Native Guitar - Joe

Check out my latest song!

2016-12-28T12:58:00.002-05:00

You can check out my latest song Enchanted Sapphire on iTunes, Apple Music or Spotify!

I will be posting more Native American Flute pieces on Youtube soon!

2016-09-25T02:24:00.001-04:00

I am incredibly blessed to live in the great state of Montana. I find so much inspiration and beauty on a daily basis.

I am in the middle of several music projects. One of them is an album of hymns for instrumental guitar. The other project is several more songs for Native American flute and guitar. I am also going to start recording more solo flute and posting it on my Youtube account. Here is a short piece that played recently. I hope you enjoy this and thanks for reading, listening, and watching!

https://youtu.be/1Y3arYhl7u0

An arrival to a beginning!

2015-11-16T12:39:00.000-05:00

I just finished my degree at Gonzaga University. It was quite the trip and I definitely learned a lot along the way. My final requirement was an hour long recital of classical music from several different time periods. I will be uploaded descriptions of some of the pieces that I played for that recital and some of my thoughts about the different pieces. Special thanks to my guitar teacher Dr. Paul Grove for guiding me through the process and helping me improve in so many ways!

This photo is from my Junior Recital from October 2014
Photo credit by Danny Chastain

Here is a link to the videos that I have posted from my senior recital. Thanks for reading and watching!

Joe Hooper's Senior Recital at Gonzaga University

What's up readers? I'm still here.

2014-07-16T19:58:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted for awhile and figured that it is about time that I do. I have been working hard on material for guitar recital that I have coming up. I am working on finishing up a degree in music and am required to do two recitals. The first one is half of an hour's worth of music and the other is a full hour. It takes a lot of work, but I've been learning a lot too.

Here are a few of the things that I've been up to:

I played guitar for a university choir in this huge church setting. The piece was simple but had an interesting rhythm that required some thought on my part. It was fun overall.

I've tried a number of different strings. After a few tries including these Sevillas, I came back to some Augustine Imperial Blue (hard tension). They work fairly well for my style of playing and they are relatively cheap compared to other strings. I have thought that I might try a medium tension again, but we'll see.

Well, gotta go for now. I plan on posting in the near future, so keep an eye out for more.

School + Coffee = Less Time + Less Sleep

2013-09-13T16:38:00.002-04:00

My "serious" studying face

I have been very busy getting back into the fall semester of school. Needless to say, a lot of coffee has been consumed and sleep is getting rarer during the week. Still, I hope to have a one take video of a guitar arrangement up on Youtube soon. The hymn recording of Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus is a multiple take with the best sound taken from one of the video recordings. So it is still a "live" video, but the best scene and best sound were edited together, therefore making it a "not truly live" video (in essence, a one take soundtrack and one take video track were put together from the same video shoot). The next hymn that I have been working on arranging will hopefully be shot in one take and the sound from the video will be optimized from that same video shot or recorded on a separate recording device at the same time as the video. Hope to get it out there soon!

Click my name below to go to my Facebook page!

~Native Guitar Joe~

A Few Things I Hope to Accomplish Soon!

2013-08-22T17:12:00.001-04:00

I find that views like this one in this picture of a nearby lake help my frame of mind when it comes to thinking of ideas for new songs. I have been using a small idea (i.e. a short melodic line) and building on it. The end result has come through a process of recording each instrument myself on a separate track and then rearranging parts of it. I plan to solidify some of the tunes that I have put out on NativeGuitarJoe-Youtube and sell them on iTunes when I can. I hope to create an actual physical CD to give out and sell too. Currently, I have one album available on iTunes called A Lonely Road Together.

Other ideas I am working on are related but not on the same line as my flute/guitar music. I am slowly but surely putting together guitar arrangements of hymns that I hope to compile into an album. These are simple arrangements that should be fairly easy to play and learn for those interested. You can view an example of my work on Youtube here: Tis' So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

The other project is song work with my bro. Josh. He and I have put together several recordings and released them on Youtube. The pain of licensing and copyright has caused us to take most of them down. (It can cost a lot to have them licensed properly) The one left up (Revelation Song-Youtube) is still covered by our license, but it too will expire and then we'd have to pay to have it up longer. The best and easiest solution is to write songs and put them up, thereby skipping any copyright issues and fees. We'll see where all of that ends up!

Well, just an update to my musical musings and direction.

Native Guitar Joe

I just released a new guitar/flute song on Youtube!

2013-05-28T14:16:00.003-04:00

Here is my latest song! Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day here in the US. Enjoy!

-Joe Hooper

Dread scales? So did I... For guitar that is.

2013-01-30T02:12:00.001-05:00

Guitar scales have been tough for me to learn. Even though I have an understanding of how they work, that doesn't always translate into practical fretboard knowledge. So if you are like I am and scales seem impossible to memorize, here is a glimmer of hope.

