Hello Mr. Eldridge, I just wanted to thank you for the lessons. I am able to grasp most of the concepts and have been able to play most everything to my satisfaction so far (I am starting "Gold Rush" now). The different ways you describe the guitar give me some good guide lines to follow. I feel that I am much improved in a short time.
At Albino Skunk Festival I played 4 origional songs and a few "Dead" songs around the fire with the Screaming J's out of Asheville. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, but I held my own. Also, played an origional song that Billy Strings played lead guitar on. He is mentioned in the song. Went ot Merlefest, and Wednesday night walked into the big Bluegrass jam at our campground and played "Shady Grove", taking the guitar breaks. Held my own, but got smoked on "Red Haired Boy" (had no idea what I was doing). Then I played a song I wrote about Doc and Merlefest. What a blast. One of my good "Merle" friends, Gary Davis, said he has met you, and his son, Brandon Davis, judged a contest with you and thinks you are one of the best guitar players around. It is amazing how much better I always seem to be after Merlefest. This year I was able to keep up and at least play some decent rythm for other folks to play solo's around.
I am not, and have not been, a Bluegrass picker, and didn't start playing guitar until I was 38-39, some 11 years ago, but am really enjoying learning and relaxing with the instrument.
Was not able to get to Pisgah to see you guys, but hope to see you next time you are in Upstate SC or Western NC.
Thank you Chris for the video. I spent over an hour playing different notes and listening. I really like your approach to playing and teaching, and am looking forward to working my way through the lessons.
I seem to have an emotional attachment to sounds, which I think is similar to what you are saying, but I am sure it is much less developed. However, I have trouble finding the sounds when I need them on guitar, but practicing playing notes yesterday was fun, and really helped. I am OK to grab many chords, but working on expanding my vocabulary. When playing the harmonica, I can almost always find sad, angry, the right sound....to go with what someone may be playing on another instrument or saying in a song, so I am looking forward to crossing that bridge on guitar.
Hello Chris, I am new to the site, and have gone through the the first couple lessons. I am a song writer and looking to keep up a little better with my Bluegrass buddies at jams. I ran onto a lesson on youtube, just by chance, and a couple things you said really caught my interest. You spoke briefly about notes having color and feel, and that is a link I make when I here other artists play (Kruger Brothers come to mind), but can't seem to find it on the neck of a guitar. Also, I would fit as the guitar player who plays pre-programmed from tab when playing a break. I get mistaken for being better than I am if I play a song I have practiced forever.
Several things of no importance: My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Forster at Merlefest last year, spent almost an hour with him...good guy, then met up with him again at a Hotrize fest in Black Mountain. I have have been using the Monel strings, they really bring a nice tone to my guitar, a Larrivee D-40R, hope you don't hold that against me. I read the article in Accoustic Guitar Magazine about you and the jazz guitarist playing vintage Martins.
I am sure I will have some questions for you and maybe upload a video at some point. Hope you, and/or one of your bands can make it to Upstate South Carolina soon. Sincerely, Brooks Searls
Hi Brooks, welcome to the site! Because the concept of color is so elusive and personal (and therefore difficult to write about!) I made a short video talking about how one might go about cultivating the ability to hear the "color" of different notes. In the video I just went up the scale but try jumping around a bit and see if these notes make you feel anything even without the context of a song. I think it really has to do with mindfulness.
The concept of notes and even chords having color is a beautifl ... verbal way to describe how I feel when writing, playing, or listening to a song. For most of my life ... when I played or wrote ... I was happy to play in the most basic and simplist way possible. I think it is because I'd never had a music or guitar lesson and to be honest I'm just not that great of a picker even though I have played at playing for most of my life. For the past several months my senses are beginning to come alive as I discover colorful and vibrant alternative ways to play the same song. What used to be a great unknown and scary place for me, i.e., up the neck is becoming less and less initmidating. My playing is slowly getting better but my melodies have improved quite a bit. I stumbled around a bit but I'm very happy to have landed here.
