” my ears locked onto the conversation. They were talking about an upcoming performance and it sounded like they comprised the members or most of the members of a band. They spoke very briefly about their set list. That’s good. They set up a couple rehearsal dates. That’s really good because you don’t want to play out, unprepared. The rest of the conversation that I overheard - and I mean for about 25 minutes (don’t think I have too much free time - I had to be where I was, it’s a long story) these guys talked about the “totally sick” clothes they were going to wear, what they were going to do to their hair and whether or not they should all do it. At that point, I had to the old recon move, which all the chicks listening, know. You pull out your mirror and surreptitiously view the people who are behind you -which these guys were. I’d say they were in their early or late 20’s. They had a very clean cut look, which surprised me, after hearing their wardrobe and coiffure plans for the show.
Hey, I understand how a distinct style in your music is of paramount importance, assuming, of course, that the quality is there. I also understand that up and coming artists need a hook - whether that it’s their uniqueness within their genre, or the employment of unconventional sounds or instruments, or topicality of songs or lyrics, or a cool or unconventional look. It’s an old saw because it’s true: you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. That being said, please, please, please keep in mind that the most important thing is the music. As I listened to those guys, all I could think was, I hope their chops are commensurate with their talk. The trap into which you do not want to fall is being the guitarist or band about which people say, “Hey did you see - name the artist or band -? Yeah, the dudes with the green dreads and the left leg of their jeans cut off mid thigh…man, they stunk.”
Your playing is what you have to lead with and that’s why I needle you to master your craft. If you wear ordinary street clothes, whatever they are for you, to an audition or gig, and your playing blows everyone away - that’s what you’ll be remembered for. No one is going to say, “Did you hear that monster -name the artist or band -? His/her/their shoes were lame.” That's never going to happen.
The best of both worlds is to master your craft AND have a unique look or identifier. It’s necessary to be memorable in a sea of up and comers. But don’t lose focus. Your playing is the thing. You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. Don’t blow it. Don’t perform before you’re ready and when you do, blow their doors off.
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Boston, we love you and we know the shock, loss and pain you sustained last week.
I will call the 5 year-old’s dad. I really will.
It will broaden you as a musician to understand what you’re playing, when you’re playing it - so, “You should,” is the answer to, “Who cares if there’s a root in a 9 chord or not?”
My iPad Mini and I are BFFs already - can you hear me smile when I said that? It’s great, and for me, just the right size.
Excellent work Arno and Bridget. I think after this week all the spring breaks will finally be concluded and I’ll have a full schedule, once again.
Sounds like the Crossroads Guitar Festival was great. You may want to go next time.
If you’re interested in winning an Eastwood Classic 6, click over to Premier Guitars - 18 years or older, please. If you’re younger than that, I’m glad you’re listening, but check with a parent or guardian before filling out anything online!
Get your music together before you young or inexperienced players worry about hair and wardrobe. And for heaven sake, put on the clothes you’re going to perform in and play a set. Be sure your fanciful garb will not impede your playing.
If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.
If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity. Keep it humidified if there’s less than 40% humidity in its usual environment.
