Your wildest dreams…Ever really think hard about your dreams? Hard enough to make the conscious decision to stop dreaming and start taking the steps towards turning a dream into a goal and then that goal into a reality? I speak with so many young guitar players who talk of bright lights and big stages, world tours and lands they will conquer with their trusty axe by their side. Yet for every star that is shining on stage, there are legions of guitarists who not only will never get there, but will probably at some point put their dream aside as real life and responsibilities begin to creep into their lives.

Yet this doesn’t have to be the case at all. There are many opportunities to make a living doing what you love as a guitar player, and while doing so, at the same time you could be working your way up the ladder to stardom. Like anything else it’s a matter of being open-minded, working hard and searching for opportunities. I had the chance to catch up with an artist that I hope will inspire you to that end. This issue you’ll get a chance to meet Michael Elsner, a multi talented guitarist and producer whose music you’ve probably already heard without even realizing it.

Jamie Andreas is back with more brain food for you this issue too, unveiling the “Secret of Speed” as well as tutoring us all in our “Growth as Guitarists”. Get ready for Jim Nikas to put you through your paces as he takes us all into the Dorian mode in “Scale Fragments”. Our resident gear guru Brian Wampler walks us through modifying any type of pedal. He uses the Boss sd-1 and Ibanez Tubescreamer DIY electronics as an example in his video lessons…Good Stuff!

I’m proud to announce that themusicedge.com as well as Antonello Sassone have come on board as contributors. New players will appreciate “Choosing a Guitar” while the more experienced crowd will enjoy Antonello’s “Inversions” for sure. Fall wraps up with a peek at the “Learn and Master Guitar” course, 12 must have holiday gear goodies and a gallery filled with Dean Six String Masterpieces!

Enjoy,

Adam

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Electric guitar is a good choice for a beginner. It's usually easier to play than an acoustic guitar because its strings are close together, they're a lighter gauge and its neck is narrower. It won't be less expensive than acoustic guitar, though. You might think that an electric guitar is an instrument all by itself, but that's not entirely correct. Read More

Brian Wampler again from Indyguitarist.com. I’ve written several books on how to build effect pedals and modifying effect pedals both beginner and advanced versions. Read More

In the study of four part of harmony, the student encounters the presentation of close harmony, chords built in numerical succession. Read More

12 days of Christmas…Have you been a good boy or girl all year? Let’s take a look at 12 goodies that would be great to find under the tree… Read More

From the bedroom to your wildest dreams…Where will your guitar take you?

An interview with professional guitarist Michael Elsner, who has played with such artists as Michael McDonald and Sixpence None The Richer. Read More

As the years go by in the life of a player, there are two kinds of growth we can experience. Both are necessary for our development as musicians and guitarists.

I call them Vertical Growth, and Horizontal Growth. Read More

I hope you all had a good time working that Ionian mode last time.

I'm going to keep up the pace here and continue with the next mode (Dorian) and a slight variation of the scale fragment we used in the summer issue. Read More

In my essay "Discover Your Discomfort", I urged you to become aware of the sensations of discomfort you experience while practicing and playing. The reason is very simple. Until you do, you will not be able to be aware of the sensations (that is, your mental awareness of the physical feelings in your body) a good player has, the sensations that you must have to play well. I call this sensation, or feeling in the body, "The Incredible Lightness". I call it this, because once you experience it, and allow it to grow by Correct Practicing, well, it’s Incredible. This feeling of lightness is what makes fast, accurate playing possible. Unfortunately, because of ignorance of how to practice correctly, far too many players create for themselves "The Incredible Tightness". Read More

SIX-STRING MASTERPIECES:THE DIMEBAG DARRELL ART TRIBUTE is: A collection of 50 DEAN ML guitars that have been hand-painted by world-famous Rock Stars and internationally known Tattoo & Visionary Artists in memorial tribute to one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Dimebag Darrell Abbott.

This issue, with the help of Dean himself at Dean Guitars, we take a closer look at some of this amazing artwork. Read More

When Steve and I swapped emails last month I had no idea just what was really in store for me the day the Learn & Master Guitar course would arrive. When I opened the box I was blown away from the quality of the materials immediately. This is truly a first class guitar training product/course. Read More