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

¨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.

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

* Resolve to persist * Get inspired: Perspire.
* Key indicators for success: do you love to play? Do you take the time?

The Second Day of January has much significance in my history. I borrowed my first guitar from Uncle Hoke on that date; and, sixteen years later to the day, I became certain that my current and ongoing romantique principal, Becky, was interested in me.

Therefore, I think of this time every year both as the anniversary of my beginning to play the guitar and of my favorite femme fatale finally realizing that she was my girlfriend. From that moment, my guitar had to share its illustrious day of recognition, unshared for sixteen years of practice and performance, with the lovely woman with whom I now have the good fortune of sharing my life.

January 2nd , the day Becky entered my life in all seriousness, almost completely eclipsed my guitar’s acquisition anniversary. Still, I usually play a song or two for her, we sing together, or she sings for me. It is just a lot of fun being with her. When we remember how much fun it is, we sing together as we used to (in California) before the big rush of life and children engulfed us in ineffable joy and fatigue.

Now that Valentine’s Day is upon us, I think about persistence even more.

I guess what I am trying to say is some new years resolutions turn out right. They sometimes last well past Valentine’s Day. Sometimes the love that you need is the love that you are in.