LISTEN UP! DISCOMFORT IS AT THE DOOR! You’re staring at that one riff, that one scale, that one goddamn transition you can’t master, and you’re ready to fold. You’re looking at some 15-year-old on Instagram shredding circles around you and you say, “I’m done. I’m too old. I’ll never be that good.” THAT IS VICTIM MENTALITY TALK! Are you really going to let a little mental anxiety and a "dream state" fantasy steal the joy of music from your soul? Are you going to sit there and stay soft because you aren't a "guitar star" yet? WAKE UP! Who are you competing against? There is no leader board. There is only YOU vs. YOU. Guitar isn't about magic; it’s about REPS. It’s about the repetitive, slow, technically excellent tasks that most people are too weak to endure. You want to master the instrument? You have to break that monster down into its smallest, microscopic fibers and rule the shit out of every single one. That monster—that master-level difficulty—isn't going anywhere. It’s going to stalk you in your sleep until you finally turn around and face it. But don’t be a fool. Don't throw blind punches and hope for a miracle. STAY HARD. Build those small, measured, surgical practice tasks and ATTACK THEM. Build the blocks. Own the discomfort. master the fibers. I’ll see you on the other side of the reps.

The first of a series on a lifetime of experiences as a guitarist.

Simple is good. My student, Sammie, has made it all the way through “Mama I’m Coming Home” by Ozzy Osbourne except for the solo. I’ve been kinda dragging my feet on recording it because I knew it would mean some extra time and attention to technology/recording gear. I was just so inspired to get this right! Well here’s the funny part….your ear can advance faster than your brain and fingers 😂 I found the desired tone so quickly with my gear (A Marshall “drivemaster” pedal into my computer) and, the right delay and reverb in garageband. It just felt right. It sounded right. I also just set up my pawn-shop les paul with slightly thicker strings at Eb standard tuning. When your instrument starts out FEELING comfortable and SOUNDING great, honestly, it gets easy. I had just finished teaching Sammie her lesson, had a last-minute cancellation, and used that time to record in 1 hour’s time what I would call the quickest, cleanest and best solo of my 30 years playing. The perfect storm: quick, clean and comfortable (ok, and coffee). It’s an easy solo. Wanna know why it wins? 1. It’s simple 2. It’s recognizable 3. It’s melodic (you can hum it) 4. Clear rhythm 5. Short and sweet (radio-friendly!) Here’s the video. I hope you like it. A fitting tribute to Ozzy. PS if you’d like to REALLY improve your soloing chops - and all of your playing (including string gauge, guitar setup, and comfort aspect), message me! Happy to chat.