Guitar Licks and Tips

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan missing songs

Chris — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:01:57 +0000

For all your Bob Dylan fans out there, here is a neat bit of musical trivia that you may have not known about up until now! It’s all about 4 songs that were not released on his second album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, that did not make the final cut. They are “Let Me Die In My Footsteps”, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Willie”, “Rock and Gravel” and “Talkin’ John Birch Society Blues”

So this album, Bob Dylan’s second one which had the working title of Bob Dylan Blues, was a pure master piece! This album did much better then his debut album titled Bob Dylan, which sold about 5000 copies, just enough to break even at that time. This little known fact about these 4 songs made me sit back and scratch my head to wonder, why?

Can you actually believe that some idiots deemed them unusable for public consumption? This album made it to 97 on Rolling Stones Top 500 albums of all time!
With Blowin’ in the Wind on an album, I guess you can’t go wrong now can ya? Thank God they left that one on it!

So here is what I took out of this fairly long article. If I have misinterpreted any of this or got my info wrong then PLEASE tell us.

So Bob Dylan resumes his work on his second album at Columbia’s Studio A in New York city. This session started on October 26th, 1962. “Mixed-Up Confusion” and Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right Mama” were deemed unusable, so out came the scissors and they were cut. A master take of “Corrina, Corrina“, which was not an original, was selected for the final album. I remember listening to this one when I was a young kid at my parents house, what a great tune.

A few copies of the original pressing of the LP — with the subsequently deleted tracks, “Let Me Die In My Footsteps“, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Willie“, “Rock and Gravel” and “Talkin’ John Birch Society Blues” — finally turned up for general consumption, against Columbia’s blessings. CBS produced records later on with these four songs, but not the corresponding covers.

Imagine for a second, only 30 pressed copies with these tunes were released, then they stopped the presses, removed the offending songs and finally started the presses once again? Can you say really rare and valuable piece of plastic?

In April, 1992, the first known stereo copy (with the label listing the original four songs) was found at thrift store located in Greenwich Village in New York City. The quality of this valuable piece of music history was used and in not bad condition. It was later fetched $12,345.67. Envision, if you will, this album being in mint condition?

Keep on Jammin’

World Record for largest guitar ensemble will have to wait

Chris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:27:20 +0000

As you know the good people at Luminato Festival got together a bunch of like minded souls to gather together and attempt to break the Guinness World Book of Records for the most guitarist in a musical ensemble. We did set a Canadian record in this category in the process.

This is just a small sample of the atmosphere at Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday June6th, 2009. This was when we were attempting to break the Guinness World book of Records for largest guitar ensemble. For more pictures of the event take a look at our flickr account.

The weather couldn’t of been better. I was to meet up with a buddy of mine, Sean, who works with me at the hospital. We also played a talent show at work a couple of years ago and we came in second place for the show. The winner was this lady playing the saw, yes a saw! In her defense it was very unique to say the least!

I ending up getting there early so I thought that I’d go to the Hard Rock and get us a seat on the patio. It took Sean and his beautiful bride to show up, so I had to earn my keep outside and started having a few light refreshing liquid beverages. Man that was fun!

I met tons of interesting people there. Also on the patio, there were tons of musicians hoisting pints before the show and we showing off their acoustics to anyone interested. I came across this guy named Mark McCreary who walked past my seat. He was carrying around a custom made guitar case that he created. This one was made of shaved bark and pine cones, REALLY COOL LOOKING! If you are looking for something like this for yourself or that special guitarist in your life, then give him an e-mail. uniquelydown@hotmail.com

This is a sample of the work that this guys does for his custom made guitar cases.

I remember this tall guy standing at the front of the stage with a hollow body guitar. He had his buddy there video taping the event. As it turns out, this video was taken by him and his buddy!

You can see Sean and myself on it at counter number 0:05. The counter is located on the bottom part of the video, and when the video is playing you will see numbers moving. I’m the guy with a white baseball cap on backwards with rectangular dark glasses. I am in the bottom part of the screen. I am holding up my beige top Larrivee. I am holding the guitar upside down and my guitar strap is hanging at the back of it. I’m wearing a light blue shirt. Sean is behind me directly to MY right YOUR left, with dark hair taking a picture with his head turned back to the crowd. He has a blue wristband on his right hand. You have to freeze the tape in order to see us.

The suspense was so think you could cut it with a dull butter knife! At one point, the announcer said that we were 5, YES 5 people short for the record. I looked back at Sean and the excitement level in our eyes was off the radar screen! Surely we can find 5 people at the busiest intersection of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, 5th largest in North America that plays guitar that wants to join in!

Then after performing the song, some guy from The Guinness Record group said that we were short 123 people! what the F–K! Didn’t they say we were 5 guitarists short a couple of minutes ago?!

At that point we quickly departed back to The Hard Rock Patio. Sean’s wife graciously was waiting for us, along with our guitar cases, I really appreciated that young lady!

