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 1 - EXPLODING GUITAR

 3 - ADVANCE ORDER "UP" - NEW R.E.M. CD
 4 - THE KINK IN THE TUNING
 5 - GUITAR FITNESS 102
 6 - TERJE RYPDAL
 7 - JIM THOMAS & THE MERMEN
 8 - 101 HOT & SASSY STEEL LICKS
 9 - JOKES
10 - WIN PRIZES

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1 - EXPLODING GUITAR From: Donald J Connolly

I bought a Epiphone Steel Acoustic this past January deciding to start playing again after 25yrs. I had the guitar in the same room with my computer (Small room). What happened was just 2 weeks after the purchase. The guitar was behind my computer chair to the right. I was using the computer and the room was dark except for the light of the monitor.

I swung around in my chair getting up at the same time when I hit the guitar a pretty good whack and it went flying off the stand. It landed directly on top of the head and literally exploded. The head broke of from the neck and flew down and rested on the sound hole.

You have to remember now, I didn't see this happen, I heard it. The sound was unreal. My wife who was in another room screamed out "Oh my God!! She came running in, turned on the light and told me later that I looked like I was shot. I was standing with a slack jaw looking at the guitar in total disbelief.

After awhile I cracked up laughing. And I got another guitar from the dealer no charge. What I told him happened was a litty bitty lie. Thats another story...

Regards, Donald J Connolly

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1b - EXPLODING GUITAR STORE!

I've since received this comment in response to the above article, "Exploding Guitar"

"OK, so the guys "exploding guitar" story is somewhat interesting.

However, I find it disturbing that you would include such a tale in your Newsletter. This guy obviously went back to the dealer with some LIE and got the store to replace the guitar at no charge.

How many other jerks will read this and think that it's just "fine and dandy" to knock your guitar over - break it - and then expect the store and the manufacturer to "eat the loss" for you ???

If the day ever comes when there are no more HONEST Music Dealers left in this guy's town, he'll probably be crying the loudest too!!!"

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3 - ADVANCE ORDER "UP" - NEW R.E.M. CD

R.E.M. mark the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock. When their first single, "Radio Free Europe," was released in 1981 it sparked a back-to-the-garage movement in the American underground. While there were a number of hardcore and punk bands in the US during the early '80s, R.E.M. brought guitar-pop back into the underground lexicon.

New CD "UP" Released 27 October

Advance order, save 30%, get REM "UP" for just $11.88
Order now through this link

REM discount CDs - complete listing

Tablature, Bio & Links

REM TAB hosted at Guitar Music Archive

The Complete R.E.M. Lyrics Archive

R.E.M. Perfect Circle WebRing (nearly 100 sites in the ring)
List of ring members

Official REM site

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4 - THE KINK IN THE TUNING
From: Kirk Lorange

I had a friend in England years ago, a fine guitarist, who decided one day to tune all his strings to the fifth fret of the next one down, in other words E A D G C F. He did this to see if it would make soloing easier, which of course it did. Any pattern he played could be applied to any string-set anywhere on the neck. No need to take into account the kink in normal tuning. He played like this for quite a few weeks and became expert at it. Then he started to realize his folly: he had robbed himself of the richness of possibilities that normal tuning offers.

That little kink, where you tune your second string to the fourth fret of your third, is the reason the guitar has such a wealth of options. Instead of repeating identical patterns up and down the neck, the patterns change. Any lick, phrase, melodic line, harmony line, has several patterns. This gives your hand the opportunity of playing the same thing in many different ways. One lick played in one position will be uncomfortable in another, but that position will offer up new possibilities difficult in the original position...and so on. I feel sorry for keyboard players who only have one of each note. How restricting it must be.

When I began playing (38 years ago), I cursed whoever it was that came up with the tuning of the guitar. Only a madman could have been that cruel, to make it almost consistent, to insert that little wrinkle into the logical scheme of things. When I did crack the code, I realized the genius.

If you're still looking for a fool proof way to crack the code, to see the layout of the guitar, come visit my site.

K i r k L o r a n g e
lorange@kirk.net
http://lorange.kirk.net

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5 - GUITAR FITNESS 102

Physical problems can plague guitar players at all levels. But that is only half the story- what about emotions and stress levels? From beginners to advanced players, emotions and stress can affect any performance.

As important as it is to be in good physical condition to play guitar by stretching and preparing your muscles, you can't play well without being focused and relaxed either. The bottom line here is that playing guitar should be fun. You didn't pick up the instrument for it to add stress to your life, but remove it. And it won't be any fun if you are stressed out about the next note or chord, or worried about who might be hearing you.

The rule I live by in my playing is this: Practice to make sure you know what you are doing, but when the performance comes, don't think, just let it happen. You can't think too much while you are playing, or your playing will most likely come across stiff, and it won't be any fun. Leave the hard thought to the practice room. And if you haven't got the techniques down by performance time, it's too late. So just play...

