Conference napalm::guitar

    I have a friend in West Concord who is a guitar teacher. His name is
    Scott Hoffman. He teaches folk-style (he's primarily a Carter
    Family-style picker) through the intermediate level, either directly
    or through some of the adult education outlets in the area. 
    
    I don't have his number, but he should be in the book.

go for it!  get a guitar, and start playing!

if you don't know what kind of guitar you want try renting from stores
and/or borrowing from friends to see what kinds there are and how they feel
and sound to you.

some basic divisions:
(other guitarists feel free to disagree with this analysis)

A. Acoustic guitars
   1. Nylon string guitars
      including classical and flamenco
      nylon strings are easy on the fingers, but these generally have wide necks
      which can be harder to play, at least for a beginner. However, the Maestro
      (Andres Segovia) had very small hands, and did OK for himself

      occasionally you might find a "folk" guitar which has nylon strings like
      a classical guitar but a narrow neck.

   2. Steel string guitars
      steel strings are harder on the fingers, but are louder. Also necks are
      narrower, which might be a factor if you have small hands.
      a. Flat tops
         most commonly used for strumming, finger and flat picking styles.
         country, folk, blues, bluegrass are most at home on a flat-top.
      b. Arch tops
         jazz is most at home on an arch-top, they have a deeper tone and more 
         projection than a flat top.

B. Electric guitars
   apart from the way the guitars feels and looks to you, there are only two
   distinctions worth mentioning that affect the way the guitar sounds:
   1. Humbucking pickups
      so called because they buck the general tendency of pickups to 
      introduce electric humming noises.  generally they're quieter, but the 
      tone is comparatively dark
   2. Single coil pickups
      generally they have a brighter sound than humbuckers, but because of
      the way they're made (with a single coil of wire) tend to introduce 
      60-cycle hum.

Have fun!
Don.

    Advice..
    
    	Well, you'll first have to cut your nails.... (gasp !!!)
    	Most ladies really get taken back a bit here.. (no racism
    	intended, so no flames please)
    
    	As for a teacher, dunno !  You could start by checking out
    	the local music store.  I think it's Flipside on main street.
    	I have'nt been in Maynard for some years now, so I don't really
    	know if he's still there.  There was a place in Acton  on 2a I
    	think it's Acton Music,(???) (the big red chruch by the train
    	station) They used to offer lessons.
                      
    	When you choose your first Guitar. (??) do yourself a favor
    	and pick one that's playable.  If you buy a real cheap one,
    	it'll kill your hand, and probably slow your progress down.
    
    	You shouldn't have to spend too much money, but if you really
    	want to get down and get serious and start to play, if you
    	buy a *decent* guitar, you'll have it forever.
 
    
    	A good way to *get started* may just be to pick up a beginners
    	book with chord diagrams and start strumming away.  It'll at
    	least get you acclimated so that when you start lessons, your
    	hands wont be hurting you too bad.
    
    	Not to scare anyone away, but beginning to play guitar does
    	hurt the hands a bit.
                                                    

    Yes.  Acton music store, big pink church now, is still there and offer
    leasons.  I talked to them in august and they said they usually had a
    heavy schedule and to sign up for leasons now, but there are others
    teachers in the area.
    
    Sean

    Well, hello Margaret!  If I had known you were curious, I could have
    easily given you a pointer to this conference.  However, please feel
    free to ask me things directly.
           
    Your neighbor,
    
    Richard
    
    (P.S. `Guys', I'd be careful about the sexist remarks.  She's a member
    of the IRC.)
    
    (International Redhead Conspiracy ;-)

    re .3, .4
    
    I think it's now a blue building.

	*Absolutly* get a good guitar as your first guitar. I've seen too many
people give up because of a lousy guitar that almost always looses its tune, or
action set so high that you draw blood just making a decent chord! :^)
Seriously, if you'd like to buy a decent guitar for less money, get someone you
know and trust who is knowledgeable and consider getting a second hand guitar
through the paper or classified ads.
	Yamaha makes several models of very nice accoustic guitars that can be
had for between $75 - $150. Applause (made by ovation) also can be very
inexpensive and are good guitars for begginers as well as not-so-begginers.
Beware of the various *el cheapo* guitars that you may see tucked way in the
back of the music stores, they're there for a reason! 
		If you take:
	1) the time to look.
	2) that knowledgeable friend (who plays guitar and who you can trust)!
	3) Cash.
then you should be able to make a good deal on a used instrument, for less than
what it would cost new. 
						Tom Testagrossa

	I'll second (third?) the idea of a decent guitar for starts.
	For ~$100-$150 you should be able to get something fairly good
	(new) to start with.  For under $100 you should be able to get
	a good used one.  Some of the brand names in this price range
	to look for would be Yamaha, Madeira, Applause, Sigma, Takamine.
	Do be wary of cheaper models.  I learned on an old Sears Silvertone
	that cost about $13.  Boy, talk about discouragement.  I almost
	gave up many a time until I finally bought my Madeira which cost
	$85 (new).  I played this for years before I finally bought 
	my Guild.  Still have the Madeira though.  Good beach guitar now.

