How to build a cigar box guitar - Free Plans at www.cigarboxnation.com.
I've checked the plans out; it's an inexpensive and easy project, and you'll finish up with your own one-of-a-kind blues machine.
Be Sociable
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, March 07, 2008
Still here... How about video?
It's been like six months since I've posted anything here. I haven't forgotten about you, Highway 17 Music, I've just been trying to figure out the best format and tools for continuing this project.
I've just started testing something that I'd like you to check out: the Highway 17 Music guitar community at magnify.net. Magnify.net is a tool for creating video-based online communities. You can add videos (either upload direct, or import from YouTube, Revver, etc.), rate them, tag them, and help decide which are the most relevant for the community.
I'm still working on how to combine the video elements of that with the blog - I think there should be a way to add blogs on magnify; not just mine, but from each of you as well. I also need to put in links between here and there... (work in progress).
Anyway, it's still an experiment right now, but please check it out and let me know how it works for you.
I've just started testing something that I'd like you to check out: the Highway 17 Music guitar community at magnify.net. Magnify.net is a tool for creating video-based online communities. You can add videos (either upload direct, or import from YouTube, Revver, etc.), rate them, tag them, and help decide which are the most relevant for the community.
I'm still working on how to combine the video elements of that with the blog - I think there should be a way to add blogs on magnify; not just mine, but from each of you as well. I also need to put in links between here and there... (work in progress).
Anyway, it's still an experiment right now, but please check it out and let me know how it works for you.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
"Sell your music, not your soul"
"Sell your music, not your soul" is the tag line for a new service called TuneCore.com, which is designed to help you get your songs listed on iTunes and other online music sales sites. For a small upload and storage fee per song and album, they'll handle getting you listed and making sure your music is available for sale all over the world.
I have not used the service myself (and, no, this is not a paid placement - I just came across the site in my surfing yesterday), so I cannot give a personal testimonial, but it looks like a great idea for those of you who are trying to sell music direct from own sites and would love to give a broader audience access to your work.
The fees seem reasonable (do your research and make sure you know what you're doing before you agree to anything), and you should be able to make back your investment with just a few song or album sales.
I have not used the service myself (and, no, this is not a paid placement - I just came across the site in my surfing yesterday), so I cannot give a personal testimonial, but it looks like a great idea for those of you who are trying to sell music direct from own sites and would love to give a broader audience access to your work.
The fees seem reasonable (do your research and make sure you know what you're doing before you agree to anything), and you should be able to make back your investment with just a few song or album sales.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Carnival of the Blogging Guitarists
Well, this is a bit late, here's the latest edition of the Carnival of the Blogging Guitarists.
Christine Kane presents Rust Never Sleeps posted at Christine Kane.
Josh presents Great Guitarist posted at Vid A Day Plus.
Yep, that's it. Only two entries. I take a big part of the responsibility, as I have not had the time to post here as much as I would like to, and to promote the carnival. But do check out these two sites.
When I'm able to build this blog up a bit more, and increase readership, then I will return to host another edition of this carnival.
Christine Kane presents Rust Never Sleeps posted at Christine Kane.
Josh presents Great Guitarist posted at Vid A Day Plus.
Yep, that's it. Only two entries. I take a big part of the responsibility, as I have not had the time to post here as much as I would like to, and to promote the carnival. But do check out these two sites.
When I'm able to build this blog up a bit more, and increase readership, then I will return to host another edition of this carnival.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
American Woman (The Guess Who)
Learn one of the most recognizable riffs in the classic rock lexicon (and one heck of a fun jamming song), American Woman by the Guess Who.
Created by Riffs and Beyond
Created by Riffs and Beyond
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Reasons to Ditch Your Guitar Pick
by: Scott Thomas
"Hello, it’s ol’ riffmaster again…. Lately, I haven’t been using my guitar pick all that much. I got this tab book of some good ol’ Gatemouth Brown finger picking blues. I’ve been enjoying myself so much trying to get this fingerpick thang goin’."
I’m starting to understand the arpeggio-phrasing technique a lot more. Gatemouth Brown is a legend and a true musician. He plays acoustic / electric guitar in all genres. He can also play the fiddle like nobody’s business. He is also a drummer, harp player, and banjo playing fool.
So, let’s cover some of the techniques I’ve found to be very effective in my playing. Using these techniques can add color to your performance. Think of it as a small toolbox of tricks you can pull out to add character to your songs and live set. Effective pick-hand technique provides the kind tone and textures that can give a personal touch to an old classic or to provide a step off point for other creative musical endeavors.
Try Different Styles and Genre
Play the root notes with your thumb. The down-strums with the tips of your fingernails, and upstrokes with just you finger tips. Get yourself a metronome and play to different speeds, Do some stagger strumming. Strum to the off beats. Download or find music that you might not jam to. Try a calypso feel. Do some cowboy songs and “Yes” hammer-on those top bass strings and get into some alternate picking, etc. Try a walking bass line while playing the three higher strings open. These are just ideas to opening your mind!
Turn Your Acoustic into a Percussion Instrument
Bang on it like a hand drum. Strike or tap the strings with the inside surface of your fingers as if you swatting a fly. Now… don’t bang on it to hard. I don’t want to be blamed for someone’s guit-box being damaged. Let your fingers kind of bounce off and away from the strings for them to ring-out. Experiment with different taps all up and down the fret board and back side of the neck too! Use the top of the guitar as a drum. I’ve seen duos with one person playing the guitar and the other person playing the percussions on the back of the guitar laid flat across the their lap. Remember to use the different parts of the hand to include knuckles, fingers -rings, etc.
