Guitar related lens for beginning and intermediate players of any age
Tips on gear, instructional material, instruments, PA equipment for small groups, must-hear music, and opportunities for you to comment and add your own favorites.
New Table of Contents
- Guitar-related Flickr Photos
- Chet Atkins Appreciation Society 2008, Nashville Tennessee, July 9-12
- Music related to the Chet Atkins Society article
- More related to the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, 2008
- on eBay: The Best Cables I've Found, by Mogami
- Links for guitar players and musicians
- Night of the Guitar, Muriel Anderson and John McLaughlin
- YouTube: videos recommended by readers and friends
- Video: women blues guitar players and singers
- Buddy Guy: videos of one of my favorite players
- Johnny Winter- Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo
- Guitar Magazines on Amazon
- Women Guitar Players
- More Guitar Gear on Amazon
- Do you have a child who wants to learn the guitar?
- Must see Guitar Videos
- What I say. 2.
- New Amazon Voting (Plexo): Guitar Effects
- What do I have to say? (1)
- Concert DVD's of guitar-heavy music. 1.
- Lens, groups and other links Voting (Plexo)
- Instructional DVDs
- Add Your Own Links for Voting (Plexo)
- New Twitter Follow- all topics I write about or photograph
- New Guestbook
- CC License
Guitar-related Flickr Photos
banjo.es
Upgrades
john ketcham
it's all about the h...
sean evan
sean evan
sean evan
jam session
a farewell to farewe...
Chet Atkins Appreciation Society 2008, Nashville Tennessee, July 9-12
24th Annual Convention- I'll add links to this article later!
I just returned from spending Friday evening through late Saturday night at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society's (CAAS) 24th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. I had never before visited this iconic city, home to the Grand Ole Opry (http://www.opry.com/) and so much country music, (regular, super, unleaded, and outlaw). I wish I had been able to attend the whole event, which started on Wednesday at noon. It was a great experience, nonetheless. Among the terrific guitarists and other musicians I was able to hear were the marvelous Guy Van Duser; the multi-talented Jim, Morning and John Nichols, equally at home on jazz and country music; the brilliant Muriel Anderson playing "Nola" with the Endless Road String Quartet (made up of members of the Lexington KY Philharmonic); Kirk Hanser and John McClellan (the Hanser-McClellan Duo, America's premier guitar duo); Celtic guitar master Tony McManus; and jazz virtuoso Frank Vignola with his great band. I also heard plenty of other terrific players on the main stage, on stage 2, in the vendor rooms, at open mike sessions, and jamming in the corridors and lobby of the hotel where the events took place. I saw Italian fingerstyle star Daniele Bazzani, whom I had heard perform Wednesday night at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. I missed Daniele's Nashville performance, but was able to chat with him and pick up his two CDs. The Wednesday performance by Daniele, at one of America's great concert halls, also featured outstanding sets by the Hanser-McClellan Duo and St. Louis Bella Corda (see below).
In addition to the all-stars I've mentioned and many other top professionals, there were a number of up-and-coming, or already arrived, teenage players, including Bryan Browne (15) and Joe Robinson (17) of Australia (who just won "Australia's Got Talent," yes, the whole thing!, playing Tommy Emmanuel's arrangement of Classical Gas by Mason Williams), Ben Hall (19, 1st place National Thumbpicker, 2005) Ben Owens (19, whose first CD is Never Alone), and St. Louis Bella Corda, a classical guitar ensemble represented by six high-school guitarists, a Webster University student and their leader, Kirk Hanser (http://www.kirkhanser.com). John McClellan was kind enough to step in for two pieces because one of the Bella Corda members couldn't make the trip the Nashville. Hearing the young performers was a joy for the crowd, who were thrilled by the pyrotechnics of the young Australians but were also moved to extremes by the beautiful playing of Bella Corda: one audience member was overheard saying she wanted to cry after Bella Corda's beautiful quartet rendition of Leo Brouwer's Cuban Landscape with Rain, for 4 guitars (Paisaje Cubano con Lluvia). For full disclosure, I have to say that my older son is a member of Bella Corda and played in the quartet. Finally, I could say "I'm with the band" and really mean it.
Being with the band gave us, along with all the performers and their guests, reserved seats in the front few rows of the large hall for the closing Tribute to Chet Atkins. Many of the performers reappeared, some for one piece, some for several. It was a great evening that went from 8 pm until 11:30. Mark Pritcher, President of CAAS, and his staff are to be congratulated for great organization, great music, and a feeling of warm welcome that was extended to newcomers as well as old friends. I recommend this event to all who love fingerstyle guitar, Chet Atkins and great music.
