Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast

Episode 108: Pushing Through

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 20:43:26 -0400

Intro
I’m loving my DRs. People, if you don’t use DR strings on your acoustic, classical, electric or bass guitar, I just have one question. Why not? I think I mention DRs in 98% of my podcasts. I am not sponsored by them, but now that I think about it, I should be. All kidding aside, I have played guitar, literally, for decades. Since the first ad I saw about DRs in one of the guitar magazines, a long time ago, I tried them and I have never deviated - except in the case of my nylon strings. I’m a more recent new comer to DRs for nylon because I was so fixated on the combination of strings I used to use, I couldn’t open my mind enough to think DRs could compare. If your mind is totally closed about this, you better expand your thinking. What do I always say when I’m discussing your playing? It’s all about the sound. Well, strings are a huge factor, so try a set. These are the best strings I have used, and I have been sent strings by countless manufacturers. Try a traditional set or a coated set. I recommend the latter. Hey, a string change isn’t a big deal You should be changing your strings frequently. If you don’t like them (and I can’t image that could happen, but it’s possible) you can always just change your strings again. Your risk is the price of a set of strings. Your potential gain is a much better sound and longer string life if you decide to try a coated set. Live on the edge. Try them.

Au revoir, Arno. He and his family left for a few weeks in Paris. He’s French and will be seeing family as well as traveling while vacationing there. I doubt he’ll be doing any playing, unless one of his cousins has guitars and they jam.

Hey, did you hear that Jon Bon Jovi donated a million dollars to Super Storm Sandy relief at the NJ shore last week? He’s from Sayerville, and that’s where he presented Governor Chris Christie with a check for $1,000,000 for the relief effort. Thank you, Jon.

He said, “My being here is not political, it's emotional," then he said, "I grew up here. I went to school here. I met my wife here." He reminisced about his early days as a musician in Sayreville as well as his recent visits following the life changing storm.
"One thought came to me,” he said. "What can I do?” One of the residents who was affected responded, saying, 'Use your voice.’”

Well, Jon has more than put his money where his mouth is. He has performed at multiple fund raisers as well as making this extraordinary donation. If you have contributed in any way to help restore lives and livelihoods at the Jersey shore, thank you ever so much.

If you have not and would like to, there are several trustworthy organizations. I will link to Sandy NJ Releif . They are extremely efficient at directing donations to capable local groups, which can mobilize and get the necessary work done.

This week, there is one student debuting in the Student Spotlight, yay!, the Question of the Week came from Paul in the UK and is about his callouses, News is about the result of the Les Paul 98th Birthday Bash auction guitars and Take Note is about the new affordable PRS S2 series of guitars. You know me, I never met a PRS guitar I didn’t love.

Don’t forget that if you don’t yet have the collector set called Thank You, Les, it’s available and belongs in your personal library.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/

http://www.drstrings.com

http://www.thankyoules.com

Raptor Picks USA

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“Absolutely Amazing”
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Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Student Spotlight

In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight is Luis. Nice going, dude. This is your first time in the spotlight. Drink in the accolades and let’s have a repeat performance.

Luis is a pretty busy student and businessman. He doesn’t miss practicing too often, but sometimes he’s unable to take his lessons. It’s always a challenge to keep a student motivated in that circumstance, but we have an arrangement, that when he thinks he’s mastered what I have asked him to work on, he contacts me and I give him some additional work to do. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s better than him hanging out to dry for a couple of weeks at a time. Luis has become even more dedicated to moving his playing forward and is exercising unusual diligence and profiting tremendously from it. The change is hard but it’s for the better. Excellent work.

Question of the Week

This week's question is from Paul in England. It’s about his callouses. Here’s what he wrote:

Hi
I'm a 47 year old wannabe guitarist, I first picked up a guitar about 3 years ago, and have practised virtually every day since.

The tips of my fingers have got callouses on them, but I wouldn't say they were great. I still get very sore fingers every time I practice, along with angry red ridges where the strings have dug in. I still get patches of dry dead skin that peel off the end of the tips.

Should they of hardened off more than that, everything I read say that people have got great callouses after weeks of playing, should I moisturise the tips?

Any hints or tips to alleviate the pain, and improve my callouses.

Thanks, Paul.

NOTICE: I am not a physician. Do not adopt any of the following suggestions without consulting your doctor.
Well, the first thing I would ask is are you diabetic? Why? Well, I understand some diabetics have much more sensitive nerve endings than those who are not. If you are not, here are some other thoughts I have:

You have 2 different issues going on. One is the soreness and the other is the dry dead skin that peels off.

The soreness should have subsided after a few weeks of playing daily unless you are doing what I call "pushing through the fingerboard" of strangling your guitar. I find this to be somewhat common with some of my male students, and from time to time, a female student. After a specific amount of fingertip pressure on the string, any more is useless and even counter productive. If you don't have an instructor, you will have to be the judge of whether you are exerting way too much pressure or not. Ideally, when you depress a string, you want to use the very tip of your finger as close as possible to the fret with out being on it AND using just as much force as is necessary to play cleanly (without any buzzing.) Any pressure more than that causes tension in your fretting hand, which then hampers speed and agility. If you have been "over playing" for a few years, this may be a hard habit to break, but with attention to what you are doing, it can be accomplished.

If you are "pushing through the fingerboard," you may have too much callous on each fingertip. Think of this like a corn on someone's toe. Basically it's a concentrated bit of callous, in a spot that is subjected to friction and produces pain. Your callouses should be tough and leathery. Hard is okay, but not thick and hard.

Do you have very dry skin on your hands? Or is it just on your callouses? If your hands are very dry, you should moisturize them, including your callouses. Most men and lost of women, don't want the greasy residue that often accompanies hand moisturizers. A two that are not greasy are Corn Husker's Lotion (it's kind of gelatinous) and Udder Cream. There are some more pricey ones out there, but either of them will soften your dry skin without leaving grease.

If it's just your callouses that are dry and peeling, I imagine that they are too thick, so with a very fine grade emory board, file them smooth - this just takes a few well positioned swipes of the board. If you have a ceramic or glass file, they work very well for the purpose, too. Buff the callouses down to smooth. Don't burn them by too much fast friction. If you find that your callouses are particularly jagged after you have showered or swum or had your hands in water for an extended period, you can dehydrate bloated callouses with a COOL AIR hair dryer. Do Not Use a Heat Setting.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me. The address is on the Show Notes page and the blog. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick. Paul, yours is on its way.

News

In the news this week is an update on the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala, held in June, who won the autographed guitars.

Although I attended the previous 2 Les Paul Birthday Gala’s at Ramapo College, which were an extension of the huge Les Paul in Mahwah: Tribute exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, this year, I couldn’t attend. If I went, I was going to bid in the auction because at the past 2 Galas, the auctioned guitars went for ridiculously low bids, in my opinion. The first auctioned guitar was a white, Epiphone Les Paul Royal Standard, signed by Bucky Pizzarelli, Lou Palo and others, with a Les Paul autographed pick guard. It was won by Clare Sheridan. She also had the winning bid on the second prize, which was an Epiphone mahogany Les Paul Studio model, autographed by Lou Pallo, Peter Frampton, Al Caiola and Peter Townsend. I wish I’d have been able to attend. I’d have out bid her for sure. Oh well, there’s always next year.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=324

Take Note:
My take note topic this week PRS S2 Series. You who have listened to me for a while, know that I love PRS guitars. They are pricey and not in everyone’s budget, but they are masterpieces of guitar design.

Here’s what our friends at PRS have to say about this new, very welcome, affordable line of guitars:

The PRS S2 Series offers the fit, finish, feel, and attention to detail of PRS craftsmanship in a straightforward design. Standing for “Stevensville 2,” S2 Series instruments are made at our Maryland shop blending new design elements and manufacturing techniques with practiced quality control and workmanship to create reimagined, fresh guitars that reach a more affordable price for players.

The S2 Series is comprised of three models: the S2 Mira, S2 Starla, and S2 Custom 24. These models share several key features, including PRS S2 locking tuners, custom-wound pickups, PRS neck shapes, PRS S2 bridges as well as PRS fretwire, nuts, and double-action truss rods. The new asymmetrical, beveled body shape offers a vintage vibe, and the flatness of the top gives these guitars a big, resonant voice.

Whether the S2 Series means your first PRS or an addition to your arsenal, one thing is certain: each model in the PRS S2 Series is a solid American-made guitar that makes no sacrifice in playability or tone.

Wood is the foundation of a guitar’s tone. If you sacrifice the foundation, there is little hope of achieving an exceptional instrument. Believing this, we have chosen the same traditional tonewoods that are used on PRS Core guitars, such as maple tops, mahogany backs and bodies, mahogany necks, and rosewood fretboards. While some of the design and construction methods used in the S2 Series (the neck blank’s starting dimension across the Series and the S2 Custom’s wood grade, for example) allowed us to use less expensive and more readily available woods, no compromise has been made to the tone or integrity of S2 instruments.

Wood is the foundation of a guitar’s tone. If you sacrifice the foundation, there is little hope of achieving an exceptional instrument. Believing this, we have chosen the same traditional tonewoods that are used on PRS Core guitars, such as maple tops, mahogany backs and bodies, mahogany necks, and rosewood fretboards. While some of the design and construction methods used in the S2 Series (the neck blank’s starting dimension across the Series and the S2 Custom’s wood grade, for example) allowed us to use less expensive and more readily available woods, no compromise has been made to the tone or integrity of S2 instruments.

Finish should do three things: most importantly, it should enhance the tone of a guitar. It should also feel good to the player’s touch, and it should look good. The finish used on the PRS S2 Series accomplishes these goals by featuring a polyester basecoat and an acrylic topcoat (reminiscent of the finish system used on PRS Core guitars for twenty years (before the introduction of V12)). We have updated the process of this finish system to allow S2 guitars to move through the finish hall smoothly and quickly while also requiring a thinner topcoat for optimal tone. This old-but-new finish maintains a hi-gloss, attractive aesthetic, and the translucent and opaque color options offer vintage and modern flavors that allow players to choose the look that fits them best.

PRS S2 Series proprietary pickups are built to our exact specifications, including wire and coating materials, winds, and resistance. Whether harkening back to our original HFS and Vintage Bass pickups or designed to work with the unique tones of a Bigsby tailpiece, S2 pickups were designed to capture the distinct tonal character intended for each instrument in the series.

All of the models in the S2 Series feature a 3-way blade pickup switch with a master volume and a push/pull tone control. Coil-tap functionality adds versatility by allowing players to split the humbucking pickups into singlecoils, providing a vast array of tones. The jack assembly used on the S2 Series is the same jack as our Core line, providing a clean connection point to amplify your sound.

The tone of a guitar is influenced by several factors: wood choice, body style, pickups, scale length, metals and other materials used, etc. Some of the most impactful components are those that directly affect the vibration of the strings: the tuners, the nut, and the bridge. This is because it is the strings’ vibration that the pickups sense and that creates the sound wave the ear will ultimately hear.

The bridge is the anchor of the guitar. It is here that the vibration of the string is transferred into the body of the guitar, bringing out the inherent tone of the woods chosen. Each S2 instrument features a different bridge style. The S2 Mira features the same stoptail that is used on Core PRS instruments. We use an unplated bridge with brass studs. The S2 Starla features a time-tested Tune-o-matic bridge with a Bigsby B50 tailpiece. The S2 Custom features a PRS tremolo (the same bridge found on our SE line of guitars).

The nut also plays a critical part in the transfer of tone. The nut on S2 instruments is the same nut we use on our Core guitars. The nut is strong and long-lasting without “grabbing” the strings, and it is imbued with brass, a highly musical metal.

Our PRS S2 locking tuners are used across the S2 Series. These proprietary tuners are reminiscent of our “Phase II” tuners and follow many of Paul Smith’s “tweaks,” including a brass shaft and specially-configured internal construction. The locking mechanism itself is identical to the one used on our Core guitars, which helps the guitar stay in tune.

Whether using parts shared by our Core manufacturing line or newly-sourced proprietary parts, we always chose to use musical materials (such as brass) and avoid materials that deaden tone (like nylon washers), maximizing the guitars’ overall resonance, musicality, and tone.

When designing, sourcing, and building the S2 Series, we were encouraged and excited to build quality instruments that were both inspired by our Core line but also truly new for PRS. We believe this is evident in every detail. If there was a time that we could not share a component with our current Core lineup, we set out to design a new process for ourselves or source new, proprietary components from our partners.

That said, the nut, jack assembly, fret wire, electronics knobs, and strings are all shared between our Core and S2 instruments. It is long-lasting and is comfortable to play. The electronics’ knobs are made in our own proprietary mold, which results in a handsome and ergonomic design. As with all of our solidbody guitars, we use PRS 10-46 strings. S2 Series guitars come in a nylon gig bag to make heading out for your next show that much easier.

PRS’s starting price for these beauties is only $1179. Music to my ears.

http://www.prsguitars.com/s2series/about/

http://www.prsguitars.com/s2series/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=s2intro&utm_campaign=s2intro

Outro

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ is closed for the summer and will shrink to a significantly smaller permanent installation and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

Live on the edge and try a set of DR strings if you haven’t already. I think they’re the best string on the market. Kudos to Jon Bon Jovi for putting his money where his mouth is and donating $1,000,000 to assist relief and rebuilding at the Jersey Shore after the devastation of Super Storm Sandy 256 days ago. You can help by volunteering to work or contributing something to Sandy NJ Relief.

Excellent work and dedication, Luis.

Paul, if you’re not diabetic, your callouses may hurt because you’re strangling your guitar neck or because your callouses are too thick.

Clare Sheridan won both auctioned guitars at the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala in June. Rats! Had I gone, I’d have outbid her for at least one of them. Maybe next year.
Great News from PRS: an affordable line that begins at $1179. Check out the S2 Series.

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique.
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Cresskill, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, and until next time, which should be around the first week in August, I’m your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 107: It Resonates With Me

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 19:04:14 -0400

A link to the audio of the show can be found at http://www.guitartechniquetutor.com/mp3/----2013.mp3 or listen or subscribe in iTunes

In this show's intro, I mentioned the dude who took a Strat to the top of Mt. Everest,. Fender's Binding-less channel stet fingerboards, the PRS Thank You Package and sweepstakes, The Smithsonian's History of the Electric Guitar program, the ongoing rebuilding of the NJ shore area that was hard hit by SuperStorm Sandy, the Oklahoma tornado survivors and Independence Day sales.

This week, the Student Spotlight iwas dark.

The Question of the Week was "what's a resonator guitar?"

The News topic was Gretsch G9210 Boxcar ™ Square-Neck

Episode 106: Summer's Here!

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:23:21 -0400

A link to the audio of the show can be found at http://www.guitartechniquetutor.com/mp3/----2013.mp3 or listen or subscribe in iTunes

So how were your last couple of weeks?

No, I didn’t get to change my nylon DRs, so I didn’t play my nylon string guitar too much. This coming week is going to be over scheduled, but I’m hoping to get fresh strings on her tout suite. Bridget and Shira are rocking their Neon pink DRs. I admire their good taste.

As you know, I didn’t get to the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala but one of our neighbors, down the hall, did. Diane and I saw Boris there, last year, too and he said last weekend’s event was also excellent. I’ll try to arrange my schedule to attend next year.

I have to take this opportunity to say so long for the summer to Aviv and Danielle. They are off to Israel and to camp. Have a great time. I know you will be playing while you’re away. Enjoy your guitars. Don’t let them fall into the hands of guitar abusers.

Speaking of going away for the summer or for vacation: here’s my annual reminder: if you’re leaving your guitar home while you travel, be sure it’s in a room in your home, in which it will not be subjected to extreme heat or cold. If it’s hot where you live, don’t leave the guitar in a room that will get 100 degrees. If you HAVE TO leave it in your home/apartment, be sure that it’s in the coolest possible place, like your basement. If you live in a frigid climate, be sure the guitar will be left in the warmest place etc. My suggestion is to ask a friend to hold it for you in a home that will be appropriately cooled or heated for human occupancy, thereby keeping your guitar temperate, and avoiding climate-caused damage.

If you are planning to fly with your guitar, if you cannot bring it onboard with you, which is the best option, loosent the strings at least a half turn, lock your case, and if possibly, put the case in a large box that doesn’t have anything other than FRAGILE on it. You can get boxes from guitar cases at guitar stores. The only thing is, if the box bears a guitar company’s name, I’d Sharpie over it, or put some Contact paper over it, just so any baggage handler that would like a new guitar, doesn’t choose yours. That’s the reason for the box. This might be a good time to look into a travel guitar, which can definitely fit in overhead storage on a plane.

You have 2 weeks to see the full Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. The museum will close for a couple months over the summer and when it reopens, the Les Paul permanent installation will be significantly reduced from what is now on display.

While we’re on the subject of Les Paul tributes, don’t forget the stellar recording and documentary by Lou Pallo, the rest of the Les Paul Trio and other admiring artists called Thank You, Les.

There are still beach towns at the Jersey Shore (and likely NY, too) that are nowhere near restored since Super Storm Sandy. As I record, we’re in day 228 of recovery.

Our thoughts and hopes for a legion of volunteers to help the Oklahoma tornado victims continues. There’s another opportunity for human kindness to cover a lot of sadness.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18381508-how-to-help-oklahoma-tornado-victims?lite

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

Hey, did you read the great review of Raptor R Series picks on the Fifth Fret blog?
http://www.fifthfret.org/2013/06/raptor-pick-review.html

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Bridget (of course) and Mike. Bridget is remaining consistent and is tackling everything I throw at her and succeeding very well. Mike had been off for a couple weeks, due to business and some personal travel. This is an uberbusy guy, who mainly ekes out time to play on the weekends. Well, since the last lesson we had, he improved excellently. His lesson was by no means, flawless, but there was tremendous improvement and for that, he has earned Student Spotlight status. Nice work. I hope you’ll be able to at least, maintain the amount of time you can spend with your guitar.

This week's question came from a student that wanted to know why, when they played particular music, it didn’t sound like what they were used to hearing. Do you have a couple days for the full answer? Even if you do, I don’t, but here it is in a nutshell.

First, he was playing an acoustic, nylon string guitar and what he was listening to was a solid body electric (one of which he has, as well as a steel string acoustic and more guitars). If you are not using the same axe or at least the same type of axe, you’re not going to sound like the artist whose music you’re playing

Second, his speed wasn’t close to the speed of the reference recording, AND his rhythm was off because for him, it’s an effort to think of time and beats. He also isn’t able to hear and “feel” the complex rhythm, which is how many musicians get over the obstacle of complex rhythms. If they can hear them and execute them accurately, the beat dissection that is necessary for a non-natural musician is unnecessary.

Third, the music supplied to my student (not by me) was not in the same key as the recorded version. Not only was it semi-transposed, but it was altered beyond that, so the harmonies were quite far off in some sections.

So, if what is going to please you, is to play some of your favorite artists’ music:

* use the most similar instrument you can -- which is not to say you have to run out to buy a Les Paul if you have a Telecaster (not that running out to buy a Les Paul is such torture or anything), but realize that if you’re playing a steel or nylon string acoustic and you are trying to emulate music played on an electric guitar, especially if there’s overdrive or flange or any other amp or studio effect, you’re not going to hear what you want.

* work on your chops - including speed and rhythm

* have realistic expectations of yourself

* play in the same key/tonality/positions etc to most closely approximate what you’re hearing

* practice practice practice and do so while LISTENING to your object recording and to yourself

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

In the news this week is a short list of some PRS events, which all lead up to Experience PRS in September. I had a coupled comments about the Taylor Road show segment, asking if any other guitar makers did anything like it. Well, you be the judge if you attend a Taylor Road Show and one of the PRS Gear Heaven Party and Concert events or Fan Days.

Here are a few that are upcoming. Perhaps one is in you’re area:

June 29 – PRS Gear Heaven Party & Concert at The Glen, Watkins Glen, NY
Come hear and play all the latest PRS and DW gear, hang with our artists, talk with PRS, DW and Guitar Center staff, tour the DW Mobile Music trailer packed with DW and PRS gear, jam out with PRS and DW on the mobile stage, take a paddock tour, meet GRAND–AM Drivers, watch qualifiers & races, enjoy a complimentary Hazlitt wine tasting, maybe even win a prize or two. Includes a VIP Backstage pass for the concert with DAVY KNOWLES. Ticket gives you access to the track for the entire Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen Event Weekend so be sure to camp out or come back the next day to catch the GRAND–AM Rolex Sports Care Series Race!

www.prsgearheaven.eventbrite.com

July 25 – PRS Gear Heaven Party & Concert at the Hard Rock Cafe, Indianapolis, IN
Meet and greet – Artists, Drivers and Celebrities, tour the DW/PRS Mobile Music Trailer filled with PRS and DW gear, play all the latest PRS Guitar and DW gear in the "Jackson" Room, hear some awesome product demonstrations, light fare compliments of the Hard Rock Cafe, concert featuring Davy Knowles and Lance Lopez, Prize drawings.

www.prsgearheavenparty.eventbrite.com

August 3 – PRS Fan Day at Guitar Center, Independence, MO
Product Demos, Setups, PRS staff on hand for any questions, Race to the Stage auditions, DW Mobile Music Trailer packed with PRS and DW gear.

http://stores.guitarcenter.com/independence

September 14 – PRS Fan Day at Guitar Center, Manchester, CT
Product Demos, Setups, PRS staff on hand for any questions, Race to the Stage auditions, DW Mobile Music Trailer packed with PRS and DW gear.

http://stores.guitarcenter.com/manchester

September 20–21 — PRS Experience 2013

More info: http://prsguitars.com/experience/

My take note topic this week is the Fender Passport Mini. Hey, it’s summertime. Portable amps have a lot of pros and cons. I wasn’t going to do this particular take note because I haven’t personally played with a Passport Mini, but Acoustic Guitar Magazine will be reviewing it in the upcoming issue and the short video review suggests that it’s an amp you should consider if you’re looking for something relatively inexpensive and portable. I’ll link to the video.

Here’s a bit about it.

Passport® mini offers convenient amplification for any instrument or microphone. It's perfect for performances by street musicians and students, as well as a basic public address system for events and presentations. It goes anywhere thanks to its dual AC- or Battery-powered capabilities. It can even be used as a music media playback system or computer recording interface.

PASSPORT® MINI

Model : 0694600000
$199.99MSRP Street is about $150 or sometimes less

It has a Vocal Channel with Volume, Tone and Reverb Level controls and an Instrument Channel with Volume, Preset, Effects and Tap Tempo Button controls.

It’s smaller than a 10” cube and weighs 7.25 pounds

The Passport Mini has one - 6.5" Full-Range Speaker with 8 ohms of impedance

Its 2 Channels are Instrument and Microphone

The Inputs are two - (1/4", Input Two has -10db Pad Switch)

and one Auxiliary Input which is 1/8" Stereo

For a little amp it has a decent selection of effects:

Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Vibratone, Vintage Tremolo, Slap-back Echo, Small Room Reverb, Fender ’65 Spring Reverb, Stereo Tape Delay, Tape Delay+Room Reverb, Chorus+Hall Reverb, Vibratone+Room Reverb

There are 2 Line Outs which are Speaker Emulated USB and 1/8” Headphone Jack Doubles as Speaker Emulated Line Out

This is a presentable amp but not a boutique model.

Other Features are that it uses universal AC power supply (included) or six "C" batteries, instrument channel with 24 presets (built from 8 amp models) optimized for acoustic and electric guitars and other instruments, 12 effects (additional effects available with free Fender® FUSE™ software), Tap Tempo button for adjusting delay time and modulation rate, separate Vocal channel with XLR and ¼" inputs and dedicated Volume, Tone, and Reverb controls, AUX input for media player, digital chromatic tuner, metal handle doubles as a tilt-back stand, stereo headphone output for silent practice or line out, USB connection for Fender® FUSE™ application and digital recording output, USB cable included.

It’s a cute, light weight amp for playing out or practice.

http://www.fender.com/series/passport/passport-mini/
http://www.acousticguitar.com/Gear/Reviews/Fender-Passport-Mini-Review

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

I hope i can get my nylon DRs changed in the coming week. I avoid my axes that need string changes until I change them.
Nice work Bridget and Mike. I hope you have company next time.

Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples when you assess how you’re playing covers. If you’re in a different key or tuning, if your chops of any variety are not up to par, if you’re not playing even the same type of guitar, you’re going to be disappointed. Unless you’re a fairly advanced guitarist, you’re going to have to work on your music, so don’t whine about it. Do what you need to do.

Catch a cool PRS event at a venue near you this summer, and while you’re at it, plan an autumn getaway to Experience PRS 2013, in September.

It’s time to take your playing on the road. The Fender Passport Mini may be just the amp for you.

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years and some communities still have condemned homes and unlivable conditions.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays just until the end of the month and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity. If you’re going on a vacation - ask a friend to keep the guitar at their home until you return, if you can.

http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

Practice, and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time. Happy Fathers’ Day to all you dads.

Episode 105: Leaving in 2 Minutes

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:50:09 -0400

This week, there is 1 student in the Student Spotlight, The Question of the Week is about asymmetrical necks, News is about the unlikely contest sponsor from whom you can win a guitar signed by all the members of Maroon 5 and my Take Note segment is about the Taylor Road Show, coming to a location near you.

(please check the blog for all show notes and audio archives at http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com
So how were your last couple of weeks?

The news about Oklahoma was devastating and over the weekend, more tornado activity left destruction in its wake. I saw to Oklahoma, on broadway, and although I have never been to the state, the song lyric has always caused me to associate Oklahoma and wind. To call what blew through Moore, merely “wind,” is the understatement of the year. As much as I have been mentioning the relief effort for Sandy survivors, here in NJ, I have to spread my appeal to the Moore, Oklahoma survivors. There are several well-respected charities that are rushing relief to the victims. I’ll link to a site that will give you a choice. You can go and literally help, on scene, donate air miles to assist volunteer travel or you can donate financially. Many survivors have been left with absolutely nothing or nothing and also lost loved ones.

We finally made it to the Jersey shore, not long after I recorded the last show. Although Sandy blew through on October 29th, there were still some rental units being restored to livable conditions, roofs being repaired and some of the board walk was replaced and some was still missing. It was good to see that things are moving along, but seeing the old Christmas trees on the beech, where the dunes used to be was a reminder of everything that we didn’t see. The trees serve as a dune nursery.

This week, my student Shira, is sporting new DR neons, like Bridget’s. She’s happy and loves the sound, feel and color. They look great on her transparent purple finished Luna Passion Flower guitar.

My neons? They’re great. My nylon string guitar is approaching string change time. She’s been good but she’s starting to sound a little bland. Maybe I can make some time next week.

Hey, this Friday is the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala at Ramapo College. I had planned to attend but something has come up and I cannot. I’m bummed because the first concert was great and last year didn’t disappoint. Were I able to go, I was planning to bid on the auction guitars. This is a reminder to Arno, who might be in the market for a Les Paul, and why not win an autographed one? Lani’s family enjoyed the Gala last year, so Lani, if you go again, have fun. I’ll be thinking of you. I regret that I’ll be missing Nicki Parrott. She’s an awesome stand-up acoustic bassist and singer. According to an email I received a couple days ago, there are still tickets available. If you’re thinking about going, don’t think about it any more. Get your tickets now. The theater is intimate and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

You may be able to pick up Lou Pallo and the Les Paul Trio’s memorial to Les, while you’re there. They and numerous admiring musicians did wonderful work on the audio and documentary.

The full Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute exhibit will only be available to visit in its present, expansive state through the end of this month. The Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ, will close, as is their custom, for the summer and will re-open in September, with a pared down permanent installation of Les Paul exhibits. If you can possibly see the full exhibit, choose a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday to do it. You won’t be sorry.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18381508-how-to-help-oklahoma-tornado-victims?lite
http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://www.lunaguitars.com/acousticproduct/florapassionflower.php
http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

This week's question cam in by email from Emitt. He wrote, “You have gone into some good detain about guitar necks but I didn’t hear anything about asymmetrical necks. What are they?”

Well, someone is reading about guitars! Thanks for the question Emitt. Just as it says, and asymmetrical neck, the profile of which is modified in a way that moves the deepest spot on the neck away from dead center. I’ve never seen nor played an modified neck that didn’t move the deepest spot on the neck bass-wise. By that I mean closer to the 6th string. There’s no reason one couldn’t be made that had its deepest spot toward the treble side, but I believe it would hinder any guitarist.

So why make the neck asymmetrical? Well, if you have short fingers or the neck width is a challenge, or if you play mostly on the treble strings, an asymmetrical neck might help you play faster or longer, since the profile may allow you to reduce the pressure of your grip, which might allow you to play longer.

There are some good images online, of various asymmetrical neck profiles. Several makers use them and if you are having a custom guitar built, decide if a standard neck is best or if an asymmetrical one would benefit you.

Thanks for the inquiry, Emitt. A Guitar Technique Tutor podcast pick is on its way to you, in Idaho. You should have it in a few days.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

In the news this week is something I was shocked to see. Did you know you can win a guitar signed by all the members of Maroon 5? Do you know from where you can win it? Not a guitar shop. From K-Mart!!! For real! There is no purchase necessary and the steps to entering are easy. You increase your odds of winning if you decide to use social media in addition to your traditional entry. All of the rules can be found at the shopyourway.com page.

I frequently mention guitar companies that are giving away guitars but this is a new one on me. Please consult your parent or guardian if you want to enter and you’re under 18..

I hope one of my listeners wins.

http://www.shopyourway.com/app/2/l/contests/string-me-along/4265

My take note topic this week is The Taylor Guitar Road Show. It’s that time of year for road trips and our friends at Taylor Guitars knows that all too well. The Taylor Road Show will be in a variety of American cities, as well as European ones throughout the month of June. If you’ve never attended a Taylor Road Show, it’s very well done, usually takes place in a guitar or music store and attendees get the opportunity to play a lot of Taylors - often more than the store ordinarily offers. The Taylor reps will also match you to the perfect Taylor for you. Tell them what you like to or aspire to play, allow them to size you up (pardon the pun) and they will suggest models with which you are most likely to live happily ever after. The Road Shows are a Taylor Tradition and they are excellent to broaden your general guitar knowledge and introduce you to one of the premier acoustic guitars made in the USA. If you’re in the market for a Taylor that the stores near you do not stock, it’s your opportunity to make sure it’s right for you, before you purchase. Check out the link and get yourself to the Taylor Road Show near you.

http://www.taylorguitars.com/events/road-show

If there’s a guitarist in your life who is about to graduate from college, high school, middle school or elementary school, you may well be planning to acknowledge their hard work and mark their milestone with a gift. Maybe putting a little icing on the cake is in order. After all, graduation isn’t an everyday thing. Acknowledge their musical pursuits as well. There isn’t a young guitarist that wouldn’t appreciate the inspiration that a unique Raptor R Series guitar pick, with 3 different picking tips, can unleash.

The unique beveling of the molded acrylic pick offers amazingly silent attack. The Raptor R Series pick is destined to become a pivotal tool for creative guitarists of every playing level. Personally, I haven’t played with anything but a Raptor R Series since the very first time I touched one and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed once they play with a genuine Raptor R Series pick.

Get some today for the Class of 2013 guitarist in your life, or for you at RaptorPicksUSA.com Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon
http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Oh, Oklahoma, our words may be a fleeting comfort, but what you need is lasting relief. I’m hopeful that you will receive it.

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.
Bridget, you are a regular in the Student Spotlight. Whether you realize it or not, you are building something more than guitar skill. You’re building character with your consistency. Good for you!

An asymmetrical neck may be just the customization that will allow you to play more and better. Check them out.

K-Mart’s Shop Your Way site has all the details for how you can enter to win cool guitar signed by each member of Maroon 5. The contest ends June 15, so get right on it. Under 18, please check with a parent or guardian.

Want to play a variety of Taylor guitars that the shops near you don’t always stock? See when the Road Show will be in your area and take advantage of the array of instruments they bring, their assessment of what models would suit you best and the sheer delight of playing lots of Taylors.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les. The 98th Birthday Gala is this coming Saturday. If you’re anywhere near Mahwah, NJ, don’t delay in getting tickets. It’s going to be a great night.

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity. We’ve had the A/C on this week and my humidifiers are drying up more quickly than usual. Check yours every couple days to be sure your axes aren’t drying out.
You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe.
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Cresskill, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether the Dad or grad in your life is a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult their playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order some today.
Practice, and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 104: Sloppy Joes

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:27:43 -0400

So how were your last few weeks? I know I one more week than my original plan, but thanks to an old dear friend, birthday festivities for me began a week before my birthday. I want to thank you listeners for the birthday wishes I received by email. I appreciated them. Thanks!
On the show, this week, there’s 1 student in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is, 'How can I do it?', News is about the budget friendly Squire Affinity Series from our friends at Fender, and my Take Note topic is Sloppy Joes.
You'll have to listen to the show or read the blog (http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com) for the full version of the show notes.
topics covered in the intro:
http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://www.lunaguitars.com/pinterestcontest/about.php
http://www.prsguitars.com/experience/
http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.drstrings.com/neons#!neon/chts
http://www.drstrings.com/neons#!regular_coated/c1xjd
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

Get Dad some Raptors for Fathers' Day!! Order them now!
http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Student Spotlight
The Student Spotlight is illuminating one student, Bridget. Not just because she has awesome pink strings, but because her degree of improvement/mastery has increased yet again. She’s doing wonderfully. Bridget, you rocked before you had pink Neon DRs on your axe. Now you rock even more. Great work. Keep loving your guitar and applying yourself.

Question of the Week
This week's Question was hard to reduce from its original form. I was working with Danielle this week. She’s extremely talented and we divide our time between playing, studying theory, composition and other musical disciplines.
If you’re like Danielle, you may perceive, as Danielle has, that there’s an integral piece missing from her musicianship. You have marry the muscle memory, the ear and the knowledge. If all you have is muscle memory chops, you need to train your ear and gain understanding, too, but that’s another discussion.
I like to employ the alphabet game and some other exercises that require concentration. This is unconventional, but Danielle is a procedure junkie and she creates ways of doing things - not just musically - which have far too many steps to get to her end result. I hope that if we counteract it in her guitar playing, she will find ways to counteract it in some of her academic pursuits, before they get her into trouble.
So, if you’re a strictly physical player, mend your ways and balance out your musicianship.

News

In the News this week I wanted to mention Fender’s Squire Affinity Series. Don’t roll your eyes at Fender Squires. Not every guitarist can plunk down a grand or more for a guitar. This line includes something for everyone, and boy, I like the colors!! Lake Placid Blue, Surf Green, Black (I know it’s not really a color), Olympic White (ditto, not a color), Arctic White (ditto), Butterscotch Blonde, Montego Black Metallic, Metallic Red (that would be mine), Torino Red, Brown Sunburst, 2-color Sunburst, Gun Metal Gray, Shell Pink (that would be mine, too), Burgundy Mist Metallic and to make it a hat trick, I’d take the Metallic Blue as well. MSRPs run from $100 to $499 with many right in the middle.
Sure, these are not signature models but they don’t command signature prices. They’re fine entry level axes or secondary instruments.
http://www.fender.com/squier/series/affinity/

Take Note
My take note topic this week is Sloppy Joes. No, not the messy meal. Sloppy Joes and Janes and Toms and Dianes are players who are sloppy. Are you sloppy? It manifests in a number of ways. It can be that you pick a different string than the one you’re fretting, or that you over strum chords and inadvertently strike non-chord tones that make your playing sound off, at best and muddy and nondescript, at worst. Perhaps your barred chords are thuddy and each of the notes of the chord do not sound cleanly, or maybe you just guestimate the rhythm. All of these qualify as sloppy playing and if any of them sound familiar, you should do something about it.
If you’re a Sloppy Joe or Jane, begin correcting the problem today. The first step is admitting your problem. The second step is focus.

Personal Update
During the past couple of week, during which I did not record a show, I did some life assessing. Hey, every time a birthday has a zero in it, I think it’s time to take a personal inventory. Here’s what I have concluded: I’m a blessed individual, personally, professionally and in all other ways. I have also concluded that at this stage in my life, I need to keep my priorities in view, and one of those priorities if down time or what might better be called personal or family time. I don’t really have enough.
At this time, I’m planning to produce a show the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month, barring something unforeseen. I may make a switch in July to the 2nd and 4th, so as to have the holiday weekend free. We’ll see.

Please check out the blog for full show notes and the audio
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com.

Episode 103: You've Got To Be In It To Win It

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:20:01 -0400

This week the Student Spotlight is dark, the Question of the Week is, “That’s a G chord?”, News is about the Fender Standard Plus top models and my Take Note Topic is It’s That Time, Again.

So how was your week? Mine was pretty good. We have some drama going on with a close friend, but other than that, it was a good week. My students are progressing nicely, the weather has been fabulous if you aren’t allergic to astronomically high tree and grass pollen, which I am thankful that I no longer am, and next week, all of my students should be around for their lessons. No more school breaks until Memorial Day weekend, I think. That’s good. Before I can blink they’ll be galavanting off for the summer.

Arno’s 2 bands played at a benefit last weekend and he said it went well. Good!

I think I’m still in the midst of DR marvelousness. Their high tech coating helps them last longer and play better. I know that the cusp and then the gradual decline will be farther off because of their proprietary K3 coating. It extends your strings’ life and I find them much more playable. Cool.

You know how some music just feels and sounds like summer? Whether it’s because you’ve watched videos or you have a memory of being in a certain place or situation, you’re sort of imprinted with an idea when you hear them - and i don’t mean because of the words. Well, among some of my students, this year, as the weather here finally broke, a lot of students are playing The Eagles stuff. It’s so interesting. The students are diverse, yet waves of common interest emerge from time to time. Right now, it’s time for the Eagles. It could be worse.

When I saw Lani this week, she said she had something to show me that was going to make me sad. While she was exiting and re-entering the room, I rattled off a list of things I didn’t want to see. She laid a broken Raptor pick on the coffee table. It was indeed a sad sight but was the solution to the mystery of to where one of mine disappeared. A good friend made a zip key fob for me, in which I carry a few picks. I guess my that when I put my pick back into the fob after Lani’s lesson, I didn’t zip it and it fell out. She said she found it in the street and knew it had to have been my dead Raptor. I’ll put the pitiful picture in the Show Notes on the web site and blog.

Today is 180 days into the clean up and recovery from Superstorm Sandy. A local community college had a fund raiser for survivors in Seaside Heights - a popular tourist spot for many New Jerseyans. 9 Bands performed and I’ll link to it in both locations of the Show Notes.

If you would like to contribute to the clean up and restoration that is still so desperately needed, one of the reliable organizations to whom you can donate is SandyNJReleifFund.org.

I drove past the Mahwah Museum and pointed out the Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute sign to the person with whom I was riding. Don’t forget that your opportunity to see the full exhibit is quickly waning. The exhibit as it is today will close June 30. The museum is closed during the summer and through September. The smaller permanent installation will be available to visitors in October.

At this year’s Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala on June 8, there will be a couple of nice guitars raffled.

RAFFLE: DRAWING JUNE 8, 2013
Last years raffle in honor of Les Paul’s 97th Birthday was a resounding success.
This year the Mahwah Museum is doing it again. They will be raffling off two more guitars; the raffle drawing will be held at the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala being held on June 8, 2013, at the Trustees Pavilion at Ramapo College. Attendance is not required to participate in the raffle.

First Prize:
White Epiphone Guitar, Les Paul Standard Royal, Body autographed by Bucky Pizzarelli, Lou Pallo and others, with Les Paul autographed pick guard circa 2007

Second Prize:
Epiphone Mahogany Guitar, Les Paul Studio, autographed by Lou Pallo, Peter Frampton, Lou Caiola and Peter Townshend [ I think the library has it wrong - I sent them an email. I’m sure it’s Al Caiola]

Third Prize:
Les Paul and Mary Ford 45 rpm Record and Gibson Ad, autographed by Les Paul

Donation $25.00 per raffle ticket. Tickets are available for purchase at the Mahwah Museums: Wed/Sat/Sun from 1 – 5 p.m. To order by mail, send a copy of the page you can print online, with your name, address, number of tickets and check payable to Mahwah Museum Society, and they will send the tickets to you.

Don’t forget to check out Thank You, Les, the tribute album and documentary spearheaded by Lou Pallo, with performances by the Les Paul Trio and numerous guitarists and musician friends of Les Paul.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.drstrings.com/#!coated/c8e1
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com
http://newjersey.news12.com/features/sandy/concert-at-bergen-county-community-college-raises-money-for-sandy-victims-in-seaside-heights-1.5149337
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/SewAmazin

This week's question came from a student who, like many, is locked into a very limited, visual understanding of chords - even basic ones. He showed me a guy on YouTube, teaching viewers how to play a particular song (yeah, I know, this student of mine already has a teacher, but still he trawls YouTube - whatever). My instruction to him and everyone like him, is to close their eyes and listen - which he doesn’t always do. The guy on YouTube was playing just the lower strings of a pretty common movable chord. Because he was playing just the lower strings, the diagrams of the chords he used were just the fragments, not the whole chord because he was only playing 3 or 4 strings. Between not listening with inquiring ears and being so locked into thinking 5 or 6 string chords that are familiar, are the only versions of those chords, my student was challenged to grasp that the 3 or 4 low strings & the resultant diagram was just as much a G chord - or whatever chord it was, and that he actually plays that chord all the time in its fuller version. Obviously, he only thinks in terms of fingerboard geography and in visual terms. If he listened, he could hear that it was a the chord we were discussing. If he were thinking what makes any chord whatever it is, he would have understood it with ease.

You dudes are the visualizers and you need to be able to listen to what you play.

Would you have had the same reaction as my student? As long as you have a root, a third and a fifth, you have a chord. It doesn’t have to look like something particular. If you have a root and a 5, you’ve got a power chord (which we all know, isn’t really a chord.)

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

n the news this week are the new members of the Fender Standard Strat line, which are the Plus Tops.

The Standard Stratocaster HSS Plus Top delivers famous Fender tone and classic style, with the added elegance of a flame maple top on the alder body. Other features include single-coil neck and middle pickups, humbucking bridge pickup, tinted maple neck with modern "C"-shaped profile and satin urethane back finish, rosewood or maple fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets and 9.5" radius, three-ply parchment pickguard and parchment control knobs, vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge and '70s-style headstock logo. Available in Tobacco Sunburst (rosewood fingerboard) and Aged Cherry Burst (maple fingerboard).

The Standard Stratocaster Plus Top delivers famous Fender tone and classic style, with the added elegance of a flame maple top on the alder body. Other features include three single-coil pickups, tinted maple neck with modern "C"-shaped profile and satin urethane back finish, rosewood or maple fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets and 9.5" radius, three-ply parchment pickguard and parchment control knobs, vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge and '70s-style headstock logo. Available in Tobacco Sunburst (rosewood fingerboard) and Aged Cherry Burst (maple fingerboard).

If you’re listening/reading carefully you understand the primary difference between these guitars that look nearly the same and have the same MSRPs. which is $739.99, is the pickup configuration.

Then there’s the version with the locking tremolo: The Standard Stratocaster HSS Plus Top with Locking Tremolo delivers famous Fender tone and classic style, with the added elegance of a flame maple top on the alder body. Other features include single-coil neck and middle pickups, humbucking bridge pickup, tinted maple neck with modern "C"-shaped profile and satin urethane back finish, rosewood or maple fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets and 9.5" radius, three-ply parchment pickguard and parchment control knobs, Floyd Rose® double-locking two-point tremolo bridge and '70s-style headstock logo. Available in Tobacco Sunburst (rosewood fingerboard) and Aged Cherry Burst (maple fingerboard).This is an H/S/S model and its MSRP is $1009.99

http://www.fender.com/series/standard/standard-stratocaster-hss-plus-top/

http://www.fender.com/series/standard/standard-stratocaster-plus-top-left-handed/

http://www.fender.com/series/standard/standard-stratocaster-plus-top/

http://www.fender.com/series/standard/standard-stratocaster-plus-top-with-locking-tremolo/

My take note topic this week is, “It’s that time, again.” Unless you like your guitar to look like a Willie Nelson special, you may want to take some minor precautions to protect your axe’s finish, now that on my side of the equator, it’s the spring/summer season. That means short or no sleeves and possibly playing or gigging outside. I can just see that sweat and all the skin oils coming out of your arm and clouding up or wearing down the finish of your guitar. Yuck!!. I can’t stand how it looks nor how it feels. I cannot attest to having the experience on my guitars, but I have played way too many that had their finishes melted off the way acetone strips nail lacquer. I suppose if you had supersonic ears, you would actually be able to hear a difference. After all, on acoustic guitars, the finishes are quite particularly formulated for the effect they have on the flex and the resulting sound.

Hey, if you don’t care what your axe looks like, (and maybe even sounds like) or if the lower bout loses its slickness for ease of your arm’s movement …. it’s cool. It’s cool, but I don’t get it. It doesn’t take too much to protect it from your skin oils or sweat. A sleeve is great but not all shirts have sleeves. I realize that not everyone can carry off taking a long or 3/4 sleeve shirt and cutting the other sleeve short or off for comfort. I used to do that all the time. In another decade I found a shirt that already had a short and a long sleeve. I wore it like crazy until it was threadbare. So, unless you are a brave individualist and have a tailor that can alter your shirts, you may want to do something a bit more conventional. A folded handkerchief is enough of a barrier between your hot sweaty skin and the possibly fragile finish on your guitar. I don’t like them because they fall off. I prefer the rib section of a sock. It slips on and slips off when you are finished. It remains in place and doesn’t threaten to slide onto the strings when you’re playing. I’ve already tucked a sock top into the bag I take out to students, now that spring is here. Over the past couple of weeks, I wore short sleeves a few times, already.

It’s up to you. If you have a mid or high end guitar, and you think you’d ever sell it, the cost of refinishing a guitar well - and by that I mean so it is undetectable, is quite expensive and you would need to find an independent luthier or someone in a high end guitar shop, not the guys who are at the big name music stores where the “techs” mainly do string changes and neck set ups. I’m suggesting refinishing for best resale price but I also think it’s incumbent upon you to disclose the refinishing to your intended buyer. I’m sure they will appreciate your integrity.

Does your or your kids’ mom love to play guitar? I know, if she’s a mom, she probably doesn’t have much time, but my friend Tina of Tinaspicks.com is a busy mother and she finds time to play. Jewelry, flowers and dinner out are good, but a handful of genuine Raptor R Series guitar picks will show her you love her because it shows her that you know what she loves.

I don’t know a guitarist alive that isn’t looking for fresh inspiration and she’s no exception. The 3 uniquely and specifically engineered picking tips on the Raptor entice a guitarist to think about and explore the full range of sound qualities they can create with it. The unique beveling of the molded acrylic pick offer amazingly silent attack. She’s going to love them.

The Raptor R Series pick is destined to become a pivotal tool for creative guitarists, whether they’re moms, dads, sons or daughters. Personally, I haven’t played with anything but a Raptor R Series since the very first time I touched one and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed when they play with a genuine Raptor R Series pick.

Get some today for the guitarist in your life, or for you at RaptorPicksUSA.com Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Glad your gig went well last week, Arno.
Who’s playing Eagles music?
I love the K3 coating on my DRs. They are still sounding sweet.
We didn’t have a funeral for the run-over Raptor pick, but Lani was right, it did make me sad.
If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

You can get in on the raffle for the autographed Les Paul guitars even if you cannot attend the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala on June 8th.

You don’t have to play all 5 or 6 strings of a chord if it isn’t the sound you want/need. If you know what comprises a chord, a funny looking partial diagram won’t confuse you.

The affordable Fender Standard Plus Top model line is nice. Just be sure to choose the pick up configuration you like.

Hey, put something between your sweaty arm and the finish of your axe. You don’t want it to get rough and cloudy, do you?

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity.

I’m planning to skip podcasting after next week’s show. So, I’m hoping to have Episode 104 recorded, mixed and online by May 6th or 7th. I won’t be producing a show the week of the 12th. I have a few things cooking the preceding weekend for a significant birthday, so I know I won’t be able to find time before the end of that week, for a show. I’m not so big on birthdays, but when there’s a zero in the number, they’re noteworthy.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, practice and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 102: We Feel You, Boston

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:54:55 -0400

In this week’s show, there are 2 students in the Spotlight, the Question of the Week isn't a question. News is about how you can win an Eastwood Classic 6 and Take Note is called, "I'm Impressed."

The show is brought to you by RaptorPicksUSA.Com

The terror attack in Boston colored everything. We’re not that far from Boston. and my peers and I have not been the same since 9/11. I don’t look at cloudless Tuesdays nor planes overhead without flashing back to that traumatizing day. A young man dear to us ran in the marathon. Alex is like a son or nephew to E-Rex and me. We just love him. Anyway, I don’t usually have TV on during the day, when I am home, but on Monday, I did. When whatever I had on in the background was broken into by the news report, I instantly texted him. Fortunately, I got through before they shut down the cell service. Alex went out with the elite runners (what else is new? He’s elite at everything he does) and had showered and was eating when I reached him. We were thankful for Alex’s safety, but so dismayed about the lives that were shattered. Boston has a whole other vibe. It’s a nice town and I’m sorry its population was held captive to the vile deeds of terrorists.

I must shamefully admit I have not yet returned the call from the dad who has the little five-year-old son for whom he's seeking guitar lessons. I will call him. A few things wreaked havoc with my schedule this week.

Guitar Center has been bombarding me with advertising. I received a postcard advertising their used gear trading expo, on Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28. Just last week I received an email of something called a create your own clearance. It offered $10 off a purchase of $49 or more, $30 off a purchase of $199 or more, and $150 off the purchase of $750 or more. That Create Your Own Clearance period has passed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a sale like that with some regularity coming from the big music stores.

My week was brightened up. I received a wonderful early birthday gift from one of our dear friends, Ernie, for a rather significant birthday that’s looming next month. So what was the gift that our dear friend Bernie bestowed upon me? It was a beautiful long-desired iPad Mini.

To say I’m thrilled with it would be an understatement. iI’s so extremely useful: this week I dictated my podcast notes on it rather than typing the notes out. It was convenient to speak them when it was opportune, without having to be near my desktop Mac. I loaded it up with the all apps I use on my phone, which were also available for iPad. Sometime ago I considered purchasing an iPad but it wasn’t in our budget. At that time, I compared the beautiful large Retina Display of the standard iPad and the smaller non-Retina Display and the great portability factor of the iPad Mini. For my particular lifestyle the Mini is preferable. It’s big enough for me to keyboard comfortably - especially in landscape mode, yet small enough to take just about anywhere. So receiving the Mini was a tremendous surprise and such a welcome blessing. Need I say that it interrupted some of my usual life activities during the past week? I couldn’t help but customize it so I could maximize it’s usefulness and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to just flat out playing with it, too. I’m going to really enjoy it.

My DR strings are still sounding beautifully and I'm liking them. I’m easily

I have some email from listeners regarding the nine cords I discussed last week. In the majority of the emails readers or listeners were asking why it matters and who cares whether there's a root in a 9 chord or not.
It is my hope as a musician and instructor that it does matter to you whether the chord has a root or not. I also hope that more of you than not are aware of what they are playing musically rather than being clueless. I suppose it is of no importance whatsoever to know whether a chord contains a root or not if understanding what you play is of no interest to you.

The Boston terror attack was terrible and our prayers are with the families that will never be the same. In your compassion for the Bostonians, please don’t forget the survivors of SuperStorm Sandy. Sandy NJ Relief Fund will efficiently use 100% of your donation to fund and mobilize qualified and competent organizations to assist in restoring life to the New Jerseyans who are still picking up the pieces, nearly 6 months later. Thank you for everything you have done or will do.

You just have a few months to visit the full blown Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. IVisitors are welcomed 1-5 on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. After June the exhibit will shrink to a small permanent installment. I'll check the specific date.

Lou Pallo, the Les Paul Trio and several jazz luminaries have created a terrific homage to the genius guitar player and inventor. Check out, Thank You, Les.
http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com
http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/
http://www.sandynjrelief.org
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Arno and Bridget. This month is riddled with vacationers. All of the schools in the area have different spring break weeks, so my schedule hasn’t been full for the past several weeks. I’m glad Bridget is not the only guitarist in the Spotlight. There’s room for everyone!

Arno has a busy busy busy life and even though the 2 bands for whom he plays drums played this past weekend and there were rehearsals for that, and even though he’s a family man and businessman, he managed to eek out time to play. He’s making excellent progress in his weaker areas, and that’s to be recognized and praised.

Bridget is doing excellently. She takes her practicing seriously. You go girl.

I’m looking for Shira and Aviv to move into the Spotlight and remain there. Chicks, you’re just short of your best, and that’s what it takes. Since you’re friends, you should inspire each other.

This week's question isn’t, so I thought I’d give you a brief rundown of the Crossroads Guitar Festival last weekend, here, in NY. We won’t see one of these again, for 3 years.

It was the fourth Crossroads festival Clapton has presented, every three years since 2004, and musicians clearly enjoy it. The majority of this year’s headliners — among them Buddy Guy, B. B. King, Jeff Beck, Los Lobos, John Mayer, Robert Cray and Vince Gill — were recidivists, coming back for the chance to mix and match repertories and trade licks with peers. Also performing were Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, Quinn Sullivan, Keith Urban and Albert Lee. The Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Gregg Allman Sonny Landreth and Allan Holdsworth. I’m sure I missed some of them.

The concerts were filmed for release as a DVD. The festival was a guitar-geek utopia. Video screens showed close-ups of fingers and fretboards more often than faces. According to the Times, what came through the two nights was the pleasure of musicians listening to one another. With tradition in their fingers, they were still adding their own hand-played flourishes, full of respect and primed for one-upmanship.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

Email Me at ••guitartechnique@gmail.com•• (disregarding the •• at the beginning and end) if you'd like to submit a Question of the Week or suggest an additional segment topic.
If I use one you submit, I'll send you a Guitar Technique Tutor pick.

http://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/

In the news this week is your opportunity to enter for your chance to win an Eastwood Classic 6 from Premier Guitars! This Giveaway ends May 3, 2013, so get on it if you’re interested.

The Classic 6 features the famous 1960’s Country Classic look, the Eastwood Classic series offers great balance and feel. Available in 4, 6 or 12 string configuration - with or without Bigsby on the Classic 6 - this semi-hollowbody, set neck design is one of Eastwood's top selling models. This Eastwood Classic 6 Walnut Guitar prize package comes with an Eastwood Hardshell Case and is valued at $750. Nice guitar if you’re the one who wins it.

Here are its specs:

◦ Body: Bound Laminated Maple, Flamed Maple Top, Bound F-Holes
◦ Colours: Walnut, White, Orange, Black
◦ Pickups: Two EW-Retro Humbuckers
◦ Switching: 3-Way
◦ Controls: 2 Volume 2 Tone
◦ Bridge: Fixed Tun-O-Matic Bridge
◦ Neck: Bound Maple, SET neck
◦ Finger Board: Rosewood, MOP Sharks Teeth
◦ Scale Length: 24 3/4"
◦ Width at the Nut: 1 5/8"
◦ Hardware: Gotoh style Nickel/Chrome
◦ Strings: #9-#46
◦ Case: Extra
◦ Unique Features: Unique MOP Fret Markers and Volume Knob Positioning
◦ Suggested Retail: $629.00 US (Street is about $499.00 US)

Eastwood may not be one of the first guitar companies you think of when someone says, who are the builders who make great guitars. Here’s a little background:

Since 2001, Eastwood® has been creating some of the most exciting Electric Guitars the world has ever seen. Their RADICAL VINTAGE REMAKE series feature a variety of models based on popular sixties designs - from the classic Mosrites to their top-selling AIRLINE - they capture the excitement and style of the originals. Each year the prices of the originals skyrocket - they are getting harder to find and harder to play! Eastwood®'s focus is to make top quality replicas - that cost less and play better - so the average musician can experience the excitement of playing one of these beautiful vintage guitars as their everyday axe.

