got my amp

finally got my amp yesterday. fender g-dec junior 15 watt with rhythm loops, guitar fx, amp fx. nice practice amp -- with the chicago blues rhythm loop i can finally practice solos. going better than I expected.

my future guitar....

fender strat highway one HSS. 700 bucks. made in america. HSS. that's what I'll get once I'm good enough at blues.

short scale guitars

have you heard of them? short scale guitars. mostly made by fender. the typical fender has a scale length (bridge to nut) of 25.5 inches. Some models, like the Mustang, have 24 inch scale lengths. These were originally student models.

the advantage is that the fret distances are a little less, so there's less stretching and the playing can be easier. Also the string tension is less and it's easier to bend notes -- good in blues.

there are some downsides: lower string tension means a less clear, ringing sound. and they could get out of tune easier with the wrong strings.

just google 'short scale guitars" for further info.

anyway I"m interested in them if they are easier to play. currently I have my eye on the Squier Fender Duo-Sonic, a replica of a 50s student guitar. it's gotten pretty good reviews, and Squiers now seem to be better built than in the past.

even John Heussenstamm, the great guitar teacher, has a video where he plays and praises the duo sonic. how's that for an endorsement?

they cost about 350 bucks -- not bad at all! Made in China, but it seems there quality is pretty good. just google "squier duo sonic."

My next guitar? In a year or two???

pick or fingers?

so what's wrong with using my fingers to play the blues? bass players use their fingers. you've got fingerstyle acoustic guitar. what's the big deal about picks? i know they make a cleaner sound, but in a way a pick just gets in the way between the player and the strings. why not use the fingers to manipulate strings?

albert collins used his fingers. he also used a capo, played a fender telecaster, and put the strap on his right shoulder. weird guy, but it worked for him!

still waiting for amp

still waiting for the fender G-DEC junior amp.

the music store said there was a delay on Fender's part, and it should be here on wednesday.

frustration!!!!!

2nd lesson

Tom and I went over the second box in the blues fretboard. Nothing exciting; just new exercises to do. I'm slowly getting better with the pick. Without it I"m faster.

I'm practicing everyday - but not enough.

first lesson

had my first lesson with tom at the college. he plays classical guitar -- he's in his 50s I guess. OK, first lesson is the pentatonic scale and the five hand positions on the fretboard. this week it's positions 1 (on A -- the blues scale I learned already) and 2 (right below that first "box.") Also he's teaching me correct hand positions: thumb in the back center of the neck, hold the pick properly, and use the pinky on the fretboard! that's a little hard using finger #4. Does Heraclitus use it? I guess I gotta get pinky strong and responsive!

Tomorrow I hope to buy the amp: Fender G-DEC junior.