Guitar Newsletter #30 – March 9, 1999 *** 1000 Great Guitar Sites on the Web

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Guitar Newsletter #30 – March 9, 1999

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Guitar Newsletter #30 – March 9, 1999
Return to Main Newsletter Page | Browse Newsletter Archive

Any comments, views or opinions expressed through the site or newsletter are those of their respective authors, and are not necessarily endorsed by, or reflect those of Neil Shedden or 1000 Great Guitar Sites. The following is no substitute for professional advice, but is provided for your information & entertainment only... enjoy! Disclaimer

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In this edition:

30% OFF U2
1 - GUITAR TAB? SHEET MUSIC? FREE SONG?
2 - MUSICAL TIPS: TUNING / NO PICKS
3 - ALTERNATE PICKING LESSON
4 - STEVE MORSE PICKING EXERCISES
5 - GET-A-GRIP
6 - MORE ON THE CHORD OF THE MOMENT
7 - A TIME SUCH AS THIS
8 - WINNING A CD
9 - JOKES
10 - QUIZLET
11 - NW GUITAR LINKS
12 - Pick of the week, from my mailbox:
13 - LAST WORD!

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Follow this link for 30% off all U2 music:
http://cdnow.com/switch/from=sr-767167/target=buyweb_products/artfs=u2
(limited offer)

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1 - GUITAR TAB? SHEET MUSIC? FREE SONG?
Why wait, when you can get it now?
Check out Sunhawk.com, oh yeah free software too! http://www.sunhawk.com

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2 - MUSICAL TIPS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIRST TIP: Guitar/Banjo...
If you've ever played slide guitar, you've probably
tuned your guitar to open "G", which is D-G-D-G-B-D. What you may not have realized is that this tuning replicates a banjo "G" tuning as well, and that the first four strings are exactly the same as the first four strings on a bluegrass 5-string banjo. With a little help from any banjo chord book, you can pretty quickly learn to play a few chords in this slightly altered tuning.

With this information, you can go in two directions:

a) Make your guitar double as a banjo by using this tuning with a finger-picking technique. Don't worry about the bottom two strings, just pluck them into your routine, and now you've got a nice little banjo and bass ensemble going.

