Author: mikeslayen

Guitarist/Instructor

Its “Easy” You Never Cut the Guitar Solo!

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What are you thinking?!

I was watching  NBC’s Today show this morning with my 3 year old daughter. Legendary singer Lionel Richie was the featured performer. His second song was “Easy” …(Like Sunday Morning) a mega hit from his days in the Commodores. Being the guitarist that I am I grabbed my daughter from her morning play routine and said you have to listen to this guitar solo!

She patiently sat on my lap as I kept telling her here it comes! If you’re not familiar check out the video to hear the solo which starts at 2:47. It’s not the most technically demanding solo but it is iconic.

Back to the story…as my daughter appeases me and waits for the guitar solo that I am building up…Here it comes! Here it comes!

THEY CUT IT OUT!!! What the heck? That’s like peanut butter without jelly, Abbott without Costello, breathing without air!

I need answers, you don’t cut out an iconic guitar solo!! Even my wife knows you don’t get out of the car until the guitar solo is over…I am guessing it was a time thing for the show.

Here is the sadly ironic part, half an hour later they had an extended segment with the most ridiculous looking dude who is a profession air guitarist.

I know not everyone’s life is governed by guitar solos but C’mon NBC!

Tough Day at the Office: Musings of a San Diego Guitarist –July/August Weddings

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It’s been a little while since I’ve blogged about my wedding performances so here is a combined effort from the last four. Each was unique and as always great people to play for! Congrats and best to you all!

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One of the cool things about teaching and performing so long in San Diego is building up a clientele which become more like friends. Here’s a brief back story behind a recent July wedding…

I had been teaching a student for a few years when her uncle got married and they asked my guitar duo to play for the wedding which we did. A year or so later this super sweet guitar student of mine passed away. With a heavy heart I played for her memorial. This recent July wedding was another chance to play for the family…I’m always honored to play multiple events for my clients!

This wedding was also unique as I got to perform with two outstanding singers. One was an opera singer and the sister of my previously mentioned student and the other a family friend who sings musical theater. It was a pleasure to work with them both and their contrasting styles and talents.

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So I got an email in July asking if I was available to play a wedding…koto, violin and guitar.  First thing I thought was “that sounds interesting” and immediately jumped on the chance to play with some new musicians and a unique ensemble. Plus I always enjoy playing at Loews Coronado resort one of San Diego’s incredible wedding venues.

If you don’t know, the koto is a Japanese instrument kind of like a harp that lays flat. The sound is truly amazing and I found myself listening attentively during our performance.

We played a mix of typical classical wedding pieces, as well as, western pop for the cocktail hour. Personally I would have loved to play some traditional Japanese music to bring out the koto’s personality.   No rehearsals and it went great! I look forward to playing with this ensemble again.

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Looking for a great wedding venue in San Diego? Recently, I found an amazing somewhat unknown spot in Balboa Park’s Administrative Courtyard. The venue is really beautiful, located in Balboa park and has views of the downtown skyline, Coronado and other parts of Balboa Park. In addition to all these attributes the courtyard is located on the east side of Park Blvd. which makes for easy access and parking not afforded at some of the Park’s more popular locations.

Great couple too! Good luck to you both on your move across the country!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Seagrove Park in Del Mar is always a great wedding venue and with temps around the county reaching the high 90’s and 100’s I was really looking forward to playing atop the bluffs overlooking the Pacific! …then cocktails at the Del Mar Hilton adjacent to the Del Mar Racetrack/Fairgrounds.

The couple had some special requests for their ceremony music. I learned “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel and Andrea Bocelli’s, “Con Te Partiro” or in English “Time to Say Goodbye” which will definitely be added to my wedding repertoire.

Booking this wedding was a little different as I did not work with the bride and groom at all. I was contracted through a New York DJ and party planner who I hope to work with again…maybe in the Big Apple next time! Thanks Martin!