All Eastwood® Guitars are fitted with high-quality modern components that offer an optimal playing experience that far exceeds their 1960's original counterparts. It is hard to find a guitar these days that oozes more vintage style than an Eastwood®! All Eastwood® Guitars are setup professionally before shipping to customers.

All Eastwood® Models are subjected to extensive research and development to continually raise the level of performance. At the same time, the folks at Eastwood are very careful to maintain an affordability level that their customers expect. These elements combine to deliver peak performance and higher quality than the originals at a much lower price. Hey, good news for lefties: It looks like that for this model the lefty and righty cost the same. I could be wrong, but that's how it seemed on their web site.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Survey/614/survey.aspx

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/

My take note topic this week is I’m Impressed. Sounds like it’s going to be admiring remarks about someone, right? Well, I mean impressed in a general sense, not the often used complimentary way.

This is for you younger, no so experienced players. Often, in this segment or in the Question of the Week segment, I stress discipline, the proper way to approach conquering those areas in your playing or understanding that need work and so on. But today, I want to talk about how you can sabotage your audition, or fall short at your next gig. I’m not saying all “young” guitarists fall into this category, but some most certainly do. I was at a coffee shop recently, and I affirm that I’m a partially voluntary and partially involuntary eaves dropper. I can’t help that I have extraordinary hearing, so I overhear conversations -- whether drinking my joe or at a restaurant etc. I overheard some young dudes talking and as soon as I heard the word “amp” my ears locked onto the conversation. They were talking about an upcoming performance and it sounded like they comprised the members or most of the members of a band. They spoke very briefly about their set list. That’s good. They set up a couple rehearsal dates. That’s really good because you don’t want to play out, unprepared. The rest of the conversation that I overheard - and I mean for about 25 minutes (don’t think I have too much free time - I had to be where I was, it’s a long story) these guys talked about the “totally sick” clothes they were going to wear, what they were going to do to their hair and whether or not they should all do it. At that point, I had to the old recon move, which all the chicks listening, know. You pull out your mirror and surreptitiously view the people who are behind you -which these guys were. I’d say they were in their early or late 20’s. They had a very clean cut look, which surprised me, after hearing their wardrobe and coiffeur plans for the show.

Hey, I understand how a distinct style in your music is of paramount importance, assuming, of course, that the quality is there. I also understand that up and coming artists need a hook - whether that it’s their uniqueness within their genre, or the employment of unconventional sounds or instruments, or topicality of songs or lyrics, or a cool or unconventional look. It’s an old saw because it’s true: you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. That being said, please, please, please keep in mind that the most important thing is the music. As I listened to those guys, all I could think was, I hope their chops are commensurate with their talk. The trap into which you do not want to fall is being the guitarist or band about which people say, “Hey did you see - name the artist or band -? Yeah, the dudes with the green dreads and the left leg of their jeans cut off mid thigh…man, they stunk.”

Your playing is what you have to lead with and that’s why I needle you to master your craft. If you wear ordinary street clothes, whatever they are for you, to an audition or gig, and your playing blows everyone away - that’s what you’ll be remembered for. No one is going to say, “Did you hear that monster -name the artist or band -? His/her/their shoes were lame.” That's never going to happen.

The best of both worlds is to master your craft AND have a unique look or identifier. It’s necessary to be memorable in a sea of up and comers. But don’t lose focus. Your playing is the thing. You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. Don’t blow it. Don’t perform before you’re ready and when you do, blow their doors off.

•••Raptor Picks USA•••

Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA

Boston, we love you and we know the shock, loss and pain you sustained last week.

I will call the 5 year-old’s dad. I really will.

It will broaden you as a musician to understand what you’re playing, when you’re playing it - so, “You should,” is the answer to, “Who cares if there’s a root in a 9 chord or not?”

My iPad Mini and I are BFFs already - can you hear me smile when I said that? It’s great, and for me, just the right size.

Excellent work Arno and Bridget. I think after this week all the spring breaks will finally be concluded and I’ll have a full schedule, once again.

Sounds like the Crossroads Guitar Festival was great. You may want to go next time.

If you’re interested in winning an Eastwood Classic 6, click over to Premier Guitars - 18 years or older, please. If you’re younger than that, I’m glad you’re listening, but check with a parent or guardian before filling out anything online!

Get your music together before you young or inexperienced players worry about hair and wardrobe. And for heaven sake, put on the clothes you’re going to perform in and play a set. Be sure your fanciful garb will not impede your playing.

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity. Keep it humidified if there’s less than 40% humidity in its usual environment.

Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Practice, have a great week, practice and until next time, I'm D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 101: Rootless

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:37:03 -0400

In this week’s show, there is 1 student in the Spotlight, the Question of the Week is What’s up with these 9 chords? News is about a 130th anniversary guitar from our friends at Gretsch and Take Note is about Coachella - it’s finally here. Are you there?

All podcast audio files can now be found on the blog: http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com on the pages that are tabbed across the top of the home page.

Episode 099: Mea Culpa

guitartechnique@gmail.com — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:32:35 -0400

So sorry for discriminating against (not) the other 2 Clapton Crossroads Collection guitars. Man, I didn’t mean to get any of you exercised, but I’m glad you’re listening. Check out Lucy and Martin quickly if you’re in the market. There will be 100 Brownies and Lucys and 150 Martins, WORLDWIDE. I think they’re going to go quickly. If you’re interested, you better move on it

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Eric-Clapton-Crossroads-Gibson-g26708t0.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Eric-Clapton-Crossroads-g26706t0.gc?esid=Eric%20Clapton%20Martin
I’m hoping to have happy pink DRs on my one of my axes by show 100.

Gretsch’s Jim Dandy parlor size models are just right if you like a parlor sound or you’re a smaller person and want a guitar that fits you. They’re pretty, too.

http://gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2704000549&utm_source=NewsletterMarch2013&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JimDandy-BlueSunburst&EDID=XTY7DPF-5VNT9-8QP9A-N3LFK-LBIB-v1
You can win a gorgeous PRS SE Orianti guitar. It doesn’t guarantee you her titanic talent or success, but it will be a beauty to play. Paul Reed Smith hasn’t EVER made a bad guitar.

http://www.prsguitars.com/seorianthi/
If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les. If you’ll be in the NY metro area over the Easter/Passover weeks, check with the Museum. I can’t find anything posted yet but last year I think they might have been closed on Easter Sunday, which, this year, is March 31st. If you are thinking about going on that day, I’d recommend calling to be sure they will be receiving visitors.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com
If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity.

Over the coming 2 weeks I have some medical things to take care of and there are serious holidays, so rather than trying to squeak out the time to do a show - and not just any show, the 100th episode of this podcast, I’m going to skip the next 2 weeks. I hope to have episode 100 recorded and live on the net and in iTunes by around the 7th of April. I appreciate your forbearance with this. I know I had quite a few skips in the winter when E-Rex was having treatment. I’m happy to say he’s recovering very well. Thanks for the inquiries. I’m still in the process of ironing out the show notes subscriptions, too. I’ll sort it out eventually.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Episode 098: The Latest Buzz

guiitartechnique@gmail.com — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:21:08 -0400

Nice job A, B, C’s! Keep it up.
I keep the box of NEON DRs on the console table on the guitar wall. Maybe they’ll be on by next week. Right now, I’m so tired, I think from a DTAP injection I just had (tetanus and pertussis) I don’t want to do anything “extra” with my right arm. I have a big swollen welt and it’s killing me.

http://www.drstrings.com

Guitar Center has a string club. Check it out next time you're there.

If your guitar is buzzing, see if the neck is warped or sunken, if it’s dehydrated, if the action is too low and the truss rod needs adjustment or if you’re just picking way too hard.
Brownie is back and if your bank roll can afford it, you’ll have a replica of Clapton’s Brownie, right down to its battle scars.

http://www.fender.com/custom-shop/series/custom-artist/eric-clapton-brownie-tribute-stratocaster/

http://youtu.be/BEBsDiuHF_A

Think about what you’re playing and physically consider and feel the music.

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years. 5 long term relief organizations have shared in $1,000,000 of fund money and more applications are being accepted in an effort to restore lives and businesses.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/

The countdown to Crossroads Guitar Festival NY is 33 days from my recording date. Likewise for the first of the 2 Coachella weekends and 40 for the second weekend, Anya. I hope you’re going this year.

http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com
http://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsGuitarFest
http://www.coachella.com
http://www.facebook.com/coachella

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I don’t Tweet excessively. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa
Practice, have a great week, practice and until next time, I'm D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time. Have a nice St Patrick’s Day if you celebrate.

097: The Voice

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:09:58 -0500

Intro

So how was your week? Mine was just fine. I had a very light teaching schedule because a lot of schools were on mid-winter break and so many people were sick.

I met with prospective new student, Thanh, and we’re pretty sure we’re going to go ahead with lessons. He’s a great guy and a former Marine. He had a health crisis this week. When we were scheduled to have our first lesson, he had a severe allergic reaction to something and had to go to the hospital. Thanh is a lefty and for him and him alone I will teach him to play lefty. As you know if you have ever read my Lefty? link on the web site, that I teach all my lefty students, righty. Well, Thanh will be that exception. He was in a terrible motorcycle accident that caused extreme damage to both of his hands. The right hand tendons were able to be repaired surgically, but not the left. So, this lefty has more use in and dexterity of his right hand, so it will have to go on the neck of the leafy guitar that was given to him. The index, middle and ring fingers of his left hand cannot close all the way. So, he will be my anomaly. I’m looking forward to working with him after he recovers from whatever took him to the hospital Thursday.

Have you seen the Fender Edition Volkswagon Beetle? It’s cool. I blogged about it during the week.

The count down to Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival NYC and the first weekend of Coachella continue, Anya. I’m recording this on February 23, so it’s 47 days. Move on it now if you’re looking for tickets.

I heard a report on the news from a mayor of one of the NJ shore towns, that their beach was not going to open this summer. I’m sure it will devastate the town’s finances as well as the incomes of those whose businesses are there.

Here, in NJ we’re in recovery day 117. Thanks for your prayers, practical and financial support. If you desire to help more, you can, at the Sandy Relief NJ Fund. I’ll have all the links on the podcast page and on the blog.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://sandynjrelieffund.org/go.cfm?do=Press.List
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjMkvZ4_io

Danielle’s SG is now sporting lime green DR NEONs. She hadn’t changed the strings since she got it and she loved the sound, feel and is digging the K3 coating. My local guitar shops don’t have the pink NEONs I want to try so mine have been ordered and I’ll have them soon. My strings are getting deader and deader. Sting changes and haircuts are the things I have the most difficulty scheduling a “just the right time.” I wait until I can’t bear to play anymore before I change my strings and I wait until I can be mistaken for a shaggy dog before I call my stylist for a haircut -- which I should do this coming week to prevent the shaggy dog scenario. Let’s see if I do it. I promise I’ll tell you either way.

http://www.drstrings.com

The Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute exhibit will run until June of this year. (Although I have the idea that there may be yet another extension of the large exhibit, but I have nothing upon which to base my idea.) There, you can get a glimpse of the prolific output of inventions and hear the guitar mastery of the late, Mahwah resident, Les Paul. His inventions still have relevance and his breakthrough, sound on sound recording revolutionized the way music was recorded, and the kind of sound, the music consumer heard. He was a true genius.

Thank You, Les is Lou Pallo’s great tribute to the man and his music. Get it in whatever form of media to which you are partial. It’s an homage like no other.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

This week there are students in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week came in by email and is about how to fix messed up picking, News is about the Play Crossroads contest by Ernie Ball, which is getting down to the last days of buzz voting and Take Note is about finding your voice.

Just to let you know, there’s a high possibility of me not recording a show next week. I will be away 1 day of the weekend, our elderly neighbor will be having extremely serious surgery and I will be caring for some things and a rather cute feline in her apartment and I have a 3 Sunday long commitment that begins next Sunday. All of those things may require all the time I have to create a new show next week. So, if you don’t see anything in your iTunes or on the web site by the 1st Tuesday in March, assume no show. I’ll Tweet and post on the blog if I decide to skip.

Raptor Picks USA

Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Student Spotlight

The Spotlight is dark this week. I’m not one for rationalization, but my schedule was extremely slim this week because of illness and vacations. The students who did have lessons had not had a lot of practice, so rather than mention who played the best of the non-exceptionals, I’ll let the Spotlight conserve energy this week. I trust my roll of students will resume their normal level of commitment, or renew their commitment to their instruments. I’m all for energy conservation, but I’d rather have you in the Spotlight, so students, let’s get back on track as soon as you are able.

Question of the Week

This week's question came in by email from Alonzo who lives in Santa Fe (a city that looks like I’d never want to leave). He wrote: “You talk about pick technique a lot. At first I didn’t really pay attention to it. Then, I thought you just didn’t have anything else to talk about because you bring it up a lot. Then I looked at my technique and it [stinks]. How can I fix it? It’s been whatever for a long time but now I think you’re right and it’s why my playing isn’t going anywhere. Sorry I thought it was stupid for you to keep talking about it. Can you help me?

Alonzo, I have a pick on its way to you. I thank you for your question and I hope I can give you some guidance now that you’re actually paying attention.

Let me address that, first. You guitarists who are listening, if you have an instructor or a better guitarist than you are, who’s suggesting changes in your approach or any phase of your playing. Consider what they’re saying to you. Depending upon who is saying it, you should be a good judge of whether they have your best interest at heart or whether they’re just in the game to cut you down. If it’s someone you know and trust, you should listen to what they have to say.

Okay, Alonzo. It sounds like you’ve been playing for a while. I’ll take that to be years, not months or weeks. So, you have developed habits. The only way to overcome a habit is to make a new one, whether you’re playing the guitar or doing anything else that involves some muscle memory or rote movement. The first thing you have to buy into, is that there isn’t a quick fix. I know the world is rife with all kinds of quick fixes or instant whatever, but this is going to take time and focus. If you’re not willing to embark upon this and see it through to the end, I strongly urge you not to begin. If you only dip your toe in and don’t go all the way, your playing will be worse than it is now.

Alonzo, the first thing you should do is stop playing any studies or licks you work on regularly. Find some alternate picking studies that you’ve NEVER played. Not ones you worked on last year or a few years ago. Not any that require sweet picking or anything other than alternate picking. It’s imperative that it’s fresh material. Instinctive and consistent alternate picking is one of the greatest strengths a developing guitarist can master. It’s divorced from your left hand technique, which is its own whole arena. I’d even recommend using a fresh pick and maybe even changing your pick. If you always play with an ultra thin, get a medium or heavy, etc. Hey, if you haven’t played with a Raptor, get a 4 pack, which is really 5 picks. You might even change your strings. You need to think of this as a new beginning and a departure from the old.

The first step to legit alternate picking is to play a scale or other exercise and play each degree of it as 8 eighth notes, picking them Down/Up, Down/Up Down/Up and Down/Up.
This exercise can be as simple or complex as you like, as long as you’re stroking every note 8 times in that pattern. (Don’t look at either of your hands when you do this.) Boring, right? But it’s the beginning of creating an reflex and instinct in you. Don’t allow yourself to zone out. I work with this exercise very early on with most of my students - way before I have them alternate pick individual notes of exercises or scales. I’m looking for a nearly guaranteed correct outcome when I move them to alternate picking individual notes. This is how I do my part to set them up for success.

This 8 eighth note picking pattern work should go on for at least a month. I realize this is where I may lose you, Alonzo, but I don’t want to give you the impression that this is an immediate metamorphosis that you will undergo. It’s going to take a lot of keen attention to accomplish it.

The second step is more complicated. Take the exercise you’ve been working on, and for this, it’s easiest if you have a print copy of it, and use a very light bright highlighter, and highlight every other note. So, if it’s an E scale, for example, the highlighted notes will be E, G#, B, D#, F#, A, C#, E etc, for however many octaves you’re playing. Practice (that means repeat and repeat and repeat some more) picking the highlighted notes and the highlighted notes ONLY, with a down stroke. (Don’t look at either of your hands when you do this.) Make sure it’s a deliberate down stroke when you move from one string to another, so it doesn’t feel like sloppy picking or sweet picking. (I’m not suggesting the 2 are synonymous, just both not what we want.) Practice this a lot. When you begin working on this, also continue to work on the 8 eighth notes exercise with this modification: make it a 2 eighth note exercise and play 1 Down/Up for each note.

So now you’re practicing the familiar exercise with a quarter of the stroke than originally AND you’re practicing it in a very new way, which is every other note down picked in a deliberate way. You should work on this exercise at least 3 weeks, but a month is even better.

Then, and only then, move on to a NEW exercise. Highlight every other note. I would not choose anything that requires extreme left hand technique. Begin practicing it SLOWLY, alternate picking, being absolutely certain you are picking down every time you play a highlighted note. (Don’t look at either of your hands when you do this.) I recommend you practice this new exercise SLOWLY for at least 2 weeks. You can nudge the metronome a bit higher after a week, but keep it in the very slow range. You need to be making every movement purposefully. At the end of the 2 or 3 weeks, begin slowly moving your metronome speed a little faster and add another exercise or 2, highlight every other note and practice it at the very slow speed at which you did this originally with the exercise you will now be moving a bit faster.

The first exercise should creep up in tempo, the second is practiced SLOWLY for 2 or 3 weeks, then it can very gradually be increased in tempo and a third exercise to be practiced SLOWLY as before, should be added. I believe that if you incrementally move these 3 different studies through their 3 different tempi, you will be well on your way to resetting your picking instinct.

The discouraging thing I have to add is that if you wish to be wise, don’t work on any of the music you have played for a long time with bad pick technique. Just let it hibernate for a LONG time. It’s easy for an alcoholic to be tempted into taking a drink in a bar, but if they’re not near one for a long time, there will be much less temptation. It’s the same for you. Stay away from the stuff in which you’ve massacred the picking in the past. Just work on new stuff, revel in your success and only after a long time (I’m talking 8 months or a year) revisit the old things if you must. Be ever so careful when you do. If you have turned the corner and come to the light side and have done so consistently, you should be able to overcome the rotten picking you perpetrated on your music the first time around. Be vigilant, though. Old habits die hard.

I wish you all success, Alonzo. And I hope you won’t tune me out if I have to bring up alternate picking again in the future.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News

In the news this week is Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival NYC April 12 & 13, 2013, to benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua and the

ERNIE BALL 2013 PLAY CROSSROADS CONTEST

Ernie Ball Searches For The Next Best Undiscovered Guitarist For A Chance To Perform At Madison Square Garden

Ernie Ball announced the 2013 Play Crossroads contest a while ago, in which the legendary string company will be partnering up with Guitar Center, Guitar World, UltimateGuitar.com and ReverbNation.com in a global search to give the next best undiscovered guitarist a chance to perform live on stage at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 at Madison Square Garden on April 12th-13th.

Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013, presented by Chase, draws thousands of fans from around the world to witness live performances from legendary guitar players. Past festivals have included memorable sets by Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, ZZ Top and many more.

"Ernie Ball partnered with Eric and his foundation. They’re excited to find the next great guitar legend, and look forward to helping the winner grow and establish their career. They hope this opportunity acts as a massive springboard for the winning artist!"

Since January, unsigned musicians were invited to enter the Play Crossroads contest for free at www.playcrossroads.com by completing a short informational profile and uploading one MP3. Entrants were encouraged to use ReverbNation’s promotional toolkit provided on each band/artist profile, to promote their entry all over the web and drive traffic to their profile.

The winning artist will earn the opportunity to perform live on the Madison Square Garden Stage (the world's most famous arena) at Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013, presented by Chase, in front of thousands of fans.

Prize pack for the winning artist also includes:
Performance Slot at the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 at the world-renowned Madison Square Garden.
Ernie Ball String Package and Endorsement
Ernie Ball Music Man Guitar Endorsement
Guitar Player Magazine Feature

For the next few days, you can give your buzz support for the artists who have submitted their music in the contest. This will be an amazing career boost to whoever wins.

Additionally, Ernie Ball has partnered up with The Crossroads At Antigua Foundation to release a limited edition Eric Clapton Crossroads Collection Guitar Straps, available exclusively at Guitar Center, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the charity. Inspired by the iconic design style of European automobile manufacturers, Ernie Ball's Crossroads Collection Straps feature premium Italian leather and hand-stitched threading for maximum appeal. Putting a primary on performance and comfort, these straps also feature a thin layer of padding and and an ultra-rich suede back. These limited edition straps are a must have for any Clapton aficionado, or any guitar player seeking a high-quality strap that's built to last. These are pricey but some of the proceeds are going to the Crossroads At Antigua Foundation.

As far as ticket prices to Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival 2013 NYC goes. as of today, the lowest price ticket to the Crossroads Guitar Festival was $331 and the top was $80,113 for an 18 person suite on the madison level. Of course, the closer the concert gets, the less accurate the aforementioned will become.

For More Information:
http://www.playcrossroads.com/
http://www.ernieball.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ernieballinc
https://twitter.com/ernieball
http://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsGuitarFest

Now, let's move on to the Take Note segment
Take Note:
My take note topic this week is tone and your voice - not your singing voice, but the voice of the instrument or instruments you play. As an instructor, I’m frequently reminding students to listen to the music they play and asking them how what they play sounds. I don’t only mean are the notes correct or is the rhythm right. It’s a bigger issue than those things. THEY are a given. Your voice is how you play, what you play, what it sounds like, and what other people hear when you play. For the same guitarist, it can be different from genre to genre and from axe to axe. I know I don’t play my nylon string guitar the way I play any others. It has its own voice and attitude and style. Likewise my other guitars. There are techniques every guitarist should learn and master, depending upon the genre or genres they play. Then what? What’s the point all the speed and stretch and fine technique, control and rhythm? Is it for its own sake? Of course not. I want to ask you to think about your sound or if you’re a guitarist in progress, the sound you aspire to command. Notice, I didn’t say, the sound you want to have. YOU are in control of your sound. It shouldn’t be the other way around and it shouldn’t be that your sound controls you --- especially it shouldn’t be that IT limits YOU. What’s that voice? What’s YOUR voice?

I submit for your consideration, 2 video interviews that Paul Reed Smith did over the past few months. They aren’t long. Don’t listen to the guitarists in the videos, with competition or comparison in your mind. Listen to how they talk about the sound or voice with which they now play and how those sounds evolved. Take a few minutes to watch and listen to these guitarists from varied genres talk about the “voice” of their music and how it came to be. The links will be on the show notes page and the blog, which is guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

One is Paul Reed Smith having a conversation with Carlos Santana, Warren Haynes, Dereck Trucks
http://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/news/story/foundations_a_conversation_with_carlos_santana_warren_haynes_derek_trucks_a

The other is Paul Reed Smith having a conversation with Martin Simpson, Tony McManus, Ricky Skaggs and Cody Kilby
http://www.prsguitars.com/news/story/foundations_part_ii_a_conversation_on_tone

Don’t turn a deaf ear to the musicians who are not from your preferred genre. THEY are the most important for you to listen to. It’s not in your best musical interest to only listen to your personal guitar heroes. Actually, it’s in your best musical interest to listen to everyone except them. You should also listen to instrumentalists who aren’t guitarists. That’s what will broaden you.

Your voice as a musician, whether recreational or pro, is the most important thing, once you have emerged past being a beginner. Think about it and appropriate it.

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Outro
I hope my pink DR NEONs arrive soon. I’m really in the mood. If they do, I may even go for a haircut.
I hope the Spotlight will regain its glow next week.
You’ve got to make a completely fresh start, to fix bad technique. That’s why I always caution you to learn and perfect each element of your technique thoroughly - learn to play correctly the first time.
Vote your Buzz Support for the artists contending for the Play Crossroads 2013 opportunity of a lifetime.
Articulate your voice fully. If you don’t have a voice, it’s time to find it.

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity.

You can follow me on the Guitar Technique Tutor blog on blogger or on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting.
http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, practice and until next time, I'm , D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 096: Slow Down!

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:07:25 -0500

How was your week? We had about 12 or 14 inches of snow last week, when I didn’t podcast. During this week we had a couple more inches. I love it when it’s newly fallen, but once it’s dirty, yuck!!

I skipped a podcast last week just because there was so much life stuff to which I had to attend, that I couldn’t record and syndicate a show without neglecting something that needed urgent attention. For the time being, I’m going to try to maintain the weekly show schedule, but it may become necessary to record every other week. We’ll see how things develop. Right now, I’m planning to record Episode 097 next week.

I want to say Hi to Thanh, a prospective new student with whom I will consult tomorrow. He may be joining my schedule this or next week. He already has a guitar and it sounds like he’s an eager student.

Thanks to her dad, Steve, LeighAnn finally got her appropriately sized guitar, and what a comfort difference it makes for her. Although she has spent half the week in NC, I expect her improvement with the new guitar will be meteoric.

No, no NEON DRs yet, but I think they’re coming soon.

http://www.drstrings.com/#!Neon/chts

If you don’t already read the Guitar Technique Tutor blog or subscribe to it, you might want to. From time to time there will be info there that won’t make it to the podcast and I’m intending it to be the home of most if not all of the show notes. I’m trying to blog, even if a short post, whenever there is anything to mention. I also Tweet it, but I think more people read blogs than follow people on Twitter. One of the disappointments of last week was that I received an email from the Mahwah Museum that the Gibson Bus was going to be there, again, in March. Of course I tweeted and made a blog post about it. A few days later, I received an email to the effect that the Bus was no longer scheduled to visit the Museum because the Lady Gaga tour had been cancelled and I surmise the bus’s visit was linked to that schedule. So, I posted and tweeted that too. If you only received the first part, be advised that it’s Lady Gaga’s fault that the bus will not be in Mahwah in March …. or at least that’s the schedule at this point.

http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/guitartechnique

I’m going to continuously post the link for Sandy NJ Relief Fund. It’s the non-profit that will see that your donation, should you choose to make one, will reach NJ survivors. Thank you if you have donated money, time, your talent, prayer or any other way you have attempted to help with the staggering losses, here in NJ. I can’t even begin to describe it. My experience with major disasters like this is that as soon as they aren’t in the daily or weekly headlines, they are innocently forgotten by those not affected. I don’t mean to be annoying, but the very least I can do is mention it.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://sandynjrelieffund.org/go.cfm?do=Press.List
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjMkvZ4_io

Remember, if you live in or will be traveling to the NY metro area, that the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ is open for visitors from 1 - 5 Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it. If there are still openings and you call to reserve a time, you can play one of Les’s guitars.

While we’re on the subject of Les Paul, check out the wonderful tribute Lou Pallo, the Les Paul Trio and friends have created in Thank You, Les.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

This week there are 3 students in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is, Why do I have to play slowly?, News is about extremely limited edition Pro Customs by our friends at Fender and my Take Note segment is about guitars that are meant to be played, not DISplayed.

Question of the Week

This week's question is: What’s the benefit of playing slowly when I can play fast? Does that sound like a question from a young student? Well, this week it was from a “mature” student.

There are a few benefits to playing slowly, aside from satisfying your teacher’s perverse desire to torture you.

First and foremost, I’d say playing slowly allows you some time to formulate exactly how you’re going to play. By that I mean, if you have some picking options (finger or plectrum), when you’re working through slowly, you can actually allow your training or intuitive sense to guide your choice or choices. At that juncture, if you’ve made a decision about picking or phrasing or where you will play a section on the fingerboard, make a conscious note and DO NOT DEVIATE from your decision, once you’ve made it. Practicing consistently is imperative to mastering anything.

Secondly, don’t try to speed your way through esoteric or tricky rhythms. The faster you play, the less rhythmic errors can be heard. I can imagine some of you reasoning, what’s so bad about that, if my errors are less obvious? That’s the wrong question. If you have a flaw in any part of your playing, it will separate you from becoming the best guitarist you can be. Don’t sweep the dirt under the rug, get rid of it!!! Okay, so if the swung passage that’s interspersed with triplets always loses the emphasis of a down beat, slow it down. If the odd tuplets sound different every time you play them, and you still don’t have a clue how to really execute them, slow it down! If you always get caught in a particular part, don’t rush through, hoping just to get past it so you can relax - SLOW IT DOWN. Painstakingly work through it. (I chose that archaic word on purpose. It does take some pain to do it, but the reward exceeds it.) Realize, once you’ve overcome the hurdle and have conquered it slowly, increasing the speed will not be so difficult. Increasing the speed when it’s inconsistent or riddled with mistakes is what’s hard. But it pays - trust me.

There’s a third, much less obvious use for playing slowly. Once a week, take your speed studies down to 30 or 40 bpm. REALLY. The hidden benefits are 2: you will have to force your concentration. If you zone out, which some guitarists do when they’re playing exercises and studies, the speed you develop will not benefit you as much in an all-around sense, as if you can also play it slowly, with total control and focus. So that benefit is mostly mental and partly musical. The second benefit of playing very slowly through your studies is that it will exponentially increase your strength and endurance.

So, slow down when you’re in trouble, whether with a fingering, picking or rhythm. The reward will overcome the pains you take.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News

The news this week is about Fender’s Pro Custom Limited Editions:

PRO CUSTOM KINGMAN "C" ANTIGUA BURST
Model : 0960216021
$2,890.00MSRP
The stunning new limited edition Kingman C USA Antigua Burst cutaway dreadnought model resurrects Fender's classic and highly distinctive Antigua finish of the mid-1960s. Built in the United States by the skilled craftsmen of Fender's state-of-the-art workshop in New Hartford, Conn., it also boasts a solid Engelmann spruce top with forward-shifted scalloped X bracing and elegant checkerboard rosette, solid mahogany back and sides, and aged white neck and body binding. This special model presents the original Antigua finish, which was a "burst"-type finish that graduated from brown to off-white.

Other premium features include a one-piece maple neck with a vintage-style "C"-shaped profile and Stratocaster® headstock, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with 9" radius and comfortably rolled edges, rosewood bridge with bone saddle and black-dot bone pins, Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity pickup/preamp system with volume and tone controls, and lacquer finish. Special limited edition run of 75 instruments.

PRO CUSTOM KINGMAN™ "C"
Model : 0960213
2,660.00MSRP
With a nod to the Fender Custom Shop in California, the new limited edition U.S.A. Select Kingman C dreadnought is a wonder to behold-let alone play-with beautifully resonant tone and beautifully elegant design distinguished by a Fiesta Red gloss finish, aged white body and neck binding, and vintage-style appointments.
Premium features include a solid Engelmann spruce top with forward-shifting scalloped X bracing and solid mahogany back and sides for unbelievably rich tone; vintage C-shaped maple neck with rolled edges, dual-action truss rod and Stratocaster® headstock shape; 9”-radius rosewood fingerboard with bone nut and 20 frets, stylish checkerboard rosette and three-ply pickguard (white-black-white); rosewood bridge with black-dot bone pins and bone saddle; vintage-style nickel tuners and hardware; and Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity electronics for crystal-clear amplified sound. Accessories include shaped deluxe hardshell Tolex case, deluxe leather strap and certificate of authenticity. Limited to 150 instruments.

PRO CUSTOM NEWPORTER™
Model : 0960215021
$3,100.00MSRP
The Newporter is back! Limited Edition to 150 pieces worldwide, the Newporter is an all solid mahogany orhestra shape body tone machine that will have you reminsicing about the fun and sun '60's fender acoustics but built in our New Hartford workshop with stunning detail and craftsmanship. Other features include, gold pickguard, "viking" style bridge, lacquer finish, Fishman pickup system, and maple neck with Stratocaster® headstock.

PRO CUSTOM CLASSIC KOA AUDITORIUM CUTAWAY
Model : 0960214
$3,899.99MSRP
Fender is proud to introduce the new limited-edition U.S.A. Select Classic Koa Auditorium Cutaway - a U.S.-made, finely crafted auditorium-style acoustic with a tropical touch that produces the tonal characteristics of a dreadnought in a model with a smaller cutaway body.
Ideal for flatpickers, the guitar’s top, back and sides are beautifully fashioned from solid “AA”-grade Hawaiian koa with a gloss lacquer finish for bright, responsive and dynamic tone. Other features include scalloped X bracing, aged Ivoroid neck and body binding, abalone rosette, mahogany neck with soft "V" shape and dual-action truss rod, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with bone nut and block inlays, ebony bridge with bone saddle, bone bridge pins with abalone dots, gold hardware and tuners, and Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity pickup and electronics. Limited-edition series of 150 instruments.

These are big, beautiful guitars. If your local guitar store gets any of these exclusive instruments, and you’re in the market for something in this price range, I’d get out to play one quickly. With the small numbers for each of the models I mentioned, they will not last long.

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-kingman-c-antigua-burst/

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-kingman-c/

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-newporter/

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-classic-koa-auditorium-cutaway/

Take Note:
This week, the Take Note is 2 Save-the-Dates:

Play a Les Paul Guitar Night will be held on Wednesday February 27

Les Paul felt that a guitar should be played, not displayed on a shelf.

On February 27, the Museum is making some of the guitars in the Les Paul exhibit available to be held and played. Guitar lovers and Les Paul fans will have a chance to play some of very special guitars once owned and played by Les. Among these guitars is a 1969 Les Paul Custom G-2 made especially for Les by Gibson, and a 1975 custom Heritage 3 experimental prototype Gibson made for Les and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Also available is a 1950 Gibson Solid Body guitar with the first "Les Paulverizer" that Les built. A custom guitar, one of only three, made by Gibson to honor the first responders of Sept 11, 2001 on its 10th anniversary is also available to play.

Four time slots available:
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00PM
9:00 PM

By appointment only. 45 minutes per sessions. $25 per musician Maximum of 5 musicians per session. Maximum audience of 5 at $5 each admission.

Sign up for one session only. First come, first served. No appointment is confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.

Also, save the date, March 12, 2013 for:

LOU PALLO
Gallery Talk At The Mahwah Museum
Tuesday March 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Mahwah Museum

A founding member of the Les Paul Trio, Lou Pallo first met Les Paul in 1963 and began performing and recording with him almost immediately. Their relationship, both personal and professional, continued until Les's death in 2009. They played together as a duo and a trio weekly for many years at Fat Tuesdays and the Irridium in New York City. For the past two years, Lou has performed in the Les Paul Trio Benefit Concert at Ramapo College, and also at the Les Paul 97th Birthday Gala.

As a tribute to his good friend, Lou recently spearheaded a new CD "Thank You Les: A Tribute to Les Paul," which features Lou, Bucky Pizzarelli and many other music legends, many who were mentored and encouraged by Les. Lou Pallo also produced and performed on the CD "Jersey Guitar Mafia." Lou will play, share his memories of Les and talk about the making of his new CD, which will be available for purchase and can be autographed after the talk.

The Gallery talk will take place in the upstairs gallery of the Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike. Admission is $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. Seating is limited, so please reserve early.

You can purchase tickets by credit card or PayPal on the museum’s web site or by check, if you mail it to the museum.

This program and others at the Museum are part of the exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute” which continues through June 2013. The Museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa

Outro
Too bad the Gibson Bus’s stop at the Mahwah Museum, site of the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit, because of Lady Gaga’s tour plans. Bummer.

I’ll let you know if Thanh and I begin to work together.

I’ll also let you know if the NEON DRs make it to my guitar this week.

Sandy NJ Relief Fund will see that any donation you make will get to the needy New Jerseyites who are still living with the November storm’s devastation. Thanks for anything you have done or will do. We appreciate it.

Congrats to my A, B, C Arno, Bridget and Clairie. There are multiple reasons to slow down your playing: to choose an optional picking, fingering or fingerboard location; to perfect rhythm or correct errors; and to build focus, concentration, endurance and strength. Fender’s Pro Custom limited editions are pricey but nice. Play some of Les Paul’s guitars at the end of February. He would want them played, not DISplayed. Save the Date of March 12 to attend a Gallery Talk by guitarist extraordinaire, Lou Pallo.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. Please note, like my email address, there’s no Tutor in the Twitter user name. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me, tweet new blog post notifications and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page, the podcast page of my web site, and on the Guitar Technique Tutor blog you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast and/or show notes. I’m still refining these options. Your best bet for the podcast is iTunes and the blog will have show notes plus other posts. It’s still in a bit of flux.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, and until next time, I'm D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 095: NAMM Headliners and More

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:26:19 -0500

Intro

How was your week?

My DRs are still holding up but barely. I’m thinking of spring and thinking of strings and thinking maybe K3 coated DRs in a neon color may be just what the season warrants. I already use multiple colors of nail polish on the same hand because I love color -- why not add it to one of all of my axes? Hmm. I really have to consider that before the next string change. Maybe NEON pink or green. Not that i have anything against yellow or orange.

If you’re not aware of DR’s SuperStrings with amazing K3 coating, which is also on their Dragon Skin strings, you should check them out.

http://www.drstrings.com/#!Neon/chts

LeighAnn and I had a great first lessons. She was a bit apprehensive because of her less than desirable experience for several years with a piano teacher, who in my humble opinion, should never have been paid. It went smoothly and she did well, although her too-big dreadnaught was problematic. I hope it will be exchanged for a guitar that fits her small frame.

This little reminder is for my student Anya, who has suspended lessons because her schedule is too inhuman: Today is 69 days until Coachella 2013. I hope you’ll go!

Hi to Cody, with whom I’m still in discussion about the possibility of guitar lessons. There’s a scheduling issue at home and we may or may not get together. He’s in high school and I’m impressed with his maturity. If you or Cody are looking for guitar instruction, and for geographic or other reasons we cannot work together, please explore the Find a Teacher link on my web site. It is not a director of instructors, but rather the questions you should pose to potential teachers, in order to cull out the ones whose competence should be questioned.

I had a call from someone who has been self-taught for 2 years, who wanted to improve her tab reading. Needless to say, we had a long conversation. I think she opened her mind to the necessity for a skilled musician to master reading, writing and playing music notation. Unfortunately, she is a bit too far away for me to teach. I directed her to the Find a Teacher link as well.

News was pouring in all week from winter NAMM. It looks like it was amazing, as usual. Do you follow them on TW or FB? If so, your smart phone may have pinged you all week. Did you see anything novel or interesting? I did.

We saw a former student of mine this week. It’s been about a year since we got together. He’s finishing up his PhD in Michigan but was in NYC to see friends and have some interviews and had lunch with us on Friday, on his way to see his family. He hadn’t been here since before Superstorm Sandy. We told him that his neighborhood has likely been scarred by the storm.

Our municipal pool parking lot, which is rather sizable, has been used as a fallen tree cemetery and a site for them to be cut and fed into the most enormous wood chipper I’ve ever seen. I took a few photos of the work that was still ongoing this week - 3 months after the storm. This week I’m adding the link for Sandy NJ Relief Fund. It’s a non-profit that will see that your donation, should you choose to make one, will reach the survivors.
Thank you if you have donated money, time, your talent, prayer or any other way you have attempted to help with the staggering losses, here in NJ.

http://sandynjrelieffund.org/
http://sandynjrelieffund.org/go.cfm?do=Press.List
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjMkvZ4_io

Remember, if you live in or will be traveling to the NY metro area, that the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ is open for visitors from 1 - 5 Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it. If there are still openings and you call to reserve a time, you can play one of Les’s guitars.

While we’re on the subject of Les Paul, check out the wonderful tribute Lou Pallo, the Les Paul Trio and friends have created in Thank You, Les.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

Raptor Picks USA

Congratulations to Timothy Ignatius Schnieders, the most recent winner of a free Raptor!

Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
To be eligible to winner of a free Raptor, like the Raptor Picks USA FB page at
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
https://www.facebook.com/RaptorPicksUsa
https://twitter.com/RaptorPicksUSA

Student Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Clairie and Danielle. They both played amazingly this week. Clairie’s a beginner and what I’m so pleased with is that she’s playing aggressively. Aggressively, not crudely. There’s a difference in an unskilled, uncontrolled, loud attack and confident aggressive playing. Go Clairie!!!

For all the years I have taught, one of my goals was to have my female students, not “play like girls.” My former students who still play years after we have worked together, whether musicians by profession or avocation, get such a chuckle when they hear my say that, but I find few things as irritating as hearing a woman play the guitar weakly. Confidence assertiveness is an asset in any musician. Of course, the best know and understand the intent of the music’s composer, comprehend appropriate dynamics and use them or reverse them for emphasis and play with passion, whether it’s a speed study or a technical mine field.

Danielle had a look on her face of great gratification during her lesson. She seamlessly moved between unmemorized music that she had to read, and each one was played in a different position. Heretofore, she required more processing time to do so. She was just beaming. I was pleased, too. Nice work.

Kudos to Clairie this week. She has all the early earmarks of becoming an excellent guitarist. Kudos to Danielle. Stretch your brain, it won’t break and you’ll be able to do more and more with knowledge and confidence.

Another week the ladies wiped the floor with the dudes.

Question

This week's question came from a beginner guitarist who is not one of my students, but I frequently hear it. Did it take you a long time to fill-in-the-blank?

The most recent iteration was did it take you a long time to be able to play your first bar chord? What’s wrong with that question and how do you answer it? (If you listen to this podcast and you teach, I will tell you that the fastest way to bleed students out of your schedule is to brag about your adeptness.) At first blush, it’s a flattering question, especially if you were one of the rare guitarists who didn’t find any technique too challenging. It seems to convey that a student is trying to be like you. I always deflect that kind of question because the truth is, it doesn’t matter how I found a technique to master. What matters is that my student recognizes my good counsel and ability to get them where they want and need to go. These questions are always posed by players who think they’re struggling. I say think because some techniques just take a while to gain the muscle control to execute. Some burgeoning guitarist think that because they can play a bit, everything should come easily to them. They also think that if they really really REALLY want to do it, somehow that’s going to translate into physical accomplishment. It eventually does, if it’s accompanied by application, focus and repetition until the desired result is achieved. Too often a student thinks they’re struggling because they have to work on something. Too often they’re looking to justify the lethargy that sometimes arises when a challenging task arises, and they can justify it if someone tells them it took them a long time to master the technique in question.

There’s a fine line between a student applying themselves to the clean execution of bar chords (or any other technique that requires special coordination) and persevering until they are mastered and them feeling like they’re uselessly banging their heads (or fingers) against the wall, trying to do something that is a lost cause.

Whether you’re a player or teacher that a novice guitarist asks, DEFLECT, DEFLECT, DEFLECT. It’s not about you and your triumphs or struggles. It’s about inspiring them and showing them how to accomplish it.

If you’re a beginner or intermediate guitarist - don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone learns and achieves differently. I know that when everyone is so obsessed with knowing what everyone else is doing/thinks/feels etc. via social media every moment of the day, it may fall on deaf ears when I urge you not to compare yourself with anyone, but DON’T. That’s a sure road to imbalanced self-assessment. Rather, be diligent. That’s the answer to everything that revolves around physical technique.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

And just for the record, I’m very blessed with dexterous fingers on both hands.

News

In the news this week is the list of Best in Show at Winter NAMM 2013. This is NAMM’s list, not mine, as I didn’t attend, but I think there are some products and companies on the list that warrant a guitarist’s attention.

http://www.namm.org/

Music Nomad Equipment Care, which includes a group of products for cleaning and protecting instruments.

http://www.musicnomadcare.com/

Ernie Ball M-Steel Strings which will hit store shelves mid-summer, which are made of a defense grade alloy that provides more strength and break-resistance than traditional plain strings. They also slip less and are reported to stay in tune better than plain traditional strings.
http://www.ernieball.com/.
http://youtu.be/NL8kCrnBfAc

Peavey VIP Vypyr Modeling Amps
JMusic and audio innovator Peavey Electronics introduces a new generation of modeling amplifiers today with the Vypyr® VIP series, the world’s first Variable Instrument Performance™ amplifiers. After the award-winning original Peavey Vypyr series set the new standard for modeling guitar amplifiers, the Vypyr VIP series introduces an entirely new level of technological sophistication and tonal versatility.

With the Vypyr VIP series, Peavey introduces the world’s first amp that contains Bass guitar, Acoustic guitar and Electric guitar amplifier models. With Peavey’s Variable Instrument Input™, a single amp can provide amplification for a variety of instrument types.

Not only does the amplifier morph from a bass amp, to an acoustic amp, to an electric amp, it also allows the electric guitar player access to instrument models as well -- another Peavey first! The Vypyr VIP’s astonishingly realistic instrument simulations allow users to manipulate the sound of their electric guitar to mimic an acoustic guitar, a bass, a 12-string guitar, and more!

As an aside, if you recall the vintage sounding new Martin guitars I discussed in this podcast, I think, last spring. This technology of modeling sound digitally is quite the rage with manufacturers. It’s something to keep your eye on if you play anything electric.

http://www.peavey.com/news/index.cfm/id/714/Peavey%20Debuts%20New
I don’t know about happy coincidences, but if you recall last week, before NAMM got going, I mentioned the Grand Orchestra series from our good friends at Taylor. Well, I’m pleased to read that the NAMM gang named the Taylor Grand Orchestra the Best in Show guitar at Winter NAMM. Congratulations, Bob and the whole staff at Taylor. I love innovation that makes a difference. Taylor has successfully done so in their big, beautiful, powerfully projecting Grand Orchestra. If you can handle a guitar this big, you’ve go to play one.

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/features/shapes/grand-orchestra

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/918e

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/618e

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/518e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Izz719mhhWk&list=PLIa-kz_oNaiTUVDRK6Uq1U9aDUSXurj-K

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is about the tack older guitarists need to take, to accomplish the elasticity and stretch needed to develop and grow into a competent player.

I have a group of students who are over 30. Some are just a little over 30 and some haven’t seen 30 for quite a while. None of them played when they were younger. The challenge for these guitar heroes is for their fingers to stretch and yet still exert downward pressure with control. Speed is also a challenge for some of them. So, aside from some glucosamine and condroitin, if they have any form of arthritis, how can you make mature hands do what even young lithe hands are challenged by?

My hands are over 30 but I haven’t stopped playing for any considerable time, so they are still strong and stretch quite well. I don’t play as hard and long as when I was in my 20’s, because I don’t want to sustain any injury. Several of my guitarist peers are plagued with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The best thing I have found for strengthening and increasing speed are a collection of scale studies that are now out of print. Any carefully chosen exercises will do. Choose them by the kind of movement they require. A traditional 2nd position, 2 octave G scale may be fine for developing some speed, but the same scale doesn’t offer much to help non-elastic fingers stretch more. For that a scale that requires a fret skip between the 1st and second finger notes, or the 2nd and 3rd or 3rd and 4th. Currently Arno and Gary are playing a particular scale that will assist in the stretch-factor. When you are working on that aspect of your physical development and dexterity, be careful to play legato. It will be harder, but therein is the gain and the stretch. So if you play, for example an F on the 6th string, 1st fret with your 1st finger, CONTINUE TO HOLD IT DOWN as you stretch to reach the G on that string with your 2nd finger. If you lift that first finger to play G with your 2nd finger, the exercise is useless for you purpose. Think about what your goal is. If you don’t have an instructor who can and should guide you, analyze where your technique is lacking and find the exercises (often in variations of scale studies - which are also great for your ears) that will yield the desired result for you. If you don’t have an instructor, have a guitarist friend who is more accomplished than you are, watch you execute the study or studies, so they can tell you if your hand position or the angle of your fingers needs to be modified for best results.

That wraps up this week's segments of episode _095____. Following a short word from my sponsor, Raptor Picks USA, we’ll move along to the Outro and wrap this baby up.

Raptor Picks USA
Is your Valentine a guitar player? If so, say, “I love you,” with a handful of beautiful, red Raptor guitar picks.

No matter where I go, when I show guitarists the Genuine R Series Raptor Pick, the ones with vision immediately comprehend that it’s not just another novelty pick that’s going to end up somewhere with all the other weird picks they have tried or people have given them. They try it, they utter a soft “hmmm” and they keep playing. And playing and playing. Most of them tell me they expected it to feel weird but it’s comfortable and just feels different. When I ask them what they think, they say they want it and ask where they can get one.

The 3 uniquely and specifically engineered picking tips on the Raptor entice a guitarist to think about and explore the full range of sound qualities they can create with it. The unique beveling of the molded acrylic pick offer amazingly silent attack.

The Raptor R Series pick is destined to become a pivotal tool for creative guitarists. Personally, I haven’t played with anything but a Raptor R Series since the very first time I touched one and I don’t think your recipient will be disappointed when they try it.

If you order by Friday, February 8, regular mail should get Raptors anywhere in the continental US by Valentine’s Day. Saturday the 9th is iffy, but likely, too.

Get some today for the guitarist in your life, or for you at RaptorPicksUSA.com Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
Superstorm Sandy relief is still ongoing. Thanks for anything you have or can do.
There may be pink or green NEON DRs in my future. I’m not sure, but it sure would make it feel like spring is on its way.
Excellent work, Clairie and Danielle.
Don’t compare your progress as a beginner guitarist to anyone: not your teacher, your friend or anyone on YouTube. Apply yourself and you will master the technique that alludes you.
NAMM’s Best in Show list is interesting. Check out what they thought were notable products.
Legato scale studies and their variations are extremely profitable for the less-elastic hands that didn’t play guitar prior to being 30 or over. LEGATO means no “space” or “air” between the notes. One glides right into the next. It’s accomplished ascending by not lifting a finger until after the next note is played. Descending, it’s accomplished by having the next note’s finger in position before the finger of the current note is released.
69 days until Coachella, Anya.
Humidify if your guitar is in an environment with less than 40% humidity.
Gordon emailed that he recognized the music behind last week’s outro as “extremely apropos.” For that, Gordon will be receiving a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick. I’m glad someone is hip to what I’m doing.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. 9n http://www.guitartechniquetutor.com/contact.php ) If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, and until next time, I'm D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 094: Back to "Normal"

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:57:34 -0500

Intro
How was your week? Mine was great despite the single digit temps or wind chills all week. Man, it was cold!!

E-Rex’s last day of radiation was Monday. It was a joy. He rang the ship’s bell 3 times as is the tradition at that cancer treatment center, when a guy finishes his course of treatment. I took a photo and a video. Then, a former student who has become like a daughter to us, took us out to breakfast, which was extra delicious in light of the celebration.

It’s been less than a week, as of my recording this show, and already it feels like life is returning to “normal.” That isn’t to say I’m lying around munching bonbons, which doesn’t sound half bad, but that the mental distraction and I guess some attendant depression has been vanquished. I’m so glad.

There are 4 students in this week’s Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is from one of my students and is about constructing dominant 7 chords, News is about Taylor’s new Grand Orchestra body shape instruments, and Take Note is Used Gear, an Economic Indicator?

I want to welcome LeighAnn to my schedule. We had a consultation last week and our first lesson is going to be Tuesday. Here’s another “guitar fit” reminder. She received a guitar for Christmas that was a greatly desired gift and a surprise. The bigger surprise is that although it’s a lovely axe, it’s too big for her. So, we’re exploring the possibility of exchanging it. Don’t forget to consider the size of the player for whom you’re buying a guitar, if they aren’t with you at a guitar shop or haven’t played any prior to you ordering one online. It’s not the best idea to buy a dreadnought body shape/size guitar for a petite woman. Case in point: Leeann and my student Shira. Her too-big guitar issue will be solved in the next month or so. She will be getting a nice parlor sized acoustic electric that will fit her and that she will enjoy playing much more than the dreadnought with which she’s bearing since she began playing.

Now that I’m functioning a bit better I have re-thought the show notes page for this podcast. I am going to move them to a blog, called, what else? Guitar Technique Tutor. You’ll find links to what I talk about and I will link to show archives etc. This will be a work in progress for the coming week or 2. I will link it to a Google+ network as well as the current GuitarTechniqueTutor on Twitter and I’m going to try to make a separate FB page which will also have the show notes. Right now I have a personal FB page, which I’d like to keep separate from Guitar Technique Tutor. That’s going to require some fiddling around so the changes or upgrades I’m mentioning today will likely take some weeks. I’ll keep you posted.

The honeymoon period of my latest DR string change has not yet waned, but I can tell in another week or 2 I’m going to be jonesin’ again. I just love them - especially when they’re fresh. No matter what kind of ace you have, if you haven’t tried DR strings, you should.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ if you’re going to be in the New York metro area. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it. Visitors are welcome Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5.

While we’re on the subject of Les Paul, don’t overlook Lou Pallo and the Les Paul Trio and friends’ extraordinary homage, Thank You, Les.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

Raptor Picks USA
Is your Valentine a guitar player? If so, say, “I love you,” with a handful of beautiful, red Raptor guitar picks.

No matter where I go, when I show guitarists the Genuine R Series Raptor Pick, the ones with vision immediately comprehend that it’s not just another novelty pick that’s going to end up somewhere with all the other weird picks they have accumulated. They try it, they utter a soft “hmmm” and they keep playing. And playing and playing. Most of them tell me they expected it to feel weird but it’s comfortable and just feels different. When I ask them what they think, they say they want it and ask where they can get one.

I don’t know a guitarist alive that isn’t looking for fresh inspiration. The 3 uniquely and specifically engineered picking tips on the Raptor entice a guitarist to think about and explore the full range of sound qualities they can create with it. The unique beveling of the molded acrylic pick offer amazingly silent attack.

The Raptor R Series pick is destined to become a pivotal tool for creative guitarists. Personally, I haven’t played with anything but a Raptor R Series since the very first time I touched one and I don’t think they’ll be disappointed when you try it.

Get some today for the guitarist in your life, or for you at RaptorPicksUSA.com Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com

Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Student Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Bridget, Danielle, Lani and Shira. Lani for 2 weeks ago, not this past week. Yes, Lani was on fire 2 weeks ago, but then, the Spotlight was quenched. Bridget, Danielle and Shira are doing fabulously. Keep up the excellent work, Dudettes.

Lani gets lost in other activities and forgets to practice. If that’s you, use an app, make a list with little check boxes for each day, put it on your TDL or whatever you need to do, in order to keep the appointment with your guitar. It takes about 28 days to make a habit. After that, you should be in a routine of practicing. So, make it a habit!!

Question of the Week

This week's question, again came from a student who’s in high school. She has an unusual way of processing information, sometimes creating more steps of reason than is really necessary. Her music theory midterm was impending. It was going to include tempi terms, like allegretto, andante and that whole milieu, interval dictation and some general theory. Among other things, she wanted a way to quickly know the spelling of dominant 7 chords. If you aren’t a walking chord encyclopedia, or don’t know all the 7 chords of the universe, this may help you, too. I took her to the circle of 5ths. That always evokes kudos from both of us on the magnitude of Pythagorus’s genius. If you know the circle of 5ths, here’s a tip for building a dominant 7 chords and being certain it’s not mistakenly a major 7 nor minor 7 one (if you cannot distinguish by sound, or you have to take a written test without the use of an instrument): The dominant 7 chord belongs to the key a 5th below (one position counter clockwise) hence the term “dominant 7.” The key signature of the key a 5th below is the key signature that applies to the spelling of the dominant 7 chord notes. If you know the circle of 5ths or can spend some time with it, this will prevent you from using the incorrect 7.

Here’s a brief example: so let’s say you need to determine the notes contained in an A-flat 7 chord. If you remember or look at the circle of 5th, they key immediately counter clockwise from A-flat is D-flat. An A-flat 7 chord should be spelled A-flat, C, E-flat, G-flat. Not G natural. The G-flat is part of D-flat’s key signature and therefore is the 7 in the A-flat 7 chord.

There are plenty of other ways to make the same determination, but my student wanted a circle of 5ths aided one because she knows and loves the circle of 5ths and the wealth of information contained therein.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News

In the news this week is a new body shape from Taylor

Grand Orchestra (GO)
Body Length: 20-5/8" / Body Width: 16-3/4" / Body Depth: 5"
Taylor's biggest, most complex voice is also balanced and responsive.

