The DEC Guitar Newsletter: September 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Youtube Guitar Instructional Videos

Friday, September 7, 2012

Performance Links

Youtube is an awesome place for those of us who enjoy watching great musicians play. Here are some of my favorites over the years.

BLUES
Joe Bonamossa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlO117rMKrE&NR=1
Freddie King - Have You Ever Loved A Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGLmZCZ1sXY

JAZZ
Stanley Jordan - 2 hand tapping jazz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3gHtPLXQOI
Jean Luc Ponty plays Mirage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKkMvBvyqvE&feature=related
Jaco and John Scofield: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhkPSEXs1Q&feature=related

TAPPING
Steve Lynch - 2 hands guitar solo, "Hammerhead" - ouch, that's awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OupkmS0k4CE
"Midnight", by Joe Satriani http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EsXxXY5lkE

CLASSICAL

Asturias, Leyenda - played by Ana Vidovic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx7vOb7GNBg
Moonlight sonata on classical guitar (email me for TAB or notation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS8eVFq1ZdU

EVERYBODY ELSE

Monte Montgomery - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ-pM78WBGc
Steve Lukather - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtVsJmCz3NU
Chicago - it better end soon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7DEwnN3FqM
Steve Howe plays solo section of I've Seen All Good People (all Steve Howe fans need to see this!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a1C3LWZkWIGreg Howe (amazing): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edVbz_uXJd0
Andy Timmons- Cry For you - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaVVZYOvMFY
Andy Timmons "Heading for the ditch"
Steve Morse, "Jammin"

Thursday, September 6, 2012

013 Links, Dave's Favorite Guitarists

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 13

Feb 25, 2012.
NEWS: My band Driven to Clarity made it into the second round of the Hard Rock Rising competition! We are competing March 15th at 6pm at the Baltimore HRC against 2 other bands. If we win that round, we move onto the final Baltimore round on March 29th. Let me know if you'd like tickets ($5 each). driventoclarity.com

PAPERS: I typed up a new paper on technique and have a revised list of songs that are good for learning guitar. Contact me for these. I have many other papers available too (entire books in PDF as well). So let me know what you need, I can send it to you.

I compiled some Backing Tracks from the 'net. They are 12 bar blues in 5 major and 5 minor keys: A Am C Cm D Dm E Em G Gm. They all have a different rhythmic feel. I recommend these highly for anyone who is working on their improvisation skills. Contact me for these.

LINKS:
INSTRUCTIONAL:
Pat Martino Interview #1of2 (Guitar Lesson MA-004) How to play I've always been a big fan of Pat Martino. His geometrical approach to looking at music theory is fascinating, and he is one of the rare few people that has a totally integrated look at music and spirituality. For more: Sacred Geometry: Simplifying The Fretboard With Pat Martino

YouTube - John Scofield -On Improvisation I. This is a long one, but it really opened up my eyes. He explains things briefly, but it's a comprehensive overview of scales, modes, and how to use them.

Hal Galper's Master Class - The Illusion of An Instrument - YouTube Fantastic advice: Your inner ear is the PRIMARY thing you should be developing. Your technique and vocabulary follow from this.

Guitar lesson - Speed Kills - Michael Angelo - YouTube This is not just a lesson in mindless shredding - great advice on picking fast and accurately. Hilarious too!

Born To Be Wild Steppenwolf - YouTube A classic worth learning.

GREAT PERFORMANCES:
Split Screen Bohemian Rhapsody - Richie Castellano

Joe Pass & Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - Oleo [1992] - YouTube

Pat Martino & John Scofield - "Sunny" - YouTube

MORE YOU SAY??? Dave's Favorite Guitar Players (the somewhat lesser heard of)
Rock: Steve Howe, Robert Fripp, Alex Lifeson, Eric Johnson, Michael Angelo Batio, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Mclaughlin,

Jazz: Carl Filipiak, Scott Henderson, John Scofield, Pat Martino, Joe Pass, George Benson, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny

Blues: Freddie King, Johnny Lang, Joe Bonamossa, Derek Trucks, T-Bone Walker, Albert King, Robert Johnson, Albert Collins, Mississippi John Hurt, Robben Ford

Etc: Leo Kottke, Tim Reynolds, Andy Mckee, Igor Presnyakov,
to be continued...

012 Kaleidoscope, Sliding Pentatonic, Links

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 12

Oct 12, 2011.
NEWS WITH ME:
My latest project is a duo called Driven to Clarity. Good things are beginning to happen. We just played a music festival called Hungerstock and we'll be playing the Hard Rock Cafe in December. We have some videos up and we'll have audio tracks and a website very soon. I would really appreciate it if you take a moment to go to our youtube and facebook pages. We're trying to get our numbers up for the WHOOZNXT competition. Thank you so much!

www.youtube.com/driventoclarity - give us your thumbs up if you like the videos! www.facebook.com/driventoclarity - click 'Like' if you like our page!

More News:
My very good friend Devin Arne has released an amazing record called Kaleidoscope. A description of the music is below:

Devin Arne's newest release represents diversity in sound - just as a Kaleidoscope creates a spectrum of colors. From the dark and cinematic, to the whimsical and minimalistic, the backing music not only showcases the talents of the collaborating rappers and singers, but also takes you on a sonic journey to far-reaching places. I found myself nodding my head to sounds of the east fused with infectious old-school hip-hop beats. Pushing it above and beyond were avant-garde and ultra-modern classical sprinklings throughout. You'll never be lost though - all of the grooves are funky and the melodies are catchy and uplifting. Definitely an album worth checking out.

You can find the album on iTunes if you are curious. For more about Devin, visit his website: http://www.devinarne.com/About.html

FINALLY - if you life in the area, you need to hear Carl Filipiak! He is one amazing guitar player with a band that has some unreal players in it.

http://www.myspace.com/carlfilipiak
http://www.carlfilipiak.com/schedule.html

also, type in "carl filipiak" (youtube, or grooveshark) and you'll get more great examples of his playing.

LESSON - The Sliding Pentatonic Scale

This one is one of my favorites. If you feel stuck in the box - this is a great way to get out.

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|-o-|-h-|-o-|/sl|-o-|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|-o-|-h-|-*-|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-o-|-h-|-o-|/sl|-o-|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-o-|-h-|-*-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|-o-|-h-|-o-|/sl|-o-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|-o-|-h-|-*-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|    h = hammer on

Whatever fret you choose, the * is your tonic (root note of the scale.)

For more info - email me back and I will send you a full paper on the subject.

LINKS - Technique
( ** = Dave really likes this link!)

YouTube - Tips On How To Play The Classical Guitar : Left Hand Techniques on Classical Guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x11_lsEF6-4

Guitar Technique: Relaxation & Stress Reduction |
http://relax-mind.com/guitar-technique-relaxation-stress-reduction/

**How to pick properly. This really works!!! - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_fqkNglmGA

How to Pick Properly Part 2 - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfiV5iTVDy8&feature=related

LINKS - Theory

**Creative Techniques | Sweeping 1: Suspended Arpeggios - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRPD7Le0nxI

**Sus2 (Add9) Sweeping Arpeggios - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoC_Y8Foivg

**stretch pentatonic - Stretch It ! by Eric Vandenberg
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/article/10

Variations on the Pentatonic Scale - Premier Guitar
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/May/Variations_on_the_Pentatonic_Scale.aspx

**Frank Gambale-Chop Builder Parte 1 - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTaUWbT8eAQ&feature=related

TOM LIPPINCOTT ARTICLES
http://tomlippincott.com/articles.htm

**Altered Pentatonic Scales
http://www.lucaspickford.com/alteredp.htm

Music Theory: Modes of the Major Scale
http://musictheoryblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/modes-of-major-scale.html

