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04 Nov 2015
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Total Request Live

Sticky Post By On November 4, 2015

MTVThe masses don’t lie. As Carson Daily signed off from MTV’s wildly popular Total Request Live (TRL) in 2008, it was Britney Spears and her debut music video Hit Me Baby One More Time that took home the coveted prize as most requested video during the show’s tenure. But who are we kidding, of course it was….

As a solo guitarist, there are seldom experiences similar to that of performing for an engaged audience. You could describe it as being in a ‘flow state;’ communicating and fascinating your audience becomes the only real pertinent task, but before we reach this moment, so many other pieces must come into play. The entire process usually starts in your bedroom. You’ve spent a few weeks chipping away at a song you can’t wait to practice, when suddenly the seed is planted…how cool would it be to play this for someone? You perform it for a friend – and despite your own self-deprecating criticism of that one miniscule slip going from G to C – it was a pretty smooth ride and you’re excited to try it again. Whether you’re contemplating the upcoming talent show or maybe even the weekly open mic in town, there are opportunities for budding guitarists to share their talents…you just need to find them.

This is where I feel a majority of budding guitarists sell themselves short. As someone who was always looking for excuses as to why I wasn’t ready to perform in public, this much is true: there will never be an ideal time. You just have to get out there and do it. Performances won’t always go as expected, but each experience is a learning opportunity for you to refine your sound and increase your comfort level. Remember, it isn’t about trying to be the best player, it’s about enjoying the experience and allowing others to share these moments with you.

Not sure what to play? I’ve been taking lots of requests on the cruise ship, and while I’d say there are very few surprises here, the ones I’ve picked work well when arranged for solo acoustic guitar. Also keep in mind these suggestions are for request-based performance that attempts to appeal to a varied demographic. In most situations, I’d say just play whatever speaks to you!

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge

Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead Or Alive

Beatles – enough said.

Rolling Stones – Satisfaction

AC/DC – Shook Me All Night Long

Guns ‘N Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine

Paul Simon – Me & Julio Down By The School Yard

Crowded House – Don’t Dream Until Its Over

Eagles – Take It Easy, Hotel California, Peaceful Easy Feeling

Eric Clapton’s Unplugged – Layla, Before You Accuse Me, Walkin Blues

Ed Sheeran – A Team

Jason Mraz – I’m Yours

Jack Johnson – Taylor, Better Together

Sam Smith – I’m Not The Only One

Tom Petty (or the John Mayer cover) – Free Fallin

Nirvana Unplugged – Man Who Sold The World, All Apologies

Vance Joy – Riptide

Lumineers – Hey Ho

Johnny Cash – Ring Of Fire

02 Nov 2015
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John Mayer – Inspiration/Information

Sticky Post By On November 2, 2015

John Mayer has played a large role in my pursuit of music and the guitar. Before a string of failed high-profile relationships and self-destructing interviews, John was simply another guitar player who stumbled upon a recording of SRV and never looked back. His first real foray into song writing took place during a short stint at The Berklee College Of Music in 1998, which is right about the time my older brother pulled up a tab one day on the computer for me try out. It was called No Such Thing.

 I had never heard the song before, and it immediately felt different from anything else I had attempted to learn:

I gotta play this near the 12th fret? Where are the G-C-D root position progressions?

Learning John’s first few tunes was my gateway drug into all things guitar. The opening riff of Why Georgia dressed up a pretty standard I-V progression in G, forcing my right hand to develop a more percussive feel, while Neon became the precursor to my venture into alternate tunings. That tune in particular was a challenge to play and sing at the same time; a great exercise in multitasking. While comparisons to Dave Matthews were being made early on, John seemed to incorporate melody, harmony and rhythm more effectively than Dave.

Then came John’s first Grammy for Your Body Is A Wonderland, which immediately boxed him in as a light and fluffy pretty boy who had charm and could sing love songs. I, on the other hand, knew he had skill set worthy of even the toughest critic’s praise, and as he heads out in the coming days to stand on stage with members of The Grateful Dead, I hope that listeners and critics can embrace the musician that lies beneath all the bullshit that comes with living and failing in the public eye.

