Why complacency will kill you

"He's gotta keep on rockin', he just can't stop. Gotta keep on rockin', that boy has got to stay on top, to be a Juke Box Hero, got staaaars in his eyes."

Hey rockers! Here's a political question for you that will pertain to guitar in a minute: How do you lose Sapphire- blue Massachusetts to a republican?

I guess you become complacent.

When I heard that Scott Brown had won the special election yesterday, I was floored. Then I was convinced that a certain campaign manager should be placed on a donkey, and shot immediately with a rifle used to hunt elephants. It would be symbolic, and only fair. Then I was comforted by the thought that the fact that they'll never, ever be hired again in that capacity.

Then I decided to add a few more years onto my life by breathing deep, chilling out, and trying not to get worked up about politics unless I'm involved in them.


And THEN I got today's lesson. To paraphrase Twisted Sister, Stay Hungry!

The students who really excel are the ones who just can't get enough of music. They're always asking questions, learning stuff on their own, jamming, starting bands, and just totally enjoying being guitar players.

And think of any artists you like - the ones that grow are the most exciting to listen to. Each album is a new palette of colors, and it's like watching a great athlete reach for the world record.

Bring it back to your creative process, be it guitar, art, sports, cooking, or drag racing. (Or whatever the heck you like!)

It would seem that the sharpened appetite precedes the lightning bolt of inspiration. By stayin' hungry, we create the thunderclouds from which inspiration can answer. Become complacent, and everything is a sunny blue day.

And stuff really doesn't happen when the weather looks like a travel brochure.

Thumb your nose at the clear blue sky, cackle when you see the thunderclouds, and next time anyone says "can't complain" when you ask how they're doing - Deck 'em. (And if you meet Martha Coakley's campaign manager, deck them, too.)

Learn the lesson from the epic failure of the Massachusetts Dems. Complacency will kill you!


Rock on!

- Josh

The Making of an EP - Live from the woodshed

Rockers!

Happy 2010! Boy, oh boy, I am ready for a rockin' year!

For starters, my CD, Northbound, is getting so close to completion. I hit my deadline of finishing the songwriting, and now I'm in the practicing phase.

I had a dilemma that perhaps you've had....The one of creativity vs. killer technique. For me, practicing scales and alternate picking is totally boring. I hate it. But - I realize it's the only way for me to achieve the level that I want to on the guitar. (Mind you, everyone's goals are different, so just because I say "Blah Blah Blah Scales Blah Blah Blah" doesn't mean you have to subscribe to this view to meet your musical vision - I mean, check out Kurt Cobain.)

But - scales have nothing to do with my songwriting process. I learned this lesson the hard way. Just because you have good technique doesn't mean you'll write good songs! Nine years spent on technique, and all of a sudden I'm playing catch up, and looking for a way to apply the skill I had gained. It's aggravating to be able to play all this goofy extreme rock guitar stuff, but not be able to come up with a cool riff that makes sense!

So for the past year and a half, I've been focusing on songwriting. I've improved drastically in that field, but...my playing has suffered. It's gotten more creative, but my speed has declined, and the rust is creepin' over my fingers.
And I certainly don't want to put out an album of great ideas, but no chops to back 'em up.

Enter the practice phase: I've gotten my material written, arranged, and scratch tracks recorded. Now, I'm giving myself time to go back, use that metronome, and dust off my skills. They're coming back, I'm happy to say!

Now I'll know where to use those skills.

I guess life is made up of seasons and tides, and music is no exception.

Stay tuned! (Both on the blog, and make sure your guitar's singing properly!)

- Josh

2009 - A decade of guitar!

Rockers!

What is UP, yo?! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Super Solstice, Krazy Kwanzaa, and you know the drill.....I hope y'all had a great holiday, whatever one you celebrated.

