I'm playing Saturdays at "La Casa Italian Grill" 37 Old Roswell Street in Downtown Alpharetta GA
I've also switched over the Inverted 5ths Tuning as my primary tuning on the Chapman Stick Solo Gigs.
I've posted a video of me buskering in Modena Italy with the Chapman Stick and 5th inverted tuning.
March 2011
I posted my second video of
Africa (Toto) played on the "You Rock Guitar".
YRG is working on a
polyphonic option which should make the instrument a real performance
option rather than just a practice tool.
I'm beginning work on my
method book...time to get it going finally!
January 2011
Just bought a
“You Rock Guitar” midi controller for less than $199 and I’m pleasantly
surprised by the features and ability to play real music.
It will be
much better when they program a polyphonic playing option but for the
time being it’s an excellent, inexpensive tapping practice instrument.
I travel a lot
so it’s easy to take on the road and I’m not worried about ruining or
losing a $3,000 plus instrument. It also folds up so it fits in a
carryon bag. The batteries allow you to play anywhere with an iPhone,
very cool! I recommend NanoStudio as the best app.
I’m working on
tutorials and more videos.
Fall 2010
The Axis 64 has been an
interesting midi controller find. It's completely "regular" so if
you learn one key you've learned them all.
I'm just beginning to
understand how to use it.
March 2010
We've moved to Alpharetta GA and are enjoying the new situation.
We've found a great church and a school for Elijah and we're
beginning to feel settled.
I'm getting in a groove of recording tunes on the Mandolin,
Ukulele, Ztar, Touchguitar, Guitar etc... each week. I'm posting on You
Tube, MySpace and Facebook. It feels good to begin recording and doing
videos again.
July 2009
Gigs
·Women's Cancer Clinic - I'll be playing at another event of the Women's Cancer
Clinic. This time I'll play the Ztar as well.
Method Book
Update
·I'm working on the touch method book and hope to have something
completed by the end of the year. it will be a chord progression
approach focusing on playing the
Gear
·I've been using the VG-8 with my Warr Guitar on the rhythm side
to get a bass sound in the lower 2 strings. There's a Bass/Guitar split
patch in the VG-8 which allows for that sound. It's nice because it
fills out the lower end and gives the illusion of a bass line.
·I'm using the new Line 6 Pod Farm with my Presonus Firebox and
Cubase to get my sounds. I like the new Line 6 Pod Farm interface and
with ilok you can use it as an effect with any I/O interface.
·Kore 2 is coming in handy for triggering the Groove Agent 3 with
foot pedals. I can also run my Warr Guitar inputs into Line 6 effects
to control everything in the computer and mix it better. The Groove
Agent 3 gives a very realistic drum sound and is helpful for
practicing. I still think the computer drums do not work well live.
The Touchguitar is interesting enough solo without the drums.
·Roland AC 60 and Line 6 AX2. For the quieter gigs I use the
Roland AC 60 which carries pretty well in most cases. If I need more
firepower I use the Line 6 AX2. It has the two inputs and a very nice
round sound. I use it in my videos.
April 2009
Gigs
·First Friday of the Month - Lakeland has a "First
Friday of the Month" buskering program in the center of town that I've
participated in. It's a lot of fun if the weather is good. People mill
around the town square and hear a wide variety of musicians.
·Arts in the Park - I've also played at "Arts in the Park" every now and then
which is a great setting for solo music. It's an art gallery that
specializes in local artists.
·Cancer Clinic - I'm also playing regularly at the Cancer Clinic in Lakeland
for their cancer survivor events.
Instruments
·Violins - I've spent a lot of time learning the violin and experimenting
with extended violin/viola tunings. Currently I'm playing a 5 string
violin and a 5 string viola with octave strings. I like the higher
registers of the cello and this viola helps capture that. I play a wide
variety from Bach to my jazz standards to hymns...I've played out a few
times with my NS Stick player/friend Jason. He puts up with my violin
playing and carries the weight of the accompaniment. Jason also does my
tech work on my instruments. He's trying to make my 6 string chinese
violin work better. I like the extended violins, just wish I could play
better!
·Ztar - I'm doing a lot more midi sequencing now that the Ztar is
working well. I'm also a bit smitten by analogue programming, trying to
teach myself how to do it...complicated but interesting.
·Warr Guitar - Midi triggering. I've now dusted off the Axon AX 100 setup
with my Warr Guitar to try to integrate a bit of midi/synth playing with
my Warr Guitar gigs. The Axon requires a bit of programming for it to
work but it has promise. I also can use the VG-8 to give some other
sounds to the mix.
·Grand Stick - I'm returning to the ascending 5ths tuning on the rhythm side
(uncrossed) with the Stick. The violin and mandolin playing has perked
my interest in 5ths. It definitely gives you a different sound and
vibe.
·Mandolins - I'm playing a traditional 4/8 string mandolin, a 5 string
ukelele tuned in 5ths E-A-D-G-C. It actually works and gives you a nice
mellow tone. I have a short scale 6 string Les Paul copy that I've
tuned in 5ths.
·Guitars - I'm looking to tuning a 6 string guitar in 5ths...we'll see
about that! I've tuned my 7 string Steve Vai Guitar in 4ths and setup
to do tapping going as low as the guitar sounds good. In general I'm
not playing much guitar unless a recording calls for it or we're out on
the driveway with the neighbors drinking beer...
July 1st
2007
I played at the Arts Ensemble Gallery Opening in Winter Haven.
Great event with fascinating art and an interesting crowd. I look
forward to collaborating more with them on future projects.
Finally put up a music download service on my various sites.
I'll be placing that store on my other sites soon.
I've been using the Rane SM26B Splitter/Mixer to do complicated
parallel effects and looping. I also used it to split to multiple amps
at my live shows. I continue to use the Roland VG-8 to put a little
bass sounding bottom end on my rhythm/chording side. It works well so
I've pretty much abandoned the ascending 5ths tuning in favor of this
method. I'm concentrating my efforts on the tuning I find most
accessible.
I'm playing the NS violin these days and hope to use it while
looping my Stick during my shows. The idea is to play the head with my
Stick on a stand and loop only the rhythm side. I'll then improvise
with the NS Violin using the back brace system they now have. It should
be easier to play while I'm going from Stick to Violin and back. We'll
see how that goes!
I'm going to the Baltimore Tapping seminar in October and look
forward to a great time! I ordered a flight case for my Warr so I can
take it with me.
Other than that, just enjoying the family and the summer! Hoping
to do more recording, writing and DVD shooting...
March 2007
It was a busy 2006 and 2007 promises to be even busier.
I'm playing regularly at the Arts in the Park Gallery at Munn
Park in Lakeland. I've gotten serious about the violin and it's
extended forms: 5 string electric and 6 string electric. It's an
incredible challenge but I feel like I'm growing musically so it's all
good. I hope to finish my solo touchguitar CD in March and offer it on
my site as a download. I'm also planning another video session to
highlight my solo playing.
As far as recordings go I'm using the Line 6 UX2 which works
really well for no latency monitoring and separate dual recording of
both rhythm/lead. I'm also tracking midi using the AXON AX 100 mkII
which I have for both sides. The VG-8 is getting use live to fill out
the rhythm side with a little bass sound and/or pad sound.
The method book is progressing and I'm planning a release by the
fall.
I managed to get a 6 string mandolin tuned in 5ths to work...lots
of fun!
