No Indianapolis dates on the schedule? On the guitar lessons. I took them for over a year at Don Lynn music in Speedway. Like college it was up to me to practice and after a while the zest for this task kind of became less important. I restored a 1966 Chrysler! At the time my teacher was more interested in showing off HIS skills rather than developing mine!
Hope to see you a little closer down my way some day. Just want you to know that the first song I play each day is Kansas City. It resonates the sounds & thoughts of my days, working in the steel mills & grain elevators construction of days gone by. Each morning coffee finds me searching for your latest real ease, be it a song, interview, or just sharing what’s on your mind. Thanks !
May we all take a moment to give thanks for Ms.Loretta & her music, Joey Chambers vision of the Musician’s Hall of fame. We’re losing all our heroes. You keep them alive in our hearts & minds.
Sage advice Mr. Otis Gibbs, journeyman. You've got so much to offer. Crazy gig? Shortly after a debut CD release, this absolute wildman client booked an act I mixed FOH ... he booked them for a private party on his rural Indiana property. As his favorite band (and a nice generous guy), it was a well paying gig. I rent a fine PA, set it all up outdoors, on the grass, on his sprawling play farm. Great weather, alles gut. After a solid first set, it's nearly dark and time for ... fireworks, of course. Well wildman the client is equally wild with his pyrotechnics, insane over-the-top display, some firing horizontally, I was hiding underneath my mix position dodging incoming artillery! Seriously, I've no idea how, but everyone survived, no eyes were taken out... no LEO intervention. Later in the evening DURING the final set, wildman releases dozens of chickens. They all flock over to the performance area, all amoung the bands feet... crazily pecking away at the grass. As it turns out, during the break wildman had spread chicken feed across the entire area where the band was performing! As a six piece act, they encompassed a nice sized area. It was a hilarious feeding frenzy, it was so damn funny, laughing to the point of tears. Image is seared in my mind. If I remember correctly, it was included in some type of Gig From Hell issue of Nuvo, ie., with a handful of musician submitted anecdotes. Subsequent live recordings I made, amidst the audience laughter you hear; "let the chicken sing, let the CHICKEN sing". Good times. All the best
When I was a kid, I would spend hours playing along with records. Playing in church with other guitar players was also another great outlet. Fifty years later, I still find myself learning something new.
Otis, I got a Sears Silvertone archtop with action a mile high in 1964 and took lessons from a guy up the street in Lebanon Indiana, Mel Bay books and can still read music but he never taught me chords. You are right about not being able see guys playing out in public, on Friday nights in Lebanon everyone went to the town square to socialize and in the Sears catalog store just off the square a guy named Wilbur played his red Gibson electric guitar played in the front display window next to the stove and refrigerator, I was hooked, had to have a guitar and later that year the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan... game over and still playing... thanks for jarring my memories.
I started guitar lessons at 42 as a relief for depression. It helped having a personal connection with someone and being held accountable for the time. Also we are our worst critic it helps to have an impartial opinion of your progress. Would love to see you in Buffalo, NY sometime.
I’m in Indiana to close to Indy 46 just started playing bought a Martin 000-17 sunburst. I had a hunting accident a week ago fell 20’ out of a tree stand. Whenever I get this wrist healed enough I’ll have a lot of time to do nothing. I broke my back, my neck, wrist, and my pelvis in 3 places. Getting stronger every day. I’m extremely lucky that’s all that happened!
I'd imagine the "WTOTHF" competition will end today 10/17/22. It was 65° here in Western North Carolina yesterday and tomorrow we are supposed to be in the teens with high winds. I don't see a artic front making it to N.C. without traveling though Indiana first!!
The best way to learn guitar is to be around musicians. Play with as many people as you can, even if you think you're not learning you are. I used to tell a person to get a song in their head,then I'd put the guitar in their lap and let them strum. I would stand behind them and make the chords, this gave them confidence that they can play. Cool subject Otis.
I started with Beatle books about 1968. Then Jethro Tull and Jim Croce influenced me to study classical guitar so I could learn finger style. After leaving the Army in 1975 I found a great teacher. That teacher got me lessons with world class performers and at least two of Segovia’s students. Today at 68 I still play Bach suites daily . Find a teacher. Throw yourself into it. You will be amazed at how much you will learn if you just keep going and don’t stop. I looked forward to each lesson. Find a teacher. If you don’t know where to start a teacher does.
I do the waiting 'til the last minute to turn on the heat too. To save money, and to help the planet. I try and get to December 1st, and usually make it. One year, almost made it to Christmas. I'm in Tacoma/Seattle. I live in a condo, so that helps as I only have two outside walls. We'll see how it goes this year since climate change is in full force here. Still summer here, with temps in the upper 70's on October 16th! Hasn't really rained for several months. Thanks for the fun weekly chat.
In the early 70’s I took lessons from a couple people and I was bored and quit. But, I kept playing as fast and as slow as I could of invented melodies. Then in the middle 70’s I took classical guitar lessons in college for four months. He concentrated on technique and being “musical”. I loved it and practiced everyday. What did I get good at…..playing with 9 and 10 fingers. Oh, and he said silence is as important as sound.
Had a great guitar teacher here in Spartanburg named Randy Foster and he was great because I went in wanting to play like Toy Caldwell and he humbled me and made me start with basics and every week I couldn’t wait to go for that hour , he’s a incredible player and still teaching today 🎸 👍🏻
I remember hearing a John Prine interview sometime after his first album came out. The only line I remember from that interview was when he said, there's nothing more beautiful than the ring of a G chord. I remember stopping what I was doing at the moment and just thinking about that, and I'm still thinking about it. Thanks Otis for another great post. * I used to sit in front of the television when Hee Haw came on and tried to copy what those guys were doing, those were my first guitar lessons
Yes your not the only one . I watched Hee Haw and Austin City Limits . 1970s.I’d watch it with my dad and he’d say” Now when you can play like that you can play” lol
I never took lessons. I started playing in the late seventies. I had a buddy at school who played guitar and showed me the basics about barre chords and root notes. I used that and played along with records (most notably "Still Alive And Well" by Johnny Winter) every day for eight hours a day. After about six months I was good enough that we formed one of several garage bands we played in back then. I have been in many bands over the years but I've learned everything I know from playing along with records (then cds, now mp3s today). To this day that is still what I do. I don't "practice", per se. I play along with my favorite music. I never felt like I had to be the next Eddie Van Halen or Eric Johnson. I don't know any formal theory. I don't practice scales. I just want to pick the thing up, play it, make music and have fun. And that's what I do.
Not everyone needs guitar lessons. Many are satisfied with their ability and knowledge. However, some are more ambitious and want to get better or learn other styles, such as jazz, blues, country picking, bluegrass, etc. I've played over 50 years and my ambition to learn new stuff ebbs and flows. TH-cam is a game changer for learners!
Well, I am not a player. Years ago, working at a ski warehouse in Reno, a colleague had played professionally in the clubs but had quit to get a change of pace in his life. His dad was also a guitarist and worked for a big act in Las Vegas, playing rhythm guitar and doing all the charts for the orchestra. He taught his son two complicated guitar pieces and had him practice them a lot. With that he got a job teaching guitar at a music store and after that a gig opening Taco Bell stores in Ca. I bought a mandolin from him and at lunch he gave me some basics. I worked at it occasionally but not seriously since the spark didn't fire. I held on to it until we were in Montana where I traded it for a Bozeman made Gibson L-00 that I thought my daughters might play. It rests peacefully in my closet.
I started learning to play guitar later in life then most folks, in my late 20's early 30's. But I did I learn to tune them, intonate them, re-string them, clean them, and hand them to people as a profession way before I could play them. I never took a guitar lesson and that shows. Whatever cover songs I have learned, I learned from TH-cam vids, printing lyrics and tabs from the internet, and playing along with the song on TH-cam over and over and over. I'm a slow learner.
So true, I'm 66, I've had several teachers over the years and took lessons here and there, a year ago I found an actual teacher and made a committment, I couldn't be more pleased I enjoy the guitar so much more. Nothing beats face to face, look for an individual
You're doing it the right way, I've been playing nearly 50 years, never had a lesson and in that time hit every hole in the road and every pillar in between, I made it hard for myself, but it's a wonderful journey. Keep practicing and fall in love with that thing. I'm gonna get me a proper teacher to help me put all I've learned together.
