Author: selowe86

The Freedom in Letting Go and Just Playing That sounds like some repressed Yoda shit... but really it’s “give yourself a break for whatever choice you've made for the direction of your life... and just allow yourself to be you." The music is more authentic that way. I bring this up because for YEARS...and I DO MEAN YEARS, I beat myself up not ever being where I wanted to be chops-wise, career-wise, etc. I always would complain about not having time to practice as much as I would like because of needing to have a day job...or being in 6-7 bands, there is always a rehearsal, or a show to learn, and while that IS practicing...it's a different type of practicing, and not one that advances your chops or musical…

Part 1 "The Idea" This subject is going to take a few posts to complete, as it's a huge subject, simple as it sounds. Let's call this part 1 - the idea. Look, look, like it’s all just “do-re-mi man” That’s what Lenny Breau taught me, the first and only time I got to take a lesson from him. He died shortly after.  If you don't know who Lenny is, Google him. You can Watch Lenny here: to give you an idea of the genius of this guy. Lenny was a man who learned to play guitar by listening to old Les Paul & Mary Ford records...not knowing that the bass, rhythm and lead parts were played by different guys. He thought it was all one guy...and that's how he learned to play.  Session…

Never Forgotten and Taken to Heart #2 Whether performing live to an audience, recording in the studio or just playing for fun, I was always taught that you put 150% of your blood, guts and soul into every note, every time. I remember I was around 19 years old, playing with Sparky Hussle at Apple Annie's in Wilmington, CA. I was jumping around being 'showy'...and focusing on the performance rather than the accuracy and soul of the music. My then drummer (now deceased, R.I.P.) Larry Dent motioned me over to the drum set and said, "Elowe, if you're not going to put every ounce of your blood and guts into every note you play, put your guitar down and get the fuck off the stage! There are 100 guys wishing…

a note to singers, and other Stuff I probably should have kept to myself… #1 Hello all… This is a series I’m thinking of doing, maybe one a month…or at most, every couple of weeks. I hope if you are reading this that you have fun, and that maybe there is a nugget or two that resonates with you. I’ll share lessons I’ve learned along the way, and my weird way of interpreting those lessons. Also, opinions I’ve formed from working with tons of bands, individual musicians, students, producers, etc., etc. I’ll pepper in a few crazy road stories, weird gigs, and quotes I’ve gotten from people you might know. Like here’s one: Steve Lukather told me semi-recently, at the end of a theory discussion, “Just bend shit”! Just slide…