Taylor's biggest body shape blends power, detail and balance across the tonal spectrum.
• Taylor’s most powerful, complex voice
• Incredibly balanced for a big-bodied guitar
• Specially braced to be responsive to a dynamic attack

The newest shape to join the Taylor family unleashes the boldest, richest voice available in a Taylor guitar. Just as the Grand Symphony yields a deeper, more powerful voice than the Grand Auditorium, the Grand Orchestra stands out as a more robust alternative to the Grand Symphony. The GO shape features a slightly bigger footprint and a deeper body, which helps produce a potent low-end response. Under the hood, a new bracing scheme optimizes the movement of the soundboard to produce louder, more complex tone with incredible sustain. What separates the Grand Orchestra from other big-bodied guitars is how balanced the tone is from top to bottom, especially given its brawny bass. And unlike other big-body guitars that require an aggressive attack to get the top moving, the GO is responsive to a light touch, rewarding players who have a dynamic playing style. If you crave a guitar sound that’s brimming with power and rich detail, the Grand Orchestra won’t disappoint. From big cowboy chords to lush fingerstyle arrangements, the Grand Orchestra might be the most expressive and versatile big guitar you ever play. Just don’t forget, it’s not for petite peeps.
These are beauties:
First up the 918e
Indian rosewood’s high-fidelity voice covers an extended musical spectrum that ranges from a deep throaty growl to clear, sparkling trebles. Paired with the Grand Orchestra shape, the tonal power and overtones produce a level of complexity that serves up a feast for the ears. First Edition models feature several additional premium touches: AA-grade Indian rosewood back and sides, a Sitka spruce top braced with Adirondack spruce (which helps yield extra sonic horsepower), a custom label, and a case emblazoned with a customized First Edition nameplate. Our 900 Series appointments include the elegant Cindy inlay scheme with Expression System® electronics.
list $5658.00 street $4149.00

Then there’s the 618e
While maple is known for its bright tone and fast decay, the Grand Orchestra design enriches maple’s natural tonal palette to produce a full-bodied voice with impressive sustain. Big Leaf maple is paired with a Sitka spruce top featuring a new bracing scheme, which adds responsiveness to the powerful output. A limited batch of First Edition models also boasts several premium features: AA-grade maple, a three-piece back, Adirondack spruce bracing for a tonal turbo boost, and a Twisted Oval headstock inlay to match the fretboard inlays. First Edition models also feature a custom label and come in a case with a customized First Edition nameplate.
list $3798.00 street $2849.00

And the 518e
On their 518e, the rich midrange of mahogany, together with the enhanced lows and highs that the Grand Orchestra shape produces, creates a big, round voice that blends power, warmth and complexity. This First Edition offering features premium-grade Tropical mahogany back and sides, a Sitka spruce top, side bracing, our standard 500 Series appointments with an additional Deco Diamond headstock inlay, and Expression System® electronics. First Edition models also feature a custom label and come in a case with a customized First Edition nameplate.
List $3518.00 street $2649.00

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/features/shapes/grand-orchestra

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/918e

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/618e

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/518e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Izz719mhhWk&list=PLIa-kz_oNaiTUVDRK6Uq1U9aDUSXurj-K

Now, let's move on to the Take Note segment

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is: Used Gear, an Economic Indicator?
I don’t know about you, but I get a lot of mail from guitar shops - both the independent local ones and national ones, too. In the past year I have noticed a lot more advertising of “used gear.” I know most shops buy guitars - in fact, that’s how I came to own one of mine. It’s a long story that I have probably already told on this podcast. I have a student who sold his guitar back to Guitar Center just a month or 2 ago.

I was thinking, when I received the last postcard pushing used gear from a guitar store, that although they’ve been dealing in used gear for several years, they hadn’t before advertised it so continuously. Maybe it’s an economic indicator. Are guitarists having to trade their guitars in to upgrade rather than having both? If so, is that because they aren’t able to stretch their cash far enough anymore? Is it that more guitarists are selling their axes for money and not replacing them? If so, is it because they are not getting jobs to play nor bread to pay their bills? What do you think? Maybe there’s just a large market of guitarists looking for lower prices and they’re open to axes someone’s owned before. In some cases, you get a better price AND a better instrument than if new. That may be it. Now that everyone with a smartphone scans barcodes where ever they are, to find the best price they can. Then, they either buy on the spot, go to somewhere else to buy, or they order online. Each used guitar or guitar gear item, is unique. It would be the exception rather than the rule that more than one seller of used gear might have the same guitar or whatever in the same condition as any other seller of used gear. That may be why it’s working well for the shops and the purchasers.

I keep thinking that it’s a harbinger of yet tighter financial times - but perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps it’s a way for the seller to be a bit less accountable in their pricing. I’m sure that in brick and mortar stores, there’s haggle room built into the prices.

I’ve only bought one used guitar. I wasn’t actively looking for it, but when it came to my attention, I snapped it up. I got a steal. I don’t know if everyone does that well.

That wraps up this week's segments of episode __094___. Following a short word from my sponsor, Raptor Picks USA, we’ll move along to the Outro and wrap this baby up.

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
Man it was cold in the NY metro area last week. I hope no one left their guitar in a cold car even if they had a climate case on it. E-Rex is a free man - no more radiation.
Les Paul was one of the great inventors and musicians of the 20th century. Learn more about him at the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ and listen to the musicians with whom he played, honor him in Thank You, Les.
Welcome LeighAnn.
Congrats to Bridget, Danielle, Lani and Shira. You go girls!
Use the circle of 5ths to be sure of your dominant 7 chord notes.
Our friends at Taylor have a big, beautiful Grand Orchestra body shape that may suit your desire for perfect balance of tone and booming projection.
Used gear might be an economic indicator or maybe it’s a way for sellers to work around barcode scanning customers.
Expect show notes to migrate to the show’s blog at http://www.guitartechniquetutor.blogspot.com I’ll keep you appraised of my progress making the switch from the podcast page on the web site. I’ll be doing a little more site overhauling, too.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

Practice, have a great week, practice and until next time, I'm D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 093: Yay! I Have a Voice!

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:55:34 -0500

(The show was recorded on January 7 but not syndicated until January 20. I expect to return to weekly shows next week - barring anything unforeseen.)
Happy New Year. How’ve you been for all these weeks that I couldn’t get behind the mic? If you looked at the show notes page of my web site, you will have found a brief update last week. I’m not dead, although last week I was sicker than I have ever been with a strange and brutal cold, courtesy of E-Rex, who had it Christmas week. I had a rare 2 weeks off from my teaching schedule and it was a total wipe out. E-Rex began getting sick the Saturday before Christmas and by the Thursday after, I couldn’t get out of bed.

Yes, Except for Christmas Eve day, when E-Rex couldn’t’ get out of bed, we kept his treatments appointments. Tomorrow, the 21st is the last treatment. We cannot wait. Thanks again, for all your prayers and kind emails of support for both of us. Over the past few weeks E-Rex had a frightening but not unexpected complication from the radiation. It has resolved itself and we just can’t wait to be done with this.

Thanks for any support you have or will contribute to my state of NJ, in whatever form it takes: financial, material, practical or whatever. The political machine lumbered forward last week to provide some much needed aid here. This isn’t a political podcast so I’m not going to comment other than, “thanks, but sooner would have been better.”

Do you know anyone who attended the 121212 concert?

How are my DRs? Fairly freshen all my guitar except one. They’re not in terrible shape, but I’d change them every 2 weeks if I were rolling in DRs. The one that’s awaiting a string change will have it this afternoon or evening - surely, before I retire tonight. I can’t wait because I love love love my DRs. The fresher the better. If you haven’t, you’ve got to try them.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ if you’ll be in the New York metro area. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it. Visitors are welcome Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5.

While we’re on the subject of Les Paul, don’t overlook Lou Pallo and the Les Paul Trio and friends’ extraordinary homage, Thank You, Les.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

Student Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight, the first of this new year 2013, are Aviv, Bridget and Danielle. After some time off for 2 weeks, they have come back strong and playing well. You go ladies! Each of you are doing excellently.

I have to take this time to say that although he wasn’t in the Student Spotlight this week, Arno gets a special mention for more cuteness in his house than anywhere on the planet. When I saw him last week, I also had a first look at the 8 week old sister pug puppies, Rosie the black one and Bella the fawn one. They are have a permanent place in the Spotlight for Cuteness - not that all the other dogs I see each week: Max and Ruby, the Yorkies, Holly, the Golden, Cody, the Golden, Kiren the Shiba Inu and Clairie’s Maltese who I will begin seeing tomorrow, aren’t cute - they are, but pug puppies?? Come on!

Students, Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year have come and gone. Now it’s time to stoke your 2013 playing mojo and close in on excellence. Put the focused time and and you will accomplish it.

Question

This week's question was from one of my students: We were playing through the chord progression of The A Team. (No, not the theme song from the old TV show, which some of my students thought The A Team was when they saw it in my stash of music. Rather the Ed Sheeran.) Not to far into it there’s a C add 9 chord. So, I posed the question, why don’t they just call it a C9 chord? To which my student answered, “Yeah, why don’t they just call it a C9 chord?”

Before I explain the answer, I want to suggest that what I am about to explain, is always true. However, not every music publisher has a grasp of the nuances of music theory, so you may see this C add 9 called C9 incorrectly or called C add D or called C2 or Csus2 (which could be correct or incorrect nomenclature, depending upon what chord precedes it) and so on. And if you download free tabs, it may have yet even another name or 2.

The chord that is required in The A Team is an open first string E, a D on the B string, open G, an E on the D string and a C on the A string. Although the music calls for a closed sixth string E, since there is an E in the chord, it could be played. The chord immediately before it is an Em7 with the D on the B string. For my taste, I’d probably call this C add 9 a Csus2. It just makes more musical sense to me but it isn’t utterly incorrect to call it a C add 9.

The general rule of chord nomenclature -- or at least correct chord nomenclature is to assign a number and sometimes a quality to any note in the chord that isn’t the 1st, 3rd or 5th note of the scale from which the scale derives. The only valid exception to that is in the case of a “5” chord or power chord. In that case, the only notes you’re playing, whether it’s a 2 string or 3 string version, is the 1 (whatever the name of the chord is) and its 5. Aside from that, any interloper pitches have to be described by the number they occupy in the scale or the modified number they occupy, like flat or sharp.

40 years ago, our C add 9 in question would have probably been called a C add 9 and nothing else because the notes of chords were only described in their nomenclature, by successive thirds, so you had 7, 9, 11, and 13 (15 will get you back to 1.) 2s and 4s weren’t common and it was unusual to see C6 but you’d see Ami7 instead. A C6 chord consists of C, E, G and A. An Ami7 consists of A, C, E and G. Same notes.

Now here’s the thing with 9 chords that are correctly named. If the chord is called 9, it has the further requirement of having the half step lowered 7. So one of the ways you can play a C9 chord is a 3rd finger, 3 string bar at the 3rd fret to cover G, D and B-flat, a 2nd finger on E on the D string and 2nd finger on the C on the A string. It’s a beautiful chord. Lots of tension and just delicious to the ears. Now, the C add 9 lacks the necessary B-flat to make it an official 9 chord. So, since the D is there and the half step lowered 7 is not, the music editor saw fit to call it a C add 9. Now, if I were the editor, having that D in the Em7 chord immediately before, I’d call that interloping D in the C chord a suspended 2. So I think of the chord as Csus2. It has the same notes as the C add 9.

There’s a huge difference in the sound of the “add 9” and the “9” - don’t forget, if the half step lowered 7 is in a chord, it creates tension, that’s the same half step lowered 7 that you find in dominant 7 chords.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

http://edsheeran.com/

http://youtu.be/UAWcs5H-qgQ

News

In the news this week a little 121212 concert update.

I didn’t go. The tickets were expensive. It was a scalpers’ bonanza. Actually, I had to teach that night - it was a Wednesday night, a night I don’t finish teaching until 10:30 or later. Each home I taught in had it on the TV or computer. Here in the NY metro area, it was also on every radio station, so I caught some of it.

Music fans had mixed reactions rock-star-studded benefit concert at Madison Square Garden. The “12-12-12” relief event for victims of Hurricane Sandy sold out the Midtown Manhattan stadium and was broadcast to nearly 2 billion people around the world. It sported a an all-star lineup that that spanned several generations. The storm came with a price tag of more than $71 billion for New York and New Jersey. So how much did “12-12-12” raise? The Robin Hood Foundation, the poverty-fighting organization collecting the proceeds, estimated $30 million from ticket sales alone. The Robin Hood Foundation’s most recent calculation is that the historic ‘12-12-12’ concert to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy was the largest concert event to ever hit the stage at Madison Square Garden, raising over $50 million and additional proceeds are still coming in. Thanks to the generosity of concert organizers, sponsors, and Robin Hood’s board of directors, every single penny from ticket purchases and donations will go to organizations serving the victims of Hurricane Sandy through the Robin Hood Relief Fund

http://www.robinhood.org

Take Note

My take note topic this week is a bit unconventional : CRSO or Can’t Resist Shiny Objects. Although I don’t have one, there’s a part of me that just love love loves a sparkly guitar. Our good friends at Gretsch have a few I’d like to bring to your attention, in case you have the same affinity for gleam and glitter that I do.

I’m referring to the Jet models that have that eye popping sparkle:

Based on the classic late-’50s Silver Jet™, today’s Sparkle Jet™ features a semi-hollow bound mahogany body with arched laminated maple top, one-piece mahogany neck with bound ebony fingerboard and bound headstock, dual High Sensitive Filter’Tron™ pickups, Space Control™ bridge and a Bigsby® B3C vibrato tailpiece. Available in an array of colorful sparkle and pearl tops.

Now here’s where it could get a bit confusing. There’s a Silver Jet, that carries an MSR of over $3300 and then there’s the slightly different model called a Sparkle Jet, which comes in silver, gold or green sparkle, and a non-sparkle, but gorgeous pearl blue, which have MSRs around $2900. Of course you will find these discounted from those prices at the big chain guitar stores.

All of them are arch-tops - and what other guitar could carry off the glittery, sparkliness? The sheer presence of these beauties seems to lend a bit of sophistication to what otherwise would look a bit over the top.

Photos can be found on the Show Notes page. As of today, Gretsch didn’t have a photo available of the Silver Sparkle, but if you compare the images of the gold or green Sparkle to the Silver Jet, you can see some design differences. It’s safe to assume the Silver Sparkle will look just like the green and gold ones, but with the Silver Jet’s color. They’re beauties, aren’t they? The guitars that live with me are extremely sedate. My alter ego is jonesin’ for one of these. Check out their specs at the Gretsch links.

That wraps up this week's segments of episode __093___. Following a short word from my sponsor, Raptor Picks USA, we’ll move along to the Outro and wrap this baby up.

http://gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2400406817&EDID=JI0LOX5-4CYX2-O8Z6J-AWCDK-6IF3-v1

http://gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2507010544&EDID=JI0LOX5-4CYX2-O8Z6J-AWCDK-6IFP-v1

http://gretschguitars.com/products/index.php?partno=2400405835

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
I’ve got my voice back. Yay! I’m still not sure I’ve got the most efficient manner of show note distribution but I’ll resume looking into it as soon as my time and schedule finally return to normal -which I hope will be before the end of the month.

Congrats Aviv, Bridget and Danielle. Brava, brava, brava!!
The difference between a 9 chord and an “add 9” chord is that the 9 contains the half step lowered 7 and the “add 9” does not.

The 121212 concert promoters, the Robin Hood Fund reports over $50 million being raised for Hurricane Sandy relief. The residents of New Jersey are grateful to them and to you if you have done anything to help relieve the abyss of distress that so many survivors are living with day in and day out.

How do you get your bling on? Maybe one of the Gretsch Jets I’ve mentioned today will float your boat.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it. This fabulous exhibit will run through June 2013. It’s open for visitors on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5. You simply must go.

Keep your guitar humidified if there’s less than 40% humidity in its environment. I’ll have new DRs on one of my axes by the time I record next week. I’m giddy at the thought.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Episode 092: Sandy and More

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:04:01 -0500

Sorry for being MIA after Sandy. I guess I really needed to crash and rest a bit. It’s been a stressful year.
If you’re new to this podcast, please accept my apologies for this just being a mini version of the show I usually do. I hope to resume full spectrum shows in January.

How has the past month been for you? Man, it’s been a struggle for me to get back to recording. If you aren’t listening from New Jersey, here in the US, you simply can’t imagine the upheaval Sandy caused. Well, maybe you can if you’re from New Orleans. E-Rex and I were extremely fortunate. We were very inconvenienced, but our only losses were refrigerator contents and electricity (including Cable TV) and hardline phone. In our apartment, we were so happy to have hot water and heat as well as lights and electricity to charge devices in some common areas which were on a generator. Trees came down all around us but our building and mini van were spared. The day after the storm, my student Gary wanted to have his lesson, so I ventured out. I couldn’t believe the devastation that I saw - and we don’t live anywhere near the ocean. Lines to purchase gas were often a mile long because so few gas stations had gas or the electricity to pump it. There wasn’t much food in the grocery stores that were open because so many roads were closed with trees and power lines down. It was quite an experience.

Because we didn’t have TV, mail delivery or newspapers, our only source of info was online. My personal MiFi hotspot was worth its weight in platinum during that 12 days without internet. I didn’t use it excessively but I was able to get information from the outside on my iPhone.

Sandy, not only wreaked havoc here in our state, but it also prevented my E-Rex from beginning his prescribed course of 44 radiation treatments. The cancer treatment center had to get a generator from Ohio to run its ultra high tech medical equipment and their phones were out for over a week. So, daily treatments we thought would conclude just after New Year’s Day will go into the middle of January, barring any blizzards or other atmospheric disturbances. Thanks for the emails of concern. So far, he’s doing well. Today was treatment number 18 and we’re getting into the rhythm of having to be there each morning. That’s saying a lot for people who have to fight their penchant for going to sleep close around 2:30. We do drag ourselves out some mornings when we’ve been unsuccessful in retiring at a sane hour. We will surely celebrate when he leaves the treatment center for the last time.

This week I smooshed my schedule together in an uncharacteristic manner because I had to go in for a a minor surgery yesterday, so I moved my Thursday students onto other days, with the kind flexibility of my other students. It wasn’t a planned schedule shift. In fact, I was surprised that a bunch of x-rays and ultra sounds were inconclusive -- which is why I needed the surgical biopsy.

Since the last podcast in October, FeedBurner has made changes. I don’t have the time to do a lot of research. I was subscribed to this podcast’s show notes and I did not receive them for the last show. So, I have moved show note subscription to a service provided by FeedCat. Their graphic isn’t elegant. I’ll try to find something that doesn’t literally jump out at you when you go onto my podcast page. I hope you’ll find the subscription choices that you prefer. It seems like it’s more robust than what FeedBurner used to offer. However, I haven’t found a way to offer subscription to the podcast on FeedCat as yet. It may require tinkering with web pages and making the show notes and the podcast links on separate pages. I haven’t had the time to make the determination nor play with the web pages to accommodate if need be. So, for now, please subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or just go to GuitarTechniqueTutor.Com/podcastnotes.php to listen.

Sorry there weren’t any podcasts in November. After the life and internet interruption of Sandy, it was hard for me to reset and resume the usual routine. E-Rex and I rested more than I can ever remember, during our time without electricity. It felt so good and we both needed it. I was running on empty for quite a while. Then, right after most of this part of NJ had power restored, we segued right into his radiation schedule. I’ve struggled over the past few weeks to get back to this show. It’s not that don’t enjoy doing it, I do. It’s just that our radiation schedule, which doesn’t occupy that much time, has caused all of our activities except my work, to be disrupted. Doing the show adds yet a bit more to my daily work load. The storm’s power outage worked like aversion therapy for me - I heretofore loved my Mac and after power was restored, I didn’t even want to be in the same room with it, probably because it represented work, from which I still hadn’t a sufficient rest and break. I dreaded Thanksgiving, because it was our first one without our dear friend, Dottie, who passed away last January. Hey, maybe that’s what it is. Maybe all the sentiment that comes this time of year, combined with exhaustion and coming to grips with E-Rex actually having cancer as attested to by his ongoing treatment, put me in a mental/emotional funk. I haven’t motivated to do much of anything. I’ve had all I could do to take Seely Boy (the cutest parakeet in the northern hemisphere) out of his cage and let him fly around and talk to me daily.

So, rather than not podcast at all during this treatment time, I’m going to record little blasts rather than full on podcasts. They won’t have the usual Intro, Student Spotlight, Question of the Week, News, Take Note and Outro, but rather just hit one or 2 topics and be brief. I just have to make this concession until life returns to normal again, which I hope will be the 3rd or 4th week in January. Who knows, maybe I can make the change to the show archives I had planned to do in the summer, during this time. We’ll see.

I have to take this opportunity to thank Tina of Tina’s Picks for sending me her new pick. It’s cool. Thanks, Tina. I know I’ve been MIA for a while and getting mail from you was a real bright spot.

I want to say Hi to Eileen and Clairie, who I will be seeing for a consultation next week, and thanks to Arno for the referral.

Hanukah is upon us this weekend, so Happy Hanukah to all my students, friends and listeners. Christmas is 2.5 weeks away. If you will be traveling to or live in the NY metro area for the holiday season, please don’t neglect to visit the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah museum in Mahwah, NJ. If you already bought Thank You, Les, the extraordinary homage to Les Paul by Lou Palo and friends, and you love it, you should go to the museum and experience yet an even larger hat tip to a guitarist who changed how we all listen to music and play guitar. If you haven’t purchased your boxed set or digital download of Thank You, Les, what are you waiting for?

Students? They’re all doing well. Notables who would be in the Student Spotlight if this were a regular show with the Spotlight segment, would be Arno, who despite moving to a new home the week before Sandy and unbelievable hassles just getting into and out of NYC to work, has been playing extraordinarily well and Bridget, who at this early stage of her guitar development, is playing amazingly.

Mike, the accountant (not to be confused with Mike the dental implant specialist) upgraded from the guitar we purchased before he began lessons, to a lovely Martin. I guess he’s digging guitar.

By the way if you hear an uncharacteristic whirring in the background, the gardeners are blowing leaves. I have to record now and can’t wait for them to finish, so I apologize. My windows are closed, but those leaf blowers are loud!

How are my DRs? Well, they can go another week or 2 before I can’t stand them. I’m supposed to no play for a few days, so that will save a little string wear.

Although there’s no Question of the Week this week, don’t forget that
if you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, you can email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

If you’re in the NY area and haven’t already contributed to the Sandy Releif effort and you’d like to (no guilt trip intended) there are a number of ways you can do that. The dollar total of damage here is something like 75 billion, that’s billion with a B. One of the notable events is the 121212 concert that will take place on the 12th at MSG, which is a relief effort launched by the Robin Hood foundation. The artist lineup at this time is Bon Jovi, Ric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joew, Alicia Keys, Crhist Martin, Bruce and the E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The Who and Paul McCartney. There will be free simulcasts in Sandy devastated areas. This concert will be live, streamed and in theaters. Please go to the 121212.org site for full info.

Just a wee disclaimer. Everything available online about Robin Hood is great. I don’t know of any track record for them. I can tell you that many large relief efforts ( like ones for Bangladesh, back in the day, 9/11, here in the NY area, Katrina, and others) have not used the donated funds efficiently. In one case you may have read about, all the donations were spent on pricier than necessary lunches and other creature comforts for the relief workers, and none of it made it to the victims -- clearly not the intention of the donors. I have no reason to believe that Robin Hood is like that, but if you’re donating to any organization that aids Sandy survivors (I don’t like the word victims) you should do your own research and be sure your money will actually be used as you intend. I’m going to include a link to Charity Navigator in the show notes that can assist you with that. It’s charitynavigator.org

http://www.121212concert.org/
http://www.robinhood.org/
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1451

Here are a couple of Save the Date alerts if you have your 2013 calendar and you’re in the NY Metro area

GALLERY TALK
BUCKY PIZZARELLI AND ED LAUB
Tuesday, February 5th at 7:30
Laub and Pizzarelli will return to the Mahwah Museum on February 5 for a gallery talk in which they will recount stories about their friend Les Paul, discuss the beautiful guitars on display and show their prodigious guitar playing technique. The gallery talk will take place in the upstairs gallery of the Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike. Admission is $15. Seating is limited and tickets will be available soon through the Museum website.
Bucky Pizzarelli, a long-time resident of Upper Saddle River, is widely known for bringing Les Paul out of his self-imposed retirement in the 1970’s. Originally performing at Club 17 (just south of Lake Street, Ramsey) Pizzarelli and Paul came together as a duo in the early 70s. In 1975, they played together at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall and C.W. Post Center. For years after coming out of retirement Les Paul played every Monday night at Fat Tuesdays and the Iridium in New York City and stars such as Pizzarelli would stop by to sit in. The master of the 7 string guitar, Pizzarelli, at age 86, still performs frequently.

Ed Laub, an Upper Saddle River native, began playing guitar at age 12 and soon became one of Pizzarelli’s students in 1965. He currently performs in restaurants and jazz clubs and at private parties in the region, sometimes teaming up not only with Pizzarelli, but also with other star musicians.

This program and others at the Museum are part of the exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute” which continues through June 2013. The Museum is also currently featuring “New Jersey Fights in the Civil War: Remembering Soldiers Buried in Mahwah” and the Donald Cooper model railroad. The Museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

For more information visit us at www.mahwahmuseum.org or call 201.512.0099, or contact us here.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=278

What are you doing in April? It’s worth a trip to NY to hear

OVER 30 OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST GUITARISTS PLAY SIDEMEN TO EACH OTHER OVER TWO NIGHTS AT THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ARENA, MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, APRIL 12-13!
 CURRENT CROSSROADS FESTIVAL ARTIST LISTING

Albert Lee Allan Holdsworth Allman Brothers Band Andy Fairweather Low BB King Blake Mills Booker T Brad Paisley Buddy Guy Citizen Cope Dave Biller Doyle Bramhall II Earl Klugh Eric Clapton Gary Clark Jr. Jeff Beck Jimmy Vaughan John Mayer John Scofield Jonny Lang Keb Mo Keith Urban Kurt Rosenwinkle Los Lobos Robbie Robertson Robert Cray Robert Randolph Sonny Landreth Taj Mahal Vince Gill
(Note: Two Different Nights of Music. Not All Artists Will Perform Both Nights)

http://www.thegarden.com/events/2013/april/2013-crossroads-guitar-festival.html

And lastly, this year, the 92nd St Y’s Art of the Guitar Series runs from Feb to May, There was a time the concerts began in November. You can go to 92y.org or check the link in the show notes to take you directly to the guitar series page.

http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Concerts/Classical/Art-of-the-Guitar.aspx

Raptor Picks USA

So what are you doing for the guitarists on your Hanukkah or Christmas lists this year? Yeah, strings and straps and cables and amps are good, if you know what they like. Sure tickets to hear their favorite artists or gift cards to buy music are great. But why don’t you get them something they can’t go to the store to buy for themselves? A whole new infusion of inspiration! How can you buy them inspiration? Well, buy getting them some Raptor Picks from Raptor Picks USA, of course.

Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. More free Raptors with the purchase of every increment of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.” Although the postal system is slowing down, your order will be shipped the next business day and orders placed for delivery in the continental US by December 18th should arrive by Christmas Eve. But don’t wait to place your order. Go online today.
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Episode 091: Now is the Time (failed to post 10/20/12)

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:07:13 -0500

INTRO
How were your last 3 weeks? For me, they went by in a flash.

Thank you for all the good wishes for E-Rex’s impending cancer treatment. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it. Wednesday, he had a pre-radiation minor surgery, this coming week he will have a CT scan and the last week of October he will have a “dry run” of the treatment on the 30th and on the 31st, the 9 weeks of daily radiation begins. His last day is scheduled to be January 3rd, barring missed treatments because of blizzards and the like. E-Rex wants me to go with him for every treatment, in addition to doing real life and my teaching schedule. I don’t know how that’s going to impact my podcasting schedule. I hope I can produce weekly shows but right now, my brain is just melting from all the details and activities that have invaded our lives for the past couple of weeks. I’m hoping that once the treatment starts and we get into a rhythm with it, things will normalize. Because of all this tumult, I will probably not get to the 100th podcast before February. I will definitely be taking the Monday after Thanksgiving off (4th Thursday of November to you not in the States) and also December 24th and 31st. If I can, I’ll do a show during Christmas week. Let’s see how it plays out. Thanks for your understanding.

So have you gotten your download, CD or CD/DVD combo of Thank You, Les? Well, the Thank You, Les peeps asked me if I’d leave a review on Amazon, because I’m forever commenting in the affirmative about it here on the podcast, in the show notes and on social media. Of course I told them I would. Small problem…. I purchased my Thank You, Les bundle directly from Thank You, Les, not on Amazon. So, I can’t find any way to review the product. Listeners, do me a favor, if you know how I can leave a review on Amazon for something I didn’t purchase, please email me to let me know. And, if you have purchased Thank You, Les on Amazon and love it, please leave feedback. The Thank You, Les project and I thank YOU for taking the time to support it.

With all the E-Rex-centric stuff over the past few weeks, I haven’t had any intriguing guitar adventures. So, my DRs are totally dead. In the next show I hope to be smiling ear to ear just thinking about how great my guitars sound with crisp, delicious DRs on all of them.

I have 2 sets of students who are friends or friends of friends - and that’s turning out to be such a good thing. There seems to be friendly, unspoken competition between some of them - and that translates into a lot of practicing and progress. It’s entertaining and I’m loving it.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it. This fabulous exhibit will run through June 2013. It’s open for visitors on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5. You simply must go.

This week, there are 2 students in the Student Spotlight, The Question of the Week came by email from Bobbi and is about neck profiles, The News is about Chris Shiflett Telecaster® Deluxe and Take Note is “Now is the Time.”

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

RAPTOR PICKS USA

No matter where I go, when I show guitarists the Genuine R Series Raptor Pick, the ones with vision immediately comprehend that it’s not just another novelty pick that’s going to end up somewhere with all the other weird picks they have tried or people have given them. They try it, they utter a soft “hmmm” and they keep playing. And playing and playing. Most of them tell me they expected it to feel weird but it’s comfortable and just feels different. When I ask them what they think, they say they want it and ask where they can get one.

You may or may not be in the market for a new guitar, but I don’t know a guitarist alive that isn’t looking for fresh inspiration. The 3 uniquely and specifically engineered picking tips on the Raptor entice you to think about and explore the full range of sound qualities you can create with it. The unique beveling of the molded acrylic pick offer amazingly silent attack.

The Raptor R Series pick is destined to become a pivotal tool for creative guitarists. Personally, I haven’t played with anything but a Raptor R Series since the very first time I touched one and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed when you try it.

Get yours today at RaptorPicksUSA.com Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”

Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Bridget and accountant Mike (not to be confused with globe trotting Dr Mike.) You are both improving wonderfully week to week. Your playing isn’t flawless. The 2 of you are in the Spotlight because of the degree at which you’re improving - which is directly related to how much effort you are putting into your guitar studies. Good for both of you. I like your zeal. I know as the weeks progress, it gets harder. Bridget, you’re relaxed now and your playing is so much smoother. Mike, your determination to master the techniques that we are encountering is admirable - especially for a man as busy as you are. Bridget, Mike and all my other students, this is for you too: be sure to still your minds and concentrate while you practice, so you get the most out of it.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

This week's question came in by email from Bobbi. It’s: “I’ve heard you talk about guitars and sometimes you talk about a profile like C or something. What does that mean?”
The term "neck profile" refers to the shape of the back of a guitar neck in cross section and is often used interchangeably with the term "back shape." It's also referred to simply as "neck shape," although there are other important neck measurements with which "neck profile" shouldn't be confused (i.e., neck width, neck depth and fingerboard radius).
 Fine, but what does all this technical talk mean to the average guitar player when you're considering buying a guitar with a description that mentions the instrument's neck profile?
 Neck profile (the "shape" of the neck) is probably the most personal element of a guitar. It affects how your hand and fingers "fit" the neck and how easily you can move from fret to fret. From early on acoustic guitars usually had some variation of a "C" shape. Electric guitar makers have done their own experimentation and a variety of profiles have evolved with the preferences of players - especially celebrity players. Jeff Beck's favorite Fender Strats had a very fat "C" shape; current models of Fender's Custom Artist Jeff Beck Signature Strat have a smaller "C" to be more player-friendly. It’s one thing to give an artist the build they request, and it’s another thing entirely to sell guitars.
Similar to the "C" is the oval neck profile. This offers a less pronounced curve at the back and has its followers. If it’s really flat, I’d be in that camp.
On the other side of the spectrum is the "U" - an almost-rectangular shape that appeared on many electric guitars - perhaps best for players with long fingers.
And Eric Clapton has favored a "V" neck that provides a comfortable groove down the middle. A variation on this is the "inverted V," that is thicker on the bass side and thinner on the treble side.  The letters C, U and V to designate its neck profiles, along with numerous variations of each. The actual shape of these letters roughly corresponds to the shape of the back the neck in cross section, and each may have varying depths—different thicknesses from the front of the neck to the back, resulting in terms such as "thick C shape" and "deep U shape," etc. 
C-shaped neck profile. The most common modern neck profile. C-shaped necks have a comfortable oval profile that works well for most playing styles. Usually not as deep as most U- and V-shaped neck profiles. Many guitars, especially Stratocasters, now have a "modern C shape" (or "flat oval") neck profile, a flattened variation of the traditional C shape.
U-shaped neck profile. Chunky and rounded, with high shoulders. Especially deep U-shaped necks like those found on some Telecaster guitars are sometimes referred to as "baseball bat" necks. Good for players with large hands and players who are more comfortable with their thumb on the back or side of the neck.
V-shaped neck profile. Two versions are popular—a more rounded "soft" V and a more pointed "hard" V often preferred by players more comfortable with their thumb hanging over the edge of the fingerboard. V-shape neck profiles are pretty old school and show up on many reissue instruments.
 There are also further subdivisions of each type, usually denoted by some guitar builders’ design year or era (i.e., '50s V shape, '61 C shape, '70s C shape), in which subtle period-specific variations in one of the basic neck profiles is recreated precisely.  On Fenders and perhaps other brands, there is occasional confusion about C, U and V neck profile designations and A, B, C and D neck width designations. From the early '60s to the early '70s, Fender referred specifically to the nut width of its instrument necks using the letters A (1 ½"), B (1 5/8"), C (1 ¾") and D (1 7/8"). These letters were stamped on the butt-end of the necks and had nothing to do with neck profile. I think they should have used symbols or something that didn’t have overlapping nomenclature - but since I’m not and never have been queen of the world, they didn’t check with me before they did it.

Width is as much a factor in the neck profile as shape, leading some guitar makers to abandon the letter analogy and begin describing profiles as "wide-fat" or "regular-thin" and so on, in which widths are "wide, regular or narrow" and depths range from "fat to regular to thin." This often provides a clearer description of the profile and can help you when you're shopping for guitars online. Parker and Paul Reed Smith use these types of descriptions.
In the end, the neck shape described in instrument specs can serve as a guide for the guitar buyer. All of my guitars are either a modern C or such a flattened oval they may even be otherwise designated. My Tamura has the flattest neck profile and I like its neck the best of the guitars I own. For me, the depth from fingerboard (or if you’re newer school and call it a fretboard, that’s cool) to the back of the neck, is a crucial measurement. The smaller that distance, the better I like it. As for me, the flatter the territory my thumb treads, the better.
If I were interested in purchasing a guitar, and read in the specs that it has a V neck profile, of a certainty, it wouldn’t be for me. I personally can’t conceive of any guitarist (no offense to ‘Ric Clapton) preferring it, but I guess some big boys do or they wouldn’t be made.
If you’re in the market for a guitar and you don’t know if you have preference, don’t let the description of any particular neck profile turn you off IF YOU’RE BUYING THE GUITAR IN PERSON. If you’re making an online purchase from a reliable vendor like one of my online faces, Elderly.com, be sure of the return or exchange policy before you purchase. You don’t want to be stuck with a restocking fee because you have a problem with the neck profile. Conversely, if you have a guitar (or maybe more) and you already know the neck profile or profiles you favor, don’t ignore the specs of a guitar you consider purchasing. Neck profile and measurement are critically important for your comfort, which will effect how well/fast/cleanly you will be able to play.
Thanks for the question, Bobbi. I hope my answer helps.
If you, like Bobbi, have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

NEWS
In the news this week is the Chris Shiflett Telecaster® Deluxe by Fender Electric Guitars.

Chris Shiflett has his feet firmly planted in two worlds--with impeccable punk/hard rock credentials as longtime guitarist in the Foo Fighters, and with an authentic love for country, as heard in side project Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants. His abiding love for Teles and for big humbucking sound now come together in one dynamic new instrument with his name on it--the Chris Shiflett Telecaster Deluxe. Reasonably affordable and modeled closely on Shiflett's favorite '72 Tele Deluxe, it features a striking Arctic White finish, a four-ply white pearl pickguard, a roaring pair of new custom-designed high-output humbucking pickups, a rosewood fingerboard for easy bends with low action, custom-stenciled hard-shell case, and Shiflett's signature on the headstock. Tour bus, platinum records and the adulation of millions not included.

If you’re a fan of the Tele, you should check this baby out. The MSRP, which I’ve mentioned several times on this show, is not the street price, is $900. I have not been able to find it in a store or online as of the time I recorded this podcast. I’d guess that its “street” is $490 - $590, but don’t quote me on that.

It looks like a beauty and that’s no surprise.
http://www.fender.com
http://www.fender.com/products/foofighters/chris-shiflett-telecaster-deluxe

TAKE NOTE
My take note topic this week is Now is the Time. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country? Well, sure but not as regards this Take Note segment.

We’re roughly 7 weeks from Hanukkah and 9 weeks from Christmas and if you will be playing for one of these special holidays, NOW is the time to select, work through, practice and plan the mastery of whatever you’re playing. I’m not talking about playing chords to the Dreidl Song or Jingle Bell Rock for the umpteenth year. I mean new music that you have either been asked to play or want to play for a celebration or gathering. Now is the time to get moving on it.

In the first year of this podcast - sorry I don’t recall which show (and yes, I know I still haven’t revised the archived shows as I had hoped to during the summer - my to do list is growing by the day) I recounted the story of a former student, Mark: I think it was spring time and I received a call from a unitarian church. Their music person was ill and they asked me to play during their church service in 3 weeks - for like 5 minutes. They were offering a stipend of remuneration. I’m not available on Sunday morning so I told the person with whom I was speaking that I had a student who I thought could fill the bill. I took their number and spoke to my student Mark, who was an advanced intermediate student, who also had a few classical pieces memorized, mastered and in what I like to call “maintenance mode.” I encouraged him to play them with some regularity so the hard work he’d done on them was not wasted. When we discussed it, he seemed interested so I made suggestions as to what I thought he should play, and why. I chose some of the simpler pieces he played. As I recall, 2 of them would have nicely occupied 5 minutes or so and they were both in Drop D tuning so he wouldn’t have to fiddle around with re-tuning. When I saw him for his lesson that week, I asked if he was polishing up those 2 small pieces for the church gig. He said no, that he wanted to play other pieces -- pieces he was learning anew. I know my eyes almost popped out of my head when he informed me of his intention. I’d worked with him for quite a while and was surprised that what we’d discussed on the phone a few days before had changed. I encouraged him to spend his time with the familiar pieces he’d already learned and not newly learn music to play. It wasn’t like he didn’t have some repertoire from which to draw.

Not unlike a lot of students, he ignored my counsel. I should say, he ignored it to his demise. When the Sunday he was to play rolled around, I called in the evening to see how he did. I expected him to tell me I was right and it was a mistake to play comparatively new music publicly, rather than already learned & mastered music. What I heard was a man who was completely mortified. He said he went to play, arrived a little early, checked out the room, which I guess was the sanctuary - or whatever that main area of a unitarian church is called, and set up his guitar chair, tuned up and then waited in some other area, warming up until he was asked to play. Well, he said he couldn’t stop shaking (this student was not accustomed to playing out) but he began the 1st piece anyway. A few bars in, he made a couple mistakes and was so totally mortified that he just got up and walked off the platform, packed up his guitar and chair and left.
He said he didn’t think his heart rate had returned to normal when I was speaking to him 6 or 7 hours later in the day. Sure, there’s a lot of adrenaline pumping through your body when you perform - especially if you do it infrequently. But add to that music that was only a week or 2 old, rather than the old friends that he’d played for years, and you have a recipe for the kind of disaster Mark experienced.

So, NOW is the time to begging getting anything ready that you plan to play for an audience - whether that means at a relative’s home, your home, at church, at school etc. I hope it isn’t brand new music, but if it is, have laser focus on it in the coming weeks. You don’t want to have what happened to Mark, happen to you.

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Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
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Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

OUTRO
Congrats to Bridget and Mike. Nice playing. Email me if you know how to leave feedback on Amazon if you haven’t purchased the item from them, and if you like Thank You Les, leave a good review for them. Neck profile is a very individual taste and is extremely important. The Chris Shiflett Signature Tele Deluxe is a robust and beautiful new guitar from Fender. IF you’re playing for Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s Eve, NOW is the time to be mastering your music.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it.
You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.
I’m going to try to podcast weekly, but on the last show I said I was taking a 1 week break, which turned into 2 weeks. I think life may calm down a bit some time after E-Rex begins his radiation on October 31st. I’m hoping we’ll fall into a rhythm that’s livable. We’ve had a difficult few weeks.
If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, practice and until next time, which I hope will be next week, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 090: Priorities

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:16:51 -0400

In this week’s show, There are 2 students in the Student Spotlight, Question of the Week is from an email from Joe, here in NJ, who wanted advice about having hit a wall with speed studies, News is about last Saturday’s show and the Take Note Segment is October guitar deals.

How was your week? Things were pretty good here. Unfortunately, my student Scott, who is the son of a couple with whom we’re close, has determined that he can’t eek out the time to practice now that college has resumed. It’s a shame, but I’d be the last person to pursued someone else that they have free time they don’t think they so. I don’t even know what
“free time” means.

No, no DRs still. I’m hoping this week because now my strings are dead. We have an appointment for a consultation with an oncologist for E-Rex, this week, so we’ll see.

I had a fewer students during this and last week because of the Jewish Holidays. Schools were off and my Jewish students whose lessons were scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday skipped their lessons.

I will be putting together a handout for my students this week. It should have been done 2 weeks ago, but I just didn’t get to it. It will be a reiteration of my cancellation and snow day policies as well as a list of some guitar related gear that I recommend my students have and use. What’s your “must have” list of guitar gear? Mine varies a bit depending upon whether a student has an acoustic or electric guitar, and in some cases the genres they lean toward.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum. Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth. This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it.

I have to take a minute to say that it’s a real challenge to get to the production of this show every week. The only thing that has changed over the few years I have been at this is E-Rex’s health. This week we’re having a consultation with the radiology oncologist regarding his future treatment. I may have to adjust podcasts to full length ones twice a month and 5 or 10 minute highlight ones on alternate weeks, or something like that. I don’t think my self-discipline nor time management have slipped, but I have examine that, as well. Not only because of this oncologist visit, but because we have had to schedule some personal family things on week days rather than weekends, I’m probably going to have to entirely skip a show next week. I’m sorry about this inconsistency, but I have to keep our lives in balance, and that means some of “my” things just have to take a back seat to what’s “important” to do. So, after this week, the next show will be the 15th. I’ll do better with Tweeting. I’ve just begun working with HootSuite, which should make my life a little easier, after becoming more familiar with its features. Thanks for your understanding.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
http://www.thankyoules.com

Raptor Picks USA

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All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.raptorpicksusa.com

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are
Aviv and Bridget. Yes, they’re both relatively new students and they’re both loving their guitars. Most guitar students have a honeymoon period that can last for a few weeks to a few months, and then comes the reality of what it takes to achieve one’s goals on the instrument. And, I can think of one guy I met who told me his guitar honeymoon was over the day his teacher tried to teach him to play the 3 string F chord that requires a 2 string bar.

Nice job, ladies. Long live chickpower!

Question of the Week

This week's question is from Joe, via email. His question is: “No matter how much I practice, I can’t break through 180 bpm for the eighth note scale studies I play. What do you recommend?”

Speed. It’s illusive for some players and I’m convince that although everyone has a point at which they will top out, most players can play faster, cleanly and consistently, than that speed mark at which they seem stuck. Joe is stuck at 180 in eighth notes. If you are playing more slowly than that, I know it sounds fast, but in the scheme of the universe, it isn’t.

The primary suspect I have when a guitarist who works at their musicianship hits a speed wall is their left hand technique. Besides the general left hand shape that I frequently refer to in this podcast, as a "modified C, " I’m suspicious of how Joe’s fingers are making contact with the strings and I’m concerned about how high those fingers come off the strings. It may sound counter intuitive, but your fingers and arm need to be extremely relaxed to play fast. The more tense your arm and hand are, the more hampered you are by the constriction of your muscles. That isn’t to say there is no tenseness. There is a certain amount of tension required to move a finger and depress a string sufficiently to create a clean sound.

Joe, take a look at your calluses: they should be on the very tips of your fingers, with the exception of the pinky. That callus may be a bit to the side. The more vertically your attack, the better. That may require some adjustment of your right shoulder and arm. If you are not in the practice of looking at your hands when you play your speed exercises, do look at your left hand while you’re playing.

How far are your fingers coming off the strings? If it’s more than 1 inch, there’s your problem. An inch is generous and will still limit your speed, but it’s a step in the right direction. The smaller the movement of the left hand fingers, the better for you potential speed. A half inch and less is the optimum target for your fingers to be lifting. Now, you don’t go about this by eyeballing that distance and trying to achieve it. Rather it’s the result of being very conscious of over lifting. Keeping the fingers very close to the strings can be practiced enough for it to become a habit, just like the proper spread between the left hand fingers can become a habit.

Joe, my prime prime prime suspect in your left hand technique is your pinky. I hope you use it -- I know some guitarists don’t, which I will never understand. A tense pinky can pull all the fingers away from the strings. That’s what you have to look for as you observe what that left hand does as you work on your studies.

Of course, Joe’s problem might be his picking technique. I used the term picking technique advisedly because it’s often lacking or nonexistent. Here’s another case in which your arm and hand need to be relaxed although working, but not tense. When you’re picking, Joe, take a look at if your whole arm is moving or if you’re making very small pick movements and your wrist is rotating, rather than your elbow moving the arm to move the pick. Even the grip of your pick will play into the tension or relaxation of your right hand and wrist. Keep your pick movement to the minimum necessary to strike the string and immediately draw it back, moving it just enough to strike the string. It’s a teensy distance. Moving the pick any further than that to play non-arpeggio and non-sweet picking eighth notes will stall your speed.

I hope that helps you Joe. My third suggestion is to stop using your metronome for a few weeks, and change what exercises you play, or if they begin on the 6th string and ascend to the 1st string, reverse them. Clear you head, stop concentrating and obsessing over the speed and focus more on your technique. Unless you have a physical limitation, you can probably surpass your 180 bpm mark. Tiny, relaxed yet controlled movements of the left hand fingers and your pick are the key.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News

The news this week is about the 2nd Annual Les Paul Tribute Concert which I attended last Saturday night at Ramapo College. If you’ve been listening for over a year, you may recall that I went last year, too. How did they compare? Well, it was a good concert. Like Thank You, Les, it was a tribute to Les Paul, so the jazz standards that he was identified with are what the Les Paul Trio (Lou Pallo, Nicki Parrott and John Colianni) played. Not exclusively, but primarily.

The most notable difference was that last year there were additional musicians and the bassist was a guy named Gary , who was very good and this year the bassist was the Les Paul Trio’s bassist, Australian Nicki Parrott. She wasn’t good, she was amazing. I loved her bass stylings but likewise, I love, love. loved her voice.

There were silent auctions for a guitar and some framed, signed collectibles. There were also 2 live auctions for autographed guitars. The 1st was for a nice Les Paul. I didn’t bid because I was afraid I’d get caught up in it and not exercise self-restraint.But man, that signed, authenticated Les Paul was bit to only $1.025. What a steal! The other guitar was a Fender that was signed by the Trio, Les Paul and some others. That one sold in the auction for $600 and change. The same couple won both auctions. It was a great night of 40’s/50’s jazz. Truth be told, I like Nicki’s voice better than Mary Ford’s. Rusty Paul, Les’s son from his first marriage, was there, as he was last year.

I was so glad that my student Lani and her parents attended. David & Yasmin had seen Les Paul at the Iridium and were familiar with the current Trio and they thoroughly enjoyed the show.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s show. If you were in reasonable traveling distance and didn’t’ make it last weekend, mark your calendar for late September/early October next year. You can rest assured that I will mention the date as soon as I know it.

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is October guitar deals. After those 2 guitars being auctioned for crazy prices and my receipt of Guitar Center’s October sale booklet, I thought this was a good topic. Who doesn’t want a good deal on a guitar?
It’s nearing the biggest gift-giving season, and there may be a deal this month, of which you can take advantage, in order to get some of your shopping done early. Or, just take advantage now because you need or want a guitar now.
I was hoping to gather a few deal sources for this segment, but I was disappointed to see that the usual online sources I check are either not having any particular October sales, or their web sites are still promoting September deals. Too bad. So I’m going to distill what Guitar Center has that may interest you.

First, they’re having a 15% off sale for Columbus Day weekend - which is this coming weekend, from the 5th through the 8th. The fine print is that the purchase must be $299 or more to qualify for this sale. You can’t combine that discount with any other coupons or deals, but 15% off is better than no % off. They have a page in this booklet, announcing string prices cut to the bone - and yeah, they are for Ernie Ball, D’Addario and Martin. I don’t know if any other strings are at this over 50% off discount. I don’t see my beloved DRs listed here. If you use Ernie Balls, D’Addarios and/or Martins, this is the time to stock up, or get them as stocking stuffers. (But remember, if you get a brand the recipient doesn’t use or like, it’s not a good deal. Like, if you gave me any of these respectable brands, I’d thank you, but I’d give them away because I don’t play with them.)

Guitar Center is also offering something called Yamaha Days. I couldn’t find a date specific window for this promotion, but there will be No interest for 12 months on Gibson, Yamaha and Roland/Boss if you use their Players credit card. There are also pricing incentives on particular Yamaha models and products. Then, they close out October with their Annual Rocktober sales from the 19th - 28th. For that they’re offering $20 off a purchase of $99 or more, $100 off a purchase of $599 or more and $200 off a purchase of $1099 or more.
So, whether you’re my friend Diane who’s in the market for a semi-hollow body, or you’re shopping for someone else, there are some improved deals to be had. Please don’t forget that if you’re buying a guitar for someone else, be sure it will fit them. Dads are notorious for finding guitars for their children, most notably, their daughters, that are way to large for them to play comfortably.
http://www.guitarcenter.com

Outro
I’m getting DR unrequited. I’m hoping to get them changed this week. We’ll see. Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ will run through June 2013. It’s open for visitors on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5. You simply must go.

I haven’t sorted out the whole FeedBurner debacle that I mentioned last week. We’ll see what happens with that.

Kudos to Aviv and Bridget. Long live chickpower. Keep up the great work, ladies. Relaxation and very small movement is the key to breaking through the speed wall you have hit. The 2nd Annual Less Paul Tribute Concert at Ramapo College was as expected… fabulous. If you need a guitar or gear, check out Guitar Center for a variety of price reductions and financing terms during the month of October. I don’t think I’ll be at the microphone before an October 15th show. Have a good Columbus Day if you get the day off.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Episode 089: Workaround

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:54:30 -0400

This week, there is one student in the Spotlight, the Question of the Week is from a former student who returned home to South Africa, News is about the Black Royale Limited Edition Collection from Epiphone and the Take Note segment is a tip for creating that ethereal sound that the old Strum Rose picks used to afford the players who used them.

I hope your week was better than mine. It was a week full of minor disasters - not the least of which was my iPhone’s death by joe. Not a dude, Joe - joe like morning joe: coffee. I’m not even going to go there right now. It stings a little too much. Suffice it to say, when you’re distracted and do things by rote, you shouldn’t handle expensive electronics. I know I never will again.

Then, FeedBurner stopped syndicating the feeds for this podcast and the show notes. At the time I’m recording this, I haven’t decided how I’ll work around that. For the immediate future, I will ask you to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or listen to it on the podcast page of the web site, which is guitartechniquetutor.com. If you usually subscribe to the show notes via a reader that has been populated by FeedBurner, I will put an email form on the podcast page and I’ll send you the show notes each time I post them. I will find or created something comparable to FeedBurner to distribute the show and show notes as soon as possible, but that may not be solved this week. Too much on the plate right now. Sorry about the change. It’s not up to me. I’m not the Queen of FeedBurnerdom.

On Wednesday, a day we had strange storms such that one of my students had to cancel her lesson because they had no power, I had offered to take my student Amber, who is the daughter of a good friend, to see the Gibson bus at the Mahwah Day celebration. Without going into detail, we left it that if she wanted to see it, she would call me. I didn’t get a call yesterday, so I didn’t go over to see it. I’m glad, too. A good friend emailed that she was going over the field at which Mahwah Day festivities are held and asked if I was there or going. I repelled that if Amber didn’t call I wasn’t going but I asked her if there were many people at the Gibson bus. She replied that she didn’t see the bus. So, I thought the bus must have parked at the museum to have close proximity to the Les Paul exhibit, rather than at the main staging ground. Just to be sure, I called the museum, only to find that the driver got sick and couldn’t make it all the way to Mahwah. The person I spoke to made it sound like he became ill en route. Of course I FBed and Tweeted about the bus being at the field the day before, so I had get right on social media to rectify the bum dope I disseminated. Ugh!

Speaking of the museum:

LES PAUL IN MAHWAH
THE MUSEUM EXHIBIT

The Les Paul in Mahwah Museum Exhibit will be open through June 2013 on weekends and Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. This exhibit will allow visitors to learn about the essential facts of Les Paul's life and career.
It has sections on invention and innovation, a display of one of a kind precious guitars made especially for Les, enthusiastic support from many famous current-day artists, a recreation of the studio in which Les did his work, a performance space where, at special times, patrons can play one of Les's guitars, and many hands-on video and audio displays.
Learn how this creative genius transformed rock, country and jazz music.
See how he and Mary performed for their weekly radio show from their home in Mahwah. Try to imagine a world without sound on sound recording and a time before there was the Les Paul guitar. You’ll get a taste of that when you experience the exhibit.

The Museum is located at 201 Franklin Turnpike. It is open weekends and Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5 and museum members and children under 12 are free. Visit their web site or call them at 201-512-0099 for more information.

The day after I recorded last week’s show, my Thank You, Les bundle came. It was the Deluxe package: a CD, DVD, a little booklet with tracks, artists and a few pages by Steve Miller and a Thank You, Les pick (well, actually, I got the producer to send me an extra for, who else? Tina of tinaspicks.com) and Lou Pallo signed the case in which the whole set came. It’s beautifully done and should be in every musician’s library. Order yours, if you haven’t already.

You’d think after all the unpleasantness of the week, I’d have changed all my guitars’ strings, just to vanquish the invading downers, but I didn’t have the opportunity. Maybe I could have used the time spent in the Apple Store to do it, but that time was consumed with getting a replacement device. And of course, it was too early for me to be eligible for an upgrade to the iPhone 5. I’m not buying it for the non-upgrade price. When I’m ready for an upgrade, the iPhone 6 will probably be available. Glad the back on the 6 is aluminum. That’s a long time overdue.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/
http://thankyoules.com/index.php/buy
http://www.stevemillerband.com/
http://www.tinaspicks.com
http://www.drstrings.com

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight is Danielle. She’s working on a cool guitar transcription of some Miyazaki movie music -- which I have only heard done on piano. Danielle is an interesting person and musician. Her taste is unusual and when she really likes something, she applies herself well. Danielle, you’re only recently returned to the world of ho hum and everyday, from having taken all summer off, but I like what see. It portends a great year ahead of us.

