The Weekend Read - My Picks From Web Blogs For The Week

I've always been told that part a big part of learning how to play music is to read everything you can get your hands on about it. Here's a list of my picks to read from our blog roll. Some are about music, some are about instruments. The list (in no particular order) will give you plenty of reading over the weekend.

actoguitar blog - A good list of guitar instruction and articles collected from the web.

FREEKBASS Blog - Freekbass CD Release party shows start NOW !

The Gear Pipe - Reverend Electric Guitar Giveaway! Win a Reverend Flatroc Electric Guitar

Guitar Flame - To Travel Guitar Or Not To Travel Guitar, This Is My Question

Guitar Player Zen - Hear Beyond Your Instrument

Guitar MX - Video Guitar Lesson: Surf Guitar Picking

Little Rock Jams - Video Lesson - Walking a bassline

Madstratter - Maintenance 101: Restringing Your Stratocaster

Not Playing Guitar - How a Guitar Journal Helps You Learn Guitar

 Strato-blogster - Oldest Known Film Footage of Hendrix? 1965?

Soul of Rock n Roll - Guitarist Series: Being Inspired to Practice

Thumbrella - Nice Christmas Present for Led Zep fans!

Have a great weekend everybody!

Sarge

The 12 Bar Blues Progression - Guitar Lesson from Jimmy Rutkowski

The 12 Bar Blues Progression

BY: Jimmy Rutkowski

In this lesson we will also dive into some basic fretboard visualization and 12 bar blues progression theory so you can apply this information to any key any where on the fretboard.

12 Bar Theory

Let’s first discuss the basic theory behind the form. The 12 bar progression commonly uses a I – IV – V progression. This is because a common 12 bar blues progression usually utilizes only the I, IV, and V chords of a given key. To determine which chords they are let’s look at the notes of a one octave C Major Scale.

C Major Scale – C D E F G A B C
Example #1

Now let’s add numeric degrees to the scale:

C Major Scale – C D  E  F  G  A   B    C
                           I  II III IV V VI VII VIII
Example #2

If you look at Example 2 above you will notice that the C is I, F is the IV, and G is the V. Commonly in blues we would take these three degrees and form Dominant 7th chords from them which would give us a C7 chord, a F7 chord, and a G7 Chord.

Example 3 is a chart of open and bar forms for the dominant 7th chords. Here you will also see the moveable bar forms. I have named them by the corresponding open dominant 7th chord they are related too.






















Example #3

In Example 4a and 4b I will show you to moveable patterns that you can use to find the I, IV, and V root note locations anywhere on the fretboard. These two diagrams will allow you to play a I – IV – V progression in any key on the fretboard.

Example #4a Example 43b

Now look at Example 5. In this diagram I have given you a chart of all of the notes on the fretboard.

Example #5

If you look at the 5th string 3rd fret, the 6th string 1st fret and the 6th string 3rd fret, you will see the C, F, and G notes laid out as in Example 4b. Now if you look at the 6th string 8th fret, the 5th string 8th fret, and the 5th string 10th fret you will see the C, F, and G notes laid out as in example 4a. You can apply this to any key you want to. This is an easy visualization technique that I strongly recommend that you master. I would suggest that you use the key legend in Example 6 to practice this visualization in all keys so you can instantly play a 12 bar blues instantly at your next jam session.

Example #6

Now let’s look at two common forms of the 12 bar blues progression. One is called “Slow Changes” and the other is called “Fast Changes.” The difference between slow and fast changes is the second measure. Slow changes is when the I chord is played for the first four measures. Fast changes is when the IV chord is played in place of the I chord in the second measure. Both of these have a distinct sound that is heard commonly in both Blues and Rock music. See Example 7a & 7b for both of these song structures.

Slow Changes Structure

                                 Example #7a

Fast Changes Structure

                              Example #7

Jimmy Rutkowski is a Rock House Method Artist/Instructor. You can find more great free lessons from Professor Jim at http://www.rockhousemethod.com/interact/professorjim.aspx Jimmy also has a cd project in the mix with his band Audio Vamp that you can check out at http://www.myspace.com/zaubihomepage

Item Of Interest - The Rose Garden Music Blog

It's not often you find someone who is will to put themselves out there in front of the world and tell you from a personal perspective their trials and tribulations of learning the guitar from scratch. I have and will find interesting the blog Rose Garden Music http://rosegardenmusic.blogspot.com/ The blog witten by "The Old Man" and will be the story of a 40 something married man with five daughters, that is picking up and learning the guitar for the first time. There are only 2 posts so far but The Old Man just started this blog a couple days ago. The first post is about him and his decision to to play the guitar. The second was deciding what guitar and learning system (The Rock House Method) it is that he will use.

I will be keeping track of The Old Mans progress and as a 40 plus guitar player myself will be rooting for him. Stop by his blog and show The Old Man some love.

What's Your Blues Name

This is from one of my favorite posts in The Rock House Forums. Rock House Member Guitar Man came up with a formula that will give you a cool blues name. Our regulars in the forums have enjoyed this post, to the tune of over 1400 views. I hope the blog readers enjoy it as much.

What is your blues name?

From the first list, take the name against the initial of your first name. From the second list, do the same with your middle name, or surname if you don't have a middle name. From the third, your surname.

1st Name: A=Lame; B=Muddy ; C=Crippled; D=Old; E=Texas; F=Hollerin'; G=Brown; H=Ugly; I=Happy; J=Big; K=Curly; L=Pretty; M=Jailhouse; N=Peg Leg; O=Red; P=Sleepy; Q=Bald; R=Skinny; S=Blind; T=Boney; U=Yella; V=Toothless; W=Screamin'; X=Fat Boy; Y=Washboard; Z=Steel-Eye

Middle Name: A=Bones; B=Money; C=Harp; D=Legs; E=Eyes; F=Lemon; G=Killer; H=Hips; I=Lips;J=Fingers; K=Boy; L=Liver; M=Gumbo; N=Foot; O=Mama; P=Back; Q=Duke; R=Dog;S=Bad Boy; T=Baby; U=Chicken; V=Pickles; W=Sugar; X=Lime; Y=Tooth; Z=Smoke

Last Name: A=Jackson; B=McGee; C=Hopkins; D=Dupree; E=Green; F=Brown; G=Jones; H=Rivers; I=Malone; J=Washington; K=Smith; L=Parker; M=Lee; N=Thompkins; O=King; P=Bradley; Q=Hawkins; R=Jefferson; S=Blue; T=Franklin; U=White; V=Jenkins; W=Bailey; X=Johnson; Y=Davis; Z=Tubbs

By the way, my blues name is: Crippled Liver Lee.....lol.....how cool is that :-)

The ONLY Chord Book You Will Ever Need

I don’t know who would ever need to know 500 chords, but if you want to know them Rock House has the product you’re looking for.

