Summer's Here!

[ 06/15 /13 show notes from Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast Episode 106]

Intro

So how were your last couple of weeks?.

No, I didn’t get to change my nylon DRs, so I didn’t play my nylon string guitar too much. This coming week is going to be over scheduled, but I’m hoping to get fresh strings on her tout suite. Bridget and Shira are rocking their Neon pink DRs. I admire their good taste.

I didn’t get to the Les Paul 98th Birthday Gala but one of our neighbors, down the hall, did. Diane and I saw Boris there, last year, too and he said last weekend’s event was also excellent. I’ll try to arrange my schedule to attend next year. 

Summer begins this week. Here’s my annual reminder: if you’re leaving your guitar home while you travel, be sure it’s in a room in your home, in which it will not be subjected to extreme heat or cold. If it’s hot where you live, don’t leave the guitar in a room that will get 100 degrees. If you HAVE TO leave it in your home/apartment, be sure that it’s in the coolest possible place, like your basement. If you live in a frigid climate, be sure the guitar will be left in the warmest place etc. My suggestion is to ask a friend to hold it for you in a home that will be appropriately cooled or heated for human occupancy, thereby keeping your guitar temperate, and avoiding climate-caused damage.

If you are planning to fly with your guitar, if you cannot bring it onboard with you, which is the best option, loosent the strings at least a half turn, lock your case, and if possibly, put the case in a large box that doesn’t have anything other than FRAGILE on it. You can get boxes from guitar cases at guitar stores. The only thing is, if the box bears a guitar company’s name, I’d Sharpie over it, or put some Contact paper over it, just so any baggage handler that would like a new guitar, doesn’t choose yours. That’s the reason for the box. This might be a good time to look into a travel guitar, which can definitely fit in overhead storage on a plane.

You have 2 weeks to see the full Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. The museum will close for a couple months over the summer and when it reopens, the Les Paul permanent installation will be significantly reduced from what is now on display.

While we’re on the subject of Les Paul tributes, don’t forget the stellar recording and documentary by Lou Pallo, the rest of the Les Paul Trio and other admiring artists called Thank You, Les.

There are still beach towns at the Jersey Shore (and likely NY, too) that are nowhere near restored since Super Storm Sandy. As I record, we’re in day 228 of recovery.

Our thoughts and hopes for a legion of volunteers to help the Oklahoma tornado victims continues. There’s another opportunity for human kindness to cover a lot of sadness.

This week, there are 2 students in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is, "Why doesn’t it sound right?", News is about the PRS parties, concerts and fan days during the summer and Take Note is about Fender’s Passport Mini amp - which is perfect for playing on the deck, the beach, in a part, of just for a practice amp.

Links

DR Strings
Les Paul in MahwahPurchase Thank You, Les
Follow Me on TwitterGuitar Technique Tutor Blog
Sandy NJ Relief
Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

•••Raptor Picks USA•••

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His conclusion:

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Raptor Picks USA thanks Pappy for the great review. You can read the whole thing at the Fifth Fret blog.

Links

Raptor Picks USA - genuine Raptor picks Raptor Picks USA on Facebook Raptor Picks USA on TwitterFifth Fret
Fifth Fret Raptor Review

Student Spotlight

In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Bridget (of course) and Mike. Bridget is remaining consistent and is tackling everything I throw at her and succeeding very well. Mike had been off for a couple weeks, due to business and some personal travel. This is an uberbusy guy, who mainly ekes out time to play on the weekends. Well, since the last lesson we had, he improved excellently. His lesson was by no means, flawless, but there was tremendous improvement and for that, he has earned Student Spotlight status. Nice work. I hope you’ll be able to at least, maintain the amount of time you can spend with your guitar.

I’m looking forward to a threesome in the Spotlight next time. Let's see what happens

Question of the Week

This week's question came from a student that wanted to know why, when they played particular music, it didn’t sound like what they were used to hearing. Do you have a couple days for the full answer? Even if you do, I don’t, but here it is in a nutshell.