Well-adjusted lives... I love that, Otis. I'm going to use it, and dream of one day maybe embodying it. As for TH-cam, Otis, I'm not sure. A real person showing you something, that's a gamechanger. Happy music-ing
I’ve played a couple of theater gigs at the Texan Theater in Greenville, Tx, it’s cool but I’ve always preferred the beer drinking dancehall gigs. You know for sure if they like it when you fill the floor. I’ve also played with guys that like to find that one or two drunks in a crowd that really like what they do and forget totally about the other 100-200 people. That makes for a long gig. Drifting a bit but that’s my thoughts. And, not being a front guy and just a fiddle player may sway my opinion.
I’ve been a novice player for 50 plus years. Some things I do very well and of course I struggle with a lot of stuff. Now that I’m retired I have more time to play. I like playing first thing in the morning with my coffee, light down low and be in front of a window. I often just fall into something when I’m just messing around. I’ve never taken lessons because I’ve always been intimidated by really good players. Just something I can’t get around.
Hi Otis! This video came at the perfect time for me. I'm 44 years old and have been playing guitar for 28 years but have never had a formal teacher. I've only recently come to appreciate the importance of having a mentor and have just decided to start taking guitar lessons. My first one should be next week if all goes well. I look forward to it and found your take on this subject really encouraging 🙂 Hope you enjoy your gigs, if I were nearby, I'd definitely try to see you play. Rock on!
I`m just a "Cowboy Chord" guy but I have helped kids that showed interest get their own instrument and have let them borrow my only beloved guitar to practice on which was scary. Some are amazing now.
I enjoyed your answers today Otis, so ya picked winner questions. My gig rig has taken all the forms and sizes, but I really like light and simple at 56 years old, so does my back. I'm interested to see your set-up and take notes! I taught myself to play in '78 with my dad's guitar. When he caught me I thought I was headed to the woodshed, but instead he just smiled, got me a cowboy chord book, and new strings. A year after picking out songs by ear from the radio, he bought a Japanese Hummingbird. Played that guitar all ove the UK and Ireland when I was 16. I've never taken a formal lesson, but I've never stopped learning, never stopped finding players better than I am to glean from, and ask questions. I'm not a Church person, but dang it, Churches in California in the '70s were full of really talented, generous players. Planning a listening room tour in California has gotten better over the past 25 years, but it's still not easy. I hosted house shows for a time 20 years ago. Started as a favor for a friend coming through town and it lasted a few years as word spread.
The reason i recently went back to teaching guitar twice a week is how much I learn! Been playing for 40+ years and I have yet to arrive as a player. It has never ended. The perfect tool to entertain and challenge a person. Love playing and learning. Thanks for sharing Otis. Love the channel. All the best.
Started in 1961 and my dad taught me Cotton Fields and Your Cheatin Heart ..from there it was Mel Bay chord book and records...first two years I only played the bottom 2 strings trying to learn bass lines to 45's because that's all I could hear that stuck...later my mom's jazz records got me playing all six strings and I learned to make bar chords. I lived with my own bad habits some of which I probably still have today at 68...I still study but man I wish I'd have had the internet when I started out. I got my first Martin when the covid lockdown first happened ..love it. Mines a cheap one but it does what I need.
As a kid of 7 my first cousin began to teach me on his guitar. Basically teaching me chords and such however, being a kid I wasn’t consistent enough , my parents bought me an Easton’s Acoustic Guitar at age 8 and I recall the strings were high enough on the fret board that forming a decent Chord sound was not that easy in comparison to my 20 year old cousins guitar, so I would recommend anyone who buys a child a guitar to pick one whereby the strings are relatively close to the fretboard as it is the best to make learning guitar as easy as possible in order for them to keep interested! All it took for me not to pay attention for practicing was for a friend to knock on our door wanting to know if I wanted to go outside and play ball! Then we had to move away due to my father’s job - so that was the end of guitar lessons other than looking at diagrams and trying to learn from guitar books and basically, I am self taught with many technical aspects skipped! Basically I can accompany myself when singing songs half rhythm, with a small amount of lead! But yes a teacher who the kid absolutely looks up to and likes the sound that his or her teacher sounds like when they play! To this day I can still hear my cousins style in my guitar playing! The desire to create that sound of how your teacher sounds is the key to holding the attention of the child and desire to practice!
I took lessons for several years from a guy who was retired from a local company and had a second career owning a music store and teaching guitar. He was much like Guitar George; he knew all the chords. He taught me about how to truly understand music rather than teaching me songs. More than 40 years later, I still use what he taught me.
One of the first songs I learned was Grandpa Was a Carpenter, by John Prine. Most of his songs are fairly simple and great to learn and sing for a beginner. I also learned a bunch of Hank Williams songs when I first started. I didn't take up the guitar until I was almost 30 years old and I'm 63 now and still love playing and singing by myself or with friends. Still playing John Prine and Hank Williams. It is a great way to expand your life and friendships.
Me and my wife see how long we can go without turning heat on. We live in Las Vegas and twice we have gone all winter without turning on heat. But when it dips below 60 inside we usually give in.
i keep my thermostat at 55 degrees all winter. I live in upper Michigan. My furnace has already kicked on here in mid October. I find 55 degrees is comfortable with a sweater and helps me tolerate the cold outside temperatures.
I went to Catholic school from 1st through 8th grade and took guitar lessons from a nun around 2nd-3rd grade. I can't remember her name, but some of the kids called her Sister Froggy. After she left the parish, the guitar lessons ended and I didnt pick up guitar again until my mid to late teens. After that I learned my just keeping a guitar out in my living room so I would want to play every time I walked into the room. I taught myself, but I'm sure I picked up a lot of bad habits that taking lessons from a proper teacher would have corrected. Still, learning because you want to know how to play certain songs and want to write your own is a good way to motivate yourself to play hours every day.
Thanks for answering all those questions... You have a well rounded and grounded perspective :) I'm with you on having a straight forward rig.. too many bells and whistles does begin to take away from things. Keep Rockin'
I remember that Jerry Garcia took lessons from Terry Haggerty of the Sons of Champlin. There is a wonderful humility and musical curiosity about him, and Kenny Vaughn. And you, Otis.
Never took lessons a coworker could play watching for two and a half years i picked up what he could do broke my leg so wasn't able to do much a friend bought me a a 74 takamini for 47 dollars and 59 cents at a local pawn store it's been nine years now every day every day is a new day learning allways learning something ✌️ nothing finer then being able to entertain one self easily bless ya mun
Once again. You’ve taken me back to a time when things were simpler and happier, I’ll never forget the day my father came home with a beautiful brand new Kay acoustic guitar for my brother and a gray pearl Hawaiian lap steel for me to learn to play, thanks again for the time and the way you remind me of what life is supposed to be about, thank you
Otis, when you started speaking about people not listening I got goose bumps. I think we’re tuned in to one another for sure. I wrote this the other night after playing a friends dad’s funeral and what I have dubbed as my last gig. I’ve been a mess this last week and feeling a bit like I imagine how a recent amputee must feel. “The Sculptor” There was once a pretty darn good sculptor. He sculpted. He thought about sculpting. He sculpted a lot. He sculpted in his sleep most nights. He’d wake up and think of a sculpture and have to work on it some before falling back into his dreams about sculpting. He sculpted with many other people over the years. He became (after spending WELL OVER half of his life span doing it) a pretty good sculptor. Certainly, not the best. But, he did learn to mimic some of the other great sculptors. He was even sculpting when he landed his life’s best job. Then, one day, the people in his world changed without him noticing. The world got busy and it didn’t care about his sculpting like it once had. He wasn’t as good at sculpting as he once was. People even started walking by when he was in the middle of creating a sculpture and they would knock it over as he was working on it. They never did it on purpose though so he never said anything much about it. It hurt him though. It hurt to the depths of him when people would destroy a piece of his work. When he was almost ready to give up sculpting, a friend called and asked him if he could do some specific and very special sculpting for a very special event that their family was having. They had asked him come and create a sculpture for them. He got to work practicing and got the piece figured out. It wasn’t a piece that he would have ever sculpted on his own and they had asked him to sculpt a few other pieces too. He prepared. When the day of the event arrived he was ready. Sculpting in front of other people while they wait can be a touchy business. They announced that he would be sculpting and that the sculpture was special to them. Before he even got the clay spinning someone had knocked it over without even knowing it. This had happened literally on the last 30 occasions where he went out and sculpted. Every. Single. Time. Even people who came to see him sculpt were not into it anymore. He didn’t say a word to anyone still! He just quietly put his sculpting tools back in his truck and went back home without incident. They didn’t even notice that he had stopped sculpting and he had put on a film of one of the great sculptors while he gathered his tools one last time. On the way back to his home he saw a message about a guy that he had sculpted with who was going to finish some of his favorite sculptures with other sculptors. Insult to injury. So, he stopped sculpting forever and no one cared. He didn’t even sculpt alone after that. He wanted nothing to do with it anymore. He didn’t even put his fingernails into the soft ivory soap in the shower after that. A big part of him wishes that he had never been obsessed with sculpting. That time should have been spent being a better dad, husband, provider. The end.”