In addition to the all-stars I've mentioned and many other top professionals, there were a number of up-and-coming, or already arrived, teenage players, including Bryan Browne (15) and Joe Robinson (17) of Australia (who just won "Australia's Got Talent," yes, the whole thing!, playing Tommy Emmanuel's arrangement of Classical Gas by Mason Williams), Ben Hall (19, 1st place National Thumbpicker, 2005) Ben Owens (19, whose first CD is Never Alone), and St. Louis Bella Corda, a classical guitar ensemble represented by six high-school guitarists, a Webster University student and their leader, Kirk Hanser (http://www.kirkhanser.com). John McClellan was kind enough to step in for two pieces because one of the Bella Corda members couldn't make the trip the Nashville. Hearing the young performers was a joy for the crowd, who were thrilled by the pyrotechnics of the young Australians but were also moved to extremes by the beautiful playing of Bella Corda: one audience member was overheard saying she wanted to cry after Bella Corda's beautiful quartet rendition of Leo Brouwer's Cuban Landscape with Rain, for 4 guitars (Paisaje Cubano con Lluvia). For full disclosure, I have to say that my older son is a member of Bella Corda and played in the quartet. Finally, I could say "I'm with the band" and really mean it.
Being with the band gave us, along with all the performers and their guests, reserved seats in the front few rows of the large hall for the closing Tribute to Chet Atkins. Many of the performers reappeared, some for one piece, some for several. It was a great evening that went from 8 pm until 11:30. Mark Pritcher, President of CAAS, and his staff are to be congratulated for great organization, great music, and a feeling of warm welcome that was extended to newcomers as well as old friends. I recommend this event to all who love fingerstyle guitar, Chet Atkins and great music.
Music related to the Chet Atkins Society article
Great fingerstyle and classical guitar
More related to the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, 2008
on eBay: The Best Cables I've Found, by Mogami
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Links for guitar players and musicians
- DANGER: Starting a Rock Band Can Be HAZARDOUS to Your Health!
- But If You Feel You MUST Rock, Here's How to Start a Band. By Paul Diamond Blow, published May 30, 2008
- Zzounds for great music gear
- Excellent prices on top quality music gear.
- Kirk Hanser
- Member of the Hanser-McClellan guitar duo, America's premier guitar duo, leader of the St. Louis Academy for Guitar, Leader of St. Louis Bella Corda (a top youth guitar ensemble), and highly-decorated teacher in the Childbloom guitar program developed by Kevin Taylor of Austin, TX.
- Mel Bay Music
- The St. Louis (actually Pacific, Missouri) based publisher of countless books, CD's and DVD's on learning to play the guitar. From "Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions" to "Tommy Emmanuel Live at Sheldon Concert Hall" and countless other titles.
- Welcome to Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop and Vestapol Videos!
- Huge range of great guitar lessons to browse or purchase online! Learn any style with the help of DVD's by the the masters.
Night of the Guitar, Muriel Anderson and John McLaughlin
All-star guitar recordings- Pete Haycock, Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola, more!
YouTube: videos recommended by readers and friends
Video: women blues guitar players and singers
Buddy Guy: videos of one of my favorite players
Johnny Winter- Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo
A Young Johnny with Firebird, thumb working overtime!
Johnny Winter "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo"
Detroit Tube Works footage #2
Runtime: 4:33
199754 views
10 Comments:
Guitar Magazines on Amazon
Guitar Player wasn't on Amazon- don't forget it!
Acoustic, Classical, Electric, Jazz
Women Guitar Players
You have to hear them!
It is often said that guitars are instruments for guys. However, this is only said by people who don't know what they're talking about. In honor of women guitar players, I'll give capsule summaries about a few of my favorites here. This list is not comprehensive by any means, and the order is random. I'll add more on the subject at a later time.
Joni Mitchell. A master of altered tunings, hero of the singer-songwriter world, and simply a brilliant musician, Mitchell's folk music was never limited by stock song forms or harmonies. Live, her concerts included improvisation with jazz great Jaco Pastorius. Mitchell has also let jazz come to the forefront on a number of albums, winning a Grammy for "best jazz vocal album" (2001) to go along with "Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1976. Her playing is a wonder to hear, and her vocals are just as outstanding. Check out Mingus, Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Court and Spark, Ladies of the Canyon and all the rest. Herbie Hancock received a Grammy for his interpretations of Joni's music on the new CD, River: the joni letters. Oh, and she paints, too!
