[New Years Resolutions?? - for Twenty Twenty Too !]

The only thing I want to lose some pounds. Mostly in my belly. I know that's cliché but... 

[NCD+GNCGD]

Nice stuff 

 

 

[Volume Level]

14 hours ago, Karloff said:

haha, yea I added the lol hoping it would keep anyone from wanting to lecture me on the proper use of stage volume ...  a harmonious stage volume is great, but ... 

Honestly, I have a joke that goes like 'if I can hear myself, it probably means I'm too loud". But last gig I played, I could hear my own amp perfectly. The band kept complimenting me on how good I was playing. I just chalked it up to the fact that I could actually hear what I was playing as I was playing it. 

[Coca Cola or Pepsi?]

On 6/17/2021 at 6:59 AM, mecjohn said:

Flavor. The biggest difference between Pepsi and Coke is their flavors. Pepsi has more of a citrus taste, while Coke products have more of a vanilla-raisin taste. When it comes down to it, Pepsi has a stronger first sip taste, but Coke goes down smoother.Each company markets a large number of brands, with Coca Cola Company having the larger market share. This is reflected in drink sales with Coca-cola Classic continuing to outsell Pepsi.click on mypepsico

So this dude made an account just to come here and resurrect an 11yo thread ( which btw DanvilleRob was the last to post in 2010) and try to get people to click his SPAM site. 🙄

[Volume Level]

10 hours ago, Karloff said:

5 for the sound check, 7 for rhythm , 10 for solos, lol

You have an lol, but that's pretty much how I do it. 

[What are the best practice techniques to strengthen fingers and improve dexterity?]

I'm glad I read through the other comments before I posted. I was going to suggest exactly what jdgm above said. I think it's called the caterpillar exercise or something like that.

I also will practice moving select fingers across the fret board. Like I'll pick-up and put down on the adjacent string my First and Ring finger. Then my Middle and Pinky together. Then maybe First and Pinky...you get the idea,  Work for the skinny strings to fat and vice-versa like this. I find it helps with my brain/finger coordination.     

[Johnny A?]

There used to be member here who had a Johnny A. I think it was Dave In Spain. Haven't seen him around in a long time though.  

[The "Just got in from a gig" thread.....]

Another gig at the same place as last month with what was supposed to be the same band lineup. We had one rehearsal with only the bass player and drummer last week. We played last gig with barely no rehearsals and made it work, so we figured this was a breeze. Well the bass and guitar players (Ed and Elvin) are twin brothers and split time between Maryland and New York. They  ended up being stuck in NY today and Ed called a buddy of his to fill in on bass. 

So it was Steve and I, who play together all the time, a drummer we've played one gig with before and a bass player we've never met.  As expected, we killed it.   Other than a few glitches, mainly on endings, we played and sounded great. The crowd loved it. I think the bass player enjoyed playing with guys as loose as Steve and I. No pressure, just have fun and roll with it. These pick-up bands are great fun and just expand the circle of connections. 

Now I'll have a little agave spirit and hit the bed. 

[First clip from new Beatles film]

Some other cool things. We got to see a foreshadowing of Billy Preston playing with the band. And we heard them playing an early version of Get Back before they came up with the familiar G to D break.

[NGD]

Very cool. 

[First clip from new Beatles film]

I didn't like seeing that Les Paul slide off the table onto the floor. 

[NUGD]

Nice guitar. Congratz. And it hasn't even garnered a Sad/Confused emoji. 🙂

[Another family portrait]

Awesome photo. I have one of those BOSS Katana amps too. Rarely rarely use any of the Effect or channels other than Clean.

[One song or piece of music that influenced your playing...]

Of course we all have artists or songs that have influenced and inspired us. But was there one piece you learned that flipped a switch for you in terms of learning?

For me, I think it was Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughn

I never really thought about it before. Until the other day I was giving some tips to a young kid who I work with. I was trying to show him the Major and Minor Pentatonic positions and as an example I brought up Lenny by SRV.  It uses both. It occurred to me that was the song which really made a lot of things "click" for me. It taught me how to get a Wind Cries Mary style, country style, straight blues or even rock style. Once I understood that, I could apply it to so many other places. Even if I'm not directly playing a Major or Minor Pentatonic scale, I almost always think where I am in relation to those positions. 

[So how many Gibsons, or Gibson brands, do you own?]

I currently own an R7 Goldtop and a LP Studio Plus in Desert Burst with a broken headstock.   