	As far as teachers, being in Vermont I can't really recommend 
	one to you, although there are several real good ones in the
	Burlington, Vt. area.

	There are lots of good "teach yourself" books out there.  That
	is a good way to get started.  Learn a few chords, learn to
	strum, hold the pick, etc.  See if you feel comfortable with 
	the guitar.  Then if you want to get serious with it search out
	a teacher with a good recommendation.

	Have fun and welcome to the wonderful world of guitar players.

	-gary

re: Note 70.3 by HAMSTR::PELKEY 
   
    
   > 	Well, you'll first have to cut your nails.... (gasp !!!)
   >	Most ladies really get taken back a bit here.. (no racism
   >	intended, so no flames please)

If you do not want people to flame, do not make inflammatory comments.

Flame on:

First, beware of using generalizations such as "most ladies".  I'll
bet next week's paycheck that you do not know "most ladies" and therefore
cannot speak from experience.

Second, you do not know me at all and have no way of knowing that I take
offense at being referred to as a lady.  I do not let either individuals or
society impose an arbitrary standard of behaviour on me.

Third, your comment is sexist, not racist, and it doesn't matter that
it is not MEANT to be sexist -- the fact is that it IS sexist and does offend.

Flame off.


Margaret "Shortnails" Meehan

    
    Ah yes, the first bit of mudslinging found here in GUITAR.
    
    I think it should suffice to say that this kind of thing does
    not belong here. 
    
    rick
    your humble moderator

	RE:9
    
    	My apologies.  My comment (on nails) Stems from teaching.
    
    	Sorry to say, but it discourage alot of *people*
    
    	I meant no flame

		
    	I did say racism didn't I...  Silly me...  Read that sexism.
    
    	 "Next weeks pay check !!!!!!!"  
    	  
    	Hmmm,,, should I take her up on this....... ?????
    
    	at any rate don't suppose I should offer you any more 
    	advice should I 	
    
    				;-)
                                                                
    ray-I-always-have-to-get-the-last-word
                               
    			   (Stop laughing Edd...)

    Don't 'spose I should let y'all in on the look on her face when
    she typed in her reply, eh?
    
    Richard

    I, for good reasons, do not recommend doing ANY business at Flipside
    Records in Maynard or Acton Music Center in Acton. I've worked at
    both facilities and, while some may view this as opinion, know that
    the owners are out for nothing but a quick dollar and don't give
    a sh*t about the students and/or the teaching staff! I don't know
    how those two places stay in business, they're badly managed and
    their attitudes leave a lot to be desired.
    
    Check out the Minor Chord Music Store, located on Rt. 2A in Acton
    (next to the Acton Twin Cinema's). They have a competant teaching
    staff, and the owner, Bill Brown, is far more interested in a students
    progress and needs than how much money he can squeeze out of them.
    
    -William j

    I have been taking leasons from Indian Hill Arts in Littleton and
    have learned alot since I started.  They have two guitar instructors
    with daytime and nighttime classes.  Group leasons for $90.00 for 16
    weeks which I don't think is a bad price to pay since I only have
    two other people in my class.  My teacher is Greg Passler
    who really explains thing well and adapts the class to what type
    of music the students like to learn.
    
    Sean

To set the record straight -- No, I am not angry.  I just call them as
I see them. 

Thank you to all who have responded -- even you, Mr. Pelkey.

Cheers,  Margaret

    
    	If you don't mind the drive, the BEST guitar instructor I have
    ever studied under is Bob Busa of Burlington, Ma.  He is a great
    player not to mention teacher.  He charges $8.00 per 1/2 hour and
    is worth every penny of it.  I have been to many of these different
    "Music Store" Instructors and have found that most of them aren't
    making much of the money they charge so they aren't all that interested
    in teaching you properly.  I had floated from Music Store to music
    Store for a while, but have been studing under Bob for about 2 years
    now and I live in framingham.
    
