Keith Grimes Guitar Lessons

Hey Folks,
I am wondering---do the posts from that originate from here show up on the ol' regular FB? If so, somebody tell me, please.

Signed,

Curious Keith

I would never want to be perceived as being boastful, because boastful people are tedious. What I do enjoy, however, is having someone boast on my behalf, while I stand on the sidelines, blushing modestly. And so, let me point out (in all modesty) That the Washingtonian magazine has seen fit to point out that I am a great and exalted guitar instructor, and that the prudent among you will seek my tutelage. Hey, I'm not going to argue with this statement, because argumentative people are tedious.

One of the first things most beginning guitarists learn is the letter names of the open strings. It is customary to present this information going from the lowest to the highest string --E,A,D,G,B,E. Nifty little sentences can be made up to remind us of these open-string letter names. Some of my favorites-Every American Dog Growls Before Eating, and, for those who prefer more violent imagery, Eddie Ate Dynamite,Good-Bye Eddie. Okay, so far so good. But if the world has become so accustomed to regarding the guitar from the lowest to highest string, why is the highest string universally referred to as the 1st string? I will not rest until the Low E is acknowledged to be the 1st string on the guitar. This is my quest. Are you with me?

A great thing about music--if you change the rhythm and melody, you can lift the chord changes from an existing song and come up with something completely different. One that took me decades to catch on to--"Long Train Running" by the Doobie Brothers uses the same chords as B.B. King's classic version of "The Thrill is Gone." Not a bad job of recycling!

Let us now say a few words in praise of Creedence Clearwater Revival, whose songs were always based on a foundation of simple, rootsy guitar parts that you could make sound great, even if you weren't great yet. Just the kind of thing you wanted when you were starting your first band. John Fogerty, we salute you!

Ho Ho,
I decided to delete yesterday's post, for fear it would make my non-music-reading students feel unloved. Have no fear. Anybody out there who's trying to do something with the instrument has my seal of appeal, even if they don't know an eighth note from a footnote. Just eat your vegetables and keep pickin'!

Finally got a replacement copy of one of my favorite recordings--"And Now--Booker T and the MG'S." Steve Cropper is the guy that showed me just how funky a Fender Telecaster could be. On this record, he takes a solo on a radically re-worked version of "Think", (The old Five Royales song) that is one of his best. He surrounds his great tone with silences that enhance its effect. Right on, Mr. Steve!

Got together with Randy, one of my students, and we played many, many, 50's doo-wop songs. Fortunately, we were able to use the same chord progression for all of them!

I've been listening to the first Jimi Hendrix Experience record, "Are You Experienced?" Still sounds as amazing and fresh as ever. Hendrix takes us on a tour of worlds we never knew existed. And, although his creative vision is the main feature, everyone involved in the making of this thing deserves a medal. Yeah!

I'm pondering the startling fact that Johnny Cash does "Folsom Prison Blues" in the key of F #. Could've sworn it was in E. Well, almost. They're almost certainly thinking and playing in E, with a capo at the second fret. Live and learn!

I've been looking at three cool versions of the blues classic "Stormy Monday". T-Bone Walker, Bobby Bland and the Allman Brothers each have their own take on the chord progression, so it's interesting to compare them.

Here's some live footage of Eva and the band from Blues Alley, 1996. It was shot from a hand-held video recorder, so it's a bit rustic in terms of visuals, but the audio quality is pretty good. Enjoy!

Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley The most beautiful and touching voice and persona of Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley - January 2nd, 1996 I obviously own no rights to this music and I hope...