“The Only Chord Book You Will Ever Need” from The Rock House Method is not your typical chord book. No sir not at all. Aside from the typical chord style boxes they have also put player prospective pictures of an actual hand and fingers making the chord plus put the sound that the chords make on 2 CDs.

How many of you have bought a book like this or downloaded one. Then, looked at it and said “wow, that’s cool look at all these chords I can play.” Then after you play a few chords you put it away to really only reference it on occasion.

Here’s the secret to this chord book. Having thought out how one would or should really use a book like this Rock House added at the back of the book 17 of the most used chord progressions of all time for you to play. You can download the backing tracks to these progressions free at the Rock House web site and burn them to a CD for use with the complete chord progressions in the book.

I tried a couple progressions out last night and personally I really like this feature. If you’re into rhythm guitar this is definitely a must buy and use book.

500 Chords
2 CDs
17 of the most use chord progressions
 
Priceless - But only 20 bucks at most retailers.

Are You Going to Play That Guitar or Are You Going To PLAY THAT GUITAR!

Do you want to play that guitar, or do you want to PLAY THAT GUITAR. That was the question of the day I went home thinking about after one of my recent guitar lessons.

I love to jam at The Gathering Place when ever I can. The goal of course is to stand on the stage and play your you know what off for one maybe two songs through the night and give backup to whoever does their song. I’ve been in Jeff Healey mode for a few months and I love the guitar in “Stuck in the Middle with You.” I have the song down pretty good, it’s a simple I-IV-V progression with some minor 7ths thrown in that I play in C.

I wrapped up my lesson yesterday playing this with my instructor. I was feeling pretty good, when I was done, Mike says to me “so Sarge, are you going to play this song or are you going to just play it”? I knew what he was saying. I’ve been playing the song fine but he was trying to get me to see that there was more to it than just play it. He wanted me to realize that I need to practice it to the point where it was more than just playing. To the point where when I played it, I played that bad boy like I owned it.

So what will it take to “own” a song? It’s going to take hours of dedication a day concentrating on the song when practicing. The hours of work to separate you from everyone else that is jamming. Hours of practice so that when you are done you can look at the people there and you see that look in their eyes that says “dang, that boy nailed it”.

So what’s it going to be? Are you going to play the song or are you going to PLAY the song?

Unison Bends - Guitar Lesson from Mark Daniel

Unison Bends

By: Mark Daniel

In this lesson we will be enhancing the bending technique. Bending is recognized as one of the most defining techniques for guitar and has become an incredibly important aspect to guitar playing. Many times you can recognize a guitar player not only by his signature tone but just by his bending technique. Bending your strings on your guitar can add punches and accents where they may have not been as well as add additional soul and emotion to your lead playing. Unlike the single string bends taught in John McCarthy’s bending lesson, these bends will use multiple strings at the same time. So lets step up our bends from using one string to two strings!

Example 1 The Unison Bend on the G and B Strings. This is a popular technique that is used in all genres of music. Place your 3rd finger (ring finger) on the 7th fret of the G String and your 1st finger (index finger) on the 5th fret of the B String. Strike both strings only once (G and B Strings) at the same time while bending only the G string up a whole step. * Do Not Bend the B String! The B string stays stationary, with only the G String being bent upward. When done properly the bent G string note and B string note should match in pitch creating a wide open rich sound.

Example 2 Walking up a few frets while using the Unison Bend. Keep your fingers in the same positions they are in. You only have to move your hand up the fret board. Take it slow your first few times so that you can master this and move on. Also try moving down the neck. A great example of this can be heard on Motley Crue’s song; Shout at The Devil. You will hear it right before the vocals begin in the songs intro section also check out Jimi Hendrix’s Highway Chile. The main riff is all walking unison bends.

Example 3 The Double Pump. After mastering the above techniques move onto the Double Pump Unison Bend. Much like the above unison bends only one strike of the strings is required. Strike both the G and B strings simultaneously and bend again only the G string up a whole step, then bring it down to its original non-bent position and pump it up one more time. This is done rather quickly and all during one strike of the strings.

Example 4 The Double Pump Unison Bend moved up the neck. The Double Pump Unison Bends sounds equally great when walked up the fret board. It can be used in many musical genres depending on your tastes. If Jazz is what you like, this could be used in place of or with Horn punches. If Rock music is what you love, this technique carries the same punch driven feel.

Further Listening

To hear examples of this technique, reference these songs below:
• Santana: Black Magic Woman
• Janes Addiction: Strays
• AC/DC Hell's Bells
• Motley Crue: Shout at the Devil
• Jimi Hendrix: Highway Chile

Mark Daniel is an Artist/Instructor for The Rock House Method and guitarist for The Limit

Freekbass CD Release Party Shows Start Thursday!

