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Current estimates
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- -ABOUT
PLAY IT AGAIN SAM
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INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW
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EDLY: Music Theory Q+A
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Q&A with RICHARD HUNTER
- -GUITAR
TECH-TALK with CHIP WILSON
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FAQ
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It Again Sam
is located in Montpelier, Vermont, USA, and is an
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world-renowned guitars, banjos, mandolins, keyboards,
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at Play It Again Sam, check here:
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at
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- For musical tips
regarding guitar, percussion, keyboards, PA, recording,
and much more, see SOUNDADVICE, our archive of FAQ
at www.guitarsam.com/soad/soundadvice.htm
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- Do you have a
special tip or trick? Email it to us! We'll publish our
favorites, and give you credit for submitting it!
kevin@guitarsam.com
-
- CHIP
WILSON
- http://www.jumpinsomething.com/
- Chip Wilson's
credits include luthier, performer, songwriter,
- and Guitar
Tech-Talk author in this eZine. Visit Chip's new
site
- and stop by to
pick up his new CD.
-
- JOE
MATERA / DIBLISS MUSIC
- http://www.diblissmusic.4mg.com/
- Joe Matera posts
guitar and bass lessons, recording credits,
- interviews with
musical artists, he hosts the Official Aria/Aria Pro II
Guitar Page,
- and is also a
contributor to the GuitarSam eZine.
-
- RICHARD
HUNTER
- http://www.rootsworld.com/hunter/
- Harmonica
Virtuoso
- Read our
interview with Richard Hunter:
- http://www.guitarsam.com/interviews/richard_hunter.htm
-
- ART
EDELSTEIN'S CELTIC FINGERSTYLE PAGE
- http://www.sover.net/~arte/index.html
- Art's new CD is
now available!
-
- STEVE
TALLIS
- www.stevetallis.com
- More music from
OZ...
-
- MP3Jesus.com
- http://www.mp3jesus.com/
- Richard D.
Eutsler, Jr. offers his own music, and
invites
- you to submit
your own.
-
-
-
-
-
-
SCALEOPIA
- http://www.geocities.com/scaleopia/
- An amazing site
that spells out more guitar scales than
- you can find
songs for. Check it out and learn a couple new
ones.
-
- COMPOSITION
ACADEMY
- http://www.thecompconnect.com/
- The Composition
Connection helps musicians find other
musicians,
- and allows them
to create music together from separate locations.
- Musicians can
exchange musical files on-line without leaving their own
home.
-
- ALL
MUSIC ACADEMY
- http://www.allmusicacademy.co.nz
- Thanks to Dave
Maybee of New Zealand for letting
- us know about
this great site, featuring guitar and bass
- lessons, tab,
and more.
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- GUITAR
ENCYCLOMEDIA
- http://www.12tonemusic.com/gemlsn.htm
- Free Guitar
lessons On-Line! Recently updated!
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- GUITAR
TRICKS
- http://www.guitartricks.com/
- Licks, riffs,
solos and tricks submitted by guitarists just like you.
- Submit your own
favorites, post to the bulletin board, or go to the JAM
ROOM!
-
- COACH'S
CORNER
- http://www.visionmusic.com/corner.html
- Mark Stefani's
site for playing, teaching, songwriting, jamtracks and
more.
-
- MUSICAL
EDVENTURES
- http://www.edly.com
- Edly, the music
theory expert.
- Also see our
interview this month with Edly:
- http://www.guitarsam.com/interviews/edly.htm
-
-
-
-
- BOB SICKLER
- http://www.rhsdesign.com
- Graphic
designer, webmaster, creator of some of the best web
sites for celebrity musicians.
-
- DOG
RIVER COMPUTERS
- http://www.dogrivercomputers.com/
- We buy all of
our computers, servers and other tech gear from
- Dog River
Computers. Custom order your own!
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- BUCH
SPIELER MUSIC
- http://www.bsmusic.com
- CDs, wacky
cards, much more...
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- PLAY
IT AGAIN SAM'S MUSIC LINKS
- http://www.guitarsam.com/services/links.htm
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|
the
ROGER McGUINN interview
|
 Our
new interview with Roger McGuinn is at:- http://www.guitarsam.com/interviews/roger-mcguinn2.htm
-
- Roger recently
made a statement at the Senate Hearings regarding Music
on the Internet, and I spoke with Roger shortly after,
discussing how he produces and sells his MP3 recordings.