[redundant nameplate]

I know I'm late but I also like the old look. 

[lets be careful out there kids!! (this is sad and funny at the same time)]

11 hours ago, DanvillRob said:

My grandfather (born April 20, 1889) was real "old-school" and used to tell my dad to "Put down that damned guitar until you learn how to play it!" 

Sounds like something Yogi Berra would have said. 😀

[Zappa Tonight on BBC 4]

17 hours ago, Whitefang said:

I'm not sure I get that channel .

And I think that might be the doc I already have on DVD.  And anyway......

If some think he's not all that prolific, there's no denying he's diverse!      How many here can play this "instrument" as well?-------------

 

Whitefang

That piece really spoke to me. 

 

[The "Just got in from a gig" thread.....]

Played another Ram's Head gig tonight. This time in Stevensville MD. We usually do acoustic there but they wanted a full band tonight because there was a wedding reception going on.

So we threw together an impromptu band with hardly any rehearsal. It didn't start out too well, as we were setting up the guy we had on drums realized that he forgot his cymbals. So he had to run home  to get them   ( back and forth across a congested Chesapeake Bay Bridge) .  We started acoustically without him until he arrived back halfway through the first set. 

After that things settled in to a great gig. We pretty much just winged it. But everyone was good enough players to make it work. Matter of fact, the other guitar player was probably the best guitar player I've ever personally played with. It was a real honor and pleasure to play with this guy. He is much better than me, but our styles meshed well and we both complimented each other. 

But. Then I get home and after bringing in my guitar and some other stuff, I decide to pour glass of Heavens Door whiskey and relax. As I'm walking to the couch, my elbow hits a doorway and the whiskey spills all over the kitchen floor.   Hopefully I cleaned it up good enough that my wife won't ask me about the sticky floor and smell of alcohol when she comes down in the morning.         

[RIP Rev. Dave Lee]

I just saw this post. Damn. the Rev was a good guy.  Sorry to hear about this. 

RIP Dave

 

[The "Just got in from a gig" thread.....]

Played my 3rd gig in a row tonight. It was with the acoustic duo. There's a local chain of bar/restaurants called Ram's Head. We've played regularly at a few of the other locations, but tonight was the first time at this particular one right outside of Annapolis in a town called Crownsville. Interesting thing tonight, was the county fair grounds are just down the road and the annual Renaissance Festival is going on there. The place was packed with people coming from that in their full period attire. It was a great night and we met some really cool people and they loved our music. Got some tips and drinks bought for us.    

On the drive home my buddy and I talked on our phones the whole way. Reflecting how lucky we are to do this. With a very few exceptions, all the people we meet and connections we make are great. The management and staff where we play, the patrons at the venues and even other bands and musicians who play the same places. And we make a few Dollars doing it.  What more could we ask for?  🙂 

[NPD VOX Copperhead Drive]

On 10/4/2021 at 6:53 PM, sparquelito said:

Looks and sounds interesting!

Best of luck, and please let us know how she holds up on the next job, mate. 

😁

Well I've tried this pedal out at a full band gig on Thursday and acoustic duo gigs on Friday and Saturday  (tonight). It's certainly a higher Gain pedal than the MojoMojo I've been using. Much more saturated, sustainy type of distortion. But the high end is really kind of piercing. I think I need to turn the Treble down some. Plus the Volume is very sensitive. It's tricky to find the sweet spot. I couldn't imagine ever turning the Volume all the way up.      

[NPD VOX Copperhead Drive]

I've been jonesing for a new Overdrive/Distortion pedal for awhile. After weeks of browsing the online sites I somehow missed this VOX Valvenergy Series pedals until a few days ago. I was intrigued with them. Especially the CAB Mode that seems like it will be good for when I run straight into the PA. The Copperhead supposedly gives that British Stack (PLEXI) sound. When I saw a brand new one on eBay for less than the other online retailers and it also included a 10' guitar cable and 2 jumper cables I couldn't resist. Hooked it up today and it works and sounds as advertised. Can't wait to try it at a gig. I'll use it in Standard Mode with the full band and CAB Mode for acoustic gigs.  

 

[NGD]

Congratz. It's a beauty. And I prefer Name 4. 

[After a break]

Yes. Many times with my bands we've rehearsed a lot before a gig, then we play and either make a bunch of screw ups or we're just flat. Then we play some gig where we haven't practiced in weeks and we play great. I'm not sure what causes this phenomenon but it is a real thing.