Hello Mr. Eldridge, I just wanted to thank you for the lessons. I am able to grasp most of the concepts and have been able to play most everything to my satisfaction so far (I am starting "Gold Rush" now). The different ways you describe the guitar give me some good guide lines to follow. I feel that I am much improved in a short time.
At Albino Skunk Festival I played 4 origional songs and a few "Dead" songs around the fire with the Screaming J's out of Asheville. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, but I held my own. Also, played an origional song that Billy Strings played lead guitar on. He is mentioned in the song. Went ot Merlefest, and Wednesday night walked into the big Bluegrass jam at our campground and played "Shady Grove", taking the guitar breaks. Held my own, but got smoked on "Red Haired Boy" (had no idea what I was doing). Then I played a song I wrote about Doc and Merlefest. What a blast. One of my good "Merle" friends, Gary Davis, said he has met you, and his son, Brandon Davis, judged a contest with you and thinks you are one of the best guitar players around. It is amazing how much better I always seem to be after Merlefest. This year I was able to keep up and at least play some decent rythm for other folks to play solo's around.
I am not, and have not been, a Bluegrass picker, and didn't start playing guitar until I was 38-39, some 11 years ago, but am really enjoying learning and relaxing with the instrument.
Was not able to get to Pisgah to see you guys, but hope to see you next time you are in Upstate SC or Western NC.
Thanks again,
Brooks Searls
Brooks, thanks for the kind words and congrats on all the progress! Hopefully we'll be able to say hi in person one of these days!
Thank you Chris for the video. I spent over an hour playing different notes and listening. I really like your approach to playing and teaching, and am looking forward to working my way through the lessons.
I seem to have an emotional attachment to sounds, which I think is similar to what you are saying, but I am sure it is much less developed. However, I have trouble finding the sounds when I need them on guitar, but practicing playing notes yesterday was fun, and really helped. I am OK to grab many chords, but working on expanding my vocabulary. When playing the harmonica, I can almost always find sad, angry, the right sound....to go with what someone may be playing on another instrument or saying in a song, so I am looking forward to crossing that bridge on guitar.
Thanks again,
Brooks
Hello Chris, I am new to the site, and have gone through the the first couple lessons. I am a song writer and looking to keep up a little better with my Bluegrass buddies at jams. I ran onto a lesson on youtube, just by chance, and a couple things you said really caught my interest. You spoke briefly about notes having color and feel, and that is a link I make when I here other artists play (Kruger Brothers come to mind), but can't seem to find it on the neck of a guitar. Also, I would fit as the guitar player who plays pre-programmed from tab when playing a break. I get mistaken for being better than I am if I play a song I have practiced forever.
Several things of no importance: My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Forster at Merlefest last year, spent almost an hour with him...good guy, then met up with him again at a Hotrize fest in Black Mountain. I have have been using the Monel strings, they really bring a nice tone to my guitar, a Larrivee D-40R, hope you don't hold that against me. I read the article in Accoustic Guitar Magazine about you and the jazz guitarist playing vintage Martins.
I am sure I will have some questions for you and maybe upload a video at some point. Hope you, and/or one of your bands can make it to Upstate South Carolina soon. Sincerely, Brooks Searls
Hi Brooks, welcome to the site! Because the concept of color is so elusive and personal (and therefore difficult to write about!) I made a short video talking about how one might go about cultivating the ability to hear the "color" of different notes. In the video I just went up the scale but try jumping around a bit and see if these notes make you feel anything even without the context of a song. I think it really has to do with mindfulness.
Cheers,
Chris
The concept of notes and even chords having color is a beautifl ... verbal way to describe how I feel when writing, playing, or listening to a song. For most of my life ... when I played or wrote ... I was happy to play in the most basic and simplist way possible. I think it is because I'd never had a music or guitar lesson and to be honest I'm just not that great of a picker even though I have played at playing for most of my life. For the past several months my senses are beginning to come alive as I discover colorful and vibrant alternative ways to play the same song. What used to be a great unknown and scary place for me, i.e., up the neck is becoming less and less initmidating. My playing is slowly getting better but my melodies have improved quite a bit. I stumbled around a bit but I'm very happy to have landed here.