I’m not here to defend his personal life by any means. What I would like to do, however, is share with you an insightful lecture John gave at The Berklee College Of Music in 2008. It speaks to the John Mayer that I first encountered, and who has always been around. Entitled Inspiration/Information, John uses his own story to shed light on the art of song writing. I’ve attached the link to Part 1…try it on and if you feel inclined, keep going.

Part 1

27 Oct 2015
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The Only Justin Bieber Song You Need To Listen To

Sticky Post By On October 27, 2015

Bieber AcousticAlright alright…hear me out. You might not like the guy, but when you’re one of the most high profile artists in the world, you have access to a niche group of songwriters that crank out the hits for names as big as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Rhianna and Nicky Minaj. When an album lacks that crucial smash hit, record labels turn to these ghost writers who in turn are able to produce the music that inevitably becomes the soundtrack to your summer.

Many artists and acts have also experienced great success when reinventing classic tracks by stripping them down to their bare bones, opting to perform them solely on acoustic instruments, or ‘unplugged.’ Acts such as Boyce Avenue have made a career by simply arranging over-produced megahits into sparse and intimate renditions, and streaming services like Spotify thrive on amateur artists who constantly supply them with similar content. Bieber followed suit not with a live record per se, but a simplified version of Believe, featuring acoustic guitar and vocal almost exclusively. Track #9, entitled Yellow Raincoat, stands out not because of its’ lyrical content or melody, but rather the rhythm guitar that just simply grooves from start to finish. This is in large part due to the right hand, which simultaneously executes the harmonic components of the song using the thumb, index and middle finger, a percussive thumb slap and the open B and E strings for textural effect with the ring finger. Busy busy.

The main focus of this entry, however, is the songwriter who worked with Justin to write this song, and his name is Tom Strahle. Based out of LA, Tom is a freelance artist who wears many hats, and as such, has amassed a wealth of information that would prove useful for many guitarists. Lucky for us, Tom recognizes this as well and has gone about leaving an online legacy through his YouTube account as a way of paying homage to his father. The production value of his videos is far from stellar, but it doesn’t need to be. Instead of getting caught up in a slick production that fails to deliver, viewers are quickly introduced to a variety of concepts, all of which serve the purpose of expanding one’s understanding of the instrument. Very cool…fingers crossed that he has the energy to continue to produce content.

Go check his stuff out. No credit cards necessary.

https://www.youtube.com/user/tstrahle

21 Oct 2015
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My Late Nights With David Letterman

Sticky Post By On October 21, 2015

Letterman 1The days of cable TV are slowly coming to an end, and with the new fleet of streaming services providing us with content whenever we can fit it in, the adolescent tradition of staying up late to watch TV is also fading. Anything missed on Fallon or Kimmel is caught the following morning as you delay the workday. Though convenient, there was something unique and intimate about sitting in my parent’s basement eager to hear David Letterman’s hit-and-miss top 10 starting at 11:30pm. Canadians are often to quick to point out when someone important is from the motherland, so of course I felt like Paul Schaffer and I were also best buds. If he could make it in New York, so could a kid from Cobourg Ontario.

Even though it’s been a while since Letterman retreated from the concrete jungle, and without having thought too much on it, what dawned on me was that David Letterman exposed me to an array of unknown musical talent. While the new kids on the block (Fallon, Kimmel) provide audiences with performances on a nightly basis, their guests are typically established acts simply there to plug their latest venture.

Letterman was different. You might never have heard of the musical guest before, but variety was his game, and I bought in. Aside from his visits to Rupert’s Deli – and many a notable interview (Joaquin Phoenix you enigma you…) – my bittersweet farewell to the late night icon stemmed from his influence and exposure during my formative teenage years.

Thanks Dave. Or perhaps I should be thanking your musical director… a lot of great acts crossed that stage, here are a few that may have flown under the radar but stand out in my memory.

What are yours?

Raul Midon – State Of Mind

Mute Math – Typical

The Barr Brothers – Even The Darkness Has Arms

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2aopvm_the-barr-brothers-even-the-darkness-has-arms-live-on-david-letterman_music