First, he was playing an acoustic, nylon string guitar and what he was listening to was a solid body electric (one of which he has, as well as a steel string acoustic and more guitars). If you are not using the same axe or at least the same type of axe, you’re not going to sound like the artist whose music you’re playing

Second, his speed wasn’t close to the speed of the reference recording, AND his rhythm was off because for him, it’s an effort to think of time and beats. He also isn’t able to hear and “feel” the complex rhythm, which is how many musicians get over the obstacle of complex rhythms. If they can hear them and execute them accurately, the beat dissection that is necessary for a non-natural musician is unnecessary.

Third, the music supplied to my student (not by me) was not in the same key as the recorded version. Not only was it semi-transposed, but it was altered beyond that, so the harmonies were quite far off in some sections.

So, if what is going to please you, is to play some of your favorite artists’ music:

FIRST: use the most similar instrument you can -- which is not to say you have to run

 out to buy a Les Paul if you have a Telecaster (not that running out to buy a Les Paul is such torture or anything), but realize that if you’re playing a steel or nylon string acoustic and you are trying to emulate music played on an electric guitar, especially if there’s overdrive or flange or any other amp or studio effect, you’re not going to hear what you want.

SECOND: work on your chops - including speed and rhythm

THIRD: have realistic expectations of yourself

FOURTH: play in the same key/tonality/positions etc to most closely approximate what you’re hearing

FIFTH: practice practice practice and do so while LISTENING to your object recording and to yourself

Links

Email Me if you'd like to submit a Question of the Week or suggest an additional segment topic.
If I use one you submit, I'll send you a Guitar Technique Tutor pick.

News

In the news this week is a short list of some PRS events, which all lead up to Experience PRS in September. I had a coupled comments about the Taylor Road show segment, asking if any other guitar makers did anything like it.

Here are a few PRS events that are upcoming. Perhaps one is in you’re area:

June 29 – PRS Gear Heaven Party & Concert at The Glen, Watkins Glen, NY
Come hear and play all the latest PRS and DW gear, hang with our artists, talk with PRS, DW and Guitar Center staff, tour the DW Mobile Music trailer packed with DW and PRS gear, jam out with PRS and DW on the mobile stage, take a paddock tour, meet GRAND–AM Drivers, watch qualifiers & races, enjoy a complimentary Hazlitt wine tasting, maybe even win a prize or two. Includes a VIP Backstage pass for the concert with DAVY KNOWLES. Ticket gives you access to the track for the entire Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen Event Weekend so be sure to camp out or come back the next day to catch the GRAND–AM Rolex Sports Care Series Race!

July 25 – PRS Gear Heaven Party & Concert at the Hard Rock Cafe, Indianapolis, IN
Meet and greet – Artists, Drivers and Celebrities, tour the DW/PRS Mobile Music Trailer filled with PRS and DW gear, play all the latest PRS Guitar and DW gear in the "Jackson" Room, hear some awesome product demonstrations, light fare compliments of the Hard Rock Cafe, concert featuring Davy Knowles and Lance Lopez, Prize drawings. 

August 3 – PRS Fan Day at Guitar Center, Independence, MO
Product Demos, Setups, PRS staff on hand for any questions, Race to the Stage auditions, DW Mobile Music Trailer packed with PRS and DW gear.

September 14 – PRS Fan Day at Guitar Center, Manchester, CT
Product Demos, Setups, PRS staff on hand for any questions, Race to the Stage auditions, DW Mobile Music Trailer packed with PRS and DW gear.

September 20–21 — PRS Experience 2013

Links
PRS Watkins Glen and IndianapolisPRS Fan Day, Independence, MO
PRS Fan Day, Manchester, CT 
Experience PRS 2013

Take Note

My take note topic this week is the Fender Passport Mini. Hey, it’s summertime. Portable amps have a lot of pros and cons. I wasn’t going to do this particular take note because I haven’t personally played with a Passport Mini, but Acoustic Guitar Magazine will be reviewing it in the upcoming issue and the short video review suggests that it’s an amp you should consider if you’re looking for something relatively inexpensive and portable. 

