If we want to become better guitar players, we must practice.

Here are some excellent “practice tips” that I have compiled over the years:

1.) Set aside a certain amount of practice time every day. At a minimum, it should be 20 minutes. Longer is better, if your day allows. 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening is another option.

2.) Select a location that will be comfortable and totally free from distractions. Turn the TV off and if possible (without offending anyone) ask others to not disturb you during practice time except for emergencies. You do not want to become a hermit, but you need to focus and stay focused on your practice efforts.

3.) Commit to practicing every day. Make it a part of your daily routine. If you miss a day, it’s not the end of the world. Just don’t miss the next day! Remember, the result of continued practice is that you will become a better player. Isn’t that what you really want?

4.) Choose specific things you will practice each week. Memorize a new chord shape, work on a new strumming pattern, develop faster chord changes, learn a new lick, etc…

5.) Use a metronome! A great guitar player with poor timing and rhythm is not a great guitar player. If you do not own a metronome, buy one! If you cannot buy one, then search Google.com for the words “Free Metronome”. There are many options available. No excuses!

6.) Record yourself playing the guitar. This is the best way to monitor your progress. You do not need to invest in elaborate recording equipment; you can use a simple little cassette tape recorder. Keep a history of tapes, at least one per month. Go back and listen to recordings from 6 months ago. Your improvement will inspire you to keep practicing as you realize how much better you have become!

7.) Take breaks. Never practice for over one hour without taking a break. Your fingers (and your mind) need a rest!

8.) Finally, end each practice by playing your favorite song. It does not matter if you play alone or play along with your favorite backing track. Just play… and smile… because you are getting better every day!

I came across this video on YouTube – “10 Tips From Joe Satriani“.  I was very impressed with the variety of these tips and will be incorporating several of them into my daily practice routine.

Check out the VIDEO:

Here is one from the video vault! Back in 2001, Joe Bonamassa was caught on stage with Mike Farris and the Screamin Cheetah Wheelies!

Special thanks to YouTube member “1016vortex” for this rare and classic video upload!

There is a little more to this story…please read on:

Mike Farris, the lead singer of The Screamin Cheetah Wheelies (gotta love that name!), lived the rock and roll lifestyle to the max. Farris’s parents divorced when he was eleven years old; he began using drugs and alcohol from an early age, and almost died from an overdose before he was 21.

Just a few months after this recording he left the band and had a spiritual conversion.

Farris became a practicing Christian and rejected drugs and alcohol, and released his first solo album in 2002. In 2007 he released his second solo effort, the strongly Southern-influenced Salvation in Lights, on INO/Columbia Records.
-From Wikipedia

Watch this video of Mike Farris today… hard to believe it is the same man!

There are dozens of videos on YouTube of Mike Farris today. Click the link and watch of a few of them. Be sure to read the comments. It is amazing to read how the change in Mike’s life has changed the lives of so many others.

Last week I wrote a post about “The Carl Verheyen Band & “The Road Divides DVD“.

That DVD has been getting a lot of play at GuitarDaddy’s house!

So I have been following Carl on Twitter and today he tweeted about a YouTube video that was posted from his BETA TV interview.

BETA TV is a nationally syndicated (146 U.S. cities) weekly music centric TV series filmed and produced in the heart of Hollywood, showcasing at least 3 acoustic artist videos from newly signed and Indie bands in episode format. BETA emphasizes educational and pop culture segments and in-house produced music videos using the best vintage analog recording gear (Telefunken, Neve, Studer, RCA, Trident, etc) combined with the modern sounds of its instrument sponsors such as Taylor Acoustic Guitar, Sabian Cymbals, Gibraltar Hardware, etc.

Here is a link to the video.

We’ve only got 12 notes that we’re dealing with, it’s the ornamentation of the style…. sonicly, you know …the sound, the trills and pull-offs and choices of notes… –Carl Verheyan

Korg calls it “A Pocket-Sized Powerhouse of Tone”.

With Korg’s REMS technology, the Pandora mini delivers an armada of world-class amp models and fantastic effects into a processor no bigger than your average MP3 player.

Loaded with 158 types of amps and effects—with up to seven effects at once—Pandora mini ensures you’ll never run out of sounds. 200 presets get you started right out of the box, with another 200 slots for saving your own creations. It’s also got a built-in metronome and 100 rhythm patterns so you can get the most out of your practice sessions.

Plug in your earbuds and jam or practice anywhere, anytime. Plug Pandora mini into your amp and share your sounds with the world, or take it into the studio and make each track a masterpiece.

With all of the new portable options for playing, practicing and recording, there is no excuse for guitar players to flounder in mediocrity. You can practice anywhere you can imagine. Get yourself a good, portable travel guitar like the Traveler Escape EG-1, a Korg Pandora mini and a set of headphones (or use the earbuds from your iPod) and you have a the ultimate portable practice studio. Add an iPhone or iPad with Amplitube software and you can record you own CD. What are you waiting for — get on with it! –GuitarDaddy

Albert King was born on April 25, 1923 (“Under a Bad Sign” of course!) and world have turned 88 today. Oh how I wish Albert was still with us!

