This post is for all my upcoming wedding couples.
This is a great idea and WOW! …talk about thinking ahead!!! A personalized thank you card.
Congrats to Chris & Katie!!
Wedding Idea
Tag: guitar
Kick off the Week Right! Van Halen, “Runnin’ With the Devil”
It’s going to be a great week! I feel it in my bones. Thus I thought I would kick it off with a solid, good ol’ fashioned, rockin’ tune from my past. Van Halen’s “Runnin’ With the Devil.” Remember the days when bands actually had guitar solos?? Still one of the coolest album covers.
I can’t believe this song is 35 years old already…
Make it a great week! Enjoy!
Mike check:
Van Halen’s “Women and Children First” Turns 33
I cant believe this album is 33 years old today. I was young when Van Halen originally debuted in 1978 and I didn’t really know about them until after their fourth album, “Fair Warning,” my favorite VH alum, which was released in 1981. The upside to this was I had four incredible guitar albums to digest at one time including this one. When you are 12 years old and have nothing else to do, I really got to delve into these collections, “Van Halen,” “Van Halen II,” and the two previously mentioned albums.
Last night I watched, “Argo.” Yes, I know I am the last to see it. Director, Ben Affleck, utilized Van Halen’s, “Dance the Night Away,” to create the vibe of 1979/1980. This did put into perspective how old these albums are. Images of Jimmy Carter, Ayatollah Khomeini and the whole Iranian Hostage Crisis were memories from my childhood. Glad the music sounds fresher today than these old news stories!
“Women & Children,” the bands third album, was a little heavier in sound then their first two albums. A trend that continued through, “Fair Warning,” which was the bands worst selling album, although critically at least in my opinion and the fans I know, their best! Of note, on Women and Children, was Eddie Van Halen a notable pianist, as well as, guitarist’s first effort using keyboards on a VH recording. Ironically the sound of the keyboards on “And the Cradle Will Rock…,” was masked by running the sound through a guitar amplifier and virtually sounding, well, like a guitar. Also ironic is the fact that the use of keyboards propelled Van Halen’s popularity with songs like, “Jump,” “I’ll Wait,” and many of the Van Hagar Era hits.
In 2012 the boys teamed up once again with frontman David Lee Roth for a new album, “A Different Kind of Truth,” and subsequent tour. The best part of this tour was the fact they could play the true Van Halen songs that Sammy Hagar would never sing. From, Women and Children, they included, “Everybody Wants Some,” “And the Cradle Will Rock…,” and “Romeo Delight.” Check out the Setlist from the San Diego show, June 14, 2012.
Here’s to listening to these albums in another 33 years! Watch out grandkids cause you will be the wrath of my old man tunes!!!
This video contains the complete album, 33 minutes in length.
Enjoy!
Mike check:
Better Than Coffee
Paul Gilbert playing, “Fuzz Universe.” Monday mornings are better with some shredding guitar!
He is part comedian, but, mostly an amazing guitarist, but, there is no doubt he spent lots of time perfecting his chops. You can hear both attributes in his style.
Here’s to a great week, Enjoy!
Mike check:
Randy Rhoads, 31 Years Gone, Still Influencing Guitarists!
The first concert I ever went to was Ozzy Osbourne, January 4, 1982 at the San Diego Sports Arena. I remember it like it was yesterday. The only bummer about this show was that it was right after Christmas vacation from school. Since I was counting down the days until the show I was in essence counting down my vacation….
But, not only was it an Ozzy show, it was Ozzy with Randy Rhoads. Randy Rhoads the guitar legend who would tragically be killed in an airplane crash just over two months after this show. I can still picture the crushed students at my Junior High School wearing black armbands. That was the cool way to pay tribute to a fallen rock idol in those days. John Bonham and Bon Scott were two others so honored, I recall. I always cherish the fact I was lucky enough to see Randy live and my first concert!!
Randy was the first guitar hero to blend a classical approach with heavy metal. Most guitarists at the time were more blues/rock influenced. With only two studio recordings, “Blizzards of Ozz,” and “Diary of a Madman,” to his credit, Randy has left a huge legacy regardless. His influence still reaches out today 31 years after his death to new generations of guitarists.
