I read your weblog about the old town theatre. I have always thought that the building was going to waste, and that renovating it would be beneficial. Our small organization has taken interest in finding a way to use the theater, as though in dire need to establish an office, have no money to spend on real estate. We have been attempting to host events to raise money, but unfortunately, events at NHS are nearly impossible thanks to the endless bureaucracy and politics, and anywhere else is just plain unaffordable.

We have even been searching foreclosures on the commercial real estate market hoping to find a buy in this downed market, but without success.

If you have a profile on facebook, look at my group labled PSI.

Some info. about the CSD Network
Our Summarized Description in a Couple of Paragraphs

The purpose of the CSD Network is to create quality public institutions and progressive programs for the common welfare of its members and the public. These progressive activities will be funded by CSD Network company products and services (including subsidiary such as PSI). The porfit made by these organizations will be used to pay for the public institutions rather than tax dollars.

In summary, it’s the creation of public institutions under private funding and administration. The idea is that this will have a variety of positive effects, including lightening the load on governments, thus lowering taxes, and providing further economic stimulation, and socio-economic progression.

Funny – I happened to stumble across that clip without meaning to. I loved the towel thing – incredible!
Hey, if you get a chance, check out my new blog post -
http://wp.me/sB1lh-16 – on transcribing/figuring out songs by ear. Let me know what you think…

Thanks,
Dave

I think college is finally starting to overprice its value to the point that Internet education is becoming increasingly viable. Why leave college with six figures of debt when you can take the same classes online and get your diploma through a testing center? I don’t know…we’ll see how it pans out.

As far as health care, I’m disappointed in the changes that seem likely to pass, but optimistic that the subject has taken such importance in public discussion. But no tort reform? No letting us buy insurance across state lines? Yeah, we’re in trouble.

Yes, Danny was that good. My favorite clip is the one where he does the slide riffs with a full bottle of beer, getting foam all over his hands while making these amazing sounds. Then he uses the rag to clean up his hand and make MORE cool riffs.

It’s too bad he didn’t realize the respect he had.

This book is useful and amazing, but it looks like something I might write after 3 pots of coffee with a guitar in my hands. I’m still trying to get my brain around it all.

On a different and more practical note, I picked up The 333 book by Mike Ihde. Mike has taught at Berklee for about 20 years or so. Anyway, the premise is 333 licks and tricks – but not the usual variety. It’s ideal for those that are serious about being a well rounded musician. He explores all the stylistic tricks that make a style work.

As an extension of that premise, I’ll spend an hour of my practice time putting my iTunes on shuffle, and figure out a lick from each song. That’s where something I mentioned in my previous post comes in to play. I can take all these licks – whether they’re country, metal, blues, jazz, etc. and put them in their little theoretical box. So if someone calls me for a country gig, I can take it because I’ll know to bend all my 2s to the 3rd, and play a bunch of double stops – that simple . Speaking of which, every guitar player that is reading this – I command you to go listen to some Danny Gatton – NOW! Sorry, didn’t mean to yell . Danny was just that good.

That’s all I have for now from Atlanta.

Dave
http://www.atlantajazzguitar.com

Guitar theory can definitely be elusive. I remember feeling like I was right at the edge of some major understanding breakthrough, but couldn’t “see over the wall”. If you keep chipping away at it, being curious, gradually those doors begin to open. For me, 20 years later, they’re still opening.

On a related note, I hear many students/other people talk about the idea that learning theory compromises your ability to be creative. I couldn’t disagree more. If you’re a slave to that knowledge, well then maybe – but you don’t have to be. I find it creatively useful in many ways.

If I’m in a rut, as we all get in to, I can use theory to force myself out of a rut. Also, every isolated lick I learn, or tune that I learn, immediately becomes part of my overall musical vocabulary. If I really love a lick, I can learn it, and then think,”Well, all I have to do is bend the 6th note up a 1/2 step to the b7 of chord to get that sound that I dig so much.” I couldn’t do that without my theory knowledge.

I have all of Ted Greene’s books, and they’re all genius.
You should also check out http://www.tedgreene.com. His past students have posted many of their lessons online for free.
For those that are seriously interested in chords on the guitar, here’s a couple of books that I’d recommend:

Ted’s Chord Chemistry – already mentioned
Ted’s Modern Chord Progressions
George Van Eps’ 3 volume series “Harmonic Mechanisms for Guitar” Only for those that are so committed to their guitar knowledge that they need to be locked up! (like me .
Mick Goodrick’s series of books at http://www.mrgoodchord.com

There are many others, but these will keep you busy for several lifetimes.

Thanks,
Dave Lockwood
http://www.atlantajazzguitar.com

I haven’t contacted Hotmail yet, as the weird emails stopped, but every response to this post gets me thinking…