Albert King Gravesite in Memphis

Albert was known as one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar”, along with B. B. King and Freddie King. He was a large man, 6′ 4″, 250 lbs, with incredibly large hands that were perfect for playing the guitar.

Like so many other blues guitar players, Albert began singing with a family gospel group at a church when he was just a young boy. He was influenced by blues musicians Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lonnie Johnson.

King was a left-handed “upside-down/backwards” guitarist meaning that while he was left-handed, he usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down so the low E string was on the bottom. The electric guitar (specifically the Gibson Flying V, which he named “Lucy”) was his signature instrument. In later years he played a custom-made Flying V that was basically left-handed, but had the strings reversed. He also used very unorthodox tunings, often tuning as low as C — to allow him to make massive string bends.

This video is from a LIVE recording in the mid-1980′s titled “Blues Legends: Albert King, Live in Sweden” and the DVD can still found on eBay…usually under $10 bucks. If you love the blues, you should buy one of these while you can. What I LOVE about this clip is the interview and the open and candid answers that Albert gave. For a big man, he had an even bigger heart. He loved his fans and he loved the blues. His music lives on in me — which is the purest way to measure one’s impact on people’s lives.

I miss you Albert – Happy Birthday!

One more thing… You can download a BACKING TRACK to Albert King’s “Born Under A Bad Sign” by CLICKING HERE.

Derek Trucks provides an education in the BLUES.

He first picked up the guitar in 1988 when he was only nine years old. Instead of focusing on hard rock or metal (like most aspiring guitar players who were also born during the late 70′s), Derek studied the music of blues greats like Albert, B.B. and Freddie King…

…for me. it’s more of…the human voice… you can play a lot of notes if you choose to but you really don’t have to…. -Derek Trucks

Ray Goren (10 years old!) started playing guitar about two and a half years ago at the age of 8. Ray discovered the Blues when he was searching on YouTube and inadvertently typed “BB” instead of “JJ”, stumbling on a B.B. King video clip. Ray was mesmerized and within hours was listening to Albert King, B.B .King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and others. For the days and weeks that followed Ray spend hours listening to blues while begging his parents for a guitar.

Within days of getting his first guitar Ray was actually playing the Blues. It was as if he had reconnected with a long-lost friend. Six months later Ray played live for the first time, sitting in with Harmonica player Mason Casey who spontaneously called Ray to the stage. Since then Ray has been a regular on the Southern California Blues scene. He has played twice at the House of Blues in Hollywood; has appeared twice on Foxxhole with Jamie Foxx at the Conga Room; appeared at the KJAZZ Long Beach Blues Festival; and at numerous local venues. He has also participated in the local Blues society’s annual “Six String Show Down” with other top guitarists based in Southern California.

Eighteen months ago Ray was invited to sit-in with Hammond B3 Legend Deacon Jones (band leader for Freddie King and John Lee Hooker). Since then, Ray has become a regular part of Deacon’s band. The connection between Ray and Jones illustrates the power of Blues music by defying age and time. Deacon is convinced that Ray has been here before because “no kid can play the Blues like Ray.”

I love seeing kids pick up a guitar and find their passion. For me it happened late in life. Seeing kids like Ray Goren allow me to live vicariously through them. You go Ray, rip it up! –GuitarDaddy

PRESS RELEASE:
(SANTA ANA, ORANGE COUNTY, CA) – 10-year old Orange County-based prodigy Ray Goren has been added to the lineup of the Real Blues Festival Of Orange County 2. The Orange County-based youngster came to the attention of Real Blues founder Papa J while he was performing live recently on Dr. Barry’s Traveling Medicine & Blues Show heard each Sunday over KOCI 101.5 FM. Ray will be performing at Real Blues Festival 2 (his first-ever live performance in Orange County) with longtime L.A. blues keyboardist, Deacon Jones.

This message text… copied from the eBay listing…

Joe Bonamassa is one of the best guitarists in the world and also one of the nicest, most humble guys out there and I’m proud to be his friend. If you don’t know, Joe has had seven consecutive albums debut at #1 on the Blues charts and his latest album, Dust Bowl, debuted at #37 overall in any genre! That was his highest overall debut and the fifth in a row to be higher than the last. Put simply, Joe’s popularity is increasing exponentially and this is your chance to own the guitar that started it all for him…a true piece of music and guitar history.

Joe used this 1968 Gibson Les Paul Standard as his main axe from 1998-2000 and featured it prominently on his first solo album, A New Day Yesterday. It’s an incredible guitar. Small headstock. Round, beefy neck. Sustain for days. See Joe’s letter of authenticity.

Joe Bonamassa's Les Paul Gold Top on eBay

Joe is notorious for not trading or selling any of his gear…mainly because he uses it all. He told me this ’68 LP was the first significant guitar he’s ever let go…and one of the most expensive in his collection no less.

So how did I get it? Well, I had to do my fair share of begging and then give up two of my best vintage guitars…a flawless 1953 Gibson ES-295 and a 1968 Gibson ES-355. Scotty Moore and Freddy King models. It was a good trade for us both…Joe knows I am selling this to fund more inventory for my shop and is very understanding…if I could afford to keep this and keep my shop going, I would. I’m starting this at just 99 cents with NO RESERVE to give everyone an opportunity to bid! It will be a fun one for sure.