Pitch axis theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_Axis_Theory

LINKS - Jazz / Improvisation

YouTube - Jazz Funk Licks - Stephane Lucarelli - lesson at GMC -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJPApB_pxXA&feature=related

**YouTube - Jazz Fusion Guitar - Quartal harmony - ( John Scofield style)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK7gam0PW3s&feature=related

Al Di Melola Lesson - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ4FZ80Qdd8&feature=related

Frank Gambale / Acoustic improvisation /1 - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXbi3UM-PO8&feature=related

Rhythm Changes Lesson (Part 1) - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmgID8tIfQ4&feature=related

LINKS - Great performances

**Bob Brozman plays "Highway 49 Blues" - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuzfgagmrBk&feature=related

LINKS - Etc

Richie Kotzen - Guitar Lesson - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKyu0DXPGyc&feature=related

**Six String Experience | News, Tips, Tricks, Reviews and advice about all things guitar
http://sixstringexperience.com/blog2/

Beardyman Brings the Beat and a Case for Music Education - ThoseWhoDig.net.
http://thosewhodig.net/?Beardyman-Brings-the-Beat-and-a-Case-for-Music-Education&article=452

**Fun Music Squares
http://seawitchery.tumblr.com/post/4070384205/i-started-out-clicking-strategically-and-by-the

The Bulletproof Musician | Learn How to Overcome Stage Fright & Performance Anxiety
http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/

011 Practice Words, Links

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 11

Nov 3, 2010.
NEWS WITH ME: Hey everyone! It's been a while since the last newsletter in May! A lot has been going on...big life moves, a month long trip to Spain, getting a working home studio together, and the usual business. I have not kept up as much with this newsletter as I would've hoped to, but I am still making time here and there to bring awesome guitar info to you.

PRACTICE WORDS
This issue centers around words about practicing an instrument: philosophies, technique, methods, and general advice that I've come up with or encountered over the years.

Method For Smart Practicing

Dave's Practice Tips

The House of Knowledge

How to Teach Kids

Quotable Quotes - Motivation for Students of Music

Method For Smart Practicing

I often encounter students who are very talented, but simply don't know how to practice correctly. As with most things in life, there's a smart way to go about it. It's about focusing your practice session on what needs to be practiced! Many times, students just play what they're good at and hope that the spots that need work will get better on their own. That's the main difference between practicing and playing the guitar. Practicing promotes growth, playing is quite simply loving the experience of playing and living in the now. We need both and the recognition of the need for discipline comes from appreciating what good practicing can bring to your enjoyment of the guitar.

1. Identify the problem area(s) and/or phrases that are found in multiple places.
2. Circle notes, write in fingerings, picking, string numbers, note letter names, TAB, or anything else on the page that will assist with technique.
3. Repeat the passage 8 or more times. (4 or more times for beginners.)
Additionally, one may say fingerings, string numbers, note letter names, or TAB out loud. This can be done while playing the guitar with the left or right hand only. It can never hurt to sing a passage.

This third step is impossible without playing the passage slowly enough to begin to teach the muscles without accruing bad habits.

Dave's Practice Tips

1. When learning something new, play slowly at first. "You have to walk before you can run." It's close to impossible to play something at the proper speed without being able to play it much slower.

A. Learn a new piece first without time restraint. This is called "no-tempo practice" and it allows the performer to get to each note at his own pace. A metronome should not be used.
B. Isolate passages: one hand/finger/etc at a time
i. with metronome - with each click think and prepare a different element
ii. with metronome - in time

Record the name of the passage and your range of tempi from beginning to end of practice session.
Record the highest tempo which was mastered.

2. Transitions are difficult. Between two phrases or sections of music are often neglected because it doesn't make immediate musical sense to hear the end of one phrase and the beginning of another. Because they don't sound "right," many players gloss over transitions and they sound awkward or suffer in other ways because of this. Transitions are usually difficult because there can be completely different musical ideas between the two sections, and these will necessitate different techniques. Switching techniques can be difficult.

3. Play it perfectly 8 times in a row. Many times students are content with "making it through" a passage one time. A lot of times it can be attributed to luck and the student won't be able to do it again, especially in a more strenuous situation, like the guitar lesson or performance. Great players are absolutely sure they can play a passage and the only way to know is through repetition.

4. Economy - prepare other fingers before they're needed. Where's it coming from, where's it going?

5. Practice station - always set up. Music stand, metronome, computer (backing tracks)

6. Create technique exercises that apply to the challenging part at hand

7. Tension - when we use our bodies inefficiently, tightness and strain occurs. Efficiency is gained through a two-fold knowledge of precisely how the body moves (anatomical motion) and the instrument itself. Knowing how to detect and alleviate tension is crucial.
A. Breathe with the passage: once every 1/2, 1, 2, 3, or 4 measures
B. Hand exercises and proper warmups
C. Diet - enough sodium, carbs, protein, leafy greens

UPDATE: It's interesting how much what you eat can affect you. I have "gluten sensitivity" which has caused me countless playing problems: Tendonitis, joint pain, circulation issues, amongst other things. Read about Celiac Disease to learn more.

8. It takes time. I realized while on my month-long trip to Spain this summer, that my 5 years off-and-on of reading Spanish and hearing once in a while really wasn't enough to hold a more than kindergarten level conversation with someone who knew the language. I really felt empathetic with my students! I felt like I knew nothing, and there were so many words, contexts, and conjugations that it felt like it would take "forever" to learn to speak Spanish. This advice I give to eager guitar students: With absolutely proper instruction, someone with normal talent can strum through some songs, play some riffs, and read music in the first position in the first year of instruction. Maybe he could even go to a jam session. The problem is, to feel like a "native speaker" of guitar, you'll need at least 5 years of training to have performance-worthy technique. "Total immersion" is necessary throughout those 5 years in order to follow what you hear others play, or realize ideas that you hear in your head.

Another aspect of this is learning when to let something go. Music is cumulative - if you didn't get it perfect the first time around, you'll surely encounter it again if you keep playing.

9. Question and Re-evaluate: How do you feel about what you've played? What are you interested in learning at this point? How do you feel about learning a new style? Have you ever thought about composition, another instrument, another aspect of music, or a non-music topic?

How is your practice method working for you? Are you putting in enough practice time?

The House of Knowledge

There is much to know about the guitar, much less all of music. If the body of guitar knowledge can be equated with a house, then there are ways to get in and out of the house. Some will use the front door, which is open to the public, and anyone who has never encountered any aspect of music or the guitar will most likely enter here. The back door is always available, but it leads to other houses and pathways which relate less to the guitar, and more to other topics.

The front door: making something more accessible, simpler, more broken down, less technically difficult, plainer language, more diagrams/visualizations, metaphorical to the universal / well-beaten paths.
The back door: pushing to the edge of recent thought, adding complexity through combinations, more refined, more technically difficult, more specialized language, more diagrams/visualizations, relating disparate concepts.

If we take this analogy further, there are rooms in this guitar house, each with front and back doors. Now, any topic concerning guitar can be thought of in this way.

How to Teach Kids

I don't have enough experience teaching kids. Here's a short list of things that seem to work, any suggestions are welcome.

Children live in the moment. Give them goals that are attainable NOW.
Make learning materials more colorful, more engaging.
Always have a well-thought out curriculum.
Provide enough variety not to get bored, but also...
Give the children boundaries: clear-cut exercises which do not lead to confusion.

Quotable Quotes - Motivation for Students of Music

Anybody who tries to get better at their instrument is a student of music. A student is always trying to understand new ideas and approaches. A student studies their instrument from top to bottom. It's very easy to "plateau" and get stuck somewhere along the way. The theme of this issue is practice tips, and these brilliant quotes offer some great advice.