Question of the Week
This week's question came in by email from a former student who was here from South Africa, as an au pair a few years ago. It was great to hear from her. I’m so happy she’s doing well. Here question was, “I hate doing alternate tunings. Is there anything I can do to avoid them?”

That’s a good question. I recall that you never liked alternate tuning your guitar when we had lessons. I can’t answer it to your complete liking, but I can make some recommendations. If the alternate tuning is just to accommodate a vocalist, use a capo to change the key in which you’re playing. Although the accompaniment (if it is not original) may sound different from the recording, if you’re playing the correct chords, it will be fine. The capo is a hand invention.

If you’re playing in Drop D, an I remember you didn’t like it, back in the day, you can transpose your music to either the key of C or E. That’s only a whole step higher or lower, so it won’t sound too far off from the original. IF you can live with that, it’s a good alternative.

If what you’re playing requires a wonky open tuning, and you can’t afford to have a separate guitar permanently tuned and ready to play without having to do all that fiddling, seriously consider transposing or transposing and using a capo. Or, if you have to record this music, use some post-production software to alter the sound. Tedious, yes, but not nearly as challenging as playing in a crazy open tuning, unless you’re playing from tabs. Tab, in that case may be just what you need to slog through. Naturally, I’d rather it be your ear guiding your fingers rather than your ability to count frets but when you’re alternately tuned, it takes a little playing to re-center your ear, which then re-centers your reflexes.

If you’re playing a lead line with little harmony or very small chords, you might want to leave your guitar in standard tuning and just work out what fingerings you need to use for the music in question. It may turn out that it’s a little out there, but if you are dead set on not retuning, this is the best suggestion I can give you.

My advice to you listeners who are on the fence about alternate tunings is, try it without pre-conceptions and negative attitudes. One of the glories of a stringed instrument is that it is so laden with creative possibilities. I hope most of you take advantage of all the possibilities that await you.

So, Asha, thanks for the question and take a deep breath and choose the suggestion that’s right for you.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News
In the news this week is from our good friends at Epiphone. It’s about
the Limited Edition Epiphone Black Royale Collection!
The Epiphone Black Royale Collection brings together some of Epiphone's most iconic electric guitars, from vintage standards to new twists on old favorites, all with a beautiful Black Pearl, fine metallic color finish with silver sparkle binding. No other guitar manufacturer can boast of such a collection that combines classic looks, vintage tone, and modern construction. But most importantly, the Black Royale collection is Epiphone's salute to its many fans, a sincere thank you to Epiphone players around the world who think of Epiphone as their very own instrument company. The 6 guitars in this line are beauties.
The Black Royale Collection features the classic Dot ES-335 style electric that is both a rock and roll and jazz standard; the ES-339 PRO with Alnico Classic PRO™ Humbuckers and push/pull coil-tapping on each pickup; the radical and super cool Riviera Custom P93 featuring three P-90R pickups; the stunning Emperor Swingster with SwingBucker Plus™ Humbuckers, series parallel wiring, and Bigsby tremolo; the ground-breaking Wildkat with P-90s and Bigsby tremolo; and of course, the Les Paul Standard featuring Alnico Classic Plus™ Humbuckers.
All of the Black Royale collection feature Epiphone's all-metal hardware, Grover™ kidney style 14:1 machine heads, and full function volume and tone knobs using full-size 500K potentiometers. Each member of the Black Royale collection offers players timeless quality and a combination of vintage feel and modern styling that goes with every kind of music.
It's easy to imagine these instruments hanging in the window of a neighborhood instrument store in 1958 or 1968. But with features like coil-tapping, Alnico Classic PRO™ Humbuckers, right-on intonation and all metal hardware, the Black Royale Collection could only be made today. Right now. If you're an Epiphone fan, you probably have more than one Epiphone instrument at home. Now, make room for the Black Royale Collection. Be part of our history and let Epiphone be part of yours. Look for the Epiphone Black Royale Collection at your favorite Authorized Epiphone Dealer Today. This is a limited edition and my guess it that they aren’t going to last long. Thinking about a new axe for you or someone you love for Christmas, Hanukkah or an upcoming birthday? You might want to make this purchase now and put it away.
I’m a sucker for black and silver almost as I’m a sucker for red, so the color and design details of this whole line impresses me a lot. I’ll admit the visual appeal figures in considerably.

The price points are in line: Swingster lists for $1250 with a street price of $750, the WildKat lists for $582 and its street price is about $350, the Les Paul Standard lists for $750 and its street price is about $450, the Riviera Custom P93 lists for $915 and its street price is about $550, the Dot ES-335 lists for $750 and its street is about $450 and the ES-339 PRO has a list of $750 with a street of about $450. Great prices for limited editions.
As gorgeous as these are, I would make one design change. I’d use ebony on the fingerboard rather than rosewood. Visually, it would be far more beautiful and for me, I like the feel and speed on an ebony board. I know it’s more difficult to maintain and if a tech isn’t’ careful when doing a fret job, they can do much more damage to ebony than the more forgiving rosewood. And that difficulty results in loss of revenue if board repairs have to be done or re-done in warranty. But, dudes, you should have put ebony fingerboards on these guitars.
If you’re indifferent about the board wood used on your axe, definitely check these beautiful Black Royale guitars.

http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2012/Presenting-The-Limited-Edition-Black-Royale.aspx?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Epiphone&utm_content=GRAPHIC%3A+Black+Royale

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is what I hope will be good news to those of you listeners who have only heard about and seen photos of an old, no longer available novelty pick, called the Strum Rose. I have one of these dinosaurs -- and don’t email or call asking me to sell it to you. It’s not for sale at any price. I’m frequently on various guitar sites that have discussion boards and when the Strum Rose comes up, there always seems to be interest. If you haven’t ever heard of it, the idea was to create a pick with multiple plectrums to approximate the sound of a 12-string for 6-string players. Of course you didn’t have that whole chorus of octaves above the traditional tuning, just because the pick had 7 plectrum points, but you did get the fuller sound, like a few guitars playing at the same time. That pick hasn’t been made or available for quite some time. I know because I had a student that wanted one so much after I allowed her to play with mine during her lesson. I checked everywhere and came up empty. Now, that being said, there may be someone who has purchased the contents of a closed guitar shop that has new old stock sitting around, and some Strum Roses among that new old stock. But more than likely, the ones still extant are few. Some chord progressions sound great with the kind of multiplicity the Strum Rose offered.

A week or so ago, I was playing and thinking about my Strum Rose, which is usually in my work bag, which lives in my car. Here in the apartment, Raptors are the only picks I use these days. Eureka! I got the idea that a Raptor guitar pick could give the flavor of the Strum Rose, with perhaps not quite as much depth, but pretty close, owing to its peculiar molded edges. I gave it a try. It was excellent. If you have a Raptor guitar pick and would like to try it, use either the broadest tip or the middle sized tip as your lead pick surface. Use the pointy tip as the follower. Hold the pick at a diagonal to the strings so as you strum the larger tip strikes the strings first and the pointy tip strikes it later. It’s just the airy, dreamy quality that works well with certain major 7 chord progressions and other etherial sounding music. I tried the same exercise with a traditional pick but it was a fail.

So, if you had and lost your Strum Rose and have lived as an unrequited guitarist for eons, try the slanted Raptor move and you may be surprised at how similar the sound is. (And another benefit is that people will just marvel at your pick rather than ridicule it, the way many critics of the Strum Rose did.) If you never had a Strum Rose, but this discussion intrigues you, give it a go. I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

Raptor Picks USA
Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
I hope there are some delicious DRs in my near future. Don’t forget to get your tickets to the Second Annual Les Paul Tribute concert at Ramapo College on Saturday September 29h. The theater is teensy, so call when you hear this, if you want to go. Les Paul in Mahwah is open at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 - 5. You’ve got to go.
Congrats, Danielle. I love what you’re working on and your zeal for it.
Alternate tunings are useful and you can’t alternately tune just any instrument.
If you really hate it or can’t understand it, there are some work arounds. They’re a bit of a compromise, but a compromise is sometimes better than not playing something at all.
If you’re shopping for a new Epiphone, or a nondescript, as yet, electric guitar, take a look at Epiphone’s Black Royale Limited Edition models. They’re pretty and priced right.
Just because it may not be the throes of summer where you are, doesn’t mean you may not still need to use your humidifier. If you have less than 40% humidity in the air where your guitar live, HUMIDIFY.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, I am hoping to put a link for you to subscribe to the podcast, but for now, iTunes is the most useful way. I also hope to create a link by which you can subscribe to the show notes, if you choose. FeedBurner caught me off guard and their change is a bit of a set back for all of us who distributed content through them. I will try to get those links up this week, but I can’t make any promises. Rest assured, it’s on the front burner.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen, Orange and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the village of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Sloatsburg, Suffern, Tallman, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park, Upper Saddle River, Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

I’ll do my best to get the show and show notes efficiently syndicated and accessible to as many people as I can. In the mean time, iTunes is my best recommendation.

Episode 088: Caveat Emptor

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:25:28 -0400

How have your last few weeks been? Mine have been crazy. Sorry about skipping out last week but it was impossible for me to record. Thank you for all the kind inquiring emails. No, my sweetie E-Rex has not taken a bad turn. I was just way over scheduled. Actually, E-Rex’s doctor visit revealed that he has not healed completely from the spring surgery So, he has to wait at least 6 - 8 weeks to begin treatment, but that’s going to take us right into the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year season. He may begin then, but it’s more likely that we will wait until the first clear thaw of the winter - like late February, to begin. The doc said there’s no reason to irrationally rush - 6 weeks or 6 months would be okay - but the treatment is required. Since E-Rex will be going daily for 8 weeks, we want to be confident that the likelihood of disastrous weather is slight.

Welcome, new student Aviv. She is the friend of another student, Shira and is friends with student, Danielle’s sister, Sarah. Small world. Aviv is a very cool person because she’s a twin. Not only is she a twin, but her twin is her brother. I went to school with 4 or 5 sets of twins. Among them, there was only 1 set of brother/sister twins. I assisted Aviv and her dad choose a guitar that would fit her and she had her first lesson last week. She did very well. It’s clear she gets it. Welcome Aviv!!

Welcome back Danielle (who broke her right hand pinkie at camp). I had a call from Talia, who is planning to resume her lessons in October. The house is still under construction and this month has the fall Jewish Holidays, so October is as soon as she can get back to her lessons.

It took hours on end last week, to cobble a schedule together that works for my diverse and busy student base as well as for me. I think it’s perfect. I’m hoping that no sports or clubs that have yet to publish schedules, will cause me to have to start shifting things around. If so, we’ll deal with it.

I had a consultation with a delightful potential student, Sarah-Kate last week. Unfortunately we cannot mesh our schedules. She’s a very busy student.

Saturday I put a fresh set of DRs on my student Mike’s guitar. I have 2 student’s named Mike -- this is Dr Mike. He’s been away teaching in Italy, which is one of the highlight trips he takes annually. His Martin was sounding sort of thuddy, so I suggested that I put some fresh strings on while he was away. He returned yesterday so I dropped the guitar off last night so he can play and hear all that beautiful DR goodness.

I haven’t changed any of my strings since my last full length podcast. Yes, my strings are getting dull, but the past 2 weeks were just too crammed with activity. Maybe this coming week. We’ll see.

Did you make it to Experience PRS over the weekend? I didn’t and I couldn’t even watch my Twitter feed, which I’m sure was bubbling over with Tweets about it. I’ll probably read about it tomorrow. If you went, I’m sure you had a great Experience.

The Mahwah Museum the popular exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah” reopened on September 8 and continues until June 2013. The Museum is located at 201 Franklin Turnpike. It is open weekends and Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5 and museum members and children under 12 are free. Visit http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/ or call them at 201-512-0099 for more information.

Visitors to the Les Paul exhibit have a chance to learn about Les Paul, long-time Mahwah resident, inventor, musician and self-taught engineer. The exhibit also has several new items, making another visit a must for those who have already enjoyed “Les Paul in Mahwah.” “ECHO,” an M. Hohner harmonica used by Les Paul during the early years of his career is a notable new feature of the display. Continuing as part of the exhibit is “The Log,” a fascinating visual of how a solid body guitar was built and so much more. The exhibit is not to be missed.

Along with the the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit I have to also mention that the “Gibson Bus,” Gibson Guitar Corporation’s traveling tour bus, will again be a part of the Mahwah Museum’s participation at Mahwah Day, September 22. That’s next Saturday. The Gibson bus is cool. All the interior appointments are music themed. If I am remembering correctly, the window sills look like keyboards and it has a fully functioning recording studio in it. Visitors can play a guitar specially made by Gibson for Paul McCartney, see interesting photos of Gibson artists and just enjoy the experience of being in the fabled bus. If you are participating in Mahwah Day, you’ve GOT TO take a few minutes to check out the Gibson bus and take some pictures. If you’re a guitarist and will be in or near NYC, it’s worth trying to add the exhibit and the Gibson bus to your Saturday daytime plans.

This week, there are 2 in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is from my brand new student, Aviv, News is about, what else? The Second Annual Les Paul tribute concert, an event for which I can hardly wait and Take Note’s topic is inspired by Sarah-Kate’s experience last year, Caveat Emptor.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.prsguitars.com
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/

Raptor Picks USA

Here is how Black Carbon, the manufacturer of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks describes them:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets our high standards prior to leaving the UK based factory.

On a personal note: this pick has changed my playing, my technique and a lot of my attitudes about certain genres. After decades of using another pick exclusively, I haven’t played with anything but a Raptor since the first one I touched.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Student Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight for the past 2 weeks are Bridget and Mike. Nice work! These are both very new students. They are tenacious and serious. I love that about both of them. Go you!

Now that you’re both playing a little more complex music, it will take more concentration and more coordination, but you will both do exceedingly well if you continue to apply yourselves the way you have been.

Okay, now that everyone except Talia is back on their “normal” schedule, let’s see some more students basking in the glow of the Student Spotlight, which is a just reward for your diligence.

Question of the Week

I was going to skip the question of the week because I didn’t have too many question this week. Then, last night, I received a text from new student Aviv. Here’s what it said, “What is the fastest way to get a pick out if you drop it inside the guitar? I dropped it a few times and it takes forever.”

My text back was that I’ll show her at her lesson and I suggested that she use a different pick. In addition to introducing her to, pardon the brand name, Gorilla Snot, I will show her the most effective way to get a pick out of an acoustic - in her case, acoustic-electric guitar.

Aside from my Chinese students who scamper into the kitchen to fetch chop sticks when they drop their picks into their guitars, I think my method is most effective: Hold the guitar parallel to the floor with the sound hole facing the ceiling. Look inside and by jostling and shaking, move the pick toward the center of the box. Your goal is to jiggle the guitar until the pick is directly below the center of the sound hole. The next step requires cultivating a little finess. If you play an acoustic guitar, you’re probably going to drop a pick inside from time to time, so it’s worth developing this skill: you need to quickly rotate the guitar so that the sound hole faces the floor. I hold the guitar neck and at the lower bout seam. It’s all in the wrist. You have to rotate quickly or the pick will slide to the side and not fall out. I have to impart this warning. One of my students watched me dislodge his pick and then we dropped another in the guitar so he could try to remove it. He was looking so intently at that pick in the center of the box directly under the center of the sound hole that he hit himself in the head with the guitar. Get your head out of the way! Hold the guitar steady when the pick is in the correct place. Be sure you’re out of the danger zone and then rotate.

I hope this method helps you if you drop your pick often or if you have a few inside your guitar and haven’t been able to extricate them. It’s worth learning. Thanks for the question, Aviv.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

http://www.gorillasnotusa.com/gorilla-snot-guitar-pick-grip/

News

In the news this week is a save the date: On Saturday, September 29th the Mahwah Museum and Ramapo College will sponsor the Second Annual Les Paul Tribute Concert at the College’s Berrie Center/Sharp Theater. The concert features the Les Paul Trio: musicians Lou Pallo, Nicki Parrott and John Coliani. One and all are top notch musicians and at last year’s tribute concert, John Coliani absolutely wowed me. I’m not enamored of the piano, but in my estimation, hearing John play is worth the price of the ticket. Add to that, Lou and Nicki and it’s a great evening. Tickets are available now through the Berrie Center Box Office. The top ticket price is only $30. I attended the 1st Les Paul tribute concert at the Berrie Center last September and it was excellent. Whether you’re a jazzcat or not, if you appreciate extraordinary musicianship and you’re in traveling distance, buy a ticket and go. I just order tickets and as of tonight, great seats are available. If you ‘re on the fence about this, don’t wait. This is a small, intimate theater and it will sell out quickly.

http://www.ramapo.edu/berriecenter/events/september.html

Don’t forget that you can now purchase Thank You, Les, the recording and or documentary in a variety of formats. Lou Pallo did an excellent job paying homage to Les Paul. Mine is on its way. I received an email from Joni that it shipped on Friday so I should have it in a couple days. I know the studio at which it was recorded was right here in NJ - of course - most, if not all, of the NJ Guitar Mafia played on this project.

http://thankyoules.com/index.php/buy
http://jerseyguitarmafia.com/

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is Caveat Emptor. For those of you who haven’t been in school for a while and have forgotten your Latin, and for those of you who never heard Carveat Emptor, it means , “let the buyer beware.” I said in the Intro, that this segment was inspired by Sarah-Kate. When we had our consultation, I knew from my phone conversation with her mother, that she had had a full school year of guitar lessons last year. Sarah-Kate is bright, well-spoken to the extent that I would call her atypically articulate and she’s musical to boot. Of course, I was interested to hear her play something she learned last year and hear about whatever she remembered from her lessons. I’m pretty sure she took the summer off. After her parents paid well in excess of a thousand dollars for her training, she was able to play an A chord, a D chord and an E minor chord for me. I asked her why the A chord was an A chord, and why the D chord was a D chord and why the E minor chord was an E minor chord. For each one, she told me that the reason was because the bass string - in her words, the lowest string, was whatever the chord was. So, the open A of the A string was what made the A chord what it was and likewise the open D string and open low E string, respectively, for why the D and E minor chords were what they were. In addition to that she showed me 2 half pages of hand written tabs that were the intros to 2 songs.

How does that strike you? I’ll tell you how it struck me and always strikes me: I hate incompetence. And I especially hate it when by deception, people are ripped off by incompetent service providers. I guess I’m using a broad brush here because our dear friend Shanti is going through a construction nightmare with a totally incompetent contractor.
I’m particularly sensitive to so-called guitar instructors ripping people off and being either thieves of ignoramuses. Where did Sarah-Kate’s mom find such a totally incompetent person who took her money for doing nothing? Wait for it…… Can you guess? Would it help if I told you I did a Take Note on them a while ago? Sarah-Kate took “lessons” at School of Rock. And just to see if they’d have a better experience with a different teacher, she went back for a lesson a week or so ago, and requested a different instructor. Content, which didn’t include any structure at all and not even a lesson book, was the same. So, Caveat Emptor. Don’t say you weren’t warned about throwing your money away employing School of Rock to teach you or your loved one.

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
Welcome back, everyone but Talia of my students and welcome for the first time to new student Aviv.
Dr Mike’s Martin sounded great with its new DRs. Too bad I had to give it back.
Nice work Bridget and Mike. You played well over the past couple of weeks.
The Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit is open until June of 2013 on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5. I’m sure they will make arrangements for a group. It’s worth another trip if you have seen it already because there are additions to the previous exhibit.
The 2nd Annual Les Paul tribute concert at Ramapo college will be on September 29th. Last week, I was able to get excellent seats. Hurry, the theater is intimate and doesn’t seat very many. I’ll see you there if you’re going.
Rotate carefully, when you’re trying to get a pick out of your guitar or you may hit yourself in the head!
School of Rock’s track record for “teaching” is abysmal. Rethink it if you’re planning to go or send someone you love there.
If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Happy New Year to my Jewish students and friends. Have a sweet sweet year.

Les Be Brief

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:00:02 -0400

jI'm ust dropping a short PSA on you. I have had innumerable scheduling issues so I have to just delay resuming my weekly podcast for one additional week. Sorry about that but it can’t be helped.

Next week, Episode 088 should be up and live by Monday night, barring any unexpected crises.

I don’t want to delay in mentioning that at the Mahwah Museum the popular exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah” reopened on September 8 and continues until June 2013. The Museum is located at 201 Franklin Turnpike. It is open weekends and Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5 and museum members and children under 12 are free. Visit http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/ or call us at 201-512-0099 for more information.

Visitors to the Les Paul exhibit have a chance to learn about Les Paul, long-time Mahwah resident, inventor, musician and self-taught engineer. The exhibit also has several new items, making another visit a must for those who have already enjoyed “Les Paul in Mahwah.” “ECHO,” an M. Hohner harmonica used by Les Paul during the early years of his career is a new feature of the display. Continuing as part of the exhibit is “The Log,” a fascinating visual of how a solid body guitar was built and so much more. The exhibit is not to be missed.

On Saturday, September 29th the Mahwah Museum and Ramapo College will sponsor the Second Annual Les Paul Tribute Concert at the College’s Berrie Center/Sharp Theater. The concert features the Les Paul Trio: musicians Lou Pallo, Nicki Parrott and John Coliani. One and all are top notch musicians and at last year’s tribute concert, John Coliani absolutely wowed me. I’m not enamored of the piano, but in my estimation, hearing John play is worth the price of the ticket. Add to that, Lou and Nicki and it’s a great evening. Tickets are available now through the Berrie Center Box Office. The top ticket price is only $30. I attended the 1st Les Paul tribute concert at the Berrie Center last September and it was excellent. Whether you’re a jazzcat or not, if you appreciate extraordinary musicianship and you’re in traveling distance, buy a ticket and go. I just order tickets and as of tonight, great seats are available. If you ‘re on the fence about this, don’t wait. This is a small, intimate theater and it will sell out quickly.

http://www.ramapo.edu/berriecenter/events/september.html

Don’t forget that you can now purchase Thank You, Les, the recording and or documentary in a variety of formats. Lou Pallo did an excellent job paying homage to Les Paul. Mine is on its way.

While I’m mentioning the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit and the 2nd annual Les Paul tribute concert and the Thank You Les project, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention that the “Gibson Bus,” Gibson Guitar Corporation’s traveling tour bus, will again be a part of the Mahwah Museum’s participation at Mahwah Day, September 22. The Gibson bus has a recording studio and visitors can play a guitar specially made by Gibson for Paul McCartney, see interesting photos of Gibson artists and just enjoy the experience of walking through the bus. If you are participating in Mahwah Day, you simply MUST take a few minutes to check out the Gibson bus and take some pictures.

Thanks for your forbearance and I will be back behind the mic for a regular show including intro, student spotlight, question of the week, news and take note segments next week.

To my private guitar students: welcome back from summer vacation. Cut your nails if they need it before I see you each week and make yourself an appointment to play at a particular time each day if you have trouble with time management or your playing time mysteriously slips away. I also want to say welcome to Aviv, a new student. I”ll tell you more about her next week.

For those of you who are like me, the approach of September 11th is unsettling - and rightly so. For me, it’s the hardest day of the year. If you lost friends, co-workers or loved ones 11 years ago, my condolences go out to you. I wish you comfort.

I want to thank my sponsor Raptor Picks USA for allowing me to represent a fabulous product and for their sponsorship of this show. What? You have never heard of a Raptor Pick? Then you must be a first time listener. I’ll tell you this:

Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Episode 087: Kilby Was Here

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:34:48 -0400

Intro
So, how was your week? I had the happy surprise of Shira resuming her guitar lessons this week, which I wasn’t expecting. I thought she would be off until after Labor Day. Having played for only a few months before the big break, she lost some ground that we are doing our best to recover in a timely fashion. As I mentioned last week, I was able to have lunch with Anya, to hear all about her Argentinian exploits. It sounds like she had a wonderful time, guitar-wise and otherwise. The mother of the family with which she stayed, was a professional gourmet chef and she said the food was so incredible that she gained 15 lbs!! Better her than me. She had already lost 4 or 5 when we met and honestly, had she not told me she’d gained, I would not have noticed. As she says, she wears her weight well. I agree.

The DRs on all my guitars are still in the okay-zone. Not spectacular anymore, but surely not dead. I’m looking forward to putting new DR strings on the new guitar but that won’t be for a few weeks,yet.

I received an email from the folks at Thank You, Les, with various pre-order options. If you were on that list, you did too.

2 weeks ago, when last I saw my student, Arno, he said there was a particular song he wanted to work on. For those of you who don’t know me or haven’t heard me mention anything like this before, I just want to go on record, informing you that I don’t violate copyrights as I hope you do not. When one of my students needs or wants music, I pay for it. Please respect everyone’s copyrights. You want to be paid for your work and so do writers, composers, designers, artists and everyone else whose finish product is on a sheet of paper.

Back to the story [and for those of you who have been with me since the beginning, Arno is the infamous “bat guy.” Not because he’s a Batman fan, but because during the 1st year we worked together, one time we were having a lesson and something was suddenly flying around the living room and that something was a bat that had apparently come down the chimney] Anyway, Arno asked to work on a particular Who song. So I purchased the song and went about the business of obliterating the tabs in PhotoShop. It took a while because it was a 29 page song. 29 pages!!! Of course, the morning of his lesson I received a text from him -- no he didn’t say he didn’t want to learn that song, but he did say they had to see their mortgage banker or broker (because their selling their house and buying another in September) so he had to cancel his lesson until next week. Naturally. Oh well, all that editing and printing is done and I don’t have to do it this week. That never happens when it’s a 5 or 6 page song.

Don’t forget to NOT go to the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. It’s still not open. It will re-open in September and I will have all the details for you on my next show.

These last 2 weeks of summer are traditionally very slow, so without further digression, I’ll talk about this week’s show.

1 student is in the Student Spotlight. The Question of the Week is What is “flat picking? Aren’t all picks flat?”, News is about the PRS Cody Kilby private stock guitar, and Take Note is about your comfort zone.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.thankyoules.com
http://www.raptorpicksusa.com
Raptor Picks USA

Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

And the one I like best is “The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight is first-timer Bridget. Wow did she do excellently. She was so well prepared, her skill level was high and she was extremely confident. You go girl!

Bridget was telling me that although she’s new to guitar, in her words, “it’s my life.” She just turned 12 and she reminds me very much of me, when I began to play. That’s heartwarming. I love to see passion in my students and Bridget has a heaping supply.

Excellent, excellent work Bridget.

Question of the Week
This week's question is: What is flatpicking? Aren’t all picks flat? I was a little surprised at the question but far be it from me to not answer.

The most succinct answer to that question is that "flatpicking" is the technique of playing a guitar with a flat pick (or flat plectrum) versus the use of bare fingers, finger picks, or a thumb pick. The truth is that a plectrum or pick brings a certain collection of sounds out of a steel string guitar that are unique. Personally, I’d put a thumb pick in the flat pick category when it is used without finger picks and when the player is not finger picking.

From the 1800s through the 1930s, the guitar was basically a rhythm instrument here in the US. As more and more guitarists broke out and played lead licks on the guitar (like in the 1940s and 50s) two main styles emerged--"fingerstyle" and "flatpicking." The term "flatpicking" originated with early lead acoustic guitar players in traditional country and bluegrass music who used a plectrum to play the guitar. The plectrum of choice was called a "flat pick" or "straight pick." They devised the "flatpick" term in order to distinguish their technique from "fingerstyle" players who used finger picks, thumb picks, or bare fingers to pick the guitar's strings. As I mentioned earlier - I’d classify a sole thumb pick as a flat pick but some purists would probably disagree with me.

Because the origins of the term "flatpicking" grew out of traditional country, old-time, early folk, and bluegrass music, and the term is most generally used now, to describe that particular kind of guitar playing.

So, “flatpicking” is a technique for playing the acoustic steel-stringed guitar with a flat pick. Although the term is most often used in bluegrass circles, the genres of music that are also graced with flatpicking are i old-time (fiddle tunes), traditional country, Celtic, new acoustic (acoustic jazz, newgrass), folk, gypsy jazz, acoustic swing, western music, acoustic blues, and acoustic rock and any other genre that involves a steel string guitar being played with a single plectrum.

Because the guitar was traditionally used as a rhythm instrument, the technique of playing lead breaks on the acoustic guitar with a flat pick in bluegrass, old-time, folk, and country music did not really begin to become wide spread until the late 1950s. Prior to that, most of the people who were playing lead breaks on the acoustic guitar, or using the acoustic guitar to accompany their singing in these genres, were either using the fingerstyle techniques or primarily playing rhythm guitar with the occasional lead run used as an embellishment between vocal lines. It’s quite typical of music of those decades.

During the 60s and 70s the flatpicking technique proliferated as lead guitar became more prominent in bluegrass, folk, and traditional music.

During the 1970s and into the 1980s, some artists began exploring the flatpicking boundaries and included "new acoustic music" and jazz in their repertoires. This early experimentation with the parameters that had previously defined flatpicking as a country or bluegrass style has led the way for a new generation of flatpickers.

What began as a technique to play fiddle tunes in old-time and bluegrass music has now blossomed into a technique of wide and varied musical proportions.

News
In the news this week is the PRS Private Stock Cody Kilby Signature Acoustic
I don’t recall if I saw a FB post or a Tweet about this guitar last week. Uncharacteristically, I had a few minutes to follow the link and take a look at it. What a beautiful instrument! It’s got a price tag to match .

From his beginning as a bluegrass prodigy to his current role as lead guitarist in Ricky Skagg’s band Kentucky Thunder, Cody Kilby’s distinctive, visionary voice as a guitarist has always stood apart from the pack. A fan of PRS acoustic guitars since their introduction, Kilby has now worked with PRS to develop a very special Private Stock model. The Cody Kilby Private Stock acoustic features a PRS Tonare Grand body perimeter with a shallower PRS Angelus depth, PRS’s proprietary hybrid X bracing pattern, and a “Traditional” inlay pattern (only available on the Cody Kilby model). Private Stock options available to customers include top, back and side, neck, and fingerboard wood from the famed Private Stock Vault. So, that’s why the price is that of a custom made guitar, because it is.

CODY KILBY PRIVATE STOCK ACOUSTIC SPECS
Body Shape 16" Tonare Grande w/Angelus Depth

Back and Side Woods: Cocobolo
Top Wood: Adirondack Spruce
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Fretboard and Bridge Wood: Ebony
Strength Rod: High-Modulus Carbon Fiber
Inlays Green Abalone J Birds
Nut: Bone
Nut Width: 1.81"
Saddle: Bone
Tuners: Proprietary Robson-Designed Tuners
Tuner Buttons: Ebony
Electronics: PRS Pickup system

I believe this guitar was only released last month. I came across 1 online. and it’s “retail” or “regular” which may mean “street” price was a drop over $11,700. They were offering it at the bargain price of about $8,200. Can you say champagne wishes and caviar dreams?

www.prsguitars.com/codykilby/

http://youtu.be/yr3iwS0Ds5c

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is your comfort zone. No, I’m not referring to whether you’re comfortable forging through technically challenging music or whether you have performance anxiety in front of a crowd -- or just your instructor -- I’m talking about how comfortable you are playing -- in the physical sense.

Many many many podcasts ago, I did a segment on playing a guitar that fits you properly. In my work, I see people playing guitars that don’t fit their bodies very often. I’m not going to rehash the guitar fit issue this time, but as I observed my students this past week, I saw some in guitar chairs, some on high stools, one half on a stool with one foot on the floor, some on couches, one on an ottoman, one in a living room chair, one in an office chair without arms and one on her bed. I get around. The students I have been working with over the summer all sit to play. I have some students who play for me in their lessons, standing, but I didn’t see any of them last week.

Do you sit when you play guitar? What do you sit on?

Have you ever played while seated too high or too low or with your guitar resting on the surface upon which you’re sitting? None of those scenarios are profitable to the accomplished or aspiring guitarist.

Let me address you nylon string classical style players. I say classical style because not everyone who sits and holds the guitar in the manner I am about to describe, plays classical music. For the most part, these are people who finger pick on nylon strings or steel strings. It’s unusual for a flatpicker to sit as I’m about to describe, but some do. This is the guitarist who rests the waist of the guitar on his or her elevated left thigh. When I say elevated, I mean elevated: 7” or more and frequently much more. I know it doesn’t sound comfortable, but the guitar is held is the perfect position for very high fret access and it’s well balanced. For you who play this way, it’s of paramount importance that your right foot is flat on the ground and your right thigh is parallel to the ground. It doesn’t matter what you sit on although I recommend there be a little lower back support if you can manage that. It’s also optimum to have a seat that is more wedge shaped than round, square or rectangular. If you usually sit on a dining chair that is square-ish, sit on the corner so it’s more like a bike seat. Your leg circulation will be improved, which is important if you practice or play for long periods. Your seat should be firm but comfortable. I enthusiastically recommend the Original Guitar Chair for this. It’s not only a fabulous practice chair (which some of my students even use as a computer chair) but it’s made to easily collapse so it can be transported and used as a performance chair, as well. This is fine furniture that is made to your order as far a wood, stain and height. It’s something you’ll have for a long time, if not forever. They run about $350 depending upon how customized you need it. It’s a totally useful furnishing and once you begin sitting on it to play, you’ll wonder how you ever sat on anything else.

For the rest of you, who are the majority of players who use picks on acoustic or electric guitars, it’s the opposite. Most of you (and I’m talking about “righty” players - lefties who play lefty instead of righty, just reverse right and left in my following comments) rest the guitar on a level or elevated right thigh. The height of this thigh requires many calculations but the most important one is the height necessary to put the guitar at the height and angle to the body that causes your right arm to be the perfect counterweight to the neck so the guitar is perfectly balanced AND comfortable to play. A well situated guitar should not cause you to hunch over your axe. This almost always means that the lower bout is not touching whatever it is on which you’re sitting. When that happens, the neck is generally not at the vertical angle that is conducive to you playing easily nor powerfully. In most cases this guitar/seat contact causes the neck to be nearly parallel to the floor.

I think this issue cause flatpickers to either sit on stools that have rungs upon which they can place their feel at various heights or they choose armless chairs that allow their left foot to be on the floor with the left thigh fairly parallel to the floor and then they cross their right leg over the left. That position seems to set the guitar at just the right height and angle for extended playing. However you get that right thigh elevated, whether by crossing or employing a convenient rung on a stool, be sure your right arm is comfortable and the neck angle is optimum.

Everyone’s body size and shape will ultimately dictate how and upon what they sit on to play. Low, large seats are not optimum. Find how you need to optimize your seat when playing and you’ll find your comfort zone.

http://www.originalguitarchair.com/faq.html

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro

After the shootings the Empire State building last week, a lot of New Yorkers who lived or worked in the skyscraper’s shadow had fear induced flash-backs to 9/11 if they were old enough to recall that terrible day. No, there were no plains flown into buildings, but I think I can safely say that no one in NY, DC or PA has been the same since that day. My condolences go out to all of the families that lost loved ones in NYC last Friday.

My DRs are in good shape for the time being. That’s always a good thing. Don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Thank You, Les, the CD and DVD tribute to the guitarist and extraordinary inventor. Mine is ordered.

Congrats to Bridget. Well done! You remind me of me!! Let’s see more of the same this week. Flatpicking was originally coined to denote guitarists playing lead licks or bluegrass style fiddle tunes with a plectrum. Now it means anyone who uses a single pick with which to play steel strings. Check out the Cody Kilby PRS Private Stock signature guitar even if you can’t afford it. It is gorgeous. Be sure your playing isn’t being impeded by you not being comfortable or default bad posture from sitting on something unfit for guitar playing or practice.

I’m going to skip doing a show next week. I mentioned a few shows ago that on the 5th, E-Rex will be going back to the Dr for a post surgical check up and to receive (we hope) an okay to proceed with cancer treatment. Since we are still not sure precisely what that will entail, I’m hoping to return to weekly broadcasts following my Labor Day break, but there’s a possibility that once treatment begins, I might need to reduce the frequency of the podcasts. It’s not something I want to do, but real life trumps my podcast every time. I will keep you posted.

Episode 086: Which Way to Turn

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:45:16 -0400

How was your week? Mine was more than okay.

The new addition arrived on Thursday. No, I haven’t yet changed her strings yet because she’s strung with decent, rather than the usual deplorable strings one ordinarily gets on a new axe. DRs are inevitable, so in a few weeks, I’ll put them on.

As I record, I’m nearly shivering - we’ve had an excellent break in the heat and when we awoke this morning, it was about 57 degrees. It felt like an autumn morning. The day was lovely, an now that the sun has been down for a while, it’s downright chilly.

3 students had their tell-tale 2nd lessons last week and I was extremely pleased. One has made it into the student spotlight this week. The Question of the Week came in by email and is about cables. The News is about 3 beautiful new colors for the Les Paul Standard and the Take Note topic is Which Way to Turn.

Don’t forget the 2 important Les Paul things:
DO NOT go to the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ to see the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. It’s closed until September. But definitely plan to see it when it re-opens in September.
DO pre-order Thank You, Les. The guitarists amassed for this fitting tribute CD and documentary are just phenomenal to hear.

Raptor Picks USA
Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight is new student Mike. Mike is that hard to fit with a guitar adult student I mentioned last week. Well, I was terribly impressed with his second lesson, last Wednesday. He practiced, assimilated the material I gave him and performed extraordinarily well. Dude! If last week was indicative of what you will be able to accomplish on a weekly basis, I see “monster” written all over you.

Students who are less busy than Mike and who are playing longer than 2 weeks, please take notice that you are without excuse. Mike has a wife and 4 beautiful young children, he commutes to Manhattan for work, and works long hours. He still found time to practice and excel. I love it.

I think we’ll be hearing about Mike in the Student Spotlight frequently. No pressure, but let’s see.

Question
This week's question came in by email from Jeff. He wrote: I know you’re not selling cables, so what’s up? Is there REALLY a difference between a $10 cable and one that costs $40?

Thanks for the question, Jeff. I’ll be sending a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick out to you tomorrow.

The most succinct answer I can give you is yes. Perhaps your question should read, “Is there REALLY a difference between a $10 cable and one that costs $150?” because you can actually find cables that cost that much.

First, you need to select a cable that will hold up to the kind of use he or she will be subjecting it to. If you play out frequently, and trample your cables onstage, you might want to consider one of the heavy PVC or braided jacket models that offer more protection for the conductors, and steer clear of cables with sticky vinyl jackets that dirt and grime can cling to. You should know that cables with solid-wire conductors typically cost more, and may not take being repeatedly coiled and uncoiled as well as a cable with stranded conductors. Most instrument cables are protected from radio-frequency interference (RF) by braided copper or spiral-wrapped shielding. Braided shielding is highly effective—upwards of 95% in some cables—while spiral or “served” shielding, which comprises a layer of copper strands wound in one direction around an insulated conductor, is less costly and better able to tolerate flexing (and in some cases, capable of 100% coverage).
Regarding the connectors themselves, manufacturers have done a lot to make plug designs that keep the connections from being stressed as the cable is used and maybe even abused. Be aware that the Achilles heel of any cable is where the wires attach to the plug, and no matter how much you pay for a cable, you might as well face the fact that it’s a matter of when not if your cable will fail. Despite that, taking reasonable care of a quality cord (using Velcro cable ties, avoiding knots, not rolling speaker cabs over it, etc.) can extend its life to well over 10 years or more.
The Capacitance Factor
Basically speaking, cable capacitance is a measure of the ability of a cable to store an electrical charge, which, in turn, affects how efficiently the cable transmits high frequencies. The net result of this phenomenon is that any cable essentially works like a secondary tone control across your pickups. All cables—including shielded guitar cables, generate capacitance. Capacitance in cables is typically measured in picofarads per foot (pf/ft), and the lower the capacitance of the cable, the better it will be at passing the highs coming from your guitar.
So is that the end of the story? Should you just buy lowest capacitance cable you can find, no matter the price? Not necessarily. Cable capacitance is only part of the equation, and its effect is influenced by the input impedance of the amp or effect your guitar is driving (the higher the input impedance, the more you may notice the effect), as well as the output impedance of your guitar (the lower the output impedance, the less you may notice the effect). Generally speaking, if your guitar has active pickups, you can probably be less concerned with capacitance than a player who uses a guitar with passive pickups. Capacitance is best thought of as an ingredient in the “je ne sais quoin” of guitar tone, so if you’re a jazz player who likes a darker sound—or a rock player who just wants a more buttery distortion — then you may actually want to use cable that has a higher capacitance rating.
Okay, so that’s some of the technical mumbo jumbo. What about these price disparities?
Well, there’s no doubt that different materials cost different prices - but that alone doesn’t account for a $140 spread. I mean, they’re cables with ends that go into guitars and amps.
Please, if you’re buying a cable for an acoustic electric guitar please make sure the cable you buy is made for an acoustic guitar. There is a Monster Acoustic cable and The Taylor V-Cable is a good one too, with a built-in master volume control, great for guitars that don’t have tone and volume knobs in optimum locations or missing entirely. The Taylor V-Cable prices out between $62 and $74 There is a limited lifetime warranty on these cables. I do not own any. I have seen some reviews that stated the cables broke frequently. I don’t know if that’s true or just a competitor of Taylor’s posting bilge. Taylor quality is usually high, so check this out further, if you’re in the market for this particular cable.
http://www.taylorguitars.com/taylorware/Item.aspx?itemid=1306&categoryid=1011&page=2

A kingpin among cables is Mogami. Virtually every major recording facility in the world is wired with Mogami cable. Mogami is famous for unmatched accuracy, extremely low noise, and remarkable flexibility. Top engineers rave about the amazing clarity and silent background they get with Mogami cable. If accuracy in reproduction is your goal, Mogami Gold is the audio cable for you. Their top end price can be as high as $150. They have a lifetime warranty
http://www.mogamicable.com/

If you ask working guitarists what cable they like, many will say, DiMarzio
It only makes sense that a company known for making top-notch pickups extends their product line to cables. Their generically named “Instrument Cable” is anything but. With a combination of a braided shield and carbon jacket, this cable boasts noise-free operation when you are moving around, which is a silver bullet if you are somewhat animated in your performance. Their low-capacitance design translates into low signal loss and better fidelity. The use of Switchcraft connectors is a smart partnership that ensures the best product possible. Something to note, when a company makes no secret of their lifetime warranty, you know that they have 100% confidence in their products, which means that you can too! These workhorse cables which are no strangers to the rigors of performance can be purchased for around $30.

http://www.dimarzio.com/cables/instrument/instrument-cable

Monster Cables whether the Pro 1000 style, the jazz cable, the acoustic instrument cable, the bass or the rock cable, they all offer crystalline highs and big, full-bodied response that makes it a great choice for any application where you want to be able to hear everything your guitar has to offer. The Pro 1000 weighs in at nearly two pounds, but if hi-fi sounds are what you’re after, the Studio Pro 1000 delivers the goods. Monsters carry a lifetime warranty.
Monster’s cables range in price from about $28 to $130 depending on purpose and use.

http://www.monstercable.com/pro_audio/pro_audiolist.asp?category=professional-instrument-cables

I know I have just mentioned a few cables - but to Jeff’s point, they have different prices. You can also go to your local big box instrument store and probably find a cable for $10 - $15. I would weigh the circumstances of your life to determine whether spending $10 with some unknown regularity trumps shelling out $30 or more for something that, if it breaks or malfunctions will be replaced or repaired by the manufacturer. If you need a cable for you 9 year old’s practice amp - maybe a $10 cable is all you need.
I’ve given you a little info about the cables I like or know about. Do your own research. Make sure your cable is made for the purpose for which you intend it. Don’t get a rock cable if you’re playing an acoustic.

Jeff, I hope this helps a little. Personally, I’m in the camp of getting something of reasonable quality - perhaps not $150’s worth, but more likely $30 - 60 with a lifetime warranty, rather than a hit or miss $10 unknown.
If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News
In the news this week is Epiphone Les Paul Standard Now Available in 3 New Colors

The Les Paul Standard is the king of solid body electric guitars and now Epiphone brings you Les Paul's best invention in three new exclusive color finishes--Metallic Gold, Pelham Blue, and Cardinal Red.
The Epiphone Les Paul Standard model combines the classic features and tone of Les' original with legendary Epiphone quality and value and in beautiful color finishes could have only dreamed of.
Players like Jimmy Page, Slash, Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde, Alex Lifeson and countless others have depended on the unique look, feel and tone of a classic Les Paul Standard. And now, you too can experience a Les Paul Standard at a price that won't break the bank!
The Epiphone Les Paul Standard features a solid mahogany body and maple veneer top with cream binding that deliver the classic look, tone and sustain that can only come from a "real" Les Paul. The mahogany neck has a 1960s SlimTaper™ "D" profile with 22 medium-jumbo frets. The hand set-neck delivers outstanding string-to-body resonance while medium-jumbo frets add to the smooth and sustained tone. The Clipped Dovewing headstock features the iconic '60s era Epiphone logo along with Les's signature, the true mark of a real Les Paul.
Tuning is made fast and secure with Grover® 14:1 machine heads and the famous "bell" shaped truss rod cover features Les Paul Standard in white. Like all Les Pauls, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard features a 14 degree headstock that gives you more pressure at the nut for long sustain with less tuning hang-ups caused by "string-tree" gadgets.
A pair of Alnico Classic™ humbucker pickups deliver a vintage vibe with rich, warm tone for that coveted Les Paul sound. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard features Epiphone's legendary rock solid hardware including a nickel LockTone™ Tune-o-matic bridge and a StopBar fully adjustable tailpiece, still a classic after 50 years. And now, Epiphone's updated, patent pending design auto-locks the bridge and tailpiece in place with no tools needed! This also results in improved sustain.
Like every Epiphone, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard features a Limited Lifetime Warranty backed by world famous 24/7/365 day Gibson Customer Service. Visit your favorite Authorized Epiphone Dealer today and get a 1st class guitar for your music with an Epiphone Les Paul Standard now in new colors finishes.
It comes with the famous Epiphone limited lifetime warranty.
Which of the new colors do you like best? Metalic Gold, Cardinal Red or Pelham Blue?
http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2012/Les-Paul-Standard-Available-in-3-New-Colors.aspx?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Epiphone&utm_content=GRAPHIC%3A+LP+Colors

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is “which way to turn.” I’m not looking for counseling or advice - I’m talking about your tuners!! Wow, in the past few weeks, I have seen strings on guitars (not put there by me, I want to add) that are wrapped in random directions. I don’t know, did the pod people or body snatchers land?
There isn’t much art to changing guitar strings, but there is a correct direction in which to wrap a string around the post. If you have played for any length of time, you may have had this happen: you pick up someone else’s guitar, of course it’s hurting your ears because it’s so out of tune, so you attempt to tune it. Your brain takes a few seconds to reason why when you rotate a tuning key and expect the sound of the string to lower, the pitch rises. If you tune a few times every time you play your guitar, you know how habitual and instinctive twisting a tuning key becomes. And strings wrapped the opposite way they should be can just make your head explode. Your brain knows what to do but muscle memory fights it all the way.

If you’re a novice guitar string changer, please do yourself a favor and take note of (or for that matter, take a picture of) how the strings on your guitar are wound on their respective posts.

There are YouTube videos, written diagrams online and your guitar playing friends or your instructor can and should be able to help you with this. Please don’t make people’s heads explode. Wrap your strings in the Correct direction on their posts. Once you’ve tuned enough times, you’ll freak too, when you have to rotate a key in the opposite direction to get to your desired pitch.

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation.
In the latest issue of Total Guitar, which is Europe’s best selling guitar magazine, issue 231, there’s a great review of Raptor picks. Here’s what is says:

Raptor Picks
Jurassic Pick

****
Why buy one pick when you can have three? The first two points of the finely engineered Raptor Pick play much like standard plectrums, with varying degrees of attack and articulation. The third is best described as a fat, rounded hook, which when played gently, takes away a lot of your attack for a very smooth, jazz-like clean sound. You can also employ the ‘hook’ to pop your strings or hit out a wicked pinched harmonic. The pick plays very naturally and has the potential to introduce a whole range of new sounds to your playing. Great stuff

Thanks to Total Guitar for their unsolicited endorsement of Raptor “R” Series picks. Why don’t you experience for yourself, the Raptor edge.

Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
My new acquisition is great. She will have new DRs in a few weeks. Pre-order your copy of Thank You, Les. Congrats to Mike. Excellent work, dude. Cables can cost anywhere from $10 to $150. Check their intended purpose and determine how much a warranty and other factors are worth to you. Then, purchase. The 3 new colors of the Les Paul Standard are all nice, which is your favorite? For heaven’s sake, wrap your strings correctly around the posts of your tuners. Keep your guitar humidified and out of extremes of temperature or you’ll be sorry.

Episode 085: Bespoke

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:51:35 -0400

Intro

What was your week like? Mine flew by. 3 students had first lessons - which was great. Each of them did very well. Bridget, Mike and Scotty: those were the most difficult lessons you will have until you are wrestling with physically challenging things in the future. You all seem to absorb and understand what I gave you to learn, digest and practice. We’ll know for sure this coming week when we have your 2nd lesson.

Did you suffer from Olympic fever? Has your temperature returned to normal yet? Most of my UK friends did not attend the actual Games, but they’re hoping to have a look at the venue some time in the near future. As always, the ticket price was exorbitant and way out of the reach of my musician friends and friends who have to plan to save for their children’s college educations or weddings etc.

Don’t forget that you can pre-order your copy of CD and documentary Thank You, Les. It’s going to be outstanding and a snapshot of the great guitarist that admired the one and only Les Paul.

Anya called to say she has returned safely from her long stint in Argentina as an exchange student. She had a life changing, wonderful time, taught the youngest host family child some of the music she plays - as I understand, the entire host family plays guitar so they were a perfect fit for her. There was always a few guitars at her disposal. I am going to see Anya for lunch next week some time, so we can catch up and not take up lesson time with all the Argentina stories. I’m looking forward to it. Anya, I can’t wait to see you!!!

Bridget’s guitar is gone and in her happy embrace, but mine are all still sounding sweet.

And maybe, just maybe, I have a new guitar on its way which will need new delicious DRs. I can’t believe I said it out loud. Don’t even ask about this. There’s definitely a problem with all the eye candy one sees when one accompanies a student to purchase a guitar. Unless I’m doing so, I ordinarily avoid guitar shops. Now I remember why.

The USB hub I use with my iMac began giving me trouble last week. Great. I’d had it for about 6 years so I guess the ports were shot. I replaced it and in the process of climbing around under my desk and trying to wrangle all the wires under and on top of it, I sort of wrenched my left shoulder/neck. I’m not in misery, but I know I did something to it.

There is 1 student in this week’s Student Spotlight, there wasn’t a fabulous Question of the Week so I’m going to dispense with that segment this week. News is about a guitar that’s designed with a woman in mind and the Take Note segment is about the coolest fretted/less electric basses you’ve ever seen!

Raptor Picks USA

In the latest issue of Total Guitar, which is Europe’s best selling guitar magazine, issue 231, there’s a brief review of Raptor picks. Here’s what is says:

“Raptor Picks
Jurassic Pick

****
Why buy one pick when you can have three? The first two points of the finely engineered Raptor Pick play much like standard plectrums, with varying degrees of attack and articulation. The third is best described as a fat, rounded hook, which when played gently, takes away a lot of your attack for a very smooth, jazz-like clean sound. You can also employ the ‘hook’ to pop your strings or hit out a wicked pinched harmonic. The pick plays very naturally and has the potential to introduce a whole range of new sounds to your playing. Great stuff.”

Thanks to Total Guitar for their unsolicited endorsement of Raptor “R” Series picks. Why don’t you experience what all the buzz is about and get the Raptor edge for your playing?

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

http://www.musicradar.com/totalguitar/total-guitar-231-on-sale-now-the-black-keys-dan-auerbach-555550

Spotlight

This week, Karrie is alone in the Student Spotlight. If you told her, she would say she shouldn’t be there, but in fact, she did excellently, this week. Karrie is a type A, total perfectionist - which is good for a musician, but she cannot understand that despite that there may have been some flaws in her playing, she played very very well for her level of experience and compared to how she played the previous week. She’s on vacation this week - so I don’t think she’ll hear this podcast, which is a good thing.

Even though there is no Question of the Week this week, please don’t forget that if you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News

In the news this week is Luna Guitars. Don’t know Luna guitars? Well, you may not be alone. When I was schmoozing with the sales peeps and playing an array of guitars while waiting for my student, Mike to show up to purchase a guitar last weekend, one of the guitars I played was a Luna. The one I picked up was not an expensive guitar - Guitar Center’s price was at about the $400 mark. If you recall, I was looking at neck diameters before Mke showed up, thinking his broad fingers would be a problem, when it turned out that his massive chest and highly developed arms gave us a “fit” fit.

What struck me about this Luna guitar, that I didn’t choose for him, but made a good mental note of, was that the profile of the acoustic electric I took off the wall was extremely comfortable for me. I’m about 5’2” with an average to slight build. I can play a full size dreadnaught and an extra wide neck classical guitar without any problem - mainly because I have always driven myself to achieve, whether I was comfortable or not. Ordinarily, I guide my students who are built like me but unwilling or unable to cope with a large profile guitar toward an acoustic electric -- and when they are available (not currently from the Guitar Center) to one of the Alvarez acoustic electrics. They are a tremendous amount of guitar quality for the price -- which is not high. They’re a great first guitar that isn’t a “throw away.” It’s a guitar someone can play until such time as they are inclined to move to a “seriously good” guitar and invest some serious bread.

Well, I don’t know if I just didn’t see a Luna guitar there before or if it’s a newer addition -- I guess the last time I was at the Guitar Center was to assist the other Mike in buying his guitar. He wanted to invest serious bread from the outset and went home with a Taylor as his first guitar. Since I was in the high end room on that visit, the Luna I played last week wouldn’t have been there.

The body and neck are not “off” size, they’re just shaved down the slightest bit, to accommodate a person of my size. It’s totally balanced the sound is great for the price range, and the ones I have seen are visual works of art.
What’s not to like? I’m glad I have another brand that I can suggest to students who wrestle with full size, big body guitars -- or who have small hands. Lunas would be great for petite tweens and teens. I want to reiterate that I’m not discussing a 3/4 size guitar. Just a profile tailored (sorry Bob) to a smaller player -- sort of like the feel of a parlor size but with a dreadnaught or grand concert body shapes. Here’s a bit about Luna Guitars, directly from their web site.

The Story of Luna Guitars
Meet Yvonne de Villiers, the accomplished stained-glass artist who envisioned Luna Guitars. Yvonne's inspiration for a line of guitars designed to maximize playing comfort came from her mother, Cuban-born Hilda Williers, an electric bass player for more than 40 years. Female bassists were particularly rare in the 60's, so for years Yvonne watched with pride as her pioneering mom perform with a popular rock group. As her mom's #1 fan, Yvonne couldn't help but notice the physical struggle that petite Hilda went through each time she'd strap on a heavy electric bass and take the stage to play the music she loves.

There must be other musicians like her mother, Yvonne reasoned. Players of all genders who'd welcome instruments uniquely tailored to fit their bodies, hands, musical styles and personal tastes. It was with them in mind that Yvonne created Luna Guitars - a line of comfortable instruments made for musicians of all ages and beautifully crafted to engage minds and spirits along with talent.
To really understand why Luna instruments are considered as "art" to many, you have to understand that Luna's lead designer is an artist. Yvonne's 25-year career in creating and producing award-winning architectural stained glass (she calls it "sculpting light") allowed her to hone the skills needed to envision and bring to life the delicate inlaid designs and unique ornamentation that make Luna Guitars so visually stunning. With the eye of a consummate artist, Yvonne applied the same passionate color palette and intricate eye for detail that graced her glass work to her groundbreaking line of guitars, and Luna Guitars was birthed.

