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Yes, but 10,000 hours just playing pentatonic scales will only mean you’re really good at Pentatonic scales. Variety is key.
I guess I missed a smiley off that but it’s a bit of a leap to ‘just pentatonic’ 😳🤷🏼♂️
A lot of people spent a couple of years in their bedroom playing along with records (it didn’t seem to hold back Johnny Marr for instance)...🤣🤪
I guess I missed a smiley off that but it’s a bit of a leap to ‘just pentatonic’ 😳🤷🏼♂️
A lot of people spent a couple of years in their bedroom playing along with records (it didn’t seem to hold back Johnny Marr for instance)
Sorry. maybe I should have put a smiley on my comment too 😉
There's nowt wrong with pentatonic scales, but variety is the spice, etc.
I suppose I meant that aimless noodling will mean you don't progress fast or far.
Playing along to records is good though - similar to playing with live people, you will experience a broad range of playing styles and genres.
Some people are just better at things than others
Dont let it worry you
Enjoy your time with the instrument
Thanks everyone, youwould think I'd have learnt by now to stop worrying about what other people think and just do what I want, but I guess everyone needs a reminder every now and then. It's good to know it's not as weird as I thought to not know any songs. Have been thinking an acoustic might be a good second guitar to have lying around, I've tried my wifes old classical but the neck feels about a foot wide.
I’ve tried my wifes old classical but the neck feels about a foot wide.
Yeah, that was a big barrier for me. I picked up my Mum's old nylon-stringed acoustic when I was 12 or so, and could barely play anything. I don't think I properly picked up another acoustic for 20 years, but I now have a nice modern Taylor with a lovely narrow neck (and low-ish action) which feels pretty similar to my strat to play.
Have been thinking an acoustic might be a good second guitar to have lying around,
I did that way back when lockdowns started. Nothing flash, think it's one of these...
https://www.rosetti.co.uk/adam-black-s-2-natural
It gets plenty of playing. Since then I've also picked up a Squire Vintage Mod Jag (thanks @rocketdog ) and a Japanese Strat (cheers @chipps )
Oh, I may possibly also have a t-shaped object arriving next week 🤣
I’ll be round to check on you next month, Simon… 🤣
In terms of having a guitar around to noodle on, get a nice stand (I’ve got a couple of those Hercules ones that grab the nut of the neck.) It’s then very easy to just grab it when a tune come on that you want to learn/play along to. Having to get something out of a case or going to the ‘guitar den’ and the moment has gone…
In terms of having a guitar around to noodle on, get a nice stand (I’ve got a couple of those Hercules ones that grab the nut of the neck.) It’s then very easy to just grab it when a tune come on that you want to learn/play along to. Having to get something out of a case or going to the ‘guitar den’ and the moment has gone…
This x1000
(oh and @chipps - on a similar note I may possibly have taken some of the pedals off that huge pedalboard you kindly loaned me and made a more compact version that I can leave next to my sofa for easy accessibility!)
@simondbarnes - I could have just lent you one of my smaller boards. I’ll do you a swap - what do you want on your new one? Overdrive, delay, chorus, reverb?
Overdrive, delay, chorus, reverb?
I'm still trying to decide 🙂
That's why 'All of the effects, available all of the time' is always the correct answer... 😉
This is a nice little (spendy) setup 😊
I'm trying to move things up by actually trying to play along with a song rather than just playing in isolation. It is bloody difficult!
edit: I think that was about the 10th take 🤣
@simonbarnes
How do you tune your guitar with that board?
Also what's the giant purple missile launch style switch controling? Looks like it should be the end of the world 🙂
Is it not a gigging rig?
How do you tune your guitar with that board?
Clip on tuner 🙂
Also what’s the giant purple missile launch style switch controling? Looks like it should be the end of the world 🙂
I haven't dared press it 😉
God I feel old.
Just played a gig at the Cavern in Exeter.
Went really well, lots of people having a thrash around to our noise 🤘
But I (and the rest of the band) was old enough to be 95% of the punters' dad.
Went really well, lots of people having a thrash around to our noise 🤘
Excellent 🙂
Anyone tried both the Boss Waza Air and the Fender Mustang Micro?
I seem to be using my Vox amplug more and more but it's really uninspiring sounding and tiring on the ears after about 20 min.
I Like the idea of the plug and play of the Fender but worried I'd be limited for sounds but then there's too much in the boss that I would probably never use.
