Welcome Back, Me.

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Ben Johnson

Hey everyone,

Sorry I haven’t updated this in a while- I know, a poorly updated webpage is like not sweeping your store front- AND I owe you all a video of some playing tips and a how to on string changing. So my New Years resolution is to update this page daily, get those videos finished (now I’m having capture problems) and eat more Funions. You read that right, but don’t worry about it. Just remember 2/3rds of my New Year’s resolution is about helping you.

Also, my band Shoot Jake is playing at the Seasons opening for Too Slim and the Tail Draggers on New Year’s Eve, starting at 9 and going until 2012. You should come, because they’re good, we’re good and you deserve it! Dancing to more live music can be YOUR New Years resolution!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

FREE Lessons?!

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Ben Johnson

Hey all, I hope you’ve shot over to Facebook.com/bensguitarlessons and “Liked” out page, since we gave one student a free hour long bonus lesson and one non student a free month of lessons! Stay tuned for more giveaways!

Posted in Advice, Lessons, Water cooler | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Calendar!

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Ben Johnson

I have a little red book that is my schedule. You’ve seen it if you take lessons from Joe or I, since he has one too. I have to admit I tend to forget almost everything. I can remember the big stuff (take a shower) but small things tend to go right out the window. So I need to my book to keep me in line. Today I realized I blogged about the Jerry Seinfeild calendar and promised to put up the results. I did the calendar and it worked great, but of course I totally blew off posting it and tossed my scanner in the meantime, so you’ll just have to trust me.

Out of 31 days I missed 3 days total. One day in weeks 2, 3, and 4. The first miss was a Friday, then there was a Sunday and finally a Saturday. The days I missed I was actually out of town so I’m not gonna beat my self up too much about it. Anyway, I loved it and the calendar definitely got my butt in gear when it came to getting back into a steady practice schedule.

So, did anybody try it and beat me?

Posted in Advice, Water cooler | Leave a comment

We didn’t forget about you!

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Ben Johnson

Whew, OK- summer and the festival season is almost done. I had to put the videos aside for a couple weeks while I got busy playing, but I’m back into full swing now. I’m still having some issues, but nothing that will stop me from having a video ready to go sometime this week. We’ll talk to you soon!

Ben

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Store

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Ben Johnson

If you’ve been reading the site over the last couple weeks since I’ve revamped the site, you’ve probably noticed 2 things. My video shooting and editing this week is going about as well as Gerard Depardieu’s house training and I have a lot of opinions. On everything.

I’m still working on the video editing front but in the meantime I’m going to put my opinions to work for you. When you click on the “Store” link up in the navigation bar, you’ll go to a page where you can see all of the guitar products we recommend. Need a capo (or did your kids tell you they need one) and have no idea what one is or which one to buy? Go to the accessories section and staring you right back in the face is the capo I direct students to. I picked that capo because it works well, is inexpensive and is great for what most kids need.

Amazon has just about every musical product you can imagine (including beans, the musical fruit) so I’ve gone through and picked out the books and accessories we’ve been recommending for years. There’s even a section where you can see what Joe and I use for our personal gear. Going back to the hypothetical capo,, I used a more expensive capo then what I recommend to students because you can replace parts that may wear out over several years- so THAT is listed under my gear. Anyway, check it out.

And again, I know I keep saying it, but I’m going to get a video up soon. I’m going to record the audio separately to get rid of my syncing woes. Keep an eye out!

Posted in Advice, Water cooler | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Gibson Melody Maker Les Paul

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Ben Johnson

I mentioned earlier I went to a Guitar Center a few weekends ago. I don’t visit Guitar Center often- most of the guitars I buy are from other musicians. In the last 10 years, pricing has more or less become equal at big box stores like Guitar Center and smaller mom and pop shops. This is due to something called “MAP,” or Minimum Advertised Price. MAP is set by the manufactures (ie Fender) and stores can’t ADVERTISE a lower price. Ever wonder why some guitars say “Call for price” in mail order catalogs, or why you have to put the guitar in your germ free virtual shopping cart to see how many bones you’re gonna be throwing down? Welcome to MAP pricing.

