Might as well kick it off with a near-midnight snack report, I'm about to have a beer if that counts.Music Instruction
I just enrolled myself in lessons for the first time; I actually asked on another forum (while this one was down) where I might find a good Skype instructor; someone on the east coast by coincidence recommended someone a five minute drive from me
Had my first lesson today and plan on attending face-to-face. The thing is I've always been an... Ok player. I had some music theory classes in college and for a while took formal bass lessons, but never guitar. When I was at my best maybe ten years ago, playing in a band, I actually had terrible technique but I could make myself sound about the way I wanted regardless. I could always manage somehow, improvising or learning songs, despite playing just about everything 'wrong.' I took a long break from guitar after that, and when I committed to coming back to it I decided to make a concerted effort to do it 'right' - But I sort of reached a wall and recognized I need an instructor to go any further. Promising results from the first lesson; I got some useful pointers along the lines of hand positioning that I'm already feeling a benefit from practicing, and got introduced to a new way of viewing the fretboard & scales. So the question is: Have you ever sought out lessons or musical education? Did you find any benefit from it?G&L Topic
I re-assembled my dad's F100 during the only lightning storm I've experienced in SoCal in the last ten years. I didn't even realize it was going to rain that night, because it was sunny & warm during the day, and rain just doesn't happen in the summer (or really any time in most of CA, but winter is the typical rainy season.) As soon as I bolted the neck back on, I nearly dropped the guitar; a lightning bolt hit *very* near the house. It killed the streaming box on our TV, the Wii U, our dishwasher and our internet router, and sounded like a bomb going off. I think my dad was trying to tell me something; like 'Quit messing with my guitar.'
Anyway- Speaking of bolting necks back on I'm wondering if anyone actually uses microtilt. I have it backed out (well, tightened somewhat to eliminate possible rattles) on all my guitars that have it; the F100 , my SC3 , and an American Strat. There's just no need for it to get the action correct to my preference. G&L says their new precision neck carving eliminates the need for it- But do you miss microtilt? I read a lot of people here like to set their guitars up per the factory instructions; do you prefer to use the microtilt to do that, or set it flat and proceed to adjust from there? I can see a need for adjusting neck angle on guitars like Jaguars & Jazzmasters where the break angle above the bridge is affected, but not so much for a DFV or Saddle Lock.
Music Selection
I've noticed some of my favorite songs from 'hard' artists are 'slow' songs & albums- I always liked Red Hot Chili Peppers but 'By the Way' actually is one of my favorite albums, despite not sounding like any of their other work. I love Alice in Chains, but am unusual in enjoying Sap or Jar of Flies as their best albums. And Stone Temple Pilots - What a versatile band. What softer songs do you like by harder artists? Do you enjoy it when musician's show off an unexpected slower side, or do you feel it's cheesy or forced?
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf3hEAmfrPs[/video]
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