Sorry buddy but that’s one of the most depressing things I’ve ever read. I hope that’s not based on someone you knew. Or yourself. That’s why you hear over and over it’s the process not the end result. If u don’t enjoy it for it’s own sake don’t do it,whatever it is. And certainly don’t waste your life trying to be something at the expense of love,life and family
@@ledaswan5990 Thanks. Yes it was me. I contend that people have changed, not me. But, I can’t stop. My goal is simple. I want to do something musically that is worthy of an Otis interview. Onward !
I started playing guitar in 1964, and I was into folk music and real old Jimmy Rogers and such country music. Well I was living in central New Jersey and could find no teachers that were into that, so I learned picking on my own. As I got older I started listening to Jazz, Joe Pass and them guys, but I couldn't find anybody teaching that, so I bought books and tried to do it that way. Now I'm 72 and I have an itch to build a lap steel, but this time I really want to learn to play it right. There's plenty of guys ... good teachers on-line for me AND I have the time to really take the time and learn this instrument.
I have gave lessons before, and its cool when you get a student who is into it and willing to do there homework. But they were some who thought that once you taught them something they could magically do it somehow, they would not put in the practice time and that was frustrating. Thats the main reason I stopped giving lessins.
Awesome stories Otis. I lived for a year in Europe and played a ton of shows that year, both as a guitar player for hire and with my own band. A lot of cities have summer festivals where they'll hire a bunch of musicians/bands to play all day, and my band did a bunch of those gigs. They paid well and had real professional crews and were good gigs, but I was an American nobody playing to people who were at the event to be at the event, not see us, so they were pretty 'meh' gigs most of the time. But there were two or three where I remember I got a really good response. Not sure why those shows or those crowds, but for some reason a few times we got maybe 75 or a hundred people to stop what they were doing and listen/dance/cheer to us. I've never thought of it in quite the terms you used, but it makes a lot of sense why I was really proud of those gigs after hearing you talk about it. I've always said I felt like a real musician from those gigs, but the way you said it was better. If you can go in front of a crowd that isn't there for you, smushed between a bunch of other groups, and turn some heads, then you're doing something. Thanks much, love all of these stories.
I pretty much choked coffee out my nostrils when you said "truth is I'm a bit of a minimalist"...I think we all kinda figured someone who is so frugal (not cheap) that he wears a coat in the house to avoid turning on the heat is probably a minimalist in most aspects of life. 😄. I'm right there with you friend. "A man can measure his wealth by what he can afford to leave alone" Another great Saturday morning chat Otis. ✌️🇨🇦
I love how you said that local music here isn't local there, we are so used to having Americana and blues here, where there they aren't used to it like us, and appreciate it more. I noticed that long ago when I was playing Texas blues, and various types like piedmont style and finger picking style blues there, they (Portugal, Spain) loved it, and treated me like very special, where here, they run you out of stage for next nights band or artist. It's completely different
Honestly I think the age group who played along with records became better guitar players when it came to playing with people and not just in your bedroom because you learned how to kind of like just jump in and start playing. Because since TH-cam I remember running across this kid who was just shredding and it was amazing and I was like hey man do you wanna come play with me and some of my friends and he said yeah and then when he came to play he couldn’t play with us at all because all he knew was learning stuff on TH-cam, reading tab but I didn’t know how to stay in time with the band or play live with other people he couldn’t even play when it was just me and him. He didn’t know how to do any of that, or when to come in or when to back off or when to turn down or turn off and his timing was all over the place just playing rhythm he couldn’t hack it
Wow, I am watching this 11 months too late. I live in Michigan and I would’ve loved to of gone to that gig. I hope it went well and I will link up with Patreon so I can be informed. Love your videos Otis it brings me a lot of joy and peace
Something that made it for me was playing an original, that I wrote, and the crowd really digs it and let's you know they groove with it. Tremendous feeling to relate with crowd energy.
I didn’t start taking lessons until 46. I was sitting in a music store once a week waiting for my lesson. We started with book one Mel Bay rhythm guitar method and worked through book 6 over 3yrs. The ability to read music isn’t gonna killya for those who are against lessons. Thx for this vid.
I'd love to see you and Todd Snider come and play Barcelona some time! We don't get a lot of those kid of shows here so it would be a real treat. Hope you're well Otis. Martin.
I’m a big fan of yours, Ottis. I remember listening to you on outlaw country XM radio , in the night. delivering fuel in a semi. My Dad was raised in Indiana, we lost him last spring.
Hey Otis.! Another great Saturday morning.. listening to ya spin your yarns.. Speaking of recording.. I played bass in studios on some demos over the years.. both with “live” band recording.. and then track by track… The live stuff was head and shoulders above the other.. more human emotion… that spontaneous interaction between instruments and vocals.. And I listened to your “Get Me Outta Detroit “ for the first time..GREAT SONG.! Thanks Otis..👍🏼❤️
I took lessons for a brief time but the guy was mainly just showing me songs. I already knew most of the chords. My REAL teacher was a man named Mel Bay! I still recommend his book of guitar chords to anyone who asks me about learning to play.
I’ve been playing a D28 for a decade now and I don’t foresee ever not playing one. I’ve flirted with the idea of a D18 or a OO18, but the D28 has met all my needs too. Greetings from Alabama Otis. Hope you keep doing these videos. I really enjoy your commentary on the world.
Glad to hear you will be on the road with Todd Snider. Part of a John C Lilly quote answers the question of lessons: “In the province of the mind, what one believes to be true is true or becomes true, within certain limits to be found experientially and experimentally. These limits are further beliefs to be transcended. In the mind there are no limits.” ✌
Otis, I started picking around on my dad's guitar when I was 15 years old. At 16, I bought my first guitar and promptly set out to learn how to play. I bought a Mel Bay book and learned where to put the tips of my fingers to make the simple chords. I was totally into it 100%. I also got my first real girlfriend at the same time I was trying to learn to play. It wasn't long before I realized that I could either have a girlfriend, or, learn guitar, but, I couldn't have both. Being a 16 year old boy, of course I chose the girl. Now, in my mid fifties, I am kicking myself for making the wrong decision. I still learned how to play a little, but, If I'd have stuck with it, there's no telling where I'd be today. Thanks for sharing stuff the way you do!
I ate, drank & dove into every Muddy tunes on vinyl. He was the greatest guitar teacher a 15 year old boy could have. I understood his music from the get-go... all other guitar styles came easy afterwards.
Otis, Wish I could get a few in person guitar and songwriting lessons from you. We live too far apart. I truly enjoy your posts. Keep us posted on any forthcoming dates in North Carolina. Thanks for your time.
Lessons never really interested me until I played along with records for years. I started to see guitar players who were so good (shout out to Ed Pryla and John McBride ) playing in bands that were years ahead of my understanding. I listened to records by everyone but learned tons from two or three records (Taj Mahal Giant Step/ Ry Cooder Purple Valley/ Stones Sticky Fingers). Played them over and over until i could lift the solos on a couple of tunes. i then tried to play those solos without the records and eventually that is how i started to learn to play the guitar. Not lead or rhythm, all of it all together. I learned that most guitar players dont use music , they develop their ears and (big time) learn to listen to other players, tune in . I was getting paid to play for ten years before i learned to read music but love that i can read something straight off the page and it is exactly the sound and the riff. I encourage all the folks i teach to follow that path. Develop your ears, develop your listening, then learn to read. its Cool and you will have big fun. This is (remember) all about having fun.
I was able to get that book, The man with the golden arm, at the library today and have spent several hours reading on the porch and really enjoying it. I loved the Father and Son book you showed in a video recently. You need to share your favorite reads list in a video some time
You did do something to make your students lives better! We learn something from everyone we have contact with. I had three different teachers at various times during my youth. In retrospect, none of them were very good teachers at all but I did learn things from them I still use roughly 50 years later. And, I always think perhaps the money I paid them helped them in their musical journey or life in some way. So even though I probably wasn't a very good student and they weren't good teachers we both gained something from the experience.