Starting this Thursday, October 30 at The Kent Stage in Kent,Ohio , all Freekbass shows (through the first week of December) will be CD Release Party shows. The new CD, Junkyard Waltz, will be available at all shows, and will include a free 12"x18" poster if you pick up the CD at the show. Also, new songs and special guests from the CD will be appearing at select shows including a special homecoming Cincinnati show on Friday, Nov.28 at the 20th Century Theatre with host Bootsy Collins:

-Thursday, October 30 : The Kent Stage / Kent, OH
-Friday, October 31 : V Club / Huntington, WV
-Saturday, November 1 : Rumba Cafe / Columbus, OH
-Friday, November 14 : Bushwood / Chattanooga, TN
-Saturday, November 15 : Barley's Tap Room / Knoxville, TN
-Friday, November 21 : Beachland Ballroom / Cleveland, OH
-Saturday, November 22 : Founder's Brewing Company / Grand Rapids, MI
-Friday, November 28 : 20th Century Theatre / Cincinnati, OH (click HERE for TICKETS )
-Saturday, December 6 : Docksider / Erie, PA

Stomp Boxes - What Does That One Do?

Have you ever wondered what different effects or stomp boxes are supposed to do? Well, wonder no more. Here's a run down on what the most widely used ones do.

Dynamic Effects

Compressor - The gain of the amplifier is varied to reduce the dynamic range of the signal.

Tremolo - Tremolo produces a periodic variation in the amplitude (volume) of the note. A sine wave applied as input to a voltage-controlled amplifier produces this effect.

Overdrive and Distortion - The signal is cranked up past the limits of the amplifier, resulting in clipping. Example: Guitar on Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum.

Wah-Wah - An effect that gives the guitar an almost vocal effect. Example: "White Room" by Cream, used by Eric Clapton. Primarily invented for the Organ Music, but then somehow found by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton and used for their personal gain.

Ring Modulation"Organic" effect - Makes weird noises.

Equalizer - Adjusts the frequency response in a number of different bands of EQ. Variants include the Parametric EQ, which instead of flatly boosting and cutting frequencies, curves the frequency response to include changes in adjacent frequencies. Examples: Boss PN-2 and GE-2

Clean Boost or any other "booster" - Takes your guitar signal, kicks it up a notch, and then sends it on its merry way. Generally used for preventing signal loss through long chains of effects units (pedals) and getting overdrive tones out of a tube amp. On stage, used for volume boosts for solos. Examples: Zachary Vex's Super Hard On, catalinbread's Super Chile Picoso.

Heil Talk Box - A vowel-tuned wah that actually takes your voice as the wah control.

Time-based Effects

Delay - First used by Les Paul, e.g. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. (Modern digital delay units, the first of which was the Eventide Harmonizer, involve sound waves being converted from analog to digital signals, and clocked through large banks of RAM memory. Paul achieved time delay by stretching audiotape between two reel-to-reel tape decks spaced several feet apart.)

Echo - Uses delays to simulate an echo

Chorus - Usually short delays to simulate more than one person playing at a time

Flanging - Uses very short variable delays to cause a changing comb filter effect

Reverb - Simulates echoes in stadiums, halls, other performance areas. Even actual surfaces, such as plate metal and metal springs, are sometimes simulated.

Frequency Effects

Pitch Shifter - Also introduced by the Harmonizer, which has a knob on the front to "change your pitch up." First used on Itchycoo Park by Small Faces.

Vibrato - Vibrato refers to a variation in frequency of a note, for example as an opera singer holding one note for a long time will vary the frequency up and down. A sine wave applied as input to a voltage-controlled oscillator produces this effect.Guitarists often use the terms "vibrato" and "tremolo" inconsistently. A so-called vibrato unit in a guitar amplifier actually produces tremolo, while a tremolo arm on a guitar produces vibrato. However, finger vibrato is genuine vibrato.

Other specific effects

Defretter - It simulates a fretless guitar

Acoustic Guitar Simulator - Simulates an acoustic guitar. Example: Boss AC-2

Rotary SpeakerA Leslie speaker simulation effect. One particular effect of this type was made famous by Jimi Hendrix.

Pickup Simulation - Simulates either a single coil pickup if the musician has a humbucker orr vice-versa.

Ambience Modeling - Creates an ambience through some amalgam of effects.

Cabinet Modeling - Models your tone to act like its coming out of a set of old greenbacks in a vintage AC30 cabinet, or most other examples you can think of.

Guitar amplifier Modeling - Models your tone to sound like its going through a 5150 or some other ridiculously expensive amplifier.

These types of effects are usually digital, and can therefore be found as features of effect processors such as the Boss ME series and Vox multieffects.

Here's a link to The Rock House Effects Lab and The Rock House Virtual Distortion Grid to help you listen to various effects or combination of effects.

Rock House New Web Feature - Try It Before You Buy It

You can now sample lessons from just about every Rock House instructional DVD before you buy it. Click the link on the image below to access the FREE lessons. IMPORTANT: NON MEMBERS you will need to use the Promo Code FP123789 to check out the lessons. Members DO NOT NEED the promo code, click the link and log in or go to www.rockhousemethod.com/lessons.

Fans of Rock House can really help by forwarding this in an email onto every friend who plays or wants to start learning to play. Now you can show them what you like about Rock House without having to lend your your DVD! Your friends will love you for sending them FREE stuff. Thank you for helping out!

Oli Herbert and All That Remains on MTV Live Canada!

I have no other info than this but if you live in Toronto it looks like it'll be a good time.

Children of Bodom Signing Sessions in Support of New Single (UK)

Children Of Bodom release new single, ‘Smile Pretty For The Devil’, on December 1st 2008 to coincide with the first date on their run of UK shows with Slipknot & Machine Head, a tour that looks set to claim the title of ‘hottest HM package of the year!’

'Smile Pretty…' – the third single from Bodom’s internationally successful Blooddrunk’ album – will be available on three-track CD, with the ccompanying video plus Poison cover ‘Talk Dirty To Me’ also featured; this release (strictly limited to 1000 numbered copies) will come in a poster bag and will ONLY be on sale at two Zavvi stores in London & Manchester, where C.O.B are now confirmed for instore appearances.

