When I was first learning I remember just wanting to play a song. Not scales, not notes, just a song. I remember getting sick of twinkle twinkle or three blind mice. I would say ask the student for a few songs that they would like to play. You pick the easiest one and start there. after learning a simple solo, show him the theroy of that solo and show how it applies to another song then work on that one.
177 2009-01-16 05:17:30
Re: Good solos for practicing on (4 replies, posted in Electric)
The "John Mayall Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" Is often refered to as the primer for Rock and Roll. I've owned it on LP, cassette, CD, and it was the first thing I downloaded from Itunes. After playing for almost 30 years now I'm still learning from it.
178 2009-01-14 03:41:47
Re: Acoustic Guitar recommendation for 8 year old (9 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Although a nylon string classical guitar may not seem as cool as a steel stringed acoustic or a stratocaster for that matter, It is simply the easiest on those tender finger tips. He wont have calloses like some of us veterans. I'm 38 now and I can vividly recall my mother asking the salesman if he thought the guitar that was sitting on my lap completly hiding me was "a little big" and him saying "naaa, he'll grow into it." Believe my HE WILL NOT. He will give up on playing guitar if it is completely uncomfortable. Not only will you be out the cost of the guitar but also the cost of all the lessons. I gave up because the strings hurt my fingers and the guitar was the wrong size. I picked it back up later but I lost all the lessons from those early lessons.
179 2008-12-14 19:06:49
Re: Line 6 PODS? (17 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I have not used any of the pod products but have used a boss metal zone before. I did like the metal zone pedal even though I would not consider myself a metal head. I do have a multi effects pedal though and really do like it alot. I would use it on stage but not to record with. Some of the effects can sound a bit "digital". The nice thing about a multi effects processor is you can have multiple sounds. If you know exactly what you're looking for, Try them all out and don't be afraid to shell out the bucks for what you like. If you're like me though and want one sound this week and another next week go for a multi effects like the pod or other. There is also a foot controller for the pod and I think they have a complete floor model.
180 2008-12-11 02:01:37
Topic: trainer (3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Does anyone have a tascam mp gt1 trainer or any thing similar. It looks like a great device. I'm trying to find other options. The only thing that I've found is the boss micro br.
181 2008-12-11 01:05:33
Re: The best sampler, loop pedal thingy (John Martyn, KT Tunstall etc) (9 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Go on youtube. There are alot of how-to videos as well as some people doing some really cool things.
182 2008-12-04 02:00:33
Re: Naming your guitar (33 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
My vintage white (which looks like yellow to me) Stratocaster is named "Blondie" after the hottest girl in the comic section of the newspaper. Blondie Bumstead. Her hair is the same color of the guitar. I've always wanted to put a sticker on it or have someone paint her on it. My black Telecaster is named "tele-twanger". My Epiphone Dot and my Taylor acoustic are yet to be named. I guess I could go the easy route and name the dot, "Dot", and the Taylor, "Taylor" but that doesn't seem to quite fit.
183 2008-11-07 02:54:00
Re: Combining Two Amps? (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I read in one of the guitar mags that either white zombie or smashing pumpkins used to split signal to a regular amp and a bass amp. I've never tried it but always thought that might be cool to try. Maybe use eq after the signal is split to beef up the sound. Also I read somewhere about using a stereo chorus and spliting the signal so that the two amps go in and out of phase.
184 2008-10-21 22:06:38
Re: Noise Suppressors/Noise Gates (2 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I have a DOD multi effects processor that has a noise gate. You will probably have more controll with a stand-alone pedal. My effects processor has 3 levels to choose from and thats what it does. It keeps reverb and hum from happening at those moments when not playing. You could avoid using one by just palm muting or such. You just have to make sure you set it low enough that it doesn't kick in when you don't want it to. Like if you hit that long ringing power chord and just let it ring and ring and ring, at some point the signal will decay to the level you have set and it will clip your sound.
