A Saturday Guitar Day in Chicago, IL USA

Just another happy summer day of interacting with people who play, study, or sell guitars.

John Studebaker and Earl Howell at City Newsstand, Chicago, IL

Today is August 24. I am so glad my wife suggested we do coffee and blues at City Newsstand near Six Corners in Chicago, IL. Visit the City News Cafe on Facebook for more info. Special thanks to the City News Cafe for making their store a great place for magazines, books, coffee, and watching performers. And, it’s cool on a hot summer day.

John Studebaker was playing his parlor size guitar while Earl Howell played snare drum. Simple setup and good.

Here’s John Studebaker on guitar.

Here’s John Studebaker and Earl Howell tucked into the corner of the City Newsstand store and coffee shop.

What Did I Learn from Watching Two Men Play Guitar and Snare Drum in a Coffee Shop

1. Slide. John the Guitarist used a slide on his pinky. So I learned/observed that means he can’t play anything string with his pinky. He’s essentially a 3 fingered guitarist plus a thumb.
2. Chords. John played mainly cowboy chords (to me) or open chords on his guitar. I didn’t see any barre chords.
3. No Pick. John didn’t use a pick. He strummed with his right hand and picked with his fingers.
4. Snare drum. Obviously, Earl Howell set the beat with his drum.

Next time I’ll bring a camera with a good flash for better exposure and perhaps check in with the musicians before their set to see if they don’t mind photos.

Nice work by John Studebaker and Ed Howell

Check them out in Chicago, IL, if you can find them.

Special thanks to City NewsStand of Chicago, IL for putting together this and other musical events. Visit them on Facebook if you’re interested.

My favorite song they performed was Seventh Son.

Carrying a Guitar to the Guitar Store

Last week, Chris our Contractor for our home, dropped by to do some work and give me two incredibly dusty guitars: a Dean MLX dual humbucker and a blue Deltatone bass. Both need work to be playable. (Thanks Chris.)

Here’s a photo of the Dean MLX. It’s a lot cleaner when I received it as a gift. It has 4 strings and it’s missing an input jack (one the way from Amazon).

I took a walk with the Dean MLX to my guitar shop friends at Rare Birds on N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, IL.

Three people commented on the guitar. “Cool guitar.” Said one.

I passed a teenager with a skateboard. His name was Aidan. “Nice guitar.” Naturally we talked.

Aidan was 15 and plays guitar and ukelele. He’s been playing for a few years as I remember. He likes the ukelele more than guitar because he has small hands.

Most importantly, he thought my Dean MLX guitar was “cool”. Works for me.

Brian at Rare Birds Gives Me Advice on my Dean MLX Fixer Upper

I took my fixer upper guitar to Brian at Rare Birds on N. Milwaukee. They have been an important part of my now 10 month old guitar journey. I have purchased two guitars, one amp, and traded for a 3rd guitar. Plus, I have had some setup and re-stringing work done by them. Nice people, good people (Chris does the technical work in the back room.)

Brian couldn’t test the Dean MLX because it has no input jack. I told him I was doing it.

Brian confirmed that my Dean MLX is nothing special but it will do. Most importantly, it’s a free guitar that I can use for project set-up plus installing a guitar jack.

1. Brian’s first advice was to use Goo Gone on the guitar to eliminate unwanted smudges. NO, DO NOT USE PAINT. Later, Brian’s advice worked to better clean up bad smudges on the guitar.
2. Brian advised a circular guitar input jack that he didn’t have in stock. I ordered one from Amazon.
3. When it comes time to re-string, I hope to get a lesson from Brian and/or Chris.

Guitars are a Doorway for Meeting new People

If it weren’t for guitars, I never would have met Aidan on his skateboard, talking about guitars. I have met other people that way, just fun.

Thanks for Visiting Shoshin Guitarist Today

Yes, Shoshin is Japanese for learning with a “beginner’s mind”. That’s what I have done for almost 10 months as I learn to play guitar and hopefully a little bass guitar.