playing in different keys...

OK, now I can play in different keys.
I've tried G, B, and C. Not too bad. I can visualize the 5 patterns for the pentatonic scale from A and shift them up and down for other keys. I'm not completely there -- I hesitate a little in some spots, and I have to think a little as I move from one pattern to another, but overall it's easier than I had imagined. I just need more practice.

maybe a les paul...

Marty suggested I look at Les Pauls. They have chambered bodies that are like a semi-hollow in their acoustics. I will check them out next time I"m at Guitar Center.

another contest -- guitar player

another contest, this one from guitar player.com

8 rigs in 8 weeks.

contest ends Jan. 31, 2010.

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article.aspx?id=103695

8 rig packages of guitars and amps.

strat concept is gone again!

OK, I"m thinking again of not going down fender alley. i'm liking my epiphone dot so much that i'm beginning to be a fan of semi-hollow guitars. and the 24.75 scale length is much more comfortable than fender's 25.5.

so what would I get instead? a gibson 335 is just too much. there is the gibson es-137, which goes for about 2 thousand. it's a semi-hollow with a les paul shape. the cheapest made in usa gibson semi-hollow. maybe next summer, after another semester of studies.....

i guess i've switched camps and joined the gibson crowd. i still like fender amps, however, and I'll stay with them for now.

more contests 2

entered a contest today at Gretsch for a Brian Setzer guitar. drawing ends Jan. 17.

also a contest from Eastwood guitars, drawing ends Jan. 7 to win a airline twintone guitar.

also a contest from ultimate guitar.com to win a hex 7 string esp ltd guitar. ends Jan. 10.

playing while standing -- breakthrough!

yup, another milestone reached, this time with my wonderful epiphone dot.
I can play guitar while standing!!!
yeah, it's a big deal to me -- it's not as easy as it looks!
I guess I've got those pentatonic boxes on the fretboard burrowed into muscle memory, 'cause now I can improvise and play without sitting and staring at my left hand.

So, combined with my earlier achievement of downstroke and upstroke, I feel that I've really made progress lately.

I'm planning on heading up to Milwaukee before spring semester and get a fender strat!

more contests

today:

re-entered carvin contest for 500 bucks. drawing Jan 1 2009.

still entered in monthly epiphone contest at easylessons.com

entered an epiphone contest for a wilshire 66 faded guitar. ends dec. 31

entered a contest for a schechter damien 6 guitar and damien 4 bass, thru ultimate guitar.com. not sure when drawing is.

entered at filtermag.com for a telecaster (glasvegas band contest). ends. dec. 14. DOB: 11/22/63

entered at rolling stone.com for a gibson sg. ends dec. 6.