Rory Block. Fingerstyle blues specialist Rory Block helps keep traditional Delta blues alive, and writes modern blues tunes of her own. A powerful performer, she is also captured well in the recording studio and has won 5 W C Handy awards for top blues albums. I have a number of signed CD's from a concert at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. Check out compilation Best Blues and Originals, live album Mama's Blues and all of the others. Block has also provided a number of instructional DVDs on Delta blues, including two on the guitar styles of Robert Johnson.
Emily Remler. Tragically lost at a young age, Emily Remler was a brilliant jazz guitarist as this New York Times feature will attest (you may need to register with the NYT for free to see the article). I still remember the bell-like clarity of her harmonics on "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise" that she played upstairs at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, now many years ago. Thanks to recordings, we have the benefit of Remler's instruction on Bebop and Swing and Advanced Jazz and Latin Improvisation, and well as her albums of course. My favorites include This is Me and East to Wes, both of which I have on vinyl. Also check out Firefly.
Susan Tedeschi. A powerful, fiery electric blues player, Berklee School of Music-trained Tedeschi has received four Grammy nominations, the latest for contemporary blues album Hope and Desire, on Verve. Tedeschi played at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival with a horde of other top players. Her performance DVD and CD Live from Austin Texas
is great.
Emmylou Harris. A singer-songwriter, her vocals have graced countless albums headlined by others. However, you want to make sure to listen to Harris' own albums/CDs: featuring her songwriting more and more, they are masterpieces of musical beauty. Give Red Dirt Girl a listen, for example, along with Stumble into Grace and Cowgirl's Prayer. From the latter album, "Prayer in Open D" is an all-time favorite.
Finally, check out the compilation Blues Guitar Women to see a much broader view of women and the guitar.
Joni Mitchell. A master of altered tunings, hero of the singer-songwriter world, and simply a brilliant musician, Mitchell's folk music was never limited by stock song forms or harmonies. Live, her concerts included improvisation with jazz great Jaco Pastorius. Mitchell has also let jazz come to the forefront on a number of albums, winning a Grammy for "best jazz vocal album" (2001) to go along with "Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1976. Her playing is a wonder to hear, and her vocals are just as outstanding. Check out Mingus, Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Court and Spark, Ladies of the Canyon and all the rest. Herbie Hancock received a Grammy for his interpretations of Joni's music on the new CD, River: the joni letters. Oh, and she paints, too!
Rory Block. Fingerstyle blues specialist Rory Block helps keep traditional Delta blues alive, and writes modern blues tunes of her own. A powerful performer, she is also captured well in the recording studio and has won 5 W C Handy awards for top blues albums. I have a number of signed CD's from a concert at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. Check out compilation Best Blues and Originals, live album Mama's Blues and all of the others. Block has also provided a number of instructional DVDs on Delta blues, including two on the guitar styles of Robert Johnson.
Emily Remler. Tragically lost at a young age, Emily Remler was a brilliant jazz guitarist as this New York Times feature will attest (you may need to register with the NYT for free to see the article). I still remember the bell-like clarity of her harmonics on "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise" that she played upstairs at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, now many years ago. Thanks to recordings, we have the benefit of Remler's instruction on Bebop and Swing and Advanced Jazz and Latin Improvisation, and well as her albums of course. My favorites include This is Me and East to Wes, both of which I have on vinyl. Also check out Firefly.
Susan Tedeschi. A powerful, fiery electric blues player, Berklee School of Music-trained Tedeschi has received four Grammy nominations, the latest for contemporary blues album Hope and Desire, on Verve. Tedeschi played at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival with a horde of other top players. Her performance DVD and CD Live from Austin Texas
is great.
Emmylou Harris. A singer-songwriter, her vocals have graced countless albums headlined by others. However, you want to make sure to listen to Harris' own albums/CDs: featuring her songwriting more and more, they are masterpieces of musical beauty. Give Red Dirt Girl a listen, for example, along with Stumble into Grace and Cowgirl's Prayer. From the latter album, "Prayer in Open D" is an all-time favorite.
Finally, check out the compilation Blues Guitar Women to see a much broader view of women and the guitar.
