Link Up!
Some things are not better left unsaid...
Thanks to fellow SubStacker Nic Briscoe, who writes the SubStack “The Song’s The Thing” for a lively discussion last week in the comments about the guitars used by the “composite band” The New Basement Tapes in the video for the song “Kansas City” based on Bob Dylan lyrics. If you missed it you can see the post here:
and scroll down to the comments at the bottom.
For today, I have some interesting links that may be helpful, so let’s get to them:
First, a link to an article on the CD Baby site. I link to a lot of articles and videos associated with CD Baby/CDBaby Pro or their affiliate business, Disc Makers, not because I receive any compensation or consideration from them (and would not accept any if offered), but because of the way they approach artists. Most music related businesses take a solely “buy this” or “buy from us” approach to advertising. I like to link to (for free) businesses that I deal with that offer something of value besides just a “x% off today!” approach. Today, links from them, and some interesting links from Acoustic Guitar Magazine about what may be a different, but enlightening approach to your playing, and finally a comment on an email that while probably well-meaning, completely misses the bigger issue.
So if you’re an independent artist recording your own music and maybe mixing and trying your hand at mastering as well, what next? CD Baby offers a blog, DIYMusician, that can help answer that question. Most of this link covers things we’ve talked about to some degree in past posts on Michael Acoustic, but this is a nice collection all in one place:
A Disc Maker article for vocals and vocalists that may have real meaning for songwriters, even if you’re not a vocalist.
From Acoustic Guitar Magazine, some links about an approach to playing guitar that, even if it’s not your genre, deserves some attention because of the history and the all important “groove” you can establish in your playing. Worth the read for the insight even if jazz guitar isn’t something you’ve considered.
A slightly different intro take
I included these because tomorrow I want to talk about a very useful chord progression that is often seen in jazz music, but can be adapted to other styles as well to give a certain “flavoring” to parts of your song that you want to draw attention to.
Also from Acoustic Guitar Magazine an interesting look at the various guitars of a master, Bob Dylan.
I’d love to see something similar about Townes Van Zandt’s and John Prine’s guitars over the years, though they may have already been covered and I just missed the articles.
A final link, for readers who might be getting into, or back into, gigs, a resource (not free, and I’m not connected with this in any way) for finding booking agents.
Booking Agent Directory (not free!)
Finally for today, an email from Mr. Griff Hamlin of Blues Guitar Unleashed, everything inside the quotations is credited to and copyrighted by him and his company:
“[Beginning Lesson] make sure you can do this, please.
According to the CEO of Fender Musical Instruments... there are more people taking up and playing the guitar than ever before...
Which is great news!
I love to see more people getting into the guitar...
But I often see the same question pop up online (forums, facebook, etc.)
It goes like this...
"I'm a beginner, what should I start with and who should I learn from?"
And I usually answer the exact same way:
"I don't care who, but make sure you learn to count and keep time from step 1. If the videos you're watching don't talk about counting and timing, move on and find someone else."
The number of students I've seen over the years who kick themselves for not taking the time to count and keep time at the beginning...
Well, that's a really big number, and a lot of frustrated guitar players :(
So if you are a beginner, PLEASE do this lesson and take your time and do it right.
If you're not a beginner, make sure you can do this easily, and don't skip out on it ;)
https://bluesguitarunleashed.com/blog/beginning-12-bar-blues-easy-guitar-lesson
Talk soon,
Griff
If this is right up your alley and you're squarely in the beginner camp I encourage you to check out my Beginning Blues Guitar course designed specifically for beginners to start learning, but with blues (instead of Row, Row, Row Your Boat.)
https://bluesguitarunleashed.com/get-beginning-blues-guitar/
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Griff Hamlin's Guitar Unleashed, Inc.
1705 W. University Dr.
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McKinney, Texas 75069
United States
(877) 662-5837”
So Mr. Hamlin’s advice is great, as far as it goes. Counting is a bedrock skill for any musician and guitarists are no exception. What I take some issue with is the part that’s not said, and it’s something I push constantly on here. Videos and blogs and courses are great supplements to, but in no way substitutes for, a local guitar instructor, and the corollary, locally owned guitar shops, for the things you can learn and benefit the most from: The lessons and advice you receive from these person to person instructions and conversations. I get what Mr. Hamlin’s saying - he constantly hears questions that require answers about the fundamentals, probably mostly from students who have ignored those fundamentals. Still, the first and best place to learn those fundamentals is your instructor, along with your guitar shop’s advice, then supplemented by outside courses, videos, etc. that can also be helpful.
Cheers and keep playing!!
Michael Acoustic