Rudi

leather = hide (cow hide) I promised Rob I wouldn't highlight the 'link' at some point, and haven't done since

Hide Your Love - Rolling Stones

Nice job with the video. I hope you get some writers giving your approach a proper tryout.

New tech is wonderful thing. I never had a 'good' sound all through my early gigging years. I had several rigs but they were never great sounding. I was aware that other players took this very seriously and spent a lot of time and money chasing 'tone'. Tech eventually came to my rescue. Signal processors are a real blessing.

This hot weather has been making my guitars move. The careful set-ups are compromised or ruined. Only a couple seem ok. I re-adjusted the Les Paul on Monday, just prior to practice. I tried to adjust the Esprit yesterday, but that’s proving a little awkward. Rather than undertake a lengthy comprehensive set up, I thought I would just play it for an hour as it was. ‘As it was’ is with the G, B and ‘e’ sitting higher off the fingerboard than is usual, and the strings are also more taught than normal. So I had to apply more pressure to play properly. That’s not a huge problem, but I had become unaccustomed to this feel. Before I knew it, I had overcompensated and became heavy handed. That’s a big no-no! I had to spend a few minutes re-adjusting my left hand to minimise the pressure needed to fret properly. For some reason, my left hand had ramped to the same force as my right (picking) hand. This is how I used to play, and it’s how many less experienced players play too. I was surprised at how difficult it had suddenly become to consciously make each hand do a different amount of work. They just seemed to want to synchronise their effort. I made up a corrective exercise on the spot. I used a quick alternating pick with my right hand on the low E. When I thought I had that at its optimal level (it varies according to what pick is being used), I gradually brought a fretting finger to bear on that string so it was only just enough to bring it into contact with the fret. Now I had just the right amount of force needed in each hand to do their job properly. Crucially, each hand was doing a different amount of work. Still keeping the fanning action of the picking hand constant, I slowly played an ascending scale with the other hand, with 8 picks to every fret change. After running up and down the scales in this way I got each hand working at their optimal best. I haven’t had a pupil for many years, but that would be a useful exercise to teach them.

My Melancholy Baby - Ella Fitzgerald & Teddy Wilson

Why not just post a link?

Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful

I think it funny because its silly. If it needs to be a PM it must be something that would violate the boards protocol ! PM if you must, but you know how very sensitive I am.

All time favourite: Why are there no asprin in the jungle? The parrots eat 'em all

Journey to Recife – Paul Winter Sextet This is the 1st tune I played with Vinyl Frontiers. When I turned up for the audition, they sat me down & began playing this (I didn't know it). Then I was handed a solo. I learned the tune the following week.

Great. Its good to try these things. I was flummoxed when I first tried that, but it makes you think about things differently. Using a rhythm did help me. I'm flying at the moment!

Sounds like you're ready for a vacation Mike. Enjoy that reunion.

I liked Warren, but couldn't describe myself as a fan. Good link, I learned a thing or two.

Neighbourhood - Space Blown Out cover this, but ours has become very different and ska-like.

Due to a writing block problem, I need to go about it with a different approach. I am beginning with rhythm, or will be later today. The rhythm will need to be strong enough to provide its own momentum, or a 'groove' if you like. Part of the present block is to do with lyrics. Lyrics of late have become a mire of possibilities with no clear paths. I will be leaving lyrics to the end, as I used to many ears ago. I will worry about those when the time comes. Anyone else ever work this way?

Excellent idea. Why wasnt it there already?

About your laptop. Have you considered the use of polarizing sunglasses? If so, you could try that out beforehand. http://www.imore.com/ipad-direct-sunlight

I imagine you have at least 30 minutes there. With spaces in between, 35 minutes. If you are performing for more than 90 minutes, some or all of these could be done again. After all, you will almost certainly have different traffic passing by then. It sounds unrealistic to extend this solo method to stuff you still have to learn/arrange. I know its time consuming. It takes a high level of concentration to learn and to perform. Also, I am sure you're aware that if you find it a struggle to do newer stuff at home, it will be twice as hard in a performing environment. That's why some simple improvisation over a riff (ie: looper) could be your salvation. By simple I mean modal.

You might regret not taking the opportunity. How long have you got before the gig? How long are you expected to play? Why not just select those tunes (however few) you are confident with & stick to those? If you need more, can you use a backing track or two? Or perhaps noodle over a looper? Is BIAB any use there?

Hey there Matt, I give in. I'm not seeing a connection? Set me straight...

With 1 post, you wont have posted up any lyrics. Lets have a look at your words. People here are encouraging & I like weird lyrics anyway.

Verona - Endless Day

Cornflake Girl - Tori Amos

Tin Man - America