Great looking instruments which sound good, appeal to both men and women and that are also affordable represent a big part of who and what Luna is..but that's not all. Our personal communication with the guitar community, sense of family, emphasis on social responsibility and the causes we support all speak to our passion to inspire the best in all of us. Hilda - now in her 8th decade - still teaches music, practices her bass and plays the occasional gig - inspiring us all to this day.

You might want to check them out. I’m glad I came across them

http://www.lunaguitars.com/about.php

http://www.alvarezguitars.com/

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is for you bass guitarists out there. Do you know about Brown’s Guitar Factory, in Minnesota? Well, they have an ingenious patented fretted/less bass construction that offers players who aren’t bold enough or skilled enough to jump into a legit fretless electric bass, that is unlike the Ibanez one, on which part of the entire neck is fretless but the rest is fretted. Brown’s design is unique and offers a much more natural configuration for the creative bassist to transition between playing frets and fruitlessly. I was blown away with its sound - and you know from my confession a couple of months ago - I’m a sucker for low strings.
They also make 6 and 7 string fretted/less guitars with 25.5” scale length, solid or chambered bodies in ergonomically carved shapes for a liquid playing feel. Doesn’t that make you melt?
Listeners you HAVE to check this out. I’ll include a link to Brown’s Guitar Factory web site (which I have to say, functions like a template and is a little sparse of info and ease of navigation) and to a YouTube link of
Johnny Brown performing a bass solo on the BGF Fretted/Less bass, crafted by Brown's Guitar Factory

This is a company you need to keep your eye on.

http://youtu.be/W-9wY57AZIs
http://brownsguitarfactory.com/

http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR2010ASC

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
Keep your guitars comfortable -- not too dry and definitely not too hot.
Pre-Order Thank You. Les. It belongs in your collection. I’ve heard the tracks and they’re amazing.

I’m going to be looking for my UPS guy all week until my new addition comes. I’m so bad I can’t even believe myself.
Thanks to Total Guitar for the lovely review of Raptor picks. All of us who play with them agree with you.
Welcome home Anya. Congrats to perfectionist Karrie. You did excellently even if it was short of perfect. Luna guitars offer a great profile for tweens, teens and people who find most guitar profiles a challenge. Check out Browns Guitar Factory online for the most incredibly designed electric basses and solid and chambered body guitars.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Episode 084: Vox Populi

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:24:13 -0400

There are 2 students in the Student Spotlight this week, The Question of the Week is about how to reconnect with your guitar after a long layoff, News is about Lollapalooza 2012 , and Take Note is about our friends at Epiphone needing your input about a reissue of an old guitar

So how was your week? I will have to bid goodbye to Bridget’s guitar tomorrow - it’s got shiny, delicious sounding DRs on it and it will be all ready for her, as she returns from her time at the beach. I guess I’ll just have to settle for the shiny new DRs I put on all my guitars last week. In addition to Bridget beginning lessons this week, I welcome Mike (not the Mike who has been my student for the past year, but another Mike) and also Scott to my schedule.

Mike is a family man who wants to learn to play and learn all about music. Just the kind of student I relish. We spent an hour or so at one of our local Guitar Centers to buy him a guitar. Mike is an extremely muscular guy and my concern was a neck wide enough to accommodate his fingers --- which, as it turned out, was no problem. The big “fit” issue was that his very developed arms and extremely muscular chest precluded us getting him set up with a standard acoustic guitar - which was his original plan. The wide lateral side of the guitar - in other words, the depth from the sound board to the back, prevented him from being able to hold it comfortably. Weird, right? So, we ended up with a nice Ibanez acoustic electric. It looks good, sounds fine and most importantly, Mike is comfortable. I sent him home with a lesson book, a manuscript paper notebook and an exercise for him to work on until our 1st lesson on Wednesday. I made him promise not to open his lesson book because I don’t go in order and I like to introduce various overarching principals of music and introduce the instrument before we even look at the book. I told him I’ll know as soon as I look at him if he peeked.

Scott is the college age son of friends of ours. He’s a very bright and creative guy. He’s pretty zealous right now and we are going to begin lessons tomorrow morning.

Speaking of students: a former student who I haven’t seen for quite a while called the other day. We’re having a little catch up on Tuesday. She’s in Med school. I think I may have seen her once during the time she was in college. I taught her for a few years while she was in HS. She may be making Aliyah this month or she may stay in Med school - it’s up in the air as of our conversation. She put the guitar down for a while and would like to play again. I’ll point her in the right direction so she can dust off her skills.

Do you recall me mentioning the Martin Retro series and the amazing digital sampling that causes the brand new guitars in that series to look AND sound like well-played pre-war guitars? Well, one of my friends at the Guitar Center had just been down to the Martin factory on Friday and he played them. He said they were superb.

Don’t forget: DO NOT go to see Les Paul in Mahwah at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ during August. The museum is closed. You can rest assured I will remind you about it in September.

Do check out Thank You, Les, and pre-order it. It’s definitely going to be an appropriate tribute to a genius guitarist who contributed imaginably to all of our lives.

http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.thankyoules.com
Raptor Picks USA

Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at http://www.RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Student Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight this week are Amber and Arno.
Amber has only been in the Spotlight a few times. Amber, you go girl! This summer you're spending much more time playing and it's paying off. I hope when you return to school in September, you're able to manage your time to allow for just as much guitar time as you have now.
Arno is back after a week off. The family health crisis has passed, and that's so good. He has a new job and the house is in contract for sale. Wow that's a lot of stuff going on. Still he made time to play and his work was outstanding last week. Dude, I'm impressed.

Question of the Week
This week's question comes from my former student EL - I may have covered this before, maybe a year ago, but I think it’s worth a revisit. She hasn’t really played her guitar for 5 or 6 years and she’d like to get back to it.

What should she do? I’m of the opinion that everything works better when your coordination is cultivated. Unlike someone who has never played, a person who has taken a hiatus from their guitar, but played for some years before that time, getting your form and chops back takes time, but you see results right away.

I’m going to suggest EL do some exercises just to get her fingertips toughened up and landing where they need to on the strings - as well as getting her pick coordinated to her strings again. EL wasn’t a monster player but she enjoyed the guitar. I don’t know what she wants to do with it - I’ll know more on Tuesday. Naturally, if she’s thinking about revisiting or discovering new instrumental music, I’ll have her brush up on her ability to interpret notation. On the other hand, if she just plans to play recreationally and accompany herself or others singing, I will give her some additional exercises and suggest the way she should go about reacquainting herself with a legit chord vocabulary.

She will have to put the time in, but my experience has been that players who go back to the guitar after a few years off recall more than they thought they would and their muscle memory is astounding. It always reminds me of visiting a relative in a nursing home on a day when the music therapist was making the rounds with an electronic keyboard. Some of the residents not only didn’t know what day it was - they didn’t know what year it was or where they were. But put them in front of an keyboard - and they may have not played since they were children, but those hours of practice allowed them to play music they hadn’t even thought of for 50 or 60 years.
The human brain is totally unfathomable. It’s awesome.

So, if you’re planning to or are in the midst of returning to the guitar, toughen your fingertips, if they are not already tough from doing something else. If they hurt when you start to really play, you’re not going to want to really play. Reacquaint yourself with your right and left hand and arm positions -- let’s face it, guitarists, there’s nothing natural or intuitive about how you hold or play the guitar - it’s a matter of re-making the habits you had when your used to play. Get the left hand fingers spread apart, that left hand should be in that modified C shape I spoke about 2 weeks ago, no part of your right hand or fingers should be resting on or touching the strings or soundboard, etc. If you had some favorite exercises or scales or arpeggios or chord progressions, or maybe even some muscle memory memorized music that you loved to play, brush up with those things. I’d give it a week or 2 before you even attempt anything demanding or new. Give yourself the time to re-learn and the room to make mistakes. They will be inevitable.

EL, I’m looking forward to seeing you. I bet your guitar needs new strings. I’ll bring a set of DRs with me just in case.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News
The news this week is about Lollapalooza 2012 in Chicago this weekend.

In the '90s, Lollapalooza redefined the summer music festival for a new generation of fans. Founded by Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell in 1991, the annual festival took alternative rock on the road and hosted everyone from The Smashing Pumpkins to Ice Cube. Following a hiatus and a couple false re-starts, Lollapalooza came back in 2005 as a stationary, weekend-long festival in Chicago's Grant Park, returning every year since.

This year's lineup featured at least a few names from the festival's heyday years—most notably enduring funk-rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers—but in keeping with the fest's original spirit, Lollapalooza 2012 largely celebrated the sounds of right now: M83's epic synth rock and tUnE-yArDs' neo-tribal ruckus, Bassnectar and SBTRKT's differing takes on dubstep, The Tallest Man on Earth's Swedish-accented alt-country, Michael Kiwanuka's arresting folk blues and Sigur Ros' aching instrumental rock. In between, the playlist offered plenty of chill electropop (Washed Out, Neon Indian), indie rock (Twin Shadow, Bear in Heaven) and even some retro soul (Aloe Blacc).

A severe thunderstorm in Chicago forced organizers of the Lollapalooza music festival to suspend all activities and evacuate an estimated 100,000 people from Grant Park for more than two hours on Saturday afternoon, The Associated Press reported. A handful of acts had their sets cut short when concert officials announced that the park would be evacuated because the National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning. Concertgoers took shelter in neighboring bars and restaurants and in three underground parking garages that were designated evacuation centers for the sold-out event. The gates reopened a few hours later, and a curfew was extended to accommodate the night’s scheduled headliners, which included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Ocean and Franz Ferdinand.
If you’d like to listen to some free tracks - I’ll provide the link on the show notes page.
Now, having mentioned Lollapalooza, I wonder if the student who was amazed that I mentioned Coachella to her, will have the same reaction to this short segment on Lollapalooza. What do you think, Anya?
http://www.lollapalooza.com/
https://play.google.com/store/music/collection/series_overview_videofeature_2011_12_06

Take Note
My take note topic this week is Epiphone’s Limited Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO - Tell Us What You Want

Given your many requests, Epiphone is considering the production of a limited edition Genesis guitar based upon the popular, but short-lived, Genesis model originally made from 1979-1981.
Since it's been over 30 years since this unique Epiphone solid-body was available, we really need your feedback to help us make the final decision and hopefully, bring this classic back.
Proposed Epiphone Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO: The classic Epiphone Genesis was one of Epiphone's most original and modern designs when it was first published in the Epiphone catalog in late 1979. It was intended as a new beginning for Epiphone--a truly original solid body design that could hold its ground with a Les Paul, giving players the added advantage of an eye-catching double cutaway. The proposed Epiphone Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO would bring back this collector's favorite in all its original glory with added features like coil-tapping, Epiphone ProBucker™ pickups and Grover™ tuners along with a beautiful AAA quilt maple veneer top and solid mahogany body in four new beautiful color finishes, including Black Cherry, Midnight Ebony, Midnight Sapphire, and Vintage Sunburst.

Original Genesis Ads circa 1979.
Early Genesis ads proclaimed "this isn't a guitar for shy people" and "we've created a monster," and you can see why. Along with its bold shape and beautiful finish, the Genesis featured coil-tapping for both pickups via a separate toggle switch. Coil-tapping was a new concept to guitar players and the original Genesis was a bold instrument with a warm sound that could do anything from hard rock to fusion jazz with its incredible sustain from the mahogany body. In many ways, the Genesis was part of Epiphone's longstanding tradition of giving players more for their money at a level of quality and consistency other guitar makers can't maintain. Today, Epiphone is still a leader in giving players a custom shop experience. The Epiphone Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO would take it a step further by adding Epiphone's bold ProBucker™ pickups with individual coil-tapping for the rhythm and lead pickups to potentially put the Genesis back to its rightful place among Epiphone's greatest instruments.
A Classic Made to Last a Lifetime: The Epiphone Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO features Epiphone's legendary rock-solid gold hardware including a LockTone™ Tune-o-matic fully adjustable bridge and a Stopbar tailpiece. And now, Epiphone's updated, patent pending design auto locks the bridge and tailpiece in place with no tools needed! This also results in improved sustain. The Epiphone Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO uses 1" diameter potentiometers for better "throw," longer life and reliable service. Epiphone's all-metal toggle switches use rugged spring-steel contacts to ensure years of reliable service and performance. Epiphone's proprietary output jack features an improved contact shape and heavy-duty spring steel to increase reliability and gold Grover™ 14:1 machine heads on a classic '60s era Epiphone Sloped Dovewing headstock to ensure tuning stability and long life.
Peace of Mind: Like every Epiphone, the Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO would feature a Limited Lifetime Warranty backed by world famous 24/7/365 Gibson Customer Service. Step into the future today with the Ltd. Edition Genesis Deluxe PRO.
http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2012/Limited-Edition-Genesis-Deluxe-PRO.aspx?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Epiphone&utm_content=NEWS%3A+Genesis

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at http://RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
My humidifiers were being re-wet as I recorded and they went right back into their guitars. We have had the A/C on a lot this past week and probably will do again this week. Take care of your axes people - that’s all I’m saying.
Don’t leave your guitar in a closed automobile if the sun is out. You could ruin it.
Don’t go to the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit until September -- I’ll keep you informed of hours etc as it approaches.
EL, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. It will be great to catch up on everything that’s been going on in your life. Bridget, Mike and Scott, we’re going to have great first lessons this week. I’m looking forward to it.
Congrats to Amber and Arno. Excellent work, both of you. Let’s make it a repeat this week. If you’re returning to guitar after a long (multiyear) layoff - spend a little time on your coordination and form before diving into anything difficult. Toughen up those calluses!! Sorry if you were evacuated at Lollapalooza - and if you couldn’t attend, check out the sample tracks. Epiphone truly wants to know what you think and wht you’d like to see in a reissue of their infamous, yet short lived Genesis guitar. Tell them!
I’m thinking about skipping a show the week of September 3rd. September 3rd is Labor Day, here in the States, the holiday that unofficially marks the end of summer. Schools usually resume right after, and it’s the last big “summer weekend.” Add to that, a few days before that is my E-Rex’s birthday and the day after, the 4th is a follow up visit to determine how he has mended after the spring procedures and surgery. Between the personal stuff and having to get my academic year calendar planned etc - I think a creating and syndicating a show that week is going to be rough. I’ll let you know for sure, in the coming couple weeks before.
You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit http://RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, try the amazing Raptor™ pick if you haven’t yet and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 083-B: Generation Gap (re-uploaded)

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:36:18 -0400

So how was your week? Here, we were dealing with crazy weather! Torrential rain and hail, then beastly heat, then storms again. It was wild. Students are shifting into and out of my schedule because of summer vacations. I want to say, “Hi,” to Bridget who is on vacation now but who will begin lessons in a little over a week. She is the daughter of a former student. I’m not kidding. I taught her mom 15 years ago while she was pregnant with Bridget’s older brother. Her mom stayed busy raising Bridget and her 3 other siblings and never had time to return to the guitar. I was so delightfully surprised when Sharon called me. It was a happy reunion and I’m looking forward to us beginning lessons next week. I also want to say, “Hi,” to Mike who called about guitar lessons a few days ago. He lives across the street from my elementary school and we have a consultation after Arno’s lesson on Wednesday evening. Mike, I’m looking forward to meeting you and if we decide to go ahead with lessons, I will gladly accompany you to purchase a guitar.

While Bridget’s family is at the beach, or as we in NJ say, “down the shore,” I took her mother’s guitar with me after our consultation. I put a fresh set of DRs on it and replaced the end pin, which came out over the past 15 years. It’s all ready for her and I’ll drop it off next Monday, when the family is back from vacation.

So the Olympics began Friday. Go Team USA!! I hope all the athletes remain healthy, uninjured and safe for the entirety of the games. I also hope the extraordinary work and accomplishment of all the athletes remains untarnished by any dopers or any other variety of rule breakers. That’s always sad.

In addition to changing the 15 year old strings on Bridget’s mom’s guitar, I put fresh DRs on my guitars. I’m in audio heaven with all the guitars in our apartment sounding beautiful.

If you haven’t been able to see the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ, you won’t be able to visit until it reopens in September. But at that time, if you’re traveling to NJ, NY, CT, PA or any other nearby locale, consider making to the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. It’s amazing and inspiring. All the details are available at the Mahwah Museum web site.

Of course, on the topic of Les Paul, don’t forget too, that you can reserve your copy of Thank You, Les the documentary and album put together as a tribute to Les Paul. As I mentioned last week, Joni was nice enough to send me a sneak hear of the CD. The roster of artists and the music is fabulous. Mine is reserved.

And kudos to the Mahwah Museum for sending my friend Tina of Tinaspicks.com a pick for her collection. She’s over the moon about it and is so appreciative and so am I. By the way, Tina has a donate button on her web site. You have to really look for it. I think it’s navigable the “And Finally” button. Take a look and if you’d like to spread the love, I know Tina has a need that a little bit from her Twitter friends and web site fans can alleviate. I’m not a hypocrite - I was the first contributor. Hi Tina! See you online.

This week, 2 students made it into the Student Spotlight. The Question of the Week is postponed until next week. News is about the Guitar Player Editors’ Pick award recipient and Take Note is about guitartechniquetutor.com website and Guitar Technique Tutor podcast changes.

After a brief word from my sponsor, Raptor Picks USA, we’ll move on to the Student Spotlight

Raptor Picks USA

Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R” Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Like and follow Raptor Picks USA on Facebook and Twitter. Liking the FaceBook page will enter you into a drawing for a free Raptor in September. Tell your guitarist friends, too.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Lani AGAIN and Mike. Lani did very well but I sense that she’s sliding back into old habits. It will be interesting to see if I’m reading it correctly or not. Lani: don’t neglect your practice. You just have to manage your time. I know you can do it.

Mike: Dude, for a guy who almost never gets to practice - you play amazingly well. I know you have a photographic memory and you’re brain isn’t too bad either - but still you did extraordinarily. Amazing, really.

Students: there’s plenty of room in the Spotlight. Let’s see what this week will hold.

There is no Question of the Week this week. Nothing came in by email that I haven’t addressed recently and I had a small student schedule and none of my students had any questions that rose to the level of addressing them here.

But if you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

Now, here’s this week's news

News

In the news this week is
Guitar Player Gives Epiphone DR-212 Editor’s Pick Award
Congratulations everybody at Epiphone!

Be sure to check out the September 2012 issue of Guitar Player. On page 94, Art Thompson reviews the Epiphone DR-212 acoustic.

Here’s some info on this affordable 12-string; DR-212 By affordable, I mean well about $170.
The DR-212 is a true 12-string acoustic guitar with the big sound and fine engineering you expect from Epiphone. The DR-212 is not just a dreadnought with 6 extra strings. They designed the DR-212 to take the stress of extra strings and not just support the Spruce top but provide the proper bracing so what you hear is a balanced, cutting, and attention-getting tone. The 12-string dreadnought has often been thought of as the classic-go to guitar for blues, folk, rock, country, and everything in-between.

Epiphone knows you want your 12-string acoustic guitar tone to be distinctive and for your instrument to not come unglued. A lot of 12-string guitar makers expect you to be satisfied with an ‘ok’ sound hoping that the novelty of having a 12-string will detract from the fact it sounds thin.

The DR-212 is the only classic 12-string dreadnought that comes with a Limited Lifetime Guarantee and Gibson 24/7/365 customer service along with the experience of a century of guitar making. Start with the best. Make a statement.

SPECIFICATIONS
Body: mahogany, Top: Select Spruce, Neck: mahogany, Nut width: 1.75, Scale: 1.68”, Fretboard: rosewood with dot inlay, Hardware: Nickel, Color: Natural (NA)

Visit Guitar Player on-line at www.guitarplayer.com to read the article when it’s published.

http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2012/Guitar-Player-Gives-Epiphone-DR-212-Editors-Pick.aspx?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Epiphone&utm_content=NEWS%3A+Quilt+Top

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Acoustic/DR-212.aspx
Now, let's move on to the Take Note segment

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is my annual summer web site overhaul. If you have been with me since the very beginning, when I just had news of the week in a side bar on the guitartechniquetutor.com home page, you’ve seen the site evolve from neon yellow, neon green, dusty blue and red with a stylized guitar logo, to the same site but with colors toned down to red and black. I liked that red and black so kept it when I changed all the plain rectangular buttons to rectangular buttons with color changing guitars last summer. Last summer I was fortunate enough to have been given -- yes, I said given, my iMac. It was a couple years old but after the drive was scrubbed, it was a virtually new computer for me. But, I had software cataclysms. Because my OS was upgraded my web design software, my photoshop and other software I need to use had to be replaced and they were so different from the significantly older versions I was using, I lost a few weeks adjusting to the new applications. Then there was the change of podcast name on iTunes - that’s why iTunes only has only 36 episodes (excluding this one when it goes live).
During August, I hope to - and that’s as committed I can be about it - do a little web site housekeeping. 2010 and 2011 podcasts will be archived as .mp3 files only. There’s no need for the pages and pages of show notes that were published with those shows, so I will pare down the sheer volume of pages for the site. I don’t know how much extra time it may take to re-syndicate those shows to iTunes and FeedBurner. If you’re very interested in me doing so, please drop me an email or dm me on twitter. I’m on the fence and I need to get it done during August. All things being equal, I should be able to accomplish it, but today, E-Rex was not himself and we’re closing down on him having to begin his radiation. Things will be fluid once September arrives.
So, 2012 podcasts will remain available with their intact show notes. Pre-2012 podcasts will be available solely as .mp3s

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open. Your grip will be sure. Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced. Add to that the technology that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one.
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it produces.
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right from the outset.
Like and follow Raptor Picks USA on Facebook and Twitter. Liking the FaceBook page will enter you into a drawing for a free Raptor in September. Tell your guitarist friends, too.

Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
Don’t forget to keep your guitar in an environment in which you’re comfortable: not too dry, definitely not hotter than you’d be comfortable and be sure it’s humidified if you have the A/C on. You’ll only hear me say this a few times: Do Not go to the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ during the month of August because the exhibit will not be open. Making plans for September is another story. Check out Tinaspicks.com and spread the love if you’re so inclined. She’ll will appreciate it.

Yeah, I’m really going to teach a second generation. Wow. Excellent work Lani and Mike. Lani, don’t disappoint me next week. Keep managing your time well. Congrats to Epiphone for your DR-212 being awarded the Guitar Player Editor’s Pick Award. GuitarTechniqueTutor.com will have some podcast page modifications during August, I hope. All audio files will remain available but show notes from 2010 and 2011 will be disappearing. I may get the earlier 47 episodes back up on iTunes and FeedBurner if it isn’t too time consuming.

Students, and valued listeners, I want to thank you once again for your time and for joining me for episode ___083__ of the Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast. I hope you heard something thought provoking, instructional and/or entertaining. I will include links to anything I mentioned that I think you might like to explore further in the show notes. Don't forget that my web site is Guitar Technique Tutor. Com, all spelled traditionally: (spell it) and you can reach me by email at guitartechnique@gmail.com. Please note that there is no Tutor in the email address. Don't hesitate to email me your question for the Question of the Week segment. If I use your question I will be delighted to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast Pick.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.
Practice, have a great week, try the amazing Raptor™ pick if you haven’t yet and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 082: Do You C?

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:53:55 -0400

So, how was your week? Our friend Gerry, Dot’s widower wanted to go to the beach because they always used to go. Here’s where I have to say to you non-New Jerseyans that we in NJ use the colloquial term “down the shore” when the rest of the world says “to the beach.” He invited us to join him - we thought it was really important to him, so we said sure. We like the shore but don’t go too frequently. Of course Gerry chose 100 degree day. Wow, it was hot. Aside from the blistering heat, it was a good change of pace and a good time of supportive bonding with Gerry. We’ll go down the shore with him whenever he asks this summer. I just hope there won’t be more 100 degree times.

My student Shira came home for 2 days between the weeks she just spent in Israel and departing for camp today. Before she took off to Israel, I promised to lend her my old Tuff Touch. I just did a quick search and these are no longer being sold. Shira seems so surprised that I would allow her to take mine to camp with her. I hope she will use it. If you don’t know what a Tuff Touch is, it’s a plastic molded replica of the 5th - 9th fret of a guitar neck, strings and all. If I still have a photo of it, I’ll put it in the show notes. I mentioned this old device in a podcast a year or 2 ago. Shira isn’t taking her guitar but doesn’t want to lose her calluses - and that’s precisely what it’s for. I got my tuff touch when I was a very young guitarist. I’d use it on long car rides to maintain my calluses and work on unusual fingerings (before I was old enough to drive.) It wasn’t perfect but it was sure better than nothing. Shira, I hope you’re going to actually set aside some time to USE the Tuff Touch! That’s why I’m lending it to you. I’ll be looking forward to you returning from camp and resuming lessons.

If you’re traveling to NJ, NY, CT, PA or any other nearby locale, consider making to the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. During July, the exhibit is open on Sunday from 1 - 5 PM. It’s amazing and inspiring. And don’t forget that you can reserve time to play one of Les Paul’s guitars with one of his amps. All the details are available at the Mahwah Museum web site.

Of course, on the topic of Les Paul, don’t forget too, that you can reserve your copy of Thank You, Les the documentary and album put together as a tribute to Les Paul. As I mentioned last week, Joni was nice enough to send me a sneak hear of the CD. The roster of artists and the music is fabulous. Mine is reserved.

Well, it was inevitable… my DRs need replacing. Now, my guitars are painful to hear. Since I love my Raptor picks so much and can’t stop playing with them, I’ll change my strings this week. If you have never used DR Strings on your guitar or bass, they’re incomparable. Give them a try.

My student schedule is light but it’s great that I had 2 students in the Student Spotlight this week. The question of the week is about parentheses in music. The News is a reminder about this year’s Experience PRS dates and details and the Take Note topic is focused on the left hand.

Raptor Picks USA

Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is hard to describe - in a really good way.
The Raptor™ “R” Series Guitar Pick has garnered various descriptions:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Raptors have three carefully sculpted tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each playing tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

And my favorite: “The Pursuit of Excellence”
They decided from the outset that all Raptor™ picks would be subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

Great for an all around or specialty pick in your pick arsenal. Without question, a unique gift  that will impress the hardest to please guitarist in your life.  The pick that will change everyone’s playing,  from rank beginner to seasoned pro.

Raptor™ picks: the guitar pick of the 21st century that will revolutionize your playing
and enable you to play more creatively. A New Look • A New Feel • A New Shape Many Sounds

Now, are you ready to sound better and have your creative juices primed? This extraordinary tool for the discriminating guitarist who strives for excellence is now available in the US. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to see and hear the incomparable Raptor pick. Free Raptors with every order of 4 picks or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence one guitarist at a time.”  Like and Follow Raptor Picks USA on FaceBook and Twitter.
Raptor™ picks are a registered design all rights are owned by Black Carbon.
Spotlight
I’m so happy the warm glow of the Student Spotlight is shining on 2 students: Andy, which makes 2 weeks in a row for him, and Lani, who has not been in teh Spotlight for a few months. Great! You both played so well. Andy, I know you're going to be away for an extended period. I look forwrd to seeing you when you return. Lani, I know you were motivated by your desire to make it into the Spotlight - and look at what a great result came from your diligent work. Both of you rock. Lani, I'd like to see you back in the warm glow of the Spotlight next week.

Question

This week's question from an email from Catie with a C. What does it mean if there ’s a note in parenthesis in my music? That the note is optional?

Good question with a few answers, Catie.

You didn’t specify what kind of music you’re playing so let me give you a range of answers. The most commonly seen parenthetic notes are the notes that only appear in a particular verse of lyrics and for another verse, there are no words or syllables. In that case the unnecessary note or notes that lack corresponding words or syllables, are enclose with parentheses. Although this is the opposite of what Catie asked, when the reverse is true: that there are additional notes and corresponding words or syllables after the 1st verse, those additional notes are usually written extremely small. Yes, I know that most guitarists play the guitar part and not the vocal line of songs, but when my beginners are not yet sufficiently equipped to play the guitar part of songs they like, I often have them work on the melody line. This could be the case with Catie.

Parentheses are also used on bend notes. Some publishers use them to enclose the fretted noted instead of a small note, when a bend is required. Other publishers use parentheses for the destination pitch - rather than the fretted note of a bend. Then, sometimes you’ll see parentheses around a couple notes of a chord, I’m thinking of a circumstance in the notation of Stairway to Heaven, about a half page before the solo, in which a phrase that has been played several times before, is fleshed out with a some extra notes. Sometimes, if those notes are in parenthesis, the notes are played by another guitarist. Other times, it’s truly optional or just an alternate rendering of the music. You know, if the publisher is aware that there is a disparity between early recordings and a live version - they may give you an option.

I’m sorry I can’t be more specific, but there are a lot of possibilities AND you didn’t give me a concrete example. Please, Catie, if you’d like to follow up with a more clarifying email, I’ll answer more clearly

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor pick, just like the one I’m sending to Catie.

News

In the news this week is the Experience PRS 2012 dates and details. PRS Signature club members are acquainted with this yearly happening, but for the uninitiated, I mention it a time or 2 during the summer. The Paul Reid Smith guitar factory opens its doors for factory tours, clinics throughout the days, there will be food and beverage vendors on site. Compliementary bottled water, soda and coffee will be provided, but food and beer are for purchase. You Signature Club members who attend the members only event on Thursday night will be treated to a light fare dinner at no cost.

When and Where
September 14th and 15th, 2012 (Signiture Club Event - Sept 13th)
Location: PRS Guitars Factory - 380 Log Canoe Circle in Stevensville, MD 21666
Registration
You will need to check in at the registration tent upon arriving at PRS to pickup your credentials. You MUST wear your credentials at all times during the event.

Signature Club Member Exclusive:Badge pickup will be open to registered Signature Club Members only beginning on Thursday 4:00pm – 6:00pm.

Hotel Information

If you are in need of a hotel room, you may contact one of the hotels listed below. Availability is limited. All guests are responsible for making and managing their individual hotel reservations this year

http://www.ocallaghanhotels-us.com

O’Callaghan Hotel
174 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410.263.7700
Rate: $165/night plus tax

Reservation Instructions:
Contact the reservations department on 1-866-782-9624 Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and reference the
PRS Experience.

www.ocallaghanhotels-us.com on the booking page under SpecialRates - select Group Block Rate – and type in PRS2012.

http://www.annapolis.hgi.com

Hilton Garden Inn Annapolis
305 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21409
Tel: 410.266.9006

Rates:
King Evolution Room at $139.00
Queen/Queen Bed Evolution Room at $139.00
Includes Complimentary Wireless / Wired Internet Access, Free Parking and access to our 24 hour workout facility and business center!

Reserve your room http://www.annapolis.hgi.com
- Enter “Group/Convention Code”: GUITAR
- Select room type, and enter requested information
- Or call a reservation specialist at 1-877-881-2683 (Ask for the “PRS Guitars 2012” Group rate, and give them the group code)

http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/reservation?destination=2451+RIVA+ROAD+ANNAPOLIS+MARYLAND+United+States&hpCheckinDate=Sep-21-2011&hpCheckoutDate=Sep-25-2011&numberOfNight=4&hotelCode=anprr&checkInMonthYear=082011&checkOutMonthYear=082011&checkInDate=21&checkOutDate=25&groupCode=PRS&execute=basic#roomrate

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Historic Annapolis

2451 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410.224.4317

Rates:
Queen/Queen Room at $169/night
Includes complimentary hot breakfast bar,free high-speed Internet access and a 24-hour business center and fitness center.

Reservations by phone: Group Code: PRS
Online Reservations: http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/reservation?destination=2451+RIVA+ROAD+ANNAPOLIS+MARYLAND+UnitedStates&hpCheckinDate=Sep-21-2011&hpCheckoutDate=Sep-25-2011&numberOfNight=4&hotelCode=anprr&checkInMonthYear=082011&checkOutMonthYear=082011&checkInDate=21&checkOutDate=25&groupCode=PRS&execute=basic#roomrate

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is one that I have mentioned a few times since this podcast began. It has manifested a few different ways. It seems that with ever few new students, I have to cover it again. I imagine my new students are a fair representation of guitarists, it’s time to bring up left hand/arm technique. I am currently working with a new student who is a lefty and who has a few form problems from before we began working together. The lefty part is a benefit because this student has their dominant hand on the neck - which is great as far as dexterity and strength go, but dexterity and strength without a good wrist angle don’t get you very far. In the case of this student, they found it very difficult to separate the larger knuckle of their index and middle fingers on the left hand. I haven’t come across that issue for a while and decided to bring it up again in the podcast because it is a recurring and besetting manifestation with many beginners.

It’s that pesky wrist position again! Hey listeners: the shape of your left hand and the angle of the left wrist have everything to do with whether you will achieve separation needed to keep your fingers over the frets they need to play (as opposed to moving your left hand over the fingerboard to play a different finger in the same position [or set of 4-5 frets])

I know you long time listeners are tired of hearing this, if you’re already using proper form when you play, but I know there are some listeners who have crummy form when they play. So, here we go again:

Your left hand should be somewhat shaped like the letter C, except that the very tip of your thumb should not touch the neck and the joint of your thumb should not bend inward but rather it should sort of lock with your thumb tip straight or in my case & the case of anyone who has played a long time, with your thumb tip pointing away from the neck. This totally un-natural grip is what is necessary too push your left wrist out in front of the neck, rather than beneath it and that will get your elbow out of your side, which will give you more efficient attack in whatever position you’re playing. It will also cause your left hand to be that modified C shape. Yes, I know it’s weird. Yes I know it will stress the muscles and tendons that run over the top of your left hand. Yes I know you may not maintain that hand position as a rule -- but you should. Your thumb should move around the back of the neck, but not to the abandonment of that modified C shape. Yes the shape will change a little but not much. This aspect of proper form which yields the best playing technique is what I most often find lacking in self-taught or poorly taught guitarists. Trust me, if you’re strangling the guitar neck with your palm on the neck and your fingers close together, it will impede your progress later. The sooner you correct it, the sooner it will cease to be your besetting obstacle.

To capsulize: left hand shaped like a C but with your thumb straight or locked so the tip points away from the neck of the guitar but the joint is making good contact with it. Wrist slightly in front of the neck, not beneath it. Elbow away from your waist. Adopt these elements of correct playing form and you will find that some of the challenges you encounter will lessen or disappear.

Raptor Picks USA
My personal experience with the Raptor pick is the most compelling argument I have for you trying it. I may or may not have mentioned on this show that I am extremely particular about the pick I use. In fact, I had not digressed from the pick that I thought was the be all end all for me, for decades and decades. I was sold and had perhaps “tried” another pick from time to time, with a closed mind and no expectation of it supplanting the pick I used (which has always and will remain nameless.) When I received my Raptor pick, its appearance caused mixed emotions. It was strikingly different - definitely not like what I used to refer to as MY pick. It was also ingenious. I immediately saw its potential capabilities, but I was still dubious that the potential capabilities were anything more than virtual…… that is, until I played with it.

The brilliance of this aptly named pick is the clean attack from each playing tip - never mind that there are 3 -4 distinct sounds at your disposal with a mere rotation of the pick. I love that I can have the crispness of a thin pick - which I never used because all the raspy pick noise it produced was too distracting - without any pick noise. That alone bowled me over. The middle size point yields a familiar, slightly warmed up but still very clear and clean tone. I like that. That broad round tip is the one I like the best for big round tone dripping with sweetness. The cherry on top is the little cut out for popping strings and for easier pinch harmonics. How could I not love this pick, switch to it and never use my old pick again? I was an impossibility.

I don’t do shameless plugs for anything besides DR Strings on this show and Inever promote anything inferior. You should try this pick.
Great for an all around or specialty pick in your pick arsenal. Without question, a unique gift that will impress the hardest to please guitarist in your life. The pick that will change everyone’s playing, from rank beginner to seasoned pro.

Raptor™ picks: the guitar pick of the 21st century that will revolutionize your playing and enable you to play more creatively. A New Look • A New Feel • A New Shape Many Sounds

Now, are you ready to sound better and have your creative juices primed? This extraordinary tool for the discriminating guitarist who strives for excellence is now available in the US. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to see and hear  the incomparable Raptor pick.  Free Raptors with every order of 4 picks or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence one guitarist at a time.”  Like and Follow Raptor Picks USA on FaceBook and Twitter.
Raptor™ picks are a registered design all rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro
Shira, I hope you’ll use my Tuff Touch and not lose it at camp. Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ. Exhibit hours in July are Sunday from 1 - 5. While we’re talking about Les Paul, reserver your copy of Thank You, Les. I had a sneak hear of all 21 tracks and it’s going to be a fitting tribute. Congratulations to Andy and Lani. Great work. I hope 1 of you is in the Spotlight again next week. Have fun on vacation, Andy. Parentheses can have various meanings in your music. If you’re playing from a book, see if there is a symbol legend. Save the date and make your reservations for Experience PRS September 13 - 15. Don’t let poor left hand prevent you from playing well and advancing.
Check out the most amazing guitar pick you will every use - the genuine Raptor pick from RaptorPicksUSA.Com
Students, and valued listeners, I want to thank you once again for your time and for joining me for episode ___082___ of the Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast. I hope you heard something thought provoking, instructional and/or entertaining. I will include links to anything I mentioned that I think you might like to explore further in the show notes. Don't forget that my web site is Guitar Technique Tutor. Com, all spelled traditionally: (spell it) and you can reach me by email at guitartechnique@gmail.com. Please note that there is no Tutor in the email address. Don't hesitate to email me your question for the Question of the Week segment. If I use your question I will be delighted to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast Pick.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Practice, have a great week, try genuine Raptor™ picks from Raptor Picks USA if you haven’t already and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 081: Pinch Me

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:52:36 -0400

How was your week? Did you play enough to satisfy yourself? Enough to satisfy your love of playing? Enough to satisfy your short term goals or satisfy your self in making strides toward your technical hurdles? If you play out regularly, how was your work last week? Did you satisfy your audience - especially those who have heard you before or was it just the same old same old?

My week was great. Thanks for the positive response to my sponsor Raptor Picks USA - your source for genuine Raptor™ picks. My DRs will probably last a week or so more before I’m jonesin' for new sets. They’re still okay but not as beautiful as when they first go on.

I did have to uncharacteristically cancel out on a few students on Thursday. Sorry, gang. Earlier in the day I had been out doing errands and other things. Then I went home, made lunch for E-Rex and me and when I left to go to teach, the car was dead. It exhibited some bizarre manifestations: When the key was in and the so-called ignition was turned on, it didn’t do anything. But, when the key was removed, all the gauges buzzed and jumped and there was a strange thudding noise coming out of the dash board on the passenger side. It was so weird! When all was said and done, it was just a battery, but E-Rex, who has had a long relationship with everything under the hood of a vehicle had never seen anything like it before. Me, I just kept thinking the car was going to blow up or E-Rex was going to be electrocuted or drop from heat prostration. It was an inconvenience and canceling on my students was my only option, since we became a 1 car family about a year ago. Oh well, what can you do? It could have been much worse. One of my friend’s cars was totaled in a terrible accident this week. So my whacky battery problems were really minor in the scheme of things. E-Rex was bordering on over exertion during the issue but he seems none the worse for wear.

Karrie had her first lesson and did well. I was glad for her feedback, which was that some blanks in her musical understanding were filled in -- and that’s good. We began working on her technique and I gave her enough to keep her busy and I think she’s going to do very well. She’s inspired and zealous.

Don’t forget that the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit is still open and for the month of July you can visit from 1 - 5 on Sundays. This exhibit is worth a trip from anywhere. You’ve got to see it.

Reserve your copy of Thank You, Les! Someone in production over there sent me a sneak peak - or I should say a sneak hear. I was sworn to secrecy, but I can tell you the 21 tracks I samples were not just excellent, but truly fitting tributes. The array of artists that have contributed to the album an documentary is remarkable. I was so thankful for the ability to anticipate with real foreknowledge what will be coming. Thanks Joni.

Don’t leave your axe in the car for even 10 minutes during hot or cold weather - or even if it’s temperate but the sun is shining. It can mean expensive repairs or worse.

This week there’s 1 student in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is about pinch harmonics, which I mentioned last week, News is about something revolutionary and retro at the same time, from our friends at Martin and Take Note is about Harmonik Gloves, the accessory that can help you blend fretted notes and harmonics by muting individual strings of your choice. It’s pretty cool.

Raptor Picks USA
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

The phrases that have been used to describe these picks are:
"Tool for the Creative” “Beautiful and Tactile” “Absolutely Amazing” and my favorite "The Pursuit of Excellence”

Raptors have three carefully sculpted lobes. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

Each lobe forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

They decided from the outset that all Raptor™ picks would be subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

This extraordinary tool for the discriminating guitarist who strives for excellence is now available in the US. Visit http://www.RaptorPicksUSA.Com to see and hear the incomparable Raptor pick. Free Raptors with every order of 4 picks or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence one guitarist at a time.” Like and Follow Raptor Picks USA on FaceBook and Twitter.

Raptor™ picks are a registered design all rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight this week is Andy. He has only been here a few times. Dude! You’ve made some life changes and I wholeheartedly affirm them. Your significantly improved playing is a testimony of some great choices you have implemented. I’m sorry you’re going to be taking off for so much of the summer when you have made such great strides. I know you’re taking your axe. The big issue will be whether you can/will be
able to allocate time to play regularly. I think you will, if you maintain the new kind of self-discipline you have adopted.

Congrats, Dude.

I think there would have probably been one more student who is not a stranger to the spotlight, in it this week had he not had a grave family crisis. Things were okay when last I spoke to him. You know who you are. Your family is fine and intact and that’s all that matters. I hope I’ll see you soon.

Question

This week's question came from a term used in one of the Raptor Picks USA spots I read last week. A student who plays an acoustic guitar and whose musical taste does not run to the any heavy genre asked what are pinch harmonics? Great question. You may be wondering too.

The student who asked has played harmonics and artificial harmonics, but never pinch harmonics.

So a harmonic is a sound that is produced when particular frets are touched in a particular location but not fretted in the traditional way. It creates a bell like open sound. It’s very pure. The reason it’s advisable to tune all strings to harmonics is that string timbre does not distract the guitarist from hearing and comparing the sounds. If you tune an open string to a fretted string, frequently the difference in quality of the sound deceives the player’s ear. When each pitch is of the same quality, like when you tune a harmonic to a harmonic, that timbre disparity doesn’t exist. It’s easier to hear because one is listening to a purer sound. Ordinarily, harmonics are created at the 12th, 9th, 7th, 5th and very carefully at the 4th fret. There’s a long explanation of why those frets produce the sound of a harmonic. Let’s just leave it at that it has to do with physics that are far too lofty for me to fully understand or explain. What do you do if you want that sound at a different fret? You play what is called an artificial harmonic on an acoustic or nylon string guitar. An artificial harmonic is played in the same way as regards the left hand, in that the string is just barely touched directly over the fret, not in the place you would ordinarily depress to fret the note. The right hand, however, has a more complicated task. I play my artificial harmonics with the index finger of my left hand barely touching the string 12 frets higher than the note my left hand is playing, also directly over the fret, but not where you would depress the string if you were fretting it AND the ring finger of my left hand actually plucking the string. It’s fine to use the middle finger for that purpose too. I think most guitarists do but I feel like my unused thumb kind of balances my left hand and I can keep it level when I use my ring finger. My hand is not as relaxed when I try the same maneuver with the middle finger of my right hand. So the principal is that to create that harmonic sound a length of string that spans 12 frets must be vibrated.

Now, if we take that to a situation where we have the marvelous technical assistance found with an amped electric guitar, we can produce screaming harmonics - ordinarily referred to a pinch harmonics.

In this case, gain on the amp is turned way up, the left hand frets the note desired and then it is picked at that location that is 12 frets away and stopped immediately, usually by the thumb. The combination of the amp’s gain and the elimination of all overtones but the ones created by these exotic harmonics creates the unmistakable sound of pinch harmonics. Lots of rock and metal guitarists use them. Do a little reading online. If you like and or play rock or metal and you haven’t played pinch harmonics, it’s likely the bands and/or guitarists you admire do. And if you do play pinch harmonics - you have to try a Raptor pick. Besides that it’s an amazing and versatile all around pick, it’s fabulous for pinch harmonics.

That was a good question

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News

In the news this week is something amazing that has just hit the news this past weekend, with the souther NAMM show. If you’re one of my students and I have shopped for a guitar with you, you have heard me say that you can’t buy a guitar that sounds as good an a vintage axe, because the years and years of the wood flexing causes subtle cellular changes in the wood, which rounds out and warms up the sound of the guitar. That’s why when I sold my very well played and beautifully aged American made Epiphone Texan that was the original year and model of the Paul McCartney reissue a few years ago, I got not a pretty penny for it, but rather a gorgeous chunk of change.

Well, the folks at Martin have been up to something interesting. They have created a series of new acoustic electric guitars that recreate a vintage sound, digitally. I’m going to link to a video in the show notes. Some of us had heard rumblings of this, but I for one was imagining some innovation in the aging of the wood, like not just aging it but subjecting it to continuously alternating vibrations in the tonal range of a traditionally tuned guitar. I was looking for that cellular change I spoke about earlier, to be rushed along. I didn’t even consider using digital DNA to acquire it. Rather than laboring over this news - I’m in a bit of a time crunch, I’m going to read you excerpts from an online article by John Jurgensen that appeared on speakeasy.com this weekend:

In the museum at C.F. Martin & Co., the famed acoustic guitar maker in Nazareth, Pa., a D-45 holds pride of place. It was a custom model made of Brazilian rosewood, and in the years preceding World War II only 91 of them were produced. Martin bought its 1942 museum specimen from a collector for nearly $300,000.
Now, the manufacturer is using digital technology to try to recreate the rich sound of that instrument and other vintage guitars from the ‘30s and ‘40s, whose butter-smooth tones developed naturally over decades of picking and aging.
Compared to antique guitars, new instruments are generally much easier to play. Their necks are svelter. Their strings are lower to the fretboard. But it can sometimes take years of breaking in before their bright, fresh-from-the-factory sound mellows. The goal behind Martin’s Retro Series of instruments, which was unveiled this past weekend at the NAMM show in Nashville: make brand new guitars that sound old.
Recreating the look of the historic steel-string models Martin chose in addition to the D-45—a 1941 D-28, a 1937 D-18, and a 1934 000-28–was “the easy part,” says Tim Teel, the 179-year-old company’s director of instrument design.
To borrow the “sound DNA” of the older models, the company relied on techniques developed by Fishman, the company that builds the gear used to amplify Martin guitars designed for the stage. In the instant that acoustic sound gets transmitted through a guitar’s electronics, it can be digitally modified.
Technicians captured the properties of each vintage Martin not by strumming them, but by using a calibrated hammer to “excite” its surfaces. Sensors attached to the guitar measured its vibrations and patterns of projecting sound. That data was then plugged into an algorithm, which gets used by the electronics in the new guitar to “infuse” its tones with that of the vintage instrument, Teel says.
The next step in this aging process occurs when the guitar’s tones are out-put to an amplifier. Working with producer Bill VornDick, Martin and Fishman used an array of vintage and specialty microphones to replicate sounds that would have been captured in a mid-century recording studio. The data produced from VornDick’s equipment was used to create nine different microphone settings that were built into the new guitar models.
The Retro Series instruments will hit stores in the fall with price tags ranging from about $3,400 (for the D-18E model) to $12,000 (for the D-45E). Speakeasy hasn’t played the new guitars or had them tested, so it’s not possible to say whether the technology amounts to a marketing gimmick or a breakthrough in guitar design. Martin is betting on the latter.
Teel says, “What we’re trying to create is a time machine of sorts.”

I don’t know about you, but I think this is not only fascinating but it also opens the door for other companies to consider offering new vntage instruments - not just a reissue to look like the vintage model, but to sound like ti too.

Granted these guitars are not going to be for everyone’s budget, and I know there are Taylor and Breedlove and Martin camps out there, and Martin may not be your acoustic electric of choice. But now, if the neck and body profiles suit you, you may just have to open your mind if you were not previously in the Martin camp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoFj3ZpT95Q&feature=youtu.be

Take Note:

My take note topic this week is keeping with the question of the week’s topic of harmonics. I recently came across a most ingenious capo, called Harmonik Gloves. It’s like its cousin the Spider Capo, which I either mentioned on this show when I was doing a segment on capos or perhaps as a recent Christmas/Hanukkah time approached and I was suggesting gifts for various budgets.

Well, the Harmonik Gloves is a device you attach at the 12th fret or higher on your guitar neck - and it does not need to wrap around the neck, so even nylon string guitar players can use this device. With it, you can selectively mute or semi-mute particular strings, which makes the playing of harmonics and fretted notes a simpler task. I submit to you that there is probably a learning curve with this device, but if you love alternate tunings and also like to sprinkle harmonics into your music, this may be a fabulous addition to your accessory box. I haven’t used one, but I can see how it would be worth the learning curve time to easily and accurately create a blend of fretted and harmonic tones in your music - especially if you’re a gigging musician. That sinking feeling of just missing a nice round harmonic and only getting a little piece of it or a plink or thud would become a thing of the past.

http://www.spidercapo.com/spidercapo-accessories.html
http://www.spidercapo.com/index.html

Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is hard to describe - in a good way.
If your thing is speedy chops, you probably like a small or traditional size very pointy pick. The Raptor™ is slightly larger than a standard pick, and I really mean slightly. The smallest Raptor™ tip is precisely beveled and shaped for speed and accuracy. I refer to the beveling as spear-like, just what's needed for lightening fast licks, sweet picking, shredding and clean, declarative playing alike. This narrow acrylic tip offers great projection and power for acoustic players as well as electric guitarists.
Players who are not speed obsessed will appreciate the Raptor™ pick's middle size tip. By design, it isn't pointy. This tip has the same "spear-like" beveling, and offers all the power and projection of the pointy tip, but the comparatively rounder picking edge warms up the sound of everything played with it. The best way I can describe the difference in the sound of the 2 already-mentioned tips is like the difference between playing an open string and its first closed unison pitch. (ie: 1st string open vs 2nd string 5th fret - assuming traditional tuning and your guitar is in tune.) It's subtle, but offers a guitarist the opportunity to slightly alter the sound of repetitive passages with the rotation of their pick. So cool! Add a little variation of where on the string you're playing and you have numerous timbre possibilities.
Think about the fattest and phattest, hollow-body jazz guitar music you're ever heard. Or, think about the warm harp-like tones of a well aged and well played, hand made classical guitar. The unifying word I come up with is round. Round? Yes, round and bell-like tones are the result of playing with the seriously rounded pick tip. This tip has the same spear-like bevel for great string attack. Rich, silky, satin for the ears, is the sound attainable with the third voluptuous tip.
If you look carefully at the seriously rounded tip. Notice a little notch cut out on one side. Although if it were just ornamentation, this extraordinary pick would be worth it's weight in gold, but it is not just ornamentation. That notch is perfect for pinch harmonics! A traditional pick requires some kind of thumb or hand rotation to achieve a good pinch harmonic. This notch is the perfect space in which the pad of your thumb can lay to enable you to play pinch harmonics easily and without any contortions. You can also use it to pop a string, if popping is part of your usual articulations.
Raptor™ picks: the guitar pick of the 21st century that will revolutionize your playing and enable you to play more creatively. A New Look • A New Feel • A New Shape Many Sounds
Great for an all around or specialty pick in your pick arsenal. Without question a unique gift that will impress the hardest to please guitarist in your life. The pick that will change everyone’s playing, from rank beginner to seasoned pro.
This extraordinary tool for the discriminating guitarist who strives for excellence is now available in the US. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to see and hear the incomparable Raptor pick. Free Raptors with every order of 4 picks or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence one guitarist at a time.” Like and Follow Raptor Picks USA on FaceBook and Twitter.

Outro
No matter where you live don’t abuse your axe by leaving it in the car! Les Paul in Mahwah at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ can be seen in July from 1 -5 on Sundays. Congrats Andy. You rock dude. Pinch harmonics are an electric guitar technique that requires skill and a high gain setting on your amp. Martin has done the amazing with their Retro Series - they’ve created a new guitar that sounds 60 years old. Amazing. Check out Harmonik Gloves to more easily and artfully blend fretted notes and harmonics.

Students, and valued listeners, I want to thank you once again for your time and for joining me for episode ___081___ of the Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast. I hope you heard something thought provoking, instructional and/or entertaining. I will include links to anything I mentioned that I think you might like to explore further in the show notes. Don't forget that my web site is Guitar Technique Tutor. Com, all spelled traditionally: (spell it) and you can reach me by email at guitartechnique@gmail.com. Please note that there is no Tutor in the email address. Don't hesitate to email me your question for the Question of the Week segment. If I use your question I will be delighted to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast Pick.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

You’ve go to try a Raptor pick. It will change how you view and use picks forever.
Practice, have a great week and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 080: News, Reviews & Schmooze

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:52:48 -0400

Hey, how was your Independence Day celebration? Ours was spent with our friend, Gerry, who is our friend, Dot’s widower. Those of you who have followed the show for a while know she passed away on January 24th.

I don’t know how it was near you, but with the 4th falling on a Wednesday this year, the whole week was filled with fireworks. Some nearby towns had their fireworks on Tuesday, some had them on Wednesday and others had them on Friday and Saturday. That unmistakable smell of gun powder seemed to be in the air every night.

Since it was a holiday week, here in the USA, I didn’t teach so I don’t have a Student Spotlight nor Question of the Week, so this will be an extremely untraditional podcast - but I think it’s okay to depart from the usual format once in a while.

I want to Welcome Kari into my schedule. I’m recording this on Monday, July 9 and she will take her first lesson on Wednesday. She already plays a bit but she recently purchased a gorgeous Gibson guitar and wants to do it justice. I think she’s going to be an excellent student. I sense her zeal to learn and master the guitar so I know that although her life is full and busy, she’ll make time to practice.

I want to offer Danielle my student who is off for the summer, some comfort. She broke her right hand pinkie finger. Fortunately, it’s the only finger one doesn’t need to play -- well, she doesn’t play flamenco so rasqueados aren’t a concern. Danielle, I shattered the larger knuckle of my LEFT HAND INDEX FINGER when I was a young guitarist. Don’t do what I did. Follow your orthopedist’s instructions to the T. I’m sure it will heal in a few weeks. Whatever you were doing when it broke …. don’t do it any more. Ever.

In July the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit will be open on Sundays 1-5 p.m. The exhibit will reopen in September and run until June 2013. This exhibit will allow visitors to learn about the essential facts of Les Paul's life and career. It has sections on invention and innovation, a display of one of a kind precious guitars made especially for Les, enthusiastic support from many famous current-day artists, a recreation of the studio in which Les did his work, a performance space where, at special times, patrons can play one of Les's guitars, and many hands-on video and audio displays.
Learn how this creative genius transformed rock, country and jazz music.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/program.cfm?page=203

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=244

While I’m talking about Les Paul I want to remind you to reserve your copy of Thank You, Les the tribute of all tributes to Les Paul. It’s a documentary and album and you can reserve your copy now. Mine is reserved.

http://thankyoules.com/

I’d like to correct something I said in a Tweet a week or so in the last show.(Yeah, it’s been that kind of week even with not working) I think I said my 100th podcast was probably be in October (I can’t figure out how I came up with that month!) If things go well for E-Rex’s radiation, which should begin in September, and I don’t lose any time doing regular shows, the 100th episode should occur before the end of the year. We’re at 80 this week. That leaves 20 more shows, which is about 5 months. That takes us to early December. I’ll probably take a few of those weeks off - so Episode 100 should go live in late December or Early January. I’m still in the planning stages but I can tell you there will be some iterating interviews and there will probably be some contests for products various people have provided. I’ll keep you posted as it takes shape. Maybe Thank You, Les will be available by then and I will be able to review it. Maybe Showplace Music Productions will contribute one for a 100th podcast give away. I doubt any other podcaster mentioned Les Paul as much as I have since September. I’ll have to speak to them as it gets closer.

