Thursday Tips
How to Host a Jam Session
A jam session* is a great reason to get back together with your guitar friends, especially now that things have opened up. Here’s a few tips for hosting:
~Choose a day, time & location
~Invite your guitar friends
~Sustenance is important!
~Ask your ‘jammers’ to bring copies of at least 2 songs they like, that everyone can play together.
~Have fun jamming!
Play on…
Marlene
*To hear about my jam session experiences and more hosting advice, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 65!
Taking Flight With Your Guitar!
Now that air travel seems more possible, I wanted to remind you that your guitar can go with you! And here’s how*:
1. It can be your carry-on luggage**
2. Use a gig bag or hard shell case for travel
3. Loosen your strings 1/2 turn each prior to flying
4. Your guitar goes through security, like any other luggage
5. It’s allowed to be placed in the overhead compartment.
Up, up and away!
Play on…
Marlene
P.S. If you check your guitar rather than taking it onboard as a carry-on, use a hard case and mark it fragile for better protection.
*To learn my useful guitar air travel tricks & hints, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 64!
**Flying with Guitar FAA Rules
Spring Cleaning Your Guitar!
Spring’s in full swing and it’s a great time to clean your guitar*. There are 5 simple steps:
1. Remove your strings
2. Wipe down your entire guitar to remove dust
3. Oil the fretboard, using mineral oil and a soft cloth
4. Polish the guitar body, head and back of neck, using guitar polish & a soft cloth
5. Replace your strings
Cleaning your guitar might even put a little ‘spring’ in your playing!
Play on…
Marlene
*To learn how to oil and polish your guitar, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 63!
Mindfulness While Playing Guitar
Guitar playing is a mindful ~ present moment awareness ~ activity. Additionally, you can use mindfulness techniques*, like deep breathing while learning new skills, to help you gain playing abilities and muscle memories. Mindfulness can be instrumental to your playing!
Play on…
Marlene
*To hear examples of simple mindful guitar playing techniques, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 62!
Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) Songs For Guitar!
Cinco de Mayo* (5th of May) is not just a day of Mexican food and margaritas, it’s a celebration of Hispanic culture. On that note (ha, ha) I thought you might like to play some fun, popular and fairly easy Spanish language songs. Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Cielito Lindo chords audio
La Bamba chords tab intro video
Play on…
Marlene
*To learn more about Cinco de Mayo and these two popular songs, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 61!
How to Change Chords While Strumming Calypso
Changing chords while maintaining a constant calypso strum* can be challenging. It’s best to first try this with 2 chords that are easy for you to play, like A & D. For example, play A with 2 full calypso patterns and then the same with D, repeat several times. Your goal is to keep the strum going while you change chords, so there are no gaps ~ and therein lies the challenge!
Play on…
Marlene
*To learn how to successfully change chords while keeping the calypso strum going, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 60!
5 Songs To Rock On Tax Day!
Try these 5 tax themed songs*:
1. Taxman by The Beatles chords video
2. Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks chords video
3. Take The Money and Run by The Steve Miller Band
chords video
4. After Taxes by Johnny Cash chords video
5. Carnival World by Jimmy Buffett chords video
I hope your tax day rocks!
Play on…
Marlene
*To hear about the history of these 5 tax songs, listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 59!
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