I’m a musician, writer, and comic artist. Welcome to my website.
I have completed the first part of creating a chord melody arrangement. For me that involves the actual arranging of the music. I use Sibelius notation software to notate the arrangement. I used to use paper and pencil, but I have gotten fast enough at Sibelius, and notating rhythm accurately, that it makes no sense to do it twice. I can make edits easier in Sibelius than on paper. And I burn through less erasers that way.
I have posted a new Jam Track On the Media Page And YouTube. It is a laid-back folky/country flavored jam called Back Porch Jam. Jam Tracks are full band (guitar, bass, keys, drums) backing tracks that you can use to practice guitar soloing over. Here is a video version of the track with one Major scale pattern.
I guess timing is everything. After spending over 200 hours putting together a band and learning to sing soaring falsetto vocals with two other guys over a musical style that features elements of funk, latin, and soul music with a steady four-on-the-floor beat and an open hi-hat on the off-beat, including a prominent syncopated electric bass line and strings, horns, electric piano, synths, and funky electric guitars that create a lush background sound, I found out about the Bee Gees. Just my luck.
Note: If you were looking for some magical chords that will make you sound like the guitar player Slash formerly of Guns 'N' Roses, I'm sorry, there are no magical chords, just magical players. This is an explanation of what Slash Chords in musical notation are and how and when to use them. It's almost magical.
A slash chord is simply a chord that uses a note other than the root note as its bass (lowest pitched) note. Since guitar chords often have multiples instances of the same note in a chord, and the root is not always the lowest pitch (bass) note, slash chords are more commonly used by piano players. But guitarists need to understand them and know how and when to play them.
If machines are going to take over the world, I hope those machines are guitars. I know how to "play" them. And if necessary, I know how to string them up.
Back in the 1960s when instrumental rock was twangy and cool, Wipeout ruled. Wipeout is a surf music classic that has been featured in over 20 films and countless covers by other bands. It has catchy riff/melody and only three chords. It is a great alternate picking workout, and you get to practice chord stabs. Which is good practice for not playing 3 1/2 beats per measures. Not playing can be just as effective as playing and often better than playing too much. Drummers love this song too, making it more likely to be requested.
A good workman knows his tools. Below are diagrams of the two most popular types of guitars: electric and steel string acoustic (classical or nylon string guitar parts are essentially the same as steel string acoustic guitar parts.) Guitars may have variations but the basic parts are similar for all guitars.
My love affair with effects pedals started back in the 1970's when I saved up enough to get an Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man pedal. There was no Internet or YouTube back then, so any information I got about gear came from going to a music store, from friends, or from Guitar Player magazine ads.
The Deluxe Memory Man had three effects: chorus, vibrato, and echo (delay.) It was truly one of the first multi-effects pedals. I didn't really understand all it could do when I got it, but it looked cool and had lots of knobs and buttons, so I figured it had to be good.
The Allman Brother Band were know for having two electric guitar players playing harmonized guitar parts. They fused blues, jazz, and country to create a style that became known as “southern rock.” But this song feature acoustic guitar and the use of open chord shapes ascending and descending the neck with lots of open strings.
Buying an acoustic guitar can be challenging. Many acoustic guitars are similar in appearance and sound. Why do some cost hundreds of dollars, while others cost thousands? In this article I’ll take a look at the different types of acoustic guitars available, what you should get for your money, and what you should look out for when buying.
Last night I played an outdoor show with my band Peak City Sound. I was originally asked to join the band as a fill in guitarist because the regular guitarist, Hannu, frequently travels the globe with his job thanks to his superpower of speaking a ridiculous number of languages. I once asked him how many languages he spoke and he said “All of them.” I laughed, but I almost believe him.
When I set out to record some jazz songs I had written, I planned them to be demo tracks that I could give to musicians to learn and practice my songs. I had several factors that I had to deal with. First, I had zero budget for recording. There would be no going to a studio. So this would have to be a laptop studio project using existing instruments and software. Second, I don’t have a decent room for recording and I mainly have late night for recording. So it would have to done direct into the laptop. No microphones. Third I play guitar, bass, and keys well enough to get my ideas across, but I don’t play drums. So I would depend on drum loops and drum software to build the drum tracks.
I have just posted a new jam track on the Media Page And YouTube. It is a jazz track called Anytime Jazz. Jam Tracks are full band (guitar, bass, keys, drums) backing tracks that you can use to practice guitar soloing over. Here is a video version of the track with one Major scale pattern.
Buying an electric guitar can be an exciting experience or a source of great frustration, depending on how prepared you are. In this article I’ll take a look at the different types of electric guitars available, what you should get for your money, and what you should look out for when buying.
Types of Electrics
There are basically three types of electric guitars: solid body, hollowbody, and semi-hollowbody. Each type has numerous variations, including 7 string models and “baritone” guitars. I will focus on standard 6 string guitars.
Hollowbody
Deriving from early attempts to “electrify” acoustic guitars, the hollowbody guitar is a blend of old and new. These guitars have large bodies, some are fat and some are thin. Most are arch topped and have sound holes cut out of the body making them both acoustic and electric. Generally, they have humbucker pickups and achieve a very warm, fat tone that appeals to many jazz players.
Like most guitar players, in addition to astrophysics and molecular biology, I also studied electrical engineering. So as a side job I have decided to create a line of boutique guitar pedals. I am looking for feedback from my fellow guitar players. Here are my first two designs. What do you think?
Its name says it all. Simply step on the switch and you will have awesome tone and playing ability. No need to fiddle with knobs or jumper switches or rockers or toggles. Just get awesome.
Johnny Cash’s music is often labelled “country music” but it was really his own unique thing. His driving, train-like "boom chucka, boom chucka" alternating bass note and chord rhythm created a popular rhythm guitar style for both country and rockabilly guitarists for generations.
A common question for first time guitar buyers is “Should I buy an acoustic or an electric guitar?” Obviously the answer has a lot to do with the individual asking. Let’s see what each type of guitar has to offer.
Certain guitar players have a style so unique and new at the time that they influence generations of players who come after them. Chuck Berry is one of those players.
I have just posted the third song for my upcoming album My Kind Of Jazz on the Media page. It is a mellow song called Nice Evening. It hope you enjoy it. You can listen to it on the Media page.
In Part 1 of this blog I gave an overview what effects are. I will now explain some of the more common individual effects and provide some audio examples.
