dallas texas

anyone in the dallas areathat would be interested in meeting somewhere and playing together?

Thanks Steve - that's EXACTLY the advice I was looking for! Not playing for a couple weeks, but i'll let you know how I get on. Thanks so much for sharing.

ps love the 'electirc kazoo' comment - that's precisley what I've always wanted to avoid!

Glad to be of service Dave

Duke,

Thanks for your tone setting starting point.   It's been a great help,  hey it's the real deal from you. 

God bless BB King.

thank you for your reply,

Dave,  St.Louis

Hi Charlie

I've been playing in bands since  I was 15 (I just turned 60) and have always used the volume on my guitar to switch to lead. I set my sound up for lead and roll the volume back on the guitar for rhythm. I've gotten to know where the vol knob is without looking. Depending on the tone, you can also switch between pick ups for this, one set up full the other not. The attack alone on the strings will often be enough to vary between lead and rhythm. I avoid pedals, altho I picked up a Decibal+ last year, which can add volume for lead when engaged without sounding like an electric kazoo. I haven't been using it because varying the guitar volume works fine for me. Similarly, I am currently in an 8 piece band, with a drumer that is a heavy hitter. You have good equipment - your tone should be fine when you dial back the guitar volume for rhythms.

I'm using either a Strat or 335 thru a Fender Deluxe reverb (reissue) with 6L6s and Mercury Magnetic iron. Les Pauls have plenty of output. A strat can vary depending on the pups. Standard Fender pups may not put out much. I put Fralin steel pool 43's in mine to increase the output.

Hi - anyone got any tips on doing this without pedals? I'm playing in a great 7 piece line up (vocals, keys, bass, drums, tenor sax, trumpet and me on guitar). We're playing a set comprised of songs from the Chess and Modern labels. Band are great and I'm happy with my playing.

BUT listening to recordings of rehearsals my solo's are sounding thin. The notes/phrasing are good, but the tone isn't cutting thru. I've never been one for pedals because none of the guys I listen to use them (or I'm assuiming they don't - goes without saying Charlie Christian never did, but he had no problem cutting thru when his turn came to solo, yet his comping in the background is great too). BB, Freddie or Albert didn't use them on their classic early recordings - but then they never really played rhythm beyond the odd chord punch.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can cover both rhythm and lead without losing tone in either? There's a great quote from Keith Richards to the effect that you don't walk into a store and ask for a rhythm or lead guitar. My rhythm isn't straight strumming, more fills around the vocal and (clumsy) chord melodies. They sound good on the recordings, but the single string stuff isn't there yet. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

ps I'm playing usually either a Les Paul or a Strat thru a Blues Junior.

Thanks for the reply Corey.  

That is a good tip about the unwound 3rd string, I have been using plastic fingerpicks because I didn't like the way the metal ones felt against the 3rd string,  I think I will swap to a unwound 3rd string and go back to metal picks.

The new member of the family didn't stay with me very long, I didn't think the estralita was me and I sold it to recoup my money.  I now have a 12 fret steel triolian on it's way to me and  think this one will be a keeper.

Hi Mike 

The speed test didn't work as it is only in the USA.

The file is 116 MB.

Thanks,

J

Hi Jamie --- OK --- an hour is a LONG time --- usually it's a minute or two.  

It possibly hit a "time-out" issue --- we will investigate it.  In the mean time, can you do the speed test here

http://speedtest.comcast.net/

--- and let me know the result.  

Also --- how big is your video file?

Thanks. 

Hi Mike

Yesterday I attempted uploading the video again and it took an hour or two and then gave me a message saying "Upload Complete, prosessing." this message was up for an hour and nothing happened. 

I am using Windows 8.1, google chrome and HP Pavilion g6.

Thanks for the help so far,

Jamie

Greetings Ryan and congrats on the new addition to the family. For a resonator guitar I use regular light guage strings (.12 for high E string).  I also like to use an unwound 3rd string because I find that when I use wound 3rds, they deteriorate much faster because I use finger picks on my National.  Sometimes I will also use a .32 for the D string as well because I like the sound and the feel.

 I have never tuned down when not playing.  The only time I would tune down is of course when travelling by air.  I have always used .12 guage strings and it has worked well for me.

I hope that this helps...let me know!

Hi Jamie --- thanks for the message and sorry for the issue.  

The uploader is working for our test systems --- so it's likely an interaction issue between your system / video and the Sonic Junction uploader.   Can you tell me a bit about your computer and also try and upload it once more?