"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate."
-George Burns

This is the first thing to keep in mind - remember that you love music! When you're down and out about how much you suck, remember that you're doing something that you love and that it takes time, focus (and sometimes miracles) to get better.

"Sam always said that amateurs practice until they get it right, but that professionals practice until they can't get it wrong."
-Dr. Sam Hamilton, USMC excerpt from The Inner Art of Airmanship

As I discussed previously, this is the idea behind repeating what your practicing four to eight times. This adds even more emphasis to repetition. If you get it right once or twice, it could be complete luck. Play it eight times correctly, then revisit it later in the day. Then visit it tomorrow. Then the next day, and the next day...

'If you don't practice one day, you'll know it. If you don't practice for two days, your friends and fellow musicians will know it. If you don't practice for three days, everyone in your audience knows it!'"
- George Van Eps

Can you imagine a professional musician getting on stage and saying "I haven't touched this thing in a week...I just haven't had time." That would be ludicrous! Music is his job, and his life. Many musicians I know have "muse" (a voice in their heads) that guilts them if they don't practice enough. Ask yourself how much you need to practice. More, right? (Make the voices stop!)

"It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it."
- Arnold Toynbee

Practice until you get it right...and then some. Play the piece faster than you would need to. Figure out music that you want to play, but don't think you can. Always challenge yourself.

"These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood. Since you should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings, How much more so should you abandon bad states of mind! Conquer the angry man by love. Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with truth."
-The Dhammapada

Learning isn't just "learning the notes." Learning is accruing habits. The idea is to find bad habits and get rid of them fast by practicing good habits. Many times, these bad habits are psychological. Telling yourself that you can't do it, you don't have time, it's too difficult, I'm not good enough, it's not my thing, etc, won't get you very far. Turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts. You can't do it...yet. You will be able to in the near future! It's not your thing, but why not try it anyways? I don't have time now, but I'm working on cutting out the mindless entertainment and want to fit more music time in. Stay enthusiastic even if you're not good enough for your standards - which are probably too high.

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
- Buddha

Finally, as has been emphasized in the East for thousands of years, we must always question what is presented before us. Use your minds to really understand, and to make sure you see exactly why something is done a certain way. Ask probing questions. Ask why. Ask until you get to the bottom of the issue.

LINKS
Dave's Links - links to my youtube channel, myspaces, blogs, etc.
New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock
Dunlop Nylon Max Grip Jazz III Guitar Picks 6-Pack - I recommend this pick for fast-type playing.
Dunlop Nylon Max Grip Guitar Picks - 12-Pack - I recommend the .88 for general, all-purpose playing.
The Wizard of Shred's website. He has some great practice tips concerning keeping a practice log and making concrete goals.
The Wizard of Shred's channel.
Licks you won't wanna share with your friends! #1 Chris Brooks
Guitar Right-Hand Physics
"Josie" Lesson Demo
Right Hand Guitar Position
Guitar hand position
I Love Guitar.com: CAGED System for Guitar
Adjusting Your Guitars Pickups by Greg V

010 Steve Vai, Links Galore

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 10

May 2, 2010. Hey everyone, sorry it's been a while! I owe an explanation, so here's the news with me: The last newsletter was in october of 2009 - since then, I had some mild tendonitis and kind of gave up on typing so much which was really exacerbating it. Then we had some holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukah. Then, in January/February were spent obsessing over getting a new guitar and amp. (both links go to my blog: scraggo.blogspot.com) Then after that, I was wrote a piece for my girlfriend's recital, which I will post on myspace or youtube or both at some point. I've also been playing solo jazz guitar gigs, which have been very fun.

IN THIS ISSUE:

wisdom from Steve Vai!

links galore! including more crazy guitars, online lessons, great playing, and more!

Wisdom from Guitar Virtuoso Steve Vai
excerpt from the following Steve Vai masterclass:
Steve Vai Masterclass

"...and you can do the same thing with soloing. You take an idea [...] and just work on it and work on it and evolve it, until finally, I come up with something...weird. Then, that would become part of my musical vocabulary. For instance, take the idea of trills where you flutter the note (fast and repeated hammer-on pull-off combinations). If I just sit and do nothing but that for...an hour, I'm going to come up with something I haven't done before. You do this until you fascinate yourself with some of the weird things you're coming out with. It's like finding a thread and pulling it...or knitting a sweater. That will work its way into your playing."
So what is to be gained from Steve Vai's advice? He's talking about improvisation sessions, setting up a significant amount of time to mess with ONE idea. The stress is on ONE idea and to mess with it until something happens. What is that something? Vai says until he comes up with something "weird." I think he means "interesting" but for him, being weird is synonymous with being interesting! When he says "fascinate yourself," that's all tied together.
The next element in his advice is the ONE idea factor. If you try to cram a bunch of miscellaneous things in a practice session, then you only get a little better on a thing or two, while the rest is glossed over. Believe me, I've heard the advice to do this before, where you spend 15 minutes on scales, 10 minutes on legato, 20 minutes on chords, etc. I feel like there is a place for this - but it's not satisfying to only practice in this way.
I equate the concentrated-one hour-one-idea practice session with experimenting in a laboratory. You have your equipment: guitars, amps, computers, metronomes, recordings, drum beats, etc. You have the ingredients, which are musical ideas such as: tempo, melody, chords, techniques (such as trills, slides, bends, fingerings), etc. Many great players practice this way. I feel like it's not talked about a whole lot because it doesn't really feel like practice when you're doing it! You don't have to be amazing to do this though and it's crucial in developing your own sound and style.
The goal of practicing an instrument, for me, is to become "at one" or "connected" with the instrument. That way, you'll be able to achieve whatever musical goals you have by the sheer virtue of not having barriers between your mind and the instrument. This sort of practice leads to better improvisation ideas which may even become compositions! For the creative (and I believe EVERYONE should try their hands in musical creativity), I highly recommend these sorts of practice sessions.

LINKS

To begin our links, see this amazing improvisation by our wisdom giver extroardinaire:
Steve Vai Demonstration

More Great Guitar Playing

Van Halen Cathedral
Jody Fischer - excellent jazz player
Kenny Burrell rocks. Another jazz guy.

Online Guitar Lessons
These are free lesson guys who don't suck!
http://www.youtube.com/user/sheetsofsound
Soloing over difficult chord changes
Guthrie Govan - Pirate Modes
Guthrie Gowan imitates great players!!!
Bending Lesson
Master The Guitar Youtube Channel
Master The Guitar Website
Learn Music Theory blog
Jazz Guitar, minor 2 5 1
The Fraktured Zone
Combining Blues Scales lesson

More Cool Guitars
Guitarists like guitars, enough said. The following links are ergonomic (contoured to fit your body better.)
http://www.guitarjapan.com/talbo/talbo.html
http://www.edroman.com/guitars/lsr/bodies.htm
http://www.elutherie.org/
http://www.elutherie.org/2009/09/michael-spalt-hybrid-guitar.html
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1717
http://www.burrellguitars.com/JG023.html

The following links are CRAZY guitars.
MISA Digital Guitar
The MOOG Guitar - infinite sustain!
Giant Guitar from Portugal!
Fernandes Guitar Sustainer

Music and Geometry
For those who are not repulsed by math!
http://music.princeton.edu/~dmitri/
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/07/07/950.aspx
http://johnhawks.net/weblog/reviews/brain/language/music_mathematics_brain_tymoczko_2006.html?advance
http://www.uwec.edu/walkerjs/MBSGC/

Miscellaneous

Jud Jud - a hilarious group that imitates electric guitar with their voices
The History of the Amen Break - if you like electronic music at all, this is really interesting.

