Ever asked yourself “How should I be practicing?” or “What should I be practicing?” Here are some real world tips on what you should be doing in your practice time to get the most amount of progress in the least amount of time. -Steve
Are you up for the challenge – the Learn & Master Guitar recording challenge, that is? One of the best things you can do for your guitar learning is to record yourself. It’s amazing how much you will learn. So each month, Learn & Master Guitar will offer a home-recording challenge. (A special thanks to fellow Learn & Master Guitar learner, Ben Bob, for the vision for this great idea.)
Here’s the idea. Choose one of your favorite songs that go along with the theme for the month, practice and work the song up, and then record yourself playing it. Post it up on the Learn & Master Guitar discussion board and winners will be chosen at the end of the month.
Full band, acoustic/vocal, or even instrumental versions are welcome.
The theme of this month’s challenge is: SONGS OF THE ROAD! (Any song that sings of the road, highway, freeway or turnpike is eligible to meet this challenge.)
From “Country Roads” to the “Highway to Hell” (or to Heaven), guitars and roads just seem to go together don’t they?
To get you started, here is a list of some road songs.
We’d love to hear background info on your track, including recording gear, techniques, and any other information or excuses you’d like to add.
Get all of the information HERE at this thread on our discussion board.
So, grab your guitar, start recording, have fun, try something new, and give us something to listen to!
- Steve
Name: Benjamin R.
City: Buellton, CA
Forum Username: BenBob
My Gear:
Larrivee OM-09
Great Divide (camping guitar)
Ibanez classical
Squire Tele
Late 40′s Silvertone (Kay) Archtop (as a project)
Fretless bass
Mandolin
Homemade Cigar Box Guitars
1929 Tenor Banjo (project)
*I mostly play acoustic, but for plugging in I have a Fender FM212 and a Digitech RP355.
Favorite Artists/Bands: Lately I’ve been listening to Django Reinhardt, Willie and the Wheel, Kris Kristofferson, Big Head Todd, Brian Setzer, Cowboy Junkies, Olds Sleeper, and Owen Plant. I’ve also listened to a lot of Paul Simon, Sting, Rich Mullins, Willie Nelson, CCR, Eagles, Doors, Beach Boys, U2… so many! Most of all I like good songwriting.
My favorite fingerstyle album for many, many years has been Keaggy’s Beyond Nature. Martin Simpson’s When I Was on Horseback, and albums by Peter Finger, Pierre Bensusan, and Laurence Juber have gotten a lot of play too.
Favorite style of music to play: Mostly acoustic stuff. Country, swing, classic rock, folk and blues.
What made you want to play music? My parents both filled my childhood with music and I can’t remember a time that I didn’t love it. I have a memory of my father sitting on the font porch singing and playing his Harmony 1260 on a rainy day and I think that was when it really grabbed me.
Previous music experience: I started with accordion! I moved on to a little piano and finally guitar. I learned chords from a Simon & Garfunkel picture chord book, and then a Calvary Praise book and whatever I could find at the library. In college I took a couple of classes in music theory and recording techniques. I also worked in a high-end acoustic guitar shop (Long Beach McCabe’s/Wheatons) where I learned setup and got to see a lot of great fingerstyle players in concert. I dabbled with classical, fingerstyle, and learned bass which I played in the church band for a few years.
Last year I decided to try and fill in fundamental gaps in my playing, especially related to electric and lead guitar, so I decided to get the L&M Guitar program. I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve been learning, and the community has been a big part of keeping me motivated!
If the house was on fire, which instrument would you grab? My Larrivee OM. It was an early ’90s NAMM representative originally owned by a great guy named James Jensen who organized the concerts at the shop where I worked. He went on to become a Grammy-winning producer for the album Pink Guitar. Thanks for the guitar James! It’s still a joy every time I play it.
Favorite place to be when playing guitar: In my friend’s old farmhouse kitchen. He hosts a weekly acoustic jam that I go to as often as I can. It’s typically a few guitars, Weissenborn, mandolin, and sometimes bass, harmonica, and even fiddle. We play for a couple hours, eat pie, and play a bit more. It’s a great time and I learn so much playing there. Find a jam or start one! It’s the best.
Most delightful musical moment so far: Highest honor– I had a church friend many years ago who was diagnosed with cancer in his 30s. Brilliant, good man… a writer with a young family. He lead the music for an evening service with just him on acoustic and me on fretless bass. I don’t think we’d played together before that night, but we clicked and it was one of those magical moments. That was probably his last time leading before chemo, and he died not long after, but it’s a beautiful memory.
More recently, a friend of mine who was learning bass had a goal to play a set for his 40th birthday. We got together every week for months and made it happen at his birthday party. Thanks to his encouragement, I ventured to sing. It was great fun, and we kept getting together and played a couple of other parties too.
Hobbies: My lifelong hobby has been guitar, but I’ve also dabbled in traditional archery, astronomy, and photography.
Current Job: I.T. Administrator
Name: Perry W.
City: Fort Worth, TX
Forum Username: Scratching a Itch
My Gear:
Gibson ES 335 sunburst
Gibson Les Paul Standard
G&L Legacy electric
Fender American Deluxe Strat with soft V neck
Seagull S6 Original (acoustic)
*I currently have my eyes on a Martin D28
(haggling with my wife on this one)
Steinway grand piano
Roland RD 700 GX keyboard
Multiple harmonicas
Favorite Artists/Bands: My favorite of all time would be The Eagles. Motown music in general. Country music in general.
Favorite style of music to play: I just care about playing songs that are pretty to listen to.
What made you want to play music? Introduced to music by an older cousin in elementary school.
Previous music experience: I have played the piano for about 50 years.
If the house was on fire, which instrument would you grab? The Steinway
Favorite place to be when playing guitar: On my back porch
Most delightful musical moment so far: Highest honor– I was invited to give a piano concert / recital at the Hemisfair in San Antonio, Texas in (I think) the late 1960′s. I have also been honored in the past to have played the piano at weddings. Most delightful moments– When my wife used to ask me to play her to sleep with my piano at night. She said it gave her sweet dreams. On the other hand, my guitar gives her nightmares.
Hobbies: Traveling, gardening, playing golf, going to good sports events, Scuba diving (Master Scuba Diver), Going to movies, MUSIC! Too many to list. I have never been able to just sit still.
Current Job: Retired — practiced as a doctor/ physician for 35 years
Learn how to get some great, bluesy sounds by using a tuning called Drop-D. All it takes is lowering one string and a few licks and you’ll get that great delta blues sound. Enjoy! -Steve
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