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Coincidentally, two of these events I got to work with the good folks at GD Productions. It is amazing to be playing guitar for so long in San Diego and then back to back weekends work with the same vendor who I had never worked with before…check them out for all your party needs!

Well that’s it in a nutshell …the last month of guitar and weddings in Sunny San Diego.

Click here for previous wedding posts!

No Olympics on TV Burnout??? Listen to Some Music!

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That was some serious TV watching every night for the past two weeks. Riveting coverage of sports that we only care about every four years. But it was riveting.

 

Now what are we all gonna do? Watch re-runs of Chopped, Modern Family or Big Bang Theory? You could read a book or do a project with your family. All good ideas.

Here is my nickels worth of free advice…LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC! Not on your TV, not on your computer on some sort of music device!

A little too retro?

 

Find some old jazz or classical piece. Play some of your kids favorite music. Play your kids some of the embarrassing music you grew up with. Better yet make your own music… every home has a guitar or piano tucked in a distant corner, right?

Give the giant screen on your wall a break for 30 minutes tonight. You will feel like you really did something different…because you will have done something different.

IPod Shuffle – Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic

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Hmmmm, I figure if I am going to blog about music any topic should be fair game. And since my IPod has just about 7,000 songs from rock, metal, classical, pop, Latin to avant garde and everything in between, why not leave the subject matter to chance?

Not sure about you but I am a shuffler! I rarely listen to albums all the way through. I like to hit the shuffle button and let the bon temps roule! Of course if something comes up I am not in the mood for I can always forward to the next song. Rocking out to Led Zeppelin and then getting thrust into an early Baroque organ ricercar doesn’t always vibe…although there are times when my ears are wide open and they go together like chocolate and peanut butter.

I’ve been thinking why not hit shuffle on the ol’ MP3 player and whatever comes up will be the inspiration for a post. Like I said earlier I should be able to come up with something interesting from any piece of music no matter the genre.

So here it is the first entry in my IPod shuffle series and I got an easy one, “Toys in the Attic,” the title track from Aerosmith’s classic1975 album. “Toys” featured two of Aerosmith’s mega hits “Walk this Way” and “Sweet Emotion” both radio and pop culture staples since the day they hit the scene. Even as little kids we knew these songs.

I have to admit that for a brief period I actually thought the album was called ‘Toys-amatic.’ If you don’t know, the phrase toys in the attic, is a reference to someone who might not have everything going on upstairs…a little nutty…insane! Not so much related to the comically ironic picture on the album cover featuring…toys….in an attic.

This album was pivotal in my musical, and life, development. I was almost a teenager when some of the neighborhood kids were getting me into New Wave bands like Devo and The B52’s, both cool bands in their own right. Then a longtime childhood friend opened a can of ‘Whoop Ass’ on me basically telling me what a whimp I was and to listen to this Aerosmith album…which was “Toys in the Attic.”

Of course having to prove my twelve year old manhood I told him I knew all about Aerosmith and to save face proceeded to give them a listen. Amazingly the music opened a revolution on that twelve year old kid! I could not get enough hard rock after that. Aerosmith led to Zeppelin to AC/DC to the life changer…Van Halen!!

Once I heard Eddie Van Halen play guitar, I knew that was what I wanted to do the rest of my life! Here I am 30 years later with two degrees in classical music and a career as a guitarist!

Socially, being a rocker, led to the friends I made in school which led to some life long best friends I’ve had up to this day! Who knows where my life would have gone if I didn’t jump the New Wave ship to a life as a rocker kid turned classical/jazz/flamenco guitarist. Maybe I would have been the keyboardist in a Flock of Seagulls cover band. Thank you Aerosmith!

Football Anyone?

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Can it really be? Football season already?

In light of how absolutely pathetic and boring the Padres have been this year San Diego fans are definitely ready for some football…even if it is a meaningless preseason game.

Here is the Charger Fight Song to get you in the mood!