009 History of Guitars, Crazy Guitars

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 9

THE HISTORY OF GUITARS & CRAZY GUITARS

2009 Oct 26

News: All issues are currently available online! I'm still getting links activated, but now you can see all of my news, links, and wisdom on my website.

CRAZY GUITARS

This, I guarantee will blow your mind.
Wikipedia article: 10-String Guitar
Perfecto De Castro talks about his 10-string Guitar youtube
Eleven String Guitarist plays Desafinado
Janet Marlow plays a 10-string guitar
Wikipedia article: Harp Guitar
See Don Alder play a Harp Guitar on Youtube
Wikipedia article: Contrabass guitar
Peter Constant plays Bourées 1&2 from cello suite BWV 1010 on a 4-string classical (contra)bass guitar.
Wikipedia article: Tenor Guitars - 4 strings tuned in fifths, CGDA
A Tenor Guitar Sampler
Colbie Caillat's Realize on Tenor Guitar
Joe Engbino on Jazz Tenor Guitar

THE HISTORY OF THE GUITAR
This is a very special issue on the history of the guitar and crazy guitars that exist today. Originally, I believed that the guitar was invented in spain around 1800, and it was pretty close to the classical guitar we have today. There were ancestors like the lute and such, but none of them really rocked as hard as the guitar setup we have today. This was only a partial truth.

I've dived into the depths of research and have found that the guitar has been around since even before the ancient egyptians! Man has been grappling with the mysteries of the guitar for over 5,000 years!

Ancient Near East

It is believed that the history of the guitar began in the ancient Near East. There, the archeologists found instruments and representations of them that served as landmarks or guideposts in the relatively uncharted territory of the guitar's beginning.

Among the artifacts excavated from Babylonia, the most relevant were the clay plaques dated (1900-1800 B.C.). These showed nude figures playing musical instruments, some of which bear a general resemblance to the guitar. Close examination of the instrument on the plaque shows it to have a distinctly differentiated body and neck. Its back is undoubtedly flat; the manner in which it rests against the priest's chest precludes the possibility of its being bowl-shaped. It is clear that the right hand pluck the strings.

In 1400 B.C: The Hittites play a four-string, guitar-like instrument. This four string instrument had soft, curved sides, which were somewhat similar to the current guitar. Also around this time, the Greeks produced a similar instrument which was modified by the Romans and became known as the cithara.

Precursors of the guitar can be traced back as much as 4000 years to an Indo-European origin of stringed instruments once known in central Asia and India. For this reason guitars are distantly related to contemporary instruments from these regions, including the tanbur, setar and sitar, among others.

Egypt and Rome

In the earliest days, the only plucked string instrument in Egypt was the bow-shaped harp. Later, a necked instrument with carefully marked frets, probably made of gut, wound about the neck. Eventually, some of the features and characteristics would combine in a later instrument, one would be the predecessor not only of the guitar but of all necked string instruments, both plucked and bowed. Further developments made this instrument even more similar in form to the guitar.

The instrument from the Roman period (30 B.C. - 400 A.D.) is made entirely of wood. The rawhide soundboard is replaced with wood on which five groups of small sound holes are visible. This arrangment persisted up to the 16th century. On an instrument found in Coptic tomb in Egypt, the curves along the sides are already quite deep and the basic guitar shape is apparent. The back has become completely flat instead of it curving upward to meet the soundboard, the two surfaces are now attached to each other by strips of wood that form the sides of the soundbox. These features remain to the present day.

This brings us to Medieval Europe. The Carolingian Dynasty, which encompassed both France and Germany, produced the Carolingian instrument; which is rectangular, approximatively equal in lenght to its neck, the upper end of which is a wider rounded area containing small pegs for the attachment of strings. Next, we'll see two main types of guitars found in this period, one of them will lay the groundwork for the modern guitar.

Guitarra Latina and Guitarra Morisca

The Guitarra Morisca was brought by the Moors, hence, its name. Its soundbox was oval and it had many sound holes on its soundboard. The Arabs, passing through Egypt on their way to complete the great Muslim conquest of North Africa and Spain, may well have transmitted the cardinal features of this design to the instrument makers of Western Europe. It is equally possible that the first Spanish guitars were a European development. Certain is only that the Arabic influence in Spain prepared the ground for the advent of the guitar.

The Guitarra Latina however, did have curved sides and was thought to have come to Spain from some other European country. It was this type that undoubtedly developped into the modern guitar.

The late 1400s: A new guitar, called the vihuela, evolved from the two types of guitar mentioned. The vihuela was a large instrument with double the strings of the Latin and Moorish guitars, a longer neck and ten or eleven frets. The Portuguese and Spanish courts preferred the vihuela over any other instrument for roughly 200 years.

Until the late 1600s: The vihuela, and another instrument called the lute, were more popular than the guitar. This changed when the popularity of the lute declined because it had too many strings and was too hard to play and tune. The vihuela was replaced by four and five course guitars of that time. Four course guitars had seven strings—a single high string and three pairs of other strings—while five course guitars had nine strings—a single high string and four pairs of other strings. Some feel that the addition of the fifth course during the 16th century, which gave the guitar greater flexibility, was the reason why the guitar became popular.

By the beginning of the 1800s: Some guitars used fan struts under the soundboard and featured six strings (like the modern guitar). Also changed during this time was the neck (which was raised), the fingerboard (which used ebony or rosewood), and the tuning pegs (which were replaced with machine tuners). Guitars like these are most similar to early classical guitars.

By the late 1800s: A man named Antonio Torres Jurado changed the guitar dramatically by refining the strutting of the guitar. This allowed for as many as seven struts to be spread out like a fan under the soundboard. Additionally, the size of the body and the width of the neck were greatly increased. As a result of Jurado’s improvements, the guitar had greater bass response and volume. Jurado’s work made it possible for the guitar to meet the demands of both the solo performer and the concert stage.

The Present: Our modern guitar is practically the same as the one made by Jurado.

For more info...LINKS
Illustrated History
Guitar: Wikipedia
Guitar History: Wikipedia
Guitar History Timeline
Guitar History
A Brief Guitar History
History of the Classical Guitar
Guitar History
Guitar History

008 Master Classes, 12 Keys, Wisdom

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 8

2009 Sep 28
Hey everyone, Dave C the guitar teacher here...I know, it's been a long time. I haven't forgotten about you, I just haven't had time for the newsletter! Summer was busy with vacation, recording, and the like. I also recently started taking lessons with DC Jazz Guitarist Steve Herberman and it's been amazing!

News: I now have 3 videos available for download at Mikes Master Classes!

There are youtube clips for all of them:
How To Harmonically Analyze a Tune
The Major Scale
The Harmonic and Melodic Minor scales

New Paper: All 12 keys in the first position - with tab! I'm not sure if any of you have every been asked to play music in another key, but I figure the best way to get started is to play all 12 keys in the open position. Another way to do this is to play the same scale shape in all of the frets, but this way will really get you to hear the difference between the scales.

Wisdom from fellow guitar colleagues: These are words of wisdom coming from students - we all have something to teach and share, so go ahead and let me know if you have any wisdom!

1. "The best way to learn guitar is to actually play with other people. Solo practice is important, of course, but since I've been playing with other folks, I've had the opportunity to apply what I learned in my lessons with you. Granted, I don't apply it all that well sometimes, but I get often learn from my mistakes and get a little better each time. Thus, I think the two--solo practice and jamming--are the yin and yang of guitar (to continue with the zen metaphor)."

If anyone's looking for people to jam with, let me know. There may be someone else close to where you live that also needs a jam buddy!

My last guitar teacher said that people don't play together anymore! They lock themselves away in practice rooms with their computers and don't figure stuff out by ear with friends. Back in the day, long ago, people used to get together, talk about music together, listen to music together, and play together, trading licks and ideas. This is the tried and true method of learning music - what Robert Conti calls "the mooch method." You figure out how other people play by ear OR you wait until your buddy figures it out, then get him to show you! We're all teachers and students at the same time. After this, start a band, join an ensemble. You'll learn music by playing music. What a concept!