•••Raptor Picks USA•••

From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

The phrases that have been used to describe these picks are:
"Tool for the Creative” “Beautiful and Tactile” “Absolutely Amazing” and my favorite "The Pursuit of Excellence”

Raptors have three carefully sculpted lobes. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

Each lobe forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

They decided from the outset that all Raptor™ picks would be subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.

This extraordinary tool for the discriminating guitarist who strives for excellence is now available in the US. Visit http://www.RaptorPicksUSA.Com to see and hear the incomparable Raptor pick. Free Raptors with every order of 4 picks or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence one guitarist at a time.” Like and Follow Raptor Picks USA on FaceBook and Twitter.

Raptor™ picks are a registered design all rights are owned by Black Carbon.

News

In the news this week is a unique guitar pick that is not a Raptor. It’s a Roma. Being Italian, I like the name, immediately. The pick itself is a work of art. It’s carved out of thick delrin, acrylic, padauk wood or beech wood. The carved image is a rose so the colors of the picks are referred to as “gypsy rose ________” whatever the color is, on the Roma Guitar Picks web site.

Here is the maker’s comment on these picks:

“Our guitar picks are ideal for any guitarist seeking a heavy-gauge plectrum that can play quickly and loudly, but doesn't sacrifice tone or playability. They're optimized for speed, precision and sound-quality; the tip of each pick is beveled at a slight angle and polished smooth to allow you to fly over the strings, whether you're a left or right-handed player; the beautiful, ornate designs are not only unique, but add an extra layer of functionality by providing a texture that enhances your ability to hold the pick and keep you from dropping it while you play.”

Here’s my comment on these picks:

I think this may be a good pick for gypsy jazz, because when you’re really playing gypsy jazz, the picking technique lends itself to a pick of this dimension and even the very shallow, one sided bevel on this pick. I think there may be some folk players who might like this, especially if they play a nylon string or acoustic electric nylon string guitar. This pick could be much less abrasive on nylon strings than some other, sharper beveled picks. I cannot play at my usual rate of speed with this pick, but that isn’t saying that ability cannot be cultivated.

These picks are available for righties and lefties and retail for about $10 at RomaGuitarPicks.com

http://romaguitarpicks.com/

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is just a musing about something that came to my attention during last week. I follow someone on Twitter by the name of Aimee Francis - a self-managed and self-promoted singer songwriter who has caught the eye and ear of Gibson guitars who has made her an official Gibson Ambassador. Maybe you know her. The other day she Tweeted something like, “Going to the studio to write a song or some songs,” or something like that. It made me think about technology and how writing a song no longer has anything to do with a writing instrument or paper. Talking to someone doesn’t mean it can be heard audibly. Man, technology has changed so many things.
You can have a veritable recording studio in your pocket with an iPhone and IK Media’s apps installed. You can bend strings, playing like a guitarist possessed, but your strings can remain in tune if you’ve modified your axe with Evertune.
You can PhotoShop a profile photo and if you’re good, people will see you as you aren’t.

Is there anything in our lives that isn’t techified or automated or made to manipulate things so they seem different from what they are? We don’t have to schlep books around but we can read them on our tablet or e-reader or phone. We can nuke decent meals without cooking them (I wouldn’t go so far as to say gourmet or decadent meals, but decent)

If you’ve been listening to me for any amount of time, you should already have the answer to the question, considering the source.

There’s no no no no no app or shortcut for practicing. And I’m so glad. I read an interview with Joe Robinson guitar phenome. At times in his life he has gotten up at 4 am to practice a few hours before school and then played another 4 hours after school. Wow, you say? I say, it reminds me of someone I know. I was fortunate to have an instructor when I was really young, who instilled in me the fact that if you’re going to be excellent, you’re going to be working hard continuously. I think Joe Robinson gets it. He’s not a wanna be and he’s not admiring his accomplishments. He’s a hard working musician whose craft is important to him. I don’t know it because of what he says. I know it because of what he does. He plays. In fact he plays for hours on end, even though he’s already highly accomplished. That’s dedication and that’s passion.
So how are you doing in the passion for your music department? Do you find yourself talking about it more than playing it? You’re in a slump? How do you get out of a slump? The same way you get out of a ditch you fall into. You have to exert the energy to climb out. I think my illustration is a good one. When you’re climbing out of a ditch, gravity is pulling you back down and it makes your body weight feel heavier than what it is. When you’re in a slump, it’s easy to get pulled back down into wallowing in your mediocrity or the technical hurdle that seems too big.
I think at the root of a lot of this laziness to practice and what seems like an epidemic of consistent practice aversion, is a kind of pride. Some of my students are unsettled by some of the things they find it difficult or impossible to do. I’m thinking of someone who is having a terrible time training his ear. News flash, if you’re only playing visually or physically, you’re not making music, you’re making sound. It might be impressive sound and cool sound, but when you make music it’s done with understanding. To this person’s credit, they are working diligently and allowing themselves to be vulnerable and they stick it out when they don’t do well. They stay at it. This person will develop and ear and confidence. Most people can’t bear the idea that they are sub-parr at anything. If that’s you, forget memorizing 5 tab licks a week. Get back to the building blocks of technique and musical understanding. You’ll become a great musician if you persevere.

http://aimeefrancis.com/fr_intro.cfm
http://www.evertune.com
http://joerobinson.com/media/videos
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/teaser_20120614_slash.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html

•••Raptor Picks USA•••
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is hard to describe - in a good way.
Unless you already play with some kind of "alternative" pick, the first thing you'll notice is that the body of the pick is a combination of raised and depressed areas, unlike a traditional flat or thumb pick, both of which have basically flat grip surfaces. If you're prone to losing grip on your pick or if your hands sweat a bit and your pick shifts around as you play, the Raptor™won't. Its raised and flat area combined with the irregular shapes of its perimeter will prevent unelected pick shifting.
If your thing is speedy chops, you probably like a small or traditional size very pointy pick. The Raptor™ is slightly larger than a standard pick, and I really mean slightly. The smallest Raptor™ tip is precisely beveled and shaped for speed and accuracy. I refer to the beveling as spear-like, just what's needed for lightening fast licks, sweet picking, shredding and clean, declarative playing alike. This narrow acrylic tip offers great projection and power for acoustic players as well as electric guitarists.
Players who are not speed obsessed will appreciate the Raptor™ pick's middle size tip. By design, it isn't pointy. This tip has the same "spear-like" beveling, and offers all the power and projection of the pointy tip, but the comparatively rounder picking edge warms up the sound of everything played with it. The best way I can describe the difference in the sound of the 2 already-mentioned tips is like the difference between playing an open string and its first closed unison pitch. (ie: 1st string open vs 2nd string 5th fret - assuming traditional tuning and your guitar is in tune.) It's subtle, but offers a guitarist the opportunity to slightly alter the sound of repetitive passages with the rotation of their plectrum. So cool! Add a little variation of where on the string you're playing and you have numerous timbre possibilities.
What about that bulbous tip? Think about the fattest and phattest, hollow-body jazz guitar music you're ever heard. Or, think about the warm harp-like tones of a well aged and well played, hand made classical guitar. The unifying word I come up with is round. Round? Yes, round and bell-like tones are the result of such an unusual shaped pick tip. This tip has the same spear-like bevel for great string attack. Rich, silky, satin for the ears, is the sound attainable with the third voluptuous tip.
So, there they are, the 3 playing tips, where's the 4th sound? Look carefully at the voluptuous tip. Notice a little notch cut out on one side. Although if it were just ornamentation, this extraordinary pick would be worth it's weight in gold, but it is not just ornamentation. That notch is probably the most innovative aspect of this revolutionary pick design. It's perfect for pinch harmonics! A traditional pick requires some kind of thumb or hand rotation to achieve a good pinch harmonic. This notch is the perfect space in which the pad of your thumb can lay to enable you to play pinch harmonics easily and without any contortions. You can also use it to pop a string, if popping is part of your usual articulations.
Raptor™ picks: the guitar pick of the 21st century that will revolutionize your playing and enable you to play more creatively. A New Look • A New Feel • A New Shape Many Sounds
Now, are you ready to sound better and have your creative juices primed?
This extraordinary tool for the discriminating guitarist who strives for excellence is now available in the US. Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to see and hear the incomparable Raptor pick. Free Raptors with every order of 4 picks or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence one guitarist at a time.” Like and Follow Raptor Picks USA on FaceBook and Twitter.

Raptor™ picks are a registered design all rights are owned by Black Carbon.

Outro

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ. For the month of July it’s open from 1 to 5 on Sundays only. I’ll keep you posted on it’s hours for August as it approaches. Reserver your copy of Thank You, Les. It’s going to be amazing. If you play gypsy jazz, folk or nylon strings, you may like the Roma pick. It retails for about $10. There’s not excuse nor substitute for diligence. If you acquire it, you’ll improve - especially under the guidance of a good teacher who can keep you narrowly focused when necessary and broaden you when you have blinders on. There’s no question about it.
If you really want your creativity level to escalate, grab some Raptor picks.

You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm @GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

Episode 079: Stretch

(D A Arlaus) guitartechnique@gmail.com — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:32:59 -0400

How was your week? Last week was good but a little bitter sweet. I’m always sorry to see my students take off for the summer - yes, I’ll miss them and that’s the main reason, but I also know that many of them will regress over the long time they are away, and that’s a drag. It’s a drag especially for them because when they return in late August or in September, they’re uncomfortable because they realize their playing has declined. It’s a drag for me, because I have to rise above the capacity of mentor and instructor, to diplomat and get them back on track without them becoming utterly deflated. It’s a prickly job but someone’s got to do it.

Hi to Kerri, who I have spoken to on the phone and with whom I will have consultation on Thursday.

I’m pleased to report that I won’t be undergoing thyroid surgery in the foreseeable future. That’s 1 less thing to have to wrestle with over the summer. We really need a break and now, we will actually have one.

This is a hoot: One of my former students, whom I have mentioned before on this podcast, Jon, is now a husband, father and practicing physician. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love and play guitar whenever he can. He’s an amazing blues guitarist. I don’t mean he’s okay. I mean he’s amazingly accomplished, especially considering it’s his avocation and fun thing, not the be all end all focus of his life.

Anyway, Jon usually plays a blues gig around his birthday, which is in April. If he played then, I didn’t hear about it. But then again, my April was anything but ordinary. Last week I got a FB invitation from Jon’s wife, Jenica, to hear Jon and his band, Gypsy Eyes, play blues this coming Saturday. I was so happy because last year, something came up and I couldn’t attend the birthday gig.

This is where I should say that Gypsy Eyes usually plays at blues clubs, here in NJ. Well, this up coming gig is NOT in a blues club. It’s in a hookah lounge. No joke!! I haven’t heard Jon play for quite a while, so my first reaction was, Yes, sure, I’ll attend and I replied to the invitation in the affirmative. Then, I checked out the drive. Over an hour each way, on a Friday, going toward the shore in the early evening. That alone wasn’t’ the only problem. The hookah lounge, try as I might to get past its roots and philosophical bent, I just couldn’t. I’m not a smoker and I’m not putting my lips to a hookah to smoke flavored tobacco. There’s also the heavy middle eastern (not in a good way) influence. So, Jon, you know I love you, but this hookah lounge thing is just too repugnant to me, to hear you there. I will make it to the next traditional gig you play. Bit for you, my listeners, I will link to 2 videos of Jon playing with Gypsy Eyes in the show notes. If you’re interested in hearing Jon and Gypsy Eyes play, he’ll be at Mist Hookah Lounge in North Brunswick, NJ on Friday,
http://youtu.be/NB_egrL7I-E

I will have some major news for you in a couple weeks - so stay tuned for that. It will be an additional way to “spread the excellence one guitarist at a time,” which I am looking forward to announcing. It’s exciting!!!

This week, the Spotlight is dark. I had very few students, so the podcast is saving energy and going green. Here’s hoping for a Spotlight shining on a few students next time.

The Question of the Week is How can I achieve better stretch between my fingers when I play harmonies and chords?

News is about the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit being extended.
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
Take Note contains reviews of a particular pick holder and 2 picks not found in the guitar stores where I shop. Thank you to everyone who provided review samples.

Question of the Week
This week's question is from a student: How can I achieve better stretch between my fingers when I play harmonies and chords?

The student who posed this question has been playing for a number of years and it’s good that he realizes that he is limited when it comes to a powerful, stretched-out, controlled fingertip grip that sounds clean and is consistent.

There are 2 separate issues in play when you have to work on this technique. The first and foremost is attaining wide separation between the left hand fingers. One of the ways to enhance your ability to stretch is to play some stretching exercises LONG TERM. This isn’t something you accomplish in a week or 2. Initially you play some exercises designed to cause you to reach and stretch. Later, you will probably play enough music that requires stretching.

Try this if you find you don’t have very wide stretch between your fingers: At the 5th or 7th fret, play the 6th string with your 1st finger and do not remove that finger. Play a half step (1 fret) higher with your 2nd finger. Remove your 2nd finger. Play a half step lower with your 1st finger, which is still being held down and continue to hold it down. Do not lift it. Now, play a whole step (2 frets) higher with your 2nd finger. (You’re skipping one fret between your 1st and 2nd finger.) Remove your 2nd finger and play the note a whole step (2 frets) lower that is still being held by your 1st finger. And repeat from the beginning. Repeat this exercise across all 6 strings. Try the exercise substituting the 2nd finger for the 1st finger and the 3rd finger for the 2nd finger and repeat it on all 6 strings, ending on the 1st string. For the return trip to the 6th string, play the note at the first fret (in whatever position you have chosen to play) with your 1st finger and do not lift it. Play a half step higher with your 2nd finger and audibly slide it a half step higher, being sure to accomplish an audible tone. Do the same on the 2nd, string and so on until you reach the 6th string. Play that same exercise from the 1st string to the 6th string using your 2nd and 3rd fingers too. If you absolutely cannot make the stretch at either the 5th or 7th fret, go a bit higher. You want it to be a challenge, but not impossible. As soon as you can consistently play this exercise cleanly and with control, descend at least a whole step (in pitch) and continue to work on it. The frets get farther apart, the closer to the head of the guitar you go. So, this exercise can keep you busy, literally, for months.

If your technique is correct you will notice and your thumb is doing its job correctly, the shape of your hand is not the same when you do the slide exercise as when you do what we will call plain stretching. When plain stretching, the palm of your left hand should be somewhat facing the neck of the guitar. However, to get clean tones when you do the sliding exercise, your left hand palm is facing the upper bout of your guitar, not the neck. So you’re stretching 2 different ways if you practice this exercise correctly.

The second issue that needs to be addressed in this segment, is when one has to reach a distance and succeeds in doing so, are there tones on other strings to be played? Are they clean or are they muffled or muted by a finger leaning too far into their territory? The simplest way to check that your developing technique does not hamper any neighboring tones, is to play your stretched note and while yet holding it, strike the next higher and/or lower open string to be sure it is uninhibited from vibrating.

If you’re stretch challenged, build a little bit of time into your practice schedule for this exercise and you will reap the benefits, providing you stay with it.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News
The Mahwah exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute” celebrating the life of the extraordinary guitarist and inventor who lived in Mahwah for over 50 years before his death in 2009, continues on Sundays in July from 1-5 p.m. After closing in August, the exhibit will resume on Wednesdays and weekends from 1-5 p.m. from September 2012 through June 2013.

Beginning in September the Museum will resume “Play a Les Paul Guitar” sessions when up to three musicians can sign up to play some of the Les Paul’s own guitars.

To sign up for the waiting list to “Play a Les Paul Guitar” and for more information about the Museum’s exhibits and events, visit www.mahwahmuseum.org.

Take Note:
My take note topic this week is not a single topic but a few product reviews. I have 3 of them for you. I am doing them in alphabetical order, not their order of importance or based on anything else.

First up is the Chicken Pick. Don’t tune out if you’re not a chicken picker, country music player. This ultra thick pick from Eppo Franken in the Netherlands. The gauges it’s available in are 2.2 - 2.5mm which he refers to as “light,” and the 2.6 - 2.8mm which he refers to as “regular.”

This is a traditionally shaped pick that is very hefty. For a thick pick I think the bevel on the edge is generous and well done. Sometimes the bevel on a thick pick is too shallow and it doesn’t bite the string the way I like. That’s just my opinion. This pick is not for those of you who play with a very light pick because you like the sound the pick itself makes - you know that metallicy raspy sound that is so desired in some acoustic rhythm playing? I think Eppo makes a very good point in the information on his web site, and that is that this pick is also well suited to bass players. This is another designer pick. Eppo has them priced at about $9 each and about $15 for 2. Don’t forget, there is shipping from the Netherlands, too.

The next pick I have to review is
Gravity Picks. Chris Fahey’s promo material declares that they are hand made in USA. I think he means that they are factory manufactured and hand finished, but I might be mistaken. These are pretty picks, available in crystal clear and attractive clear or transparent colors. Gauges range from .75mm all the way up to 3mm. His styles are all different shapes: Axis, Classic, Edge, Punch, Razer, Striker and Wave. I received samples of Classic and Mini Classic in a few gauges and Striker in XL and Mini in 2 different gauges. Looking at the photos of the various pick styles, I think the Razer and Punch would probably suit my taste in dimension and pick surface profile. Of the ones I received, the Classic XL gave me the most surface to grip. The standards and minis I received seemed a bit short from top to tip for the way I hold a guitar pick (which is in the traditional manner) and I don’t have large fingers. If you already play with a small pick like a jazz teardrop shape, you might like the minis. I think they would be great for some youngsters with small hands and fingers, but at a minimum of about $4 per pick when you buy them individually, you’d want to be sure a young guitarist didn’t lose them as often as some of my younger students do.

These picks are very smooth and attractive. The price range for these picks, and remember they are handmade in the USA is from about $4 - $20 per pick. Some styles are available in 8 pick sets for $30. Any order over $29 ships free in the USA.

My last review is not a pick but something to wear with your pick in it. The nice folks at Pickbandz® sent me several samples of their products. They make cool silcone pick-holder bracelets, necklaces and key rings. What a great idea! The bracelets come in a youth size, and adult size and a large adult size. And, guys, these are unisex. They aren’t girly bracelets. If you’re a girl and you want your Pickbandz® bracelet or necklace to look girly, pick a girly color. For you manly men, there are black, white and wolf gray if you want to be sedate. The color range for these products is black, gray, green, pink, orange, white and yellow.

The simplicity of the designs is a good thing here. The bracelets are a simple band - no buckle or any other hardware. Buy your correct size and it will stretch over your hand and be just the right size on your wrist. On a fast glance, it looks like you’re wearing a triangular watch

The silicone grips and holds your pick/s very well. If you put a pick into any of these Pickbandz® products properly, it’s not going to fall out. That being said, realize this is NOT something to wear so that if you drop or break your pick while playing a gig you can quickly pull another pick out of. There are pick holders made for that purpose but this is not one of those. Pickbandz® are more like a statement accessory. Wear a Pickbandz® bracelet while wearing a short sleeve shirt so it’s visible and in a crowd, it’s sure to begin a conversation. The same goes for the necklace. The keychain may not garner as much attention, but if your keys are with a few friends’ keys on a table or something, there will be no doubt which keys are yours.

I love these products and I am very grateful for how generous Amy and Albert were in sending me the variety they did. I think they have a broad appeal to youth, for sure, but cool adults can wear them without feeling goofy. They’d make a terrific gift for the hard to please young guitarist in your life. Their prices are about $7 for the bracelet or the key chain and about $8 for the necklace. Shipping to the USA is free for any order over $25. As if all this isn’t enough, They will Rock it Forward and donate 10¢ for every bracelet or pendant you purchase, to the charity of your choice. Awesome!

On that happy note, we come to the conclusion of this week’s segments of episode 079, so let’s go to the outré and wrap this baby up.

http://www.gravitypicks.com/

http://chickenpicks.com/page1.php

http://www.pickbandz.com/

Outro
Make sure your guitar is humidified if it’s dry from air conditioning or the general environment. Make sure you tune your strings down a whole step if you’re leaving your guitar home

Hey, my 100th show should be in September or October, depending on how E-Rex does when he begins radiation. I will be planning some fun things for that show. I hope to have interviews, some give aways and so on. I’m just beginning to

No one is in the Spotlight, so I’m giving the Spotlight to my former student Jon, who will be in the spotlight, literally, on Friday, at Mist Hookah Lounge in North Brunswick, NJ. Jon, I’ll catch you when you’re in a more traditional venue with which I don’t have to philosophically wrestle, and wit which I can have peace about attending. Sorry Dude, I know you’re going to play fabulously.

So, the Les Paul exhibit will continue through July on Sundays. I will check to see if it’s going to be reduced or remain at its present size and when. Originally, it was supposed to shrink at the end of June.

If you can’t stretch or can’t stretch and play cleanly the stretch fingered notes or those nearby, try the exercise I created for my students with that problem. It’s not a quick fix, it’s a long term permanent one. Stay with it.
You might like to try Gravity Picks or Chicken Picks. Silicone Pickbandz® are cool - Rock your pick on your wrist, around your neck or on your keys.
A few weeks ago I mentioned an old TV series called Jazz Master Class. I had it on when I was organizing my outline for this podcast and the website at which you can see and hear complete shows is http://www.artistshousemusic.org/node/7555/4977 I don’t recall if I had that link to offer. I was constantly pausing and listening to this week’s show, which focused on Barry Harris. The music was drool-worthy.

July 4th, Independence Day, here in the US, is next Wednesday. I’m skipping the show next week, because of it. I will return with a very exciting announcement that I can’t wait to share with you. If you’re wondering what it is, let’s just leave it at, I have discovered another way to, “spread the excellence one guitarist at a time,” which has been the slogan for this show, since its inception. I can hardly wait to share it with you!

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Practice, have a great week and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time. Happy July 4th everyone.

Episode 078: What Guitar Should I Play?

D A Arlaus guitartechnique@gmail.com — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 22:30:45 -0400

Thank you so much, for your time.
Intro
So, how was your week? I have a mini report, despite not attending:

THE LES PAUL BIRTHDAY GALA WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!

The Les Paul Birthday Gala held on June 9 in honor of what would have been Les Paul's 97th birthday was a huge success. Three hundred guests attended to celebrate Les Paul Day in Mahwah at the Trustees Pavilion at Ramapo College. Guests were entertained by musicians Lou Pallo and members of the Les Paul Trio, Tommy Doyle and Sandy Cory, Vanilla Fudge, Tre Novo and Stan McFarland.  A birthday cake created by Sandra Gillman was modeled after a life sized Fender Stratocaster guitar.
Winners were announced for the raffle of two Les Paul autographed guitars. The winner of the Stratocaster signed by Les Paul and Steve Miller was Joe Schaar of Boonton. The winner of the Stratocaster signed by Les Paul, the Les Paul Trio and other musicians, was Scott Loveless, of Paramus, who generously donated the guitar to the Mahwah Museum.
The Gala's silent auction, live auction and raffle benefited the Mahwah Museum. The Mahwah Museum Society would like to thank Ramapo College, all of the fabulous musicians, auction and raffle participants, Jim Wysocki, Ronnie Gantz, Mitch Kahn, donors and friends for their generosity and support.
The Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah, is open through June 30 on Wednesdays and weekends from 1-5 p.m. and will be open Sundays 1-5 p.m. through July 29.
I’m hoping to have a wrap up interview with Dr Carerras and or Tom Dunn in the next week or so, about the Gala and the change coming to the exhibit at the end of June, providing they haven’t taken off on vacations, now that the hard work of the Gala is behind them.

Last week was a great week. No health issues and except for a few students who were traveling, I had an opportunity to see all my students. For a couple of them, as last week’s podcast memorialized, it was sayonara. After this week, I will slide into my summer schedule, which couldn’t be more welcome. I will probably teach 1 less day than during the academic year. Frankly, I’m ready for that. It’s been a hard academic or school year and I’m ready for an extra day off each week. That isn’t to say I won’t be working after a manner. I have some modifying of the GuitarTechniqueTutor.Com web site to do and I have some musical and personal projects I’d like to make headway on and if this summer is like all previous ones, I will be welcoming some new students into my schedule.

Last week, I also sent Tina Holmes, in Bristol, England a few picks for her collection and she received them in record time. You can follow her on Twitter, where she’s @tinaspicks. Her web site is tinaspicks.com and you may really take a trip down memory lane if you take a look and you’re a guitarist of a certain age. I see lots of picks I sampled as a young player. If I could find the other picks that were hand made by Les Paul that I have, I’d send her one, but at the moment, I can only find one of them.

Yes, I finally changed my strings. And all the guitars have DRs on them and new DRs at that. I’ll probably have to do another change in July, just for now, everything sounds beautiful and I can’t walk past the guitars on the wall without pulling one down and playing for a while. I have a ton to do this week so I might have been well advised to hold off on the string change 1 more week - but I didn’t. Now that my schedule will be slowing down, I am thinking about going over to DR and do an interview for the show.

In the show this week, there is 1 student in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the week is from Luis in Australia again -- other than my guitar students, I think this is the first time I have had a repeat inquirer. His question is about how to cope with his multiple types of guitars. News is about the Taylor Find Your Fit events happening all over from July 9 - August 24th. And this week’s Take Note Segment is about monthly contests to win cool things from Epiphone.

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=242
http://www.tinaspicks.com/
http://www.drstrings.com
http://www.epiphone.com

Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight this week is Lani. Do you see amazing your playing was at your lesson after all the regular practice time you invested? Awesome!! Lani had a little difficulty getting back in the habit of practicing after returning from a family trip to South Africa. On Thursday, her playing was starkly different. She was well-prepared and played excellently. Lani had tremendous potential. Right now she is my youngest student, extremely musical and she’s very bright. If she stays with it, there’s a high likelihood that you will be hearing great things about her in the coming years. She has all the earmarks of becoming an excellent and accomplished musician.

Lani, you did a beautiful job. Keep up the great work.

Question of the Week

This week's question is from Luis from Australia again. Thanks for your follow up email, Luis. He hasn’t yet found an instructor. Here’s an excerpt from his email, which contains his question:

I own a classical Yamaha and an electric Squire for several years. These guitars are in a stand where I can pick them up and play at any time….About a year ago, I decided to buy a better instrument and also I wanted an acoustic steel so after trying some from Martin, Takamine, Maton, etc I tried a Taylor 414ce…Wow, I fell in love with it! ………I really like to look after my instruments so my Taylor is always in its case. I end up playing the classical Yamaha much more often because it is there, right in front of me! What happens is that when I play the Taylor I have to kind of re-adapt to the slimmer neck, steel strings, etc. I love it but I was just wondering what would be your recommendation as a teacher. Should I “hide” the other guitars to improve my playing on my steel string Taylor? As I understand, you own many guitars so how do you cope with these differences?

As before, Luis has a great question.

The moment I touched a guitar, I knew it was the instrument I was searching for to satisfy, what for me, the piano didn’t. I began lessons on a cheap -- not cheap --- poor quality guitar. As I recall, it was a nylon string guitar and had those black La Bella ball end strings. Shortly thereafter I got a steel string Americn made Epiphone, I think the model was called FT-30 Caballero which featured all Mahogany construction with tortoise bound 00 size body, 24 3/4in scale, Rosewood fretboard, and Ebony bridge. It was great and had a great neck profile.
Then, my instructor, introduced me to classical guitar via a recording he gave me at Christmas time. I loved the complexity of the music and the harmonic richness of hearing non-adjacent strings sounded together was nothing less than intoxicating to me. So, a classical guitar was added to my collection and my acoustic instructor referred me to one of his friends who was a classical guitarist studying at Mannes, and he became my additional instructor. They both taught at the same studio so I scheduled lessons back to back with my 2 teachers.
After the 2nd lesson I had to revise that schedule. The transition from one guitar to the other took a toll on my skill on the acoustic, which was the 2nd lesson. I reversed the order of the lessons, which the other students were niched enough to accommodate me with. Still, no good. So the result was taking my classical lesson, a half hour break during which I did some exercises and scales etc in a practice room, and then my acoustic lesson. That worked until I took it down to choosing only one to continue with a couple years later.

So, I hear you, Luis, about the adjustment going from your Yamaha classical to the Taylor acoustic. It’s obvious that you enjoy a variety of genres and as a musician, I think that’s great. Keep your musical experience broad and your style of playing each genre will develop more nuances and individuality. So what do I recommend? Depending on what you’re working on and/or want to learn - I think my best advice to you would be to stagger the days you play the different guitars. If the Squire is the least played, I would slate it to be played on whatever day in your week that you have just a short while to play -- that is, if there are electric things you’re working on or enjoy playing. If it’s not of particular interest for a particular reason, you might want to just leave it out in the stand so you can admire it, or perhaps put it in its case or gig bag until there’s something you really want to do with it. If your interest or the volume of things you want to play or practice on the remaining 2 guitars is equal, alternate the days you play them. You have to compromise somewhere and I think the compromise of playing one, one week or for 3 or 4 days, and then switching and playing the other for a week or 3 or 4 days may just cost you too much in slow improvement and optimum recall or memory or whatever you want to call it. If my suggestion is workable, I think the over night break will allow you to adjust to whatever neck you’re playing on by the time you have practiced or played what you use for warming up. Luis, this may shock you, because I too, like to take good care of my guitars, but I’m going to suggest it anyway. I know you spent a lot on the Taylor, but as you say, you don’t have any problem with your home being too dry for your guitars. I suggest that if you don’t have a big dog or little children, that you leave it out in the stand. It’s a beautiful instrument. If it might come to inadvertent harm by pet or child, maybe you’d consider getting good guitar wall hanger and hanging it up so it will be a beautiful part of your decor and be handy and maybe it will even whisper your name as you walk by it. If you do keep it out, I’d recommend a product I spoke about in a June 2011 show. The ones I have are called Clean Green Microfiber Gloves and I purchased them in, of all places, a hardware store. The brand is unimportant. Keep the glove handy for any of the guitars that are in a stand or that may hang on the wall. Once a week, go over the entire surface of the guitar with the glove. That will take care of any settling dust, residue from any cooking steam, etc. Our apartment is teeeeeeeny and because of my multiple hanging guitars’ proximity to the kitchen, I lay them on our bed in the bedroom when I fry anything. I wipe them down whenever I play but also every Saturday, I give all of them a good cleaning with the microfiber glove.

Luis, let the listeners and me know if this staggered playing plan is feasible and if it is, once you begin, let us know how it works for you. It may require you to carve out a little bit more playing time on some days, just so you don’t have long gaps between guitars, but who ever suffered from a little more time with their axe? Nobody that I know.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

http://www.labellacatalog.com/english/
http://www.amazon.com/High-Performance-Microfiber-Cleaning-Dusting-Gloves/dp/B004TX6242

News
In the news this week is something interesting from our friends at Taylor Guitars:“Find Your Fit This Summer.”
They’ve scheduled more than 60 Find Your Fit sales events in North America for this summer, so if they make it your way, they hope you'll visit your local Taylor dealer for a personal consultation with their factory experts. They'll be happy to answer any questions you have about finding the Taylor model that's right for you and offer personal recommendations based on your player profile. Together with this summer's interest-free financing program, it might be the perfect time to bring a new Taylor home. For a complete list of events and dates, visit our Find Your Fit page at taylorguitars.com.

Besides this great event
Taylor Guitars Extends 12-Month, Interest-Free Financing to Consumers

For players dreaming of their next Taylor guitar, the return of a sweet financing program will be music to their ears. Taylor has once again partnered with GE Capital to offer customers 0% interest* on the purchase of select new Taylor models if paid in full within 12 months. The program runs from June 1 through August 31, 2012.

Offered through participating authorized Taylor dealers, the financing program is available to qualified buyers in the U.S. and applies to many Taylor models, including:
·         All 500 Series/Acoustic 5 Series models and up, including Specialty models
·         Select Limited Editions
·         T5 Standard and Custom models
·         All T3 models
·         All SolidBody models
·         Build to Order models
·         Presentation Series models

So, if a Taylor is in your future, and especially if you’re not sure what the best axe for you is, find the closest event to your town or city. In my case, I have 2 occurring within 15 miles of my home. If you have a guitar instructor with whom you work, see if they will agree to go with you. A new Taylor is a significant purchase and they may be able to steer you in the correct direction as well.

I always assist my students when they purchase guitars. They’re going to have to live with them for the foreseeable future, and indirectly, I will also have to live with them.

Take Note
Epiphone Monthly Contests Are Back! Each month our good friends at Epiphone will be holding a contest, in which a great guitar or excellent gear item will be won by a participant. Of course, do this with a parent or guardian if you are less than 18 years old.
I read over the contest rules and they are legit and ordinary. There are no substitutions and of course you’re not the winner unless you provide the eligibility credentials after you win. The retail value of this month’s prize is $999. So, what’s the prize this month, specifically? Glad you asked.
To win an Epiphone Dave Navarro "Jane" Signature Model you have to enter by June 30. I’d play it safe and do it by the 29th, the latest, just to be sure you aren’t in a funny time zone etc.
From his groundbreaking work with Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Navarro's six-string skills have made him one of alternative rock's first true guitar heroes. Fill out Gibson’s entry form for your chance to win Dave's solid Sitka Spruce top, signature model with Epiphone's eSonic preamp system!
If you’re a Dave Navarro fan or just want an nice new Jane, this contest might just get this guitar for you.

http://www.epiphone.com/Home.aspx
http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2012/Epiphone-June-Guitar-Giveaway-Dave-Navarro-Jane.aspx

Outro

I hope you were able to go to the Les Paul Birthday Bash if you were in the area and congratulations to Joe Schaar and Scott Loveless on their wins and thank you Scott for your kindness in donating the Les Paul you won, to the Museum. I don’t know if I would have been so thoughtful. Don’t forget to visit the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit in the coming 2 weeks to see the full scope before it is reduced. If you want to see the cool picks in Tina Holmes’ collection, check them out at Tinaspicks.com. Congrats and fabulous playing, Lani. When you are so blessed as to have a few different types of guitars with very different neck profiles and string set ups, you may want to try playing alternate days, if you find it challenging to transition from one to another. If you’re in the market for a Taylor, perhaps a Find Your Fit event will help you sort though the choices more efficiently and accurately. Be on the alert, Epiphone is having monthly contests. This month, if you’re 18 or older, you might win a Dave Navarro “Jane” guitar.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

Episode 077: Sayonara

D A Arlaus guitartechnique@gmail.com — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:29:52 -0400

Well regrettably, I didn’t make it to the Les Paul Birthday Bash Gala at the Ramapo College Trustee’s Pavilion. I had every intention of going, but with recent E-Rex health developments, the timing is just bad. I stayed close to home. E-Rex is better each week but I still don’t fancy an evening out without him. Not just now. I did shoot out emails to both Dr Charles Carreras and Tom Dunn, for interviews so we can hear about how the event was. In a word, I’m sure it was stellar. If any of my students went, I will interview them, too. Multiple perspectives are always good. I’m disappointed, that I didn’t attend,but what can you do? I’d have been tortured, emotionally, despite the great music, fine finger food and the excitement of the raffles and auctions. I’ll be looking forward to talking to Dr Carerras and Tom Dunn.

The cool thing is that Mayor William C. Laforet issued a Proclamation naming Saturday, June 9th as Les Paul Day in Mahwah. This year marks the 97th anniversary of Les Paul’s birth in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1915. He lived in Mahwah from 1952 until his death in 2009. I think it should be a national proclamation. Who do you have to contact to get that ball rolling?

Let’s not forget last year’s Google Les Paul Doodle. If you didn’t see it last year, it is still up and can offer you no end of musical entertainment.
http://www.google.com/logos/2011/lespaul.html

I still have a guitar with great, beautiful, dulcet DRs on it and another that is pathetic. I’m going to have to so something about that pronto.

I’m sorry to be bidding my student Julia adieu. It’s really too bad. She was the only recipient of the Acme award thus far. She has just become totally uninspired and doesn’t play and doesn’t want to play. I hope I’ll see her again in future because she has an extraordinary ear and is quite gifted. But the better she became, the less she was interested in playing well. Sayonara, Julia.

Sayonara John Doll and D&D picks, too. I was ready to order new Guitar Technique Tutor picks from him only to find all his web pages down. Bummer. I’ve been dealing with John for around 15 years. I’m always sorry when a small business man goes out of business. So, I’ve ordered from a different source. I hope I’ll like them. I’ll let you know when they arrive.

In the coming 2 weeks many students will be taking off for 6 weeks to all summer. Sayonara to you, too. If you’re a student leaving for more than a week or 2, please call as soon as you’re back, to get back into my schedule. I will be taking on some new students this summer. I cannot guarantee you space in my schedule if you don’t contact me when you’re back. I hate to turn anyone away in September, and the best way to prevent that is to get back in my schedule as soon as you’re home.

In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight is Mike! Go, Dude! I’m always amazed at what you are able to do with the very limited time you have. Mike has a totally inhuman work schedule which is loaded with long hours and lots of travel (he’s away right now.) Still he applies himself and has sincere zeal. I’m so glad you’re progressing as well as you are. It’s my pleasure to shine the spotlight on you this week. Excellent work. I’ll see you in a week when you’re back from the current business trip and I have great expectations.

This week's question is about inferring and playing with correctly sustained notes as well as staccato. I was working with one of my students, who’s fairly new. I had her playing Mission Impossible and asked her for more “attitude,” when she played. She knew what I wanted from her but not how to execute it.

In this discussion, I’m referring to someone who plays an acoustic guitar. Well, sustained sound, not sustain on an amplifier, pedal or other electronic device setting, is accomplished by a particular recipe of left hand finger pressure, without interruption, right hand pick or finger attack force and sometimes where you play on the strings. In my student’s case, the issue is that she isn’t playing those first few phrases of Mission Impossible with staccato, but rather allowing them to ring. If you don’t palm mute, the best way to staccato fretted notes is to bounce and by that I mean lift your fretting fingertip for a nanosecond. You’re just lifting in order to change the length of the vibrating string, thereby stopping the sound. This will give you the little bits of silence between the notes desirable for a bit of attitude. If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, play this little snippet of the chord progression in the rhythm of the infamous Mission Impossible theme: 2 G5s, a Bb5, a C5, 2 G5s, an F5, and F#5, repeat the whole thing and end with a G5. Don’t palm or otherwise mute the strings. It will sound sort of like this: Now, play the same rhythm but after each pick stroke, lift your left hand fingers just enough to mute the sound and then put them back down quickly. Like this. It’s a subtle desynchronization of the left and right hand movement. Don’t palm mute - just staccato the 2 G5s by lifting your fingers are put them back down quickly. Same for the single power chords. And yes, I know they aren’t chords. I’m the one who told you in the first month or 2 of this podcast, if I’m remembering correctly. So listen carefully to the music you’re playing, and if tones are supposed to sustain, be sure to have consistent grip and pressure and if they need to have some “air” between them and sound breathless or edgy, a nanosecond grip release is the ticket.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

The Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO: Now featuring Pro-Bucker™ Pickups with coil-tapping and new colors! Out of all of Les Paul's many achievements--inventor, guitarist, hit recording artist--Les is most beloved among musicians for his Les Paul Standard, one of the most sought-after guitars in the world. And now, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO gives the legend a fresh start with ProBucker-2™ and ProBucker-3™ pickups with coil-tapping, a AAA flame maple veneer top, and beautiful color finishes including Honeyburst (inspired by the late '50s vintage Les Pauls), Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Trans Blue, Vintage Sunburst and Wine Red. Epiphone's history with legendary guitarist and innovator Les Paul dates back to the early 1940s when Les, working nights at the Epiphone factory on 14th Street in New York City, created what might have been first the solid body electric guitar, better known as "The Log." Over the next 15 years, Les continued to develop his dream guitar that would "sustain for days" and in the late '50s, Epiphone's historic Kalamazoo factory made that dream come true with the "sunburst" Les Paul Standard and its new pickup, the "PAF" humbucker. Players like Slash, Ace Frehley, Zakk Wylde, Jimmy Page, Alex Lifeson and countless others get their signature sound from a "sunburst" Les Paul and now Epiphone gives you a chance to experience that one-of-a-kind tone at an affordable price with the Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO. The Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO features Pro-Bucker™ "PAF"-style pickups with coil-tapping, new colors and a beautiful AAA flame maple veneer top for a vintage look with all the modern appointments that players expect from Epiphone.
AAA Flame Maple Top and Classic Features: The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO features a solid mahogany body with a AAA flame maple veneer top that delivers the classic tone and sustain that can only come from a "real" Les Paul. The body also features 1-ply cream binding on the top for a beautiful vintage look. Like all Epiphone Les Pauls--and unlike less costly designs--the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO features a 14 degree, angled headstock that gives you more pressure at the nut for longer sustain with less tuning hang-ups caused by "string-tree" gadgets. The mahogany neck has a 24.75" scale with a 12" radius and features a 1960s SlimTaper™ "D" profile with a glued-in neck joint for lifelong stability. The rosewood fingerboard comes with pearloid trapezoid inlays, 22 medium-jumbo frets, a 1.68" nut, and 1-ply cream binding.
Epiphone Pro-Bucker™ Humbuckers with Coil-Tapping: The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO now features Pro-Bucker™ pickups for that one-of-a kind Les Paul sound. Pro-Bucker™ pickups feature Alnico II magnets, the same magnets used in sought-after vintage PAF humbuckers. Alnico II magnets provide a rich, warm tone with a sparkling high end and a solid low end. The Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO features a Pro-Bucker-2™ in the neck position and a Pro-Bucker-3™ in the bridge position. The Pro-Bucker-3™ is slightly overwound to provide balance with the neck pickup and a bit of edge for lead work. Pro-Buckers™ emulate the sound of original PAF pickups which were hand-wound with a few extra turns of wire. Both the neck and bridge pickups now also feature coil-tapping, controlled by a push/pull volume control, allowing players an infinite variety of pickups sounds from single-coil bark to full humbucker bite. When winding humbuckers, Epiphone utilizes a double vacuum waxing process that ensures quiet operation, free from microphonic hum. The pickup is first placed in the specialized wax vacuuming system before the cover is placed on the unit to ensure that the wax fully penetrates to the very center of the pickup and solidifies all parts. After the cover is placed on, it is again given a second vacuum wax bath until the unit is completely saturated with wax. Epiphone uses only the highest quality parts for its pickups, such as ABS plastic bobbins, 1010 Cold Rolled Steel pole shoes and pole screws, Alnico magnets and the finest magnet wire available.
Hardware to Last a Lifetime: The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO features Epiphone's legendary rock-solid hardware including a LockTone™ Tune-o-matic fully adjustable bridge and a Stopbar tailpiece. And now Epiphone's updated, patent pending design auto locks the bridge and tailpiece in place with no tools needed! This also results in improved sustain. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO uses 1" diameter potentiometers for better "throw," longer life and reliable service. Epiphone's all-metal toggle switches use rugged spring-steel contacts to ensure years of reliable service and performance. Epiphone's proprietary output jack features an improved contact shape and heavy-duty spring steel to increase reliability and Grover™ 14:1 machine heads to ensure tuning stability and long life.
Peace of Mind: Like every Epiphone, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO features a Limited Lifetime Warranty backed by world famous 24/7/365 Gibson Customer Service. Be part of history today with the Les Paul Standard Plustop PRO.
MSRP on this is $950, but you can find it for around $450 less, depending upon where you shop. At $499, this may be a Les Paul you’d like and your budget would like too.
http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2012/The-All-New-G400-and-Les-Paul-Standard-Plustop-PRO.aspx?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Epiphone&utm_content=NEWS%3A+PRO+Models

My take note topic this week is something I discussed with my student Anya, this week. She has the privilege of being able to spend 6 weeks or so in Argentina right after school ends. She will be an exchange student there and will attend high school with her exchange family’s children. The whole exchange family plays guitar and she is looking forward to playing while she’s away. She isn’t taking her vintage Martin, which is well advised (nice first guitar, huh?) I told her that after our last lesson before she leaves (which will be this coming Thursday) we need to tune her guitar strings down at least a half tuner turn -- the goal is about a whole step lower. If you’re going to be away from your axe or axes for more than a couple weeks - like a month or 2, do the same. Your guitar is a very precisely engineered instrument. If you have uninterrupted tension on it - meaning you are not playing, over time the neck can warp. Likewise, in some climates/humidities, that same guitar left with no tension whatsoever on it can also warp or move or I have read but not seen, twist. These problems can occur on an $89 guitar as well as a $20,000 one. So, if you’re taking a long break from your guitar, tune down a whole step. I don’t recall if I mentioned that to Julia in our good-bye conversation last week. I’ll have to text her. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her guitar. She or her brother Jake may want to play it in the future.

Head for the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ for the waning days of the full exhibition. In July, it will be significantly smaller. It’s truly not to be missed.
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org
If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

Episode 076: Whoever Has an Ear to Hear, Let Them Hear

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:56:11 -0400

This week Anya is in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is about last week’s suggestion to listen to a lot of musicians who are NOT guitarists, News is about the fabulous new Epiphone AJ-220S, and Take Note is about an email I received about guitar lessons for a young man.

I hope you Americans had a good Memorial Day holiday. Here in our apt, I was nursing my sweetie E-Rex. The week before we thought he was having minor surgery, which turned out to be 2 procedures on consecutive days and then a not-so-minor surgery. He was in excruciating pain for a good part of Thursday and most of the weekend. He emerged from bed on Sunday, but not 100% by any means. He’s healing well and doing much better. We’re hoping that his Dr visit to check on his healing will be the last until he is prepped for his course of radiation in the fall.

And that reunion I thought I might be hoarse from?? Well, after the previous week of draining stress, my head just wasn’t in it. I skipped it. We needed some down time. It was unfortunate timing, because I was looking forward to it but my priorities are my family over people for whom I have fond memories but haven’t seen for a long time.

Perhaps the musical highlight of my very difficult past 2 weeks was that I was able to get a fresh set of DRs on one of my guitars. They’re delicious. Unadulteratedly delicious. So of course I don’t play the other one, which needs new delicious DRs. I’m so bad. I’m hoping this week. Then, I won’t be able to decide which to play and no matter my choice, my ears will be happy happy happy. Yeah, I know, not much of musical highlight -- but present circumstances considered, it made me happy

Hey, don’t forget, if you’re in the NY metro/northern NJ area, make it a point to visit the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ for the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. You have just over a month to see the full exhibit, before it is reduced from the feature that is has been since September, to a significantly smaller installation. The museum is open Wed, Sat and Sun. from 1 - 5. I am certain they will accommodate private time in the museum for a group, if at all possible.

Don’t forget the Les Paul Birthday Gala on June 9 if you’re in the NY Metro area. It will be at the Trustees Pavillion at Ramapo College. Here’s the latest info I have about that:

LOU PALLO, TOM DOYLE, SANDY CORY
TO PLAY AT MUSEUM GALA
Noted musicians Lou Pallo, Tommy Doyle and Sandy Cory will play live music at the Mahwah Museum’s Les Paul 97th Birthday Gala on June 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Trustees Pavilion, Ramapo College.
The Gala will feature wine, hors d’oeuvres and light fare as well as a birthday cake. There will be a live and silent auction and a raffle drawing. To purchase tickets to the Gala http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=225
The silent auction will feature many items of signed Les Paul memorabilia, and two new, unplayed Les Paul model guitars donated by Gibson. The live auction includes guitars signed by Eric Clapton, George Benson and others, and another new Gibson guitar. For more information, or to bid online,
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=228
At 9:30 p.m. the Museum will also draw the winning raffle tickets in its raffle of two autographed www.mahwahmuseum.org or call (201) 512-0099.

In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight, which is thankfully, no longer turned off and gathering duct in the corner, is Anya. She played fabulously after a week of crushing school work, too many necessary social engagements and a full family life. You rock, dudette!!

This week's question is from one of my students who says he only listens to the guitarists he likes and he doesn’t get why he should listen to people who play other instruments or sing. He asked to remain nameless after I told him I would probably use his follow up question to my suggestion last week.

Well, I thought I was pretty clear 2 weeks ago and I may have even mentioned that some of those hearing my suggestion would be strong willed and dismiss it. Case in point, right under my nose. I will say, this is a very strong willed individual, who resists sound instruction more than he embraces it. So, everything takes him longer and he has to work much harder at everything. He also thinks he accomplishes everything himself and he’s a self-made player -- and of course he isn’t.

There isn’t any gain in parroting another guitarist. If you want to do it, just because you then can say you sound like so and so when you play -- I don’t know what satisfaction that gets anyone, but I know it does. If it’s someone with a distinctive style, you may want to employ how they became so proficient, if that information is out there for public consumption, but mimicking their style is sort of like forging a signature. In my opinion, anyway.

I’ll go off on a small tangent here. I haven’t seen or heard too much innovation in a majority (not all) young musicians’ playing, young film makers’ movies, young fine artists’ art and so on. It may have to do with them not yet developing their own perspective and voice for their art. Some seem like they don’t even know what I mean by that. The strong willed student I’m discussing in this episode is very much that way. He doesn’t want to spend any time thinking, expanding, listening, contemplating what other musicians are saying when they play, etc. It’s not just what note, but what’s the context? … he just wants to play and play what and the way he wants.

If you’re mystified and don’t agree with or like my suggestion in the last podcast, about listening to other genres and most definitely non-guitarists, I’d like to refer you to the Jazz Masterclass. It’s an old TV series from NYU’s jazz department. It’s not about whether you like jazz or not. It’s about hearing brilliant musicians talk about music the way master chefs discuss recipes. There’s a snippet of video on the link I’ll provide in the show notes and I know the DVDs are available on Amazon. Check your public library - they may have the series. If you watch the show on public TV (it’s on at funny hours here in northern NY) there may be a link to video to all the shows.

Jazz Masterclass is just an example of how you, as a developing, or well-developed guitarist, should be thinking about your playing - regardless of your genre of preference. There are plenty of other musically erudite sources for similar inspiration - and that’s all I’m directing you to, INSPIRATION. http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/video/heath

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

Epiphone AJ-220S, That Legendary "Advanced Jumbo" Sound

That Legendary "Advanced Jumbo" Sound! In 1936, Gibson introduced the "Advanced Jumbo" (AJ) acoustic guitar. With it's one-inch wider 16" lower bout, rounded or sloped shoulder dreadnought shape and a 25.5" scale length, the AJ was a powerful flat-top referred to in later Gibson literature as an "acoustic cannon." Today, this legendary design is carried over with Epiphone new AJ-220S acoustic guitar.

Balanced Tone that Rings Like a Bell. With it's bell-like shape featuring a larger lower bout and smaller, round upper bout, the AJ has a very focused and balanced tone. The bass is deep, rich and loud while the highs have a crispness and brilliance that cuts through. Most noticeable however, is the clear mid-range that's never muddy like the typical square-shouldered dreadnought. The result is an AJ acoustic guitar that's often been described as the perfect instrument for the soloist or singer/songwriter with a sound that blends with vocals.

Quality Materials and Construction! While the AJ shape plays a big role in it's signature sound, the AJ-220S benefits from the use of premium materials and traditional construction methods. The top is made of solid Sitka Spruce that not only sounds great right out of the box, but actually improves as it ages. Complementing this are back and sides made of select Mahogany fitted to a solid Mahogany neck. For great stability, tone and sustain, the neck is glued into the body using TiteBond™ glue and a traditional dovetail neck joint. Easy and comfortable to play, the neck shape or profile is Epiphone's classic 1960's SlimTaper™ D-shape with a smooth, fast satin finish.

Upscale Features! Not typically found on instruments in this price range, Epiphone packs even more value into the AJ-220S. Included is a bound fingerboard for a clean look and smooth feel, premium sealed die-cast tuners with 14:1 gear ratio for tuning accuracy and stability, a solid "reverse-belly" Rosewood bridge with compensated saddle for traditional looks and accurate intonation and a tortoise-colored pickguard with traditional metal "E" to protect the top against pick marks.

Limited Lifetime Warranty. As with all Epiphone instruments, you can rest assured that your investment is protected with Epiphone's Limited Lifetime Warranty backed by Gibson Musical Instrument's 24/7/365 day Customer Service. If you're looking for a serious solid-top acoustic at a price that won't break your budget, the new AJ-220S might be right for you.
Specifications:
Top Material: Solid Sitka Spruce
Body Material: Select Mahogany
Neck Material: Solid Mahogany with satin finish
Neck Shape: SlimTaper™; D-profile
Neck Joint: Dovetail; Glued-In
Scale Length: 25.5"
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Trussrod: Adjustable via headstock
Frets: 20; medium/jumbo
Binding: 6-Layer Body; Front, 1-Layer; Fingerboard
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Hardware: Nickel
Machine Heads: Sealed; Die-cast; 14:1 Ratio
Bridge: Solid Rosewood; Reverse-belly
Saddle: Compensated; PVC
Pickguard: Simulated Tortoise with metal "E"
Strap Buttons: Yes
Colors: Vintage Sunburst (gloss-body; satin-neck)
Optional: Hard Case
Warranty: Epiphone Limited Lifetime

My take note topic this week springs from an email exchange I had this week with the grandmother - very sharp grandmother, I might add - of a potential student. It’s hard to capsulize, but let’s call this segment “choose wisely.”

So I received this email early in the week, from a woman about lessons for her grandson. She had obviously read over the web site as she was able to identify that I would call her grandson, let’s call him Larry, an intermediate player. That indicated to me that she looked over the Your Playing Level page on guitartechniquetutor.com. She had a comment about his present instructor and a comment about the method book he was using. She also said he had a chord book of some sort, as part of his lesson materials. Some of my students have them, but I don’t suggest them.

This grandmother, let’s also give her a fictitious name, like Nancy, had several good questions and few irrelevant questions for me. That’s why I ask that anyone contemplating working with me or even considering me as a teacher, CALL. A conversation is so much easier than 3 email exchanges which are always incomplete and lack the back and forth really necessary to understand each other.

It was clear that Nancy had some musical background because she disapproved of the lesson book Larry’s instructor was employing (as do I) and she had detailed opinions about what was lacking in the instructor’s work with Larry.

Larry is a little farther away than I choose to travel to teach, at this time, so I didn’t suggest we meet for a consultation. That would be a waste of everyone’s time. Nancy replied with a query about whether I’d teach him at my home, which is not an option and then revealed that she has also begun guitar lessons. She didn’t have anything negative to say about her instructor, so I suggested that perhaps her teacher could instruct Larry, to which she replied that she’s in New Haven (Connecticut, I presume) and that perhaps she would have to resort to shuttling him. He’s in NY state. Now there’s a perfect example of how things get lost in the expressionlessness of email. I don’t know if she was joking or serious. She did say that she was paying for Larry’s guitar lessons, rather than his parents and that he only had them every other week. That’s another reason I can’t consider instructing Larry. I teach weekly lessons with 1 exception, for an adult student I teach who travels almost constantly for his business.

