Here it is...
Guitarbuddies 1st Newsletter
October 2009

First of all:
It's official . . . Smokin Okies is under new ownership, congrats to Keith who is an amateur musician friendly guy. Also "thanks' to Marina our hard working waitress. Let's help support Smokin' Okies BBQ by bringing friends and enjoy some good ole Sunday tunes.

Rock-tober-fest 2009:
A 'BIG THANKS' to all who participated in ROCKOBER FEST # 8 2009. A good time was had by all / and as usual Edzo is constantly learning. Sundays learning lesson was 'should'a replaced batteries in the camera' & 'should'a put new strings on guitar' . . . Apologies to Bernie and Carl as the batteries ran down and no flash. Enjoy the photos such as they are, I can only say, "we try", LOL Edzo & Ken teamed up to do one of their favorite Johnny Cash tunes. Curtis, Ken, Richard, Bass Guy all switched around and a did a variety of tunes, Bernie and Carl did solos. What the heck is the bass guys name?

News Flash:
Curtis and Edzo announce 'BLUES SUNDAY' open mic 2nd Sunday of each month 6:00 to 8:00. ( If someone will provide an amp and mic earlier, we can start early, contact Edzo )

In Closing:
We have a good thing going with lots of potential. A 'BIG THANKS' for your participation, lets keep this ball rolling.

1st Sunday of each month for guitarbuddies

2nd Sunday for open mic Sunday Blues,

5th Sunday (which happens on occasion) guitarbuddies.

If you'd like to do a few tunes bring your guitar, a friend, and rock on. Lets pack the joint, play some tunes, eat, drink and be merry. Guitarbuddies is always free of charge.

Stay in tune.
Edzo guitarbuddy@comcast.net

Richard and Ken

Ken

Ricks Licks
"Playing with yourself..."

It was great to meet everyone for the first time at the guitarbuddies rocktober fest #8 2009 down at Smokin Okies in Pleasant Hill. Edzo the promoter and guitar player has it going … good job and a swell time.

As a schooled and stage savvy professional musician returning after 30 years of not playing on stage, or even for myself, and not listening, either, I'm at the raw beginning; again. We're talking totally out of the loop, no ear, old junk in my head from days and tunes long gone, and of course no technique. I put my Telecaster down and walked away 30 years ago. I want it back now but where do I start? I really, really miss the stage performance of the group … ahhhh the music … being a part of something bigger then myself. It was heaven. I want to go to heaven again.

The guys at the event had technique and either knew the tunes or could follow along. Was it perfect? Who cares … seriously, that is not a thought or concern … just play … and if you miss a note or a chord, go to the next one … pick it up where ever you can find it again … just play. All together, no one person pulled it down. All together the sound filled the room. There was music. The group effort opened heaven in the room.

Back at the ranch, here I sit with base guitar in hand, I'm once again playing with myself. I wasn't a bassist professionally, I was a rhythm guitarist and as such I could fill the room with sound ... albeit mostly rhythm and chord progressions. But as a bass player I just have notes. Notes of progressions and scales and arpeggios but there's no tune. The room is not filled. There is no music. There is no group. I'm just playing with myself.

It's the same for all lead or accompaniment players who play with themselves. There you sit, instrument in hand, the latest fold-out of the month in front of you. You play the notes but you don't fill the room with music. The skilled guitarist or keyboardist does not have that problem. They can fill out the chords and sing the tunes and thus make music during their practice sessions

I needed a solution or my return would end before it got started. I needed a group who would play and play and play until I got tired. Technology came to the rescue. My solution is to play along with a rock'n blues band on CD. My main practice CD is "Trouble" by Johnny Nitro and the Door Slammers. Each tune a classic with plenty of base lines to follow and learn. Lots of walking … I love walking! I'm instantly back on stage playing with a group making music. There is so much to learn and learn fast … I've got the group to guide me, to push me and to carry me when I lose it and to be there for me to pick it back up. I can even stop the CD and practice a run, then restart it and be that much closer to the tune.

That’s my solution, which I offer to all lead and accompaniment players. Get a group on CD and go for it. Make music. Practice in heaven.

Richard, Curtis, Base guy, and Ken