This guitar will probably have more collector appeal, but this really is one of the best Les Paul’s I’ve played…and I’ve played one of everything. The P-90s are very strong (8.75k bridge, 8.41K neck) and they sustain more like humbuckers with fat, meaty notes that cut through. This one is nice because unlike most late 60s goldtops, it isn’t a boat anchor…just over 9 lbs on my digital scale. The neck is absolutely heavenly…round C shape without the big shoulders and measures 0.936″ at the nut, 0.861 at the 1st fret, and 1.001″ at the 12th fret. As you can see, the guitar is evenly weather-checked — and interestingly this very goldtop is what gave Joe the idea to have all his Gibson Les Paul signature models aged at the factory. It has the expected buckle rash on the back but no structural issues at all. The guitar is all original save for the metal saddles, a scratched-on social security number under the serial stamp (from the first owner, not Joe…it has been blurred out in the photo), and three tiny screw holes on the butt from a trapeze tailpiece (not a Bigsby)…that obviously didn’t stay on long. It also had a really nice pro refret that you can barely notice. All the pots date to early ’68 and the wiring and soldering is all original save for a removed back shroud, 50s style.

Here is a link to the actual eBay listing.

TOMMY SHAW TEAMS UP WITH BLUEGRASS GREATS FOR “THE GREAT DIVIDE” CD!

Tommy Shaw, guitarist of legendary rock band Styx, has releases his debut Bluegrass album, “The Great Divide” through Pazzo Music/Fontana Distribution. The album features an impressive roster of guest musicians, including: Alison Krauss, Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Byron House, Gary Burr and many more.

With this album, Shaw, a Montgomery, Alabama native, establishes himself as an authentic addition to the Bluegrass community. Born with a unique gift for music, a passion quickly recognized by his parents, he picked up his first guitar at the age of ten. From what his brothers remember, after Tommy’s introduction to the guitar; “We never saw him again…”, as he would stay in his room for hours practicing day and night. His tenacity and intrinsic passion for Bluegrass at an early age implies that this new release isn’t a casual endeavor, but a return to the music on which he was raised. Shaw wrote or co-wrote every song on the album in addition to playing acoustic guitar, dobro/resonator and mandolin.

A perennial part of the rock scene since the mid-70s as a member of STYX, Damn Yankees and Shaw/Blades, Bluegrass may at first seem like a stretch for Shaw, but his transition to Bluegrass is seamless. Having been raised on the genre, Shaw has always been deeply enamored with Bluegrass’ ability to connect to the listener through storytelling. “These are story songs,” says Shaw, an Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductee. “I think songs that take you on a little journey are the best ones.”

This is the story of a Southern boy who made it “big,” but always held tight to his roots. “The Great Divide is a story of love and life; of happiness and hope; of loss and discovery,” says Shaw. “It’s the story of a journey that spans generations and is ultimately about trying to find your way home. And I’m as proud of this story as any I’ve ever told.”

The legendary rocker proves to his listeners that although this may be his first Bluegrass venture, it certainly won’t be his last.

In his 40-plus years of playing the instrument, Carl Verheyen has created a wildly successful, multi-faceted career. He is a critically-acclaimed musician with ten CD’s released worldwide and is commonly regarded as a guitar virtuoso capable of playing any style of music with remarkable mastery and conviction. He has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players for the past 25 years, playing on hundreds of records, movie soundtracks and television shows. Carl has graced the pages of countless industry publications and been the subject of numerous articles chronicling his rise to the forefront of the modern day guitar scene. Carl has won numerous polls and musical honors in the US, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.

A member of the smash hit British rock group Supertramp since 1985, Carl has played to millions of enthusiastic fans in sold out arenas worldwide. As the creative force behind The Carl Verheyen Band, he has released an impressive and eclectic discography that showcases his endless talents across a wide array of musical genres.

A much sought after studio musician, Carl plays on other artists’ CDs whenever his busy schedule permits. He has recorded and played with a virtual who’s who of the music industry. His vast collection of movie soundtrack and television credits are enviable. Carl was heard by 67, 000,000 people as a featured soloist at the 2009 Academy Awards. He will also be heavily featured in the forthcoming film documentary about the electric guitar, Turn It Up!

His latest release titled: THE ROAD DIVIDES, is twelve live, in-concert songs from the CVB catalogue shot for the first time with this incarnation of the Band, their strongest line-up to date. Includes a new, fiery cover version of “Jerry’s Breakdown” (by Jerry Reed), and one brand new CVB tune, “The Road Divides.” It also contains the live, at-rehearsal promo video of “Constant as the Wind” – a YouTube favorite among fans – and wrap-around footage talking with each of the three musicians about the tracks. As a final bonus, there is live footage of the CVB with special guest Howard Leese (Bad Co., Paul Rodgers Band, original member of Heart) shot at The Canyon Club in LA November 2010 performing “No Walkin’ Blues.”