I had a friend when I was a kid growing up that was incredible on the guitar. This was back in the 70s and a new hit song would come on the ràdio and he would bé playing it note for note in no time. I really thought a lot of him, the only things was he would turn his back to anyone he thought was trying to steal a guitar lick from him. He would not show nobody anything on the guitar.Ever since I've been playing the guitar I have done the exact opposite, if I can help someone learning to play I am more t'han willing to help them. I think arrogance gets you no were in life. just saying
Hey Otis, hope you come out to California. There are still a few good people here in the Central Valley that would like to come to a show. ( most of the state is full of whackos) Kenny and Marty played the State Theater in Modesto, Tommy Emmanuel played the Merced Theater, and Gordon Lightfoot played the Fox Theater in Visalia and the Gallo Center in Modesto a few years ago. Would like to see a show.
I've pretty much taught myself to play by ear. TH-cam tutorials have definitely helped me learn some things quicker. My 2 favorite TH-cam instructors are Eric Haugen and Anyone Can Play Guitar.
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bob seeger n t silver bullet band , LIVE BULLET . i wore out 2 vinyl copies the summer of 1976 . i was 15 . it still rocks me . oh ya n OTTIS played there too .
Always love an Otis vid ! Thanks Otis. You play a Martin d28 because it sounds Amazing. Love the minimalism. I think every now and then you should consider doing a live stream or pay per view / coffee session from a couch somewhere. Just a thought. Keep on plucking friend = ) And yes, do a rig run down. thanks. all the best. kel.
I’m an old guy that played guitar on and off for years. A couple years ago I met a great guitar teacher. We still play together as a lesson every week. The teacher I enjoy learning from has years of experience writing recording and touring with Stephen Stills , CSN , and several others. These people are few and far between. Living in the Nashville are helps, however not everyone can teach. It really helped me overcome the regret I had by not playing for years.
I did take some lessons starting out, but my main teacher was listening to Chris Smither and Ramblin' Jack Elliot records over and over and seeing them live when I could. Years later I would have my time in Austin in the early 80's when I knew Townes, Lucinda, Blaze, Mickey White, Pat Mears, Butch Hancock and I was playing at Emma Joes in Austin. Love your channel and it brings back memories of those times. Question: I love your video and audio and I'm trying to find something for my own channel. Can I ask what camera and mic you use? It is exactly how I'd love my own videos to look and sound.
I use to sub for the local music teachers in middle school teaching guitar. It was kind of fun to get paid to play guitar for a couple hours. The kids acted like kids so that was not fun always but sometimes, it was pretty cool.
..shoot, watching your videos make my life better (thankyous). Going to scavenge a way to KC on the 28th, even if I listen outside. Pleasant day here in the MoOzarks. Safe Journeys ps..seen a minimalist player with 2 laptops and knee cymbals, ‘‘twas a sight to see. ✌🏻
The Evening Muse is a great listening room in Charlotte NC as well as Eddie’s Attic in the Atlanta area. The Grey Eagle is a great room in Asheville . You or you and Todd would do great in any of these. I could play cold gigs when I was younger but not now. Same thing goes for playing in extreme heat. When I was trying to learn guitar I didn’t know anyone that played so I just listened to records. Chuck Berry taught me rhythm . Dylan taught me that words matter. John Prine and Steve Goodman taught me to sing about what was important to me. I had a J-45 that I lost due to my being unable to pay back a loan. That’s when I started using cheaper guitars. I’ve always gotten a better response from playing to strangers than playing for friends. As always your insights are spot on.
What a great concept for a song. Guitar lessons from the famous folks you have mentioned. I hadn't realized that my influences have impacted my guitar style. Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Harry Chapin.
My father taught me how to play, chords, 12 bar. I learned scales from a friend who was more technical in his learning. I tried piano lessons and didn't do so well. I will ask someone that impressed me with their playing to show me things. I've found If you are playing actively with others theres no lack of teachers, it's what has worked for me atleast.
My experience as a self taught songwriter is that I have probably developed bad habits and don't realize they are bad. It works for me and I always go at songs remaining teachable. I find that I stumble across different progressions and learn new things all the time. I feel like not being to hard on myself and getting myself out the way of the music allows me to tune in to that cosmic dial and get it down.....if that makes sense lol. I'm a starving artist and can't afford em anyway but would love to get lessons to help me be a bit more comfortable around the fret board as far as what key I'm in playing in alt tuning stuff🌻✌️💜
Great chat as always. Word of caution from an old conservative. I always start using my heat well after most sane folks. Pays to check and make sure it still works well before you "need" it. I don't mind being a little cool but freezing is way different.
Our Mother made my fellow Brothers and I all take Organ lessons for probably 4-5 years in the late 70’s. We all hated it. Agreed later in life that if we’d been allowed to play instruments that we loved the sound of music lessons may have turned into something. I’d have chosen Guitar or Sax. Years later I cant even read music.
I'm only a few years younger than you are. I was about 10 or 12 when I got my first guitar. A Harmony 3/4 size acoustic...terrible guitar. Hurt my fingers real bad. There was a music shop a bike's ride from my house, and I would go there and just stare at the guitars and dream of owning one someday. My mom got me lessons there and I remember going into the lesson room, and here I am, this awkward kid, with like zero life experience and almost as much knowledge of the guitar. I had been trying to learn Country Roads (funny you also mentioned that song) and had learned the chords for it. The teach is like, "oh well, ya know John Denver would probably play it like this" and proceeds to do this amazing fingerstyle rendition of the beginning of country roads. I'm pretty sure that was my one and only lesson with that guy, I was too intimidated to go back. Funny thing is, that's exactly how I wanted to learn to play. Since then, I have taken a few lessons here and there, but all my teachers want to focus on theory and I want help with mechanics. I need someone to help me break all the bad habits I've picked up by teaching myself. Also, I'm from Michigan. Detroit is a great town, but I'm always happy when I leave there myself. I live in what we call "The Thumb" of Michigan. The pace here is a tad slower!
Also, about the Martin D-28. When I started playing out several years back, I got to this point where I decided if anyone was going to take me seriously as a musician, I just had to have a "professional" acoustic guitar. I started with a Taylor. I think it was a 214ce. Great sounding guitar but a flaw in the fretwork (I think it was a flaw anyway) meant that I would frequently pull the high E right off the edge of the frets. So that got sold. I tried a Ibanez, Seagull, Yamaha, etc. Then decided I just had to have a Martin D-28. So I got a Martin HD-28E retro. Sounded great. It was heavy as hell. I didn't think it sounded any better or worse than other, more inexpensive guitars, sounded, so I sold that too. I have an Epiphone Masterbilt that I'm pretty fond of, but I've owned an Eastman brand (Chinese made...I know, I know...anyway) for probably 5 years now. That's the longest I've held on to a guitar.
-- Tour Dates with Todd Snider --
10/28/22 Kansas City, Missouri -Knuckleheads
10/29/22 Omaha, Nebraska -Scottish Rite Masonic Center
10/30/22 Des Moines, Iowa -Wooly’s
10/31/22 Eau Claire, Wisconsin -Pablo Center at the Confluence
11/02/22 Iowa City, Iowa -Englert Theatre
11/03/22 Chicago, Illinois -Park West -
11/04/22 Madison, Wisconsin -Barrymore Theatre
11/05/22 Grand Rapids, Michigan -The Intersection
No Indianapolis dates on the schedule? On the guitar lessons. I took them for over a year at Don Lynn music in Speedway. Like college it was up to me to practice and after a while the zest for this task kind of became less important. I restored a 1966 Chrysler! At the time my teacher was more interested in showing off HIS skills rather than developing mine!
Hope to see you a little closer down my way some day. Just want you to know that the first song I play each day is Kansas City. It resonates the sounds & thoughts of my days, working in the steel mills & grain elevators construction of days gone by. Each morning coffee finds me searching for your latest real ease, be it a song, interview, or just sharing what’s on your mind.
Thanks !
May we all take a moment to give thanks for Ms.Loretta & her music,
Joey Chambers vision of the Musician’s Hall of fame.
We’re losing all our heroes.
You keep them alive in our hearts & minds.
My guitar lessons were a waste. Hearing the Beatles , Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan then John Fahey taught my ear how to hear.
Sage advice Mr. Otis Gibbs, journeyman. You've got so much to offer.
Crazy gig?
Shortly after a debut CD release, this absolute wildman client booked an act I mixed FOH ... he booked them for a private party on his rural Indiana property.
As his favorite band (and a nice generous guy), it was a well paying gig. I rent a fine PA, set it all up outdoors, on the grass, on his sprawling play farm.
Great weather, alles gut. After a solid first set, it's nearly dark and time for ... fireworks, of course.