Slap and Pop Technique
Bass players use this technique for rhythmic power. Use the outside of your thumb joint to attack the strings. If you experiment with this approach, try getting bell like tones out of those bass strings.
Put Some Snap into Your Playing
Use your index finger to snap those high strings when playing lead solos. Try yanking lightly on each string, releasing it against the fret board with a bright snap. Give those strings a real pinch when needed too (Don't be shy...). This is good for rock and blues flavored solos.
Use Muting and Volume in Your Playing
Slap and pop with some funk. Use your thumb and middle finger playing octave notes. Kinda like a cat claw approach. Don’t forget to use the heel of your pick hand to mute and use as a volume control for the strings. Rest the heel of your hand lightly on the saddle. Now practice strumming and muting the strings while the heel lightly lays across the strings. Next, mute the strings with your chord-hand by lightly touching the string while strumming your guitar with your nails on your finger-tips. Kinda like playing percussions on the strings. I call it chickin’- scratchin’ those strings.
"Again, I hope I’ve sparked some imagination for playing without a pick. These ideas will help you develop your own style too!"
About The Author
Scott Thomas is the Managing Editor of Guitarz Forever.com.
"Hello, it’s ol’ riffmaster again…. Lately, I haven’t been using my guitar pick all that much. I got this tab book of some good ol’ Gatemouth Brown finger picking blues. I’ve been enjoying myself so much trying to get this fingerpick thang goin’."
I’m starting to understand the arpeggio-phrasing technique a lot more. Gatemouth Brown is a legend and a true musician. He plays acoustic / electric guitar in all genres. He can also play the fiddle like nobody’s business. He is also a drummer, harp player, and banjo playing fool.
So, let’s cover some of the techniques I’ve found to be very effective in my playing. Using these techniques can add color to your performance. Think of it as a small toolbox of tricks you can pull out to add character to your songs and live set. Effective pick-hand technique provides the kind tone and textures that can give a personal touch to an old classic or to provide a step off point for other creative musical endeavors.
Try Different Styles and Genre
Play the root notes with your thumb. The down-strums with the tips of your fingernails, and upstrokes with just you finger tips. Get yourself a metronome and play to different speeds, Do some stagger strumming. Strum to the off beats. Download or find music that you might not jam to. Try a calypso feel. Do some cowboy songs and “Yes” hammer-on those top bass strings and get into some alternate picking, etc. Try a walking bass line while playing the three higher strings open. These are just ideas to opening your mind!
Turn Your Acoustic into a Percussion Instrument
Bang on it like a hand drum. Strike or tap the strings with the inside surface of your fingers as if you swatting a fly. Now… don’t bang on it to hard. I don’t want to be blamed for someone’s guit-box being damaged. Let your fingers kind of bounce off and away from the strings for them to ring-out. Experiment with different taps all up and down the fret board and back side of the neck too! Use the top of the guitar as a drum. I’ve seen duos with one person playing the guitar and the other person playing the percussions on the back of the guitar laid flat across the their lap. Remember to use the different parts of the hand to include knuckles, fingers -rings, etc.
Slap and Pop Technique
Bass players use this technique for rhythmic power. Use the outside of your thumb joint to attack the strings. If you experiment with this approach, try getting bell like tones out of those bass strings.
Put Some Snap into Your Playing
Use your index finger to snap those high strings when playing lead solos. Try yanking lightly on each string, releasing it against the fret board with a bright snap. Give those strings a real pinch when needed too (Don't be shy...). This is good for rock and blues flavored solos.
Use Muting and Volume in Your Playing
Slap and pop with some funk. Use your thumb and middle finger playing octave notes. Kinda like a cat claw approach. Don’t forget to use the heel of your pick hand to mute and use as a volume control for the strings. Rest the heel of your hand lightly on the saddle. Now practice strumming and muting the strings while the heel lightly lays across the strings. Next, mute the strings with your chord-hand by lightly touching the string while strumming your guitar with your nails on your finger-tips. Kinda like playing percussions on the strings. I call it chickin’- scratchin’ those strings.
"Again, I hope I’ve sparked some imagination for playing without a pick. These ideas will help you develop your own style too!"
About The Author
Scott Thomas is the Managing Editor of Guitarz Forever.com.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
New Classical Guitar Blog
Today I'd like to welcome Dan Cosley to the family of blogging guitarists. Dan's Coslito's Guitar Blog is dedicated to "Classical guitar performance, teaching, improvisation and composition."
In the first few postings he's already several pieces of free classical guitar sheet music, an Inner Hearing Exercise, and more. This promises to be a major resource for those interested in building up their classical guitar skills and knowledge.
Dan is well known in the classical guitar world and expanding his reputation daily as a performer, interpreter, and composer. He has trained with some of the finest performers and pedagogues of the guitar, including Ricardo Iznaola, Jonathan Leathwood, Jaime Guiscafré, and Masakazu Ito. Dan received his Masters in Guitar Performance at Lamont School of Music where he trained with, and was assistant to, famed Cuban guitarist Ricardo Iznaola.
In the first few postings he's already several pieces of free classical guitar sheet music, an Inner Hearing Exercise, and more. This promises to be a major resource for those interested in building up their classical guitar skills and knowledge.
Dan is well known in the classical guitar world and expanding his reputation daily as a performer, interpreter, and composer. He has trained with some of the finest performers and pedagogues of the guitar, including Ricardo Iznaola, Jonathan Leathwood, Jaime Guiscafré, and Masakazu Ito. Dan received his Masters in Guitar Performance at Lamont School of Music where he trained with, and was assistant to, famed Cuban guitarist Ricardo Iznaola.
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