John Brown´s Blues PT2 by Siggi Mertens

2nd part

Super Easy Beginner Songs on Acoustic : What I like About You -

Free Ebook when you sign my list www.guitarjamz.com Easy Song Progression DVD's with printable charts www.guitarjamz.com

Tosin Abasi – 8 String

In his first lesson with JamPlay.com, Tosin discusses the 8 string guitar. He talks playing, setup and stylistic approach to what he considers …

Tosin Abasi Interview

being appearing January 27th, 2010. For more, visit www.jamplay.com … "Tosin Abasi" "Animals As Leaders" "Electric …

Canada Blues

Canada Blues Music

What, there are good blues artists in Canada? Well, yes there are! Although live music seems to have become more scarce in recent years, there are still great blues artists out there, and there are plenty of good ones in Canada.

The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field.

As a fresh way to find out what award-winning Canadian blues sounds like, let’s have a listen to some of the Canadian artists who were winners at the Maple Blues Award 2010. These are youtube videos I found of these artists.

Special mention – do listen to the late Jeff Healey clip – it’s from another great album called Mess of Blues (2009). The award for Recording of the Year 2009 is for the album Songs From The Road. Jeff was an incredible player who is sorely missed.

Electric Act Of The Year & Entertainer Of The Year

Monkey Junk

Tiger In Your Tank

Acoustic Act Of The Year

Harry Manx

Female Vocalist Of The Year

Suzie Vinnick

New Artist/Group Of The Year

Blackburn

Recording Of The Year

The late great Jeff Healey at the Islington Academy in London, England 2007

Jason Mraz – Sunshine Song

CHORUS:

G
Well, sometimes the sun shines on

Cadd9
Other people’s houses and not mine

G
Some days the clouds paint the sky all gray

D
And it takes away my summertime

G
Somehow the sun keeps shining upon you

Cadd9
While I struggle to get mine

G D
If there’s a light in everybody

C D G C D G
Send out your ray of sunshine

VERSE:

G
I wanna walk the same roads as everybody else

Am
Through the trees and past the gates

C
Getting high on heavenly breezes

C D G
Making new friends along the way

G
I won’t ask much of nobody

Am
I’m just here to sing along

C
And make my mistakes look gracious

C D G
And learn some lessons from my wrongs

(CHORUS)
But sometimes the sun shines on
Other people’s houses and not mine
Some days the clouds paint the sky all gray
And it takes away my summertime

Somehow the sun keeps shining upon you
While I struggle to get mine
A little light never hurt nobody
Send out your ray of sunshine

BRIDGE:

Em
Oh, if this little light of mine

G
Combined with yours today

C
How many watts could we luminate?

G D
How many villages could we save?

Em
My umbrella’s tired of the weather

G
Wearing me down

C Cm
Well look at me now

INTERLUDE:

G Cadd9 Am C D G

(VERSE)
Well, you should look as good as your outlook
Would you mind if I took some time?
To soak up your light, your beautiful light
You’ve got a paradise inside

I get hungry for love and thirsty for life
And much to full on the pain
When I look to the sky to help me
And sometimes it looks like rain

(CHORUS)
As the sun shines on
Other people’s houses and not mine
And the sky paints the clouds in a way
That it takes away the summertime

Somehow the sun keeps shining upon you
While I kindly stand by
If there’s a light in everybody
Send out your ray of sunshine

OUTRO:

G
You’re undeniably warm, you’re cerulean

Am C
You’re perfect in design

Won’t you hang around?

G Cadd9
So the sun, it can shine on me

G D
And the clouds, they can roll away

G Cadd9
And the sky can become our possibility

G D
If there’s a light in everybody

C D G
Send out your ray of sunshine

—
NOTE: The “C D G” pattern that happens quite a bit in the song could be done with the
chords; I think this is what Jason uses:

C x355xx
D x577xx (x54030)
G 355433

Penny – Waking Up in Vegas MTV

It was a crazy afternoon last January 24, and we decided to make the most of our gig in SM City Batangas by shooting this crazy Waking Up in Vegas video. Thanx and I were there with JR and Gerlie of WOWBatangas as part of a Blogging Seminar and we performed live in front of 200+ students from around Batangas City.

GT Live Sessions are fun, but singing for an audience is really what GT is all about. Watch out for our next gigs. – Penny

Waking Up in Vegas cover by Penny MTV

Practicing Guitar vs Buying Guitar Gear

Practicing Guitar vs Buying Guitar Gear

Are you someone who feels you are not spending enough time practicing guitar, yet you look on eBay and guitar forums everyday to see if you can score some new guitar gear? I’m not trying to make you feel guilty, but I think this is a common "problem" among many guitar players. I am guilty of this too, I openly admit it. How do you think I acquired all the gear I have listed on this website!