Well wildman the client is equally wild with his pyrotechnics, insane over-the-top display, some firing horizontally, I was hiding underneath my mix position dodging incoming artillery!
Seriously, I've no idea how, but everyone survived, no eyes were taken out... no LEO intervention.
Later in the evening DURING the final set, wildman releases dozens of chickens. They all flock over to the performance area, all amoung the bands feet... crazily pecking away at the grass.
As it turns out, during the break wildman had spread chicken feed across the entire area where the band was performing!
As a six piece act, they encompassed a nice sized area.
It was a hilarious feeding frenzy, it was so damn funny, laughing to the point of tears.
Image is seared in my mind.
If I remember correctly, it was included in some type of Gig From Hell issue of Nuvo, ie., with a handful of musician submitted anecdotes.
Subsequent live recordings I made, amidst the audience laughter you hear;
"let the chicken sing, let the CHICKEN sing".
Good times.
All the best
When I was a kid, I would spend hours playing along with records. Playing in church with other guitar players was also another great outlet. Fifty years later, I still find myself learning something new.
me two.
Otis, I got a Sears Silvertone archtop with action a mile high in 1964 and took lessons from a guy up the street in Lebanon Indiana, Mel Bay books and can still read music but he never taught me chords. You are right about not being able see guys playing out in public, on Friday nights in Lebanon everyone went to the town square to socialize and in the Sears catalog store just off the square a guy named Wilbur played his red Gibson electric guitar played in the front display window next to the stove and refrigerator, I was hooked, had to have a guitar and later that year the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan... game over and still playing... thanks for jarring my memories.
I started guitar lessons at 42 as a relief for depression. It helped having a personal connection with someone and being held accountable for the time. Also we are our worst critic it helps to have an impartial opinion of your progress. Would love to see you in Buffalo, NY sometime.
I’m in Indiana to close to Indy 46 just started playing bought a Martin 000-17 sunburst. I had a hunting accident a week ago fell 20’ out of a tree stand. Whenever I get this wrist healed enough I’ll have a lot of time to do nothing. I broke my back, my neck, wrist, and my pelvis in 3 places. Getting stronger every day. I’m extremely lucky that’s all that happened!
I'd imagine the "WTOTHF" competition will end today 10/17/22. It was 65° here in Western North Carolina yesterday and tomorrow we are supposed to be in the teens with high winds. I don't see a artic front making it to N.C. without traveling though Indiana first!!
The best way to learn guitar is to be around musicians. Play with as many people as you can, even if you think you're not learning you are. I used to tell a person to get a song in their head,then I'd put the guitar in their lap and let them strum. I would stand behind them and make the chords, this gave them confidence that they can play. Cool subject Otis.
I started with Beatle books about 1968. Then Jethro Tull and Jim Croce influenced me to study classical guitar so I could learn finger style.
After leaving the Army in 1975 I found a great teacher. That teacher got me lessons with world class performers and at least two of Segovia’s students. Today at 68 I still play Bach suites daily .
Find a teacher. Throw yourself into it. You will be amazed at how much you will learn if you just keep going and don’t stop.
I looked forward to each lesson. Find a teacher. If you don’t know where to start a teacher does.
I do the waiting 'til the last minute to turn on the heat too. To save money, and to help the planet. I try and get to December 1st, and usually make it. One year, almost made it to Christmas. I'm in Tacoma/Seattle. I live in a condo, so that helps as I only have two outside walls. We'll see how it goes this year since climate change is in full force here. Still summer here, with temps in the upper 70's on October 16th! Hasn't really rained for several months. Thanks for the fun weekly chat.
In the early 70’s I took lessons from a couple people and I was bored and quit. But, I kept playing as fast and as slow as I could of invented melodies. Then in the middle 70’s I took classical guitar lessons in college for four months. He concentrated on technique and being “musical”. I loved it and practiced everyday. What did I get good at…..playing with 9 and 10 fingers. Oh, and he said silence is as important as sound.
Had a great guitar teacher here in Spartanburg named Randy Foster and he was great because I went in wanting to play like Toy Caldwell and he humbled me and made me start with basics and every week I couldn’t wait to go for that hour , he’s a incredible player and still teaching today 🎸 👍🏻
I remember hearing a John Prine interview sometime after his first album came out. The only line I remember from that interview was when he said, there's nothing more beautiful than the ring of a G chord. I remember stopping what I was doing at the moment and just thinking about that, and I'm still thinking about it. Thanks Otis for another great post.
* I used to sit in front of the television when Hee Haw came on and tried to copy what those guys were doing, those were my first guitar lessons
The wisdom of Prine! : )
Yep.... I heard that G chord in 1982 on a Guild Guitar... being young and Stupid I said.."What's THAT!!!"
Yes your not the only one . I watched Hee Haw and Austin City Limits . 1970s.I’d watch it with my dad and he’d say” Now when you can play like that you can play” lol
Good luck. Those guys like Buck Owens and Roy Clark were some of Nashvilles best studio players
@@georgebethos7890 Yes I know your right.Glenn Campbell and Jerry Reed were awesome as well
I never took lessons. I started playing in the late seventies. I had a buddy at school who played guitar and showed me the basics about barre chords and root notes. I used that and played along with records (most notably "Still Alive And Well" by Johnny Winter) every day for eight hours a day. After about six months I was good enough that we formed one of several garage bands we played in back then. I have been in many bands over the years but I've learned everything I know from playing along with records (then cds, now mp3s today). To this day that is still what I do. I don't "practice", per se. I play along with my favorite music. I never felt like I had to be the next Eddie Van Halen or Eric Johnson. I don't know any formal theory. I don't practice scales. I just want to pick the thing up, play it, make music and have fun. And that's what I do.
Great story Re; the 'Pay Lake' gig .... All the best , Bro ......
Not everyone needs guitar lessons. Many are satisfied with their ability and knowledge. However, some are more ambitious and want to get better or learn other styles, such as jazz, blues, country picking, bluegrass, etc. I've played over 50 years and my ambition to learn new stuff ebbs and flows. TH-cam is a game changer for learners!
Well, I am not a player. Years ago, working at a ski warehouse in Reno, a colleague had played professionally in the clubs but had quit to get a change of pace in his life. His dad was also a guitarist and worked for a big act in Las Vegas, playing rhythm guitar and doing all the charts for the orchestra. He taught his son two complicated guitar pieces and had him practice them a lot. With that he got a job teaching guitar at a music store and after that a gig opening Taco Bell stores in Ca. I bought a mandolin from him and at lunch he gave me some basics. I worked at it occasionally but not seriously since the spark didn't fire. I held on to it until we were in Montana where I traded it for a Bozeman made Gibson L-00 that I thought my daughters might play. It rests peacefully in my closet.
I started learning to play guitar later in life then most folks, in my late 20's early 30's. But I did I learn to tune them, intonate them, re-string them, clean them, and hand them to people as a profession way before I could play them. I never took a guitar lesson and that shows. Whatever cover songs I have learned, I learned from TH-cam vids, printing lyrics and tabs from the internet, and playing along with the song on TH-cam over and over and over. I'm a slow learner.
So true, I'm 66, I've had several teachers over the years and took lessons here and there, a year ago I found an actual teacher and made a committment, I couldn't be more pleased I enjoy the guitar so much more. Nothing beats face to face, look for an individual
You're doing it the right way, I've been playing nearly 50 years, never had a lesson and in that time hit every hole in the road and every pillar in between, I made it hard for myself, but it's a wonderful journey. Keep practicing and fall in love with that thing. I'm gonna get me a proper teacher to help me put all I've learned together.
Well-adjusted lives... I love that, Otis. I'm going to use it, and dream of one day maybe embodying it.
As for TH-cam, Otis, I'm not sure. A real person showing you something, that's a gamechanger.
Happy music-ing
I’ve played a couple of theater gigs at the Texan Theater in Greenville, Tx, it’s cool but I’ve always preferred the beer drinking dancehall gigs. You know for sure if they like it when you fill the floor.
I’ve also played with guys that like to find that one or two drunks in a crowd that really like what they do and forget totally about the other 100-200 people. That makes for a long gig. Drifting a bit but that’s my thoughts. And, not being a front guy and just a fiddle player may sway my opinion.
I’ve been a novice player for 50 plus years. Some things I do very well and of course I struggle with a lot of stuff. Now that I’m retired I have more time to play. I like playing first thing in the morning with my coffee, light down low and be in front of a window. I often just fall into something when I’m just messing around. I’ve never taken lessons because I’ve always been intimidated by really good players. Just something I can’t get around.
