Guitars, tips and great music discussions
by Chris
Well, the song that I would die to play live is ” The Clap” by Steve Howe from YES, (search you tube under, “YES, the clap” or “Steve Howe plays Clap”) is the one to go for,for me! I’ve played mood for a day and other standards to good response but this song is in a league of it’s own.
This next one is something that you can get a better view of how to play this one the way he plays it.
by Chris
Video Link is a friendly competitor of G-Force Media Productions.
The owner of Video Link happens to be the owner of the building that G-Force is renting off of. The owner, Hugo, is quite the business man who does not have the same attitude as most people in the video making industry. He has the personality of your favorite uncle. He is very easy to get along with and, has the eye for the detail that you are looking for in a project manager, that will follow through with your specific and unique needs.
He also sells video equipment as well.
So check out his fantastic site and don’t be afraid to call. Oh BTW, he’s the guy who owns the great reasonably priced,beer dispenser that I talk about in my G-Force Media write up on this blog.
by Chris
As you may or may not know but I am a 40 yr old guitar player living in Toronto Canada, who is continually upgrading my genre of music and sometimes wanting to record or just screw around in a recording studio. I, as well as every guitar player/musician on the planet, know how pricey it can be to just walk into a recording studio (not to mention the mixing time, which can add up to a great down payment for a house in Toronto) makes you feel like your a 3rd rate citizen.
But this place is run by a dear friends of mine. They are younger then I am but have quite the unbridled enthusiasm of seasoned professionals anywhere in the business. THESE GUYS HAVE THEIR CHOPS ON THEIR BOARD DOWN RIGHT!!!!!!
RICHARDO JONES, the true driving force behind this venture, has worked with me at a local hospital for 5 years. He is quite the accomplished keyboard player, greater in years then he looks. I’ve been in G-Force studio many times before, even helping out fixing up their new unique Shang-gra-la like recording location when they first got the keys for the joint. It’s also very difficult not to get along with this guy, really!
It’s a professional but very relaxing studio, this is the kind of place that any man would give his left nut to have in his basement.
They even have a beer dispensing machine in it, which is reasonably priced I might add!
The sound that he can pull out of his board is UNREAL! The equipment is old school looking, but the software and the versatility he has with it (most importantly), is TOP SHELF!!!
They also do video shooting editing and pic’s as well, done by a fine young man named Sye, for New York City. I’ve been fortunate to have known this guy, as well as Steve, for the same amount of time as Rick. This is VERY interesting as well, trust me. When you go down just to see what they have, ask them to show you some things they’ve done in the past, it’s a scream!
If your like me, or you just want to have had a experience just like, then JUST GET OFF YOUR ASS AND CALL THEM! Their NOT SALESMEN!!!! They love their craft and you’ll find that abundantly clear when you meet them, no more no less, that’s it.
Check them out at G-Force Media Productions.
by Chris
This is the most challenging song that I have come across in years! It also sounds great in the acoustic or electric version of the tune. Below is the link that I felt that best showed me how to approach playing the song. If you are going to attempt this tune then take your time on it.
I’m a perfectionist and I have been known to stop a song and start it up again to the annoyance of many an audience. I love the high you naturally get from pulling off a master piece live and people REALLY lovin’ it! Perfecting this song at this time in my life will have to be put on hold for now.
So I set my sights on another tune that is similar in difficulty but more achievable now. This is John Mayer’s acoustic version of Neon. I just got my hands on a couple versions of this and my favorite is from a show from Chicago (on a PBS network)that is acoustic. Buddy guy plays with him in this show but not on this tune.
When I first came across this tune I was instantly captured! It was very challenging from a physical stand point too. Truth is, my thumbs have problems approaching/playing the low E on the neck. I have never ever thought that this is a technique that I would ever have to use.
When I was really playing a lot I was always keeping my ears out for songs that were very challenging to play because that is what interested me the most. I never paid attention to the words because I was not a song writer. This type of playing was pure cheating I thought so I would never have anything to do with it! I guess I was very short sighted as a 14 yr old.
Is anyone trying this tune out?