Think of your understanding as a puzzle. You've got most of the pieces, but the picture just doesn't make sense. Those missing pieces are out there! And if you can find them, they might save you years of frustration. These pieces might be in a instruction book, a YouTube video, or as in my case, a professional guitar instructor. I had a breakthrough in my own learning process in regard to scales that I hadn't been able to understand on my own. It was my guitar instructor who supplied the missing piece. (In short, that there is a "rhyme and reason" to the patterns of scales in relation to chords;)

The bottom line? You might be on the threshold of breaking through to a more satisfying experience as a guitarist, but it might take a bold step on your part. Maybe you should take those guitar lessons that you've been talking about for years! Go ahead and explore instructional videos on that one skill or technique that eludes you.

Hope you feel inspired! Now go get your guitar! Lol

Native Guitar Joe

Coffee and music!

2012-12-12T02:13:00.002-05:00

So, there is this cool little coffee shop in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, that has an open mic on Monday evenings. The shop is called Calypsos Coffee & Creamery. I had the opportunity to play a few flute songs for them last monday, and had a great time doing it. If you want experience playing in front of people, open mic nights are one way to get that. Plus, you can get a great cup of coffee and listen to the other musicians, poets, etc.

This is the latte that I had on monday eve. They make some pretty cool designs! Calypsos roasts their own coffee, and what I've had has always been pretty smooth and flavorful. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

-Native Guitar Joe-

Workin' On a Christmas Song!

2012-11-28T18:30:00.002-05:00

I hope to be able to put a song together for the holidays, and make it available soon. It is mainly guitar and definitely has an interesting feel to it. Hopefully, a good background track for those nice holiday moments!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2012-11-21T18:49:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone gets to spend some time with family and friends. This year, I am especially thankful for family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Update on Tuners

2012-11-01T02:00:00.000-04:00

So I finally settled on a new tuner. I've been pretty happy with the previous version of this tuner. These are based on vibration rather than sound. It makes them better for noisy situations. The one I have seems to tune a little tighter than the other brand I tried.

Clip-on Snark Guitar Tuners

My album is available on iTunes!

2012-10-17T04:46:00.000-04:00

After 10 months of intermittent hard work, my debut album is available on iTunes. The name of the album is "A Lonely Road Together". It is a glimpse into some of my travels along with the important things that I have carried with me everywhere. Important things like faith, family, and love. I have had a blast recording and producing this little project and look forward to more in the future! Here is the link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-lonely-road...-together/id571066574

Guitar Tuners

2012-10-09T16:00:00.002-04:00

Tuning a guitar in front of an audience can be nerve racking, especially when it is extremely quiet! My guitar teacher suggested buying one of the clip on, vibration based tuners. I actually had the privilege of watching him perform. Throughout the performance, he seemed to have an effortless time tuning. He did an excellent job playing as always, and I left the auditorium determined to get a clip on tuner. I may post a description and evaluation of the one that I get. The Fat Boy clip on listed here may be the one that I pick up. I at least would like to try one out. There are other brands out there with good options, one of which is Korg. We will see!

Fat Boy Accessories FBET3000 Clip-On Electric Guitar Tuner (Google Affiliate Ad)

Guitar/Flute Album Update

2012-10-08T03:12:00.003-04:00

Editing several of the songs on this album.

6 songs recorded and I am working on another one to bring the total to 7 songs.

I hope to make some good progress this week and maybe have a 'ballpark' release date!

I've learned a lot through this process and hope to be able to do a lot more recording. It does take a lot of work and I have a new appreciation for the whole process.

NativeGuitarJoe

2012-09-17T22:52:00.003-04:00

I just had this guitar fixed up at a local shop and am remembering why I liked it in the first place. I bought it used in '96 and am quite pleased to have it back in working order again.

The neck had a slight curve to it and the tuning pegs needed adjustment. Also, the wires in the 1/4" jack had come loose, so I had the shop put on a better connector. The last thing was adjusting the "fine tuners" on the bridge.

Great guitar back up and running!

NativeGuitarJoe

Nail Care? Sandpaper?

2012-05-24T02:11:00.001-04:00

Classical guitar requires fingernail care… (tough to get used to for some of us) One of the tools that can be used for this is sandpaper. I use 500 grit. You can order it in sheets from some guitar string suppliers. I ordered from Strings by Mail (http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/accessories-2/nail-care-408/micro-mesh-paper-1201/). There are other types of sandpaper and all, just stay away from the kind that says Wet/Dry. It makes squeaky noises on fingernails! The idea of this fine sandpaper is to get your nails as smooth as possible which enables you to get a good sound on a classical guitar.

Nativeguitarjoe@gmail.com

Two songs available on iTunes!