The details of these are as follows:-

DECEMBER 1st
Zavvi , 14-16 Oxford Street, London W1D 1AR

DECEMBER 9th
Zavvi, Arndale Centre, Unit MSU1, New Cannon Street, Manchester M4 3AJ

A Conversation With Thrash Legends David Ellefson & Jimmy De’grasso

Cameron Edney of Inside Out Webzine has posted an interview with Rock House Artist/Instructor David Ellefson and Jimmy De'grasso on their my space site. It's a good interview with these 2 thrashers talking about their music and their newest album/cd "The Reckoning"

The Reckoning Part 1

The Reckoning Part 2

Marc Rizzo and Soulfly U.S. Tour Coming in November

While Soulfly's in the midst of an unbelievably welcoming tour of Russia right now, they aren't neglecting to make the final arrangements for their much anticipated return to the United States. Soulfly is pleased to announce that the opening acts can now be confirmed for Soulfly's United States Conquer Tour. In addition to Soulfly, the shows listed below will feature support from Oklahoma-based Nuclear Blast band Bleed The Sky, resurrected Texas thrash legends (and longtime friends of Sepultura) Devastation, and Arizona's Incite. More dates have also been added to the tour, including shows in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Iowa, and California. So far, Soulfly is confirmed to be coming to the following venues on this U.S. tour:

November 1 at Riverside Multiplex in Victoria, Texas

November 2 at Metropolis in McAllen, Texas
November 3 at Granada Theatre in Dallas, TX (ages 17+)
November 4 at White Rabbit in San Antonio, TX
November 5 at Meridian in Houston, TX
November 6 at Mezzanine in Hammond, Louisiana
November 7 at Masquerade in Atlanta
November 8 at Bourbon Street Nightclub in New Port Richey, Florida
November 9 at Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
November 10 at Freebird Live in Jacksonville, Florida
November 11 at Jester's in Fayetteville, NC
November 12 at Hooligan's in Jacksonville, NC
November 13 at Jaxx in Springfield, VA
November 14 at Blender Theatre in New York, NY
November 15 at Webster Theatre in Hartford, CT
November 16 at Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA
November 17 at Rex Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA
November 18 at Al Rosa Villa in Columbus, OH
November 19 at The Machine Shop in Flint, MI (ages 18+)
November 20 at Pop's Nightclub in Sauget, IL
November 21 at The Pearl Room in Mokena, IL
November 22 at The Rock in Columbia Heights, MN
November 23 at Beaumont Club in Kansas City, MO
November 24 at People's Court in Des Moines, Iowa
November 25 at The Black Sheep in Colorado Springs, CO
November 26 at Sunshine Theatre in Albuquerque, NM
November 28 at Key Club in Hollywood, California
November 29 at Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ (also featuring Sacred Reich)

Tickets are available for most of these shows, so visit here to pick one up for your region before they're gone!

Rusty Cooley Launches Redesigned Web Sites

Rusty Cooley, who is one of the newest and most electrifying Rock House Artist/Instructors has redesigned and launched his personal web site as well as his my space site.

The personal web site http://www.rustycooley.com/ is well laid out with easy navigation to all things Rustys fans would like to find out and see or hear. The web site has news, pictures, discography, audio, video and lessons just to name a few items of intrest.

The my space site http://www.myspace.com/rustycooley has a sleeker more modern design with music, links and pictures. Be sure and add Rusty as a freind when you visit.

Rusty is the guitarist for the band Outworld and is rated by Guitar One Magazine as the 7th fastest shreader in the world. Rustys new instructional DVDs produced by The Rock House Method have been touted as some of the best instructional products available on the market today. "Fretboard Autopsy" teaches you Rustys unique fretboard visualization through shapes, patterns and years of modal knowledge. You can get more info  at http://www.rockhousemethod.com/

How To Buy a Bass Guitar - Part 2 of 2

Source: http://www.rockhousemethod.com/

Part 2 of How To Buy a Bass Guitar

Here's the link for part 1 How To Buy a Bass Guitar Part 1

Where to Shop

My personal preference is to find a guitar shop that you really like and go there often. The big stores l can be difficult for beginners, but they often have a much broader variety of guitars and amps, and generally better prices for new equipment. I you may find they are more willing to help you out. If you are in a band, try and get everyone to agree on one or two stores to patronize. You may be able to save a little money by shopping around and searching the internet, but you still need a guitar tech (we all do) and someone to rescue you when you have an emergency - like a big gig tomorrow! Support your local merchants.

In the real world, some stores are really pretty bad. Don't shop at a store where you do not get a reasonable amount of product selection, quality service, and respect for your ability and situation. While I am not a fan of shopping for major items on the internet, it's better than giving good money to a bad store.

How to Shop

Before you go shopping, think about what type of bass you are looking for. How many strings? What style of pick-ups? Do you want low and dirty or warm and jazzy? Frets? What color (seriously)? Search the internet for various guitars (see the list below) and read all the words. You should have a general idea of what you like and don't like, but do try not to go in with preconceptions. You may find yourself missing out on a great deal for the silliest of reasons.

And try to figure out how much money you can spend.

I recommend the "two trip" approach. On the first trip, you are there to learn, and that's what you tell the salesman - don't tease the salespeople! You are not adversaries, you both want you to buy the best bass you can afford. Music stores (all stores - except maybe car dealers) survive because of repeat business. They need you to succeed as a musician and as a band, so you can come back and buy more stuff!

If you can, try to avoid the really busy periods (after school, Saturdays), and set aside a block of time to really talk and listen and learn from the store keepers. You should let the salesman play the instruments first, don't play them yourself. The salesman should show you the various tones, and explain the features of each guitar. He should always play through the same amplifier, and without effects. Later, you should "try them on" for weight and balance, but don't spend a lot of time playing them. You need to decide whether you can hear the different tones, and which ones you like best.

Before you leave, ask to see any used basses that are similar to what you have been looking at. Don't be nervous about this - they need to sell the used stuff too, they just don't get quite as much profit from them.

Try and come away from the first trip with the names of 2 or 3 basses that you could be happy with. Get the model numbers and prices, and any literature.

Go home and check the internet for reviews. Post a question on our Forum, or search the archives over at ActiveBass. Check eBay! for the current auction prices for used models. Remember that the prices you see on the Internet may be 10-20% lower than in the store, but don't forget the absence of professional service, and the shipping charges.