Notice I said they can’t advertise below a certain price, but they can sell the guitars for whatever they want. Don’t forget that- ALWAYS ask for a better price when guitar buying from a Guitar Center. I don’t mind leaving 20 bucks on the table at a mom and pop store, but I’m going to squeeze every dime I can out of corporate America. So why even go to Guitar Center in the first place? I needed a little piece of the Gibson Guitar Co (which itself is a poorly run piece of corporate America).

I went into the Kirkland Washington GC and asked the counter guy if they had a Gibson Explorer Melody Maker. They didn’t have the Explorer but they did have the Les Paul version, which the guy assured me had the same pickup and neck. They let me plug it in right away and after bringing it back from whatever tuning is was(n’t) in the thing played and sounded great, with a clean, crisp tone and a thin neck. The Explorer is definitely on my short list, and I have a LOT of mods in mind for it. I’m thinking I’ll document the modding process on the site and show ya whats doin’.

To summarize:
Gibson Explorer Melody Maker gets an A#.

Musicians Friend gets a Cb, for terrible tuning!

Play on!



Posted in Advice, Water cooler | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Monday, Monday. Wait a second….its TUESDAY!

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Ben Johnson

Hey all,
As always, I spent Monday running around like a chicken with my head chopped off (ironic, as I’m a vegetarian). Anyway, I got off my wallet and bought a new HD Webcam so I can do better videos. If all goes well I’m going to put up a video about the correct way to bend ASAP.

Play on!

Posted in Water cooler | Tagged | Leave a comment

Its the weeeeeeekend!

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Ben Johnson

I know, I know- I haven’t uploaded a video for the weekend. I have a good excuse though, Lindsay (my girlfriend) took her camera with her to a wedding in Idaho, so I’m camera-less. I’ll update with a video on Monday.

On a side note, I got to go see Shemika Copeland last night and it was awesome! I think I found some new inspiration. Have a good weekend all, I gotta go practice.

Play On!

Posted in Water cooler | Leave a comment

Finally!

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Ben Johnson

Whew! OK, so its done, before we start I want to mention a couple things. First- use these licks as a rough guide. I didn’t play each part with the same rhythm I did on the video. I want you to see how to physically play the lick or chord shape and put it together on your own. Its important as you’re learning to be creative and to feel this out on your own. If you don’t play it exactly how I do- that’s OK. You should sound like YOU not me! I’m going to be talking on an “intermediate” level here, so if you don’t understand what I’m saying, shoot me an email through the “contact” link.

EX.1 Is the first part after the basic shuffle (again, if you’re not sure how to play the basic shuffle, call us and get into some lessons!)


So what I’m doing here is accenting the E shuffle with an arpeggio based on an E7 chord. I’m hammering on from open G to the 1st fret, up picking my open high E string, thumping that low E string and ending on the 2nd string 3rd fret (which is a D- the dominate 7th note).

EX.2 focus on sliding a D7 chord up two frets and slipping that baby around like a greased up seal in Santa hat.


EX.3 is basically the same as EX.2 but slid all the way up to frets 8 and 9, making it an A7. Don’t hesitate to imagine a greased up Christmas seal again, if it helps.

EX.4 is easy! Just pick through the B7 chord. Listen carefully to match the string pattern, and then be original and play it however you want!

EX.5 is tougher, so dig it for a second, cats.

I’m hitting an A7 chord and then launching into an Emin pentatonic lick (again, get the idea and make changes). Don’t over think it pay attention to the GROOVE you can make within the chord. Dig it!

EX.6 is a Clapton-esque turn around Joe showed me 5 or 6 years ago.

The trick with this one is to use the correct fingering and walk down. I’m starting in fret 4 and walking down chromatically on strings 6 and 3 ending in an E.

OK, there it is, now make it your own and show off!

Play on!

Posted in Advice, Blues, Lessons | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Holy Moly, Batman

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Ben Johnson

Well, I’m trying guys! My video editing program has decided to stop working, but with a little luck and a few threats towards my screen I’m hoping to have the issue solved by mid day today. I have the how to video all shot, but Pitivi keeps um, well, disappearing. Well, back to pulling my (ample) hair out!

Does this count as practice?

Posted in Water cooler | Leave a comment