Enjoyed the Q&A I found the guitar discussion very interesting ,,,
Hi Otis! This video came at the perfect time for me. I'm 44 years old and have been playing guitar for 28 years but have never had a formal teacher. I've only recently come to appreciate the importance of having a mentor and have just decided to start taking guitar lessons. My first one should be next week if all goes well. I look forward to it and found your take on this subject really encouraging 🙂
Hope you enjoy your gigs, if I were nearby, I'd definitely try to see you play. Rock on!
I`m just a "Cowboy Chord" guy but I have helped kids that showed interest get their own instrument and have let them borrow my only beloved guitar to practice on which was scary. Some are amazing now.
I enjoyed your answers today Otis, so ya picked winner questions. My gig rig has taken all the forms and sizes, but I really like light and simple at 56 years old, so does my back. I'm interested to see your set-up and take notes!
I taught myself to play in '78 with my dad's guitar. When he caught me I thought I was headed to the woodshed, but instead he just smiled, got me a cowboy chord book, and new strings. A year after picking out songs by ear from the radio, he bought a Japanese Hummingbird. Played that guitar all ove the UK and Ireland when I was 16. I've never taken a formal lesson, but I've never stopped learning, never stopped finding players better than I am to glean from, and ask questions. I'm not a Church person, but dang it, Churches in California in the '70s were full of really talented, generous players.
Planning a listening room tour in California has gotten better over the past 25 years, but it's still not easy. I hosted house shows for a time 20 years ago. Started as a favor for a friend coming through town and it lasted a few years as word spread.
The reason i recently went back to teaching guitar twice a week is how much I learn! Been playing for 40+ years and I have yet to arrive as a player. It has never ended. The perfect tool to entertain and challenge a person. Love playing and learning. Thanks for sharing Otis. Love the channel. All the best.
I took lessons as a kid, it was good and bad. Learned to play the cords, but not to make the music. But it was worth it, but it was over 50 yrs. ago.
This is a good listen.
Started in 1961 and my dad taught me Cotton Fields and Your Cheatin Heart ..from there it was Mel Bay chord book and records...first two years I only played the bottom 2 strings trying to learn bass lines to 45's because that's all I could hear that stuck...later my mom's jazz records got me playing all six strings and I learned to make bar chords. I lived with my own bad habits some of which I probably still have today at 68...I still study but man I wish I'd have had the internet when I started out. I got my first Martin when the covid lockdown first happened ..love it. Mines a cheap one but it does what I need.
As a kid of 7 my first cousin began to teach me on his guitar. Basically teaching me chords and such however, being a kid I wasn’t consistent enough , my parents bought me an Easton’s Acoustic Guitar at age 8 and I recall the strings were high enough on the fret board that forming a decent Chord sound was not that easy in comparison to my 20 year old cousins guitar, so I would recommend anyone who buys a child a guitar to pick one whereby the strings are relatively close to the fretboard as it is the best to make learning guitar as easy as possible in order for them to keep interested! All it took for me not to pay attention for practicing was for a friend to knock on our door wanting to know if I wanted to go outside and play ball! Then we had to move away due to my father’s job - so that was the end of guitar lessons other than looking at diagrams and trying to learn from guitar books and basically, I am self taught with many technical aspects skipped! Basically I can accompany myself when singing songs half rhythm, with a small amount of lead! But yes a teacher who the kid absolutely looks up to and likes the sound that his or her teacher sounds like when they play! To this day I can still hear my cousins style in my guitar playing! The desire to create that sound of how your teacher sounds is the key to holding the attention of the child and desire to practice!
I took lessons for several years from a guy who was retired from a local company and had a second career owning a music store and teaching guitar. He was much like Guitar George; he knew all the chords. He taught me about how to truly understand music rather than teaching me songs. More than 40 years later, I still use what he taught me.
I found music lessons of any kind to be that of thearpy. The 30 minute lesson turned into 45 minutes and then into an hour. Time always well spent.
One of the first songs I learned was Grandpa Was a Carpenter, by John Prine. Most of his songs are fairly simple and great to learn and sing for a beginner. I also learned a bunch of Hank Williams songs when I first started. I didn't take up the guitar until I was almost 30 years old and I'm 63 now and still love playing and singing by myself or with friends. Still playing John Prine and Hank Williams. It is a great way to expand your life and friendships.
Really great one ya did here. Thanks much!
Me and my wife see how long we can go without turning heat on. We live in Las Vegas and twice we have gone all winter without turning on heat. But when it dips below 60 inside we usually give in.
i keep my thermostat at 55 degrees all winter. I live in upper Michigan. My furnace has already kicked on here in mid October. I find 55 degrees is comfortable with a sweater and helps me tolerate the cold outside temperatures.
I went to Catholic school from 1st through 8th grade and took guitar lessons from a nun around 2nd-3rd grade. I can't remember her name, but some of the kids called her Sister Froggy. After she left the parish, the guitar lessons ended and I didnt pick up guitar again until my mid to late teens. After that I learned my just keeping a guitar out in my living room so I would want to play every time I walked into the room. I taught myself, but I'm sure I picked up a lot of bad habits that taking lessons from a proper teacher would have corrected. Still, learning because you want to know how to play certain songs and want to write your own is a good way to motivate yourself to play hours every day.
My guitar teacher taught me a bunch of Eagles songs (Dan Smith Dryden On 1976). Now I want to take leasons to learn Piazolla. Learn and burn..
Thanks for answering all those questions... You have a well rounded and grounded perspective :) I'm with you on having a straight forward rig.. too many bells and whistles does begin to take away from things. Keep Rockin'
I remember that Jerry Garcia took lessons from Terry Haggerty of the Sons of Champlin. There is a wonderful humility and musical curiosity about him, and Kenny Vaughn. And you, Otis.
Yeah, and Bob Weir took lessons from Jerry, I think that's how they met, Bobby was only seventeen when they started the band.
Yep, he started at 15...
Pig Pen plays on Katie Mae. Sounded good to me.
Will miss you in central Illinois neighbor! Enjoy your channel very much.
I say living in the country before internet and trying to learn guitar is compared to a quaalude breakfast. Have A Safe Tour🎸✌🏼
Otis, i love chatting with you and having coffee on Saturday morning, Always look forward to it , Thank U !
Never took lessons
a coworker could play watching for two and a half years i picked up what he could do broke my leg so wasn't able to do much a friend bought me a a 74 takamini for 47 dollars and 59 cents at a local pawn store it's been nine years now every day every day is a new day learning allways learning something ✌️ nothing finer then being able to entertain one self easily bless ya mun
Once again. You’ve taken me back to a time when things were simpler and happier, I’ll never forget the day my father came home with a beautiful brand new Kay acoustic guitar for my brother and a gray pearl Hawaiian lap steel for me to learn to play, thanks again for the time and the way you remind me of what life is supposed to be about, thank you
Otis, when you started speaking about people not listening I got goose bumps. I think we’re tuned in to one another for sure. I wrote this the other night after playing a friends dad’s funeral and what I have dubbed as my last gig. I’ve been a mess this last week and feeling a bit like I imagine how a recent amputee must feel.
“The Sculptor”
There was once a pretty darn good sculptor. He sculpted. He thought about sculpting. He sculpted a lot. He sculpted in his sleep most nights. He’d wake up and think of a sculpture and have to work on it some before falling back into his dreams about sculpting. He sculpted with many other people over the years. He became (after spending WELL OVER half of his life span doing it) a pretty good sculptor. Certainly, not the best. But, he did learn to mimic some of the other great sculptors. He was even sculpting when he landed his life’s best job.
Then, one day, the people in his world changed without him noticing. The world got busy and it didn’t care about his sculpting like it once had. He wasn’t as good at sculpting as he once was. People even started walking by when he was in the middle of creating a sculpture and they would knock it over as he was working on it. They never did it on purpose though so he never said anything much about it. It hurt him though. It hurt to the depths of him when people would destroy a piece of his work.
When he was almost ready to give up sculpting, a friend called and asked him if he could do some specific and very special sculpting for a very special event that their family was having. They had asked him come and create a sculpture for them. He got to work practicing and got the piece figured out. It wasn’t a piece that he would have ever sculpted on his own and they had asked him to sculpt a few other pieces too. He prepared.
When the day of the event arrived he was ready. Sculpting in front of other people while they wait can be a touchy business. They announced that he would be sculpting and that the sculpture was special to them. Before he even got the clay spinning someone had knocked it over without even knowing it. This had happened literally on the last 30 occasions where he went out and sculpted. Every. Single. Time. Even people who came to see him sculpt were not into it anymore.