Armed with all this information, plan another trip to the store - this time with the intention of buying a bass. Try and find the same salesman (if you liked him), and tell him which 2 basses you are most interested in. Have him pick out the best of the used basses as well, if there is one. Make it clear that the question is not "if" you're going to buy, but "which one". After he shows you the features of each guitar (including the bridge), you should play them yourself. Don't try to get fancy - you're not there to audition. You should have some songs or riffs in your head that are easy to play. Play them casually, listening to the tone, noting how the neck feels. Play standing up, so you can compare the weight and balance. Play the same songs on all the guitars you are considering.

It is helpful to bring a friend to help you evaluate the various characteristics if each bass, but the final decision should be yours.

When you have selected your bass, let the salesman know, and tell him that you need a case, and a new set of strings (you have no idea how old the existing ones are) and whatever else you want. The more stuff you put into this purchase, the easier it is for them to discount the total price. (Note: some salesmen do the opposite; they discount the bass, and charge list price for the accessories - pay attention) If the price for the bass is a lot more than you found online, mention it to the salesman. A 10-20% difference is typical; much more is probably too much.

Be sure that your purchase includes one free set-up. Ask if they recommend that the set-up be done right away, or after a couple of weeks. I know it's tough to buy a guitar and then leave it in the store, but it's worse to bring home your new axe and get frustrated by fret buzz or high strings.

How To Buy a Bass Guitar - Part 1 of 2

Source: http://www.rockhousemethod.com/

This column will review some of the numerous things that go into the design of a bass guitar. Some matter more than others, and different people have different tastes. Hopefully, when you are done, you'll have an idea of what to look for the next time you're in the mood for a new bass.

The Reference

The Fender Precision Bass is the grand-daddy reference bass guitar for all time. Some people consider the Fender Bass in the same class as AOL, Chevrolet, or Microsoft; an enormous number of people use them.

The Fender Precision has a single set of pickups located mid-way between the bottom of the neck and the bridge. It has two simple controls for volume and tone. The neck is fairly thick. The body is solid, medium weight, and has symmetric "hips". With flat-wound strings, this guitar produces the classic "thump" sound that was so common in early rock and Motown music. With the advent of brighter round-wound strings, it remains popular for many types of music.

The Fender Jazz Bass is very similar to the Precision, with the following changes: it has two pickups with 3 controls, the neck is thinner, and the body has asymmetric "hips". The extra pickup allows a greater range of tones, from a warmer "jazzy" sound to a rounder "folksy" sound.

Most bass guitar manufacturers have a variation of the P-bass and/or the J-bass. Lets review the various parts of the bass and how they can affect the sound and playability.

The Neck

The neck is very important for how well you can play the bass. The thickness, string spacing, total string length, and finish all combine to give you speed and flexibility you need to play well. And smaller is not necessarily better. Players with large hands may find a bigger neck more comfortable. Narrow string spacing is good for small hands, but it can make slapping and popping more difficult.

Necks are usually bolt-on, which means that they are connected to the body by 3 or 4 screws. A "through-neck" uses a single piece of wood (or a set of laminated pieces) that continues all the way through the body. Thus the bridge mounts to the bottom of the neck, instead of to the body. This method is usually more expensive and harder to maintain, but it can be argued that it should sound better without the bolt-on joint between the two ends of the string.

The standard bass guitar neck is 34" long, from bridge to nut. Longer scale necks are available, as well as smaller size basses for students. Note that the ¾-size double-bass cello is about 34".

How Many Strings

The standard bass has 4 strings, tuned E-A-D-G. Recently, the 5 and 6-string bass have become more popular, as some of the current music has very low bass lines, and more bassists contribute to the melodies on the higher end of the scale. The standard 5-string is tuned B-E-A-D-G, and the standard 6-string is tuned B-E-A-D-G-C. Some 6-strings are tuned E-A-D-G-C-F (don't tune it like a 6-string guitar E-A-D-G-B-e, or you will get a lot of criticism from other bassists).

With each additional string, the neck gets wider, which makes it more difficult to reach across the neck.

As with anything, higher string counts can be taken to the extreme, and you can find semi-custom basses with 7, 8, or even 9 strings (and probably more out there somewhere).

Unless you know that you are going to be playing "grunge" or other punk music that goes very low, I don't recommend getting more than 4 strings for your primary bass.

Frets vs Fretless

The original double-bass cello was of course fretless. The Fender Precision got it's name because it has frets for "precise" fingering. Frets also provide a hard termination for the string, which allows the highest harmonics to sing undampened. Playing fretless produces a warm tone without being overly bright, and it's fun to slide up and down the neck. It does help to have a good ear so that you know when you're in the right place.

The Body

In a perfect world, the body of a bass guitar is infinitely rigid, so that all of the energy remains within the strings, thus providing maximum sustain and the broadest range of harmonics. In reality, the weight and type of materials used to make the body will have some impact on the tone. This effect is more noticeable with the bass than the electric 6-string, as the lower frequencies need more body mass to work against. The real question is whether you can hear it. If you were to rank the contribution of the various parts of the bass guitar to the resulting tone, the body would come in dead last.

Most solid-body guitars are made of wood, usually a strong hardwood such as maple, ash, or alder. Other exotic woods are sometimes used for their beauty and strength. Cheap guitars can be made from plywood.

Since the invention of epoxy, there have been attempts to make guitar bodies out of various rigid polymers, with generally poor results. Recently, the material "luthite" was developed specifically for electric guitars. Traditionalists tend to frown on these materials, but I assure you that no one can tell if it sounds different in front of 100 (or 100,000) screaming/drunk fans.

One of the advantages of the solid body guitar is that the shape of the body contributes (almost) nothing to the sound. This allows people to get very (overly?) creative with body shapes. . And back in the late 70s, the Steinberger designers decided that the body was superfluous, and reduced it to almost nothing.

As you are shopping, you should check the weight and balance of the body. Do the "waist" and "hips" fit naturally against your body? Does the neck tend to pitch downward when you let go of it? Do you like the way it looks, the color and finish? Pick-ups?