Just a side note here, while in the head, I met this really excited guy. He told me that when he was on the patio and he heard that we only needed 5 more people for the record he begged and pleaded with the Hard Rock’s manager if he could get a guitar down from the wall and go over to join in. The manager hemmed and hawed for a split second. He then proceeded to grab this guitar off the wall that they used for employee of the month and let him go over! Can you believe it!

After a couple of drinks and some crying in our beers we headed off home.

We were sooo close but … Well there’s always next year!

P.S. Pinhead, you better show up for next years attempt, got it!!!

Keep on Jammin’

I’m off to make musical history I hope

Chris — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:01:15 +0000

Well today is the day that I, along with a few buddies, will be heading off to Yonge Dundas Square in Toronto to hopefully join the Guinness World Record of the largest guitar ensemble! This is all part of the Toronto’s Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity.

We, 1803 or more participants, will be collectively playing Neil Young’s Helpless for all to hear. We’ve all got a good night’s sleep, tuned up our guitars and practiced this one to death!

I hope you wish us all luck! Let’s also pray that the guitar god’s will be smilin’ down at us favorably.

Keep on Jammin’ at Yonge and Dundas Square!

Honey did you see my guitarcase?

Chris — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:01:27 +0000

Has this happened to you before, just before a big gig? You’ve got your amp, extra strings, picks, patch cords and pedals only to forget where you put your case?! G.D., it’s happened to me before!!!!

Please don’t mind my practice area in our basement beside the laundry room, it’s a complete mess.
Keep on Jammin’

Super Groups love them or hate them?

Chris — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:01:28 +0000

When I was still a young and very impressionable guitarists, once in a while I’d hear of a collection of musicians, from different bands, that would get together to form this new thing called a Super Group. I could only imagine great tunes coming from these musically gifted artists. My first exposure to this new phenomenon was a Super Group called Asia.

I was not playing with Pylis at this point and I was just starting to pick up my axe again, finally! It was at this point in my journey that my renewal of love for playing and performing live came to a head. At this point I proceeded practicing like a mad man! I just needed an outlet to let go of all my pent up musical energy, so I got together this band.

These guys, Pinhead(keyboards), Domenic (drums), and this other guy that I can’t remember his name right now (bass player) wanted to play a show at Brantford’s BCI talent night, way back in the mid 80’s. Now this is where the Super Group Asia comes in.

Asia came at us with tons of hype. A line up that included guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes and bassist/vocalist John Wetton was a real eye catcher. Their first big hit, the one we actually played at the show, was called Heat of the moment.

In hind site, the band and their material were ok at best. Not overly imaginative, but for the average listener at the time, it was fine. Most people were not fully aware of each of the bands members past works. They just recalled hearing the names of the bands and not what they, the guys in Asia as individuals, could bring to their musical tapestry.

Asia did in fact have several Top 10 singles and sales exceeding 7 million copies. Not bad for a so, so band. Why are these guys such a big seller … I’m not really sure. The only thing that comes to mind is ADVERTISING! So what about Super Groups from the past?

In the 1960s there was Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Cream and Blind Faith. Not too bad at all I’d say. During the 1970s groups like Bad Company and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (these guys were just unreal). The 80s & 90s had super groups like The Firm, Power Station, A Perfect Circle and last but not least The Traveling Wilburys (I really wasn’t all that impressed with these guys in particular).

In today’s musical time line we have Velvet Revolver and Audioslave and just recently had Chicken Foot and Tinted Windows join the fold.

The question I have for all of you is, what do you think of the idea of The Super Group concept? Love them or hate them?

Keep on Jammin’

Helpless is the Great Canadian tune

Chris — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:55:53 +0000

So it’s official, Neil Young’s 1969 classic Helpless is the song chosen by voters for next Saturday’s gathering of guitar players in Toronto’s Dundas Square.

This is the song that will hopefully bring Toronto the Guinness World record for the most guitar players playing in an acoustic ensemble at once! The record currently stands at 1802. That is how many gathered in 2007 in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, to play Smoke on the Water.

I hope that some of my readers from the area will be attending this event. I know I’ve got a few buddies of mine showing up from in and out of town.

The link for the tablature is here so check it out and start practicing! BTW it’s 2:pm Saturday June 6th, at Dundas Square, Toronto.

Remember, if your going drop me a line and we’ll hook up before the gig!

Keep on Jammin’

Be part of musical history in Toronto

Chris — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:54:39 +0000

Ever want to have your name put in the Guinness World book of Records, well here is a real simple way to be a part of it! As part of the Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity, the organizers are attempting to break a previous record of the largest guitar ensemble. The number to beat is 1,802. Sorry, but only 6 or 12 stringed guitar players are needed.

Well if you live in southern Ontario and you wish to participate then check out this link and follow the directions to sign up.

Go to the site, check out a list of Canadian Songs and chose one that you think that you can play. The site provides you with tabs for all the songs to help you out if you can’t play it! The winning tune’s tablature will be posted on their site on Saturday, May 30th, 2009. That gives you a full week to practice!