He didn’t say a word to anyone still! He just quietly put his sculpting tools back in his truck and went back home without incident. They didn’t even notice that he had stopped sculpting and he had put on a film of one of the great sculptors while he gathered his tools one last time.
On the way back to his home he saw a message about a guy that he had sculpted with who was going to finish some of his favorite sculptures with other sculptors. Insult to injury.
So, he stopped sculpting forever and no one cared. He didn’t even sculpt alone after that. He wanted nothing to do with it anymore. He didn’t even put his fingernails into the soft ivory soap in the shower after that.
A big part of him wishes that he had never been obsessed with sculpting. That time should have been spent being a better dad, husband, provider.
The end.”
Sorry buddy but that’s one of the most depressing things I’ve ever read. I hope that’s not based on someone you knew. Or yourself. That’s why you hear over and over it’s the process not the end result. If u don’t enjoy it for it’s own sake don’t do it,whatever it is. And certainly don’t waste your life trying to be something at the expense of love,life and family
@@ledaswan5990 Thanks. Yes it was me. I contend that people have changed, not me. But, I can’t stop. My goal is simple. I want to do something musically that is worthy of an Otis interview. Onward !
I started playing guitar in 1964, and I was into folk music and real old Jimmy Rogers and such country music. Well I was living in central New Jersey and could find no teachers that were into that, so I learned picking on my own. As I got older I started listening to Jazz, Joe Pass and them guys, but I couldn't find anybody teaching that, so I bought books and tried to do it that way. Now I'm 72 and I have an itch to build a lap steel, but this time I really want to learn to play it right. There's plenty of guys ... good teachers on-line for me AND I have the time to really take the time and learn this instrument.
I have gave lessons before, and its cool when you get a student who is into it and willing to do there homework. But they were some who thought that once you taught them something they could magically do it somehow, they would not put in the practice time and that was frustrating. Thats the main reason I stopped giving lessins.
Awesome stories Otis. I lived for a year in Europe and played a ton of shows that year, both as a guitar player for hire and with my own band. A lot of cities have summer festivals where they'll hire a bunch of musicians/bands to play all day, and my band did a bunch of those gigs. They paid well and had real professional crews and were good gigs, but I was an American nobody playing to people who were at the event to be at the event, not see us, so they were pretty 'meh' gigs most of the time. But there were two or three where I remember I got a really good response. Not sure why those shows or those crowds, but for some reason a few times we got maybe 75 or a hundred people to stop what they were doing and listen/dance/cheer to us. I've never thought of it in quite the terms you used, but it makes a lot of sense why I was really proud of those gigs after hearing you talk about it. I've always said I felt like a real musician from those gigs, but the way you said it was better. If you can go in front of a crowd that isn't there for you, smushed between a bunch of other groups, and turn some heads, then you're doing something. Thanks much, love all of these stories.
Saw Trey Anastasio accoustic at the Pablo Center in Eau Claire... beautiful venue with amazing accoustics. Get there if you can!!!
I pretty much choked coffee out my nostrils when you said "truth is I'm a bit of a minimalist"...I think we all kinda figured someone who is so frugal (not cheap) that he wears a coat in the house to avoid turning on the heat is probably a minimalist in most aspects of life. 😄. I'm right there with you friend. "A man can measure his wealth by what he can afford to leave alone" Another great Saturday morning chat Otis. ✌️🇨🇦
I took lessons from listening to ‘It’s Alive’ by the Ramones on my turn table when I was a wee teenybopper in 1982.
I love how you said that local music here isn't local there, we are so used to having Americana and blues here, where there they aren't used to it like us, and appreciate it more. I noticed that long ago when I was playing Texas blues, and various types like piedmont style and finger picking style blues there, they (Portugal, Spain) loved it, and treated me like very special, where here, they run you out of stage for next nights band or artist. It's completely different
Honestly I think the age group who played along with records became better guitar players when it came to playing with people and not just in your bedroom because you learned how to kind of like just jump in and start playing. Because since TH-cam I remember running across this kid who was just shredding and it was amazing and I was like hey man do you wanna come play with me and some of my friends and he said yeah and then when he came to play he couldn’t play with us at all because all he knew was learning stuff on TH-cam, reading tab but I didn’t know how to stay in time with the band or play live with other people he couldn’t even play when it was just me and him. He didn’t know how to do any of that, or when to come in or when to back off or when to turn down or turn off and his timing was all over the place just playing rhythm he couldn’t hack it
Wow, I am watching this 11 months too late. I live in Michigan and I would’ve loved to of gone to that gig. I hope it went well and I will link up with Patreon so I can be informed. Love your videos Otis it brings me a lot of joy and peace
Here's the song I mentioned, Get Me Out Of Detroit.
th-cam.com/video/c3a5oqupnko/w-d-xo.html
Something that made it for me was playing an original, that I wrote, and the crowd really digs it and let's you know they groove with it. Tremendous feeling to relate with crowd energy.
I didn’t start taking lessons until 46. I was sitting in a music store once a week waiting for my lesson. We started with book one Mel Bay rhythm guitar method and worked through book 6 over 3yrs. The ability to read music isn’t gonna killya for those who are against lessons. Thx for this vid.
I'd love to see you and Todd Snider come and play Barcelona some time! We don't get a lot of those kid of shows here so it would be a real treat. Hope you're well Otis. Martin.
I’m a big fan of yours, Ottis. I remember listening to you on outlaw country XM radio , in the night. delivering fuel in a semi. My Dad was raised in Indiana, we lost him last spring.
Hey Otis.! Another great Saturday morning.. listening to ya spin your yarns..
Speaking of recording.. I played bass in studios on some demos over the years.. both with “live” band recording.. and then track by track… The live stuff was head and shoulders above the other.. more human emotion… that spontaneous interaction between instruments and vocals..
And I listened to your “Get Me Outta Detroit “ for the first time..GREAT SONG.!
Thanks Otis..👍🏼❤️
I took lessons for a brief time but the guy was mainly just showing me songs. I already knew most of the chords. My REAL teacher was a man named Mel Bay! I still recommend his book of guitar chords to anyone who asks me about learning to play.
That's the Bible for guitar
I’ve been playing a D28 for a decade now and I don’t foresee ever not playing one. I’ve flirted with the idea of a D18 or a OO18, but the D28 has met all my needs too. Greetings from Alabama Otis. Hope you keep doing these videos. I really enjoy your commentary on the world.
Glad to hear you will be on the road with Todd Snider.
Part of a John C Lilly quote answers the question of lessons:
“In the province of the mind, what one
believes to be true is true or becomes
true, within certain limits to be found
experientially and experimentally. These
limits are further beliefs to be transcended.
In the mind there are no limits.”
✌
That's all well and good, but we can't all have dolphins swimming up and down the halls 😉
Otis, I started picking around on my dad's guitar when I was 15 years old. At 16, I bought my first guitar and promptly set out to learn how to play. I bought a Mel Bay book and learned where to put the tips of my fingers to make the simple chords. I was totally into it 100%. I also got my first real girlfriend at the same time I was trying to learn to play. It wasn't long before I realized that I could either have a girlfriend, or, learn guitar, but, I couldn't have both. Being a 16 year old boy, of course I chose the girl. Now, in my mid fifties, I am kicking myself for making the wrong decision. I still learned how to play a little, but, If I'd have stuck with it, there's no telling where I'd be today. Thanks for sharing stuff the way you do!
I ate, drank & dove into every Muddy tunes on vinyl. He was the greatest guitar teacher a 15 year old boy could have. I understood his music from the get-go... all other guitar styles came easy afterwards.
I love your comments on lessons. Young kids gaining real world music skills have changed lives. Some a little, some a lot.
Otis, Wish I could get a few in person guitar and songwriting lessons from you. We live too far apart. I truly enjoy your posts. Keep us posted on any forthcoming dates in North Carolina. Thanks for your time.
I did the same Otis. Im still learning off you tube also.i started out learning from friends and i had college classes
Lessons never really interested me until I played along with records for years. I started to see guitar players who were so good (shout out to Ed Pryla and John McBride ) playing in bands that were years ahead of my understanding. I listened to records by everyone but learned tons from two or three records (Taj Mahal Giant Step/ Ry Cooder Purple Valley/ Stones Sticky Fingers). Played them over and over until i could lift the solos on a couple of tunes. i then tried to play those solos without the records and eventually that is how i started to learn to play the guitar. Not lead or rhythm, all of it all together.
