6V6
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 284
|
Posted on Dec 21 2013 09:50 PM
Thought this might be fun. Have you improved as a musician this year? If so, was there a source that deserves credit? A lesson, book, pdf, video, application, or other?
Here are some of my recent favorites:
-
Purchase of Transcribe software...inexpensive software for learning how to play from youtube video or any audio. Worth every penny and highly recommended.
-
Purchase of Chord Pulse software for Windows...an inexpensive 'band in a box' software. Its great for helping to figure out chord progressions, creating backing track, and chord charts. Also worth every penny and highly recommended.
-
Purchase of a Yamaha Guitalele....yup, a mini uke of a guitar that I paid $80 for and goes everywhere. I can play while sitting in the drivers seat of my car (parked, usually) and I have taking it on the plane many times. Perfect for getting practice in on the road, during lunch breaks, or while waiting for the light to change.
-
Inexpensive or free online lessons that have been fuel for many a practice session:
Whit Smith Workbook - a number of interesting ideas here
Tico Tico finger exercise - a fun warm up
Free Arlen Roth lesson on 6th and 9th chords
99centGuitar Lessons
|
mom_surfing
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5320
the outer banks of north carolina
|
Posted on Dec 21 2013 10:14 PM
playing out in a cover band
— www.surfintheeye.com
|
bamboozer
Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 07:08 AM
Truefire guitar lessons, having failed to find "my" teacher in this area these lesson downloads do it for me. That and finally becoming obsessed with getting better on guitar. To quote my piano teacher of several decades: "what is music but obsession?".
|
el_pablo
Joined: Apr 16, 2012
Posts: 94
Biot
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 07:34 AM
- Buying a quality guitar: After saving for 12 months and resisting the temptation to buy something cheaper earlier on many occasions, I bought an American strat. The guitar itself improved my technique
- Finding some guys to play with: Although the guys I play with predominately like jazz standards my musicianship has improved markedly since playing with them.
- Playing my first live gig: Learning to control my nerves and executing the performance without too many flaws has given me a boost in confidence in my playing, particularly in front of people.
— Paul
The Dead Planet Surfers
|
drumsdick
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 225
Central CT, USA
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 11:19 AM
I have been fortunate this year to have had or made opportunities to make music in ways that really helped me to listen carefully and become more aware of how I must play to support and blend with other players. Tom (aka "Noisy Dad"), Dave and Mike, of our band "The Aquatudes", challenge me every week with a mix of original and covers of vocal and instrumental surf rock, surf pop, rock 'n roll, and lately some lounge/exotica. I try to stop in at a local open blues jam on weeks when The Aquatudes have to stand down. And, right here on SG101, from the comfort of my own home, I have been thrilled to learn how to play together via the internet with John (aka "Rich") and Carol (aka "mom_surfing") on tunes for the 2013 Compilation and more. My two cents:
1) Play with as many partners as you can.
2) Play as many different genres as you can.
3) Record yourself as often as you can.
My current endeavor is to become a competent "Bongocero" of Surf/Exotica. I'd love a chance to add bongos and percussion to any quieter tunes that you all may have recorded. PM me if you want to play!
— *Dick B.
The Aquatudes
http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521
|
CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 11:44 AM
I concur with Dick B.
Performance with others
Recording
and Writing
mixed in with good old practice have (hopefully) made me a better player this year.
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
|
revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3854
North Atlantic
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 05:02 PM
As said above lots of gigging with Urban Surf Kings, the Rev Hank Trio, and solo.
Listening to a lot of various styes of music.
Recording.
ReadingVictor Wooten's The Music Lesson for the umpteenth time
Teaching (especially Special Needs kids)
Listening to a lot of various styes of music.
Listening to a lot of various styes of music.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
|
6V6
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 284
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 06:11 PM
ReadingVictor Wooten's The Music Lesson for the umpteenth time
Hank, good tip..looks like a good book for my daughter (which I will read when she isn't looking).
|
eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 07:24 PM
Playing out live on stage with Ivan, Sticks, and Trace..........
Trial by fire!
Loved every second of it.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
|
mom_surfing
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5320
the outer banks of north carolina
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 08:13 PM
eddiekatcher wrote:
Playing out live on stage with Ivan, Sticks, and Trace..........
Trial by fire!
