A new addition to my stable of guitars, the Harley-Benton provides unparalleled bang for the buck, punching well above its weight, delivering a great value, and playability for a modest cost
New Guitar Day – The Harley-Benton Modern ST Plus
N
The Lowly Distortion Pedal
T
It has been a long time since I had a pure "Distortion" effect pedal, an impulse purchase of a Boss DS-1 pedal has been a welcome addition to the stable
If I knew then – Guitar
I
I was late to learning to play a musical instrument, not being subjugated to lessons when I was a tike, but instead developing a desire to learn when I was in high school. I didn’t really have the funds to pursue this until I graduated, but then I got into playing guitar. Fast forward 33 years or so, and here I am. Recently, I joined a closed Facebook group called “Everything Guitars”, and I...
The downside of not playing out
T
As I continue on my journey to record and capture some of the music in my head, I have come to a realization. Alas, my preponderance of playing solo, and without others, I lack something of the ability to “fit“. This will take some ‘splaining… When listening to an orchestra, you hear the whole piece together, where all parts fit. From the woodwinds, to the strings, to the...
Saying goodbye to an old friend
S
Today is a sad day, but also a hopeful day. It is time to say goodbye to an old friend, my Fender Telecaster guitar. It is going to a good place, it will be under the tree for a friend’s high school aged son, who wants to learn to play guitar. Still, it is not without some reflection of my past, that is now going away. It isn’t particularly rare, or exciting. It started life as a new...
The good and the bad
T
I am back in the south bay for my high school reunion, and I visited two places that I have always loved. The good: Guitar Showcase Way back when I first started playing guitar, I was introduced to the legendary Guitar Showcase in Campbell. It is an iconic music store, and naturally has a wide selection of guitars (as well as other instruments). They have greatly expanded the store, and added a...
Oh crap. I think I am in trouble… (GarageBand edition)
O
I was cleaning up some programs that I am not likely to use on my new MacBook Air (iPhoto, iMovie), and I figured I would also blow away Garage Band. Before I deleted it, I thought I would open it up and see what it was all about. Then I found the Lessons part. Damn, that is cool. Really cool. Now I need to buy widget to get my guitar plugged into my Mac. I bought the Artist Lesson of Alex...
Music Theory
M
I am a guitar player. Have been for a long time (better than 30 years now). I started with some lessons from a fellow BBS’er Vernon Anderson (He ran the”Rat’s Nest” BBS). I learned a lot very fast. I do remember the basics of music theory. How to build the scales, all the modes, the circle of 5ths, intervals, etc. But it really didn’t stick. I was too impatient to...