More Guitar Gear on Amazon
A few basics- click on the name for my brief comments
You really need a tuner, and I highly recommend guitar stands- leaning guitars against furniture can lead to disaster. Here are two great tuners, one inexpensive and the other quite expensive; a type of guitar stand I like from a brand that is inexpensive and reliable; and two training devices for electric guitars (they could also work well for acoustic-electrics: comments?).
Do you have a child who wants to learn the guitar?
I strongly recommend The Childbloom Program, developed by Kevin Taylor of Austin
We became familiar with this method when our older son began studying at about age 6 1/2 with Kirk Hanser, who started the St. Louis Childbloom franchise and is also Director of the St. Louis Academy for Guitar. I'm not an affiliate or in any way commercially connected to Childbloom, except that my son went through the program and now performs with a post-Childbloom guitar ensemble for High School students called Bella Corda (there is a similar ensemble in Austin and, I presume, in other cities with Childbloom programs). My son, now in 9th grade, has also played in school jazz bands since 7th grade and also plays rock & roll with friends.
What is so great about this program? Many things. The kids learn to play classical guitar and to read music. They play music that is not dumbed down: it is age- and skill-appropriate, and is engaging for the kids. It is music they enjoy! The kids learn and perform in small groups, typically 2-4 kids for a lesson. For performance, some groups remain small, and there are also large guitar orchestras. For example, large guitar ensembles of 4th, 5th and 6th graders have grown around Kirk Hanser's studio in St. Louis and through his studio's work with the School District of University City. The kids study in small groups but come together for performances.
Students learn about musicianship and they have master classes with visiting, world class players (the Childbloom instructors themselves are often world class players who have chosen to focus on children's education, as in Kirk Hanser's case).
In the summer, kids can participate in MAGCC, Mid America Guitar Camp, which is held in 2008 on July 27-Aug 2 in New Haven, Missouri, near St. Louis. Every year, students (and parents) come from all over the US to this camp, with many from Texas and Idaho and the Eastern States, as well as from Missouri. An intensive but fun week, my son has attended every camp, and has great friends amongst the campers, parents and teaching staff. Kirk Hanser runs the camp, and in recent years, Kevin Taylor has come from Austin to join the staff. The editor of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, Bill Piburn, has also taught at the camp many times, and often international star guitar players join in for master classes and a concert. Michael Chapdelaine is one such visiting virtuoso- he is famous for being "the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the world's top competitions in both the Classical and Fingerstyle genres; the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championships at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Winfield , Kansas." He is a wonderful performer and works very well with the camp kids.
I strongly recommend you get children involved in music, and this is one of the great ways to do so!
Must see Guitar Videos
Acoustic
Michael Chapdelaine: California Dreaming Live TV Performance
This is the authorized footage of Michael Chapdelaine's live television performance of the Mamas and Papas' "Caifornia Dreaming" on May 25, 2007. Courtesy of KCTU Wichita TV Channel 5 and the Wichita Guitar Society. Videographer: Rick Dunbar. Appearance was to promote a pair of weekend concerts for WGS. More MC coming soon from Wichita, Kansas. http://www.michaelchapdelaine.com
Runtime: 2:36
32811 views
10 Comments:
What I say. 2.
6. Play by ear, also. It will only help. Only by trying music reading and playing by ear will you find out how you learn best. You want to develop both reading and listening skills no matter what (if you don't need to, you don't need to read my comments, just ).
7. Practice with a metronome or the more fun version- the drum machine. It spite of the guitar "heroics" many of us love, guitar is largely a rhythm instrument, and solos need to refer to the beat, perhaps play around it, but never lose it. Most of the multi-effects pedals have drum machines built in these days.
8. Enjoy it!
9. Play music with others, and don't be too picky about "group dynamics". You probably have to be able to get along, though there are notable exceptions, but you definitely don't have to be best friends to make great music together. If you wait to put together "the perfect group", you'll never have a group at all. If it isn't fun, try lightening up and relaxing to deal with the other people better.
7. Practice with a metronome or the more fun version- the drum machine. It spite of the guitar "heroics" many of us love, guitar is largely a rhythm instrument, and solos need to refer to the beat, perhaps play around it, but never lose it. Most of the multi-effects pedals have drum machines built in these days.
8. Enjoy it!
9. Play music with others, and don't be too picky about "group dynamics". You probably have to be able to get along, though there are notable exceptions, but you definitely don't have to be best friends to make great music together. If you wait to put together "the perfect group", you'll never have a group at all. If it isn't fun, try lightening up and relaxing to deal with the other people better.
