Today I’d like to share some thoughts regarding solo guitar. And by that, I don’t mean “guitar solos,” or so-called “lead guitar”. I mean playing the guitar by yourself, in a way similar to how a pianist might play. Most… Continue Reading
I follow Music Clout on Twitter, and often see posts that suggest they view their target audience as aspiring pop stars, not musicians for hire. So when I caught the title Why Bands Need to Stop Bitching, and upon skimming the… Continue Reading
My father was a basketball coach, and one thing he used to say that has remained with me is “Practice like you play.” When he said it, he usually meant that one should work as hard during a practice as… Continue Reading
Let me begin by stating that I love tablature. I use it a lot, both in practice and in my lessons. When I have an idea for a lick, I often write it down on tablature paper. Sometimes I compose… Continue Reading
Eric at jazzadvice.com has written a pretty solid article on why jazz musicians shouldn’t rely too heavily on the Real Book. Read it here. I’ll follow up with some of my own thoughts: Real Book Origins and Use The Real… Continue Reading
There are two modes of performance: A practice mode, in which you assess what your doing, and a live mode, in which you let go of self-conciousness. In the first few minutes of this clinic, Kenny Werner shares some powerful thoughts… Continue Reading
Creative block can be deadly if you allow it to be. It is tempting to blame your lack of progress on a lack of ideas; but it’s merely the threat of not having ideas that intimidates you from continuing to… Continue Reading
Whether you consider yourself a pro or not, professionalism will show in the way you work, practice, and present yourself. At skinnyartist.com, a blog devoted to independent artists, there’s an excellent article on what distinguishes amateur behavior from that of a… Continue Reading
Forrest at Jazz Advice posted a list of anti-tips for the performer who wishes to remain mired in mediocrity. It’s worth a look: How to Be Mediocre in Jazz Improvisation, Soloing, Performing Tip number one, “Avoid Transcribing at All Costs,”… Continue Reading
I was listening to a live track by Exodus, and thought how pleasant it might be to employ a thrash metal setup, containing little more than an amp, guitar, and perhaps an overdrive pedal. In some scenarios, one might not… Continue Reading