Newsletter Vol. 3 # 131 – February 1, 2011

Greetings,

Welcome to Volume 3, Issue #131 of Guitar Noise News!

In This Issue:

  • Greetings, News and Announcements
  • Guitar Noise Featured Artist
  • Topic of the Month
  • New Articles, Lessons, Reviews and Stuff
  • Exploring Guitar with Darrin Koltow
  • Spotlight on the Sunday Songwriters Group
  • Event Horizon
  • Random Thoughts

Greetings, News and Announcements

Hello and welcome to the February 1, 2011 issue of Guitar Noise News, the free twice-a-month newsletter from Guitar Noise (www.guitarnoise.com).

I should say ‘February 1, give or take a day or so.’ I don’t know how the weather is in your part of the world, but we’re getting snow again. It’s been a winter for it so far. Nothing compared to what our friends in East Australia are dealing with, mind you. But wherever in the world you are, I hope you’re keeping warm and dry. Or cool and dry if you prefer.

Recently I received a photo for our Guitar Noise giveaway (in case you didn’t know, we are still giving away two autographed copies of my latest book, ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar’ each month right up ’til the end of 2011).

Anyway, when I got the photo from Denny of California I was a bit puzzled. If you click over on my blog you can see why. Not the donkey, but rather the fact that the sender already had a copy of the book we were giving away as a prize. So after talking it out a bit, we’ve decided to send him an autographed copy of ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar,’ which should make it out to Denny sometime this coming week.

But it also made me think that if you’ve got a copy of any of my books and would like to enter this contest, you can win a choice of books. After all, you may not want two of the same. So when you enter and get a note from me saying ‘Congratulations,’ don’t be shy about getting, say, a copy of ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Bass Guitar’ if that’s what you’d really like to win.

By the bye, if you look at the entry just before the one with Denny on his donkey, you can see just how far Charley will go sometimes to get away from it all.

Guitar Noise Featured Artist

Had he been alive today, grunge rocker Kurt Cobain would turn 44 this month. Seventeen years after his death we still see the indelible mark he left. Read all about our Guitar Noise’s Featured Artist of the Month for February on the Guitar Noise Profile Page.

Topic of the Month

In February we’re spotlighting all of the many articles here at Guitar Noise that deal with open and alternate tunings. There are quite a few of them (different tunings, that is, as well as articles and lessons!) and it’s always a great way to further explore the beautiful music you can create with your guitar.

New Articles, Lessons, Reviews and Stuff

Spider Capo From Creative Tunings, Inc.
Product Review by David Hodge

The Spider Capo from Creative Tunings, Inc, is an excellent device for exploring the creative potential of your guitar. You can stay in standard tuning and still play open tunings or even DADGAD with it.

Exploring Music With Darrin Koltow

Tip for February 1 ‘ Practicing Modes (Part 46)

We’re exploring F7 chords around position V, and learning how to place any note of the chromatic scale on top of F7. In the last lesson we saw how to put B atop F7, even though B isn’t in the F mixolydian (Bb major) scale. Moving on down the chromatic scale from B, we have melody notes Bb and A. Here are the F7 chords with those melody notes, from the chord walk exercise given two lessons ago:

6--5-
7--6-
5--8-
-----
6--8-
-----

The second chord is just a plain F7, so we’ll skip talking about that for the more interesting chord whose melody note is on fret 5, Eb minor 6. As with the B7 chord used for the B melody note, the Eb minor 6 is not in the F mixolydian/Bb major scale. So, how can we justify using it? We can use it because three of the four notes in Eb minor 6 are found in the F mixolydian scale, and the one note that isn’t, Gb, sounds great over F7. Gb sounds great over F7 because it makes you think the next chord after F7 will be Bb minor, not the expected Bb major. The note Gb is in Bb (harmonic) minor, not Bb major.

Thanks for reading.

Darrin

Copyright 2010 Darrin Koltow

Spotlight on the Sunday Songwriters’ Group

After featuring Vic Lewis last month, my mind immediately thought of asking Nick Torres to be our guest for February’s ‘Spotlight on SSG’ feature for the Guitar Noise Blog, Part of this is strictly selfish ‘ I love reading his writing.

Nick not only did a wonderful online interview, he also gave me permission to use one of my favorite songs of his, ‘It’s Not A Love Song.’ And to make it even better, he provided a video performance, taken from the October 4, 2009 show at Dewey Hall here in the Berkshires.

It was a wonderful night and you can sit in on it here.

Event Horizon

Doug ‘Moonrider’ James’ group, Southern Roots, has got quite a few gigs coming up:

Friday, February 4 – 8:00pm – 11:30pm
Richmond East Moose Lodge
7167 Flag Lane
Mechanicsville, VA

Friday, February 11 – 8:00pm – Midnight
Lakeside Moose Lodge #1714
1207 Hillard Road
Richmond, VA

Saturday, February 12 at 8:00pm – Midnight
Colonial Heights Moose Lodge
170 Moose Avenue
Colonial Heights, VA

Likewise, Slightly Offensive, with GN Member Tommy (‘Tommy Gunz’) McLaughlin on guitar has quite a few February shows. From Tommy’s email:

2/11 – Jack Desmonds (10339 S Ridgeland, Chicago Ridge IL) A return engagement…we played here on NYE & what a BLAST that was!!!

2/17 – The Tilted Kilt (6401 W 95th St, Chicago Ridge IL) Another return, but this time they’re expecting us!!!

2/19 – Rokwelz (11265 West 159th Street, Orland Park IL) A NEW VENUE!!!

2/26 – Jameson’s (2755 Black Road, Joliet IL) We played here for their Halloween Bash on 10/30/10 & it was CRAZY PACKED!!!!

We’ll be Rockin’ out to covers from Aerosmith, ACDC, Buckcherry, Pink, Pat Benatar, No Doubt, Katy Perry,Taylor Swift, Poison, Bon Jovi, Green Day! And Many more!! We’re busy booking for gigs for Mar/April so maybe I’ll see you on the road somewhere!!! If you come out to a show be sure to come up and say ‘Hi’.

Don’t forget that Slightly Offensive is in the running ‘Best Cover Band’ in the Suburban Nitelife magazine, which covers all of Chicago’s suburbs. It’s a voting contest, so do Tommy a favor and drop in at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bestoftheburbs and give the band a vote. And be sure to pick Tommy for ‘Best Guitarist,’ too!

Random Thoughts

Before I forget, the Year of the Rabbit starts February 3. Or the New Year 4708 (I think!) if you prefer. If you are turning 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, or 84, this is your year! It’s great to be able to celebrate for a whole year instead of a single day or month, no? And if you’re born this year, you’ll be a metal rabbit. I see a Tommy Iommi signature guitar in your future!

Until our next issue of Guitar Noise News, play well and play often.

And, as always,

Peace