Totally Guitars Newsletter #8

TGJIM
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Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:03 pm

TG Newsletter #8- June 11th, 2009




In this issue you'll find...


- What's going on at Totally Guitars?

- Latest T.A.R.G.E.T. News...

- Recent Comments

- The TG Blog



- Q&A between members and Neil.


What's Going On?


The biggest news around here (at least for me) is that after a week
in Colorado, I have found some time to get back in the studio and
work on lessons. I usually have 4 or 5 things in various stages and
sometimes it gets a little difficult to prioritize them. There is
starting to be a light at the end of the tunnel and a lot of new
stuff will be ready soon. More details below in the TARGET News
section.
TG Live! update-

We had a great time last night with the latest episode of TG Live.
The song of the day became Brown Eyed Girl. We played through it a
few times (maybe a few too many), and pushed our vocal chords to
the limit- at least mine.
We also talked about some upcoming lessons and solved a few
technical problems. The 3-part video will be available on the site
soon. The next episode will be Friday, July 17 at 10:00 AM
California time.

TARGET News


I have finally been able to put some finishing touches on lessons
that have been somewhat delayed. Usually this is because I keep
wanting to add more information to every video. I have to develop
the habit of streamlining some things.

This week's additions included a TARGET Short on Brown Eyed Girl,
mostly looking at the lead in the intro and going over some of the
theory involved in harmonizing a melody in 3rds and 6ths.
I also finished a couple of bigger projects- Imagine and Harvest
Moon. With these off the storyboard, I am heading back into Hotel
California and Windy & Warm. Then I might get a chance to tackle
some more recent requests.

Following is a recap of some of the details about the TARGET
Program.

The TARGET Program is pretty revolutionary as far as an online
teaching system goes in that it is very interactive. There are many
ways that I stay in touch and interact with my online students. We
have an exclusive section in our Forum where I answer questions
from members, as well as take requests for upcoming lessons.
This interactivity even reaches out to live broadcasts for our
members where we play some songs, help resolve music problems, and
generally have an online group get together in real time. These
episodes are part of out TG Live! Series.

If you are serious about improving your guitar abilities I really
encourage you to join our TARGET Program while it is still open. I
can't say how many students we will be able to handle but I know
there will be a limit as to how many I feel I can work with. I want
to be able to devote the same time and attention to my online
students as I do for students I see in my studio every week.

.



Check out the TARGET Program here http://www.totallyguitars.com/amember/signup/

Recent Comments from Visitors


Blackbird

Thanks! I learned this song in a day (my guitar teacher told me
that I'd be able to learn it someday). HE'S FIRED AND YOUR HIRED!
haha ;D
Luke


Upgrade to TARGET http://www.totallyguitars.com/amember/signup/

****************************************
A Visit to the Santa Cruz Guitar Company
Hi Neil,
Fantastic stuff. I am really interested in the technical building
of a guitar and interviews like this are just great. Keep up the
great work you do. You have a very kind and friendly manner about
the way you teach and its nice to know there are still friendly
people out there.

Thanks,
Dean from New Zealand



****************************************
Harvest Moon

I have just started some 6 months ago learning acounstic guitar. I
am 58 years old. I am starting to pick up some of the key chords,
but still struggle with moving from one to the other. I went on
"YouTube" and saw your video on Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" and
that seems pretty easy. Is the entire instructional video available
here? I would like to check Totally Guitars out for a few weeks and
then upgrade to a paid memeber...is that OK?
Duncan


Upgrade to TARGET Click Here http://www.totallyguitars.com/amember/signup/

The TG Blog


The latest Blog posts have been about some of the new features we
have been adding to TG. These have included adding video to your
profile and uploading your own playing videos. Here is the latest
from Big Jim on new menus and updates-

July 8th, 2009 by TGJIM »

Very soon when you come to TG there will be a drop down you have
not seen before. It will appear once every 30 days so don't worry.
Also there will be a new login link up at the top of the site soon
as well.

Check the Blog for the video walk through...



Q&A for Neil


Tuesday Afternoon
From dopeygm



Thanks for the video. It took me two days to get the Am part.
Question. For the Bb barring the 1st and 3rd fret, does the 1st
string get played? Having problem with bar on 3rd fret. Any
suggestions?



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From BigBear



I've been playing it without the high F in the barre and it sounds
fine. I don't think the tab shows it played either. I've been
trying to hit that darned Bb barre for 40 years and I still only
get it clean about 75% of the time. Very frustrating!!

BTW- welcome to the forum!
From Neil



The F on the 1st string is not necessary in most situations so
don't worry about it. If you need it you are better off playing the
Bb as an E shape at the 6th fret. This has all kinds of advantages
with really the only disadvantage being that you probably have to
make a big position change. The E bar shape can also usually be
played without your 3rd finger on the 5th string, using it instead
on the 4th string. This leaves your 4th finger free to add some
extra melody notes or chord tones. I talk about this fingering in
the Grandfather's Clock lesson and recommend it for ALL
fingerpicking applications.

Neil
*******************************************************************************************

Different Versions

Why is the play through on Landslide totally added with voicings
that are not taught in the lesson?

jrux
Response from rcsnydley



I copied this from a similar thread. Here is Neil's answer.

From Neil

I have a few lessons where the Play Through is done differently
than what is presented in the lesson. Some of the songs I do this
with are Madman Across The Water, Who'll Stop The Rain, Wish You
Were Here, and Ripple. Most of those include playing multiple parts
together, turning it into an instrumental solo.

Most of the lessons in the Song Library are designed to teach you
how to play the song, as if you were the guitar player in the band,
or to play and sing it by yourself. The solo instrumental versions
of many of them will be added as I get to more of the advanced
lessons.

Follow up from jrux

If there are not any other requests please put the lesson for
Landslide that is played in the play through. That's the version
that is impressive, the regular strumming version and solo are not
challenging.

Are you using a mixer to add tracks in background, or is the
Landslide play through one guitar just you playing?
Time for me to get involved...



Are you saying that Lindsey's solo is not that challenging? It is
perfectly appropriate for the song but he is no Jan Akkerman. I
might get to my instrumental solo someday but it was pretty much
improvised so I can't promise it will be much like the one you see
in the TARGET lesson.

These types of arrangements are things everyone has to be able to
create on their own, and they should be different every time. I am
still working on how to teach this skill online but it is a ways
down the road.

Let's stay in touch about this...

Neil

P.S. "mixer to add tracks"? ...you're kidding, right?... way too
technical for me!
And we can always count on Andy to chime in...



He played it right there as you watched it. He likely can not teach
that version since he made it up as he played it.
From Neil...



Thanks Andy!



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In any case, there is always something interesting happening on the
Forum.

That's it for this week!



Stay tuned and in touch,



Neil



P.S. - Feel free to get back to me on the blog and on the forum to
let me know what else YOU would like to see in this weekly
newsletter!