We Lost an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award Winner Today – RIP Marvin Hamlisch

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That’s right, Marvin Hamlisch was one of only eleven to ever win all four prestigious awards not to mention he also won multiple Golden Globes, as well.

Unfortunately, the composer passed away today at age 68.

Locally, Hamlisch’s name was synonymous with the San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops, as he was the principal conductor.

Another huge musical loss in 2012, RIP Marvin Hamlisch!

If Guitar Was an Olympic Sport…Steve Vai & Ry Cooder Battle it Out in Crossroads

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This is the classic guitar duel scene at the end of the 80’s movie, “Crossroads.”

The movie is about an old blues musician who sold his soul and Ralph Macchio is trying to win it back….you know like the Charlie Daniels song “Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

It used to bother me that one of my high school guitar heroes, Steve Vai, had to lose the duel to the Karate Kid playing air guitar. The actual guitarist playing Macchio’s parts was Ry Cooder. Anyway, a great movie…put it on your Netflix queue and check it out!!

If you need a break from the Olympics check out this classic guitar competition!!

Enjoy!

Got Mud in Your Face, Big Disgrace

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I have to say there is not much about being a dad for the last 3.5 year that hasn’t been pretty amazing! It’s awesome to watch a little baby grow up and learn new things everyday.

As a musician though the coolest thing  is when your kids display a little musical talent….or at least an interest.

Hearing my daughter sing her nursery rhymes and TV cartoon theme songs creates more than a little pride for sure.

But, what is really cool is she is starting to rock out a little bit…her new favorite lyrics that she proudly sings over and over everywhere she goes are….

 

We Will Rock You

Got mud in your face

…big disgrace

……kicking your can all over the place!

Then the chorus  ……We Will We Will Rock You!

Gotta love it!

Guitar Practicing Tips – Know Your Open Strings

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One of the first things you will want to learn as a guitarist is the letter names of each of the six strings.  Sure you can learn a bunch of tabs and chords and play songs but what about when you are jamming with your friends and they say something like, ‘your D string is out of tune?’ It sure would be embarrassing if you didn’t know which string they were talking about! I actually remember in college we had composer John Duarte pay us a visit. Some of the students who were playing his pieces were asked to perform for him in a master class setting. One student did a great performance of a Duarte piece. As is custom in a master class the composer/guest is to give some helpful critiques and suggestions. Mr. Duarte suggested the student play a certain passage on a different string to achieve a desired sound.

The student froze. In front of the composer, his teachers and an audience full of guitarists he froze. He couldn’t find the notes he needed and it was embarrassing for everyone there let alone the poor guy on stage.

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! The first step you need to take is to know your open strings! Once you memorize these there are easy ways to find any note you want on the guitar. If you want to play bar and power chords knowing all the notes on the 5th and 6th string is essential and again it starts by knowing the open strings.
Here are two acronyms that are helpful to remember your open strings. Both were created by students of mine. One from over 15 years ago and one from a recent class.

Here are the open notes starting from the 6th string(thickest) to the first (thinnest)

E   A    D    B    G    B    E

Starting on the 6th(thick) string to the first(thin) string …by Patty

Eat    A    Darn    Good    Breakfast    Everyday

Starting on the first(thin) string to the  6th(thick) string …by Orlando

Easter    Bunny    Gets    Drunk    At    Easter

Don’t like these? Create you own version, whatever it takes to get you to memorize the open strings!

Click here for past practicing tips.

Happy Birthday, Rush’s Geddy Lee Turns 59 Today!

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Cant believe all my childhood music heroes are in their 60′ & 70’s already! C’mon Paul McCartney is 70?? Although he sure didn’t look it at his Olympic opening ceremony performance the other night, he still looks young.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to Rush bassist/singer/keyboardist Geddy Lee…who is turning 59 today! Hold on to that last year of your 50’s!!! Still rockin out as well. Rush’s 2012 release Clockwork Angels is their best album in years. Somewhat of a return to their heavier roots.

Have a good one Geddy!