b) If the bluegrass style isn't for you, you can still use this tuning to produce a very full, rich, droning style, on acoustic or electric guitar.
The important part is getting that banjo chord book, and learning a few two and three finger chords. Playing in altered tunings opens up a whole new world of tones and sounds, and if you're also a songwriter, this tip is
worth a handful of new tunes.

~~~~~

SECOND TIP: NO PICKS!

Like to get more in touch with your strings? Try losing your pick, but this time, on purpose! Many players worldwide play every guitar style imaginable without picks. Jimmy Vaughn pulls up with his first finger, rather than pushing down with a pick. "Smoke on the Water" was recorded with no pick, instead, Ritchie Blackmore used his fingers in a "claw" type pluck, pulling several strings at once.

Although you probably won't be speed-picking with your pinkie, you will find very special tones and techniques that picks cannot deliver. Every part of your finger and nail produce a new and special tone. Work with it, give it a chance, you may just really like it. The bonus? Next time you can't find a pick anywhere, you won't feel like you lost the keys to your car.

Don't throw your picks away....just leave them in your pocket once in a while.

Tips courtesy:
"Play It Again Sam" playitagainsam@drbs.com
http://www.guitarsam.com

Play It Again Sam is located in Montpelier, VT, and is an authorized dealer for Fender, Peavey, Taylor, Epiphone, Washburn, Tacoma, Ovation, Applause, Danelectro, Kawai, Roland, Tascam, Deering, Goodtime, Weber, Pearl, DOD,
Digitech, LP, SansAmp, Tech 21, Mackie, Toca, Bill Lawrence, Everyone's Drumming, and many other world-renowned guitars, banjos, mandolins, keyboards, amplifiers, effects, drums, music books and accessories.

Play It Again Sam ship worldwide.
See shipping cost chart at:
http://www.guitarsam.com/services/order.htm

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3 - ALTERNATE PICKING LESSON
From: Judy Letostak letostak@netcom.com

How do players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Al Di Meola, Steve Morseand Paul Gilbert pick so quickly and cleanly? Hyper speed pickingabilities are the product of a logical, pragmatic technical approachbased on economy of movement-playing the most notes with the leastamount of effort.This primer will help you think in these terms. With this mind-set,you'll be able to build an arsenal of smooth, fast, picking licks thatyou can execute even on your worst day.To get started, grab a freshly-minted plectrum (pick) and hold it between your thumb and index finger with the pointed end facing thestrings. Even though this standard grip seems the most logical way tohold the pick, some speed demons do it differently: Eddie Van Halenholds the pick between his thumb and middle finger; James Hetfield andSteve Morse use a three-fingered grip (thumb, middle and index); and Pat Metheny picks with the rounded side of the plectrum. If you playbetter using an unorthodox grip, go ahead-you can't argue with success...
Continued here:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~guitar/HowToPlay/picking_speed.tab

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4 - STEVE MORSE PICKING EXERCISES

Today we are going to work thru some picking exercises. These examples come from a picking exercise that STEVE MORSE (Dixie Dreggs, Steve Morse Band, Deep Purple) designed. In the next lesson we will learn the entire exercise. Today what we will focus on are eight individual measures.

First of all we want to begin developing ALTERNATE PICKING. This means that the direction of the pick should continuously go up and down. For example if the first note is played with a down stroke the second should be played with an up stroke and the third should be played with a down stroke etc...

Continues here:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~guitar/PickingExercises/steve1.html

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5 - GET-A-GRIP
No-slip guitar picks coated in our exclusive no slip formula: http://www.get-a-grip.net/

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6 - MORE ON THE CHORD OF THE MOMENT
From: Kirk Lorange lorange@kirk.net

Read all of Kirk’s great Newsletter Articles:
http://www.GuitarSite.com/tuition.htm#articles

As I mentioned in my last article,
(read it here)
the ‘chord of the moment’ is the only thing that you really need to keep track of if improvising or inventing parts to a piece of music. It determines which possibilities are open to you (millions), and which notes are eligible for special attention.

There is a very important thing to keep in your mind at all times however, something that supersedes the ‘chord of the moment’ in importance, and that is, of course, the key of the piece of music you're playing. It has already determined the possibilities for the ‘chord of the moment’, so always view your chords as being part of the family that is the key, and learn to identify them as ‘four chords’ or ‘five chords’, ‘six chords’ etc.

Why? Because an A chord in the key of A (I chord) is quite different from an A chord in the key of D (V chord). You won't want to be thinking of an A scale when you're in the key of D. Don't forget, the A chord in the key of D is made from the D scale. So you've got to think ‘chord of the moment within the key’ to really feel confident. It always comes back to the context.

This article highlights the most difficult aspect of playing an instrument: understanding the layers of music. The I, III V makeup of a simple chord, the I,IV,V chord progression of a blues. Numbers, numbers, numbers. If you're still looking for the trick to keeping track of it all, come visit.

All the best from the Hinterland of Surfers Paradise, Australia.

Kirk Lorange
PO Box 186
North Tamborine
Queensland 4272 Australia
Ph / Fax +6175 545 0138
lorange@kirk.net
http://lorange.kirk.net

More info on Plane Talk:
http://www.GuitarSite.com/tuition.htm#kirk

See cartoons:
http://www.GuitarSite.com/kirk-cartoon.htm

Read all of Kirk’s great Newsletter Articles:
http://www.GuitarSite.com/tuition.htm#articles

Heaps of info & chord resources here:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~guitar/chords.htm#chords

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GUITAR TAB? SHEET MUSIC? FREE SONG?
Why wait, when you can get it now?
