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Author Archives: Sienark
How to Get Better at Guitar: A Teenager’s Tennis Lesson
I was a decent 10 year old tennis player in the 1960’s growing up in Skokie, IL USA. How a Ten Year Old Learned Tennis in Skokie, IL in the 1960’s At 9 or 10 years of age, I started … Continue reading
Do Our Guitars Miss Us?
Let’s be rational: Of course our guitars Do NOT miss us. OK, let’s be Guitarists: Darn right, our guitars miss us when we don’t play them. Playing my Hohner HW400 Today I haven’t played my Hohner HW400 in weeks. Today … Continue reading
Before You Buy a Crate CA Acoustic Amp… Know the Bad News & Good News)
I recently picked up a vintage, St. Louis-made Crate CA60D acoustic amplifier for $50 on Facebook Marketplace. These amps are fantastic for acoustic guitar and singing, but if you are looking to buy one, there is one critical issue you … Continue reading
Songwriting Tips from Lamont Dozier: Work, God, and Heart
In 2 1/2 years I have become an advanced beginner guitarist and a beginner bass player. Wonderful fun. And recently I wrote three songs of my very own. Every night before I sleep, I read for 15 minutes from Paul … Continue reading
A 75th Birthday Milestone: My New (to me) Taylor 114e
This is a Taylor 114e Demo of my wife’s birthday gift to me. Happy 75th Birthday to Me! My wife purchased a used Taylor 114e for me in Santa Fe, NM. In my latest video, I’m demoing a beautiful Taylor … Continue reading
Can the Blue Yeti Professional Actually Handle Vocals and Electric Guitar at Once? (My Field Test)
As an advanced beginner guitarist, one of the biggest hurdles isn’t just learning the chords—it’s recording them. If you’ve ever tried to record yourself singing while playing, you know the struggle: the guitar usually sounds like a roar, and the … Continue reading
“Songwriting Tips from Janis Ian: Instinct, Craft, and Optimism”
From the importance of “Instinct + Craft” to the necessity of staying healthy, these are my top takeaways from Janis Ian’s interview in Paul Zollo’s “Songwriters on Songwriting.” Continue reading
Posted in Songwriters Series
Tagged Beginner Guitarist, Janis Ian, Paul Zollo, Songwriting tips, Writing Guitar Songs
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Blue Yeti Settings: Record Balanced Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
One of the most persistent challenges in my journey as an “advanced beginner” has been the technical side of home recording. Specifically: How do you record a vocal and an acoustic guitar at the same time without one overpowering the … Continue reading
Buying Your First Solid Spruce Top Guitar: The GSPL Test Results
Learn the GSPL method for buying your first solid spruce top guitar. Compare Martin, Seagull, and Alvarez models to find your perfect sound. Continue reading
Posted in Guitar Learnings, My Guitars
Tagged Acoustic Guitar Tips, Martin DM, Seagull S6
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Guitar Care: Transitioning Your Instruments from Winter to Spring in Cold Weather Regions
The “Shoshin” Approach: “There is a unique kind of ‘beginner’s joy’ in rediscovering your own instruments after a long winter storage.” This is fun. Winter is breaking in Chicago and the Cubs played their first ball game yesterday (and lost). … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Guitar Maintenance, Ibanez V70CE, Shoshin Guitarist, Spring Guitar Care
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