Roger also talked about his Martin signature 12-string,
the D12-42RM, as well as some other interesting Roger
McGuinn topics.
|
the
JOHN TAPELLA interview
|
 John
Tapella is a neo-classical guitarist and guitar
transcriber of many titles for Hal Leonard Publishing,
such as Vinnie Moore's "Time Odyssey" and Testament's
"Practice What You Preach." He recently got together with
Joe Matera to discuss the many facets of his work, from
transcribing to "challenging the masters."-
- This interview
is published with the courtesy of Joe Matera --
songwriter, guitarist and freelance writer. Joe's website
is Dibliss
Music
located at http://www.diblissmusic.4mg.com/
where he posts guitar and bass lessons, the Official
Aria/Aria Pro II Guitar Page, recording credits, and
interviews with other artists.
-
- The John Tapella
interview is at:
- http://www.guitarsam.com/interviews/john-tapella.htm
|
Ask
Edly:
Music Theory Q+A
|
- For more
theory than you can shake a 12-stave manuscript book at,
see Edly's
website, at www.edly.com
-
- --Hello
Edly:
- I know a bit
about the different kinds of scales that create different
musical moods, like how Carlos Santana plays in a certain
scale, and how it makes him sound more like himself
instead of other guitarists. I was wondering if there's a
way to figure out what scale they use by listening to
them. Also, I was wondering about switching minor scales
and major scales within a blues song. I know that Clapton
does this a lot, but is there a certain place in the
progression where it's best to switch without sounding
like you went to the wrong note?
-
 --Edly
answers:- Here comes the
short answer to only some of your questions. First, if
you practice (and even better, actively train) your ear,
you can definitely identify a solo or melody's source
scale(s). Put this together with some knowledge of
theory, and you can do it in your sleep. My very favorite
ear-training program is called Listen (sorry, Mac only)
and is available from http://www.edly.com/
-
- As for switching
scales within a blues tune, either the minor or major
pentatonic scale will sound good over the I and V chord,
whereas you might want to be careful of the natural 3rd
degree of the major pentatonic scale over the IV chord.
(The minor pentatonic will work great though.) For
example, in C, the major pentatonic is C D E G A C (and
the minor pentatonic is C Eb F G Bb C). The E note will
rub in a way that you may not like against the F (IV)
chord: F A C (or F A C Eb, if it's F7). Sound confusing?
Sorry 'bout that; this is a quicker answer than it would
ideally be.
-
- Here's a looser
answer: Part of what makes the blues sound like the blues
is the way the notes of the melody rub up against the
notes of the harmony. If they rub in a way that you're
used to hearing in bluesy contexts, it will sound bluesy.
If it's a rub of a different color, then it may well just
sound wrong.
-
- There are your
yin and yang answers, each incomplete. Put them together,
and you may have a whole.
-
- Edly
-
- Author and
publisher of
- -Edly's Music
Theory for Practical People
- -Edly Paints the
Ivories Blue
- http://www.edly.com/
- See our tell-all
interview with Edly from March 2000, at www.guitarsam.com/interviews/edly.htm
-
|
|
|
- Purchase
"Edly's Music Theory for Practical People".
- In
theory, it'll be the best $25.00 you ever
spent.
- Also,
"Edly Paints the Ivories Blue",
an inspired blues piano tutorial for
$12.00
- Email
us at sam@guitarsam.com
for ordering details.
|
-
- What is music
theory, anyway? You hear so much about it, but does
anybody really know what it is? Edly does!
-
- Scales?
Chords? Keys? Ear-training? Modes? Toads?
-
- If you need help
connecting the musical dots or playing musical works,
send us your best (or dumbest) questions, and we'll have
Edly, one of Earth's leading music theory experts, field
the responses.
-
- To get your head
keyed in the right direction, visit Edly's website
"Musical EdVentures" at www.edly.com
-
- Beam your music
theory questions to us at askedly@guitarsam.com
-
-
-
|
Richard
Hunter...Harmonica
Q+A
|
 Richard
Hunter is the author of "Jazz Harp", from Oak
Publications. Richard's recorded works include "The Act
of Being Free in One Act", which is the first full-length
CD of works for unaccompanied harmonica ever recorded,
and "The Second Act of Free Being", a CD that takes solo
harmonica to a new level. Check Richard's
website
http://www.rootsworld.com/hunter/
to purchase these CD's, and to learn more about Richard
Hunter and the art of playing the harmonica.-
- If you have
questions about harmonica playing technique, use of
different keys, bending, blowing, maintaining and so on,
send them to us at kevin@guitarsam.com,
and we'll have harmonica virtuoso Richard Hunter provide
an expert answer for you.
-
- --A reader
asks:
- I have a Hohner
"Trumpet Call". Any idea how old it is? Can I play it
without sucking in a 100 year old virus?
-
- --Richard
answers:
- I have no idea
how old the "Trumpet Call" is--I'm a player, not a
collector--but there's a web site for collectors called
"Harley's Harps," and the URL is available at my website.