Wow, hard to believe the decade's almost gone. The last ten years have been definitive for me. I started playing guitar in 1999, so everything you know me for has happened in the first decade of the second millennium since ol' JC did away with the whole BC, know what I'm sayin'?

I have two things to say. 1. Thank you. 2. Rock on!

I, for one, am super duper excited about 2010. How 'bout you? What are you gonna do? Make some big plans! Hey, if you want accountability, comment on this post with 'em, so the whole world can see 'em. Make 2010 the year you hit the big time. The year you decide to really get good. The year you decide to step into that spotlight, in whatever field you're in, and say "Hey New York City, MAKE SOME NOISE!"

So, this of course calls for some New Year's resolutions! If you don't have any, use some of mine!

- Get the Career rockin'!
- Get scary good as a musician!
- Become a great singer!
- Don't stop at making music - make a brand.
- Always preach the true music of your soul!
- Release a CD.
- Play some rockin' shows!
- Get a buncha new fans!

That's what I'm gonna try to do. If that's not enough, you could always add "install an pellet stove", "Don't eat spaghetti every single day", and "keep Camaro super duper shiny." (And thanks to some clients, I now have an awesome carwash kit! Thanks, Penny and Kelly!)

2010 is also gonna bring some cool stuff, musically and blog-ally speaking. My CD Northbound should be out (hopefully) by March - line up, ladies an' gents, and get your copy! I'll be blogging a lot more, and a podcast and a book are both being moved up from the back burners, to the middle burners...and before ya know it, to the front burners!

I'm gonna need some serious help networking on Facebook and Myspace (stay tuned for a FB fan page), so if you're interested in joining the team, let me know!

Blah blah blah, enough about me! I said at the beginning of The Doghouse that I wouldn't do this with a blog, so here's a few things...First off, rockers, please be smart, and don't be a boozin' and a cruisin'. Hand a friend the keys, or better yet, stick to the root beer. That's what I'll be doin'. We need ya around to make music, and buy CD's, and the like.

Secondly, here's a random poem that I randomly wrote just now for the New Year...

The Cold Slate

The wind creeps out of the woods
like a cat
who means business
and shakes hands with the chimes
that stand patiently to greet it
smacks the smoke around as it cringes out of the chimney
seeming to say "get back in line!"

Blasts in my face, and blows off the dust from a year spent
at a chalkboard
furiously scribbling and plotting and planning to get ahead
but never quite able to

it pushes the clouds across the sky
shooing the old year out
"thank you for your service, now go"
and sweeps the street from all the debris and fatigue of the season

and then it's gone, howling off to other rooftops
to remind people
that the slate has been cleared

And it turns around and scuttles a few leaves across the porch
as if to ask me
what do I plan to do with the time
ready, set, GO
here's your cold slate
feel it rob your hands of warmth and doubt
it's all clean and ready for drawing


Happy New Year!

Write your own darn "Smoke on the Water!"

Save for the time she cussed out a bully on the CCD bus in 1974, my mom is notoriously clean spoken. I grew up wondering who Hector was, and what I could do to be hotter than him.

This will all make sense in a minute.


I came across a lesson in a guitar magazine recently that got me thinking, and really crystallized an idea that had been floating around for some time.

Some cat had re-harmonized Smoke on the Water to sound all jazzy. Sure, it was slick, but if ya ask me, it was taking pizza and freezing it into ice cream.

There's a skill that I've been chasing lately - the ability to write the epic rock riff. Or the catchy chord progression. Or anything really cool. All the stuff I've learned previously has given me the ability to express feelings through music, but the art of songwriting isn't popular with most rock guitarists. Look through a guitar magazine, and you'll be astounded at how we box ourselves in as sidemen at best, and wannabe emulators at worst. "Sound like Stevie!" "Reharmonize Giant Steps better than John Coltrane!" "Learn Eddie's tricks for blazing riffs!" But very rarely "Be the next guitar hero by sounding like yourself!"

