Ramblings of an EdMan

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Burning CDs

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I have so, so many on iTunes.

Sometimes, I wonder why.

It’s actually a lot easier today in a lot of ways to just use Spotify or something on your mobile devices.

It’s probably why a lot of young people aren’t buying CDs at all.

Which makes me sad in some ways.

I grew up in the 80s during a time when young people, especially young men bought a ton of stuff. CDs, books, LPs, stuff.

I feel like in the digital age of Kindle and Spotify, it’s probably a lot easier to move.

All those books and music and comics and … really adds up.

But, although I liked my Samsung CD burner it wasn’t very durable. Died after a couple years. And I’m not burning nearly as many CDs these days.

I got a new one today and burned the American Idiot Broadway soundtrack and a Bruce Springsteen bonus record from Born to Run. Also the last 2 CDs from a Bo Diddley compilation that was the last thing my old CD burner got through before stopping working at all.

Interestingly, the one in my old laptop was very durable.

But, internal CD-Rs aren’t even part of computers anymore in the cloud age.

And, I feel like I could use a little CD player. If nothing else to play along with for the bass and guitar lessons in my Hal Leonard books.

Do you still burn and buy CDs?

Learning to Read Music

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Since my bass lesson last Wednesday, I have been practicing less. Because I am intimidated by the bass and treble clef and reading music.

But today after work, I gained some courage and finally started the Hal Leonard Guitar Method Complete Edition I got for Christmas in 2015. I also have the Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete Edition I got this Christmas.

They really intimated me, because I find learning music scary.

I am not sure why.

It just starts with 5 lines and 4 notes between the lines. It’s really not that much.

I know what whole, quarter, half and eight notes are.

I can do it.

Ad spending that 90 minutes going on the guitar through the first 4 higher guitar strings is great practice. As was writing the notes down on a piece of paper to look at them.

I find I remember things better when I write them down.

It’s a start of a wider world.

I also missed playing with my guitar as I have been concentrating on bass.

I definitely think it will take me a while to figure out the notes in pacing enough to count time. But I think I will get there.

I also think I might want to try some guitar lessons with bass. Although I wonder if that is too much.

Music makes life richer. As I listen to the absolutely fabulous Bo Diddley on my iTunes.

Fun Covers

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I was thinking of doing a serious piece and prison reform and law and order.

And I’m feeling too lazy to finish my books read post right now.

So just going to embed some fun song covers.

One is the great “Iron Man” cover by the Cardigans

Another is the great version of “Mahna Mahna” by Cake

Another is the Big Daddy cover of “When I’m 64”

Another good one that captures the spirit of LA better is OMC’s cover of “I Love LA”.

I love that the Postmodern Jukebox cover of “All About the Bass” includes stand up bass

Well sometimes I feel like a blog post, sometimes I just want to post some fun music.

Wooo!

Practicing 12 Bar Blues with Backing Tracks

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So, I’ve had the guitar for a year and a half or so, since February, 2015.

I’ve taken a few lessons but have used Rocksmith, the New York Guitar School Guide for Absolute Beginners and Ultimate Guitar Tabs more.

When I had my first lesson back in February or March of 2015, I was given 12 bar blues in A to work with and told to use the backing track, which I have to say I really didn’t do.

Yesterday, I had a lesson with Blues in G with a backing track.

And this time I did practice in both G and A for an hour plus on YouTube. It does make a difference to have the beat. Basic lessons can get tiring.

I did A at slow and medium:

And some slow blues in G.

I just need to keep working at it, getting better and picking up more.

I know the basic chords now but I need to learn some progressions. And I really, really like the blues.

It was also fun to play some “Creep” by Radiohead, “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.

Spent at least 90 minutes practicing which is a lot for me, especially recently. And especially considered I was exhausted all day. I do like the guitar and need to keep at it. Wooo!

Guitar Stringing: The Adventure

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I have two guitars now. Probably one more than I really need but so it goes.

And I’ve had the Ibanez Hollowbody for a year.

This weekend I went to Mr. Music in Allston, MA (Boston) and got a guitar string cutter/winder and some D’Addario Hi/Lo strings.

So I thought I would attempt stringing.

My guitar has a floating bridge, which means it’s best to change one string at a time.

My first try at the small 10 gauge was unsuccessful I tightened it too much, after it kept falling out on the bottom. So yay!

Then I got better at it with the 2nd-6th strings although I didn’t probably do enough slack or however it works to get a couple loops of the string around.

I’m guessing this might make it go out of tune faster?

Anyway I was able to go to Banko’s around the corner and get a 10 gauge string for a buck.

So I was successful and the guitar sounds a lot brighter. Trying the flatwounds was good for fingerpicking, but I think I like the roundwounds more right now.

And I was successful in changing strings.

So I get some life bonus points. One more thing I have done.

Yaaay!