To confirm --- are you uploading the video from a PC / Mac --- or are you using an iPod?

I will stick with you until we get it solved.

Hi anyone who can help

I filmed a video on my iPod and it doesn't upload. I get a message saying ""IMG_2102.MOV" Failed to upload. Error:"

What can I do as I would like some feedback from Corey and I can't upload the video. 

Thanks

JJ

Hi Corey, 

I recently picked up 2nd hand Estralita Deluxe, can you let me know what string guages are safe to use for open E?  Also, is it good practice to tune down when not playing?

I currently have the Michael Messer Newtone .013 to .056 strings on it, but it says on the back of the packet that you should use a lighter guage string set if you frequently tune up to open A and E.  

Thanks, Ryan

Here's two videos. One I call Apparition, it is the song I was originally asking about. I can't really work out a good chord progression for it. The second one is only partial; I just thought of it a few days ago. Can anybody help me with chords?

I'm willing to put it out there that I live in Los Angeles and would be happy to get together and jam with like-minded folks.

When I first moved to LA in 2000, I used to go to the blues jams here (playing keys, my first instrument) to meet musicians and pick up gigs. The scene at Harvelle's in Santa Monica used to be pretty cool, as was the more down-home Babe's And Ricky's in Liemert Park, but I understand Babe's and Ricky's is gone, and I don't think Harvelle's has the Monday night jams anymore. 

So after studying lead guitar for less than a year (7 months with Duke), I have yet to try playing it in front of an audience! And even though I've played keys on thousands of gigs doing jazz, blues, rock, etc., I'm still pretty nervous that my fingers will fail me on the guitar. So a jam would be a great way to push myself while keeping a safety net.

Mike: if you decide to have an "opt-in" page where people can put their location and contact email, count me in!

Bruce

Hi Jolister, just because would be a fun tune to learn and a little different slant on chord progressions we have done. So yes, good suggestion! Duke

That will be coming Peter, for sure! Duke

Most often it comes from making a guttural sound from the back of the throat as you attack the note.

When Jerry plays he gets a great rasping sound, or almost a rattle, out of the harp. Is it the harp, or something else that he is doing? It's a great sound.

Hi Dave, I usually keep my tone controls wide open unless I'm going for a jazz tone then I roll off the highs until i get the desired tone.On on the bridge pickup I may roll off some highs sometimes to get a more muted tone. It depends on what you like really. My advise should just be a starting point. On my Blues Junior I set the master on 10 the treble on about 5 or lower if I'm playing jazz. Middle is usually about 7 and bass 2 or 3. I run  the volume betweet 2 and 4. As I said evryone's concept of tone and needs are different so use this for a start. you may not even like it. It depends on what sound you hear in your head. Duke

I concur completely Duke.  I have had a few great experiences, and I always manage to pull off a performance that the audience likes, but, as I said, I have had to resort to "scouting" these events first to make sure there is some compatibility there.  I find that what people think of as "blues" is very uninspired in general these days.  It's mostly blues rock, very repetitious, and plagued by incompetent jam masters (as them call them).  I think the idea of students connecting is a good idea.  One thing, anyone involved in this venture at Sonic Junction is on the same page in terms of what the music values are.  While one would not want to infringe on anyone's privacy, it would be cool to be able to see an index of subscribers with perhaps their city, state and country and a way to connect via the website.  Although I think we are probably pretty spread out,  I think it would at least offer an opportunity for us to familiarize ourselves with the blues scene in different areas and possibly connect up for some creative venture.

Thanks Mike and Steve, In blues and jazz the music used to be about listening and following and making accents and at apropriate times. When that happens, it's the best feeling in the world. It's what i want to promote and make people aware of. As a rhythm section player it means holding back and really listening. But also for guitarists it means the same thing if you are playing obligato to a vocalist or building a solo that really fits in the song. it's all about listening. In regards to learning and playing with other people. It would be great if we could start getting some of the students playing duos on videos. Then we can see the interaction developing.Duke

Hi Duke,

First,,, thank you for your lessons.  

Epiphone Sheraton II and Fender blues jr.

Do you set the guitar tones to neutral, meaning 5 on vol and 5 on tone,  then adjust amp tones.  Or set the amp up first,  then adjust guitar tone??

p.s. saw you in the St.Louis  years ago,  it was a mobil street stage located right next to the "White Castle" buger joint.  You commented on the great smell (not) in the air.   You were a good sport about the gig.

Thanks Duke!!

Dave