    	Bob Busa's Guitar Studio
    	Burlington, Ma
    	272-1297
    
    And good for you, it's never too late to start!
    
    				-KG-
    

    By far, the best guitar teacher that I have encountered is Eric
    Kluck. He is also the best PLAYER I have ever heard *anywhere*!
    I studied with him for five years at the old Progris Music Centre
    in Nashua, NH. I understand he now owns his own teaching studio
    in Tewksbury, MA. I'm not sure of the name, but it would definitely
    be worth checking out.
    
    Hmm, maybe I'll sign up again, too.......
    

    re: .18
    
    I've also taken lessons from Eric Kluck on and off.  He is an excellent
    teacher who is both capable and willing to adapt the lessons to your
    interests and needs.  I found him very helpful in many areas including
    theory, technique, improvisation, etc.  Also, to keep my interest
    he was willing to figure out, show me and analyze tunes that I couldn't
    figure out on my own.  This was very helpful because typically
    the tunes that I can't figure out, are ones that confuse my ear
    with changes, intervals, etc. that I'm not familiar with.   
    
    I would VERY much appreciate it if you could post the name of his
    teaching studio and the phone number here if you could.
    
    	db

    I took some lessons with a guy named Randy Roos in Jamaica Plains.
    He was an excellent teacher, particularly if you're interested in
    improvisation. Because of my lack of discipline, I only took lessons
    for a few months, but I learned quite a bit in that time. I don't
    have his phone number, but I think he's listed.
    
    Good luck!
    --
    						Seth

    Greetings people,
    
                       Does anyone know of a good instructor in the
    Worcester area for acoustic guitar?
    
                             Marc

    I'll let you borrow a guitar from me..it's a pretty nice nylon string
    classical style guitar, very easy on the fingers.  I never play
    it...I swapped a record player for it about 10 years ago.  I keep
    it around to give to people who want to learn, because, as corny
    as it sounds, I've had so much fun playing that I want EVERYONE
    to play.
    
    There's a million teachers out there.  I also took from Randy Roos
    for quite a while and learned a huge amount (Randy's amazing...check
    out his playing with Orchestra Luna when he used a fretless Kramer
    guitar with an aluminum neck!)  The most important thing is to find
    someone who will teach what you want to learn.
    
    By the way, what do you want to learn?  
    
    If you haven't already gotten a guitar and would like to borrow
    the guitar I mentioned, contact me via E-mail PISCES::KELLYJ or
    DTN 237-2053.
    
    Welcome to the band!
    
    Johnny Jupiter
    

    I know I am dredging up a topic from months ago, but I have finally
    located Eric Kluck, the excellent teacher I mentioned some time
    back in October or so.
    
    He now teaches at Sierra Music right on Rt. 28 in Methuen, MA. 
    The number is (617) 794-0110.
    
    He is also willing to make accommodations for students who have
    a long way to drive. He can give a 1-hour lesson every 2 weeks or
    a half hour lesson every week.
    
    Price is $10/half hour. 
    
    Dave Blickstein and I can both vouch that Eric is worth the drive
    and the money.

    Mr. Vinciulla - I live in Worc. and would be glad to show you the
    ropes... I can also give you a few recommendations if you'd rather
    have a "professional"...
    
    Margaret, I really hate to kick a dead horse, but...
    I think jumping as you did on a claim of race/sexism is probably
    worse than the original remark ever hoped to be....
    
    I have taught several females in the past, and although I don't
    "know every lady in the world", I do recognize that the necessity
    of having short nails has been at least a mental stumbling block
    for the majority of them.  No prejudice, no judgement, no sexism,
    just a statement of experience.  No inflammation, I hope.
    
    Jon (BPOV02::NELSON)
    

    I was wondering if anybody has anything (good or bad) to say about
    Wolfman's School of Music in Arlington, MA.  I am thinking about
    resuming my guitar studies, and am looking for a good teacher. I
    will give Mr. Kluck re:-2 a call, but commuting to Methuen from
    Cambridge may be a drag (or I could bring my axe to work in Nashua
    and hit Methuen on the way home...).
    
    Anyway, I got this brochure from Wolfman's in the mail and they
    look promising. Anybody know the guitar instructors there. For that
    matter, anybody know ANY good guitar instructors in the Boston area.
    (There must be 10000 with Berklee right here!)?
    
    	- Rick
    

    > (or I could bring my axe to work in Nashua and hit Methuen on the way
    > home...). 
      
    Gee, do you need a property pass for that?