Guitar Practice Log #1

Spent about 45 minutes sitting with my Les Paul Jr. Lite today. First time in a long long time. 

Plugged it into my Orange Mini Crush 3W amp. Kept the gain and volume levels pretty low, and focused on a mid-heavy sound with the neck pickup selected or a both pickups selected. I rolled off the tone knobs on my guitar, too. 

Played around with the clean sound of the amp, which is pretty good all things considered. I also played through my Boss SD-1 Overdrive pedal, too. 

Some takeaways. 

I never… and I mean NEVER practice guitar. I either write or I play songs I already know, but I never rehearse specific parts that are difficult or focus on any drills to better my technique. That needs to change. I’m a proficient guitarist, but I will only benefit by adding intentional technique practices to my playing/practicing sessions. 

I miss it. More than I ever thought I would. Guitar is fun, and revisiting some old songs that I wrote a really long time ago was a real treat. I’m excited to dig in and practice and focus on becoming a better guitarist.

So here’s to many more playing sessions. I might need to turn the corner of our family room into a guitar space. 

Becoming a better…

Musician

Storyteller

Guitarist

Singer

Entertainer

Promoter

Band member

Band leader

Drummer

Bassist

Lyricist

… in no particular order. 

There is plenty to do, and there is no end to the journey. 

One can always get better. 

Here’s to falling in love with the process. 

Aspire to be these things

Bold

Polarizing 

Remarkable

Uplifting

Evocative

…

You have favorite bands/artists/songs/albums for a reason. But you can only become someone’s favorite by first becoming your own favorite. 

Starting A Lot

I have started plenty of creative projects that have amounted to pretty much nothing…

DanG… a two piece band with my buddy Dean. It’s a play on our initials D and G. I play drums and sing and Dean plays bass. We’ve practiced a handful of times, have not finished any songs, and haven’t jammed together in YEARS. 

A project where people can commission me to write tailored covers of their favorite songs as gifts. 

El Wow. A power trio with my buddies Mike and Dean. I play guitar and sing, Mike’s on bass, Dean’s on drums. A play on the initialism LWOW that stands for lost without our wives. Definitely haven’t finished any songs, and I’m pretty sure we only got together twice to jam. 

Tons of solo projects all with different parameters and genres. Acoustic folk, lofi hip hop, single instrument experimental, etc. 

Almost all of these projects have an email address and an Instagram…

Creative ADHD to the max. 

And I’ve started another one… a solo band called Nitpicky. 

Nitpicky because it’s a play on a jumble of the initialism for I Think They’re Playing Coachella Next Year. Which is a joke I heard on the now defunct Kevin and Bean show and that my wife reference often to this very day. 

But… I have a strategy this time. 

Create a clear cut framework of guidelines that make it next to impossible for me to quit this band…

So, here’s a first take of a list of guidelines to help me in my quest to not be a creative desdbeat:

1. Don’t Create. Document. This is stolen directly from Gary V. I plan on using this band as a public diary of sorts. Documenting past creative projects, aspirations, and failures. Documenting the new process and working through it  

2. Write. A LOT. And it doesn’t even need to be good. Part of the reason those past projects stalled is because I always feel like I need to be making good stuff. I need to become comfortable knowing that the shitty stuff is just as important as the good stuff because the only way you can get to the good stuff is by wading through the shitty stuff. 

3. 2 minutes everyday is better than an hour on Saturday. Stolen from another visionary David Meltzer. Consistency is key. 

Alright… we’re 3 days in. Let’s see how I do…

Wow

I still have access to this blog, and it TRIPS me out. 

It has been almost 7 years since the last time I wrote a post. 

Half of Chase’s life. 

Almost triple Evan’s life. 

42 times Zoey’s life. 

Over a 5th of Rachel’s life.

A 6th of my life…

Time truly flies…

I need to write more. Document more. Put my thoughts into the world more. 

But do it from a computer because the iOS interface for blogger leaves much to be desired. 

Nitpicky…

Labels and Links and SEO

Labels and links and SEO are supposed to help people find your blog.

But what if I don't want people to find my blog.

What if I want to write just for myself.

What if I could actually be honest with myself.

Of course, you want people to find your blog.

Attention is not a bad thing.

Attention is normally a good thing.

Write and write and write and write.

You'll read this later and be reminded of how bad it was at the beginning.

This is another "wave" of blogging you're preparing to surf. We'll see how long this ride lasts.

Write what you know.

I know that the Ultimate Garage from Hot Wheels is my current favorite toy to play with with my son Chase.

I know that Drake is from Toronto.

I know that Tom Brady didn't play in the first 4 games of this NFL season.

Facts are easier to spread than opinions.

My opinions are ill informed.

My opinions are wish washy at best.

I am constantly on the fence.

This is a rare fact/ opinion combo platter.

Orange chicken from Panda Express is really good.

I will proceed to go back and insert links where applicable.

...

Done.

I like facts.

I like this blog.

Opinions are okay, too.

My Best Creative Time

Is about right now...

It's 11:23pm.

And I've come to realize that I do my best writing/ creating between the hours of 11pm and 1am.

Which makes me wonder why I don't actually do work during these times.

I'm not one for New Year Resolutions... but I could possibly be doing myself a big favor by working at night.

What else has happened since the last time I posted on this blog?

12/18/14...

Wow. That's a lifetime ago.

My attention span is shortened. My career is heading in the right direction. I'm trying to do my best as a husband and a father. But I can do and be better.

It's been a 2 year break. And it feels like the blink of an eye.

I can remember what I had for dinner that night... Del Taco.

And I sang onstage with Weezer that night.

And I referenced a funny video of Riley Breckenridge... to Riley Breckenridge.

Have I... made ANY progress?

Yes. But not nearly enough.

This is a pretty fragmented post. I'm crawling again... but I'll be walking soon enough.

Time to go to sleep. I'll start working at night tomorrow.

...

Yeah. Not that much progress.