2. "You have to think ahead when playing guitar, using strategy to get your hands to the right spot at the right time. It's about knowing what you want, then figuring out the smartest way to get it. We all need to develop our ability to visualize the guitar without having to look at the guitar neck. You can do this by blindfolding yourself or playing in the dark."

When you're ready for this step, to really start internalizing the guitar, you'll know. You have to balance this sort of playing with practicing "under the microscope" ie: with a mirror and incredible attention to detail. But after all of this, you'll be more comfortable with the guitar, eventually being able to just play!

Songs that are being worked on in lessons - let me know if you'd like to work on one of these at some point!
Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven"
Incubus "Just A Phase"
Paul Dukas "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
Ten Years After "I'm Coming Home"
The Beatles "Here Comes The Sun"
Pink Floyd "Comfortably Numb"
Star Wars Theme

007 Chords, Zen Guitar

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 7

2009 Apr 26
Hello fellow guitar enthusiasts! It's time for another installment of the infamous newsletter. Here's what's in store:
1. News about me: I'm going to be teaching for Mike's Master Classes! It is a website where master teachers and players share their information in video format. You can view these as they happen if you join us on the scheduled date or download the lesson later. Very exciting! http://www.mikesmasterclasses.com/
2. The latest paper: The difference between chords! Ever wondered exactly what the difference is between triads and seventh chords, and major/minor/diminished/augmented? Now you can find out!
3. See below!

Wisdom from Zen Guitar, by Philip Toshio Sudo

In this bit of wisdom, I feel that it explains one very important reason why we play music. Music not only allows us to express ourselves, but it is a discipline that strengthens the mind and body and allows us to find unity of mind and body, where it may otherwise be hard to find. I call this unity Spirit.

Section II: Practice - White Belt to Black Belt - 12 Points of Focus
Spirit

Guitar playing is a physical activity that demands training. In that sense, it is no different than learning how to throw a discus, run the high hurdles, or swim the butterfly. The body must acquire an intelligence of its own. The muscles must learn to move in new, disciplined ways.
Physical challenges force the mind to confront obstacles: pain, fatigue, self-doubt. You can not make progress along the path without developing some kind of mental strength. Use your training here (in the Zen Guitar dojo) to build a strong spirit.
When the body engages in something new, it forces the mind to pay attention - to acquire focus, direction, and resolve. Conversely, when the body tires of an activity, the mind must forge discipline and endurance in the muscles. Beginning guitar players, for example, often complain of painful fingertips from pressing down on the strings. Right away, the mind must teach the hands to fight through this discomfort until calluses build. As any jogger knows, when the body wants to quit, the mind has to step in and say no.
Frustration results when the body will not perform as the mind directs, or the mind becomes confused about what it wants the body to do. These confrontations between mind and body are an integral part of training. They bring us face to face with our motivations and limitations: Why are we putting in all these hours of practice? Why do we desire what we desire? Are we wiling to make the sacrifice necessary to progress? Are we asking more of our body than it can do? How we answer these questions determines our progress on the path of Zen Guitar.
Your spirit here must be one of total resolution; as martial artists like to say, "Tighten the mind." You may arrive here like a wild colt, scattered and unfocused. Through training, learn to harness your raw energy and charge like a racehorse. Other beginners will arrive here with the spirit of a tired, old soul. Through training, they learn to build up their energy the way one strenthens a little-used muscle.
Here are three adages from the samurai on the spirit required to know the Way. Fix these in your heart as you train:
1. Don't ask, practice.
Some questions, no one can anser but yourself. Practice properly and answers will come to you in time. The only route to understanding the Way is through your own experience.
2. Seven times down, eight times up.
If you slip in your training, get up. Even should you think defeatist thoughts - "I can't learn this," "My hands aren't strong enough," "I'll never be any good" - never voice them aloud. Burn such thoughts from your mind before you make a single utterance. The famed martial artist Bruce Lee was said to have done that exact thing: whenever a negative thought came into his head, he would visualize writing the words down on a slip of paper and putting it to flames. Apply this thinking to your own training.
3. The only opponent is within.
What matters on the path of Zen Guitar is not the obstacles we face, but how we respond to them. Master your reaction to the unforeseen and unfortunate circumstance, and you will master the Way of Zen Guitar.
When you are focused, every task, no matter how small, becomes part of your traning. In even mundane things such as making the bed, mowing the lawn, and washing the dishes - keep your mind from laziness and wandering. This will carry over into everything you do.

Songs that are being worked on in lessons:
Kyle's Mom - from South Park
Metallica - Battery
Give It All - Rise Against
You Found Me, How To Save a Life - The Fray
Linkin Park - What I've Done
Candle - White Tie Affair
All That Remains - Chiron
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
Jackson Browne
So What - Miles Davis

006 Ear Training, Zen Guitar

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 6

2009 Mar 13
EAR-TRAINING
You are afraid, and rightly so. Because tab and youtube videos will only get you so far in your musical training! You've got to use your ears!

* Here are some excerpts from the attached papers I've written on ear-training. The first paper explains the basics, the second gives you tab for what to play to start practicing ear-training.

Two steps towards effective listening
Believe it or not, there is a way to train your ears such that if you listen in the right way, you can simply play back or write down any rhythm, note, chord, melody, or chord progression that is presented to you. It is a two step process:
1. Study the basics of music by playing the components by yourself and getting them "into your ear." This is done first and foremost by singing.
2. Have someone else play the components while you play them back or do dictation. Dictation is where you simply write down what is played without being able to see what the other person is playing. You will eventually be able to transcribe any type of music.

You can do this! Music is all about sound, and you can learn to hear this stuff.

Intervals Introduction: The Octave
One of the more difficult aspects of music to grasp at first is the interval, which is the distance
between two musical pitches. I've already mentioned the octave, which is a jump from the root note to the next closest note which sounds like the same note color (a.k.a chroma or pitch). The octave is considered to be a pretty wide interval. The prefix "octa" implies that the interval distance is a total of eight tones. If we count from C: C D E F G A B C. There are eight notes total, so the interval is an octave. *Note: When we speak of an octave, we are usually referring to a perfect octave. There can be diminished and augmented octaves, but they are found infrequently. We will discuss interval
qualities in the next sections.

* How to remember an octave: sing "Some-where over the rain-bow". Those first two notes are an octave! (SEE: EAR TRAINING WITH GUITAR PT III)

Finished the paper and want more? Visit Justin's website for more on transcribing.
http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TR-000-Transcribing.php

SOME MUSICAL WISDOM
We all need it sometimes. Here is another excerpt from Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo:

page 146, "JAMMING"
"The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen." -Duke Ellington