So, instead of reinventing Smoke on the Water, I'd like to paraphrase my mother by saying....

Write your own darn Smoke on the Water!

Of course, this applies to anyone, not just musicians. We all can be epic, copied, and fantastic. We just gotta believe, and most importantly, we just gotta start.


Rock on!

- Josh

Thank you, Thank you all!

Happy Thanksgiving, rockers!

As either a.) a true musician, b.) an egomaniac, or c.) both, I believe all the world's a stage.

And since it's this time of year, it's the perfect opportunity to say....

Thank you! Thank you all!

Internet random people...Thanks for reading the blog, and listening to the music – I appreciate it. Every comment and email is greatly appreciated (well, the good ones), and I'm proud to be part of your rock n' roll voyage.

Students – thanks for learning, laughing, and asking so many great questions! My goodness - I have a house built on great music and laughter. That's something to be very thankful for, and I am.

I've met some great musicians and songwriters this year, and I'm thankful for and to them.

And December 2nd will mark the year anniversary of my commitment (a house, folks.) Psycho ex-wives have nothing on threat of a foreclosure, so I've got that under control!

So, here's a neat little thing that I'd like to offer as a quasi-lesson today:

I started keeping a gratitude journal about a year ago, and it's a really neat thing to do. Each day, you write down what you're grateful for, and most importantly, you try to be consistent with your records. I'm not, but I'm working on it. It's a nice way to remember how much we've got, and to focus on that.

Try it! It's neat. You could document your progress on the guitar with it, too. As an instructor, I'm fortunate in the fact I get to see people achieve their own personal victories over musical obstacles. For some, it's understanding advanced theory, and others, simply sounding a string to join the Club Guitar Player. Each victory is worthy of gratitude and excitement! Write it down, sucka!

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Josh

Made of Scars

Two years.

Two years ago.

They found her.

Two years seems like a long time ago. It was a bright and sunny day like this. It's funny how the sun can burn your eyes sometimes.

I still can't wrap my head around it. Such a meek little girl - seems like she wouldn't have it in her. I guess nobody really ever saw her, and that's what did her in. I never knew her that well - but now I think of her often. A violin usually reminds me - 'cause she was such a fine violinist. I picked up a book of etudes the other day, and sighed. She would practice those for hours.

Oh, what have I learned since that day two years ago? Not much, sadly. It's strange how easy it is to forget in the hustle and bustle. At the same time, I've got another scar there, and those don't really heal - but they can teach. I'm listening to that Stone Sour song right now Made of Scars, and it seems like we all are.

And this one lets me see.

Holy smokes, we're all carrying around so much...Even the kids who come through the door to my studio - especially the kids, actually. I like to ask 'em if they're OK. I guess it's the least I can do.

And on this sunny fall day, when the wind blows emptily through the trees...I remember.

I feel that scar. And I get ready to ask people how they're really doing. Shouldn't we all?

And if you're not doing OK right now, pick up the phone:

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

It seems like the mind is like the sky - full of fleeting clouds and thoughts. Overcast and leaden skies are never forever, no matter how lasting they seem.

Enjoy the breeze today. Be glad you can feel it.

- Josh

PS. I wrote a song for her. www.myspace.com/thefrontsteps It's called "Forgetful Land"

Pause for effect

Rockers!

Cool newsflash - wanna make your lighting fast lines seem more lightning? Try puttin' a pause in 'em.

I had the privilege to address a room full of people last night, regarding a local environmental issue. I discovered something cool - when I stopped talking, the people responded. It was the pauses that let the "yeahs!" and agreement through.

Us guitarists are blessed and cursed by the fact that we never have to come up for air - that is, we can play all day, and the only thing limiting us is hand strength. We could learn a thing or two from saxophone players, vocalists, and anyone else limited by lung capacity.

Coming up for air is a great thing. It gives pause. It lets the applause through. And it makes the lightning seem all the more crackly.

Kaboom!

- Josh