If you happen to be under the age of 18, you have to have your parents fill out this form in order for you to take part of this historic jam session! More then likely you will not get proofed, that’s just what I think.

It will be held at Yonge Dundas Square (corner of Yonge and Dundas) at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 06 2009.

So get up off your computer or guitar chairs and sign up NOW! If you plan on taking part of this then PLEASE write me back and we’ll get together for a jam after the show!

Keep on Jammin’

A Classical Kitty

Chris — Tue, 19 May 2009 04:01:42 +0000

I’m not sure how playable this violin is but, it sure looks weird doesn’t it? I bet an animal rights group is up in arms some where right now (LOL). Me thinks that this person has way too much time on their hands.

I think, no animal was injury in the making of this instrument … well I hope not!

Keep on Jammin’

Electric Guitar Pick ups

Chris — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:01:29 +0000

Today I want to tell the talk about the basics of guitar pick ups. There are basically 2 types are (1) single coil and (2) Humbucker.

The pick up is essentially made up of magnets, that are placed perpendicular to the strings, that have wires wrapped around them. The signals, the guitar strings vibrations, then travel through them, out through the guitar and then into a amplifier.

I could go into more detail but, I realize that all of my readers are not guitar players so I’ll save them the boredom of it all … maybe not next time though!

Pickups are essentially magnets. Your strings are made of magnetic metals; usually electric guitar strings have a steel core wrapped in nickel, or are just plain steel. Your pickup creates a magnetic field that when the strings move, disturb. This disturbance is transferred to an electrical signal by your pickup, effected by all your guitar’s electronics and eventually reaches your amp and is turned into vibrations which you hear as your guitar.http://www.ultimate-guitar.com

I have a number of classic guitars in my collection and each one has a unique sound quality to them. My 1959 Fender Duo Sonic has 2 lovely single coil pick ups. Using both pick ups together, the pick up selector in the middle position, gives it a Humbucker effect to it, somebody was certainly thinking way back then.

I also have another Fender guitar. It’s my 1980 Fender Lead II. They produced this baby between 1979-1982.This one has a single coil pick up but, when you listen very closely to this one beside my 1959 Fender, there are subtle differences for sure! The pick up in this is called a X-1.

The last one that i have in my possession is my pride and joy, the 1989 Gibson RD-Artist! This one has Humbucker pick ups. Also incorporated into this is some real neat active electronics. The pick ups in the RD-Artist was developed by none other then the creator of Moog keyboards!

So all those out there that have an electric, what type of pick ups do you have in them?

Keep on Jammin’

Backup singers for those who have none

Chris — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:01:22 +0000

The DigiTech company has created this tool that can help you with your singing. No, it cannot improve the timber of your voice, it can help you construct a nice layer to it though with their Vocalist Live 4 foot pedal.

In my early days of playing guitar, we didn’t have all the racks of electronics that they have for today’s guitar player. There was a couple of staple pedals out there with limited capacities. KISS (keep it simple stupid) was the rule of the day. In today’s musical environment, it’s a whole new ball game.

I tend to do mostly solo playing when I perform live, due to the fact that I’m the only one on stage at the time. My voice is not the greatest but, it works for the most part. When playing most songs, I attempt to produce that full sound that I hold so dearly to my heart. During some songs that require chording in certain parts, I let them come out in my mind … unfortunately this doesn’t come out over the PA.

In one of my many monthly music magazines I subscribe to, I came across this device from DigiTech that helps you form harmonies on either you home computer or live. This product is called Vocalist Live 4.

Basically the foot pedal works on what your instrument is playing. It follows the chords you are playing and it then formulates that appropriate harmonies that you can use. You can tailor fit it to your own parameters, for you to ultimately control.

You can either create the pre-set patterns on your computer with a Midi sequencer (I would highly recommend this one) or you could do it through faceplate in real time (I’m not that coordinated, how about you?).

Of coarse there are the endless add on’s to any modern day devices that can drive you out of your mind! If you are a simple performer like myself but, your not into all the technical rings that you have to jump through while playing live, it’s still nice to know that their if you need them.

Here is an example of how it works and it seems really neat and helpful for this guy on stage. It seems simple enough and I can’t hear the traditional hissing sound that is normally associated with products like this.

Has anyone out there used this product OR something similar to it now or in the past? I’d love to find out more about this and other devices like it. To everyone else reading this post, if you know someone who is a musician that might find this item useful and your looking for a gift for them then, do your homework and see if it’s in your price range. It would be a GREAT donation to a musical friend that will have a big effect on their performances today and in the future for sure!

FYI: if you have more dollars then sense/cents, then I’m looking for a really good friend too!

Keep on Jammin’

Guitar Licks and Tips

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan missing songs

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World Record for largest guitar ensemble will have to wait

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I’m off to make musical history I hope

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Honey did you see my guitarcase?

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Super Groups love them or hate them?

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Helpless is the Great Canadian tune

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Be part of musical history in Toronto

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A Classical Kitty

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Electric Guitar Pick ups

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Backup singers for those who have none

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