Posted December 2, 2011 at 10:46 am | One comment
Did you fall for someone in a band too? Playing the guitar is a labor of love, but it’s an expensive labor of love. There are all sorts of accessories needed to keep playing at a top notch level. If you build a “survival pack” for your favorite guitarist, then they won’t have to run to the music store every time a string breaks or they forget a cable. Buying in bulk and searching for deals online can also help cut the costs of owning an instrument. Whether you are gifting a paramour or just a musician that needs a little help, a guitar “survival kit” makes a great gift.
Posted in: Guitar News, Guitars and Gear
Posted December 2, 2011 at 10:21 am | 3 comments
In this mini-series of articles, we will take a deeper look at the acoustic guitar anatomy and all of its simplicity and wonder. Additionally, we will delve into some of the universal components of the acoustic guitar to gain a better appreciation. Regardless of your skill level and experience, anyone can appreciate the simplicity and complexity of the acoustic guitar. In this 5-part series, we will cover the acoustic guitar in all of its glory, including
Posted in: Acoustic News, Guitar News, Guitars and Gear
Posted December 2, 2011 at 10:12 am | No comments
Let’s first take a look at the basic, position 1 Blues Scale in the key of A minor. This is usually the first scale guitarists learn when they start to explore lead playing, so it might be review for some of you. If it is new, take some time to really work out this fingering, it is one of the most common and important scale fingerings for rock and blues guitarists to have down.
Posted in: Guitar Lessons, Rock Guitar Lessons
Posted December 1, 2011 at 1:22 pm | No comments
With the explosion of guitar books over the past two decades, first in hard-copy form and now through the ebook phenomenon, it is harder than ever for guitarists to sift through all of the material available to them and choose a good book to dig into in the practice room. While some books are aimed at specific genres such as metal licks or blues chords, playing in the style of your favorite player or learning a certain technique such as tapping or fingerpicking, one of the most popular formats has been and is still the “umbrella” approach to teaching in book form.
Posted in: Book Reviews, Reviews
Posted November 30, 2011 at 1:15 pm | No comments
I love testing distortion pedals just as a wine aficionado loves collecting and tasting wines. I feel that there is a place and song for every distortion pedal. I enjoy the simplicity of a good stomp box in a world of digital rack mounted clutter and complication. I don’t have the time nor want to read a one hundred page manual to figure out how to program a unit. I want to plug my guitar into a box, step on it, and be blown away. That is exactly what happened when I hit the gas on The PolySaturator by Pigtronix.
Posted in: Gear Reviews, Guitar News, Reviews
Posted November 30, 2011 at 12:21 pm | 3 comments
In this guest lesson by master guitarist Morten Faerestrand, you will be checking out a sweep lick from Steve Vai’s classic song “For the Love of God.” Not only does Morten teach you how to play the lick across the neck of the guitar, but he also shows you how to take this idea and run it through your guitar solos in an improvisational manner
Posted in: Guitar Lessons, Rock Guitar Lessons
Posted November 28, 2011 at 1:47 pm | No comments
With a career that spans five decades and multiple genres, it’s no surprise that guitarist Tommy Emmanuel is respected by players and music fans the world over. His unique finger style technique of playing with all ten fingers has dazzled and amazed even legends, so much so that Emmanuel was presented with the “Certified Guitar Player Award” by the great Chet Atkins, an honor earned by only four other guitarists before Atkins’ death in 2001.
Posted in: Interviews, Jazz Interviews
Posted November 27, 2011 at 2:48 pm | One comment
Boston jazz artist Gerry Beaudoin has distinguished himself in many ways the past several decades. He has been a mainstay in jazz clubs of Boston and New York City. Beaudoin is also well respected as a teacher, which is one of the most admirable parts of his career. He is making sure that a new generation of jazz guitarists understands the roots of where we are today. Explaining and demonstrating the form and complexity of playing through advanced chord changes is a true gift, and one that needs to be shared freely.
Posted in: Guitar News, Jazz Reviews, Reviews
Posted November 26, 2011 at 5:46 pm | 2 comments
The “For Dummies” series has been around for as long as I can remember, and while I know a few people who got a lot out of their books in the information technology field, I never had any personal experience with them before I picked up guitar playing. Like a lot of people, I was slightly put off by the title, and even more so by the idea of toting the book around with the only-too-recognizable “For Dummies” on the cover, but out of curiosity and my liking for simplicity, I invested in Rock Guitar for Dummies.
Posted in: Book Reviews, Guitar News, Reviews
Posted November 22, 2011 at 1:39 pm | No comments
Check out this video of Vince Neil and Bruce Kulick performing Brownsville Station’s “Smokin’ in the Boys Room,” The Doors’ “Hello, I Love You,” and Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” at the New York Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp!
Posted in: Guitar Events, Guitar News