I don’t know if Nancy was part of Larry’s choosing a guitar teacher or not. The real problem is that the choice wasn’t well made. A rash or unresearched choice will always come back to bite you. One of Nancy’s issues is what the teacher has Larry playing and how much time they spend on pieces. She also isn’t content with the amount of emphasis the instructor puts on exercises. She also seems to think the range of the repertoire Larry is playing is too limited. I don’t know but I infer that Nancy thinks the instructor doesn’t know what to do next or doesn’t have a plan, etc. That may be the case. It also may be that Larry needs a lot of technique work that he is not succeeding in accomplishing. Maybe. Maybe not. There is even the possibility that Nancy is not as knowledgeable as she thinks she is, about what Larry should be playing at this stage of his learning. Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know why Larry’s parents are not involved the way Nancy is. Surely, it would be easier to deal with Larry’s effective practice as well as dialog with the teacher if they were in the same location and not several hours away from each other.
If you’re seeking instruction for guitar or anything, for that matter. TAKE YOUR TIME. If it’s something requiring more than a single demonstration or class, especially if it will become an ongoing commitment, you really need to find the right instructor for you. If you have definite criteria, like Nancy, that you wish to see met, you need to lay that out for your instructor. You’ll be able to gather a few things from a conversation like that: You will see if the instructor is flexible in their approach -- which depending on your demands may be a good thing or not such a good thing. You will also learn what the big picture is, to the instructor, and what their general goals are for their students. I suggest too, that if you are not prepared to take a weekly lesson, you be up front with any instructor you contact. I can tell you, it will probably be a deal breaker for the good ones --not all, but most. What is a teacher supposed to do on the alternate week that you are not occupying in his or her schedule? And what if you then, need to reschedule to the next week and they have made plans for someone to have a make up lesson etc? Unless the instructor is just working with a student or 2 and teaching is not their full time career, inconsistently scheduled lessons are just too much hassle with which to deal.

Choosing someone with whom you will meet weekly (I hope) for an undetermined amount of time in the future requires you doing your research well, to insure that you as a student, and your instructor, are a good fit. When, in our email exchange, I asked Nancy how Larry would feel about changing teachers, she indicated that he was ambivalent. That lack of bonding, respect, shared interest etc for the instructor is concerning. I know that not every musical instrument teacher gets close to their students, but I, for one, do. It escapes me, that working with someone’s best interests for their playing at heart, and a student desiring to glean all the knowledge and ability they can, that a student and teacher wouldn’t become fond of one another. That’s another reason for taking your time and choosing carefully.
For more suggestion on how to find a qualified instructor that might be the right one for you, please visit the find a teacher page on the web site. I wish Larry and Nancy the best and hope they resolve this issue soon.

Keep humidifying your guitars unless you have consistent humidity over 40% in the room in which your guitar remains. Les Paul’s birthday bash is just days away. You still have time to get a ticket for a night of celebration, light refreshments and great music. I’ll be enjoying one newly DRed guitar this week. Maybe I’ll restring the other one too. Congrats Anya. I’m glad you put in the effort and had such a great result. If you’re in the market for a beautiful looking and sounding jumbo, check out the retro looking Epiphone AJ-220S. There’s nothing old fashioned about it. Enrich yourself and grow as a musician by listening to horn players and vocalists. For heaven’s sake, take your time choosing a teacher or you may wind up in a situation like Nancy and Larry’s.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Practice, have a great week and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time. Hey Glen Rock High School peeps: so sorry I missed the reunion. Maybe next time. 

Episode 075: Green but not with Envy

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:51:50 -0400

Well, my thyroid biopsy went well last Monday. The position in which I had to remain during it was uncomfortable but it didn’t take that long and both my radiology tech and physician were nice.

I didn’t get my results until Friday. The mass is benign. That was good news, but I may still have one lobe of my thyroid removed in the coming months. We have a little more research to do on that. If I do, I’m going to try to get it done over the summer. I want to be all healed up by the time my sweetie E-Rex starts his radiation. He’s doing well and facing a minor surgical procedure Tuesday the 22nd, after which he will heal up for the summer.

If you’ve been on tenter hooks since last week, wondering if I have had the delight of the aural bliss of new DRs on my guitars, wonder no longer. No. I still haven’t had a second for string changes. Right now, the Memorial Day weekend should afford me enough down time to change my guitars’s strings. And while we’re on the topic, I will be skipping a podcast and relaxing for the unofficial start of summer weekend here in the States. I plan to be back behind the mic the 1st Monday of June. I guess I should say that it’s possible I’ll be a bit hoarse. That weekend I have a major, multi decade reunion to attend. It had to be rescheduled from having been cancelled in October, when we had a freak blizzard. I suspect I’ll be talking a lot, so my voice may suffer for a few days.

The student I consulted with a couple weeks ago, who I mentioned in the last podcast, Tal, began lessons and decided not to exchange his guitar. His first lesson went very well. I’m looking forward to witnessing Tal’s development as a guitarist.

I want to say Hey to Joas, who I’ve spoken to about lessons. We are having a scheduling challenge so we have not yet had a consultation. He seems passionate about learning to play guitar. He’s already got 1 foot in the music industry.

I saw a post about Bucky being in studio this afternoon (Sunday the 20th) working on a track for Thank You, Les. I have to say, I’m looking forward to the finished product. I received an email from Joni at show place music this week, that they are hoping for a September release. I’ll keep you posted as I receive press release info.

The podcast is “green” again, this week. No students are in the Student Spotlight. Everyone played very well or okay. None of them rose to the level of exceptional this week, so the Spotlight is dark.

If you’re in the NY metro/northern NJ area, make it a point to visit the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ for the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. You have just over a month to see the full exhibit, before it is reduced from the feature that is has been since September, to a significantly smaller installation. The museum is open Wed, Sat and Sun. from 1 - 5. I am certain they will accommodate private time in the museum for a group, if at all possible.

Don’t forget the Les Paul Birthday Gala on June 9 if you’re in the NY Metro area. It will be at the Trustees Pavillion at Ramapo College.

This week's question is the collective curiosity of some of my students
about executing hammers and bends cleanly and in the case of bends, up to pitch. I guess I’d phrase it, “How am I supposed to play this or that hammer loudly and cleanly? and Why are my bends not high enough?”

You have to imagine these questions posed in a passive yet whiny voice. Those 2 adjectives are precisely the problem with a few of my student guitarists. Unless it’s a first or 2nd finger hammer, or a small bend, the ones that have inquired have a good deal of trouble. Did you pick up in how the question was posed, what the problem is?

It’s the passive question that emanated from a passive guitar student. Look, whether you’re a seasoned, very experienced gigging musician or a weekend warrior or someone who has just begun the journey of learning to play the instrument you love, well, if you aren’t motivated enough to put in earnest and focused work, don’t bother with it - do something else passively. You won’t satisfy the longing you have to be accomplished at the guitar. No, your 3rd and 4th fingers are not as naturally strong as your 1st and 2nd. So, guess what….. unless you are willing to develop strength and dexterity in those less strong fingers, they will be almost useless to you. That’s why it’s of such paramount importance to continue to correct beginners who tend to want to move their hand all over the neck and use only their 1st 2 fingers, rather than becoming accustomed to using all 4 fingers and playing a couple of exercises to strengthen especially the pinkie, but also the 3rd finger.

In the case of puny hammers, there’s a dual issue: the force or strength used and the precise strike location. As regards insufficient bends, there’s a dual issue too: the controlled force or strength again and being able to hear the destination note in your head, so you KNOW that you have bent sufficiently or too much.

I know it’s easy to be lulled into thinking playing the guitar well is easy, when you see a masterful guitarists fingers fly hand hear every note clean an clearly executed, whether fretted, hammered or bent. But despite the nano second attention spans and fast everything culture we’re living it - some things take time and powerful controlled playing is one of them. Those of you who have been to college may have heard a professor say at the beginning of your 1st year: “Look to your left. Look to your right. Many of you will not be here after the 1st semester,” or something like that. A skilled music instructor can tell you after 3 weeks of working with student who “has it” and who doesn’t. That “has it” usually means, the person who is musically inclined and passionate and willing to do what it takes to execute their assignment correctly and well. That doesn’t mean only the people who “have it” should ever learn to play. Not at all. Learning to play an instrument helps your brain sooooo much. If you’ve listened to this podcast for any length of time, you’ve heard all about that and I’m not going to revisit it now.

We’re in an Olympic year. Do you think any of the athletes who will be competing just like the idea of it? No of course you don’t. These are people who have striven for years, relentlessly and with focus and dedication to what they needed to accomplish in order to qualify for the opportunity to participate.

If all you’re doing is “playing” your guitar, and not working at it and seriously practicing what you have a hard time with, like using your 3rd and 4th fingers with dexterity and power, all you’ll ever do is “play.” Don’t’ suggest guitar is your passion if you are not willing to put in the time and repetition and effort it takes to develop all the skills you need to play excellently.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

http://www.takamine.com/giftcard
http://www.takamine.com/pdf/50th_coupon.pdf

My take note topic this week is something I talk about annually: summer concerts. As I record, Bamboozle is going on in Atlantic City, NJ. Of course, with the economy uncertain, free outdoor concerts are a great and in the NY metro area, they are plentiful. If you, too, live near a large city, you will also probably find lots of free or pay music events scheduled. Take advantage of them!!
If you have room in the budget for pay-for events, the summer is laden with them. I always suggest that you stretch your senses and musical mind with some genres that are not your absolute favorite. I also recommend that if you’re a guitarist - you make an effort to listen to more non-stringed instrument players than guitarists. If there will be a great sax or brass concert, go listen. Listen to vocalists that sing in your favorite genre and in genres you have never considered listening to before. This is not to convert you, but rather expand you and provide you with the musical resources to bring more to the genres you do like. If you love jazz, listen to some rock, classical or indie things. If you’re a metal head, listen to some opera or latin music and so on.

Keep humidifying your axe.

I will be taking next week off and hope to resume podcasting the 1st Monday of June, as long as I have a voice, following a reunion weekend

Episode 074: Abridged

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:30:13 -0400

This is a total departure from my usual, which is recording on Mondays - once or twice I recorded a show on a Sunday night. Today is Saturday and it’s early morning. I don’t know today, whether I will get this mixed and uploaded to the net this weekend or some time on Monday. A week ago yesterday, my darling E-Rex was diagnosed with prostate cancer and since then we have been preoccupied and have had a flurry of activity as a result. I couldn’t record Monday and I did send out a Tweet. I recorded Saturday because it was a rare Saturday morning with E-Rex out of the apartment for just a little while so I thought I’d throw together a brief show. Monday, I won’t be able to record because I have to have some needle biopsies done on my thyroid - yuck. The following Monday, I’ll be teaching all day. My Tuesday students were nice enough to move to Monday so I could spend the day with E-Rex, who will have a pre-radiation procedure. The plan is that he will heal up over the summer and begin his radiation in September or October. I may try to record over next weekend too, so I don’t have to forego a show for the week of the 21st. We’ll see how things develop. Our lives are fluid right now. I hope you understand.

Hey dudes, don’t neglect your prostate health. We are very fortunate that E-Rex’s cancer is at an early stage and barring any complications, the treatment we have decided upon should fully eliminate the disease and he should be cancer free by Thanksgiving (late November, for you listeners who aren’t Americans.) For that, we are grateful. It will be unpleasant and extremely inconvenient and expensive, even with insurance. But that is much better than a compromised quality of life.

We don’t know what the very large complex nodule in my thyroid is yet but it’s highly likely I will have that half of my thyroid removed in the near future. I may have to skip a podcast then -- I’ll keep you up to date as things unfold with that.

So much for the erratic schedule update. How was YOUR week? Needless to say I’m DR-less - still no new strings. We’ve had too many big fish to fry for me to indulge in the ear candy that would have been a string change last week. I don’t know when I’m going to change my strings but I can tell you that when I do, I will simply swoon with delight.

I want to say Hey to Tal. I had a consultation with him on Wednesday. Nice guy and very interested in learning to play the guitar well. He has already played piano for a few years.

Yoshi from last week has not yet found an instructor that he thinks is suitable. I’ll let you know if anything changes with him.

My students Anya, Mike and Tipton were MIA this week and I cancelled on Arno - very uncharacteristic, but there was a small surprise get together for our Pastor’s 50th birthday Wednesday night - and it was something E-Rex wanted to attend and he wanted to attend it with me. It was a very warm gathering with a lot of people we love, so, Arno, I’m sorry I missed your lesson. I’m sure you’re going to play spectacularly this week.

If you’re in the NY metro/northern NJ area, make it a point to visit the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ for the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. You have just over a month to see the full exhibit, before it is reduced from the feature that is has been since September, to a significantly smaller installation. The museum is open Wed, Sat and Sun. from 1 - 5. I am certain they will accommodate private time in the museum for a group, if at all possible.

Don’t forget the Les Paul Birthday Gala on June 9 if you’re in the NY Metro area. It will be at the Trustees Pavillion at Ramapo College.

Keep an eye on your hygrometer and humidifier. Be sure to prevent your guitars from drying out and becoming unplayable.

Student Spotlight:
In the Spotlight this week are 3 students: Danielle, Lani and Talia.
Congrats dudettes! You each did amazingly well. I’d like to see more practice time put in, but I have to say that what each of you executed was excellent and beyond what you have been doing. I’m so pleased. I hope you were too.

There’s more room in the Student Spotlight for the rest of you who didn’t make it this week. I’m looking forward to hearing all of your lessons this week.

Question of the Week:
This week's question is from Tal, who I met for a consultation this week. His question was about the guitar his grandfather was nice enough to purchase for him. He has a new Fender Squire. Not high end, but he likes it. He asked what I categorize as a mature question for a young male. He asked if I recommended that he learn on an acoustic or is this guitar (meaning his Squire) okay?

Tal, the thing I like about this question is that it reflects a teachable spirit - in that you are asking someone who knows more than you, for advice that you are willing to follow. Dude! That’s more mature than some men I teach who are much older than you.

I’ve made it no secret on my web site and in this podcast, that I think it’s optimum to learn to play on an acoustic guitar - either steel string or nylon string. It has been my experience that students who begin with electric guitars tend to be hyper-distracted and don’t aspire to play as cleanly as the students who begin with acoustic axes. It’s not a scientific study, but I’ve been teaching for decades and the results are fairly consistent.

I asked Tal to think about it. I told him the ball was in his court as to whether he wanted to keep the Squire or switch to an acoustic electric or acoustic guitar. It will be interesting to see how Tal assesses my advice and himself. I’ll let you know if he exchanges his guitar.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

News
In the news this week is
GIBSON BUS TO VISIT MAHWAH MUSEUM on MAY 23 and 24
The Gibson Bus will be visiting the Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah from 1-10 p.m. on May 23 and 24th. As part of the celebration of Les Paul the legendary guitarist and inventor, the Museum will be open free of charge on those days so visitors to the bus can also see the Museum Exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah: a Tribute.” In addition, on those days visitors can sign up in the Museum to play one of Les Paul’s precious guitars for 30 minute slots by buying a ticket to the Museum’s June 9 autographed guitar raffle. Playing times are first-come, first served and up to 5 players may be playing at the same time. Sign up on the night of the event or reserve a 30 minute time slot to play some of the guitars click here.

The Gibson bus is used by prominent musicians to travel between venues. It contains two luxury lounges and two professional studios. Visitors to the bus can also play Gibson guitars such as the one made for Paul McCartney. There are many pieces of memorabilia including guitars, gold records and many other collectibles.

The event is part of a year long celebration of Les Paul, the legendary guitarist and inventor who lived in Mahwah for 50 years. The celebration continues with a Birthday Gala on June 9 at 7:30 PM at the Pavilion at Ramapo College. For tickets to the Gala, you need to go to the museum web site At the Gala, there will be raffle drawing for two autographed guitars. For information about the raffle, I have to direct you to the museum’s web site. For information about the live auction of valuable autographed guitars and other music memorabilia on the night of the Gala visit mahwahmuseum.org all spelled traditionally, and Mahwah is MAHWAH.

I experienced the Gibson bus once during the day and once during the night last September, the weekend the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit opened. It’s so cool. And how can you forego free admission to the museum and get a look at the Gibson bus AND play one of Les’ guitars? It’s way too good to pass up if you’re in a reasonable distance.

Check it out if you can.

To purchase tickets to the Gala
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=225
raffle info

http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?page=221
sigh up to play one of Les's guitars at the museum
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/

Outro
I think I’m going to be DR unrequited for a while longer. I can’t even speculate about getting my strings changed this week. We’ll see.
Keep your ax humidified. Don’t allow temperate days lull you into a false sense of security. Your guitar needs at least 40% humidity in the environment.

Don’t’ forget Les Paul in Mahwah at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ and the Les Paul Birthday Bash Gala on June 9th.
Congrats to Danielle, Lani and Talia. Keep up the good work. I don’t know what Tal is going to decide to do. The Gibson bus is totally fun for the whole family - most especially guitarists and music fans, but everyone will enjoy it. Try to get there on May 23rd or 24th and see the full exhibit FOR FREE!

Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes for my sweetie E-Rex. He’s got a long period of time for treatment with a pre-radiation procedure on the 22nd.

Episode 073: You've Got to Be In It to Win It

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:22:08 -0400

I’m happy to report that E-Rex is doing fabulously after and despite his biopsy. Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes. We appreciate them. We don’t have the biopsy results yet, but we are hopeful the news will be good. I know I mentioned last week that I would skip the show this week if he was not well. I have to add the same caveat for some time over the coming weeks - although this time it’s an issue I have. I will be seeing someone about a problem that has recently been discovered with my thyroid. It’s quite likely that fine or coarse needle biopsies will be called for. I understand it’s possible that when they are done there’s a chance of affecting the vocal cords. The initial consultation about it will be next Monday. I will do what I can to record Sunday night and get the show mixed and up on Monday as usual. I doubt that anything invasive will take place before the middle of the month. If I tweet that I can’t do a show on short notice, you can attribute it to my thyroid.

I want to say Hi to Yoshi, who I met this week and who posed a question to me that I am taking up in this week’s Question of the Week.

It’s killing me that I still haven’t changed my strings. I’m jonesin’ for new DRs and haven’t had the time to do anything about them. Oh, sure, I changed some students’ guitars’ strings but I didn’t have time for my own. Wow they’re sounding awful. I hope I’ll get to it this week. Maybe even tonight, because if not, I probably won’t have time until Friday and my schedule for Friday is uncertain right now.

How often do you change your strings? If you have a good ear, you’ll know when to change them. If you don’t have a good ear, it depends upon how much you play or when a string breaks. I know I visited this topic many shows ago.

One of the personal projects I’m in the midst of is scanning a lot of my sheet music and storing it on my computer and on a thumb drive (just in case of a -- I can’t even utter it --- crash.) A few years ago, Dot and Gerry gave us - me really, an all-in-one that I only use when I want to print something in color. Otherwise I use a laser printer. The all-in-one is an inkjet. Anyway, I have music overflowing all over the teeny apartment. I have 3.5 file cabinet drawers dedicated to music but the remaining drawers house other important files so I have to do something with what doesn’t fit. Actually, a lot of what is in the file cabinets will get scanned eventually, too. It’s so time-consuming! Of course, a few days after the Christmas when we received the all-in-one, I made the wise statement, “I should start scanning any music I work with that isn’t in a book, and gradually scan all my personal and student music.” Yeah, right. So, this is yet another to do list hanger-oner, to which I am finally getting.

I don’t have a Michael update today, but I can tell you, he’s not accelerating tempo any longer. I have to think it’s the good old metronome’s influence. I’ll have to talk to him about it.

This week, there is 1 student in the Student Spotlight, the question of the week is from Yoshi who wants my input about him learning to play guitar - this is an interesting one, News is about some great guitar give aways and the Take Note segment is about protecting the finish of your guitar, now that short sleeve and no sleeve weather is approaching, in my hemisphere, anyway.

Speaking of my hemisphere: 2 things I have to mention are keep humidifying your axe unless you live in an extremely humid climate and don’t use air conditioning AND you know what else I’m going to say. If you’re in the NY metro/northern NJ area, make it a point to visit the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ for the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. You have just over a month to see the full exhibit, before it is reduced from the feature that is has been since September, to a significantly smaller installation. The museum is open Wed, Sat and Sun. from 1 - 5. I am certain they will accommodate private time in the museum for a group, if at all possible. They did for me.

http://www.drstrings.com/
http://www.mahwahmuseum.org/page.cfm?category=34
http://www.drstrings.com

Spotlight

In the warm glow of the student spotlight this week is Arno. Not only is he a busy working husband and father, he plays drums with 2 bands. Guitar is his 3rd instrument and you who have followed the podcast from the very beginning, also know Arno as the Bat Guy, because one night a bat was flying around the living room while we were trying to have a lesson. That was unbelievable. This week, despite having to travel last week, being in the midst of trying to sell his house and having lots of spring sports activities with which his children are involved, he did excellently. Okay, I’ll admit he neglected one thing I asked him to do, but I have his assurance it was a time issue. Nice playing, dude.

You students who have all the raw talent to become monster guitarists, yet who lack any inclination to exert yourself and expend energy on your playing, shame on you. If Arno can find time and incentive to play, you certainly can. The blight of laziness that has stricken the under 25 crowd is frightening to me. Stop scaring me and put in the time.

Question of the Week

The Question of the Week is from Yoshi, who I met this weekend. He was so funny, saying how his parents made him learn violin from a very young age because they didn’t have a piano and all Asian kids are or were expected to learn to play piano or violin when he was growing up. I’d put Yoshi at 30 something. He speaks a couple of languages, is pretty busy, quite successful and wants to learn to play guitar. He was very serious when he asked if I thought he’d play guitar well because he played violin when he was a child, and although he hasn’t played a violin in many years, in his opinion, he could pick it up tomorrow and though his reflexes would be slow, he thinks he would not struggle much with technique or reading music notation. I have had tons of piano players and pianists (that’s a joke) ask me a similar question, but never a violinist.

I told him that I have had some school age students who played violin in school and didn’t cotton to it, who have done well. If you don’t know much about the violin, it’s a 4 stringed instrument that is fretless, and that is tuned to 4 of the strings of the guitar, however in opposite order. Violin strings are tuned from highest to lowest: E, A, D, G. Guitar strings are tuned from lowest to highest E, A, D, G, B, E. So, there is the shared high E string and although there are no frets on the violin fingerboard, a violinist who has played for a while quickly and instinctively adapts to what I call the “finger per half step” hand position and left hand finger assignments. They also are not distracted by the overtones one hears when one plays a guitar. Last week, Tipton inquired about how you stop strings from sounding after you’ve played them and moved on to other notes, because he was distracted by them. I explained that unless there is a written rest or a staccato dynamic, you don’t. Yoshi, having played violin, would not be surprised nor distracted by those glorious overtones that seem to ring forever, especially if you are fortunate enough to have a guitar of quality.

Yoshi will probably have good vertical attack of the strings because he has played violin, and if not, he will be easy to correct. Whether finger picking or using a plectrum, training his right hand will be a new experience but I don’t think plectrum picking is such a far cry, theoretically, from bowing. We even use the same marks to indicate down and up picking as violinists use for down and up bowing.

So, I told Yoshi that I thought his violin background would probably benefit him, especially at the outset, when students who haven’t been afforded the understanding of having played another stringed instrument, have so much new information to process.

Yoshi doesn’t live near where I teach, but we’re going to stay in touch. I’ll keep you posted if he takes the plunge.

Thanks for asking, Yoshi.

If you have a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick. My current stock of podcast picks is dwindling and I will be reordering them in the next month or 2. I haven’t decided whether to open up voting on the next color to my students, you podcast listeners, or whether I’ll just exercise autonomy. We’ll see what happens.

News

In the news this week is an opportunity for 6 people to win a guitar recently discussed on the Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast, the Gretsch Rancher, which is a reissue of a beloved gutiar of the ’50’s. I believe I discussed it in Episode 064, back in February.

The Gretsch Rancher is back and better than ever, and here’s your chance to win one!
Six lucky winners will lasso a brand-new G5022CE Rancher Jumbo Cutaway Electric from the new Gretsch Roots collection. This new Rancher model is a richly resonant modern take on the classic 1950s-era Gretsch acoustic noted for its expansive sound and distinctive triangular sound hole.
Other premium features include an elegant Venetian cutaway, solid spruce top with scalloped X bracing, flame maple back and sides, mahogany neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with Neo-Classic™ thumbnail inlays, 1940s-style Gretsch logo pickguard, compensated bridge, gold-plated hardware, deluxe die-cast tuners and a beautiful gloss Savannah Sunset finish. Onboard Fishman® electronics include a Sonicore under-saddle pickup and Isys+ preamp system with onboard tuner, battery life indicator and controls for volume, treble, bass and phase.
It’s the return of a classic and it can be yours. Sign up now...
As always, if you’re younger than 18, DO NOT FILL OUT ANYTHING ONLINE without the knowledge and consent of your parent or guardian.
If you enter, I hope you win. If you do, contact me and I will interview you for an upcoming show.

While we’re on the topic of give-aways, let me enlighten you about another one, in case the western flavor of the Rancher just doesn’t move you. Perhaps the alternative and harder rocking sound of a Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster butters your parsnips (as my favorite Law and Order IC villainess used to say). I mentioned this guitar line in a former podcast, too. In Episode 069 I mentioned the Blacktop Baritone and also confessed my weakness for low pitched strings. Fender is offering you an opportunity to win one of the 2 autographed Sonic Youth Blacktops: a Jazzmaster HS and a Classic Player Jazzmaster Special.
Two winners will each receive one of the sleek, Sonic Youth-ified guitars. Both guitars saw onstage action during the band’s November 2011 South American tour, with alt-indie godfathers Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo each rocking one. Although both Jazzmasters started the tour in pristine, brand-new condition (the protective film wasn’t even removed from their pickguards), they were marked by the band’s tech with tape and notes before being “gently used” onstage
The protective film remains on the pickguards, however, which reminds us of one ever-so-important detail: Both guitars have been signed by all five band members— Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, bassist/guitarist Kim Gordon, bassist Mark Ibold and drummer Steve Shelley—but a couple of signatures are on the protective pickguard film, which would ordinarily be removed. So that the winners can preserve all autographs, Fender is including an extra pickguard with each guitar (white for the black Blacktop Jazzmaster HS; tortoiseshell for the black Classic Player Jazzmaster Special).
So enter now, and may the best fans win...

http://gretschguitars.com/promos/2012/rancher?EDID=5CFYR8H-LQWBL-X7YMT-2C3DY-CQOP-v1

http://www.fender.com/promos/2012/sonicyouth?EDID=S34C5JQ-PRDQ9-U2XAU-2CF34-LUZQ-v1

Take Note
My take note topic this week is about your effect on your guitar - especially in warm weather. I don’t know about you, but where we live, except for short cold snap we’ve had over the past few days with frost warnings at night, things have been warming up and spring is fully upon us. With spring’s warm days and summer’s even warmer ones, we’re all stripping off the long sleeve sweaters, hoodies, long sleeve shirts and are now bearing our arms in T shirts or sleeveless shirts. That means more arms are against the finishes of guitars. And that means that the finishes of more guitars are getting broken down if not altogether destroyed. My guitars are old. The newest instrument I have is over 20 years old. My oldest, of which I am not the original owner, is probably 45 or 50 years old. None of my guitars have compromised finishes. I have every variety: matte, French polish and shellac.

Okay, it’s confession time again. Since the 1st crummy guitar I ever owned (bought in the record department of a big store) I have kept my instruments, and all my stuff, frankly, in the pristine condition in which it was purchased. That isn’t to say without the occasional ding or even in 1 case, drop. I don’t recall my 1st and most excellent guitar instructor, to whom I owe so much of my personality development, ever suggesting I protect the guitar finish from the oils in my skin. I do recall playing in a guitar show very shortly after beginning lessons - probably within the 1st year - and my grandmother making me a cool in temp and visually - paisley hot pink and green dress. It was early summer and the dress was sleeveless. I recall asking Nana if she had any fabric left over. She said yes. I asked her to make me a sleeve. She thought I wanted sleeves on the dress. I told her no. I just wanted her to make me a sleeve out of the fabric, not attached to the dress. In my mind, I was imaging playing on the stage and my sticky, perspiring arm making a burp sound as it slid across the soundboard of my axe. It was not going to be an air conditioned venue. Then I thought I should practice with a sleeve and asked my brother for the sleeves of the shirts from which he used to cut the sleeves every summer (it was a style then.) I can tell you I still have an assortment of sleeves. Most don’t match what I wear. I have one with a lace ruffle, some that are just plain and some of my “sleeves” are socks with the foot cut out.

What I’m trying to encourage you to do when you play with bare-ish arms, at the very least is to have a piece of fabric, or a wash cloth etc, to lay across the side of the lower bout over which you place your arm, when you play. In that case, you’ll have a layer of something between your skin and the finish of your guitar. If you like more of your arm covered or the convenience of not being bothered by the small cloth barrier falling off as you shift or turn pages etc. cut the sleeve off an old shirt or if you don’t have an old shirt, pick something up in a thrift shop, ask someone you know to sew one for you, or take a full length sock that has seen better days and cut the foot off. That’s the “sleeve” that requires no fussing with. It never shifts or falls off.

I hope you haven’t already ruined the finish on any of your guitars. I most especially hope that if you have a guitar with an expensive finish.

Episode 072: Les is Still More

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:10:13 -0400

So? How was your week? Mine was okay. We attended the memorial for our friend, Dot, who died in January after succumbing to 4 kinds of cancer. It was a hard death. The memorial was on her daughter’s birthday, who died very young, after many years of suffering with leukemia. I won’t go into the details. The people who arranged the memorial for the family didn’t do a very good job. I won’t name the funeral home, but they lacked attention to detail and the result was a lot of unnecessary confusion. That just added more stress to an already sorrowful day. We were treated very well at the Brownstone of The Real Housewives of NJ fame. The service was excellent, everyone liked the food - I’m an exception, but only because I prefer to eat healthy and most of the buffet wasn’t. We were not the only family and friends that were mourning a loss. There was a funeral repast for a Paterson police officer at the same time.

That was the unpleasant focus of my week. Now I’m in E-Rex pre-sergical mode, so I’m the keeper of the count down list. You know, the 10 days before surgery do this, this and this and cease doing this? Well, we’re at 3 days as I record this show.

As I said last week, I may skip recording next week, depending upon how much after care E-Rex needs. If he’s fine and just taking it easy when the weekend comes, I will do a show, if not, I’ll have to pass. I will tweet if I’m postponing episode 073.

From what I have heard of our guitarist friend Michael’s playing over the past 2 or 3 weeks, although we haven’t continued our discussion about the studies I gave him and for which I strongly suggested he use a metronome, I infer that he is, because previously, he had a tendency to speed up throughout a song so the beginning and end were not at the same speed. I have noticed he has much more self control or self restraint. Good going, Michael. It’s personal and musical maturity to embrace the advice of someone who might know more about some aspect of playing than you do, and actually implement their advice. You rock, dude.

This week I’m saving electricity and being green -- no students in the Spotlight, so it’s turned off. Most of my students did very well, but the Student Spotlight is for excellence over and above the usual good work I expect from them.

The question of the week is from Luis, from Australia, who I mentioned last week. One of his questions is about someone of his experience and age learning to read music.

News is about Les Paul movie night at the Mahwah Museum - the very same museum that has the Les Paul in Mahway exhibit in its full robustness until the end of June. Don’t miss the exhibit. It’s absolutely fabulous. I mentioned it to my new student Tipton, who is a recent transplant from Chicago. I’m sure he will see the exhibit in the near future. He thought Les Paul was “just” a guitarist who had a signature guitar.

And the Take Note segment is about the long awaited production called Thank You, Les.

Yes, I know I did a Les is More podcast in September or October. Well, this one will be entitled Les is Still More. Because he is one of those few topics that bears repeating and revisiting. In the Les is More podcast, I think I stressed his inventions, innovations and the vast contributions Les Paul made to all of 20th century culture and the music industry. This show’s segments will deal more with his musicianship.

The Question of the Week is from Luis, a guitarist in Australia. We have exchanged a few emails and it’s clear that Luis has a passion for playing guitar. He’s a busy adult man with a job and a family. He played by tab in his youth, and from what I understand, he put the guitar down for quite a while -- you know how that goes -- when real life sets in a lot of pleasures we enjoy when we do not have too many responsibilities, have to be set aside as we juggle all the things of adult life. Luis has returned to playing and he was wondering about learning to read music at this point. He’s in his mid 40’s. I know tab players are extremely reluctant to come over to the light. I think there are 2 primary reasons -- and I’m not suggesting that this is the case with Luis, it’s just been a lifelong observation. First, many tab players don’t think their tab experience lacks anything, so they don’t see any point in learning to read and write and interpret standard music notation. Second, there’s an ego issue. It goes something like this: I know I can use tab successfully, what if I try to learn to read, write and interpret standard music notation and I can’t get it and fail miserably? The obvious reply to this objection is that you haven’t failed unless you give up. I think the problem music notation presents does not lie in the difficulty level, because I teach very young children to read music and I teach very old adults to read music. Surely every individual has a rate a which they process information and has particular internal wiring, which is why someone can play something on an instrument after hearing it and never having had a lesson or why some people can create an exquisite painting without any guidance, but in the case of the perceived difficulty in learning to read music -- and most particularly in Luis’s case, I believe there’s a perception by adults that it’s complicated or hard. I also think many individuals had someone attempt to teach them in their earlier years and the teacher was unskilled or lacking understanding themselves. I can tell you how I make the most fabulous quick tomato sauce in the universe but I can’t tell you the chemistry of why certain ingredients are in it the way a master chef can, relating to complementary or balancing spices and acidity etc. So, I could show you but your understanding would come if Mario Batalli stood next to you and explained each ingredient’s properties and what it contributed to the whole. Then, you would understand many things about cooking, not just tomato sauce.

So, Luis, and all the Luises out there, if you have a teacher that understands music and wants you to understand how to interpret written notation, you’ll do just fine. If you’re like Luis in that you are bi-lingual, it’s a no-brainer that you’ll succeed marvelously. The brain wiring that equips an individual to learn a foreign tongue and use a computer with great ease is the same part that one uses to learn and understand musical notation. I’ve mentioned many times that playing an instrument is one of those valuable activities that requires crossing the midline. By that I mean that both sides of the brain need to engage. Anything that causes both sides of the brain to work is really really really good for you in countless ways. So, Luis, a huge warehouse of understanding is awaiting you. Just open the door.

If you are not a student of mine but have a question you would like addressed on the show, please email me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. If I use your question on the air, I’ll be happy to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick for your trouble.

In the News this week, is another Save-the-Date alert:
The Mahwah Museum presents “Les Paul Movie Night” on May 1, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah. Never-before seen footage from a film made at Fat Tuesdays in New York will be shown as well as many clips made by Les Paul and Mary Ford from their home in Mahwah. Les’s son, Russ Paul, and long-time engineer, Tom Doyle will share stories about Les Paul as well. The event is part of the Museum’s year-long tribute to Les Paul, the legendary performer and inventor, who lived in Mahwah for over 50 years prior to his death in 2009. The museum has unprecedented access to collections of instruments, artifacts, documents, music, and video archives and I’m sure that this showing will simply delight all attendees. Les was a rascal of a character with a quick wit, great sense of humor and titanic guitar chops. I wish the museum didn’t always chose a Tuesday for these events. I have students, otherwise I wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Admission is $5 and reservations are suggested because space is limited. Reservations can be made at www.mahwahmuseum.org or 201.512.0099

My take note topic this week is an update on the Thank You, Les documentary and album I’ve been mentioning from time to time. Well, at long last you can reserve a copy. Yay. That’s almost as good news as if it were finally released. In the autumn, which was the first time I heard the buzz about this project, I heard an estimated release date of “the beginning of the year.” I’ve had my ear to the ground ever since. When I found an invitation to reserve and join the mailing list, I was delighted. Just so you know, “reserving” here, just means you email that you’re interested in purchasing. They don’t ask for a credit card number so you aren’t ordering anything blindly. Knowing the people involved in this project, I have every intention of buying it.
The timeless recording is co-produced by Les' long-time sideman, Lou Pallo. After close to 40-years of performing with Les Paul mostly weekly, Lou Pallo has invited big name talent in multiple genres to help him pay homage to his friend and mentor, preserving Les' spirit through a collection of jazz and blues standards adored by Les himself. Through the filming process and interviews with the artists we learn about Les' later decades, why he enjoyed performing in a small New York City venue, and what it was like to work alongside the infamous guitar legend.

Thank You Les, the documentary is a feature-length film highlighting distinctive recording sessions which pay tribute to the legendary Les Paul and his beloved music and styles. With a star-studded line-up led by Lou Pallo, the guitarist who was at Les' side performing for close to 40-years, we're cast into Les' inner circle through the songs Les loved plus exclusive interviews and stories, which provide the viewer insight to Les Paul's genius, industry impact, endless drive and sense of humor as fondly shared by the hand-picked cast of musicians and friends.
Bonus Features include six complete music videos from the sessions, classic stories, plus never-before-seen vintage footage of the Master, Les Paul

Featured Artists:
Johnny A, Eddie Brigati, Blondie Chaplin, Melinda Doolittle, Tommy Doyle, Nokie Edwards, José Feliciano, Bob Leive, Jay Leonhart, Billy F. Gibbons, Steve Miller, Jon Paris, Nicki Parrott, Bucky Pizzarelli, Arlen Roth, Lexie Roth, Keith Richards, Slash, Frank Vignola plus, Lou Pallo with past and current members of Les Paul's Trio and friends including Rio Clemente, John Colianni, Wilson "Chembo" Corniel, Vince Ector, Anton Fig, Steve Johns, John "Muzzy" Napadano and Paul Nowinski.

Although we finally got some much needed rain, here wildfire-hazard northern NJ, a few days of rain won’t keep your guitar from drying out. Continue to check your hygrometer (and if you don’t have a hygrometer, go to the hardwired store and get one). If you have less than 40% humidity in the room in which you keep your guitar, humidify it.

How could you forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ? It’s impossible if you listen to this podcast. Make your plans now, before the installation shrinks to something a 5th of the size it is now.

I hope to be flipping the switch of the Student Spotlight on in Episode 073.
It’s never too late to learn to read music notation. All the nuances of intent and understanding are locked inside it. The key is finding an instructor who will teach you to do it correctly.

Les Paul movie night is Tuesday May 1st. Reserve a spot now. Speaking of Reservations, reserve your copy of Thank You, Les, the CD and documentary video that will be released soon. The featured artists’ homage to Les Paul will be almost as terrific as Les himself.

Episode 071: Angry Bird

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:36:42 -0400

How was your week? Mine was great. I want to say Hi and thank you to Luis in Australia for his email. It was great hearing from you, dude. When you get to listening to this show, I hope hearing yourself mentioned makes you smile.

I just want to give you listeners a fair warning. I may miss recording a show the week if April 30. E-Rex is having a minor surgical procedure on the 26th and although we are hoping it goes well, we can’t dismiss how near death he was in November. We are expecting him to be limited for several days, but in the event he needs care beyond taking it easy, I may forego the show and only tweet it on short notice. So, please be advised. Episode 072, next week should be unaffected.

Hey, Michael hasn’t said anything about the scale studies I gave him and for which I strongly urged him to use a metronome. I don’t know if it’s because they’re going fine or whether he continues to resist the metronome. I suspect it’s the latter.

One of the reasons I’m recording tonight is that tomorrow morning we have a uncharacteristic date for breakfast with Shanti, a former student of mine, who is a dear dear friend now. She doesn’t have much time to play these days, but always says she wants to pick it up again. E-Rex is licking his chops because we’re meeting her - at her behest - at the Country Pancake House in Ridgewood. It’s been a while since we were there, but if you haven’t yet gone, check out the menu online. If you like what you read, it will taste even better than that. Of the 3 of us, I’m the healthy eater and before I confirmed, I made sure I could get something that would nourish me, not just taste good. The menu has plenty of healthy choices, so don’t let that keep you from going. I will try to mix and upload the show before the end of the day tomorrow.

Don’t forget that the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ is going to be shrinking to a much smaller permanent exhibit at the end of June. If you’re interested in seeing the extraordinary array of Les Paul’s creations, guitars, artifacts and his actual workroom, get there! The museum is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. If you have a school group or other kind of group, I imagine you can make arrangements to have the museum to yourselves, by appointment, as I did with my students.

How are my DRs? Well, they need changing in the coming week or so. This week is crammed full of extra things besides my teaching schedule and real life. Most of the day Tuesday we will be attending the memorial for our beloved friend, Dot, who died in January. It’s going to be a difficult day. I’m not looking forward to teaching that evening, but teach I must.

In the warm glow of the student spotlight this week, there is only 1 student, and it’s my brand new student Shira. You did fabulously for a first lesson. I can see that Shira is musically inclined and has an artistic temperament. She’s very perceptive and has a definite zeal to learn and do well. You go girl.

Several students were away this past week: Arno, Mike and Tipton were traveling for work, some school age students were away for spring vacation, some students who have a lot of Passover activities took the week off, too. So, cheers to Shira, the newest student in my schedule. Great work, young lady.

I hope the rest of you will be aglow from the Spotlight in coming weeks.

The Question of the Week is from Danielle, my student, who asked, “Is there some trick to knowing what a chord turns into when you play it with a capo at a particular fret?” That’s pretty much how she phrased it.

Well, trick or short cut? Not really. If you can calculate by half steps, the change in the tonic of a chord based on where your Capo is, you’re in business. So, a chord shaped like an open position C chord, is actually a G chord when your capo is at the 7th fret: 7 half steps are a perfect 5th or 3.5 steps. A perfect 5th or 3.5 steps higher than C is G. (G is the 5th note of a C major scale, or if you what to calculate the half steps, it goes like this: C to D is 1, D to E is 2, E to F is 2.5, F to G is 3.5) Which ever way you figure it out, the result is the same.

But clearly, Danielle, who doesn’t use a capo that much was not pleased with the answer I gave her. She has an interesting personality and mind. She is very bright but she is also extremely methodical -- let’s say she might be compulsively methodical. So, she wants some way to dispense with having to do all that figuring -- because the way she thinks, there would be far more steps than what I outlined above. I will give her a printed reference that she can clip to her beloved circle of 5ths, so she will be well-armed for her next adventure into capo-ing.

Thank you, Danielle. You are a great source for questions.

If you are not one of my students, and you have a question you would like to have addressed on this show, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com. Please note, there is not Tutor in the email address. If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.

In the news this week are Fender’s 2012 American Standards - and for those of you who don’t know what guitar Fender makes that is referred to as their American Standard, it’s the American made Stratocasters.

This is it: the heart of Fender and the four archetypal instruments that have rocked the world for more than half a century
The American Standard Stratocaster is the same great best-selling, go-to guitar it has always been, and now it’s upgraded with aged plastic parts and full-sounding Fender Custom Shop Fat ‘50s pickups. The latest iteration of their time-honored classic, it is the very essence of Strat tone and remains a beauty to see, hear and feel.

New for 2012, American Standard guitars and basses are now upgraded with Fender Custom Shop pickups* and other distinctive new features. Pure and simple, the latest U.S. - built versions of four design classics.

I will grant you that these American made Strats look a lot like their foreign made cousins. The quality of the workmanship is the difference, and that’s a difference that costs money. These classic beauties come it at a price point between $1600 and $1700. Surely not for every budget, but if it fits yours, this is the year you may decide to acquire a classic and iconic guitar, the Fender American Standard.

My take note topic this week is a quick heads up to save a date: If you’re in the NY Metro area, save Saturday night, June 9th for Les Paul’s Birthday Party at the Trustees’ Pavillion at Ramapo College. Les Paul would be turning 97 and what better way to celebrate his remarkable contributions that to mix and mingle with admirers and musicians, hear great music and have the opportunity to bid on some fabulous autographed guitars? The party begins at 7:30 pm. Wine, hors d’ourves will be served along with some light fare. In addition to the traditional auction of autographed guitars, there will also be a silent auction. Tickets are $25. This celebration is brought to you by the Mahwah Museum, which is still hosting the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. Although I don’t have any direct knowledge, I’m thinking Rusty Paul will probably attend, as well as friends, perhaps Les’ biographer, Michael Cochran, and no doubt some band members. It should be a great night. I will try to interview someone from the Museum for more details in the coming few weeks.
Those of you who have been listening for a while may recall the Les Paul tribute concert I attended in September, the night before the exhibit opened to the public. It too, was held at Ramapo College.

RAFFLE TICKETS NOW ON SALE!! DRAWING JUNE 9
Tickets are now available! First prize is an Epiphone E Series signed by Les Paul, Lou Pallo and many other guitarists who played with Les at the Iridium around 1989. Second prize is a Fender Stratocaster signed by Les Paul and Steve Miller in 2006.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Practice, have a great week and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time. Thanks, again Luis.

Episode 070: Summer's Coming

guitartechnique@gmail.com (DA Arlaus) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:13:24 -0400

This week there are 2 students in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week comes from Joel and is about music writing programs, News is from Taylor and the Take Note Segment is about the the National Guitar Workshop summer programs.
So, how was your week? Mine was excellent - and those of you who have been with me for a long time, know that the last time I said my week was excellent was probably before my darling E-Rex was rushed to the hospital in November. Since then, my personal life has had a lot of crises. Last week was a good week. I met Shira and her dad, Motti, and we are going to begin lessons next week. I’m looking forward to it. Shira seems very determined to play guitar well and has begun to undertake teaching herself. Her father wants her to learn correctly. He was given my name and number by one of my students’ parents. Thank you, Nir, for the referral.
Speaking of numbers, please do not forget that my phone number has changed. Students, be sure to change my number in all your contact holding devices. The old number will go away in the very near future. Listeners, if you have visited my web site which is www.GutiarTechniqueTutor.Com and took the number you found there more than 2 weeks ago, please replace it with the current new phone number you will find on the site. I reiterate: the old number will go away in the very very near future. Thanks.
New student Tipton (don’t you just love that name?) had his first lesson and did just fine, as I suspected he would. He’s got great zeal.
Keri, sorry we keep crossing communications. I’m sure we’ll connect eventually.

Sorry for the students I had to bail on Wednesday evening. There was a personal issue E-Rex and I had to attend to on very short notice. I apologize for the inconvenience my short notice schedule change might have caused. Thanks for understanding.
Emily, if you’re listening, have a great 2 months in Europe. We will miss you and are already looking forward to hearing about all your adventures and watching your blog and FB.
Just a note, listeners, I will not broadcast a show next week, although I will be teaching a few students.
Please don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah museum in Mahwah, NJ. The full scope of this extraordinary collection will reduce to a smaller permanent installation at the end of June, so if there is any way you can make it to the northern border of NJ on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, you simply must go. This exhibit is fascinating and will give you an unsurpassed appreciation for the magnitude of Les Paul’s contribution to guitar, recorded music and 20th century culture overall. I appreciate the exhibit as a musician who plays guitar, but it’s safe to say that any musician, music aficionado, engineer (sound or otherwise), scientist, pop culture junkie, jazz lover, historian, student, layman…. you get my point … Butcher, baker, candlestick maker will be amazed and intrigued by this exhibit. I should really Tweet about this more. I hope the soon to be released, Thank You, Les, cd will be out in the near future so I can review it before the exhibit closes and more of you will perhaps be inspired to go.
I know what you’re thinking… What? No mention of her DRs? Yes, I’m going to mention my DRs. They’re great -- I’m just not in drool mode. I’ll change them in a week or 2 and be enamored all over again. My student Arno will have new DRs on his guitar by the time we finish his lesson this week. His lesson is Wednesday nights, so I had to bail on him last week, when we were planning to put DRs on his Taylor for the 1st time. I hope he likes them as much as I do. Oh well, if he doesn’t at least I will get to listen to them until it’s time for the next string change.
In the warm glow of the student spotlight this week, there are 2 students: Lani and Talia. Dudettes! You did very well. I know you’re both going to be gone for a while. Lani, You’ll be in S. Africa for several weeks. Talia, I will see you this week and then we will take a week off. You are both putting in the time necessary to rise above the ordinary. Isn’t it worth it??
The Question of the Week is from an email I received from Joel. He asked, “What music writing program do you use. I mean music notation not tab. Thank you.”
Thank YOU for the question, Joel. A Gutiar Technique Tutor Podcast Pick is on its way to you.
I’m glad you asked.
There is an array of music writing applications available. The 2 most prominent and pricey are Finale and Sibelius. Each of them retails for more than $200 in their full versions. They’re great programs. I’ve used both of them and preferred Finale, perhaps because it was the first of them I tried. there came a time when I upgraded my OS and my music composition application became outdated and I needed to buy a new version. Or did I? I compared everything that was available that offered sufficient options for my music writing needs. I found Myriad-Online’s Melody Assistant. I think I took advantage of a free trial of it. In these trials, you can use the program, but if it is still as it was when I tried it, you can use every function except save. So you can really get a feel for how the application works. I liked it and I bought it. I have received free upgrades since then. I refer all my students to this particular product because the price is extremely reasonable.
Before I tell you a little more specifically, about what one can do with Melody Assistant and its big brother, Harmony Assistant, I want to clarify a term that floats around these days, with many meanings. The term is “write music.” You know I love Garage Band, so I’m not belittling what it and programs that try to be like it, do. :-) But singing a track and strumming a track and adding a drum track etc -- I guess I’m trying to say, working with audio files only, is a very different process of creating a finished product - or “writing music,” than to what I refer when I speak about Melody Assistant and Harmony Assistant. These are applications for creating musical scores. You can hear the notes you are writing, as you are writing them. I like that I can assign what kind of guitar I’m listening to while I compose, if I’m composing guitar music.
The exhaustive list of Melody Assistant capabilities is too large to be described here in a few lines. Do not be mistaken by the unbelievably low price of this program: it is an extremely complete tool, the result of more than ten years of development.
A wide range of music symbols will enable to edit scores of great quality, including tablatures and Gregorian notation.
Score input can be performed through the mouse, computer keyboard or an external MIDI keyboard.
Melody Assistant comes with its own embedded software synthesizer (SoftSynth), which provides high quality output on basic sound cards, even without any external MIDI device, and includes hundreds of different instruments.
Melody Assistant can load and save in many formats (MIDI, WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, TAB, ABC etc).
It is both:
• A score editor with wide capabilities of notation
• A digital synthesizer, providing quality music rendering, even without expensive hardware
• A digital sound editor, to insert recorded instruments and digital audio tracks into your work.
• A tablature editor
--------------------
Harmony Assistant is an unbeatable software for computer-assisted music composition and editing.
Its harmonizing capabilities enable the composer to build quickly and efficiently tunes that include accompaniment, multiple instruments and drum patterns
Its full page edit and engraver modes will ease editing and page setup of your scores.
A wide range of music symbols will enable to edit scores of great quality: notation capabilities are immense.
Using the page mode, you will edit the score just as it will be printed on paper. The Engraver mode will make it look nice.
Score input can be performed through the mouse, computer keyboard or an external MIDI keyboard.
Harmony Assistant comes with its own embedded software synthesizer (SoftSynth), which provides high quality output on basic sound cards, even without any external MIDI device, and includes hundreds of different instruments.
Harmony Assistant can load and save in many formats (MIDI, WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, TAB, ABC, XML and more)
It is both:
• A powerful score editor, including page and engraver mode support
• A digital synthesizer, providing quality music rendering, even without expensive hardware
• An arranger, that creates automatic accompaniments
• A drum pattern manager, enabling to relate rhythm to your tunes
• A digital sound editor, to insert recorded instruments and digital tracks into your work.
• A tablature editor
• etc
Both are excellent programs. Last time I checked, a personal Melody Assistant license cost $25. A personal Harmony Assistant license cost $85. Your license allows you to put the application on your notebook as well as your desktop computer and allows you to continue to download the newest version whenever it becomes available.
If you currently use Melody Assistant, there is an offer allowing you to purchase Harmony Assistant at a reduced rate if your needs will be so satisfied.
Thanks again, Joel, for the question. I hope Joel and all you listeners who are looking for a music writing/editing program will give Melody Assistant a try. Or if your composing needs are more advanced, try Harmony Assistant. I have used Melody Assistant for over 10 years.

In the news this week is some exciting stuff going on at Taylor, and no, Bob still hasn’t sent me a guitar.
Rascal Flatts will Take A Piece of their Fans on the Road as CMT and Taylor Guitars Launch A Contest to Create the Official Tour Guitar
Company
It's not every day fans get to become part of one of the hottest tickets in country music. This summer, one person will have the opportunity to do just that as CMT and Taylor Guitars have launched a contest to design the official guitar for the Farmers Insurance Presents "The American Band Tour." In addition to the guitar being played by band members' onstage in cities across America, the winner will get a VIP experience to see the band live and receive his/her own autographed, custom-designed Taylor Guitar GS8 model. Fans will have additional opportunities to win Rascal Flatts' autographed GS Mini guitars at select concert dates, on CMT RADIO LIVE WITH CODY ALAN and on CMT.com, provided by Taylor Guitars. In total, CMT and Taylor Guitars will give away 15 guitars throughout the summer-long promotion.
Fans can submit guitar designs using approved images and logos now through Monday, April 30. More information is available at www.rascalflatts.cmt.com.
In just eleven years, Big Machine Label Group's Rascal Flatts has become one of the most honored acts in country music history, reaching heights and achieving milestones reserved for the genre's elite. They have set more venue attendance records than any country act with ticket sales of six million and counting. They have sold 21 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and earned 13 #1 singles. With the #1 debut on the Country Albums sales chart of Nothing Like This, Rascal Flatts becomes one of only four country acts to debut seven consecutive studio albums at #1. On April 3, they will release their highly-anticipated eighth studio album, Changed. Its first single "Banjo" is #13 on Billboard's Country Songs chart, and among the most-streamed videos at CMT.com.
GRAND PRIZE:
Your winning design shall be placed on a guitar played by Rascal Flatts on their tour.
One (1) autographed GS8 Taylor guitar featuring your design.
Two (2) tickets to Rascal Flatts concert.
Two (2) meet and greets with Rascal Flatts.
Round-trip coach airfare for two (2).
One (1) night hotel accommodations.
Ground transportation to and from airport and concert.
One (1) Rascal Flatts prize pack.

My take note topic this week is the National Guitar Workshop. Over the past decade I have had several students take a week or 2 during the summer to attend the most local, Massachusetts campuses (or is it campi?) of the National Guitar Workshop. They enjoyed their time there but the resounding advice they had for students who would follow them and experience the National Guitar Workshop in subsequent years was: take some means of cooling the dorm rooms. I don’t know if there has been any change, but my students said the summer heat was brutal and it made sleep difficult. So, be advised. this observation came from adults who chose the dorms over hotels as well as school aged students.
Here is a brief description of our programs to share with your students:
National Guitar Workshop offers week-long programs where students from 14 through adult, ranging in skill level from beginner to seasoned professional study with some of the best musicians in the industry.
DayJams is a summer day camp program for kids ages 8-15. They play in a band, write and record their own song and play in a live concert.
The Master Artist Series is a rare opportunity for advanced and professional musicians where they can study with some of the world’s greatest musicians: Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, John Scofield, or Robben Ford. Participants study, play, and perform with these master artists.
They have active scholarship programs available to anyone based on need and merit. The National Guitar Workshop strongly encourages people who are concerned about the price to apply because, these programs are often underutilized. (Scholarships not available for the Master Artist Series)

ARTISTS, LOCATIONS, DATES:
John Abercrombie
New Milford, CT  July 22- 27 2012

Doug Aldrich
Los Angeles, CA  July 22- 27 2012

Kid Andersen
Austin, TX  July 15-20 2012

Scott Colley
Norwich, CT  Aug 27- Aug 31 2012

Chick Corea
Lenox, MA  Aug 27- Aug 31 2012

Jack DeJohnette
Norwich, CT  Aug 20 - Aug 24 2012

Robben Ford
Norwich, CT  Aug13- Aug 17 2012

Guthrie Govan
New Milford, CT  July 22- 27 2012

Jim Hall
Norwich, CT  Aug 20 - Aug 24 2012

Adrian Legg
New Milford, CT  July 15-20 2012

Romero Lubambo
New Milford, CT  July 22- 27 2012

Brent Mason
Austin, TX  July 15-20 2012

Pat Metheny
Norwich, CT  Aug 20 - Aug 24 2012

John Patitucci
Lenox, MA  Aug 27- Aug 31 2012

Duke Robillard
New Milford, CT  July 29- Aug 3 2012

Antonio Sanchez
Lenox, MA  Aug 27- Aug 31 2012

John Scofield
Norwich, CT  Aug 27- Aug 31 2012

Don’t forget to see the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. After June the huge exhibit will be reduced in size. A permanent installation will remain, but you will miss a lot if you don’t get there while the collection is robust.
I’m biding my time before I change my DRs again. But I can listen to Arno’s new ones after we change them on Wednesday night.
Welcome to my schedule, Shira.
Congratulations to Lani and Talia for ascending into the Student Spotlight this week. Personally, my preferred music writing, editing and printing software is Melody Assistant. If you have needs beyond mine, Harmony Assistant may be just the ticket. Hey country music fans, submit your design for a Rascal Flatts Taylor guitar and you may win one signed by the band and more cool stuff. The National Guitar Workshop has a variety of locations, classes and Guest Artist schedules. Check them out if you want a great summer guitar experience. If you’re sensitive to heat, make sure you take a fan or something to cool you off at night.
I'll be back behind the mic in 2 weeks. Have a wonderful Easter and Passover.