Remember an electric guitar works by converting the movement of a steel string over a magnetic rod into an electrical signal - this is done by the pick-up. A pick-up is essentially a coil of wire wrapped around several magnetic rods. As you might imagine, the shape of the magnetic rods and the style of the winding can affect the efficiency and tone of the coupling with the wire.

The most obvious difference in coil design is "single-coil" vs "humbucker". A single-coil pick-up can also detect the 60-cycle noise generated by stage lights and amplifiers, but the tone is generally bright and the noise is not usually a problem. A humbucker is made with two separate coils that are wound in opposite directions, which cancels out the 60-cycle "hum". In general, a humbucker is wider than a single-coil pick-up, and it has a slightly warmer tone, but this varies with manufacturers.

Active Electronics

Recently, musicians have been demanding newer and bolder sounds from their guitars. To achieve this, manufacturers have employed on-board electronics to act as the pre-amp and tone controls. Usually, there is an improvement in sound quality, and a reduction of noise (no long cable between the pick-up and the pre-amp). These active electronics are usually more expensive (and don't forget the battery!). As with everything, some people prefer the sound of passive pick-ups.

Hardware

There are two important mechanical parts on a guitar. The tuners (or machine heads), and the bridge. Unless the bass is extremely poorly made, the tuner shouldn't be a problem. They are designed mostly for cosmetics.

The bridge on the other hand, is very important. It sets the height of the string, and improper design will affect the tone and reduce the sustain. Many Fender owners will replace the bridge immediately after purchase. Other manufacturers will create sophisticated pieces of machinery, with lots of screws and other moving parts. There are a few brands of after-market bridges, and sometimes it's a good thing to do. You can ask your guitar shop if they recommend replacing the bridge on your particular bass.

In part 2 tomorrow we will discuss where to shop and how to shop for a bass guitar.

Link: How To Buy a Bass Guitar Part 2

Doug Wimbish & Living Colour Live Webcast - Nov 1st

If you're a Living Colour fan, or maybe even if you're not here's a chance to see them live and in concert from your computer. The band will be performing live in Amsterdam on November 1st and have announced  that their fans can watch the concert on http://www.fabchannel.com/ .

Living Colour was founded by Vernon Reed in 1983 and includes Rock House Artist/Instructor Doug Wimbish, Will Calhoun and Corey Glover. The band has earned several grammy awards over the years for best hard rock performance and have toured with many names such as The Rolling Stones. They have recently come together and put together a successful album 'CollideOscope'.

The direct link to the concert is http://www.fabchannel.com/living_colour_concert/2008-11-01/

Trust me you won't want to miss this event.

Answer To The Age Old Question: What is a Fuzzbox

A fuzzbox (or fuzz box) is a type of stomp box comprising an amplifier and a clipping circuit, which generates a deliberately distorted version of the input signal. As opposed to other distortion guitar effect pedals, a fuzzbox boosts and clips the signal sufficiently to turn a standard sine wave input in to what is effectively a square wave output. This gives a much more distorted and synthetic sound than a standard distortion or overdrive. Fuzzboxes were the first distortion devices not based on vacuum tubes.

The generated signal is rich in extra harmonics of the input signal, particularly odd harmonics, and will produce cross-modulation between any non-harmonic components of the input signal, leading to dissonance. For this reason, power chords are often used when using fuzzboxes, to reduce dissonance.

Early fuzzboxes used germanium transistors. By the end of the 1960s these were replaced by silicon transistors. Today, some fuzzbox builders offer pedals with germanium transistors again.

The fuzzbox is associated with rock music, particularly artists such as Jimi Hendrix. Famous examples of fuzzboxes include the infamous Fuzz Face (originally made by the Arbiter Group), and the Big Muff Pi (made by Electro-Harmonix) series of pedals.

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction from The Rolling Stones was the first hit to feature a fuzzbox, the Gibson FZ-1A.

72 Hour Free Download From The Limit

Rock House Artist/Instructor Mark Daniels and those crazy guys from The Limit are at it again. From right now through October 24th you can get a FREE download of their song "Time Can't Keep Me", from their current CD "Reinventing The Sun". The download is available exclusively on The Limits my space site http://www.myspace.com/thelimit

"Reinventing the Sun" is also currently on special at iTunes

A Message From Joe P. About The Rock House Metal Guitar Series

In the Rock House Forums today, Rock House Co-Owner Joe Palombo cleared the air about some confusion he felt exists over the Metal Guitar Series recently produced by Rock House.

JP states:

"It seems some people are confused about the metal guitar series. This should clear it up:

Each metal DVD focuses on a different aspect of Metal Guitar Playing, for Example:

Alexi Laiho- Melodic Speed, shred and heavy riffs.

Dan Jacobs- Leads, Runs & Rhythyms

Ravi & Bobby- Dark Metal, Triads & Chugging

Rob Arnold-Song Writing, Riffing & Soloing

Marc Rizzo- Modern, Speed & Shred

We did it this was so that those who want to play metal can become well rounded and for those who do not want to play metal but want to learn to incorporate the techniques of some of the best young guitar players on the planet into their rock or blues playing. Either way it is all based on how we do things, we WANT YOU TO BECOME WELL ROUNDED"!

Indeed well rounded performers are what we all aspire to be. Thank You to all the artist that put the time and effort into producing the very best learning systems in the business today.

6 Ways to Get More From Your Guitar Lessons

This was a nice post from our blog buddy http://www.notplayingguitar.com/

This post shows you six ways you can benefit by studying your guitar lessons when you're not playing. Many players leave their lesson material sitting in their guitar bag, or on a shelf at home. They are missing out on some great opportunities to boost their guitar learning in spare moments they could use to study.

Here's what that extra study could do for your guitar playing. You can study in your spare time, sitting in the bus or train on your way to work, waiting for someone, or in your lunch break.

Improve memory.
Reduce mistakes.
Improve reading skills.
Identify what you need to work on.
Know just what to practice when you pick up your guitar.
Increase your motivation.

