Leaderboard

I don't even have a basement--you're in the big leagues!

I love this place, and the nerds that frequent it.

I wanted an electric guitar as a pre-teen, after hearing my first Kiss record. My first guitar officially was a very nice loaner acoustic from one of my Dad's friends. It sounded nothing like Ace Frehley's guitar, so it stayed cased under the bed. When I first heard Van Halen, that was it - now I HAVE to have an electric guitar. My Dad held firm saying learn how to play an acoustic, then we'll get an electric. After butting heads on the issue for a few years, until I was a sophomore in high school, he finally gave in and bought me my first electric, a nice, affordable solidbody made by Takamine. I finally had my electric and I couldn't put it down. Literally, Other than guitar, my only other real focus was striving to maintain my grades because I feared my guitar would be taken away if my grades fell. I participated in several sports prior to playing guitar. That shit went out the door (except for track, no sprained fingers running). I didn't go on my first real date until I was a senior - my logic leading up to that was why spend $$$ on a meal and a movie for two when I can get more records and tapes to play along with, or I'm that much closer to the elusive Boss Heavy Metal pedal my little Peavey combo desparately needs. Not to mention, I had a guitar and I was getting better at it - I have an avenue to screw girls without pissing away money dating them. I took lessons initially from a neighbor who happened to own a nice local music store, but they weren't paying off because I wasn't learning the songs I wanted to learn. But he taught me basic power chord stuff and basic scales. I used that knowledge to lwear out the vinyl and cassettes, first in my bedroom and later my college dormroom. Also while I was in high school, we had a clique of friends who all started playing rock instruments at the same time and we were jamming all weekend, every weekend. We sucked, badly, at first, but we got a little better, then a little better, you know how it goes. At the same time, I got my first fake ID when I was 16 or so, so I could get into a couple of local blues clubs that had weekly open jams. Believe me, if a novice guitarist wants a crash course in learning guitar, get him on stage with a bunch of old skool bluesmen. Something about fear of being hit by a pool stick or a beer mug that makes you hit those chords and intonate those bends perfectly every time. By the time I was in college, I was playing in bands (hitting virtually every popular music genre in the process at some time) and until about three or so years ago, I was always either in a band or in between bands. Another great tool for learning: If you're a rock and blues player, get a gig with a country band. Then play with a dance band. The cross-pollenation things does wonders for your playing.

That is truly the most magnificent thing I have ever seen. And what a grain pattern on the board. Rosewood boards on a fretless give a very chorus-like warm tone.

Yeah, my younger brother is younger than me too. -sorry man, couldn't help it.

I was in 9th grade and I saw a girl in the 12th bend over... I just HAD to learn to play a guitar after that. I learned the most by playing with people better then me who were patient enough to help me, and learned even more when trying to pass on what I'd learned onto others who weren't as good as me.

Awesome book. Thanks Steve.