Some players perform strictly unaccompanied. Others perform in groups, but play only prewritten parts. To achieve a black belt in Zen Guitar, one must know the spirit of jamming - how to improvise with other players in the moment.
To truly jam, you must subjugate your ego for the good of the group and seek a harmony that lifts everyone higher. One player acting selfishly can ruin a jam. In basketball, for example, if one player on a team hogs the ball and takes all the shots, the other players become selfish and start hogging the ball as well. But if a player thinks first of passing the ball and setting others up to score, others begin to think the same. Just as selfish attitudes are contagious, so are the generous ones. If you play generously, anyone who's listening will feel it.
It is said that music is the only language where many people can talk at once and be understood. But there are still rules for conversing. Effective jamming means knowing how to listen, when to lead, and when to follow. There is no rule more basic to functioning in a group setting.
Listening
If you've ever been to a country where you don't speak the language, you know how difficult it is to communicate. You must look for people who are generous and willing to try and understand you. They must fully concentrate on your efforts at communication; you must fully concentrate on theirs. What you're looking for is a bridge that will carry you across the divide. When you find it, what develops is a kind of third language - not your tongue and not the other's, but a hybrid of the two. The shared spirit of trying to communicate is what carries you along to that common ground where you can make yourselves understood.
Musicians jam in the same way. No matter what their different styles, backgrounds, or preferences, players who know how to jam can make themselves understood. They're always looking for the bridge - musically and figuratively.
Leading
A jam will not go anywhere unless someone takes the lead. It need not be the same person throughout; in fact, different people can take the lead at different points within the same number. But if no one steps forward and says, "This is where we should go," the music will meander, wasting everyone's time.
Determining who should lead at any given point can be difficult. Sometimes the leader is preestablished - the person who calls the jam, for example, or the person whose home it's in. Other times the leader is the person with the most experience, or the most respected level of ability. Or the leader can be someone who simply has the strongest vision of where the jam should go.
When leading, don't fixate on what other players can't do; work with what they can do. Adjust the jam to work out of the pieces you have.
Following
Even a leader must know how to follow. When following, do so in the spirit of fitting in, in whatever way lifts the group highest. Sometimes this means playing something less than the full extent of your ability. If that's what the music calls for, then do it. The best musician is not the one with the best chops, but the one who best knows how to contribute to the whole.
Fitting in with others does not mean relinquishing your individuality. In fact, if the spirit of the jam is right, your uniqueness is your asset. Be like the hot sauce in a jambalaya - an indispensable spice that adds to the character of the whole.

 Songs that are being worked on in lessons:
Foo Fighters - My Hero
Radiohead - Creep
Green Day - American Idiot
(Jazz) - Misty
Sound Of Music
Bach - Minuet in G
Ok Go - Here it goes again
America - Horse with no name
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love
Charlie Christian - Rose Room
Eric Clapton - Layla, Cocaine

005 History of the Blues

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 5

2009 Feb 23

It's time...for the greatest collection of youtube links (hopefully not outdated by the time you read this, haha) you will ever see!
This is a HISTORY OF THE BLUES month (in honor of black history month).  
Also - Blues lick compilations for enhancing your lead playing!

History of the blues
Let's talk for a second.  Some of you younger cats may not be able to appreciate the blues at first listen.  That's OK!  The lyrics can be hard to understand, the recording quality is sometimes terrible, and the songs may seem very simple to you.  That's the point!  The blues is pure visceral expression through a simple medium - a lesson we could all take to heart.  It's also interesting that the development of the blues went hand in hand with the evolution of recording and instrument technology.  Without the respect of the early blues musicians, electric rock as we know it wouldn't exist today!  If there was no Robert Johnson or B.B. King, we'd have no Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan.  So, get crackin' on these links!

Early Blues
Leadbelly - Bourgeois Blues  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNciPZlw8M
Leadbelly - Match box blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-nGhz_SErU
Blind Lemon Jefferson  - Black Snake Moan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8
Blind Lemon jefferson - Easy Rider Blues (Cover)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJXWxEuWrz8
Henry Thomas - Fishing Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR8IyF_uuAI
Tommy Johnson - Big Road Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U6klK29G1k
  Big road blues played by David Evans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V0PBv21_30
  Blues Guitar lesson, MDBG:"Big Road Blues" TAB http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ZNUr4y-9U
Mississippi John Hurt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvRxA8gR7bw
Mississippi John Hurt - Delta Blues Guitar Lesson: Monday Morning Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsAqODiQkfE
Tampa Red - You Missed A Good Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oza3qqs1-Bk
Tampa Red - Grievin' And Worryin' Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK8A9qYtLU0
Sylvester Weaver - Bottleneck Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7JAGP0BzbA
Robert Johnson- Crossroad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
Robert Johnson - Me and the Devil Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MCHI23FTP8
Frank Stokes - How Long Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ0SZltVuAo
  Frank Stokes â€” How Long Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-uaahDREDY
Scrapper Blackwell - My Dream Blues (Black Bottom McPhail) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjZO44o0E8A
John Lee Hooker - Hobo Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYrVwGxlcFA
Reverend Gary Davis - Cocaine Blues Cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slk96yuYzh8
Stefan Grossman teaches "Cocaine Blues" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHR1xk8Rp5k
"Slow Blues in E" taught by Stefan Grossman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwUEHBmrWkc
Ry Cooder-Vigilante Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoGkPTjZoBg
Lightnin' hopkins - lonesome road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVF-0JKLnd4

Early Blues Vocals
Ma Rainey - Booze And Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJm3YGAwPUM
Bessie Smith - Yellowdog Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcrx2-vvwC4
Bessie Smith -'Gimmie a pigfoot' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0_6YlEJi40

Ragtime/Boogie Woogie
BLIND ARTHUR BLAKE . 20's 30's Guitars Tribute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO5Ajf_eO_s
Blind Blake - Rag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrLWxgE_WKM
Blind Blake - West Coast Blues - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2zu-vjDtcI
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeEhp-oBQ6w
"The Entertainer" played by Chet Atkins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHtwF-gpluc
Memphis Jug Band - K.C. Moan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIgiyi1YA3o
Ragtime Guitar : BLIND WILLIE MCTELL . " Southern Can Is Mine " (1931) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1xVHsXm7Y
"The Entertainer" played by Chet Atkins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHtwF-gpluc

Swing/Jazz
Louis Armstrong 8 - St. Louis Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nwHdvxEDaU
Lonnie Johnson / 'got the blues for murder only' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS0P8KjPn9M
Lonnie Johnson - Another Night to Cry, 1963 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSa_JluRs4E
T-Bone Walker - w/ Jazz At The Philharmonic - Live in UK 1966 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK6PBq-hA
T-Bone Walker - Call It Stormy Monday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVR8lg1YLuc
Play Blues Guitar Like T Bone Walker - Guitar Lesson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhGl_znyfvQ
Charlie Christian playing Stompin' At The Savoy live 1941 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkyIqYYBX-4
George Benson - All Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoMVRGY82i8

Electric Blues
Albert King - Move to the Outskirts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhAya5FLw78
Albert King - Blues Power http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5dpp2iCRwM
**Notice how he sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan!
Blues guitar lesson: Learning the Albert king, SRV style http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaX2g3HMypg
Howlin' Wolf - Spoonful (1960) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TwEYuues6Y
Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow
Muddy Waters - Got my Mojo Workin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25iA2XPzuA
BB King : How Blue Can You Get http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmWz2jEk8HI
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone: 1993/Live At B.B. King's Blues Club, Blues Summit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtm66Z3lebc
Freddie King - Have You Ever Loved A Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGLmZCZ1sXY
Freddie King: Ain`t No Sunshine When She`s Gone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16AnGcB7MHA
Chuck Berry & Keith Richards - Oh Carol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEA6gzAAPfc  *this is hilarious
Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEq62iQo0eU
John Lee Hooker: Boom boom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOyj4ciJk34
John Lee Hooker Boogie Chillen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpuaCoK_rl4
Lightnin' Slim - Rooster Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5fAxJuxL9c
Lightnin' Slim - Oh Baby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqdmvRswuOU
Taj Mahal - Fishing Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVWWmIXKxk
Otis Rush: I`Cant Quit You Baby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy2tEP3I3DM
 Otis Rush - Instrumental (1966) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXK2zL2-yM
Buddy Guy - Sweet Home Chicago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuRhaDrnlWo
Johnny Winter-Highway 61 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8siLZ4zNbY
Jimmy Reed - Ain't No Big Deal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUdqS0rYQuQ
Elmore James - The Sky is Crying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKEdlSTHjtU
Albert Collins - Iceman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihvvf1R_vWo