However, I have noticed this G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is an illness that comes and goes for me. Lately, it’s been mostly "goes", and perhaps that’s because I have enough stuff now to play with. Although I could always use one of this or that, my little devil on the shoulder tells me… and sometimes he wins, sometimes not.

Now, the easy answer here is of course – stop buying gear, start playing guitar – if practicing and improving your playing is important enough for you. If you’d rather just have fun with gear, well then there you go. But if you want to improve as a player, you need to schedule time in for practicing guitar.

There is no substitute for hard work and time spent practicing when it comes to playing an instrument. There are many studies on this topic, and here is a study regarding children where improvements were seen on tests measuring verbal ability and visual pattern completion (skills not normally associated with music).

Bottom line is – if you want to play better, play more! And stop buying gear all the time, if you are "one of those guys…"

I do think many of us put off practicing, because they think it won’t do much for their improvement, and it’s easy to find excuses to not work on things that require some level of structured effort. I am guilty myself! I am busy with running, family, video lessons creation, etc. I could practice more than I do, and in fact, that is one thing I intend to improve upon in 2010. I want to get a better. I am working on knowing the fretboard better, chord voicings, finger picking, soloing concepts, etc. By the end of the year, I hope to have a recording or two, where I’m happy with my playing.

So, which one of these two "stereotypes" are you?

Digital Wireless from Line 6

I have not used wireless systems myself, because I have not had a need to. I usually just stand in one spot, more or less, when I gig. I remember in the past, some friends of mine used wireless systems. They were going for that stage presence idea (read: jump around on stage like squirrels on caffeine) and needed that freedom of no cords.

What I also remember is that those guys didn’t have good tone. In those days (80s), these rigs were pretty big and everyone was using lots of effects, so perhaps it didn’t matter that much that their tone suffered. In any case, I was never impressed or interested in that technology.

Fast forward to today. I recently discovered that Line 6 has developed a system with a whole new idea. It’s a digital wireless technology, which is said to not alter your tone at all. This sounds very interesting. Not having to worry about cables while still having a excellent signal going into one’s gear certainly sounds appealing.

I have not yet tried this myself, but I have talked to some guys who use it, and they told me your tone is not suffering at all when playing through this system. It’s just like playing through a quality cable. Wow!

This looks like a great product for those who are gigging lots and need that freedom on stage, without guitar cables. If you try this, let me know what your impressions are.

Video

Here is some information from Line 6 about this system.

LINE 6 LAUNCHES RELAY™ DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEMS WORLD WIDE

"Relay digital guitar wireless systems represent a revolution in wireless technology," remarked Darrell Smith, Category Manager of Guitar Wireless Products at Line 6. "They were built from the ground up, for guitarists by guitarists, to provide unprecedented performance on all fronts that matter to musicians: tone, dynamics, dependability, and ease of use. Plus, they’re approved and ready to tour all over the world."

The Relay line, which includes two stompbox-style systems and one rack-mountable system, delivers the kind of high-quality audio normally associated with expensive audio cables. The digital wireless systems provide full-range 10Hz-20kHz frequency response, exceedingly low noise with up to 120dB dynamic range (compared to the 50Hz-15kHz frequency response and >90dB dynamic range offered by comparable analog wireless systems), and studio-quality resolution with 24-bit A/D conversion.

The digital transmission is protected by a variety of proprietary technologies. VWT™ (Virtual Wire Transmission) ensures a cable-like performance, and DCL™ (Digital Channel Lock) technology ensures dependability by locking out all sources of interference. With all channels available all the time, complex channel co-ordination and searching are simply not required.

Built for worldwide use, Relay digital wireless systems broadcast in the 2.4GHz band. This avoids signal interference created by high-power sources and analog wireless systems. It also certifies that Relay digital wireless systems will operate with the same audio quality and ease in every country and region that they are used.

Other innovations featured in each system include cable tone simulation, out-of-the-box operation, and internally mounted antennas.

Relay G30, a six channel stompbox-style system released earlier this year into European markets, has garnered critical acclaim. The system was named "Guitar Accessory of the Year, 2009" by MusicRadar.com, the #1 website for musicians. "It’s time to be brave and cut that cord," wrote MusicRadar.com. "The freedom afforded by a reliable and good-sounding wireless system shouldn’t be underestimated. Line 6 has truly picked up the baton."

Steve Stevens, legendary guitarist for Billy Idol and others, remarks about Relay G30: "I am stunned by how amazing it sounds. Did [Line 6] make a pact with the devil? Because there are systems that cost well over $3,000 that sound nowhere near as good. It is also such a refreshing aspect that it uses a normal quarter-inch cable."

Billy Sheehan, in-demand bassist and songwriter whose resume includes David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and Steve Vai, offers "[Relay G30] sounds excellent! [It has] lots of great features nobody else thought of – like the 1/4 inch jack!"

