Merle Travis and Chet Atkins ~ I’ll See You In My Dreams
Posters!
March 9, 2012 Leave a Comment
Couple for the home-studio. Got them online at ALLPOSTERS.COM on-sale for about $10.
Aerobic Guitar Funkercise in G
December 14, 2011 Leave a Comment
I began focusing on funk guitar a couple months ago and got a crazy idea. Could I keep up an aggressive funk strum for 3 min 30 sec at 124 bps?
The answer was – sorta.
I whipped together a groove in Garageband and recorded the guitar in one take. About halfway through I noticeably stumbled…but I was happy to make it to the end!
Music Study Journal: Three Month Review
November 28, 2011 Leave a Comment
I’m about three months into my two-year music study plan. Feels like a good time to reflect on it.
It’s taken around 8 weeks of semi-regular practice, but I’ve made some headway in my sight reading exercises. I can now – at most tempos – read and play up to eighth notes in the fifth position on the guitar. (3/4 and 4/4 meter.) Tonight, I started looking ahead and practicing some simple sixteenth note exercises. I know, this is some basic stuff. Go ahead and chuckle. 
I’ve finished two books on music theory and feel like I’ve got a solid grasp on the fundamentals: key signatures, intervals, scale modes, chord construction, etc.
I’m also focusing on composition and I’m halfway through one of two books on the subject.
For recording purposes, I’ve been using Garageband and Logic Express and I’m starting to feel comfortable with them. Maybe in the next few months I’ll have something I can upload to Soundcloud and share.
I’ve been spending a great deal of time on ear training. Specifically, intervals such as minor thirds, perfect fifths, sixths, etc. I’ve been incorporating some solfegé for voice – which helps – but it’s been frustrating. Progress has been s-l-o-w.
Overall, it’s been a unique and exciting experience returning to my roots in music. I’m more focused and intentional than I was in my youth. Maybe it’s because I’m older, but I don’t mind the mental and physical roadblocks that come up, and when I overcome them, I cherish the results that much more.
I’m thankful to Our Lord for the progress I’ve made so far.
Five Great Guitar Apps for the IPad
September 6, 2011 Leave a Comment
It might not fit in your guitar case, but you should find room for an iPad in your gear bag.
There are loads of apps available for guitarists – actually, all musicians – but, here are my five favorites.
I. Guitar World Lick of the Day
Comes with a handful of free licks, but a subscription is required for more. Prices range from $1.99/month to $9.99 for 6 months.
For the cost of a couple mocha’s, you’ll get six-months worth of high-quality instructional videos. And they don’t slouch on the instructors. You’ll find quality licks from top-flight instructors including: Joe Satriani, Zakk Wylde, Jimmy Brown, Henry Garza, and many more.
The app includes video, tablature, practice mode playback with half-speed, and the ability to save your favorites.
II. Songsterr
Free version available. Songsterr Plus is $4.99.
This app provides you with instant access to 300,000 guitar, bass and drum tabs. And yes, it is searchable. Tabs are community-supported, so the quality is high. The Plus upgrade is worth it; you’ll get playback with a great-sounding guitar engine and you can reduce the speed by 50%.
III. Guitar Tuner +
$0.99
There are a handful of decent tuner apps out there, but this one worked well for me. Options include tone or guitar playback, three different playback methods, and alternate tunings. NOTE: This is an ear-based tuner.
IV. Ear Trainer
$6.99
Comes with over 160 individual exercises. Some are easy, some are not – but, you want to improve, right? Categories include: interval comparison, chord identification, scales, and relative pitch.
V. Guitarist’s Reference
$5.99
This app has it all: Chords, scales, triads, arpeggios, reverse chord finder tool, alternate tunings. It’s even got quizzes. The graphics are nice and it even has playback tools.
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