Loved every second of it.
ed
i loved every second watching you guys
— www.surfintheeye.com
|
Rich
Joined: Jan 20, 2013
Posts: 30
|
Posted on Dec 22 2013 08:42 PM
Practice, practice, practice. I say it but I don't always do it. Life gets in the way. I play and record in bursts. I'll do three songs some weeks and lay off for a month. Fingers stiffen up like they're wrapped to popsicle sticks. Then I know I have to get back to it. If I practiced more religiously, I'd be a lot better. I also like to listen to artists who are better than I am, for inspiration.
|
Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 09:33 AM
Yes (which wasn't hard to do after a 20yr hiatus).
- Tips from this forum.
- Bruce's cover lessons on the net (not available in a galaxy far away)
- Retirement, i.e., availability of time with the added perk of being able to turn the amp up to bar volume during the day while the neighborhood is at work.
- dp's reminder to "...breathe" when learning/practicing staccato picking.
- Listen to this awesome educational resource: http://www.northseasurfradio.com/
As Lone Wadi quoted in Josey Wales: "Endeavor to persevere."
Surf music is too dang much fun not to.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
|
pavlovsdog
Joined: Nov 22, 2010
Posts: 297
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 10:50 AM
Another year of working on and maintaining my sobriety. As well as giving back and helping newcomers at meeting and the clinic I went through.
Experiencing love and loss.
Listening to records every day. Reading new books. Appreciating art. Watching a film in a cinema. Making someone smile.
These are things that help me express myself. Practicing on a guitar more than three hours depresses me.
|
Racerx
Joined: Oct 19, 2013
Posts: 14
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 02:10 PM
Purchased a gomez surfer and new gretsch made me want to practice practice practice.thanks Dario
|
raito
Joined: Oct 16, 2008
Posts: 552
Madison, WI
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 03:51 PM
Practice. I probably logged tens of hours on guitar this year. Went from incompetent to embarrassment. Lagged off the keyboards a bit, though.
|
Rich
Joined: Jan 20, 2013
Posts: 30
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 04:30 PM
I like your reference: "from incompetent to embarrassment." That's the way I am re. piano. Left hand, right hand issues. I have two lefts. Recently did guitar and piano/keyboard on Beach Boys "God Only Knows." Worked OK but if the piano had been mic'ed better, it would've sounded better. Took me an hour to figure out the piano.
|
JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 909
New York City area
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 04:43 PM
I had to get my ass in gear and shake out the cobwebs for the Ventures Fest last October. It was more than worth it - I got to play along with Bob Spalding of the Ventures. And I met a great bunch of people in the process.
I also scored a Dupont manouche gypsy guitar and about $300-$500 worth of media to learn gypsy jazz. I'll be at it for years.
J Mo'
|
heepeejeep
Joined: Feb 28, 2013
Posts: 350
|
Posted on Dec 23 2013 06:30 PM
Ways of improvement this year: (surf/instro style)
- Tips from the forum
- Getting the "right" equipment and settling with some nice gear (in my opinion) and a certain guitar sound I will continue work on.
- Doing alot of practice & home recording (almost daily for long periods).
- Makeing my own material
- Watching Jason Lee & next level guitar  .
(that may have been back in 2012)
Ways of improvement for next year:
-Tips from the forum
-Using less time in chaseing gear and certain sounds (ehh,  )
-Keep on with regular/daily practice & home recording
-Continue in writing material
-Take time to learn and play some covers/standards.
-Hopefully playing a hole lot more (what ever genre) with other musicians.
|
RevGeo
Joined: Nov 14, 2013
Posts: 24
|
Posted on Dec 26 2013 12:14 PM
Bourbon.
I guess gigging 3 nights a week didn't hurt either. I've been arranging some of my favorite surf, Duane Eddy and various early rock tunes for solo gut-string guitar. Surf Rider lends itself to Chet Atkins-style fingerpicking quite well.
|
josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2367
Twin Cities, MN
|
Posted on Dec 26 2013 12:49 PM
What got me better this year was having to learn like 30 songs in less than 2 months so I can actually step out of the bedroom and go play live in front of people.
As a reverb junkie, I used to get my reverb fix in the audience. Now I'm up on stage dealing it.
Reverb... a gateway drug!
|
May Birthdays 