@simondbarnes need more grimacing for Lynyrd Skynrd I reckon. That face was more nonplussed indie kid. Playing was good though.
Anyone tried both the Boss Waza Air and the Fender Mustang Micro?
No, but I've been through loads of home / headphone tones. I pretty much exclusively play late at night after everyone else has gone to bed so I can't be loud. For ages I had an iRig HD attached to an iPhone and the Bias FX app which was OK. Very convenient (I had it fixed to a guitar strap) but it never sounded that great to me - I think probably underpowered.
Ultimately anything that gets you playing quickly with fewer barriers is a good thing, although if the sound is not up to scratch it can become uninspiring and you'll yearn for something else. I've heard good things about the Waza Air, and suspect the sense of immersion makes it more fun. If you start factoring in the cost of a decent set of monitoring headphones (needed for the Fender), it almost makes financial sense.
Yamaha THR on low volume still sounds great and is a good option depending on your circumstances.
@simondbarnes need more grimacing for Lynyrd Skynrd I reckon. That face was more nonplussed indie kid.
That's my concentrating really hard face 🙂
Playing was good though
Cheers. I think I'm slowly improving but it doesn't come very naturally at all
Waza Air is excellent. I have a pair I'm not using at the moment. I could post them up for you to try if you want.
Best yet, Simon. Here's me with an equally concentrating hard face, trying very hard to remember the words.
That's great as usual Ed! My favourite Billy Bragg song - only bettered by Bill Baily's Unisex Chipshop
I just started playing a week or so ago - I don’t have an amp yet and just got an Amplug to strum around without bothering anyone. For those saying headphones hurt, try a pair of Grado SR80x with som cheapo replacement L pads from eBay. They are not only incredibly comfortable and have great non fatiguing sound quality but due to being open backed let you really hear your strumming as well as the amplification. Also let’s you easily hear lessons etc though with the amplug you can also feed the phone or tablet straight in - I find this a bit overwhelming though as a newbie and prefer listening to the lesson outside the headphones
Ta, OTS. I think the backing singers deserve some credit, the birds were louder than me. Madame asked me for some song suggestions for her "Songs with a Message" project at school. Between the Wars was an obvious one. The kids who did it found it "touchant", touching, not many songs bring out the sensitive side in kids.
Here’s me with an equally concentrating hard face, trying very hard to remember the words.
I was a miner
I was a flagmaker
I was a mhh mhhh mhh
Between the wa-aaars.
I had a cassowary
In times of austerity
Forget me not
Between the waaaaa-aaaarsss.
Give me a keyring
Or some other goldy bling
...........
Anyone tried both the Boss Waza Air and the Fender Mustang Micro?
I seem to be using my Vox amplug more and more but it’s really uninspiring sounding and tiring on the ears after about 20 min.
I Like the idea of the plug and play of the Fender but worried I’d be limited for sounds but then there’s too much in the boss that I would probably never use.
I considered the Waza Air, but I can't justify the cost. I eventually went for a Palmer Pocket Bass amp, which doubles as a pedal too if required.
There is a guitar equivalent too.
https://www.andertons.co.uk/palmer-mi-pocket-amp-mk-2-portable-guitar-preamp-preampmkii?_sgm_campaign=product&_sgm_source=PREAMPMKII&_sgm_action=search&_sgm_term=pal
Here’s me with an equally concentrating hard face, trying very hard to remember the words.
Nice. I'd like to be able to learn full songs but I keep getting distracted by new YouTube lessons 🤣. I should have a new (pre-enjoyed) Tele arriving tomorrow or Wednesday, will need to find something to learn on that. I'm thinking Stones or Quo 🙂
https://youtube.com/shorts/u9V2h3QtIEs?feature=share
You've just introduced me to YouTube Shorts Simon you bad man. I don't know how it works but some of the vids following yours were hilarious. 🙂 I do Caroline (the Rossi part) and Dust Pipe by Quo but nothing by the Stones. Like AC/DC I feel more like a lousy imposter than usual trying to sing their stuff.
The thing I like about the Tele compared with a Strat is that either the ash-tray bridge on a classic Tele or the pickup housing on a Blacktop provide a reference point that makes it easy to find the right strings when going from strumming to picking. The middle pick up magnets don't get in the way of picking either.
Three months ago I would have disagreed but currently I'm picking up my new Tele more than the Strat. I'd really struggle to decide which to keep if I had to choose.
