Category Archives: Uncategorized

Break old habits but how? I get asked how to break out of the same scale routine, the same chords, and the same rhythm patterns. As I frequently say, use what you already know and build on it. Here are three ways I use to creatively destroy and build something new from what I already […]

Protest songs speak to people in ways other music just doesn’t. I grew up during a time when there was a flurry of protest music. From the Vietnam War to the march on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. My earliest exposure to music was mixed with songs of protest. Music gets to everyone. It […]

As we march into summer, you may be experiencing some changes in your guitar. They will be subtle for the most part but keep an eye out for them. Here are some things to look for, primarily for acoustic instruments: Increased string height (action) making chords more difficult. Bellied top due to increased moisture absorbed […]

I have played in a number of bands over the years. The 80’s and early 90’s were the time of “hair metal” and “glam bands” and I was part of that in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore, MD metro areas. It was probably the closest I have ever gotten to getting signed to a record deal – […]

One Sunday when I was kid, we went to church as was the standard practice in my Catholic family. There were five of us kids at the time (three brothers and one sister) and on this Sunday, I was next to my sister. Fairly random ordering but here we were sitting, standing kneeling as the […]

These days are tough. Virus running rampant, social unrest and our own personal struggles with life, right? Where do you turn? The obvious answer for the readers of this blog would be: Music, of course! While that is the answer expected here given the context and content, can we get more specific for a moment? […]

There is a band named Marbin that I found out about through Facebook a couple of years ago that I really like. They have made their following and created an audience for themselves through social media. They play a type of electric fusion that is an equal mix of rock, jazz, and gypsy. Warning! They […]

…and I suspect many of you are not either. I love rippin’ fast leads and flashy guitar work as much as the next guy but it is only aspirational at this point. There are a couple of reasons for this: It was never a priority so I never put the time in trying to get […]