Guitar ramblings

As usual, I'm a neglectful blogger.  I don't post that often.  Life always gets in the way.  With a house construction project, some health issues in the family, and a busy working schedule, I haven't had time, or have not made time for this blog.  That said, I originally created this to track my guitar skills.  I've come far since I've first started this blog, but I still have a ways to go.  I still play my D-03 as my primary guitar.

I plan on reintroducing regular jam nights at my house once the remodeling is complete.

Latest Songs

The two songs I've endeavored to learn are "Time in a Bottle" by Mr. Croce, and "Blackbird" by the Beatles.  I really enjoy playing these two songs.  They sound great on my D-03, and stretch my fingers out nicely.  They are far easier to play then they sound.  Years ago I would have avoided a song like "Time in a Bottle", but now I know you have to challenge yourself with new songs.  Break them into pieces, and then string those pieces together.  Practice them until you despise them, then play them some more.

Someday I aim to be able to play this song with relative ease.  Yes, I'm aiming high, but why not give it a shot?



Enjoy.

Guitar Calm

Yesterday I was at a Superbowl party. And, well...I am a long time Patriots fan. Living in the NY metro about 20 miles away from Giants Stadium.

Luckily, it was at my church, so the people were kind and sort of understanding. Anyway, I brought my guitar with me thinking that if I get bored, or if it becomes a depressing blow out, I'll just go off and play my guitar at the half time. The game was excellent, so that never happened.

In the past, the guitar has been like a therapeutic weapon against a bad mood. Thankfully, I left the party in a decent mood. The game was a fun game to watch, the people were great company, and it was the food that kept me up all night, not the replay of Welker's missed catch.

Going on with the mood enhancement therapy, we all can have our down days. The guitar can be used to help combat those days. I'm thankful to God for the day I first wanted to play guitar. It may not always be easy, it may be as frustrating as anything when I try to learn a new song or feel as if I've reached a plateau in skills, but it is a fine instrument that I know I can use to get my mind off of things even if only for the minutes that I am enjoying the guitar.

Almost Friday, so...some Django!

Classic.

Locking the loop

Believe it or not, if you don't string your guitar properly you'll likely experience issues with your guitar going out of tune on a frequent basis.

Don't laugh, but I made the same mistake most guitarists make. Sure, I wound them the right way, but sometimes I had an excessive amount of string and failed to lock the loop.

Years ago, I was at a worship conference at a local church. Again, don't laugh, but a former member of Air Supply, David Moyse (I think that's his name), was giving a lecture at the conference. He randomly picked me out of the crowd and asked to see my guitar, and then proceeded to restring it using the locking loop technique.

http://www.jcdisciples.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:how-to-string-a-guitar&catid=50:admin&Itemid=56

Phil Keaggy - The Reunion

Phil Keaggy has long been one of my favorite guitarists. And he is very versatile, not sticking to one particular style or genre. Listening to this, I'm wondering...is he tuned to DADGAD?

DADGAD Tuning is a beautiful thing

I had recently heard about DADGAD tuning through various avenues and sources. Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to try it out. It was simple enough to tune down to DADGAD, just drop the low E to a D, the B to an A, and the high E to a D. Now, what the heck do I play on this?

>Google searching<...ah, here we go, easy songs to play in DADGAD tuning. Hey! I didn't know Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" was played in DADGAD tuning! Wow, that song is super easy! And fun.

Currently I have that Zep song and an alternate rendition of Amazing Grace in DADGAD under my belt. Last night I had to tune my guitar back to standard EADGBE tuning to play worship. Somehow my guitar sounded sad. Seriously, that DADGAD tuning is so beautiful. I now want to become a Celtic player!

Anyway, I used to be scared of alternate tunings, but now I can say with authority that I am hooked!