April 24, 2008
How Bout Barack and Hillary
It was just one of those things. They almost had a shot at unity, and the GOOP (Grand Old Other Party) party, the party of the people, will be divided by the people, people who don´t need other people. What ever happened to the luckiest people in the world?
One good thing about Democrats; they bicker and they´re bitter. They agree on almost everything, but the devil is truly in the details.
Meanwhile the Republicans are done deciding; they simply bide their time, waiting for the two leading candidates to knock each other down and out with worthless political drivel aimed at each others´ inconsequential foibles. Foibles which, while meaningless to most voting Democrats, push Republican hot buttons.
Mostly Hillary is the most damaging to her opponent Barack in the primary. This is unfortunate for the country, because it means we just may have ANOTHER status quo president. And the status quo is not good of late. Smart move! and absolutely free. Thank you Democrats!
Another WADDUP commentary by GuitarZan
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August 20, 2007
Pagodas by Thom Tollerson
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August 19, 2007
We're Back
A recent question posted by a guitar aficionado named Shawn:
¨I am seeking a Professional Opinion on the use of electric guitar strings on an accoustic guitar. If you can provide an answer for me, please provide your qualifications. Thank you in advance!
Can you definitively answer to the following: IS it HARMFUL to use a set of light gauge electric strings on an accoustic guitar? The reason I want to use them is for playability, in particular having an unwound G string. Obviously when switching gauges of strings (especially a lighter gauge) a truss rod adjustment may be necessary. I am not interested in the tone, I simply want to know if a set of electric strings WILL DAMAGE the neck of the Accoustic Guitar? This is very important to us and I really would like an answer that I can provide to support my feeling that no damage will occur.
Thank you very much for your prompt response!
Shawn¨
And as to your question: it does not hurt the health of an acoustic guitar to put extra light gauge electric strings on. However, the volume will be reduced slightly and you will get a chunkier, but thinner, "electric" (nickle wound) sound. I think a better idea would be to simply purchase an unwound G string (ladies?) that is of a slightly higher gauge (thickness) than the wound G string that came with your acoustic (normally phosphor-bronze or bronze) set.
Comments? Direct them here and occasionally get answers.
Sincerely,
Fretsmaster.
Posted by Thom at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2007
How to Get Past the Beginning
The beginning of anything is often the hardest part of it. This applies especially to the guitar. Unlike the piano, making a good sounding chord may cause pain in the beginning. You may never get past this stage - unless you persist.
Within a few weeks of steady playing, your fingers toughen up a little - it stops hurting so much to press down on the strings with your fretting hand. The bad news is, unless you play your guitar during those painful weeks, the pain will never diminish, thus you will never become a guitar player.
I often hear myself saying that playing the guitar is one of the easiest things to get moderately proficient in - providing you get past the initial fingertip pain - and one of the hardest instruments to perfect or "finish". Students very frequently ask me, "How long does it take to learn to play? [the guitar]" and I must answer this way: as long as it takes you.
If you're learning to play the guitar so that you can check it off on your list of accomplishments and move on, six months to two years. To perfect your playing and master this challenging, versatile, expressive, and polyphonic instrument, an instrument for which scarcity of notes is virtue and constraint of expression is hard won, it will take as long as it takes you.
Here's what to remember when you are practicing.
There are three kinds of playing: practice, rehearsal, and performance.
Practice is what you do to improve your technique and learn your material.
Rehearsal can only happen when you know your material personally and are doing it from beginning to end without stopping. OR when you are working with your band to perfect material and integrate your instrumental and/or vocal parts, song by song.
Performance is when you play for your family, friends, church group, or worship service. It's when you play a short show or concert - to six friends or Symphony Hall.
Too many people think that once they can play a song through without stopping, they have perfected the song. Playing the song through without stopping is stage one.
Perfection comes when the song plays itself, and you, the performer, are listening and being entertained. If you can do that, with even only one song, you have moved past being a beginner.
By Thom Tollerson
Posted by Thom at 2:57 PM | Comments (1)
March 9, 2006
Famous Designs
This is just me writing something new and different!
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