Let's see how this extra lesson study can do all of this for you.

click here for the rest http://www.notplayingguitar.com/2008/10/6-ways-to-get-more-from-your-guitar.html

Rock House has Pre-Order Specials on New Releases

It seems that Joe P. and John McCarthy have done it agian. With the release of a ton of new products due out in the next month they have offered a special deal for members who pre-order the new releases.

Titles include the long awaited and anticipated 2 DVD program Modes Demistified, Rusty Cooleys dual set Fretboards Autopsy, The new addition of Hands of Steel and John McCarthys new Lead Guitar DVD.

The Programs can be ordered individually or as packaged deals. There is a package deal that offers all 5 releases for a very special price. A ship date of November 20th is anticipated.

Check it out yourself http://www.rockhousemethod.com/estore/storeproducts.aspx?categoryid=2

Guitarist Networking Site - myguitarspace.com

Guitar Networking social site http://www.myguitarspace.com/ launched about a year ago. I had not heard about it until I was surfing around this morning. The site is for players who want to network with other guitarist, it's free to join and encourages players of skill levels to participate.

Areas of navigation include: guitar contests, with opportunities for members to win guitars, guitar humor for entertainment value, and video tablature for ease of learning new songs. Also featured is the ability to promote an artist or band, with dates and information on shows.

I have not joined this site yet and was wondering if anyone else has and what they think of it.

Check it out at http://www.myguitarspace.com/ and post a comment on what you think.

Get Your Freek On

Get you freek on with the new FREEKBASS T-Shirt. Show the world you're love for the funkiest cat in the business today.

You can get it  at http://www.homegrownmusic.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=HGMN&Product_Code=tFreek&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2008 American Music Masters® Tribute Concert Lineup

ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Slash, Richie Sambora and the Ventures to perform for legendary honoree Les Paul

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Case Western Reserve University and Gibson Guitar will honor the extraordinary Les Paul with a tribute concert that befits a musical legend. The tribute concert lineup includes Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: James Burton, Billy Gibbons and the Ventures along with Jennifer Batten, Dennis Coffey, Lenny Kaye, Steve Lukather, Alannah Myles, Richie Sambora and Slash.

The 13th annual American Music Masters tribute concert will take place on Saturday, November 15, at 8 p.m. at Playhouse Square's State Theater. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 and can be purchased at playhousesquare.org and at the PlayhouseSquare box office (216) 241-6000.

This once-in-a-lifetime concert features an all-star lineup of artists who will perform as a tribute to the legendary inventor and musician known as Les Paul. This event also tells the story of Paul's life and legacy through video, photographs and special tributes. Please visit http://www.rockhall.com/ for updated information about the concert, the weeklong series of events and for more information about Les Paul.

As a special addition to the American Music Masters series, guests will have the opportunity to use the latest in online technology and post or share their own tributes and stories. The website was created by Cuyahoga County Public Library. The site can be accessed by visiting www.rockhall.com and will be live on October 20. This allows people near and far to post comments, video or photograph accolades and to share their anecdotes about Paul’s impact on their own lives. The testimonials will be permanently housed in the Rock Hall's Library and Archives scheduled to open to the public in 2010.

The complete weeklong series of events will be announced shortly.

Rob Arnold - A True Gear Head

Turns out Rock House Artist Instructor Rob Arnold is a true blue gear head. I was on his My Space site today and saw what appeared to me to be a pretty mean collection of gear. There was probably 25 plus guitars, tons of amps, cases and pedals.

He has posted a lot of pictures of his gear. Check 'em at http://www.myspace.com/robarnold

The Definative Instructional Product for Learning to Play DEATH METAL

Rock House the leader in Music Instruction announced today a SPECIAL PRE-SALE on the new METAL GUITAR DVDs featuring Ravi Bhadriraju and Bobby Thomspon the dynamic duo of the wildly popular Death Metal band Job for a Cowboy. The DVDs titled METAL GUITAR, Dark Metal, Triads & Chugging reveal their stunning musicianship and cutting edge song writing skill which have helped them create the absolute embodiment of extreme music

Members can save save as much as $14.00 when buying the Level 1, 2 Combo Pack and receive free ground shipping to anywhere in the continental U.S. The sale is only for products purchased on www.rockhousemethod.com and includes select titles listed below.

In Level 1: Learn how they use natural minor scales and lead techniques like hammer-ons and pull-offs, tremolo picking; and how they shred riffs with alternate picking. They reveal the secrets to their dark sound with diminished triads, heavy riffs, and brutal breakdowns. See how two guitars create intense sequences and diminished harmonies. You will play the examples along with actual JFAC studio recordings. By the end of this program you will posses an arsenal on how to play jaw-dropping metal guitar.

In Level 2 This program builds on the techniques learned in Level One. Ravi and Bobby reveal how to play the darkest heavy metal. Together they teach complex syncopated diminished triads, the reverse gallop, heavy chugging and octave shapes. You will be challenged by the technique-building hand-stretching exercises, hammer pull-offs and advanced shred riffs. Learn Ravi’s secret weapons like harmonic minor scales, syncopated riffs, whammy tricks and pivoting rhythms. You will rock complete leads with backing tracks right from JFAC studio recordings that pull you into the band!
More info and how to order here http://rockhousemethod.com/News/NewsItem.aspx?i=744

David Ellefson Bass Clinic @ Bass Player Live 2008

Rock House Artist / Intructor David Ellefson will be participating in the Bass Player Live 2008 Bass Clinic. The Clinic will be November 1st and 2nd, 2008 at SIR Studios in Los Angeles.

Bass Player LIVE! is star-studded and home to your favorite bassists and bass gear manufacturers. You’ll be able to take in all the latest and greatest bass equipment while checking out clinics, demos, and appearances from top artists!

A concert at Key Club will wrap up the weekend.
 
For more info check out http://www.bassplayerlive.com/

Save some bucks on Rock House's world famous Learn Rock Guitar Series

Save some bucks on Rock House's world famous Learn Rock Guitar Series before the new versions hit stores. This popular series is being re-introduced to the market with a new look, updated content, interviews, live footage and now inlcudes iPod ready video for people on the go. The series consist of a Beginner, Intermediate and Adavnced level. The Beginner program is the most used beginner guitar instruction learning system in the world. Read More...

