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When we think about Thanksgiving, we think about the festivities.
Turkey and Cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving day football, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – you know what we mean.
But, at its core, Thanksgiving is about, well, giving thanks. And that goes for us guitarists as well.
Here at Thalia, we’re been thinking about the guitar-related things to be thankful for this holiday season. These are some of our observations.
You have a guitar (even if it isn’t a custom shop)
As the saying goes, the number of guitarsyou need is always the number of guitars you have, plus one.
That saying isn’t exactly in the spirit of the season though. If you want to be a thankful guitarist, then it’s time to cherish the instrument you have. It doesn’t matter if it’s a $4000 custom shop Fender or a $99 Squier Bullet Strat. It’s yourguitar, and it allows you to express yourself.
With that in mind, make sure you pick it up and play it this holiday season. Remind yourself of those favorite licks, run through the solos that make you smile. The instrument you’re holding, for all of its flaws, is a gift that allows you to create, to unwind, to grow and to thrive. So, be proud of it, whether it has proud frets or not!
There’s good music out there
We’re living in an era where plenty of people complain about the state of guitar music. Whether it’s old rock gods telling you that the genre is deador newspaper articles saying that the guitar is on its way out, there’s a lot of doom mongering out there.
But, this isn’t the season for that kind of thinking. Firstly, it’s not strictly true – guitars are actually selling as well as ever – and secondly, even if guitar music isn’t in the mainstream like it used to be, there’s still so much good stuff out there.
There’s the YouTube wunderkinds changing the way we think about our instrument. There are the amazing, undiscovered bands that are getting out there, hitting the clubs and taking the music to the masses.
And, when you’re in the mood for something more familiar, it’s easier than ever to listen to all your old favorites. Thanks to services like Spotify and Apple Music, forgotten favorites and undiscovered gems are just a click away.
There’s always a stage
We’ve sung the praises of open mic nights in this blog previously, but it seems appropriate, given the season, to bring them up again.
There are guys and gals out there organizing events so that people, like you, can get up and play. Usually, they’re not doing it for a huge amount of money. In fact, they might not be getting paid at all. They’re doing it because they love music, they love their community, and they want talent to thrive.
Thanks to these guys and gals, you have a stage to play on. You have an opportunity to meet fellow musicians, to jam with them, and to do what musicians do. When you think about it, that’s incredible.
What guitar-related things are you thankful for this season? And in what musical ways will you be celebrating Thanksgiving? As always, share your stories in the comments.
Cover Photo by Dewet Willemse on Unsplash
When we’re young, there are several firsts that we’re not aware of, though our parents may relish in those moments. These are milestones such as first steps, first words, first trips to the potty, and so on.
As we age, there are more firsts that we become more aware of, such as our first kisses, first dates, and first times behind the wheel (often to our parents’ great fear in the passenger seat).
While punk and pop-punk are arguably defined by stacks of power chords and clean guitar passages, incorporating capos benefits the genre.
They can make some things more accessible to play. In interviews, Mike Ness of Social Distortion said he has a Gold Top Les Paul tuned down from E standard to Eb standard and capos the guitar at the second fret. This is to make playing certain things more accessible and comfortable, accommodating an old injury on his fretting hand. Thanks to capos, Ness can play in different keys.
While he can imitate the greats, his voice on the instrument is also distinct, blending virtuosic technique, great tone, incredible musicality and a healthy dose of humour. All of that has made him an in-demand clinician and very busy player, recording and touring with Asia, Dizzee Rascal, Steven Wilson, Hans Zimmer, and his project, The Aristocrats.
One does not travel this world without gaining experience and wisdom, which Guthrie has shared with many through the years. Without further ado, here is some of the knowledge he has passed on over the years.