Episode 069: Confessions

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:10:42 -0400

My DRs are normalizing now and I love them but the “new” sound is just regular great, not new great. Oh well, another string change isn’t that far away. Arno will be changing his strings this week - actually I think we will be doing it together, which will be a little quicker than if

I had a nice conversation with a mature man about guitar lessons on Thursday afternoon. We met while I was killing a little bit of time before Lani’s lesson. He said he played in the ’70’s and took lessons at the Leonid Boletin Guitar Institute in Manhattan. We talked about Leo, music, guitars, the fellow I was speaking to’s “short fingers,” and many other things. It was a very enjoyable conversation. I didn’t get his first name, but I wanted to say a special, “Hi,” to you if you’re listening to the show this week.

Hello also to Shira and Motti. We will have a consultation later this week and quite likely begin lessons for Shira after Passover.

Speaking of the show, I think after next week, which will be episode 070, I will take a week off. That’s Passover and Easter week. I’ll mention it again next week.
In this week’s show, there are 4, count them, 4 students in the Student Spotlight. That makes me happy. The Question of the Week is from Michael, our guitarist friend and it’s about how you actually apply scales and scale type studies to real playing. If Michael shows up many more times, he will have to have his own segment. News is about Fender’s Blacktop Baritone particularly and the Blacktop line in general. Take Note is about protecting your axe, now that the time when a lot of guitarists are taking or planning vacations or short getaways.

Please don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. The full scope of this extraordinary collection will reduce to a smaller permanent installation at the end of June, so if there is any way you can make it to the northern border of NJ on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, you simply must go. This exhibit is fascinating and will give you an unsurpassed appreciation for the magnitude of Les Paul’s contribution to guitar, recorded music and 20th century culture overall. I appreciate the exhibit as a musician who plays guitar, but it’s safe to say that any musician, music aficionado, engineer (sound or otherwise), scientist, pop culture junkie, jazz lover, historian, student, layman…. you get my point … Butcher, baker, candlestick maker will be amazed and intrigued by this exhibit. I should really Tweet about this more. I hope the soon to be released, Thank You, Les, cd will be out in the near future so I can review it before the exhibit closes and more of you will perhaps be inspired to go.
In the warm glow of the student spotlight this week are Amber, Arno, Danielle and Talia. That’s more like it. You all did well this past week -- I should say, exceptionally. Good work. Don’t you love it when you can really hear, feel and sense that you are a step closer to mastering the instrument you love? It makes my hear sing.

I hope you will be frequent spotlight occupiers. You 4 have gotten a leg up on spring fever and that deserves special mention. It seems people are having a harder time resisting that glazed over dreaminess in recent years. I think discipline is just not as highly prized in the general public, as it was a decade or 2 ago.

Each of you knows in what area you excelled this past week. I hope you hold your ground -- especially you, Talia. A few of you will be missing lessons over Passover week, so please, on days when you may practice, do.

Arno, you won’t be off for Passover. I know you’re coming off a bummer of having to put your beloved, aged pug down on Saturday. I hope you throw yourself into the guitar in blue moments. You and your playing will benefit. Sorry about Oscar.
The Question of the Week is from Michael, our guitarist friend who is trying to make peace with practicing scales. You’ll remember me mentioning him in some recent episodes, if you’re a regular listener. Well, as I have mentioned he has become convinced that practicing some exercises regularly will improve his overall playing, but when I saw him yesterday, he asked how to apply them to “real” playing. So, I guess his question is, “How do I apply the practice of scales (stepwise, in thirds, and in other tonal patterns) to what I play every day?”

Oh, and he is still reluctant to use a metronome, this week, knowing the excuse was a lame one, he said he doesn’t have a metronome. I believe he doesn’t have one so I suggested that there is a free on online at metronome.com or he can get an app for his ipod or iphone (don’t worry, I’m not going to do iTalk 2 today). The iOS app I like is Tempo by frozenape.com

Okay, well, it’s a reasonable question, especially coming from a guitarist who was in a band for a long time and continues to play out. He knows how to manipulate a pentatonic scale to create a rock solo with ease, but what do you do with something that has half steps in it and has real harmonic glue?

Well, as I told Michael, the purpose for playing the scale type studies with which I supplied him, is primarily for dexterity and for one’s ear. Playing by rote is okay, and that’s what most scale study players do, but - and this is big - your fingers can be on auto pilot but if you are going to mentally zone out, don’t bother playing them. Let’s say you’re working on a scale and where ever you are playing it on the fingerboard, you’re playing it in the key of A. Be conscious that you’re playing in A. Listen to what the key of A’s unaltered scale (or whatever key you’re in) sounds like. How does that help you? Well, your ear tunes to the key that you are seeing and feeling where you’re playing it with consistent playing - over a period of time, that is. The old joke that might be attributed to Yogi Bera was true, repetition is the mother of memory. When your studies include non-stepwise exercises for example with some pattern like alternate thirds or the interval of an ascending third followed by a descending 2nd, will add to the arsenal of little melodic bits you may draw from when improvising or when composing an instrumental riff, solo or entire piece of music. Think of scale or other exercises akin to vocabulary building in a language. If you’re not sure how to use and don’t ever use a newly learned word, it’s not of any value. But when you learn a new word and seize on the opportunity to use it in conversation or correspondence, it becomes familiar and you use it more. Good exercises are like that for a well-rounded musician.

So listen when you work on your studies. And for heaven sake, cease avoiding the metronome. You don’t even have to buy one!!

If you have a question for the Question of the Week segment, please email me, if you aren’t a guitarist friend or student. If I use your question, I will contact you and will be delighted to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick.
In the news this week is the Blacktop Baritone from Fender. I’ll admit it right up front, I have a weakness for the lower registers. When I was a fledgling guitarist, there was an upright bass in one of the practice rooms where I took my weekly lessons. I confess that I held and played a few open notes and nearly melted into a puddle on the floor. Then I quickly stepped away with palms forward raised hands, ala the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz when she tried to touch Dorothy’s ruby slippers. I knew instantly that it was the forbidden fruit for me. I had heard about the extent of calluses on the hands of stand up bass players and knew that if I learned to play, it would compromise my guitar playing, so I didn’t learn. But given a choice, I’d rather listen to bass, cello and baritone guitar more than any other strings. Okay, so I’m a low register fiend. Now, you know.

Let me tell you about this series from our friends at Fender:
The Blacktop series presents a truly unique new model in the deeply resounding form of the Blacktop Telecaster Baritone guitar. A true baritone Telecaster, it creates a rich sound of distinctive depth and character with a 27” scale, lowdown B-to-B tuning, and a tonally versatile triple-pickup configuration-including a full-throated humbucking bridge pickup-that covers the entire sonic spectrum from tic-tac twang to full-on kerrang!
Features include an alder body, maple neck, 9.5”-radius rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and aged white position markers, single-coil Telecaster neck and middle pickups, humbucking bridge pickup, five-way pickup switching, three-ply pickguard (black-white-black), skirted black amp knobs (volume and tone) and black switch tip, Blacktop Telecaster bridge and chrome hardware. Available in 3-color Sunburst, Classic Copper and Ghost Silver.

The Baritone is tuned a fourth lower than a standard guitar.  The open strings are B-E-A-D-F#-B. The Baritone lets you play "tic-tac" bass or chords.  This lower tuning can also be used to play many songs from bands that use lower tunings.  However, there's no general concensus on how a baritone should be tuned. 
 On the low end, the tuning can be A-D-G-C-E-A five notes below the guitar. Most afficionados of the baritone tune it to B E A D F# B. Other tunings exist too,  notably C#-F#-B-E-G#-C# (a tone and a half below standard), which can  also be achieved on a standard-scale guitar with heavier gauge strings.  This tuning condemns the baritone player to play in 3 more flats,  or 3 less sharps than the other guitars in the ensemble, something which  sends shivers down the spine of most novice and intermediate players.

It should be noted that there are also Blacktop Strats, Teles, JazzMasters, Jaguars, Strat Floyd Roses, Strat Baritones, Jazz Basses and Precision Basses.
The MSR on the Tele Baritones is just over $700. I’m sure they will be found at significantly lower prices.
My take note topic this week is cases for your ax. It’s spring, which means more people are traveling now and will be in the summer, so if you’re taking your guitar or a child is going off to camp with a guitar, you better protect it.

I’m going to give you a little run down of some cases that are common and some others that are in the elite category. Naturally, you may look at a higher end case if you have a $4,000 guitar. On the other hand, if you have a $250 guitar, I wouldn’t recommend spending $800 on a case.
My list is by no means complete
GATOR CASES
Gator offers gig bags, deluxe gig bags, light weight cases, molded cases, economy wood, deluxe wood and ATA cases. These can be purchased on the low end for $90 to $300 depending upon the guitar profile and the type of case purchased.

http://www.gatorcases.com/c/16/guitar

"CANADIAN" GUITAR CASE
Classic workhorse cases manufactured in Canada that have been around for decades and marketed under a variety of names over the years (Everest, Grand Prix, Superior, TKL,.....). Plywood shell, rugged black or vinyl tweed exterior, plush padded interior, accessory compartment, strong latches & hinges, and a sturdy handle. These continue to be popular cases. Available in a wide variety of sizes. about $100 - $150
SKB CASES
these are the common cases you find at all the big box guitar stores. They are not expensive say $70 to $150 or so. They are nothing special but if all you need is protection from bumps and getting an instrument into and out of a vehicle, this will do.
http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/prodlist.php

HUMICASE GUITAR CASE -
Designed to be compact yet sturdy the HumiCase Metro combines a modern sleek look with a strong fiberglass shell enhanced by the patent pending dual action humidity control system mounted in each case. The self-humidifying system helps prevent cracking, shrinking, and other damage due to changes in climate and temperature by providing continuous humidity control. Standard features include a complete humidity control package, perfect weather seal, six secure latches, small removable pouch compartment, rings for both shoulder and back straps, and a choice of colors. these run about $250
http://www.humicase.com/
REUNION BLUES CASE
Reunion Blues was founded in 1976 by people who believe music is essential to the human spirit. For over 30 years, the company has created instrument bags for discerning musicians that are both luxurious and highly functional. Constructed of the finest materials using state-of-the-art manufacturing, Reunion Blues original designs are recognized and trusted around the world.
Often referred to as “the best of the best”, Reunion Blues is chosen by serious musicians for player convenience and durable quality.
These run from $200 and up and I mean up. You can purchase a leather bag for a classical guitar for $470 up to $700.
http://www.reunionblues.com/
BAM France USA
BAM introduces its new Hightech line of guitar cases. Using years of experience gained from developing its popular line of cello cases, BAM has designed a very light guitar case, which offers outstanding shock and thermal protection. Made using BAM's patented Hightech materials and technique, this case has an almost indestructible shell. The guitar is suspended inside the shell and the neck is supported with a cushion of injected foam. The case offers a water and airtight seal, and is equipped with a comfortable handle and a set of two anti-slip neoprene backpack straps. A removable accessory pouch is located under the neck. They also offer a Classic line of cases, which are also amazing.
Full retail can be over $800 but you can find them for less. It depends on the model and guitar profile.
http://www.bamcases.com/new/english/string/guitar.php?recordID=20
WORKHORSE CASES
Workhorse Cases manufactures custom fitted instrument cases for all types of stringed instruments. Our core offerings are for guitars, mandolins and banjos.
Their products are available in two grades - Deluxe Fiberglass and our Carbon Copy. Both provide the same level of exceptional protection available only from a Workhorse Case. The ONLY difference between the two cases is weight - the Carbon Copy shell is 20% lighter. Beyond that the two products perform identically in terms of fit finish and protection.
They have 6 different sized shells to choose from for guitar cases, so you know that your case was made only for your guitar. Anything from Acoustic Bass thru to a Tenor Ukelele can be custom fit into a tailored Workhorse Case.
http://workhorsecases.com/
So, don’t’ miss the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah NJ before the installation shrinks to a fraction of its current size.
Congratualations Amber, Arno, Danielle and Talia. Great work. The application of scale type studies to real life guitar playing is a greater aptitude for improvisation and hearing various key tonalities as well as the dexterous chops to play them. Check out the entire line of Blacktop instruments from Fender. If you drool over low registers, the Blacktop Tele Baritone may be for you. IF you’re taking your guitar ANYWHERE, protect it with a case commensurate with its value. Episode 070 will be next week and after that, I will take a week off during Passover and Easter week.
You can follow me on Twitter, where I'm GuitarTechnique. I'm not a tweeting maniac, I tweet to update anyone following me and retweet what I think is interesting. On my home page and the podcast page of my web site, you'll find links to subscribe to the podcast in a variety of ways and/or to subscribe to the show notes by email or a reader.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello, Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Practice, have a great week and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.

Episode 068: iTalk

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:31:51 -0400

How was your week? I’ll get our personal stuff out of the way first: I know you’re dying to know how our little Seely fared last Friday. Our fabulous vet Dr Michael Morris at the Animal Care Center or North Jersey took as much care removing that nasty syringe splint/cast as he did when had to apply it to Seely’s teeny weeny broken leg almost 5 weeks earlier. I saved that syringe to remind me of these difficult days. Seely did well. His healed leg had been tractioned and splinted straight for a third of his brief life. So even when that little leg was free, it was atrophied and kind of frozen in place. So, with the splint/cast off, that leg was even more fragile than when it was broken with the splint/cast on. It looks like it has healed straight. Now, the real trials begin, trying to get him to rehabilitate it naturally, while keeping him “quiet” not as in silent, but as in not being a normal exuberant active little bird so he doesn’t re-break it. Ugh, this is a tough thing. So we’re taking it day by day. In the few days since Friday, we have seen that leg move more and he is gripping a bit with that foot, so we’re optimistic. I know these budgie updates are not what you listened for, so this will be my last update on Seely unless I receive overwhelming requests to continue with updates. Thanks for your patience.
It was great to see my student Arno again after several weeks off adjusting to his new job and getting back into a work routine. For a nice while we had afternoon lessons after lunch and before he had to pick the children up at school. It worked for both of us. Not too early for me, not too late for him. Oh well, real life has intervened and Arno has replaced an okay job with a very good one. Congrats Arno. I’m glad for the new job and for you resuming our lessons.
Tipton’s brand new guitar needed an adjustment so our first lesson is put off for another week. In his words, he’s “chomping at the bit” to get started but the head nut of his new Gretsch was drilled too low and the buzzes it causes have to be eliminated, so we’ll wait on the luthiers to replace that imperfect head nut.
When I registered my new G7TH Nashville Capo, there was a little questionnaire to be answered. One of the multi-part questions was interesting….it was If you were stranded on a desert island with only 1 acoustic guitar what would it be? And it was the same for electric, hollow body and nylon string. There were about 5 or 6 answers you could choose or fill in an “other.” What would your desert island guitar choices be? I suppose if I took it literally, I’d have to choose Rainsong guitars - you know, the graphite ones? But I didn’t take it literally.
Arno was in the Spotlight alone this week, which is a great accomplishment, coming off over a month of transition into a new job. It's great to have him back and have him doing so well, right out of the gate.
The Question of the Week is from one of my students who is among the singer songwriters with whom I work -- this is an entry level songwriter but a competent guitarist. This particular student has a hard time determining a harmonic setting for the lyric and melody they write -- customarily simultaneously. They understand traditional harmony but it’s still a challenge. This student hears their melodies but can’t always hear the accompaniment in their mind’s ear. They asked if there is a rule or practice etc that will reduce the amount of time they labor over creating just the right harmonic setting for their songs. It’s a good question and I hope the answer will assist other singer songwriter listeners who may be laboring similarly.
Well, as a matter of fact, there’s an app for that. There are a lot of chord apps out, and I’ll be the last person to say I’ve checked them all out. I have not, so if I don’t mention your favorite app here, I’m just alerting you to something I like - not necessarily the be all end all of apps for this purpose.
For this particular situation, I rather like Chord Bank. I have it on my iPod, and as far as I can determine, it’s not available on android. As I said before, there are multiple chord compendiums, that display a diagram of how to play a chord of a particular name. What I like about Chord Bank is that not only does it display the finger position for a wide array of chords in a wide array of positions that you select, but that you can strum or arpeggio pick the chord and hear realistic pitches. For the inquiring student, this will be a great help in finding the sound that they have not yet imagined accompanying their melody and lyric. I like the simplicity of the app. It’s not a large file, it works elegantly and it’s mostly correct. There are a couple chords in it that I’d dispute, but overall, if you’d like to hear or learn common multi-position chords and exotics like 6/9s or mi7 flat 5 etc, you can find them. If you don’t have a good working knowledge of theory, you’ll take a small risk of coming across a chord that is not correctly constructed or labeled. I still give it a 2 thumbs up rating for the purpose I mention here.
That’s the free app. The Pro version which sells for $4, which is compatible up to iOS 5 also offers suggestions for chord progressions, will flip the fingerboard if you play lefty, chords are spelled in enharmonically correct note names, which is always a complaint of mine - you know, calling a B flat flat an A just isn’t right. So, my free or paid pick for the task of assisting you in finding the correct chords for your gorgeous original melodies, when your own creative juices are failing, is Chord Bank, available in the App Store by Chris Ladd. Thanks Chris, great app!!
In the news this week I’m going to mention the Garage Band for iOS update that came out a week or so ago. Yes, you’re sensing a topical trend this week - I haven’t done that in a while, but this week, the i’s have it.
GarageBand already has a long history on the Mac, letting people use intuitive controls and a huge library of instruments and prerecorded loops to create songs. But for the iOS version, Apple needed to come up with creative ways to record music using only a touch-screen interface, and we think the company did an amazing job. The iPad version was released in March 2011, but the app has now gone universal in the latest version, letting you record and create songs on your iPhone and iPod Touch as well.
The smart guitar offers a different layout that lets you play chords with a swipe of your finger. You also have the ability to switch to individual notes and actually bend guitar strings for your big rock solos. All of the Smart Instruments come with a few prerecorded segments so you can just tap a key and let the app play for you. Drums can be played manually on touch-screen drum kits or drum-machine-like layouts. But as with the other instruments, you can choose smart drums to make things easier. Simply drag and place drum set pieces onto a grid to experiment, or hit the dice icon in the lower left for a random layout. It's clear that Apple spent a lot of time on how to make music creation easy even for people with no musical experience.
Once you've been inspired by some of the instruments, you can record a couple of tracks, then look at the track layout section to add or remove tracks, manage track volume, and play with effects like reverb, track panning, and echo. Tracks are laid out horizontally with controls on the left and a graphical representation of your recorded notes on the right. As you become more advanced, you can touch the settings icon in the upper right and use quantization tools to match up complex tracks to cover up your less-than-perfect rhythm.
With tons of uniquely designed and authentic-sounding instruments, a smart touch interface, and tools that make song creation easy, we think it's a miracle this app is only $4.99. Anyone with even a passing interest in creating music should download GarageBand for iOS. If you have an iOS device and like music, you should definitely buy this app.
GarageBand turns your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch into a collection of Touch Instruments and a full-featured recording studio so you can make music anywhere you go. Use Multi-Touch gestures to play pianos, organs, guitars, drums, and basses. They sound and play like their counterparts, but let you do things you could never do on a real instrument. Enjoy a range of Smart Instruments that make you sound like a pro even if you've never played a note before. Plug an electric guitar into your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch and play through classic amps and stompbox effects.
The Take Note segment is an iTopic, too. AmpliTube iRig is a combination of an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter and guitar and bass tone mobile software.
With AmpliTube iRig, you can plug your guitar into your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad and jam anywhere with world class guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand - from the leader in studio-class guitar and bass software.
Simply plug the iRig interface into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the appropriate input jack, plug in your headphones, amp or powered speakers, download 'AmpliTube FREE' version for iPhone or for iPad, and start rocking!
You’ll have at your fingertips the sound and control up to 4 recombinable simultaneous stompbox effects + amplifier + cabinet + microphone just like a traditional guitar or bass stage rig!
Add amps and effects as you need them — you can expand your rig with up to 11 stomps, 5 amps, 5 cabinets and 2 microphones in the AmpliTube iRig app custom shop.
I'm still loving my DR's and they are still distracting me -- that's why this podcast is getting up late this week.
Don't forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. The scope of the exhibit will narrow in July, so if you can get there, get there. You will see more Les Paul "stuff" than anywhere else, I think. The exhibit is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 - 5.
Thanks for you time.
Have a great week and PRACTICE!

Episode 067: Daylight Giving Time

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:29:52 -0400

So, how was your week? I hope you had a joyous Purim if you celebrated it. I think I can unreservedly say, my week was just fine, despite losing an hour yesterday. But in retrospect, it was worth gaining the daylight. Honestly, I didn’t trust my iPod to adjust the time - which of course, I should have, so we stayed up until after 3 AM new time and my alarm was set for 7.
Welcome to new student, Tipton. We are hoping to begin lessons this week. Tipton sounds motivated and willing to put in some time practicing. He has a beautiful guitar and according to him, this is the right time in his life to be learning to play.
Welcome back Arno. You’re now settled into your new job and although it was great having lessons in the early afternoon, as we had been doing, resuming your old schedule of evening lessons will be just fine. I’m glad you’re back in my schedule.
Well, the saga of the necessary, unnecessary and then lost humidifier continues. When I was teaching Talia last week, shazam! There was her humidifier. My mother had a saying, when I “couldn’t” find something and asked her to help me find it - and it was right under my nose, and it was, “If it had teeth, it would bite you.” Well, so it was with Talia. Inside the organizer type container in her room, where her music stand, music books etc reside, was her humidifier. Really? Yes, really. So, i hope her guitar’s buzzes will be lessening as time passes - providing she actually uses it.
The other party that I have mentioned a few times in relationship to this humidifier caper, is Michael, our guitarist friend. More from him will appear in the Question of the Week segment.
I’m still in love with my DRs, thanks for asking. Our little bird, Seely, is finally getting that splint/cast off his teeny weeny leg on Friday. We are hoping for a full recovery after he has a little TLC home rehab. I’ll keep you posted.
I did get to the guitar shop to replace my wayward capo. I referred to a round up I had podcast over a year ago and settled on the Nashville Capo by G7th. I like everything about it. I will make the disclaimer that I don’t use a capo much, but when you need one, you need one. G7TH even makes pretty blingy ones with Swarovski crystals!! Ooo la la. Dudettes, check it out.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah NJ. The exhibit is open Wed., Sat. and Sun from 1 -5. Now, if you live in or will be visiting the NY metro area and you have not yet seen the exhibit, please note that the current exhibit will be diminishing in size in June (the end, I think). Some of the collection that is on loan will be returned to the Les Paul Foundation and to private collectors. A significantly smaller permanent exhibit will be installed in the museum. The current exhibit occupies half of the museum’s space. So, if you’re planning to visit, move it up on the list of priorities and get there before the end of June.
Oh, one last notice: My business phone number has changed. Currently the old and new numbers work but the old number will be dropped in the near future. If you have made a note of the number that is on my web site before yesterday, please change it in your contacts list.
This week, there is 1 student in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is from Michael, about whether he should be playing scales with a metronome, the News is about Takamine’s 50th Anniversary guitars, and the Take Note segment is about the “C Shape” - not the chord, the left hand position.

Episode 066: (the real one) Inseparable

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:11:46 -0500

How was your week? My phone had a melt down, my capo is missing, my TDL is getting longer and longer because now that I have new DRs on 2 guitars, every time I walk past, I have to pull one off the wall and play it, I thought I had a serious medical problem (but I don't) and the little bird with the broken leg has another week and a half to hobble around. Other than that, it was the same old same old.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit in the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. I know it’s a funny name. Mahwah, but when you are not from the towns in NJ where the slimy TV shows are set, you find a lot of Native American town names, such as Mahwah. The exhibit is extraordinary and is open every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s worth a drive if you’re anywhere in the NY metro area. If you’re a big Les Paul fan, you might even drive up from Philly.This week there are how many students in the Student Spotlight? Not enought. The Question of the week is from a student about whether strum direction is important, News is about the PRS DGT Standard Limited Edition guitars and Take Note is about another gallery talk that is part of the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. If you’re free Tuesday night, March 6, keep listening and reserve your spot.

Episode 065: Oye, Oye

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:15:54 -0500

When you listen to today's podcast, you're going to repeatedly hear me refer this episode as 066 erroneously. I'll get it right next week.
How do you splint a baby parakeet's leg? With a syringe, of course.
So the pet crisis is behind us and there’s nothing major looming. And I’m glad.
We are still attending to Gerry often, but not as often as the 1st few weeks after Dot’s death. I have every reason to believe that I will be fully back to a regular podcast schedule, recording on Mondays or if I’m a little over scheduled, like this week, I may record on Tuesday.

I can’t thank you enough for your forbearance.

If you’ve been listening for a while, yes, I have finally changed my strings. Those fabulous new DRs are on 2 of my guitars -- so now, I am conflicted and have a hard time deciding which one to play.

New strings, new little bird, life slowly returning to normal - it’s all good.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit in the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. I know it’s a funny name. Mahwah, but when you are not from the towns in NJ where the slimy TV shows are set, you find a lot of Native American town names, such as Mahwah. The exhibit is extraordinary and is open every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s worth a drive if you’re anywhere in the NY metro area. If you’re a big Les Paul fan, you might even drive up from Philly.

This week there are 3 students in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week came in via email from Ruth and is about getting back to playing after not playing for years, News is from our amigos at Epiphone, about the 2 Joan Sebastian signature guitars they are offering and Take Note is about your inspiration to play. I was reminded of my original inspiration for beginning to play the guitar when I saw something in the news last week.

Episode 064: Ode

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:43:56 -0500

Thanks for joining me.
So, we will go on without our dear dear friend, Dot, who was much more like a sister than a friend to me. We’ll miss her and do everything we can for and with Gerry.
Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. It’s open Wed, Sat and Sun. It’s not to be missed if you’re in the NY Metro area and have some free time.
I’m worse than some of my students -- my poor guitars are screaming for new DRs and I just haven’t gotten to it. I can hope.
When is an unnecessary humidifier not an unnecessary humidifier? When you lose one and the extra has been adopted by someone else who loves it. Talia, I hope you find your missing humidifier.
A humbucker pickup is one that has coils wound in opposite directions and through the magic of electromagnetism, reduces hum. A very desirable thing in a guitar pickup.
Gretsch is reintroducing the Rancher line of guitars, which were beloved in the ’50’s. There are 5 models.
In a few weeks there will be a George Harrison The Guitar Collection App. If you love guitars or were a fan, there’s an app for that.

As if enough hasn't happened, lately, with E-Rex nearly perishing with septic shock in November, us both being sick as dogs in December, and literally, watching our dear dear friend, Dot,die of 4 kinds of cancer, in her livingroom in January. The reason this podcast was delayed is because when we returned from being with and helping Gerry, on February 8th, the day I thought I was going to post the podcast, we found our sweet old pet bird dead. She was near life expectancy age and had been sick, and even though I didn't expect her to live much longer, I was taken by surprise. I was strong for a long time but Bandi's death was the final blow that broke my strong deportment. I just couldn't get back to the computer for the podcast. We have since welcomed a new baby bird into our home. That's a story for next time. Let's just say, I'm a birdy nurse in my "free time" (whatever that is.) I'm taking this coming week off and barring anything else unforeseen, will resume podcasting WEEKLY beginning February 27th. I appreciate your understanding.

Episode 063: An Offer You Can't Refuse

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:22:36 -0500

I have still not changed my strings and the gutiar that needs the strings screams at me every time I walk past her, “I need DRs, now!! Help me!!” I’ve got to do it.

For those of you following the infamous unnecessary humidifier (I know, a humidifier is never unnecessary - bear with me, here) the unnecessary humidifier that I picked up for a student who claimed she didn’t have one, until I took one to her and her mother said, “Oh, that! We have one.” Hence the humidifier I took, was unnecessary. Today I gave that humidifier to Michael, who has never humidified any of his guitars. I suggested he humidify a guitar he has that has a crack in the top, just so if the guitar dries out, the crack is not made worse. I hope Michael uses it. You need to humidify your guitars too. Remember, it’s almost guaranteed that you need a humidifier if your dwelling is closed up and either the heat or air conditioner is on.

If you’re in the NY metro area, don’t forget to visit the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ.

This will not be a full feature podcast. but rather an abbreviated version. I’ll confess at the start, this is a podcast. We’re sort of in vigil mode. Our dear friend is in her last days, possibly hours, so my distraction level is high. If there is no podcast next week, don’t be surprised. We may have it wrong and she may live a couple weeks, but I can’t imagine she will be able to endure what she is going through for that long. Our hearts are heavy over this and it’s a challenge to function hour to hour, not knowing exactly what’s going on. We expect update calls around the clock.

So today, I’m going to mention students who are in the Spotlight, News and Take Note. I’m going to dispense with the Question of the Week, because I didn’t receive anything that intriguing or interesting from students or by email and I’m not inclined to tap my memory today. In the Student Spotlight there are 2 students, the news is about a new Signature guitar from Fender and 2 that will be introduced later in the year and the Take Note segment is about the Jersey Guitar Mafia. No, I’m not kidding. I’m Italian, so it’s okay for me to talk about the mob. Don’t let my last name fool you.

Episode 062: You've Got to Tell Somebody

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:25:02 -0500

Humidify or your guitar will sound like a cicada before you know it. I hope I’ll get those DRs on this week. Congrats to Julia and Lani. Great work, dudettes, let’s see a little more effort and time and you’ll both be spectacular guitarists. Which came first? The lyrics? The melody? The chord progression? It depends on who you ask. If you’re free on January 28, get to Ocean Grove for the 9th annual concert to benefit the Ocean Monmouth food bank. Don’t go empty handed. They will be collecting non-perishable food. If you or your loved one is taking lessons and has any time of learning or processing challenge, make sure the instructor knows about it. Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. It’s open Wed, Sat & Sun. and is worth the trip. There is more Les Paul info there along with his amazing inventions, guitars and other memorabilia than anywhere else.

061: Nuts and Bolts

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:59:02 -0500

Well, almost everyone is back from their vacations and students are getting back to their usual practice routines. That’s a good thing. I have to say, some of them were suffering from spring fever in January last week. We had a few down right balmy days for January in New Jersey. I had planned to review a particular guitar for this podcast but some family matters and illness (not E-Rex this time) are sucking up a lot of time and attention and will probably do so for a while longer.

Did you change your strings for the new year? Some people like to have fresh strings on their guitars for the 1st of the year. That reminds me… Last week a few students were assigned the New Year’s Eve song Auld Lang Synge to play by ear and write in notation. Now there’s a song, the words of which I have determined almost no one knows! It was so funny to work through it, with some students, and always reaching some point where it was blah blah blahs rather than the lyrics. What a hoot. That should be a Final Jeopardy Answer.

I have 1 guitar that needs new DRs and I’m going to try to take care of that this week.

There’s 1 lonely dude in the Student Spotlight this week. The Question of the week is about the International Guitar Hall of Fame. News is about the 54th anniversary of an iconic guitar and the Take Note segment is about rhythm exercises.

Episode 060: Make a List

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:28:02 -0500

I think I’m officially back. Sorry for all the interruptions.
Don’t forget to humidify your axe if the heat is on where you live or if the humidity in the air is less than 50%. On Christmas, a guitar player I know, showed me a clean crack on the soundboard of one of his guitars. It was caused by a mutual friend of ours dropping it. I cautioned him that if he didn’t already humidify that guitar, he really should, to prevent that crack from worsening from dehydration.
Congratulations Arno, Anya, Julia and Lani. I know 2012 holds great things for your playing. Hey, remaining students, there’s plenty of room in the spotlight for you. Apply yourselves assiduously and you’ll be bathed in the glow, too.
Is there anything wrong with using an electric string winder? I guess that depends upon your self-control and how high your personal gambler quotient is.
If you play acoustic, try DR Dragon Skins. They’re available in all the gauges you’d want and the invisible patent pending formula that makes your guitar sing even more beautifully than with uncoated strings. Try them!
Make a list of goals for your playing this year and then get down to analyzing how you’re going to accomplish those goals. If you have an instructor, submit yourself to their guidance. Let’s see some musical growth in 2012.
Don’t forget that if you’re in or near norther NJ, plan to visit the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum. It’s open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and well worth your time and travel to experience it.

Episode 059: Better Late than Never

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:53:47 -0500

Sorry for the ongoning interruption in what heretofore has been pretty regular podcasting for nearly a year and a half. Unfortunately, when I returned home from teaching a few days after my last podcast, E-Rex was in bed and sick again. After his brush with death a few weeks earlier, everything other than getting him well again, came to a halt. Once he was stable again, I came down with a terrible stomach bug that had me out of commission for 4 days.
We're both fine, now. I want to wish you a belated Happy Chanukah, a belated Merry Christmas, and an on-time Happy New Year.
Providing there are no further health set backs in our family, I will resume podcasting on the 2nd of January. In most cases, Monday will remain my recording day and the podcast should go live by Monday night or Tuesday afternoon.

Episode 058: Played Out

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:27:27 -0500

Thanks again for your forbearance during my absence while my dear E-Rex was incapacitated and last week. I had every intention of resuming the podcast, but I think I had post traumatic stress syndrome. All I could manage was working and family administrative necessities. I just couldn’t remain focused for anything more than that. I’m drowning in paperwork and I’m his social director of medical appointments - but I’m not complaining because E-Rex is improving daily.
Well, a week ago Saturday, some of my students and I were at the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit. I was delighted to play Les’s gold semi-hollow body guitar through HIS amp. Despite that the strings were played out ( a little like the way I felt), the guitar sounded really sweet.
Remember if you purchase a guitar online, use a reputable dealer.
if your year end holiday travels bring you anywhere near northern NJ or the NY metro area, check out the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah museum in Mahwah, NJ. It’s open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (but check Christmas and New Year’s weekends.) Nice work Anya and Arno. Keep it up. If you want to surprise someone with a guitar or big guitar accessory, think gift card, don’t just buy anything to get it done. Check out the new Epiphone ES-339s. They are 21st century guitars. Listen to yourself ruthlessly and be sure to balance your individual playing style with the original intent of the composer if you are not playing original music.
Links for everything and show archives are available at http://www.guitartechniquetutor.com/podcastnotes.php

Episode 057: What's Up?

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:59:14 -0500

How’s everything going? I hope you’re playing well, conquering your technique challenges and on the road to mastering your guitar.

As for me, I’ve been MIA from the podesphere for a couple weeks. My beloved E-Rex, formerly known as the E-Man, fell deathly ill almost 2 weeks ago on November 10th. Literally he was at the brink of death with a 105.7 temperature, terribly low blood pressure, and septic shock. The culprit was an infected, distended and stone laden gall bladder. It had to be removed so it wouldn’t burst, under much less than ideal circumstances the following day. He was in the hospital for 8 days with some complications from the infection and severe dehydration. I’m so grateful to have been able to bring him home Friday. He still needs a lot of care, so that’s what’s up with me. I haven’t taught for 2 weeks, but if E-Rex is well enough, I will resume next week. Then, the following week, I hope to return to podcasting. At that time I should have plenty of fresh info for you. In the mean time, if you're a newer listener, you might want to check out previous shows until I'm broadcasting again.
I hope to return to regular, weekly podcasts featuring the Intro, Student Spotlight, Question of the Week, News and Take Note segments you usually hear, on the 1st Monday of December, providing things on the home front are progressing well. Students, you know you can call me if you need something new or more to play and you really know that you should be practicing as though I were to see you tomorrow.
Practice, have a great couple weeks and until next time, I'm your host, D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Episode 056: Don't Make Me Put a Bag Over Your Head

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:09:28 -0500

Nice work, Arno. You're the only one in the Spotlight this week. I know you’re between jobs and it will be soon that you have to return to the daily grind. Your consistency is admirable.

Whether you’re a student being tested or a musician who’s uniformed or rusty about relative minors, just descend a third to find any major key’s relative minor and conversely ascend a third from any minor key to find its relative major.
There’s a new book out by Olivia Harrison, about George and Gretsch is giving away their G6128T-GH George Harrison Signature Duo Jet® guitar, along with a copy of George Harrison: Living in the Material World, the companion book to the documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
Please please please refrain from neglecting your ears as you learn and practice and perform.

For the love of your axe or axes, HUMIDIFY. Now that the heat is on in our wee space, I have had to rewet my humidifiers much more often.

Epispde 055: Engage!

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:02:56 -0400

I was bummed to have missed Sharon Isbin as a special guest of Stanley Jordan at the Iridium last Monday. When I found out about it, it was too late to go. I know it had to have been amazing. Stanley Jordan is in a class by himself, as a guitarist and Sharon… well if you have listened to this podcast from the beginning, you know I think she is probably the most skilled and artistic guitarist across every genre, alive today. If not, surely in the top 3. So, had I known sooner, I’d have moved all kinds of things around in order to hear that collaboration. If you were there, email me and tell me how the show was.

I had the pleasure of seeing a former student, Tommy, yesterday. He looked good and reported that he just changed his strings. That means one broke or he’s playing a lot at college. I’d like to think the latter.

I’m happy to be welcoming Talia back in to my schedule. She went away over the summer, which is her custom, but then, her home was flooded in the hurricane and there have been some other personal family issues going on, so Talia, I am looking forward to seeing you Thursday. I missed you!!!

Andy, it was great to speak with you over the weekend. I’m sorry we can’t work together at this time, but feel free to contact me if things change.

I am loving the DRs on all my guitars. I’ve played a lot of strings for a lot of years. For me, there is no better string on the market.

I have a rather big social event this coming weekend. There’s a possibility that I will skip this show next week. It’s probably more likely that I will pass for a week than not. If I do, I’ll be back in 2 weeks without fail.

This week there is a lone student in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week was actually some lazy student statements and questions that I need to address.
News is about taking a tour at your local guitar builder.
and my Take Note topic engage your brain, not just ears or just eyes or just muscle memory.

Episode 054: The French Connection

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:25:46 -0400

Les Paul in Mahwah Museum Talks should be excellent if they fit into your schedule. Check in December for additional times to book your private session to play one of his guitar on the Museum stage. Congratulations Olivia. You’re Superchick. Julia, a little less rebellion and you’d be Superchick too. French Polish finish isn’t about where the polish is from, it’s a finishing method. There are pros and cons to this finish. It’s fragile and must be handled with thought. But it can be re applied and it’s peerless for sound quality. Be informed before you jump in. Check out the Epiphone Phant-o-Matic if it’s specs are what you’re looking for in your next electric. Protect your French Polish or traditionally finished guitar from the cosmetically deleterious effects of your skin, lotions, perfumes etc. with one of various barriers available for just such a task.

Episode 053: Opportunity Knocks

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:59:27 -0400

Had some bad news last week about a friend and didn't get my strings changed. Didn't get a lot of things done. I hope to succeed at getting fresh DRs on my guitar this week. I’m salivating just thinking about them.
Love you, Gibson. I hope you’re able to create beautiful instruments, unfettered. There was a rally and concert which were organized online by a coalition of several dozen groups last weekend — in response to a federal raid on the company’s Nashville and Memphis offices in August. Federal law enforcement officials confiscated pallets of wood, guitars and computer hard drives from the company on suspicion it violated U.S. environmental laws. It was the second raid in two years on the 117-year-old guitar company. No charges have been filed, and Gibson denies any wrongdoing.
Congrats Arno and Danielle. You're in the Spotlight this week. Maintain your self-discipline and guard your practice time well.
If you’re a whining guitarist because you don’t what to continue practicing something you’re recently learned, you better reassess your point of view. It’s a good thing to be working on long and short term musical goals. Mastering the smaller things boost your ego while still cultivating your skills and they are great for understanding what degree of effort is necessary to maintain a “learned” piece of music. Stop whining about everything being boring and begin THINKING. You’ve got a brain that could endlessly ponder anything you choose. Think about the timbre or sound of your guitar. Are you playing it how and where you think it sounds the best? Think about your phrasing. Is there any? If there isn’t, where are the implied emphases? Where should you and your guitar “breath?” Is the tempo right? Do you have precise rhythm? I could go on and on. But it would be better if you do.
Bob Taylor’s gang has beautiful fall limited editions this year. Get them while you can. They’re now in stores. If you are looking for a delicious new Taylor, this year's collection boasts four distinctive offerings. A quartet of all-koa models and a pair of cocobolo/spruce beauties are linked by a wood-rich appointment scheme that includes a shared rosette design motif. They also brought Indian rosewood to the 400 Series and added a cedar top to the rosewood laminate nylon-string NS24. For full details, including photos, specs and dealer availability, visit the limiteds link in the Show Notes.
Calling all singer songwriters! You have until November 30th to be discovered, produced and promoted by winning the Guitar Center Singer Songwriter Competition. Taylor Guitars and Guitar Center, the world's largest retailer of musical instruments and equipment, has announced "Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter," an artist discovery program which aims to find the nation’s best unsigned singer-songwriter. Along with other top musical instrument and accessory manufacturers, Taylor Guitars will join Guitar Center to award one career-altering prize package to the top singer-songwriter, which includes a three-song EP with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks, worldwide distribution through TuneCore, $10,000 cash, and gear from participating companies, including a Taylor 814ce for the grand prize winner and GS Minis for the semi-finalists. The contest, which is part of the companies' shared mission to support emerging artists, kicks off on October 3 and runs through November 30. Artists can sign up today

Episode 052: What's the Opposite of Acme?

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:35:20 -0400

Thanks for joining me!
If you've been listening for a while you may recall me mentioning that I had a student consultation coming up with a man I thought I had had a consultation with before. As it turned out, yes, Jules was someone I had met with and spoken to in the past. His address sounded familiar and as soon as I saw the house, I remembered. I didn't know if he would recall or not. I don't look the same as the last time we met. I have lost over 60 pounds since then and it has been about 5 or 6 years. He didn't remember. We had a very good consultation. He has a lot of physical challenges and one that he's getting his physician's input about is carpal tunnel syndrome.
I met a producer named Chris last week. We had an interesting conversation. He helps out at his father's restaurant by day and produces a hip hop artist in all his free time. He aspires to score movies. His background and experience are not so well rounded yet. I talked to him about broadening his knowledge.
I'm going to put DRs on my other nylon string guitar this week. I love love love those strings. I never thought I'd abandon my former combination of strings for a single set, but in DRs I have found that illusive sound I love.
This week, there are 3 students in the Student Spotlight, The Question of the Week came in by email, from Shaya, about bends and slurs, News is about the PRS SE Acoustic Angelus guitar, and Take Note is being replaced, just this week, with the terrible Nadir Nomination
Congrats to Arno, Danielle and Olivia for their excellent work this week. Keep up the good work.
The Question of hte Week "What's the difference between a bend and a slur? I know one looks like an upside down or right side up V and the other looks like a curve. What's the difference in how you play them?”
OK. First of all, a bend IS a kind of slur. Technically, a slur on the guitar is any series of tones produced by picking only once. You can bend extra tones, tap, hammer, pull them off or slide to them. the upside down and right side up Vs are not interchangeable and do not both signify the same kind of bend. The usually seen upside down V from a teeny note (if you're looking at notation) to a standard size higher note indicates that you fret the teeny note and by pulling the string out of place either with moderate tension or hard tension, cause pitch to rise to the large note. Usually the bend is a half or whole step, but can be a step and a half change. But, and it's an important point… you'll notice that the right side up V begins with a standard size note and the 2nd note is the teeny one AND the teeny one is lower in pitch. The right side up V is a PREbend. That means you bend the string without picking it, to what you know or at least presume, is high enough, THEN pick it and while it is sounding, move the string into its correct position, thereby lowering the pitch. This technique takes some experience to bend the correct amount before hearing the tone.
As for the curved line you mentioned in your question, that's either tapping, hammering or pulling off. The difference between a hammer and tapping is which hand you use. Hammering is done with your left hand, assuming you're playing righty, and tapping is done with your right hand, usually in conjunction with left hand fretting. A pull off can be accomplished with fingers on either hand. Often in a tapping phrase, there are hammered and pulled off notes. Sometimes left hand hammers and pull offs create small melodic figures, too.
News: The Paul Reed Smith SE Angelus Acoustic Guitar. The initial model for this new line will be the PRS SE Angelus, named after one of PRS’s most popular Maryland-made acoustic models. The SE Angelus will be offered in both a “Standard” and “Custom” package. The Angelus Standard model will include mahogany sides, a solid mahogany back, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge. The Angelus Custom model will include rosewood sides, a solid rosewood back, and an ebony fretboard and bridge. The first PRS SE Acoustics will be pure acoustic instruments and will be available in very limited quantities in late 2011. The product line will expand to include models with built-in pickup systems early in 2012.
My take note topic this week is being replaced by the Nadir Nomination, a new anti-award, meant to embody the opposite of the Acme Award of excellence.
Anya is a very creative student with eclectic taste in music and everything else. She's quite musical and when she is able to practice enough, she does extremely well. It's been a few weeks since her Nadir earning comment, so I don't recall the precise scenario, but it went something like this: We were speaking about some music she was interested in playing, and I guess venues or concerts came up, and some comment of mine was, "like Coachella?" And here's the Nadir-worthy reply: "You know about Coachella?" (And there was a hard stress on the You.)
I asked her why she thought I didn't know what Coachella was. She said it was because she didn't know about it until recently. I don't know why her not having known about it would carry over and make me chopped liver, but in her mind it did. I am still amazed that she was so shocked. So, Anya, this is for you: It's with my most sincere condolences I offer you the Nadir Nomination. (the polar opposite of the Acme Award) Ah, I feel so much better now.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella or Coachella Festival) is a three-day (formerly a one or two-day) annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice (a subsidiary of AEG Live) and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley. The event features many genres of music including rock, indie, Hip Hop and electronic music as well as large sculptural art. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously. The main stages are: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi Tent, Mojave Tent, and the Sahara Tent (2006 also saw the addition of a smaller Oasis Dome).
Don't neglect humidifying your guitars if your indoor environment is less than 40% humidity.
I'll be changing another nylon string guitar's strings to DRs. Can't wait.
Nice going, Mike and congratulations to Arno, Danielle and Olivia for being in the Spotlight this week.
Be sure to articulate the various slurs you run into in your music, correctly.
I don't know the price point, but if you're in the market for a fine acoustic guitar, you may want to check out the new SE Angelus model from Paul Reid Smith.
Anya, I can't believe you! Unfortunately, you are the charter Nadir Nominee. I hope you get to attend the next Coachella. Maybe you'll see my niece there.
Don't forget that the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum is worth your time and travel. It's open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Check the Museum's web site for the dates you can reserve time to play Les Paul's guitar through his amp, on stage.

Episode 051: Les is More

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:08:07 -0400

I'm going to ask you to indulge me 1 more week of departing from my usual, structured: intro, student spotlight, question of the week, news, take note and outro segments. There was just too much Les Paul in Mahwah going on to not talk about it today.
Monday, the 19th, was Media Day at the Museum. Naturally, I attended. One of the perks of Media Day, besides the coffee and bagels was receiving The Les Paul in Mahwah, A Tribute journal written by Dr. Carreras and a pick Les Paul made in his workshop. Both are treasures. The journal will be available for purchase at the Museum, along with Chasing Sound and some other great products.
On Thursday evening, when I was finished teaching, I buzzed over to a lecture being given by Michael Cochran, the author of Les Paul in His Own Words. Michael gained access to Les Paul through Chet Atkins, a musical idol of Cochran when young and someone Cochran later became acquainted with and about whom Cochran eventually wrote the biography, Me and My Guitar.
He didn't focus solely on LP's extraordinary guitar playing but did state that in 1952, 7 of the top 10 selling recordings were Les Paul's. I don't think any other artist or band has paralleled that accomplishment.
Les Paul was a relentless innovator but was also relentless in reaching his personal goals. Following a devastating car accident, he overcame a pulverized elbow. Doctors in Oklahoma wanted to amputate his right arm but he wouldn't let them. He found a physician, Dr Knight, in California, who happened to be a fan of his music. Les persuaded Knight to set his elbow so his finger could touch his belly button. The doctor did so and although the recovery was tough, and although he had to switch from playing rhythm to melody,
During the question and answer period someone asked what guitarists Less Paul admired. 3 names came up: Django Rheinhart, Eddie Lang and Chet Atkins. About Chet Atkins, Les Paul is quoted as saying, "Chet could do everything I could do, but I couldn't do everything Chet could do." High praise from a guitarist, in whose heyday, was in a class of his own.
Then, there was the Tribute concert on Saturday night at Ramapo College.
When I arrived, the Gibson Guitar bus was parked and open for visitors. It was cool cool cool.
Upon going into the Sharp Theater lobby, there was a lot of anticipatory excitement. The concert was a sell-out. As I mentioned in Episode 050, I purchased the last orchestra seat in the theater - and it was a good seat. Row J 103.
The 1st set was played by Bucky Pizzarelli, the vocalist and guitarist, John Pizzarelli's father. I've been listening to Bucky since I was a teenager. I'm astounded that he still has his chops. He may not still have the endurance of a young player, but he's still fast, clean and tasteful. You jazz cats and jazz kittens would have been impressed to listen to anything he played. I regret to admit that there was a guitarist playing with him, who I have seen and heard with him before. I can't recall his name. He did some vocals that were super.
There was a break and then Lou Pallo played his set. He as accompanied by John Colianni on piano (who was smoking' hot and amazing) an acoustic bassists who I have seen and heard play before and a Ramapo College instructor on Drums. I think he was called Bobby Daish but I may not have heard it correctly.
The set lists were jazz standards, played not-so-standardly. The last song was a duet Lou Pallo with Les on a video screen Bill Bailley Won't You Please Come Home
The artists received a standing O and played one more song.
It was a terrific night.
Everyone was grateful that the rain forecast for the early afternoon held off for the grand opening ribbon cutting at the museum. Notable guests were Rusty Paul, Les Paul's son, Lou Pallo, Gibson Guitar and others.
In conclusion, if you find yourself in any kind of traveling distance from Mahwah NJ on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday (I would guess not Christmas or New Years Eve or Day), you MUST visit the Mahwah Museum to experience and learn about Les Paul in Mahwah. Don't forget that for a $25 donation to the Museum, you can play one of Les Paul's guitars through his amp, on a stage. The museum will be open for just you and your guests (small number) and you will be free to have pictures taken on that stage.
Support the great work the Museum has done. I'm looking forward to next year's Tribute Concert, which the Museum board is hoping will be an annual event, attracting a wide array of guitarists and other musicians.

Episode 050: Genius

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:27:34 -0400

I had a great experience last Thursday.
I met Charles Carerra, at the Mahwah Museum.
He gave me a "pre" preview of the fabulous Les Paul exhibit that will open on Sunday.
When I say pre preview, I mean no velvet ropes, no barriers,
some displays were exposed and not enclosed
and the staging of the exhibit was still under construction.

I made the appointment to interview Mr. Carerra,
not even allowing myself to think about sneaking a peek
before the media, donors or the public.
When he graciously offered, I was exceedingly appreciative.
He spent quite a while with me,
On today's show, I will play the interview with Charles Carrera
that was recorded on Thursday, September 15th.

Episode 049: Remarkable Guitar Playing

guitartechnique@gmail.com (D A Arlaus) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:17:20 -0400

I got through the 10th anniversary of the worst day I have ever lived through.
Each anniversary is harder, not easier for me.
There's still no EL-00 for me to review for you.
I'll try to play one for a review.

Check out the Siquiera Lima duo playing Tico Tico
if you want a simply sublime experience.

Congratulations Arno and Julia for playing excellently this past week.
I hope you'll have more company in the glow of the student spotlight next week.
Neither you nor Hugo should not put nylon strings
on your steel string guitar and vice versa.

Guitarists and Les Paul admirers in the Northern NJ area,
get your tickets for the Les Paul tribute concert
at Ramapo College on September 24
and enter to win a Les Paul signed by each member of the trio.
Proceeds will go to the Mahwah Museum
which will open its Les Paul Exhibit the following day.

If you think your progress is at a stand still or hampered,
maybe it's an issue of form, technique or time.

Don't forget to keep humidifying unless your environment is continuously over 50% humidity.

Episode 048: Getting Back

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:00:16 -0400

A couple weeks ago, I put new strings on my student Julia's guitar.
DR's of course. In my opinion, the best guitar strings money can buy.
Check them out on your next string change.

They are hand made right here in NJ.

My week was productive - finally!

If you haven't visited the GuitarTechniqueTutor.Com web site for a while,
check out its new look.
I will be doing some more work on it, but it's fully viewable.
The text is displayed in very short lines so those viewing from a tablet
or a netback will not see copy running into the left side navigation menu.
I'll see if I can create a container element that floats in the center,
into which I can put justified copy.
If I can do it successfully on a test page, I will modify all the site pages.
Don't look for that improvement until October or later.

All the podcasts are being picked up by FeedBurner and iTunes.
The show notes are being picked up by FeedBurner.
Because I moved my feed,
iTunes is only listing episodes 046 through this current one.
I doubt that I will recreate all the other 45 enclosures
for them to go up on iTunes, but if you're interested in earlier shows,
they are all available here on the podcast page.

My schedule is taking shape and in another week.
I will probably have a few openings, so if you are interested,
please contact me ASAP.
Calling is always best and my phone number is on the web site.

For the past couple weeks I had just a handful of students, so no Student Spotlight this week.
The Question of the Week involves an naughty pinky.
News is about the Epiphone EL-00 and the amazing DR DDTs.
Take Note is about what you need to think about if you
or a student in your household are thinking about beginning guitar lessons.
Complete podcast and show notes archives are always available at http://www.guitartechniquetutor.com/podcastnotes.php

Episode 048 beta: Testing, Testing POSSIBLE DUPLICATE

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:17:21 -0400

Thank you for still listening or downloading show notes! It's been a long time, but with adequate excuse. Well, if you've been around a while, I need to say that rumors of my departure from the podcastesphere were baseless. First timers, please bear with me. I was doing a fairly weekly podcast since July of 2010 until my last broadcast, on July 18th of 2011.Since then, I have been on a mandatory hiatus dealing with web site and software changes that prevented me fro podcasting and from even doing my usual summer web site update. Ordinarily, in this podcast I mention the guitar-y happenings of my previous week, spotlight the students who have excelled, answer a student's or emailed inquiry, discuss some guitar news, and choose a related or unrelated take note segment in which I discuss some aspect of guitars or technique etc.