Mr So & So by The Julie Ruin

Since my last post in June 2016, the band has done some extensive touring for our new album "Hit Reset" out of Hardly Art (Sub Pop). I've also dove into a MFA program in Sonic Arts this past fall, occupying every moment not touring with studying audio engineering, sound design, mixing, mastering, and composition for film and video. On top of this I still love meeting with my guitar, bass, and drum students every week and consistently write for a a few different sources: She Shreds Magazine, Tom Tom Magazine, and a near weekly column for Adorama's audio department.

I'm feeling fortunate to work so much - is work the antidote to sorrow? Maybe so, when times feel uncertain and the people around you are shook up. Anyway, here's a fun song from our new album. And I hope to be posting more again as things are getting slightly more routine! Thanks for stopping back...

New Studio

August project - get all the music teaching materials, the Julie Ruin gear, and a baby grand in this space. Only have a few weeks to make this new large music studio look and sound good. And convince the other bands to keep their areas organized. Dress form for draping, if I attempt to make more clothes for our September tour. All psyched about using black chalkboard paint for the wall area behind it. Who knew chalk was so fun? In the works...

At Last! Tremolo vs Vibrato

Was flipping through the Deli Magazine today and in the "Production Corner" section was a little article about this. I traced it back to the Fender website. The answer to the controversial and annoying question all us guitarists have: what is the difference between TREMOLO and VIBRATO and why are the terms constantly flipped around????

Intimidating

Whoa! This reminds me to go back everyday and work on the little parts of the songs that I find myself skirting through, and make those parts solid and full...

Guitar Lessons

Here's a new lesson on triads. I call these Mini Triads because they are only 3 strings in size. Be sure to mute/not hit the lowest strings (E, A, D) for these. Triads can be played on all strings, are moveable up and down the neck, and are interchangeable. For these particular Mini Triads, we're just focusing on the high strings to create that strong dazzling Johnny Marr sound.

Now, can't give away his magic too much, but if you form the first shape, start up high on fret 9 and slide back and forth to fret 7, then 11, you'll start to hear it. You'll need to arpeggiate the chords. Whats that? Arpeggiate is when you hit ONE string at a time, sort of rake through the strings so each note rings out independently before hitting the next note. A chord sounds like all the notes are hit at once. Of course this is an electric guitar with the treble turned up....some reverb...

Sara's Guitar Lessons HERE

I should've done this ages ago. Weekly guitar lessons will be posted here. Requests welcomed. A few new students have asked about these chords lately so lets do that first.

Question: What is a power chord?

* the little number on the side of each chart tells you the fret #.

Answer: A power chord, also called a "5" chord by people who follow music theory, is a 2 or 3 stringed chord shape based on only 2 notes: the root note (a.k.a. the NAME of the chord, like A, C, D, F etc.) and the 5th note of that scale.

This is a neutral chord, not major or minor (so thus not bright or dark in nature), but full and...with a little help from heavy hitting or a pedal..."powerful." These chords can be played over almost song and are a good thing to know when playing with others. Sliding these smoothly from fret to fret is the GOAL. Add some chunky down strums. Just be careful not to hit the thin highest strings (marked with little x's on these charts.) Aim for good tone.

BE SURE to use your Index finger and your Ring (3rd) finger. If you are flipping off the audience, you are holding your chord correctly here. Yes.

* * *Next week I'll be posting The Smith's "This Charming Man" guitar solo, by Johnny Marr. I heard it today during breakfast (at B.A.D. Diner), remember teaching it to a handful of students, and thought it'd make a great practice song for all levels of players. In the works...