Been Distracted: 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? …
latest update
Hola music fans, So everyone keeps asking me how the Guitar Contest went. In a nutshell, it was mixed. I did everything exactly the way I wanted to. I made some contacts, met some stars, I turned in a performance that the crowd got into, and I distributed over 600 copies of my CD to guitar fans. The one bad part was that while the judges all agreed that I had the chops (“I’d have to practice for 100 years to get those kind of chops” – Earl Slick) , they weren’t quite ready for the intensity. Their critiques sounded like something my parents would have said (which I’m actually OK with, rock and roll ain’t for the parents). So needless to say I didn’t win the contest. But I accomplished what I set out to do and made a splash. To quote the editor of Guitar Player Magazine – “Yours will be the most watched video from the contest once we post them on Youtube.” Here’s a video my wife shot of my performance. For the record – Judges: Earl Slick (David Bowie guitarist) Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson guitarist) Elliot Easton (The Cars guitarist) Steve Lukather (Toto guitarist) Greg …
Below is a press release that I received from my good friend and Guitar Musings contributor, Hercules Castro. Hercules entered into the Guitar Player Superstar Competition and was selected as one of the top 10 finalists. You will find all the information below and if you are in the Bay Area and like great guitar, you should check this show out. I just wish I could go. Congrats Herc and Good Luck!!!! For Immediate Release Hercules Castro of Colorado Springs Named a Finalist in International Guitar Competition Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar Competition Centerpiece of Guitar Player Live! Weekend Celebration September 11-13 Brendon Small to Host Competition; Judges Include Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson’s guitarist), Elliot Easton, Greg Hampton, and Steve Lukather San Bruno, CA (August 11, 2009) — Now in its fifth year, Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar competition will be the centerpiece of Guitar Player LIVE!, a 3-day celebration of guitars, music, and gear presented by the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center in Livermore, California, east of San Francisco, on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Ten finalists have been selected from among hundreds of entries to battle for the international title of “Guitar Superstar.” Across the globe, hundreds of “unknown” guitarists of …
If you follow Guitar Musings on Twitter, (now on YouTube) you know that I recently purchased a Larrivee OM-03RE guitar. I have been in wanting for a Larivee for quite a while, since I tried one out at a local guitar shop. The wait was finally over and I wasn’t disappointed. Specifications – From Larrivee’s website Lower Bout: 15.375″Upper Bout: 11.75″Waist: 9.625″Depth: 4.25″Depth: 4.25″Scale Length: 25.5Nut Width: 1 & 3/4Fretboard Radius: 17″ to 21″ CompoundSetup for Light Gauge StringsFrets: Nickel/SilverFrets Width: 2.5mm (0.0985″)Frets Heigth: 1.0mm (0.00394″)Satin finsh neck and bodyTusq Nut and Saddle by Graphtec Larrivee’s Look and Feel: This is not a fancy looking guitar with elaborate inlays and exotic wood grains but it’s a simple and elegant design that perfectly suited my needs. What caught my eye immediately was the rosewood back and sides and the African ebony fingerboard. What can I say, I’m a sucker for dark wood and the satin finish really compliments the beauty of the wood. A bit smaller than my other guitars, the OM-03RE felt natural either using a guitar strap or playing it sitting on my lap. This was important for me because I have problems with tendentious and the smaller form factor …
Came across the video below on YouTube. I’ve only flown with my guitar once and that was pre-911 when you could bring your guitar as a carry on. This is a fine example of why you need to invest in a good flight case and insure your guitars. I agree with the lyrics, they are liable and it sad to see that customer service is pretty much dead in the airline industry. This is a pretty catchy song too and well written. I don’t think this would have been as effective if it wasn’t so well written but it looks like he might get his claim fulfilled (see links below) after all the attention this song has recieved. United Breaks Guitars Lyrics I flew United Airlines on the way to NebraskaThe plane departed Halifax connecting in Chicago’s O’HareWhile on the ground, the passengers said from the seat behind me“My God! They’re throwing guitars out there.” The band and exchanged a look, best described as terrorAt the action on the tarmac and knowing who’s projectiles these would beSo before I left Chicago, I alerted three employeesWho showed complete indifference towards me Chorus United, UnitedYou broke my Taylor guitarUnited, UnitedSome big help …