Rockabilly/Surf/Country
Surfaris Wipe Out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5D07c0dJuQ
The Lighttown Skiffle Group - The Cotton Song (1960) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odz83ilLzu4
Beach Boys - Surfin' USA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FaflUn4Co
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ts4M3irWM
Elvis Presley - Hound Dog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJsQSb9RFo0
Brian Setzer - Guitar Rag - Live! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ZB-SzK8lE
Brian Setzer (68' Comeback) - Rock This Town - Live! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNCzEbDSkHM
Brian Setzer - Stray Cat Strut - Live! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODFrMvLYkMY

Funk/Soul/Motown
James Brown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOw00cWaD88
James Brown - Papa's got a brand new bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtqDB2spyG0
James Brown - E I Feel Good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgDrJ5Z2rKw
Ray Charles - I got a Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IQBKWdXnqU
Ray Charles - Hit the road Jack! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I
Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wG6Cgmgn5U
Stevie Wonder ~ Superstition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg

Classic Rock
The Kinks- you really got me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvyDWGF290M
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LoYM5OWIqI
The Beatles - I want you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dROLfId-Zsg
The Beatles - Why don't we do it in the Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Gjd_EAa64
John Lee Hooker & Jim Morrison ( The Doors ) Roadhouse Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxJpFM10yxI 
Janis Joplin-move over http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxdCWdaUv18
Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbBxxML6iM
ZZ Top - Vincent Price Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0U4mCZYkYU
ZZ Top - Billy Gibbons - Gives us a 'Blues' Guitar Lesson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34wNfmpYrb8
ZZ Top La Grange: Main Riff (guitar lesson) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktbE9SEt8DA
Rolling Stones - Keith Richards blues acoustic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ANjb-yAVE
Eric Clapton's Acoustic Blues Jam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCPzUUuLNHY
Captain Beefheart & Magic Band - Sure 'nuff 'n Yes I do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCSPf5Viwd0
JJ Cale - After Midnight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGtUNelJf94
Grateful Dead - Truckin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPNgjA4i6gM
Marshall Tucker Band Ramblin On My Mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy6n5ovPRjs
Rolling Stones - Ventilator Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wEvKIrGcNI
Cream - Sunshine of your Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI8SUc2SV4k
Cream-Outside Woman Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMGEJ0gjy70
The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EkJRy3gIS4
The Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8iTHpRD8g
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoND4Edz-jw
LED ZEPPELIN: travelling riverside blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVSXtPf72wk
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin' (Acoustic) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCQBbgb_Lvo
Jimi Hendrix- Red House http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjOQ9r35uiU
Creedence Clearwater Revival- Midnight Special http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksGi7B5BdM

Jazz Fusion
John Scofield Plays Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ler4KKEcHDY
Jaco Pastorius and John Scofield - The Chicken (Studio) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhkPSEXs1Q
Blood Sweat & Tears - Go Down Gamblin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj231TLCbD4
Chicago - It Better End Soon (3rd & 4th Movements) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWDgSfma0-8
Scott Henderson - Hole Diggin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak_8izQxcXI
Scott Henderson - Tore Down House (Live In Salerno) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stMPRu4GuIA
Jeff Beck - Brush with the blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yGB6d_3n58
Billy Cobham stratus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ae3l12PM2c
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Eternity's Breath http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4K1VxNg9Bc
Greg Howe Jammin' on Sunny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edVbz_uXJd0

Modern
Robben Ford (Tired of Talkin) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrRwjM8z48
Stevie Ray Vaughan- Texas Flood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDBIbJKjAZQ
Stevie Ray Vaughan Most Popular Riff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8iSdBbewpA
Joe Bonamassa - Essence of the blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjpWAyFo7A
John Mayer Trio - Wait Until Tomorrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjf36Rg5w6Q
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - "Born With A Broken Heart" Live '96 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cHQTcdPDTk
Johnny Lang - Lie To Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DayCrQWJXuI

Metal/Grunge
Black Sabbath - Sabbra Cadabra, Pt. 1 (Live) 7/15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4f1-73mqmA
Nirvana-grey goose http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=867rI5BPEJQ
Alice In Chains - Man In the Box http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FA9hRcsk0
Pearl Jam Alive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_LQU2-GOXY
Kyuss - Gardenia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pMfqZGg-FA
Down - Stone the Crow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBLbrJxGtro
Soundgarden - Rusty cage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHy5tFI05js
Soundgarden - Spoonman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWkbFKJZB0k
Guns n Roses Welcome to the Jungle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtXN_EHPwSg
Zakk Wylde - 'farewell ballad' solo - Original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE

004 Articles, Pick Grip, Songwriter Chords

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 4

2009 Jan 24
Happy new year my fellow guitar loving friends!  To kick off 2009, I'd like to share:

   1.  some interesting guitar tips and tricks I found over the holiday.  
   2.  The pick grip realization
   3.  2 finger songwriter chords
   4.  The usual etcetera

1.  Dave's holiday hints and tips!
I found some wonderful books over the winter break with a lot of unique information in them. 
*From the Guitar Grimoire, by Adam Kadmon:  Fantastic "block" explanation of intervals in music.  Anyone who is remotely curious to the how and why music work should read these pages carefully.  Chords are also set up this way.
**From Steve Vai's 30 Hour Workout:  Fig 7:  This has become a core part of my warmup sessions.  Being able to play the same fret on two different strings is very helpful in many situations.  Try it out - slowly at first...the technique involved is called a "roll" where the finger joint goes from being curled in the normal way to being flexed in the opposite way.  If you're not sure what to do, holler at me.
Fig 12-17:  This is an intense exercise to build hand strength.  If you have difficulty, please wait to let me look at your hands in a lesson to make sure you are holding your hand and arm correctly. 
Fig 18-19:  For you right-hand tappers out there, this is a nice, simple approach to tapping.  It takes a while to get the feel, so practice slowly, make sure you are doing a true "flick-off" with your right hand instead of a lift-off.
Fig 20:  This is a great way to start applying right-finger taps into your pentatonic playing. 
***The Guitar Handbook, by Ralph Denyer.  The importance of practicing, keys, and other tips.
****Rock Guitar Secrets, by Peter Fischer:  How to practice, some great warmups, and my favorite, the "note location triangle."
(if anyone wants more info from these books, please let me know.)

2.  The pick grip realization
I made a discovery one day...something I noticed - at the end of a long gig, I just can't seem to pick correctly anymore.  So, I'd be strumming along, then go to take a solo, and it just wouldn't really feel right.  I realized that lead guitar and rhythm guitar pick grip, or how far towards the tip of the pick you "choke up" actually makes a huge difference! 
So here's the general rule:  Lead guitar (single notes) - have as little of the tip of the pick showing as possible.  This comes down to the physics of giving as little leeway as possible for the pick to budge.  You are increasing stiffness and it allows for less time delay between your intention of picking and the sound happening.
Rhythm guitar (strumming chords)- have a little more of the pick showing.     This increases the flexibility of the pick and allows for a more naturally strummed sound.  It's less shock absorbed for the fingers. 
I'd be curious to see if other players find this useful, please let me know if you do, or have questions about it.

3.  2 finger songwriter chords
Included in this paper is TAB and explanation of some very useful chord voicings for songwriters.  By changing between only two, two-finger shapes, one can run up and down all of the chords in a scale without too much thought involved. 

Songs that are being worked on in lessons:
Seether - Broken
U2 - Vertigo
String Fever
Paramore - Crush Crush Crush
The Who
Moody Blues - Wildest Dreams
Brian Setzer - Sleepwalk
Switchfoot - I dare you to move
Megadeth - Black Friday
Dream Theater - Panic Attack
RHCP - Red Hot

003 Essential Songs, Zen Guitar

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 3

2008 Dec 18
Welcome to another DEC guitar email! 
In this issue...
1.  10 NEW teaching papers!
2.  listing the ESSENTIAL guitar songs that we should all know!