They'll be able to give you the specs on the instrument.
I doubt, by the way, that it's worth lots of money,
unless you can prove that it was owned and played by
Franklin D. Roosevelt or someone equally
famous.
-
- The chance that
you'll pull in a "100-year-old virus" is relatively slim,
but not zero. Bacteria, as my wife's microbiology
instructor used to say, are not stupid, and a spore can
live for a long time under conditions that you and I
would not tolerate for ten minutes. If you want to play
harmonica, I recommend that you buy a new instrument. The
new ones are in any case better made, and better
sounding, than the old ones, and a pro-quality instrument
runs between $15-$25.
-
- Thanks!
-
- Richard
Hunter
- www.hunterharp.com
-
-
-
|
Chip
Wilson...Guitar
Tech-Talk
|
 Guitar
Tech-Talk is from Chip
Wilson in New Orleans. If you have a question
about guitar building, repair, or maintenance, send it to
us at kevin@guitarsam.com
and we'll have Chip provide you with an
answer.-
- Musician/luthier
Chip Wilson lives in New Orleans, LA. Chip worked with
Borys Guitars when master archtop builder James L.
D'Aquisto served as a consultant, before opening his own
business, Better Guitars. Better Guitars served as an
authorized repair shop for most of the top US guitar
manufacturers. Chip recently wrote a book review for
Guitarmaker, the quarterly publication of
ASIA.
-
- Chip is now
primarily a performer in New Orleans, typically playing
25 to 30 gigs per month, as a soloist, sideman, and with
his own band A Jumpin' Somethin'. His 1999 release "A
Jumpin' Somethin" was nominated for Best Traditional Jazz
CD By A Louisiana Artist by Offbeat Magazine, the most
widely distributed Louisiana music publication. Chip is
currently working on a new CD for release in 2000. "A
Jumpin' Somethin" can be obtained online at
www.louisianamusicfactory.com,
or by contacting Chip at jumpinsomethin@aol.com
-
- A reader
asks:
- Is there any way
to stop feedback in my electric hollow-body guitar
without stuffing foam rubber in it?
-
- Chip
answers:
- I remember when
I first heard a guitarist use feedback, either Hendrix or
Santana, both of whom I heard live around 1970. I’m
sure I didn’t understand what was happening at the
time, how they were utilizing physics to create sound to
create art.
-
- Sometimes,
though, guitar feedback is just a pain in the ass.
-
- Electric guitars
will generate unwanted feedback for different reasons.
Pickup wires may be a bit loose, and a high, earsplitting
feedback can occur. In the case of an archtop electric,
such as the modern day Epi Emperor, it is a function of
body resonance, top movement, air movement, and the
guitar’s relationship with the guitar amp. Curing
feedback becomes an issue of altering these factors to
some degree. Try changing the position of your guitar and
amp by moving around as a first solution. Inversely, I
have read that Carlos Santana will use his soundchecks to
mark stage locations where his guitars will
satisfactorily interact with his amps to create that
signature feedback-drenched sound of his. Physics . . .
.
-
 Some
people will slow feedback down by reducing air movement
through the soundholes with some kind of tape. This
helps, but the only problem is . . . you just put tape on
your guitar. The aesthetics of sticky, gummy stuff on a
nice archtop guitar don’t appeal to me. It is
possible, though, to create a removeable soundhole mute
with some flexible plastic. Pickguard stock is ideal. Cut
the plastic to a slightly overlarge, pleasing shape and
bevel the edges. Glue some foam or thick felt (less
likely to interact with the guitar finish) onto the
inside surface in the shape of the soundhole to hold the
mute into place. A piece of paper over the hole and a
pencil to outline the edges can help make a template to
get this shape just right. I use a mute like this
inserted into the oval soundhole of my Nouvelle for high
volume gigs. Commercially available mutes exist for
flattops. On f-hole guitars, sometimes a bass side mute
is sufficient, although any soundhole mute will change
the tone to some degree. -
- Here is another
remedy that should be attempted only by an experienced
guitar tech. Note: this modification should be used only
on laminated top guitars. I don’t want to be
responsible for any split spruce tops.
-
- Remove the
bridge pickup, and tuck it into the guitar. Cut a block
of wood (basswood or mahogany are cool) a bit deeper than
the distance from top to back, and just small enough to
be slipped through the pickup cavity. Shape the bottom to
fit the inside of the arched back. When that fits nicely
(look through the soundhole), similarly shape the top
edge, just a fraction taller than the depth of the
guitar. Insert the block into the cavity, and tip it over
toward the tailpiece to get the leading edge under the
top. You can control the angle and movement of the block
by slipping a knife blade into the top of the block to
help maneuver it. Slide the block towards the bridge, and
when it seems it won’t go any further, push the
bottom end towards the tailpiece, and a properly fitted
block should audibly “pop” into place. Then,
push or tap the block until it fits under the bridge
location. If the block slides around too easily, pull it
out, glue a veneer or even a business card to the top of
it, then refit. Reinstall the pickup and restring.
