Watched some great guitarists this weekend at Stagecoach

This weekend’s Stagecoach Country Music Festival provided me with an opportunity to see some great guitarists in person. Joe Walsh, and John Fogerty were among them. Walsh and Fogerty just make it look so easy to play the guitar!! Of course I saw many other fantastic guitarists this weekend, but those two were my favorites. Made me want to go home and pick up my guitar and sound just like them. Well, maybe not like them, but what the heck, I can try can’t I?

My favorite acts at Stagecoach were John Fogerty, and the Eagles a close second. Fogerty just rocks, and has a lot of energy on the stage. The Eagles of course are always great to watch in person.

I also enjoyed Jack Ingram and Trisha Yearwood. However, I was not impressed with Tim McGraw, he just looked and sounded a little out of it on Sunday evening. Perhaps he has been traveling a lot and was just tired, I can appreciate the fact that these folks are moved from one place to another and sometimes just can’t be on their ‘A’ game.

Singer Shelby Lynne had some rude things to say about the fact that there were empty high-priced paid seats located in front of the Mane Stage. See the video I took below of her comments.



Next year I would like to see less ‘pop’ country like Carrie Underwood, and maybe someone like Tracy Lawrence? Maybe a return by Alan Jackson and George Strait would be nice as well.

Well, I got’s to gets to my guitar now…

Gary

I am still plugging along

Hello!! Sorry I haven't posted for awhile but I have just been so busy at work. Yes I have been practicing my guitar, I just haven't blogged!! I will catch up on what I have been practicing in the next few days. This weekend is the Stagecoach Country Music Festival, and since I live just down the street I will be there on Friday night for The Eagles, and I will be there through Sunday evening for Tim McGraw. I will hopefully be blogging with photos using my cell phone while I am there.

Later,

Gary

Still plugging along....

I have been practicing my guitar the last few days, but mostly on the same things (chords, El Paso, etc, etc…). Because I didn’t have time to practice for almost a week I kind of got behind. I am starting to look for something new to try and learn, I will keep ya all posted.

Is anyone else trying to learn to play the guitar?? Let me know!!

Tomorrow I am going to change my strings (yup, I bought some new ones) and hopefully the one string I have that won’t stay in tune long will be cured. Hopefully it isn’t something with the guitar.

Until later,

Gary

Whoo hooo, I finally was able to pick up my guitar!!

After a few weeks of either being sick, or too busy with work and all that, I was finally able to practice my guitar for more than 15 minutes today. I spent over an hour practicing (actually almost two hours)!! Of course after not being able to practice much the past few weeks basically all I was able to do was catch up with the things I had been working on.

I have seven chords I have been working on (learning how to quickly switch between them), and of course learning ‘Wipeout’ and ‘El Paso’ along with the solo from ‘Black Magic Woman.’

One thing I did play around with today that was different was trying to play along with a MIDI of the Beatles ‘All My Lovin’ on my Fender G-DEC 30 Guitar Digital Entertainment Center Standard


. What I did was take out the vocal track of the MIDI using software that is available at the Fender website, and I played it on my guitar instead. At first it was hard to keep up, but after several attempts I was actually able to play along. What is cool is it makes it seem like you are playing with other musicians as you do this, and while it isn’t something I would play for other people, it is fun to do. Being able to do this is just one of the features of the G-Dec 30 that is popular with guitar players around the globe.

As for the Rock House Learn Rock Guitar Beginner Book/DVD/CD Combo StandardI have found that it is definitely something I would recommend for anyone learning to play the guitar. Of course if you can afford personal lessons that would be best, but the Rock House Learn Rock Guitar Beginner Book/DVD/CD Combo Standard is a great way to learn guitar basics. In the first lessons John McCarthy shows you how to tune and care for the guitar, how to change the strings, and of course the basic parts of the guitar.

In later lessons he shows you how to play chords and some riffs, and I like the way he explains things. One thing for sure is the book that accompanies Rock House Learn Rock Guitar Beginner Book/DVD/CD Combo Standard is something you really need to have as you watch the video.

Rock House Learn Rock Guitar Beginner Book/DVD/CD Combo Standard is one way for someone who can’t afford personal lessons to learn the guitar, however there are countless resources on the Internet, and in future postings I will talk about some of my favorite websites for learning how to play the guitar.

Until next time, Don't forget to check out Gary's Online Music Store for guitars, keyboards, Guitar Hero (yes, even serious musicians need to have some fun...), and all your music needs!!
Later,

Gary

My apologies…

Wow, has it really been that long since I blogged?? I have been busy at work with a couple recent local events and haven’t blogged, or practiced all that much. I have managed to slip in 15 minutes here and there, but I haven’t tried anything new or even really looked at my Rock House DVD. This week, I promise…

I have been practicing, but not blogging, but...

Well, it has been a bit since my last post. I have been practicing my guitar, but not as much as I would like. To begin with I came down with the flu and was not feeling well for about 6 days. Also, the past week I have been very busy at work with the Pacific Life Open and a couple of other local news stories, and I have been kind of worn out when I get home!

My practice sessions have been shorter than they have been, and I haven’t been trying anything new. So that means my continuing chords practice, and practicing ‘El Paso’ ‘Wipeout’ and the others that I have been working on. I am feeling better now and the Pacific Life Open is (will be after today) over, so things should get back to normal.

Until next time…

Didn't get to practice as much as I wanted over the weekend!!

Well, life kind of got in the way this weekend when it came to blogging, and in finding time to practice my guitar. I did manage to slip in about an hour over the weekend, but I wasn’t able to spend enough time to adequately review my Fender G-DEC 30 Guitar Digital Entertainment Center Standard (I do know I like it a lot!!), or the Rock House Learn Rock Guitar Beginner Book/DVD/CD Combo Standard. Hopefully I can find the time to do that this week.

My limited practice time was spent on continuing to learn ‘Wipe Out’ and I also spent some time with ‘El Paso’ as well as just practicing the basic chords I am learning. I will make a real effort to go over the Rock House Learn Rock Guitar Beginner Book/DVD/CD Combo Standard, and get to know my Fender G-DEC 30 Guitar Digital Entertainment Center Standard so I can give a more detailed review in case anyone is interested. I will say it is really easy to use the presets that come installed in the G-Dec. You can switch between a ‘Metal Rock’ or ‘Country’ sound real easy by turning one dial (or many other guitar amp sounds as well), but I do have to agree that Fender should spend a little more time with the manual that comes with the G-Dec and explain exactly how to use all the features on the G-Dec.

So until next time, don't be afraid to make some posts and comments on your journey to learn to play the guitar, and don’t forget to check out my website Gary's Guitar Blog and Musicians Outlet for Guitars, Keyboards, or other musicians needs!!!

Gary