Tearin' Up the Fretboard - Guitar Lesson,Practice Routine

By: Anthony Lawrence

So you've finally got that guitar that you had your eye on for so long. Now you’re ready to start sanding down the frets with your fingers. As a beginning Guitarist, it is crucial to practice consistently to progress, develop good technique and proper playing habits. So many young musicians have asked me questions such as “How often do I need to practice to get good?” There is only one answer to that question. The only way to improve is by putting in the time and effort. Guitar is just like going to the gym. If you only work out for an hour a day, you get one hour’s worth of results. That same philosophy applies to guitar playing. The more you practice the more you will build up muscle memory in your fingers. The best way to improve quickly and efficiently is to develop a solid routine that you follow religiously every time you pick up the guitar. A rough outline for a good routine will include exercises that utilize Alternate Picking, chords and switching between chords, as well as creating your own music.

You have your guitar in tune and you’re ready to rock. It's time to build up the strength and coordination in your picking hand. The best way to do that is by using a technique called “Alternate Picking.” Alternate Picking involves picking downward and upward strokes in a continuous alternating pattern. If this technique is played at a high speed or on a single note it is commonly referred to as tremolo picking or speed picking. It’s a great idea to practice this technique as much as you can. I would recommend a minimum of 15 minutes daily practicing this technique. A great tool to help you with Alternate Picking is a Metronome. A metronome is a device that creates a regulated audible and/or visual pulse to establish a steady beat, or tempo. It is an invaluable practice tool that goes back hundreds of years. Musicians that practice Alternate Picking or any kind of exercise with a metronome have a better sense of timing and increased coordination than musicians that do not use them. If you do not own one, a metronome is available at jampages.com or you can choose to buy one at a local music store. I recommend the use of a digital metronome that can divide beats for you to aid you in learning 8th notes, 16th notes and triplets.

Below I have included 2 exercises that will help you develop alternate picking as well as strength, stamina and coordination in your fretting hand.

Example one is an exercise that utilizes open strings. This exercise is a great warm up.

Example two is a simple pivoting exercise. Pivoting is a left hand technique in which one finger stays on a certain fret while your other fingers follow a sequence of notes around that specific note. In this exercise I have included two similar patterns that use pivoting in each measure. In this example you will repeat each measure twice.

Once you have your picking hand and fretting hand warmed up, it’s time to move on to chords. A chord is a combination of 3 or more different notes played simultaneously. It is very important as a Rhythm player to practice your chords, and master switching between them. It is a great idea to practice chords two at a time. For example: practicing from an A Major to C Major as in Example 3 or E Minor to D Major as in Example 4. Chords require patience and diligence in practicing. But the results of your hard work will show when you’re able to switch between random chords at will. It is a great idea to practice chords and switching between them as much as you can every day. I would recommend at least a half hour daily working with chords. Once you have mastered your chord changes it is vital to study chord progressions.

A chord progression is a series of chords played in a sequence. Most chord progressions use a strum pattern. A strum pattern is a series of rhythmic or down and up strokes with your picking hand.

Examples 3 and 4 are simple chord switching exercises.

Example 5 is an example of a simple chord progression. The strum pattern is down, down, down, up, down up. This pattern applies to all of the chords in this progression. The order of the chords is as follows: A Minor, C Major G Major and D Minor.

Let’s move onto open jamming! Now that you have learned your chords and how to play a chord progression, you’re ready to start writing your own music. For the last part of your routine, I recommend you spend at least 20 minutes for open jamming. It is very important as a musician to try to make your own music. By writing your own songs, it will help you memorize chords, scales and it sharpens your technique as well as your creativity and style. It is also important to be yourself and create music that you enjoy playing. The best way to write a song is to start with a chord progression. Then try to come up with a few different progressions and combine them to create a song. Once you have written a few songs, you are ready to start a band and perform your music in front of a crowd of people.

Another important topic I would like to stress to beginners is to remain loose and relaxed at all times. It can get frustrating at times when you’re trying to play something and you just can’t seem to play a riff or finger a chord. When frustration occurs, take a breather and relax for a few minutes. Shaking your hands out for 30 seconds also helps loosen muscles that are tightening up in your hands. Running your hands under warm water as well as massaging with hand lotion and sanitizers can soothe pains that are associated with being a beginner guitarist. When your mind is clear and your body is relaxed it is much easier to play the guitar. It is best to stay focused and have fun at all times.

So far I have walked you through a basic outline for a practice routine. I have recommended a minimum of at least 15 minutes a day practicing Alternate Picking. Then after you've warmed up, practice your chords and switching them, as well as chord progressions for at least a half hour daily. Finally, improvising your own music is the final part of your routine. You can improvise as long as you want but I recommend a minimum of at least 20 minutes daily creating your own music.

Here is a few extra tips and pointers I have found personally to be useful.

1. It is very important not to try to progress too quickly; by trying to cram in too much it could overwhelm a beginning guitarist. I recommend to all guitarists starting out keeping things simple in the beginning and slowly build up your technique and speed before you try to challenge yourself.

2. It is good to practice first with a clean guitar sound. Always learn a song or exercise with a clean sound. Using distortion can mask mistakes you are making. Then when you’re all warmed up and have the music under your fingers properly, your playing will be cleaner and smoother once you kick in the distortion.

3. It is a good idea to learn how to read tablature. Once you can read tablature, you can learn just about any song there is. There are many sites on the Internet as well as printed books with tabs that teach a variety of songs.

4. Get some backing tracks and or practice playing with a band. Not only is it a lot of fun to play with other musicians, but it also helps with developing a sense of timing and feel for the music.

5. Practice all of your techniques, chords and scales as often as you can. If you study hard and become a dedicated musician, someday you will be as good as your favorite guitar players and you'll be ready to conquer the globe!

For more advice from Anthony Lawrence you can check him out in his own corner of the Rock House Forums. http://www.rockhousemethod.com/