Read the complete article...
by Joe Mazza   guitar.guide@miningco.com

...and enjoy this guitarists resource: guitar.miningco.com

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6 - TERJE RYPDAL
From: Dean Farley

I write for Vintage Guitar Magazine. You can read a very good interview with jazz legend Terje Rypdal there.

"Terje Rypdal is, in my opinion, by far one of the world's finest guitarists and composers. He has transcended more musical boundaries than Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa. He is a musician of staggering ability, depth and creativity."

Excerpt of Deans Vintage Guitar interview:

VG: Is the Stratocaster your all-time favorite guitar ?

TR: Yes. I tried Telecasters, I had them for a long time in The Vanguards. I first played a Stratocaster in the 1963-'67 period when The Vanguards were known for doing a great live version of "Good Vibrations." During this period, I tried Gretsches, Epiphones and everything else!

VG: What guitar were you using during The Dream?

TR: Rickenbacker, most of the time. Also, a period where I ruined that strange tremolo thing they have on that. It sounded more like a banjo (laughs)...

TR: My main performance guitar is a Squier Strat that has old DiMarzio pickups and a red Lace Sensor in the treble position.

Full article

Terje Rypdal: Born 1947 in Oslo, Norway
Genres: Jazz
Styles: New Age, Avant-Garde, Fusion, Post-Bop

Terje Rypdal has long had an unusual style, mixing together elements more commonly found in new age and rock than in jazz; yet he is also an adventurous improviser. Classically trained as a pianist, Rypdal was largely self-taught on guitar and originally most influenced by Jimi Hendrix. He attended Oslo University, where he was taught the Lydian chromatic concept of tonal organization by its author, George Russell. An important guitarist and composer in Norway, Terje Rypdal has gained a cult following in the United States.

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7 - JIM THOMAS & THE MERMEN

You can also read a very good interview with The Mermen's Jim Thomas - Jim Thomas is an absolute poet!

Excerpt of Deans Vintage Guitar interview:

"It's a wild night at San Francisco's Paradise Lounge on a typically chilly August night. The Mermen's main visionary and lead guitarist, Jim Thomas, has his work cut out for him. Unexpectedly, a short time before the gig, Thomas had broken his left thumb at the band's rehearsal studio. Most guitarists would have likely aborted their show in such circumstances. But not Thomas. He's determined to get through the gig, broken thumb or not..."

Interview continues...

One of the odder and more wonderful bands to emerge from the surf music revival, the Mermen race between high-octane surf anthems and spaced-out blasts of psychedelia.

"The Mermen mine the same treasure of '60s instrumental surf rock that a few indie-rockers-in-disguise have caricatured (i.e. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet), but not only do they set themselves apart by attacking the style with an almost academic will and precision, they raise it to new, previously unseen places"

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8 - 101 HOT & SASSY STEEL LICKS
From: Kevin steelin@hotmail.com

Howdy! Just wanted to drop you a note to let you about my Steel guitar book for the E-9 players out there.

If your're anything like me your always looking for something new that will help you spice up your playing and phrasing and without too much effort, make you a better player....

When I started writing this book I felt there was a huge void in the steel guitar instructional market. I don't need to learn another version of "crazy arms" or "faded love" or some other song. I need to have such a "deep bag" of licks so that when my solo comes up during some top 40 tune, I can flat out "UNLOAD".

So this book addresses the guy that needs a deeper bag of licks. This book is for the beginner to advanced player and with just a few minutes a day can help you create a lifetime of enjoyment behind your steel. There's nothing fancy here, just lick after lick after lick... I was careful not to put in any of the same old tired steel licks that have been shown over and over. Many of the phrases I have shown are "in between" position phrases, making it a little more interesting.

If your interested just click the link below and it will take you to my page offering the book and tape... I appreciate your time and till we meet out on the road....
Gotta keep pickin'....
Kevin  steelin@hotmail.com clublickit.com/101order.htm

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9 - JOKES

Q: What's the difference between a guitarist and a mutual fund
A: one matures

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10 - WIN PRIZES

OK, here's you chance to help fellow musicians AND help yourself to a valuable prize! All you have to do is either:

A - review a great guitar site
that I don't already have a link to

OR

B - write something for this Guitar Newsletter
    (sent to GuitarMaster@hitsquad.com).

All entries are eligible for entry to the newsletter at a future date, but the prizes go to the most original / entertaining / interesting / useful article. It can be a funny guitar-related experience, a tip, joke, tab, review - anything fellow guitarists would enjoy reading!

What do you win? You can check out some of the prizes

PLUS *** Visit the Fretted Instruments site at www.fretted.com.au for your chance to win a Takamine G-330 Acoustic Guitar, Valued At $550