Yank

Some guitarist's whine about changing keys to suit a vocalist who has to sing all night long (maybe 3 nights in a row) without blowing out his voice. Drummers never complain.

If any "Band" member should have been elevated, it should have been Levon Helm, one of the greatest pocket drummers of all time. But then they don't make signature drum sets.

Yes, it's hard when you're wanting better gear, but remember Eddie Van Halen used a guitar that he cobbled together from bits. Like others have said, even the cheap gear today is miles (or kilometers) above what was available years ago thanks to CNC machines. Keep growing and keep your positive attitude.

Lovely pics! Best wishes.....a long and happy low end.

I think it's a good exercise in decoding ads through use of the English language. Somebody took some time composing said ad, so each sentence must have some meaning. "Fun gigs" means you will play the singer's sister's birthday bash for free beer and food which will be a bag of chips (crisps) and some storebought dip. Maybe burgers on a grill, but I doubt it. Endless practicing to "get it tight". Yup, 20 somethings. Been there, done that, I'll pass.

Modern country also has roots in rockabilly and old school r&r. A lot of folks over 30 feel that modern rock has nothing to say to them and embrace country as more relevant in their lives. Enjoy! Hats and boots are optional. All joking aside, respect to the form isn't.

I didn't see it, but I'd take Christine on her worst day over the new batch of female singers. She had her own style and was one classy babe. Everyone has a bad day/poor song choice moment.

Yes, I did this with a band I joined. Songs I had never heard before. I went through them all, making an outline of the parts. A part, B part, sometimes C part. Make a CD to listen to while you drive. Play along using your notes, then play to your notes playing the music in your head. Final step, play the music in your head while playing your parts without notes. Also, keep a songlist on you and try to recall each song during the day. Could take a month, depending on how much time you put in. Seems like a lot taken as a whole, but broken down like this makes it manageable.

If you can sing, learn the words to songs, but since you haven't yet, I'm assuming you're talking solo guitar. There are some instrumental guitar pieces in most genres. Find one you like and make it a project. Learn in in small bytes.

I sing and play guitar and know the words to thousands of songs. I can and do solo gigs, but much prefer duo or band gigs. I like playing off other musicians.

We practice and play music out live because we're musicians. That's what we get and that's the reward.

I've had it happen a few times while I'm singing. I just continue to sing and play looking them dead in the eye, with no facial affect. Eventually they figure you're deaf or mentally challenged and will disgustedly walk away.

Haven't met any English bass players in Maine, although one chap did admit after prompting, that he'd once tried warm beer.

Fri. night gig in restaurant/bar in coastal Maine. Although I play bass in one band, I also play guitar/ sing in a two guitar duo. I get there one hour before and can't load in as the place is wall to wall people who heard we were coming. Finally set up, I'm playing my Tele through my Fargen Townhouse, a 20 watt handbuilt all tube combo, cranked to hear over the crowd noise. My tone is sweet and ditto the other guitar, a Gibson. The crowd is eating, drinking, dancing, hooting and hollering as we play a mix of old school honky-tonk country, swamp blues an rock. The owner asked if he could sit in on bass on the last set. Hell, yeah!!!!!!!! He wheels out a 4x10 cab, and we kick into Led Zep's R&R. The guy was great! Played the last set, with him in 7th heaven and me with a grin I couldn't wipe off. After the gig he booked us 3 weeks in a row. I told him he could sit in whenever we're there but I couldn't pay him much. He sent me home with fish and chips to boot! Looking forward to returning.

It's not a band. It's a jam. Treat it as such.

I was 12 when I bought it. I might have liked it then, but I don't like it now.

Well, has he actually said or played or wrote anything interesting in the past 20 years?

So sad. Just read his book. RIP brother. Such a distinctive voice.

I put the ultra-lites on my fretless MIM Jazz, and yes, big weight difference. Didn't notice any tonal change.

Hey, if pretty girls get up to dance, who am I to say them nay? Follow this with Hoochi Coochi Man!

I was loving what JPJ played before I was aware that it was a bass. He was my first bass hero.

Keys are in a circle, you can go up so he can sing lower. If you capo (shudder) you'll have an open string. As much as we might not like it, vocals come first. Do what you must.

The thing about rhythm guitar is that it can be the engine that drives the train, which rhythm section grooves to and lead floats on top of. Someone has to drive the train. If your lead guy can't (some can't), rhythm section has to step up. Sometimes rhythm guitar doesn't get the respect it deserves. Kinda like bass, some musicians take it for granted till it's gone.

When I was young, there were jokes about the Polish, referred to as "Polacks", inferring that they were stupid. Years later they morphed into hair color jokes, referred to as "blonds", usually of the female persuation. Why were there no "Brit" jokes on this side of the pond? Sometimes you folks are so funny. I know in WW2 you had plenty of "Yank" jokes. "Over paid, over sexed and over here".

looks more blue than seafoam green, but colors will fade funny. Surfs Up!