Check out Sunhawk.com, oh yeah free software too! http://www.sunhawk.com

***************************************
7 - A TIME SUCH AS THIS
New CD by Rob Carlton
Higher Rock Music HRMN7@aol.com

You won't find much about this guy on the Web, but Rob Carlton has been displaying his extraordinary guitar talents for quite a while. He first played to admiring crowds in the Heavy Metal band Empyre, who touring with the legendary Blue Oyster Cult. He then went on to play with Christian Rock groups Sevenfold and Corban.

Choosing the new Christian Indie label, "Higher Rock Music", Rob has now released his first solo project: "A Time Such as This". Rock? Jazz? Blues? This instrumental guitar masterpiece has it all! As you listen, a rich tapestry of sound unfolds... Ranging from driving, fast-moving pieces; to slower, melodic numbers; there's a powerful, hypnotic flow of energy right through from track 1 to 16. Each track has the strength to stand alone, but together they form a truly inspirational whole.

Rob wrote the music and plays all the guitars, but is joined by Mike Digeronimo on drums, Adam Pine on bass and Martin Herdter on keyboards.

There's 45 minutes of very enjoyable listening - but you can just set your machine onto auto repeat play, for a continuous stream of rock that just flows on through the night - getting better every time you hear it! It may be instrumental, but this carefully crafted CD is definitely NOT just background listening! You can't help but be moved and wonder, how's Rob going to top this?

Let your own ears decide - thanks to Rob & Higher Rock Music, we have two CDs to give away. For your chance to win, just reply to this email with your name, full postal address (don't forget the country) & reason why you'd like to own this CD! - Neil Shedden, Ed.

For booking & management info, contact:
Higher Rock Music HRMN7@aol.com

Rob also has a guitar store for
new, used and vintage guitars:

Rob's Guitars info@robsguitars.com
Tel: 516-474-3898 Fax: 516-941-4800
P.O. Box 681 Mount Sinai, NY 11766
http://www.robsguitars.com/

Rob has been inspired by many artists, including Phil Keaggy. You might also like to check out:
http://www.GuitarSite.com/PhilKeaggy.htm
http://www.GuitarSite.com/christian.htm

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8 - WINNING A CD
The following have won the great Harry Smith Blues/Rock/Ballads CD, "Call Up"
- Thomas Fox of The Peak, Hong Kong
- Brent L. O'Quinn, Flovilla, Ga. USA
- Jedidiah Goh Chun Guan of Singapore
- Robert T. Murphy of Orlando, FL, USA
- Franjo Obradovic´ of Schwelm, Germany
Check out the CD yourself with online audio samples & lyrics from Harry Smith at:
http://www.powerup.com.au/~musicman

Some great reasons have been given for wanting a free CD:

Never won anything in my life.

Like to take this CD with me to my grave.

Since I'm in the U.S. and Harry's from Down Under, will I have to play his CD upside down, and if so will it play backwards?

I want a cd, because my other cds need to be accompanied by great new cds. It's so lonely on your shelf when you're Sgt. Pepper or Led Zep II and next to you is a Spice Girl record!

I could use something in my life that's Y2K Compliant!

Well, it is because I want to learn from great players. Once I played in a small group of people: what happened was, because I was not able to play by ear, and not exposed to music enough, I was like an ant on the hotpan! I sweated like I just came up from the swimming pool! So embarrassing... My friends were laughing away because the original had changed to a new song and riff and also because of how "wet" I looked! They laughed until they had stomach pains....

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9 - JOKES
"Mommy! Mommy! When I grow up I want to be a guitar player!"
"Now Johnny, you can't do both!"

from Matt Scharfglass
http://www.mrsgrundy.com
Q - What do a cup of coffee and Eric Clapton have in common?
A - They both suck without Cream
Q - What's the difference between a guitarist and a mutual fund?
A - One matures.

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10 - QUIZLET
Results of the Quizlet run on the front page recently:
Which site do you visit most?
(of 220 respondents)

32% 1000 Great Guitar Sites
22% Harmony Central
10% MP3.com
19% Guitar Notes
10% Ultimate Band List
7% Hotmail

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11 - NW GUITAR LINKS
From: Paul Arntson parntson@gte.net

Guitarists around the Pacific NW USA can benefit from the
fish-from-your-window (cf Zappa - Mudshark) convenience of Paul Arntson's collection of NW Guitar Links at
http://home1.gte.net/parntson/index.html

It's also useful to get a snapshot of prices around the Seattle/Portland/Vancouver area. The site is broken up into Retailers and Manufacturers. There are a surprizing number of quality luthiers in the area.

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12 - Pick of the week, from my mailbox:
From: "JERRY STEAGALL" <busterchopzz@hotmail.com>
HELLO MY NAME IS J.D. STEAGALL AND I HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BY SOME HOOSE COWLES,WHAT DO I DO? IS THERE NOT ANY BODY OUT THERE THAT WILL HELP THE LITTLE GUY? SOME GUY NAMED CALVIN RUSSELL PUT TRACKS FROM OUR FIRST ALBUM THE CHARACTERS,ACT ONE AND PUT SIX TRACKS ON HIS NEXT ALBUM AND GAVE TWO OTHER GUYS CREDIT FOR IT IM REALLY P*SSED OFF BUT WHAT DO I DO? ANY SUGGESTIONS. THIS COULD HAVE HELPED MY MUSICAL CONECTIONS.AND CAREER.CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS? ANY BODY PLEASE HELP.SINCERLY J.D.STEAGALL

(unverified - Ed.)

Please note the disclaimer

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13 - LAST WORD!

Thousands of best-selling sheet music titles!
http://www.sunhawk.com

Follow this link for 30% off all U2 music:
http://cdnow.com/switch/from=sr-767167/target=buyweb_products/artfs=u2
(limited offer)

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If you want to include your own article for the next newsletter, just reply to this newsletter with your humour, tips, tricks, reviews... all articles are credited to the original author, and you could win a prize!

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If you wish to leave the list at any time, just reply to this email with "unsubscribe" in the body, plus your reason, if you wish to share it with me – constructive criticism is always welcome!

END

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