2012-05-16T15:38:00.000-04:00

My brother and I recorded a cover of Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. Also, I have recorded several flute songs. I was able to make Revelation Song and a flute song that I call The End of The Road available on iTunes! I hope to be able to put up more if there are enough sales to cover costs. Thanks for the support!

Here is a link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/revelation-song-feat.-josh/id516087339

Flute & Guitar Album in the works!

2012-04-03T23:18:00.000-04:00

I was finally able to make one of my recordings available on Amazon. I've had a great time creating this music and hope to be able to do more. I recorded this song using a small USB interface that enables me to use a microphone with my laptop. I cut down on the background noise that can usually be heard when recording without a soundproof room by working with the recording levels and other technical stuff. I had a good learning experience through the recording process. I hope to make an entire album of flute and guitar music, and this is the second of those songs so far. I am Shoshoni/Paiute/Pottawatomi and am enrolled with the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi (Match-e-be-nash-she-wish). http://amzn.com/B007R098VI

Counting Time- such a painful necessity!

2012-02-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, etc. Counting the beats in music is crucial for learning to read music. I am learning the value of counting out loud when learning a new song.

The Time Signature of a song/score in guitar music is included in the beginning of the piece and anytime there is a change throughout the song. These numbers are key to understanding what the song is supposed to sound like, especially if you have never heard it before.

Some Youtube videos to check out

2012-01-04T15:06:00.004-05:00

I received a Native American style flute for Christmas and have been using it for a few recordings on Youtube. Here is the link to my Youtube channel:

NativeGuitarJoe-Youtube

Hope you all had wonderful holidays!

Warm Ups!

2011-12-15T14:02:00.000-05:00

Doing some kind of warm up before playing is essential before playing guitar. I really notice the difference when I don't warm up before playing.

If you play finger-style guitar, then you will need to work out some kind of strum pattern that helps loosen your fingers up on your strumming hand (i.e. right hand if you play right handed). Maybe in the future I can post some suggestions for that.

Your fretting hand (left) will need to be loosened up as well. I find that my ring finger and pinkie finger are usually the stiffest. Exercises on the fretboard that involve all of your fingers, especially the ring and pinkie fingers, will be beneficial. Even switching back and forth between several chords that you know for a few minutes will probably help as well.

Stay tuned for more specific suggestions.

Feel free to leave a comment or email me at nativeguitarjoe@gmail.com

Guitar Basics 2 - The Left Hand

2011-11-21T16:47:00.001-05:00

The left hand fingering in most books is marked as follows.

These numbers usually appear next to the note to help with difficult pieces of music. In learning books, there are usually a lot of fingering marks to help a guitarist learn a particular piece or to get used to common fingering.

The thumb of course doesn't get a number because it anchors on the back of the neck. There are times when your thumb can hook over the neck and press the 6th (E) string*, but the marking wouldn't be 1-4, so it isn't something to worry about.

*Note: I use my thumb for certain chords (i.e. F) so I can use some open strings and yet still play the

(i.e. F) bass note of the chord.

Feel free to leave a comment or email me at nativeguitarjoe@gmail.com

Guitar Basics 1 - What are Frets?

2011-11-15T21:23:00.001-05:00

This is some basic information that most people know, but I include it here just in case someone is wondering. The picture below has boxes with names to the left side. These are the nut, 1st fret, 2nd fret, 3rd fret, Etc.

When someone refers to the 1st fret, they are either referring to the metal piece that can be seen inside the box labeled "1st Fret", or the area right above it where one's finger would press down on the string as shown in the picture below.

In this picture, my index finger could actually be a little farther above the metal fret. This area is also referred to as the 1st fret. (See Hand Placement for more on 1st position hand placement)

Each fret is numbered 1 thru (however many frets the guitar has). My guitar has 19 (the 19th fret on mine is only a partial fret).

Some guitars have dots marking different frets. These are commonly 3, 5, 7, & 12. There are other combinations and some have double dots on certain ones for easier reference.

Hope this helps someone out there!

Feel free to leave a comment or email me at nativeguitarjoe@gmail.com

Ukulele = Miniature Fretboard on the Go

2011-11-10T21:08:00.001-05:00

My brother gave me this small ukulele for Christmas last year. It has been a lot of fun, especially when I can't lug my guitar with me and I just want to strum or play some simple melodies. I wouldn't use it to replace any actual guitar practice though*.

There are varied tunings for the ukulele, but for practicing purposes, the tuning D-G-B-E works well as it corresponds to the strings 4-3-2-1 (D-G-B-E) on a guitar in standard tuning. I am not an expert on ukuleles, but I enjoy "plunking" out tunes on mine.

*No offense to ukulele players! http://youtu.be/puSkP3uym5k ;-)

Feel free to leave a comment or email me at nativeguitarjoe@gmail.com