Both are amazing in different ways. I've currently got active pickups on the strat but on Thursday I'll swap the passive originals back in and spend more time thinking it through.
The middle pick up magnets don’t get in the way of picking either.
That's the only thing I don't like about my Strat!
My wife said I'm not allowed any more guitars, but I can swap some. I've been wanting to trade upwards from a Squier CV Jazzmaster that I've been playing a lot but am not in love with. Been on the lookout for a Jag for a while and I've put a deposit down on this one from a local shop...
Squier Contemporary Modern Jaguar. Hardly a traditional Jag but I'm using it as a guide to tell me whether I like Fenders with a shorter scale and / or humbuckers. In my head, I like the idea of a coil-splitting humbucker jag so looking forward to giving this one a spin. This one is 24.5" scale so not 24" like a traditional Jag, but still shorter than a Strat/Tele which are both 25.5".
The reviews of this model are very positive so as long as it plays well I can see it being a good thing to noodle with for a few months. I will miss the Jazzmaster trem, though.
😍
Ok, so I went and ordered the Waza Air.
I thought I'd treat myself to something that isn't food, rent or petrol for the first time this year. I don't really go gear crazy (or so i keep telling myself) I've only got the one guitar, 07 american std Strat, maple neck in charcoal frost metallic, a 5watt champ clone, a TC ditto, hof 2 mini and Fulltone OCD.
I’ve only got the one guitar, 07 american std Strat, maple neck in charcoal frost metallic
It may be one guitar, but it looks great (I had to google the colour)! That's very close to being my ideal guitar I reckon.
@simondbarnes is that yours? Or are you just lusting after it? I can't decide whether I'm into 'fancy' Teles. Part of me thinks they just need to be kept simple/unsophisticated.
Sunburst is hardly "fancy". Looks like a Mex to me, one of the ones with a satin backed neck, really nice shape necks. With a bridge pickup change I prefer them to the Americans. I'm sure we'll hear it soon, eh Simon.
@racingsnail Nice one. I love mine and on quiet days at work pull out the Guitar and Waza throw on a backing track from the phone and the boring hours fly by.
@simondbarnes is that yours? Or are you just lusting after it?
Yeah, is mine, got it yesterday.
It's not particularly fancy. 2011 MIM with a copper burst finish (which wasn't a standard colour that year so guessing a FSR)
really nice shape necks
It is indeed a nice shape 👌
Very pretty.
Sunburst is hardly “fancy”.
Pearloid scratchplate
Sunburst paint with metal flake
That's on the fancy scale
Yeah I meant ‘blingy’ really - not necessarily expensive. But that Tele ^^ certainly isn’t too blingy.
I was looking at the new Squier Anniversary models today. There was a great looking green Tele with gold hardware, block inlays and neck binding. Fancy (but not expensive). I liked it, even though I am ideologically opposed to it!
NGD! Apparently someone came into the shop to buy this Jag 10 minutes after I'd phoned to put a deposit down so I think I did alright 😃. I like new gear but it's for playing, right? Here's something I was messing around with showcasing the various tones it'll do. A jangly reverb-y backing track (NB the new Helix Shimmer reverb), with a fat humbucker tone over the top.
(I thought I could rely on the delay repeats for my timing, but, er, I couldn't 🙉)
People gush about Squier, but to be honest my first proper Squier (CV Jazzmaster) was very underwhelming and took a lot of setup to get anywhere near playable, so I don't consider myself a fanboy. This Jag, though, rocks and I'm going to gush about it. It just seems lovely - really well made, nice fretboard, cool finish, contoured heel, satin-finish roasty maple neck etc. There are no sharp edge or cheap feeling parts anywhere to be seen.
In the same shop today I tried the brand new £2,300 Ultra Luxe Jag. It was nice, but it's basically the same thing as the Squier, a dual humbucker with splitting options, flat-ish radius fretboard. I guess the Squier was perhaps the test-bed for the new Fender? The feel was identical - without feeling the extra-contoured heel on the Luxe there's no way I'd have been able to tell them apart.
£2,300:
£279:
I'm very pleased with it - it feels like it will be a great thing to muck about with.
At the moment I'm into looping and having loads of tones in one guitar is super useful.
I like the look of that Squire Jag 🙂
Another closet or not so closet Oasis fan eh , Superficial. A nice mellow interpretation. One day I'll post a vid of Wonderwall. 😉