185 2008-10-19 14:29:15
Re: question for vintage Gurus/Snobs (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
my understanding though is that the polyurathane finish on fenders will not get those hair line cracks to let the wood breath and age. Thats why the vintage gurus/snobs do not like the newer fenders. The quaility of the build could be as good or even better than in the past. The quaility of the materials could be as good or even better than in the past but without letting the wood breath through those hairline cracks in the nitrocellulose finish it will never sound as good as in the past. Or at least that is thier argument. I've never had the oportunity to play anything older than an 80's fender and it was nowhere near as nice as my 95 strat. Those are buth poly though. I agree with the never refinish but that is why I'm looking at a lower priced model to do my hot rodding on. The highway one models are nitro but i'm not sure if the neck is. I'm also not sure if you can sand down a poly guitar enough to get rid of the sealer they put on it. I don't know if refinishing a poly guitar with a nitrocellulose finish would be the same as having one in nitro from the start.
186 2008-10-17 04:14:48
Re: Fender highway one series (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
also the say its in nitrocellulose but does that include the neck? Will a maple neck thats polyurathaned get that cool yellow tint to it with the little worn out ovals in between the frets?
187 2008-10-17 04:07:09
Re: Fender highway one series (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I'd love to have a guitar in nitrocellulose. I love the worn in aged look they take on. I have a hard time dealing with paying for a relic though. Its all in my head I'm sure. It just seems wrong. I've seen videos on youtube of guys kicking bodies around the parking lot or down the stairs. Even a guy in a body shop. Which is fine, I can respect the fact that these guys just want something a little different. I have an American standard Strat and Tele that I love but prefer to keep stock and polished. Id like to have a guitar to hot rod though maybe try different pick ups on and such. But I'm trying to decide if I should attempt to build or buy something and just modify it. The highway ones are going for about 750 at musicians friend or I can get a MIM for about 400 but would have to strip and refinish it to get that nitro. I'm just trying to find out as much as I can about these highway one guitars as I can before pulling the trigger.
188 2008-10-17 02:53:42
Re: On wah pedals.... (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
I have a Morley wah and I don't like it. If the pedal moves lets say 3 inches up and down, for me the usable area is only about 3/4 of an inch. Too far one way, and its too muddy. Too far the other way and its too bright. I've heard other people say the same about the original cry baby. I think somebody makes one with an adjustable "sweep" or a "Q" whatever that means. I don't know who though. Like anything, its best to try them all before deciding which one to buy.
189 2008-10-12 12:54:57
Topic: Fender highway one series (6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Is this the guitar that the parts are made in America and then assembled in Mexico?
190 2008-10-05 12:00:14
Re: question for vintage Gurus/Snobs (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Is Fender going back to the nitrocellulose? Thats what they are advertising the highway one tele as. If its better, I don't see why they don't do it on all thier models.
191 2008-10-02 02:20:21
Topic: question for vintage Gurus/Snobs (16 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Other than the obvious mojo factor, and I know thats a big factor, What specifically is the difference between a 50's early 60's Strat/Tele and a brand spanking new Strat/Tele? I've talked to people in the past who have said quality really dropped off after CBS took over. Ok, I can understand the whole corprate greed thing getting in the way of quality. But Fender is back under its own ownership again if I'm not mistaken, and quality standards today have to be at least up to the standards of yesterday right? I've also heard the problem is the polyurathane paint. It doesn't let the wood age and breathe. I just saw an ad in musicians friend talking about the highway one telecaster with "new" nitrocellulose paint, just like they used to do. So is fender going back to thier old ways and now the new ones will be as good as the old, minus mojo? What are the other areas that are not as good as old? I'm in manufacturing, and I completly understand and appreciate craftsmanship. We always try to use the latest techniques while never compromising quality. Whenever we try a new way of doing things or a new piece of equipment we always analyze those results and if they are not up to our standards, we find out why. What specifically is the difference? Be specific. Not, It just feels right. Or it just sounds better.