If you have followed Guitar Musings in the past, you have probably stopped reading the blog because there hasn’t been a post in months. This has been for a number of reasons; some personal and others professional. Anyway, I’m trying to get myself back on track; with my playing and my writing.
Surround Yourself:
I have found that, even though I play for many hours, I don’t practice. I’m just noodling on the guitar but not learning or polishing my craft. Some of that has to do with me being a bit lazy/uninspired and not knowing what to do. That is why I signed up for lessons with a local teacher and am completely excited for my first lesson. I have heard great entrepreneurs say that if you want to keep the energy of your new venture going, surround yourself with other entrepreneurs. Doing this will keep the energy up and you will be more likely to succeed. I’m doing the same by surrounding myself with other guitar players. Just the thought of playing on a regular basis has gotten my creative juices flowing. I can’t wait.
Are you surrounding yourself with other players to keep you going? Reading this blog or going to a guitar related forum isn’t the same. We need to have the contact of other musicians. Whether it’s a lesson, jamming with friends or just going to a concert, try feeding your guitar soul a bit and the music will begin to flow.
I have threatened and promised that I would put something on YouTube for the past year but have yet to do anything, until now. Finally got the right take and a good recording of me playing Tommy Emmanuel’s Dixie McGuire. Hope you like and I plan on doing more. Any requests? : )
I hope you enjoy!
Notes: The tab I used was the same that I wrote about in my Tommy Emmannel Tabs post. Also, there is quite a bit of flexibility required for this song, especially between the index and middle finger on on your fretting hand. I found that the stretching exercises in John Petrucci’s Rock Discipline were very helpful. Are there any you would recommend?
Last Thursday (3.19.09), I had the pleasure of attending the Dougie MacLean concert at the Colfax Events Center in Denver. In case you didn’t know, Dougie is a Scottish singer/songwriter that has written wonderful songs like “Caledonia” and “The Gael” from the movie, “Last of the Mohicans.”
The Concert:
Dougie’s performance was a pleasure to witness. He performed songs like “Singing Land,” “She Will Find Me” and “Caledonia, to name a few. He also performed a new piece that he recently finished, new enough to have the lyrics taped to the side of his guitar. Inspired by the loss of some friends the past year, this song (he didn’t give the name), was touching and made me fondly think of loved ones I have lost. I hope he includes this on his next release, so I can find out what the name is.
As Dougie said, this wasn’t a concert where you sit, cross your arms and just listen. He wanted us to be a part of the evening as well. Dougie engaged the audience; sometimes making us laugh and many times, having us sing along with the chorus. He wasn’t shy about letting us know when we were off beat or out of tune. It was all in good fun though. It was fun, we became part of the concert and this was the beauty of his performance.
After the show, Dougie stuck around, signed my CD I just bought and chatted with us for a quite a few minutes. I have to admit, I was in awe being in the presence of one of my songwriting heroes so I didn’t say much but just took it in. It was a please to listen to him sing an then chat for a few minutes and If you ever get a chance to see him in concert, buy a ticket and go. You will not be sorry.
PS – Gear:
Dougie only played one guitar; his signature model made by Moon Guitars. Simple and beautiful. I didn’t see any effects. It was just him and the music; perfect!
Last Wednesday, I was able to to see Bruce Cockburn and Joan Osborne for a taping of etown radio, a two hour show featuring great music and interviews with both Cockburn and Osborne.
Bruce’s Set
Slow Down Fast
Pacing The Cage
Interview with host Nick Forster
(Joan Osborne Played Her Set)
If a Tree Falls
Beautiful Creatures
Jerusalem Poker
The City is Hungry
Bruce walks out on stage with a new hairstyle; grown long and pulled back to a pony tail, samurai style. He made a joke that he needed to put a bone in his hair to complete the look. Bruce played two small sets with an interview placed in the middle. Nick Forster (etown host) asked Bruce questions about his accomplishments, influences and intentions regarding songwriting. A common theme in Bruce’s answers was that he didn’t want to look back but just live in the moment. He said, at one point, his greatest achievement was being on “this stage at this time.”
His performance of Jerusalem Poker was incredible. It never ceases to amaze me how he can keep that thumb going while he plays the ridiculously hard solo for that song. His last selection was a new piece called “The City is Hungry.” He mentioned that it was inspired by New York City where has spent quite a bit of time visiting his girlfriend.
Even though this was a shorter performance that I’m used to, Bruce was in great form and I can’t wait to see him for the “Slice of Life Tour.”
P.S. I went to this concert only to see Bruce but I have to say that Joan Osborne blew my mind. Her voice is so strong and her tone is spine tingling. She put on a great show and I look forward seeing her live again. Loved her performance so much I bought Relish and Little Wild One the next day.
One of the many talents of Leonard Bernstein’s was his ability to explain/have a discussion about the complexities of music to anyone. You didn’t need to have a degree in music to get what he was saying. All you needed was the love for music and the desire to learn more.
Below is a clip from The Unanswered Question – Six Talks at Harvard by Leonard Bernstein. In this clip Bernstein discusses what might Beethoven might have been feeling or what story he might want to convey when writing the piece featured on the clip. After watching this, I had a different/deeper appreciation for the music. So I ask you, what feeling are you trying to convey when you write a song? More to that, what feelings do you think a songwriter is sharing when you play his/her song? Think about that next time you play, you might find a new, maybe better way to approach a song.
were very helpful. Are there any you would recommend?
and 
the next day.
. In this clip Bernstein discusses what might Beethoven might have been feeling or what story he might want to convey when writing the piece featured on the clip. After watching this, I had a different/deeper appreciation for the music. So I ask you, what feeling are you trying to convey when you write a song? More to that, what feelings do you think a songwriter is sharing when you play his/her song? Think about that next time you play, you might find a new, maybe better way to approach a song.