I learned that most guitar players dont use music , they develop their ears and (big time) learn to listen to other players, tune in . I was getting paid to play for ten years before i learned to read music but love that i can read something straight off the page and it is exactly the sound and the riff. I encourage all the folks i teach to follow that path. Develop your ears, develop your listening, then learn to read. its Cool and you will have big fun. This is (remember) all about having fun.
I was able to get that book, The man with the golden arm, at the library today and have spent several hours reading on the porch and really enjoying it. I loved the Father and Son book you showed in a video recently. You need to share your favorite reads list in a video some time
Also listened to Souvenirs of a misspent youth while smoking a cigar. Really enjoyed. It's a great soundtrack for a fall day here in TN.
As a fellow who makes a living as a guitar teacher thank you very much for the very positive & constructive viewpoint.
You did do something to make your students lives better! We learn something from everyone we have contact with. I had three different teachers at various times during my youth. In retrospect, none of them were very good teachers at all but I did learn things from them I still use roughly 50 years later. And, I always think perhaps the money I paid them helped them in their musical journey or life in some way. So even though I probably wasn't a very good student and they weren't good teachers we both gained something from the experience.
I had a friend when I was a kid growing up that was incredible on the guitar. This was back in the 70s and a new hit song would come on the ràdio and he would bé playing it note for note in no time. I really thought a lot of him, the only things was he would turn his back to anyone he thought was trying to steal a guitar lick from him. He would not show nobody anything on the guitar.Ever since I've been playing the guitar I have done the exact opposite, if I can help someone learning to play I am more t'han willing to help them. I think arrogance gets you no were in life. just saying
Hey Otis, hope you come out to California. There are still a few good people here in the Central Valley that would like to come to a show. ( most of the state is full of whackos) Kenny and Marty played the State Theater in Modesto, Tommy Emmanuel played the Merced Theater, and Gordon Lightfoot played the Fox Theater in Visalia and the Gallo Center in Modesto a few years ago.
Would like to see a show.
61 degrees in my still unheated colorado house. We get plenty of sun and I bake bread/pizza a couple of times a week on colder days.
I've pretty much taught myself to play by ear. TH-cam tutorials have definitely helped me learn some things quicker. My 2 favorite TH-cam instructors are Eric Haugen and Anyone Can Play Guitar.
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great raconteur , enjoy OG's observations and experiences immensely.
I love your stories Otis! Keep 'em coming.
bob seeger n t silver bullet band , LIVE BULLET . i wore out 2 vinyl copies the summer of 1976 . i was 15 . it still rocks me . oh ya n OTTIS played there too .
Always love an Otis vid ! Thanks Otis. You play a Martin d28 because it sounds Amazing. Love the minimalism.
I think every now and then you should consider doing a live stream or pay per view / coffee session from a
couch somewhere. Just a thought. Keep on plucking friend = ) And yes, do a rig run down. thanks. all the best. kel.
I’m an old guy that played guitar on and off for years. A couple years ago I met a great guitar teacher. We still play together as a lesson every week. The teacher I enjoy learning from has years of experience writing recording and touring with Stephen Stills , CSN , and several others. These people are few and far between. Living in the Nashville are helps, however not everyone can teach. It really helped me overcome the regret I had by not playing for years.
The end of October and November will be epic!!! I love Todd!!!
I did take some lessons starting out, but my main teacher was listening to Chris Smither and Ramblin' Jack Elliot records over and over and seeing them live when I could. Years later I would have my time in Austin in the early 80's when I knew Townes, Lucinda, Blaze, Mickey White, Pat Mears, Butch Hancock and I was playing at Emma Joes in Austin. Love your channel and it brings back memories of those times. Question: I love your video and audio and I'm trying to find something for my own channel. Can I ask what camera and mic you use? It is exactly how I'd love my own videos to look and sound.
I use to sub for the local music teachers in middle school teaching guitar. It was kind of fun to get paid to play guitar for a couple hours. The kids acted like kids so that was not fun always but sometimes, it was pretty cool.
Thanks for this video, Otis. I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on these things.
..shoot, watching your videos make my life better (thankyous). Going to scavenge a way to KC on the 28th, even if I listen outside.
Pleasant day here in the MoOzarks. Safe Journeys
ps..seen a minimalist player with 2 laptops and knee cymbals, ‘‘twas a sight to see. ✌🏻
The Evening Muse is a great listening room in Charlotte NC as well as Eddie’s Attic in the Atlanta area. The Grey Eagle is a great room in Asheville . You or you and Todd would do great in any of these. I could play cold gigs when I was younger but not now. Same thing goes for playing in extreme heat. When I was trying to learn guitar I didn’t know anyone that played so I just listened to records. Chuck Berry taught me rhythm . Dylan taught me that words matter. John Prine and Steve Goodman taught me to sing about what was important to me. I had a J-45 that I lost due to my being unable to pay back a loan. That’s when I started using cheaper guitars. I’ve always gotten a better response from playing to strangers than playing for friends. As always your insights are spot on.
What a great concept for a song. Guitar lessons from the famous folks you have mentioned. I hadn't realized that my influences have impacted my guitar style. Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Harry Chapin.
Great morning conversation Otis! Thank you 🙏🏻
Please come to Seattle for a tour.
Happy trails
This inspired my artwork today. Thank You Otis!
My father taught me how to play, chords, 12 bar. I learned scales from a friend who was more technical in his learning. I tried piano lessons and didn't do so well. I will ask someone that impressed me with their playing to show me things. I've found If you are playing actively with others theres no lack of teachers, it's what has worked for me atleast.
My experience as a self taught songwriter is that I have probably developed bad habits and don't realize they are bad. It works for me and I always go at songs remaining teachable. I find that I stumble across different progressions and learn new things all the time.
I feel like not being to hard on myself and getting myself out the way of the music allows me to tune in to that cosmic dial and get it down.....if that makes sense lol. I'm a starving artist and can't afford em anyway but would love to get lessons to help me be a bit more comfortable around the fret board as far as what key I'm in playing in alt tuning stuff🌻✌️💜
AMEN to “shut up and listen”!!!
Great chat as always. Word of caution from an old conservative. I always start using my heat well after most sane folks. Pays to check and make sure it still works well before you "need" it. I don't mind being a little cool but freezing is way different.
Our Mother made my fellow Brothers and I all take Organ lessons for probably 4-5 years in the late 70’s. We all hated it. Agreed later in life that if we’d been allowed to play instruments that we loved the sound of music lessons may have turned into something. I’d have chosen Guitar or Sax. Years later I cant even read music.
I'm only a few years younger than you are. I was about 10 or 12 when I got my first guitar. A Harmony 3/4 size acoustic...terrible guitar. Hurt my fingers real bad. There was a music shop a bike's ride from my house, and I would go there and just stare at the guitars and dream of owning one someday. My mom got me lessons there and I remember going into the lesson room, and here I am, this awkward kid, with like zero life experience and almost as much knowledge of the guitar. I had been trying to learn Country Roads (funny you also mentioned that song) and had learned the chords for it. The teach is like, "oh well, ya know John Denver would probably play it like this" and proceeds to do this amazing fingerstyle rendition of the beginning of country roads. I'm pretty sure that was my one and only lesson with that guy, I was too intimidated to go back. Funny thing is, that's exactly how I wanted to learn to play. Since then, I have taken a few lessons here and there, but all my teachers want to focus on theory and I want help with mechanics. I need someone to help me break all the bad habits I've picked up by teaching myself.
Also, I'm from Michigan. Detroit is a great town, but I'm always happy when I leave there myself. I live in what we call "The Thumb" of Michigan. The pace here is a tad slower!
Also, about the Martin D-28. When I started playing out several years back, I got to this point where I decided if anyone was going to take me seriously as a musician, I just had to have a "professional" acoustic guitar. I started with a Taylor. I think it was a 214ce. Great sounding guitar but a flaw in the fretwork (I think it was a flaw anyway) meant that I would frequently pull the high E right off the edge of the frets. So that got sold. I tried a Ibanez, Seagull, Yamaha, etc. Then decided I just had to have a Martin D-28. So I got a Martin HD-28E retro. Sounded great. It was heavy as hell. I didn't think it sounded any better or worse than other, more inexpensive guitars, sounded, so I sold that too. I have an Epiphone Masterbilt that I'm pretty fond of, but I've owned an Eastman brand (Chinese made...I know, I know...anyway) for probably 5 years now. That's the longest I've held on to a guitar.
You always out out great content Otis with interesting stories.
20:26 Wait, you mean I’ve missed Dean, the true star of the Bob & Tom Show!? Will have to go back and find those eps!!! I’m a longtime fan.