3.  Zen Guitar wisdom

4. ...and much more!

Dave's Latest Papers

Guitar:
-Arpeggios - major and minor from power chords. In this quick study, I show where the major third and a minor third appear in the context of a power chord.
-Guitar Patterns That Fit The Fingers - here we have some scale passages that you can rip through after you get a handle on them. Always a work in progress, so I may send after I update it more.
-Chromatic Scale - The proper order of all 12 of the chromatic notes in the open position
-Scale Positions - this is your bible of scales. Remember, you can find ALL of the modes if you know these scale positions!
-Scale Patterns - So, you think you know a scale? Not until you've mastered these patterns.
-Diminished Seventh Arpeggio - Another fun one to sweep pick! I've also included the theory behind the chord.
-Intervals / Find Notes on the fretboard - Self explanatory.
-Warmups - Get your fingers and mind into the right mindset before you practice.

Theory:
-All Major and Minor Keys - Excerpted from Music Theory for Anyone - Understanding all of the notes and triads (chords) in a key
-->Music Theory for Anyone is a book that I'm writing for people who want to have a basic understanding of music theory, and you don't have to know how to read music! I will be releasing excerpts as I write this book, which will hopefully be done in early 2009.

ESSENTIAL SONGS - I'm always open to suggestions!
1. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven, Tangerine
2. Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze, Hey Joe
3. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come as you are
4. AC/DC - Back in Black
5. The Beatles - Day Tripper
6. Pink Floyd - Wish you were here
7. Metallica - One
8. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
9. Kansas - Dust in the wind
10. Guns & Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
11. Black Sabbath - Iron Man
12. Yes - Roundabout
13. Emerson Lake and Palmer - From the beginning

Snippets of Wisdom: From Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo
Stages and Plateaus
Over the long haul, the path of development consists of stages and plateaus. The dedicated beginner will see rapid improvement in the early going, but after a while the rate of improvement will taper off. We can work and work and work and not see any progress. Then suddenly, we move up to a new stage of ability, as though arriving in a meadow clearing out of a jungle.
Be aware that the farther on the path you go, the longer the plateaus get. During these times, you may feel like you're in a rut. The way out is to stay focused on your training - what you are doing right now. Don't look ahead to where you want to be, and don't look back thinking "I've only come this far." If you put in an honest effort, you will break through to the next level. You can't make long-term progress conform to your timetable. It has to happen naturally. A flower blooms when it is ready to bloom. Let it be.

Songs that are being worked on in lessons:
Tool - Schizm
RHCP - They're Red Hot
Allman Brothers - Stormy Monday
Black Label Society - Stillborn, Phony Smiles
Megadeth - Black Friday
Dream Theater - Panic Attack
Time - Tom Waits
Chicago - Beginnings, Saturday in the park, Make Me Smile
Jimi Hendrix - South Saturn Delta

002 Speed, Composition, Fretboard, Guitar Principles

DEC GUITAR NEWSLETTER, issue no. 2

2008 Nov 29
WELCOME to the 2nd installment of the DEC guitar newsletter! This issue is going to deal with 1. The fastest guitarists ever! 2. For those that are now writing music in your lessons - I've got a paper dealing with how you can develop your motives (definitions below) 3. Being able to find notes on the fretboard. Have a happy thanksgiving!!!

1. The fastest guitarists ever - who you should definitely type into youtube and watch them play. Some are not necessarily the most tasteful, but they are all amazing! Feel free to share your opinions with the group.

Fusion/etc:
1. John McLaughlin
2. Steve Howe
3. Al Dimeola
4. Joe Satriani
5. Alan Holdsworth
6. Slash
7. Jimi Hendrix
8. Jeff Beck
9. Steve Morse
10. Eric Johnson
11. Robert Fripp

Metal:
1. Michael Angelo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rutyA12z3Ok
2. Paul Gilbert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES1RypBww_g
3. Yngwie Malmsteen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj3ec2cCaJw
4. Van Halen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_lwocmL9dQ
5. Buckethead
6. Randy Rhoads
7. Rusty Cooley
8. Kirk Hammet
9. Dimebag Darrell
10. Steve Vai
11. John Petrucci
12. Chris Broderick

Jazz:
1. Jimmy Bruno
2. Pat Martino
3. George Benson
4. Django Reinhardt
5. Larry Coryell
6. Scott Henderson
7. Kurt Rosenwinkel
8. Frank Gambale
9. Bill Connors
10. Daryl Stuermer (Jean Luc Ponty)

Music Theory:
Developing motives - what does that mean? A motive is a small piece of musical material that sort of defines the melody in a piece of music. The first "happy birthday to you" is a motive, and every time the words are repeated, the motive is developed. What does "develop" mean? It means to take a motive and have it undergo some sort of musical process. My favorites are: 1. Sequencing - taking the motive and starting it on a higher or lower note. 2. Augmentation/Dimunition - stretching/shortening the rhythmic values of the motive. 3. Retrograde - playing the notes backwards (starting from the last note and ending on the first) and 4. Inversion - a mirror image of the notes; example - if the note goes up, the inversion goes down. For those who want to know a lot more - ask for my pdf on "variation techniques."

A Couple of Papers...

Finding notes on the fretboard
Chords that go along with a scale

Snippets of Wisdom: taken from Jamie Andreas and his guitarprinciples.com
Excerpts from "Climb Every Mountain"
I am in the business of building excellent guitar players, and so, I must convey a certain truth to them along the way, one that does not seem to be obvious and sufficiently appreciated by most people. It is this: it is relatively easy to achieve about 80% of anything. It is relatively easy to develop ourselves to about 80% of proficiency in any field we may choose. If you want to become a computer programmer, a business person, own a restaurant, be a carpenter, be a musician, anything, you can study it, get experience, and become "functional". Most people that bother to develop something useful (and most do, being forced as we are to "make a living") achieve this
level.

But to become really good, to start to rise above, and noticeably so, the average person doing what you do, THAT takes a whole different kind of effort, and a whole lot more of it. Most people do not do this in their particular field. Most people really are, when it comes down to it, content with doing what they "must", and keeping their standards and goals low enough to avoid too much demand and discomfort. That is why the age old lament of all employers is "you just can't find good help anymore". Yes, because the #1 goal of most people is to DO as little as possible and GET as much as possible. That is the formula for mediocrity. To put it simply, it is easy to be mediocre, that is why so many people are achieving it.

We are all climbing a mountain. In fact, we are climbing various mountains all the time. Becoming a guitar player is a mountain, and every piece of music you work on is its own mountain. It is easy to work on a solo, a song, or a piece, and get it "pretty good". You know, 80% of the notes are there, so hey, leave me alone, what do you want, ALL the notes! Come on, I would have to REALLY work hard on it to get that! To bring a piece of music from 80% to 90% is an incredibly demanding process. Climbing that mountain further and further is the essence of being an artist, no matter what your field of endeavor is.

Yes, that is the truth. It is easy to get 80% of the way up the mountain, any interested party can do that. Closing in on that last 20%, well, that separates the men from the boys, as they say. Here is the thing to understand: every step forward and upward required to move past the common crowd will most likely require as much as ALL the effort previously put out. The higher we climb, the more we must exert for every inch gained, but every inch is precious, and worth more than everything before it. The gap between 99% to 100% is, in fact, infinite.

Songs that are being worked on in lessons:
It Don't Mean a thing
Stairway to Heaven
Moonlight Sonata
Moonlight and Satch's Boogie - Joe Satriani
The Dave Matthews Band
Villanova Junction - Jimi Hendrix