New Amazon Voting (Plexo): Guitar Effects
My comments lead off the descriptions. Yours comments are welcome.
Effects can help make your sound come alive, though it surprises many beginners that the really great players have a sound that is completely alive, no matter what (they don't even have to plug in an electric!). So, much has to do with your hands, and your guitar, but effects give you versatility and, if you play electric, you'll want to know about them
DigiTech The Jimi Hendrix Experience Multi Effect Pedal
I love this pedal, and the prices have come way do more...1 point
DigiTech RP200A Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal
My 15-year old son uses this. It works well. Digi more...1 point
DigiTech RP250 Multi Effect Pedal
No experience with this newer version of the RP200 more...1 point
DigiTech Eric Clapton Crossroads Pedal
Like the Hendrix pedal, prices have come down and more...1 point
What do I have to say? (1)
1. Play a lot, but don't overplay. The comment about overplaying definitely relates to performance as well as to practice, though one is a question of artistry and taste, and the other is a question of protecting your hands and keeping your interest.
2. A short, focused practice session is more valuable than a long, unfocused one.
3. In spite of point 2, some things just take time, with the guitar in your hands, to develop. These include developing your fretting-hand calluses and strength, picking hand calluses if you fingerpick, speed, fluidity and dexterity. However, warm up before playing hard, and take breaks to avoid overuse injuries.
4. Listen to all kinds of music! Try to play along.
5. Learn to read music: it will only help.
2. A short, focused practice session is more valuable than a long, unfocused one.
3. In spite of point 2, some things just take time, with the guitar in your hands, to develop. These include developing your fretting-hand calluses and strength, picking hand calluses if you fingerpick, speed, fluidity and dexterity. However, warm up before playing hard, and take breaks to avoid overuse injuries.
4. Listen to all kinds of music! Try to play along.
5. Learn to read music: it will only help.
Concert DVD's of guitar-heavy music. 1.
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Live From Austin, Texas
One word: watch this video and listen to it also!
Amazon Price: $9.97 (as of 07/26/2008)
Cream - Royal Albert Hall - London May 2-3-5-6 2005
I didn't mind that EC played a Strat, not a Gibson. Did you?
Amazon Price: $22.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Concert for Bangladesh (2pc)
Old school in a manner of speaking. Many highlights.
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Crossroads: Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007
Jeff Beck and his bassist were the highlight for me. I didn't think Albert Lee's amp was miked.
Amazon Price: $20.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Lens, groups and other links Voting (Plexo)
Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan - Guitar Legends
Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan two guitar leg more...3 points
The Guitar Method.com
The Guitar Method.com or TGM as it is sometimes re more...1 point
Guitar Effect Pedals
Ebenex Music is the Official Distributor/Dealer fo more...1 point
Learn Guitar Faster RiffMaster Pro
Imagine learning your favorite solo or song on gui more...1 point
Free Online Guitar Lessons - guitar lessons for beginners & experts
Free Online Guitar Lessons - guitar lessons for be more...1 point
Next Level Guitar / Video Guitar Lessons
April 2008 Update! You have to check out THE GUITA more...1 point
Review of Learn & Master Guitar - Guitar Lesson DVD's
We would really like to thank the people at Legacy more...1 point
Music Resource - Unusual videos unusual pictures a music resource
Music Resource is a music hangout with unusual vid more...1 point
Woodstock Music Festival 1969
The 60's were a turbulent decade. The assassinatio more...1 point
FreeSounds - Digital Audio Tools, Sound Sample Collections, Open Music Resources
A guide to free sound solutions for creative audio more...1 point
Guitar Tools - Deals, News, Utilities & Webware for Guitarists
Guitar Tools is a handy reference guide and web-ma more...1 point
http://www.the-guitarplayer.com/
An intelligent guitar resource blog site made by a more...1 point
acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitar player at blogspot specializes in more...1 point
Acoustic Guitarist Blog
Acoustic guitar blog at Wordpress for guitar playe more...1 point
New Album by EMMYLOU HARRIS - ALL I INTENDED TO BE (2LP + CD)
"On her third Nonesuch disc, Emmylou Harris a more...1 point
Pencil Drawing Sketch Art
Custom Pencil Sketches, drawings and paintings. Ro more...1 point
Instructional DVDs
Brian Setzer: The Guitar of Brian Setzer
Here's your chance to get a one-on-one lesson with more...