Here’s a bit about it.

Passport® mini offers convenient amplification for any instrument or microphone. It's perfect for performances by street musicians and students, as well as a basic public address system for events and presentations. It goes anywhere thanks to its dual AC- or Battery-powered capabilities. It can even be used as a music media playback system or computer recording interface.

Model : 0694600000
$199.99MSRP Street is about $150 or sometimes less.

It has a Vocal Channel with Volume, Tone and Reverb Level controls and an Instrument Channel with Volume, Preset, Effects and Tap Tempo Button controls.

It’s smaller than a 10” cube and weighs only 7.25 pounds

The Passport Mini has one - 6.5" Full-Range Speaker with 8 ohms of impedance

Its 2 Channels are Instrument and Microphone

The Inputs are two - (1/4", Input Two has -10db Pad Switch)

and one Auxiliary Input which is 1/8" Stereo

For a little amp it has a decent selection of effects:

Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Vibratone, Vintage Tremolo, Slap-back Echo, Small Room Reverb, Fender ’65 Spring Reverb, Stereo Tape Delay, Tape Delay+Room Reverb, Chorus+Hall Reverb, Vibratone+Room Reverb

There are 2 Line Outs which are Speaker Emulated USB and 1/8” Headphone Jack Doubles as Speaker Emulated Line Out

This is a presentable amp but not a boutique model.

Other Features are that it uses universal AC power supply (included) or six "C" batteries, instrument channel with 24 presets (built from 8 amp models) optimized for acoustic and electric guitars and other instruments, 12 effects (additional effects available with free Fender® FUSE™ software), Tap Tempo button for adjusting delay time and modulation rate, separate Vocal channel with XLR and ¼" inputs and dedicated Volume, Tone, and Reverb controls, AUX input for media player, digital chromatic tuner, metal handle doubles as a tilt-back stand, stereo headphone output for silent practice or line out, USB connection for Fender® FUSE™ application and digital recording output, USB cable included.

It’s a cute, light weight amp for playing out or practice

Links
Fender Passport Mini AmpAcoustic Guitar Magazine video review of the Passport Mini Amp 

•••Raptor Picks USA•••

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Links

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Outro

I hope i can get my nylon DRs changed in the coming week. I avoid my axes that need string changes until I change them.

Nice work Bridget and Mike. I hope you have company next time.

Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples when you assess how you’re playing covers. If you’re in a different key or tuning, if your chops of any variety are not up to par, if you’re not playing even the same type of guitar, you’re going to be disappointed. Unless you’re a fairly advanced guitarist, you’re going to have to work on your music, so don’t whine about it. Do what you need to do.

Catch a cool PRS event at a venue near you this summer, and while you’re at it, plan an autumn getaway to Experience PRS 2013, in September.

It’s time to take your playing on the road. The Fender Passport Mini may be just the amp for you.

If you’d like to further assist SuperStorm Sandy victims, Sandy NJ Relief Fund will put 100% of your contribution to excellent use. The recovery here is going to take years and some communities still have condemned homes and unlivable conditions.

Don’t forget the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ which is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays just until the end of the month and the marvelous tribute to Les Paul by Lou Pallo, the trio and other musical friends, called Thank You, Les.

If you’re not comfortable, your guitar isn’t either, so don’t leave your guitar in a cold car or basement, or a hot car or attic. Humidify if your guitar lives in an environment in which there is less than 40% humidity. If you’re going on a vacation - ask a friend to keep the guitar at their home until you return, if you can.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as

 Airmont, Allendale,  Cresskill, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello,  Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park,  Upper Saddle River,  Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. 

For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.

Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward.  Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Practice,   and until next time, I'm  D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.  

Happy Fathers’ Day to all you dads.