Molly Miller simplifies CAGED
Plus, some advice on using what you already have
A bit of housecleaning
While this week’s issue is more compact than usual, the good news is that all the links are solidly packed with great information. From Molly Miller’s CAGED primer, to the advice of using what you already have, there’s something for everyone in this one.
I also just put out the latest subscribers-only edition of Six String Sunday Club last night. In October’s subscriber exclusive, I revisit one of my most visited posts - 16 Ways to Get Better At Guitar Right Now.
In the nearly 25 minute look back, I reflect on the usefulness of these tips after 4 years since originally posting my ideas . Plus, I give brand new commentary on each and every tip. If you want access to that, and all the rest of the subscriber only archives, consider moving to a paid sub. Alright, let's get into these links!
This Week’s Links
- How to Easily Visualize the CAGED System on Guitar - I've gone through countless guitar educational books, videos, courses over the years. I always like seeing how other teachers present different concepts on guitar. Without a doubt, Molly Miller's CAGED course on Pickup Music is one of the best. In this vid, you can start to learn the basics behind this super helpful system that's sure to open up your fretboard knowledge if you put in the time.
- Sweep Picking | What Sweep Picking Is and How to Do It - Sweep picking is one of the most fun techniques to get from one place to another vertically on the fretboard. Dave Dunsire from Sweetwater shows us some tips and tricks - from how to sync up both hands, how to get rid of noise while sweeping and more.
- Ernie Ball String Theory ft. Cory Wong - Cory Wong sits down with Ernie Ball for his very own edition of String Theory. Cory talks about how he found his signature style, how he navigated the music industry even after 30 years old, and so much more. If you think it's too late to get into playing music, this interview might change your perspective.
- The Art of Using What You Already Have - I was inspired from a recent newsletter by Ash Lamb. Ash makes the case that you already have all that you need. Here was my favorite part of his post:
“Looking to buy the newest most expensive tools is a passive form of procrastination. In order to get started and make a difference, you don’t need to have the fanciest tools.
It doesn’t matter who you are and what you do, in the vast majority of cases, you only need the basics to go far and make a difference.”
- Steve Vai Jams with Nili Brosh, Dave Weiner, and Ellen Alaverdyan Live in Vegas - Vai, Dave Weiner and Nili Brosh all traded solos at Vai's recent performance in Las Vegas. I wanted to include this, because I love that Vai can still put on such an exciting show.
- Freak Audio Lab - Vacuum Mouth - I've loved Mattias Eklundh's playing ever since I heard the first Freak Guitar album. Since then, Eklundh has put out a staggering amount of music over the years. It seems almost every week he's coming out with a new track courtesy of the Freak Audio Lab. His latest is “Vacuum Mouth”, which is a 3 minute powerhouse of a track in 31/8! If you know anything about konnakol, which Mattias has seemed to really lean into over the past bunch of years, then you'll have a chance of counting along with this track.
- Al Di Meola: "I see a lot of young players online with such super-phenomenal technique – but very rarely do I see it in the framework of a composition" - So glad that Al Di Meola brought up his thoughts about the current state of many guitar videos online. Couldn't agree more! “It’s one thing to come up with a lot of fast interesting lines which in itself is interesting, but it’s another thing to see how it will be applied within the context of a composition, and that is something that doesn’t go hand in hand.”
- The Gibson Pickup Shop is Now Open - Some of the most iconic sounds of all time have come from Gibson pickups. I found it very cool that they've opened up the Gibson Pickup Shop online, focusing on three categories of pickups - the historic, original, and modern collections. Check out the great video at the bottom of the post to get a behind the scenes look at how these pickups are made.
- PRS Guitars | Robben Ford Limited Edition McCarty - In more gear news, PRS finally debuted the long awaited Robben Ford McCarty. The guitar is limited edition, and will cost you roughly under 5K. In the video, Robben talks about his talks with Paul, and how this guitar came to be.
- Ibanez finally launches Tim Henson’s eagerly awaited acoustic-electric signature nylon-string, the TOD10N - In other signature model news, Ibanez just launched the TOD10N, which is the brand new signature model of Polyphia's Tim Henson. If you're in the market for an acoustic-electric nylon string, this is super affordable at $699.
- Blink-182 confirm reunion with Tom DeLonge, announce new music and gargantuan global tour - Blink-182 confirmed the long standing rumors that the band was getting back together with Tom DeLonge. There's a new single, album, and tour in the works already. The news sent me down a rabbit hole looking at Tom DeLonge signature Fender and Gibson guitars, which are already shooting up in price.
That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading Six String Sunday Club!
Hey did you know, not only do I talk guitar each week, but I also teach it!
Try out a half an hour to see how much you can learn when you know the right things to practice.
Thanks as always. The art of using what you already have is great. My Les Paul Studio de Luxe is about 10 years old. My amp has way too many sound options, which is a real distraction at times, although it can help the muse. But it was a few years after I bought it that I watched some videos that explained how to get a wide variety of tonality using the knobs, which have the pop out function as well as just as straight pots. In hindsight, I should have learned more about my new instrument at the time I bought it, and then used the option to mess around.