-
- You have created
an instrument with a removable block that will help
control feedback. This block will also reduce the
presence of uneven sounding notes or “wolf
tones”, and give your instrument a pleasing
sustain.
-
- One more
“panic” remedy, learned from experienced string
bass players: Stuff a towel or rag under the tailpiece
and retune. This will slow down top vibrations a bit, and
may get you through a rough gig, although it is the least
effective of these solutions.
-
- This is some
pretty specific stuff about electric archtops, so
remember: I am available through my email address if you
or your repairperson (ah, political correctness finally
rears its ugly head) have questions about this. But,
August is hot in New Orleans, so don’t pester me too
much. . . .
-
-
 I
love the responses from readers of this column to my new
website at www.jumpinsomethin.com.
I’ve been invited to write a lesson for one website,
links are being offered, and it’s great to
communicate with other guitarists.-
- Chip
Wilson
- Email at:
jumpinsomethin@aol.com
- Website at:
www.jumpinsomethin.com
-
-
-
-
- We assembled a
large list of real questions and answers regarding
guitars, banjos, mandolins, drums, keyboards, amplifiers,
PA, recording gear and more.
-
- Read our current
Q&As or send us some new ones. www.guitarsam.com/soad/soundadvice.htm
-
- John Sebastian .
. . next month!
- Annie
Raines
- Colin Hay, Men
at Work
- Steve
Tallis
- Diane
Zeigler
- Fred Carlson,
guitar luthier
- Dave Zimmerman,
Maven
Peal Amplification
-
If you're the first
to email us with the correct answer to this musical
question, you'll win your choice of an Akai GCF1 or an Akai
KCF1. These are a nifty little electronic keychain-style
chord finder, for the guitar or keyboard. See the GCF1 at
http://www.guitarsam.com/catalog2/akai.htm#gcf1
Our monthly
question of musical muse is:
What '60s San
Francisco rock band reformed in 1974, keeping half of their
original name?
Send your correct
answer to us at kevin@guitarsam.com
- Congratulations
to Brent Domann of Saginaw, Michigan, for quickly
providing the first correct answer to our question, which
was:
-
- Where is the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located?
-
- The answer, of
course, . . . Cleveland, Ohio
-
- Brent won a Akai
GCF1, which is a nifty little electronic keychain-style
chord finder for guitar. See the GCF1 at http://www.guitarsam.com/catalog2/akai.htm#gcf1
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to Thrill You!"
- Our return
policy is very easy to read:
- If it doesn't
thrill you, send it back to us!
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- You have 10 days
after receiving your purchase to decide whether you want
to keep it. If you decide it's not for you, just contact
us, and we will guide you through the simple process of
returning it, and we will issue you a 100% refund on your
purchase, plus the shipping charge to you. (Applies to US
ground shipping charge only)
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our ordering procedures, read
- www.guitarsam.com/services/order.htm
-
- Shipping
Charges...In the 48 connected states, you can consult our
- shipping chart
at www.guitarsam.com/services/order.htm
-
- Play It Again
Sam ships worldwide! If you're outside of the 48
connected states, send us your zip code, and the items
you are interested in, and we'll report to you what the
best shipping options are.
Past issues of the
GuitarSam eZine are available at:
www.guitarsam.com/eZine/archive.htm
|
Reader
and Customer Feedback
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- "The guitar made
it all the way around the world. Came in the mail today.
Thanks for the help in getting it to me. Sounds
great!"
- Steve
"Thank you very much for providing such a great web site
and contest. I really do appreciate it!"
- Greg
"I just wanted to let you know that I really like the way
you have your Ovation Guitars advertised. Clear all the
way through, easy to read, and having the prices right
there is a super plus. I'm out looking for a new guitar
and I have to say, you do have the nicest display so far.
Keep up the good work."
- Judi
"What can I say! The SansAmp arrived here in Hong Kong
this morning. I can't wait to get home and play with it.
For reference, your service out-performs any other
Internet supply I have dealt with, including amazon.com,
who are ordinarily very good. Thank you so
much!"
- Dave
"I want to let you know how impressed I was with the
recent purchase I made. The sales person was informative
and courteous, and the delivery was prompt. I expect to
do a lot of business with you in the future."
- Jay
Face your amp and squeal some feedback to us about
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- Tell us what you
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- Watch for our
next issue of the GuitarSam eZine, due on
September 5, 2000.
- To our
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- Play It Again
Sam
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