"I just wanted to let you know how great I think the [Relay G30] wireless units are," wrote Alex Suarez, bassist for New York City synth-pop band Cobra Starship, in an email to Line 6. "I really couldn’t believe how compact the units actually were. And I like how simple and easy it all runs together. They sound and work great. Its compact size makes it really easy to bring overseas too!"

Relay G30 ($419.99 MSPR) is now available in the United States and around the world. Relay G50 ($559.99 MSRP), the 12-channel stompbox-style system, and Relay G90 ($839.99 MSRP), the 12-channel rack-mountable system, will be available worldwide March, 2010.

Digital Wireless from Line 6

I have not used wireless systems myself, because I have not had a need to. I usually just stand in one spot, more or less, when I gig. I remember in the past, some friends of mine used wireless systems. They were going for that stage presence idea (read: jump around on stage like squirrels on caffeine) and needed that freedom of no cords.

What I also remember is that those guys didn’t have good tone. In those days (80s), these rigs were pretty big and everyone was using lots of effects, so perhaps it didn’t matter that much that their tone suffered. In any case, I was never impressed or interested in that technology.

Fast forward to today. I recently discovered that Line 6 has developed a system with a whole new idea. It’s a digital wireless technology, which is said to not alter your tone at all. This sounds very interesting. Not having to worry about cables while still having a excellent signal going into one’s gear certainly sounds appealing.

I have not yet tried this myself, but I have talked to some guys who use it, and they told me your tone is not suffering at all when playing through this system. It’s just like playing through a quality cable. Wow!

This looks like a great product for those who are gigging lots and need that freedom on stage, without guitar cables. If you try this, let me know what your impressions are.

Video

Here is some information from Line 6 about this system.

LINE 6 LAUNCHES RELAY™ DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEMS WORLD WIDE

"Relay digital guitar wireless systems represent a revolution in wireless technology," remarked Darrell Smith, Category Manager of Guitar Wireless Products at Line 6. "They were built from the ground up, for guitarists by guitarists, to provide unprecedented performance on all fronts that matter to musicians: tone, dynamics, dependability, and ease of use. Plus, they’re approved and ready to tour all over the world."

The Relay line, which includes two stompbox-style systems and one rack-mountable system, delivers the kind of high-quality audio normally associated with expensive audio cables. The digital wireless systems provide full-range 10Hz-20kHz frequency response, exceedingly low noise with up to 120dB dynamic range (compared to the 50Hz-15kHz frequency response and >90dB dynamic range offered by comparable analog wireless systems), and studio-quality resolution with 24-bit A/D conversion.

The digital transmission is protected by a variety of proprietary technologies. VWT™ (Virtual Wire Transmission) ensures a cable-like performance, and DCL™ (Digital Channel Lock) technology ensures dependability by locking out all sources of interference. With all channels available all the time, complex channel co-ordination and searching are simply not required.

Built for worldwide use, Relay digital wireless systems broadcast in the 2.4GHz band. This avoids signal interference created by high-power sources and analog wireless systems. It also certifies that Relay digital wireless systems will operate with the same audio quality and ease in every country and region that they are used.

Other innovations featured in each system include cable tone simulation, out-of-the-box operation, and internally mounted antennas.

Relay G30, a six channel stompbox-style system released earlier this year into European markets, has garnered critical acclaim. The system was named "Guitar Accessory of the Year, 2009" by MusicRadar.com, the #1 website for musicians. "It’s time to be brave and cut that cord," wrote MusicRadar.com. "The freedom afforded by a reliable and good-sounding wireless system shouldn’t be underestimated. Line 6 has truly picked up the baton."

Steve Stevens, legendary guitarist for Billy Idol and others, remarks about Relay G30: "I am stunned by how amazing it sounds. Did [Line 6] make a pact with the devil? Because there are systems that cost well over $3,000 that sound nowhere near as good. It is also such a refreshing aspect that it uses a normal quarter-inch cable."

Billy Sheehan, in-demand bassist and songwriter whose resume includes David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and Steve Vai, offers "[Relay G30] sounds excellent! [It has] lots of great features nobody else thought of – like the 1/4 inch jack!"

"I just wanted to let you know how great I think the [Relay G30] wireless units are," wrote Alex Suarez, bassist for New York City synth-pop band Cobra Starship, in an email to Line 6. "I really couldn’t believe how compact the units actually were. And I like how simple and easy it all runs together. They sound and work great. Its compact size makes it really easy to bring overseas too!"

Relay G30 ($419.99 MSPR) is now available in the United States and around the world. Relay G50 ($559.99 MSRP), the 12-channel stompbox-style system, and Relay G90 ($839.99 MSRP), the 12-channel rack-mountable system, will be available worldwide March, 2010.