Newsletter Vol. 1 # 27 – October 13, 2001

Dear Guitar Player,

Welcome to Guitar Noise News for October 13, 2001. This issue wraps up last month’s topic (for now at least) and kicks off a new topic for October and November. Don’t forget that your feedback on this newsletter is important.

In this newsletter:

  • News
  • Topic of the Month
  • Guitar & Bass Lessons
  • Recommended Books
  • Email of the Week

You can recycle this newsletter by passing it on to a friend you think might benefit from Guitar Noise.

This newsletter is available online on the newsletter page.

Site News

Something for your Desktop
Last week I suggested you might be seeing the new Guitar Noise logo in a few new places. Now you can see it on your computer – all the time. A while ago we had an idea to make a Guitar Noise background for your desktop. Well, an email from one of our readers got me working on it again this week. If you are one of those who just can’t get enough of our website and our new logo we now have a desktop wallpaper you can use. It is available in three sizes.

This is the first time I have made something like this so I hope you will forgive its crudity. If you have any suggestions on how to make it better, or better yet you can make something better for us, please let me know.

Genre Go Round
During the past week we put the final touches on our “Musical Genres” theme. The final piece was put in place with an interesting genre go round, which included a little bit of everything. David claims it is one of his best lessons yet so you won’t want to miss it.

Do You Genre Dance?
(or, “Playing An Old Stand-By”)

by David Hodge (07 Oct 2001)
Knowing the little nuances of different musical genres can help you in a lot of ways. Perhaps the most important, though not always obvious, thing it can do is to make you flexible. The more styles you can play, the more music you can play.

Visit the complete Music Genres page at Guitar Noise.

Performance – Topic of the Month

In the months of October and November, we will be exploring many aspects of Performance. After all, that is what it’s all about – standing up and playing in front of others, either on stage, or in your basement. Most of the columns published this month will explore the things that make performing easier and more enjoyable. In addition, we will begin to publish reviews of live concerts. In anticipation of the Performance topic, we have expanded one of our forums to encourage you to post your own concert reviews, as well as announcements of your own gigs. So get out there and play!

This month’s topic is being coordinated by Dan Lasley. If you have any suggestions about this topic please contact Dan.

Rehearse and Rehash
Sound Engineering Q&A # 6
by Dan Lasley (09 Oct 2001)
Some recent emails have given me the idea to review the importance of rehearsing as a band, and how to get the most from your practice time. These are some general suggestions for you to adapt to your own band’s abilities and temperament.

Most of you may remember these three articles from Jamie Andreas.

Stage Fright: Part 1
Guitar Principles Essay # 8
by Jamie Andreas (01 Jul 2001)
For a performer the effects of stage fright are devastating. How ridiculous, how cruel, that you have spent perhaps hundreds of hours practicing, studying, working and sweating to learn these pieces and prepare this concert, and go out on stage and have a severe traumatic experience!

Stage Fright: Part 2
Guitar Principles Essay # 9
by Jamie Andreas (01 Aug 2001)
Now that we have this stage fright thing more properly defined as what it really is, People Fright, we are in a position to get some where with it. Many people, including professional performers, never slay this dragon. They may learn to live with being in it’s presence, and learn to perform even though they must do it while their knees are wobbling!

Stage Fright: Part 3
Guitar Principles Essay # 10
by Jamie Andreas (01 Sep 2001)
So far we have talked about what Stage Fright is, and what it isn’t. We have looked at how it is done, and why it is done. We have seen that it is not something that happens to you, it is something you actually do. Well, if Stage Fright is something we DO, I think we can all agree we would rather NOT do it. But how do we not do it? The answer may surprise you.

Visit the complete Performance page at Guitar Noise.

Guitar & Bass Lessons

Aside from our topic of the month we also have our other regular features on this site. This week we have a new Guitar Principles essay from Jamie Andreas and Dan Lasley continues his Bass For Beginners series with a tenth installment.

Thinking: What a Concept!
Guitar Principles Essay # 10
by Jamie Andreas (01 Oct 2001)
When it comes to my growth as a player, I have always been more interested in how a great player practices, than in how they play. When I watch them play, I am seeing the result of their practice.

Scaling Mountains
Bass For beginners # 10
by Dan Lasley (05 Oct 2001)
In all the lessons I have written so far, I have never discussed doing scales or serious “shedding” (practicing in the shed for 2 hours minimum every day). I have always advocated playing songs and using “tools” to create your basslines.

Recommended Reading

I did a bit of reorganizing in the book department this week. Now you can find out what other students at Guitar Noise are reading and learning by browsing through our bestselling books.

The following are links to our best selling books:

  1. Fretboard Logic – Special Edition (Volumes I and II Combined)
  2. Music Theory Workbook for Guitar Volume One
  3. Guitar for Dummies
  4. Chord Workbook for Guitar Volume One
  5. Money Chords: A Songwriter’s Sourcebook of Popular Chord Progressions

This week I’d like to recommend something that is sure to be a valuable resource for songwriters serious about a career in music. It is this year’s edition of the Songwriter’s Market reference book.

Since 1977, Songwriter’s Market has been the all-in-one resource songwriters and musicians seek out. Providing them with the connections and knowledge they need, it’s the songwriter’s career resource. This edition includes:

  • Contact information and submission guidelines for more than 1,000 music publishers, record companies, producers, booking agents, music firms, and more
  • New, informative interviews with Jonatha Brooke, Richie Havens, and ASCAP Rep. Shawn Murphy
  • Resource listings where songwriters can network and find further support, as well as five indexes to help them navigate the market listings with ease

Songwriter’s Market helps songwriters connect with the music industry and arms them with the knowledge they need to hone their craft.

Email of the Week

To coincide with his hard work this week I thought I would showcase two of Dan’s recent expert answers as the email of the week. Not only is Dan running the Performance theme this month, but this week we are publishing articles by him on both Sound Engineering and Bass. If that wasn’t enough he has also taken the time to write some thoughtful answers to questions he has received from readers. Here is the first of two:

Choosing Guitar or Bass
I enjoy music. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to learn to play guitar, however very recently I’ve gotten to be friends with someone that plays bass. He can’t really answer this question, and I was hoping you could.

Why would I choose to play bass over guitar, or guitar over bass? For musical styles, I like blues, hymns (I’ve heard some beautiful versions on electric guitars), alternative, heavy metal, classical. I like just about everything, and would like to be able to play a smattering of them all. Though between the two, I like the sound of the bass more, but it really doesn’t affect which I’d learn to play. I’m wondering if more music is available for one over the other, or if there is a difference in how they are played or any information your could give me or point me towards.

Dan’s Response

The problem with starting with the bass is that it is not a very good instrument to play by yourself. Many bassists I know started because their band needed a bass player. Most would never go back. Since you love lots of music, and I assume you sing, I think you would get more pleasure from the guitar (or piano). However, you can play more than one intrument, it just takes a little more effort (and money).

On the flip side, there is nothing wrong with starting on the bass (or flute or violin), and it is pretty easy to become a solid beginner in a short time. And it is satisfying to make those warm tones and low growls.

So make your choice according to what your goals are. Either way – you win!

-Dan Lasley

Also in the past week Dan took care of the following beginner question: How do you change the strings on a bass guitar?

Previous Email of the Week letters have been archived online. Visit the complete list questions and responses at Guitar Noise.

I sincerely hope you enjoyed the newsletter this week. Any suggestions you may have for improving future issues are appreciated.

Peace,
(I mean it)

Paul Hackett
Executive Producer