Any Guitarists Here or WannaBes like me?

[KP11520]

I have hardly been here at DIY because my other passion (from as long as I can remember) is playing guitar.

I have been hanging at: http://www.vanderbilly.com/

They are new but are starting a gear review area and maybe it might help with what to clone and copy for amps and effects! Did I say that?

They also have many instructional song videos for both lead and rhythm if you want to learn whatever songs they offer. The list is over 500 videos and growing fast. I found a few I want to learn.

I do need to get back to my projects and electronics education here. My CD players ain't gonna improve themselves and who's gonna re cap my tuner anyway?

I don't know if anyone would be interested but I figured maybe it might help someone else.

Regards//Keith

[SY]

Very nice and useful (I'm aspiring to improve my playing to "terrible"). Many thanks for the link.

[KP11520]

Hey Sy,

I'm glad someone other than me can use some help!

Two years ago I had surgery and got a Bilateral Brachial Plexus Injury. Basically they damaged the median nerves to my arms and hands. My hands were paralyzed for 9 months and since have been improving gradually. I still type with my ring fingers and the sensation feels like electricity. Something you all hate and I live with!

I was playing pretty well after a few years of lessons and then the surgery. I am excited because I can play again (not well yet).

Trust me... we can be in the same group! Where we pay them to listen! LOL

Regards//Keith

[Geek]

That's cool, thanks!

I'm a "noodler" who plays to test amps.

Originally posted by SY
...(I'm aspiring to improve my playing to "terrible").

We should collaborate and make a song to scare mice away

[KP11520]

Hey Geek,

Funny you should mention that (colaborate) because that's how I found that site.

I was looking for videos of guitar players (Google Video and YouTube) doing covers of songs I wanted to learn. Sometimes you can see or they focus the camera on their hands. Then I can figure the chords and what position (sometimes).

I love "Ten Years Gone" by Led Zeppelin, so I started looking and then I found a cool concept, Virtual Zeppelin. One of the guys in Virtual Zeppelin is the guy who started the Vanderbilly.com web-site. They also do "The Lemon Song" Check it out too.

Check out this video, I'm sure we could be just as effective with our playing ability and electonics knowledge to scare more than mice away. I'm thinkin bats, roaches, aliens, people and the whole gamut! LOL

Enjoy: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...Kn7bSmDg&hl=en

BTW, what do you think about the Vox AD15VT for a practice amp? They also have the hopped up -XL version too?

Regards//Keith

[Conrad Hoffman]

Electronics is easy. I've been doing it for 30+ years. When you don't know something you just look it up or find somebody smarter and ask 'em. It's a brain activity, no real physical skills required. I can almost see the current flow in wires and the by the time you get all the test equipment you want, you have the experience not to need most of it.

Now, guitar is hard hard hard. A few weeks ago I bought a used MIM Strat at a flea market, foolishly thinking it would be fun to learn to play it. Even through a little Roland practice cube it makes the most wonderful sounds, but getting these stiff fingers to go where they need to go, much less playing chords without muting the strings, appears to require divine intervention. If I started 30 years ago maybe it would seem easy, but I've this nagging feeling that 300 years might be needed to get any real proficiency. It has taught me one thing- a real guitar in your lap is better than any stereo system I've heard to date.

[KP11520]

Conrad,

You can't give up! Keep going! Also get a decent Acoustic guitar too!

My hands were absolutely useless (you had to see me destroy op-amps while removing them from the PCB). I started a thread shortly after about using a drill to clean up the mess I made with the holes on the PCB. You stopped in, maybe you remember! LOL

It gets easier, faster than you think! There are some easy songs at that site. If you ever need help, email me and I'd be glad to! You ALWAYS help me and many others.

Take a song like "Wounded Bird" Graham Nash. Three chords and they only use 4 strings each! No Barre Chords or jazz voicings. Just plain easy and exactly like Graham played it!

Just think, playing guitar and all that electronics knowledge and experience and what you can do with it! You know an Alien repeller just might come in handy someday.

I'd be happy with a mouse repeller but the things you could do! LOL

Keep going! No is not acceptable!

Regards//Keith

[Geek]

Hi Keith,

Originally posted by KP11520
BTW, what do you think about the Vox AD15VT for a practice amp? They also have the hopped up -XL version too?

I haven't played that one yet, though I want to go on a VOX test binge when the new L&M get into town.

People over at Guitars Canada seem to be giving it an "OK" stamp though



Hi Conrad,

Now, guitar is hard hard hard. A few weeks ago I bought a used MIM Strat at a flea market, foolishly thinking it would be fun to learn to play it.

If I try and "learn", I can't play. When I got my Strat (well, a knockoff) to test amps, I tried playing some songs I heard by ear. Of course I messed up lots, but also stumbled on some pretty cool improvisions along the way. Next thing you know, I knew a few songs to entertain the parents on Christmas

Sometimes we try too hard.

Cheers!

[KP11520]

Hi Geek,

Is OK just OK or does that mean highly recommended?

Let me know when you binge! LOL

Yeah you are right. Just enjoy the guitar.

Perfectionism is discouraging when learning and actually will cause you to walk away quickly. Maybe it is great for electronics design and mods but for learning any Physical skill, save that for the other end of the journey or there will be no journey!

Enjoy fellas!

Regards//Keith

[Deep Surplus]

Hi all, had to chime in... I'm just coming from the other direction (I was a studio guitar/recording engineering major for 13yrs in college) now I find myself becoming more and more involved in the equipment side of things. Right now I'm doing a lot of complaining for a new tube amp manufacturer (needs more gain ), that's a lot of fun, I basically get him to build me my dream amp and I'm learning amp repair and design at the same time. Just remember, beginning to learn something new is the hardest part, you'll struggle and struggle and then one day you'll pick up your guitar and it will just feel natural and effortless...

Dave