RIP RR
“SATO,” is a cool song, maybe not one of Randy’s classics. I picked this video as it does a great job featuring him!
Mike check:
Live Music and Yoga in the La Jolla/Birdrock Area
I recently hooked up with some cool people out in the Birdrock area at Riffs Acoustic Music. Riffs is a guitar store with a nice selection of guitars and music lessons. In addition to music they offer yoga classes. Not just yoga classes, but, live music yoga classes.
You might be thinking….’hmmm, how does that work?’ I kind of thought the same thing as I played a class for the first time in early March. I didn’t know if I would need to synchronize to the class movements and vibe or if ripping guitar riffs as they were working their body and minds would be a distraction.
Guess what, it works great! The reaction has been really positive from the class as the music offers an added element to the atmosphere. For me, I get to spend the morning in La Jolla a block away from the beach, playing guitar! Beach and guitar have always been two of my favorite things! There is not much, as far as, choreography etc., I just try to fit the vibe of the moment…mostly I just play!
Riffs was originally founded in Park City, Utah in 2010. Last summer, owner Steve Hart, opened their second location here in La Jolla. They are just starting out so make sure you get down there and check them out. The following link has all their information. Friday March 15, they are offering yoga with full band performing Pink Floyd’s, “Dark Side of the Moon.” Should be a great experience.
It’s been great to work with Shawna, Shannon and Steve at Riffs and look forward to more in the future. For those of you in the area keep an eye out for guitar classes possibly in the future as we all work out our busy schedules and career endeavors.
Mike check:
Guitar Practicing Tips – Blues Scale in Major
The blues scale is a great way for beginners to start improvising and an integral scale for all guitarists to have in their musical tool box. It is versatile and a bit forgiving in that it is basically a five note pentatonic scale with the added ‘blues’ note…the #4.
It’s easy to know which key to use the blues scale for a minor key. If you’re in A minor you play A minor blues, E minor-E blues…etc.
What is not so obvious is which major key to use the blues scale. Unless you are playing a straight ahead blues you can’t really use the same theory…G major= G blues, etc.
The answer lies with the ‘relative minor’ key. The relative minor is 3 half steps below the root of the major key. So the relative minor of C major is A minor. G major is E minor.
Once you know which relative minor you can rip away.
Here is a list of Major keys and their relative minors commonly used in guitar. A cheat sheet to get you started, but, you will NEED to know these intimately as part of your music theory repertoire!
Major key / Relative minor key(where to use your blues scale)
C/a
D/b
E/c#
F/d
G/e
A/f#
B/g#
Click here for more practice tips.
Mike check:
This post may be interesting for the couples I work with. I often play guitar for the ceremony and cocktail hour. Some weddings I play the reception, as well. But, for those of you with a DJ for your reception this article may give you some good ideas!
Songs for shaking your wedding groove thang
Trying to figure out which songs to play for which important moments on your wedding day? Get some inspiration as The Reflective Bride shares what her and her groom chose for their big day, and how it turned out.
For our reception we hired a DJ, which meant that we could play any song of our choosing, and of course any version of that song. And here’s what we came up with!
View original post 905 more words
Mike check:
This is IMPRESSIVE, Cure For Bieber Fever
I saw these kids on the Today Show, they are amazing! In the video below they appeared on David Letterman. Dave was joking and teasing at first then amazed after their performance.
No offense against the Justin Biebers and Jonas Brothers and farther back the Britney Spears and even farther back the Debbie Gibsons and the New Kids on the Block and on and on. The list is endless of industry created acts. Of course they all have talented voices and can dance well and most of them are pretty …even the boys.
However, not one of them got anything on the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys! These three brothers play their instruments with a virtuosic command many long time studying musicians wish they had. They say the name came from the fact the little brother playing banjo was too small to actually hold it up when he started out and would lay down to play.
All the best to these three!!
Here is the link to their website.
Enjoy!
Mike check:
Classic Video!
This is a great way to start off your week! Whether you are working today or off for the holiday make sure you watch this video.
I think I shared this before on my Facebook page, but, it is worth the re-post.
Mike Slayen ~ Guitarist 