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On Practicing Guitar
Christian Botta
Guitarist, Singer, Teacher, Songwriter and Producer
Interests: Music, cinema, reading, hockey, family, friends, cooking, wine
Recent Activity
Thanks, WC! I was looking at it the other day and thought about how it could have used some compression, ie the top notes were too much louder than the low ones. Gotta get back to basics. Where do you hail from? What are you working on these days? -Chris
Muddy Waters' "I Can't Be Satisfied" Lesson and Tab
I grew up a huge Johnny Winter fan, and as luck would have it, I got to see Muddy Waters perform in 1977 during his Hard Again tour. One of my biggest memories from that show at the Palladium in New York was Muddy sitting on a stool, playing a ferocious slide solo. He was getting so into it th...
Guitar Teacher - Now Accepting Students
Posted Feb 2, 2021 at On Practicing Guitar
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Thank you, Rory! It's great to hear from you. You might try learning the song "And It Stoned Me," by Van Morrison. It has the same strum pattern but with an extra chord, and then there's a bridge, a chorus and a little melodic figure, as well. Same key/chords. I give Zoom lessons, BTW. You'd be surprised at how much you can learn in one private lesson after you've been working so hard to figure things out by yourself. Thanks again,
Chris
Essential Strum Pattern in Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Strumming the guitar is sometimes challenging when you’re starting out. The motions can feel awkward, and it seems like there are many different patterns to learn. In fact, there are two main strum patterns that are absolutely essential, and if you get them down, it will make it easier to learn ...
Thank you, Bones! I'm glad that it was helpful for you. I hope this finds you well and that you're getting plenty of practice in during this challenging year.
Take care,
Chris
Essential Strum Pattern in Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Strumming the guitar is sometimes challenging when you’re starting out. The motions can feel awkward, and it seems like there are many different patterns to learn. In fact, there are two main strum patterns that are absolutely essential, and if you get them down, it will make it easier to learn ...
Eight Million Ways (To Be Alone)
Posted Nov 26, 2020 at On Practicing Guitar
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Key To The Highway Video and Tab
Posted Nov 7, 2020 at On Practicing Guitar
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Doug,
Thanks for writing! I spoke to Mike Maggio and he did indeed sell some guitars at one time with his name on them, he said they were as you describe, Strats in a natural finish. He added, "Small world!" Do you still have it? -Chris
Adventures in Guitar Mods – The Squier 51
Ever since my friend Steve changed the ancient volume pot in my ’76 Strat to a brand new American made CTS pot, I have been itching to learn how to do guitar mods. My obsession may even have begun shortly after a student of mine brought over a black Fender Squier 51. These guitars are famous f...
Thanks, Jim! It was easier to narrow it down to LPs, and then stuff that I've mainly been listening to currently. There's a story behind almost every great record, if you think about it, especially if you've been listening to them for a long, long time. Like when I went by In Living Stereo to hang out and listen to some stuff, I had to bring that Brahms record. It really came to life on that outrageous system, like it was a living, breathing creature. That record has been with me for years. It kind of has a life of its own. Like the time the old lady underneath me in Sunnyside banged on the floor while I was listening to it. She only banged like twice. The other time, it was for EPMD! That I could understand... -Chris
20 Sweet Vinyl Albums For Tough Times
One of my guitar students asked me for recommendations of albums on vinyl so I dashed off this list. Many of them I’ve had for a long time and some for less, but one thing that they almost all have in common is that it’s pretty easy to listen all the way through. Yeah, you got to flip ‘em. Als...
Hi, Bruce
I really dig King Zapatas' playing as well. I saw GCJ recently without him and something was definitely missing. The song is a relatively simple minor blues. I think the chord progression is in my post. You should be able to figure out a great deal about what KZ is playing by watching the video and other videos that include him. Get in touch with me on email if you want to continue the discussion. This blog is associated with my website, chrisbottaguitar.com, which has a link for my email. I'm really interested in rhythm guitar, and other guitarists who appreciate it. It's an art. Thanks for writing! -Chris
Gary Clark, Jr. Solo with Tab for "When My Train Pulls In"
When I first heard Gary Clark, Jr., I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. The hype surrounding his playing, his acting gigs, the perfect image and awesome singing voice made me wonder about his gasp, authenticity as a player, but the truth is that what I heard in terms of his guitar playing d...
20 Sweet Vinyl Albums For Tough Times
Posted May 1, 2020 at On Practicing Guitar
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Fred,
Sorry for the late reply. I looked online at the museum's website and didn't see much info, as you must have, as well. I suggest contacting the Shack Up Inn, which is located in Clarksdale. That's how I got the info that led me to the caretaker, Floyd. Believe me, it was just a piece of paper stuck up on the wall, probably hand-written with the phone number and basic info. I only saw it by chance. OK, maybe it was printed and on a bulletin board I don't remember it that way. There are many fans that make the pilgrimage and you've probably found your way by now. Let me know how it goes.
Chris
Visiting Avalon - Home of Mississippi John Hurt
July 29 - I was introduced to the music of John Hurt by a wonderful guitar teacher named Terry who I studied with between the ages of thirteen to sixteen. He taught me the technique variously known as ‘double thumbing,’ ‘Travis picking,’ or ‘alternating bass,’ and the main lick for “Spike Driv...
Hi, Jim
This post, https://onpracticingguitar.chrisbottaguitar.com/2017/09/compound-strumming-pattern-in-hey-joe.html
has links to some other similar posts, including the one above and one for Dead Flowers. They're all related. There's also a good one for Wild Thing. Thanks for visiting and for your comment! I'm starting to do some Zoom/Skype lessons. Let me know if you're interested. -Chris
Essential Strum Pattern in Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Strumming the guitar is sometimes challenging when you’re starting out. The motions can feel awkward, and it seems like there are many different patterns to learn. In fact, there are two main strum patterns that are absolutely essential, and if you get them down, it will make it easier to learn ...
Guitarist Available
Posted Mar 5, 2020 at On Practicing Guitar
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Chemistry Is Everything
Posted Feb 19, 2020 at On Practicing Guitar
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Ron Wood Slides on You Got The Silver – TAB
Posted Dec 31, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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Seduced By Classical Music
Posted Nov 2, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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Thanks for your comment, Charlie. I was talking about the repetitive aspect of the riff, not the sound. It's more a physical, technical thing. I will have to give my Bo Diddley records some further spins. Definitely some nice tremolo on Heart of Stone, as well. I've only come to use tremolo regularly in the past ten years or so. Growing up I used to think it sounded really dated. But more recently, I realized it was on many of the records that I loved, even after the '60s.
An Ode to Brian Jones
Mad, bad and dangerous to know was the first leader of the Rolling Stones. Even though my introduction to their music came during what could be called the Jimmy Miller period, I was always curious about the charismatic blond in the foreground of early Stones pics. I loved and will always love ...
Thank you Lyall! A lot of time went into it with all the recording and the researching of the songs and their mixes. But the mix listening part was really fun and not that time-consuming by comparison to the production phase, especially the mixing process, which is usually tough. I will see you at the jam! -Chris
Mix It Charlie, Fix It
Mixing the individual musical tracks of a record can be one of the most difficult phases of the production process. But I managed to get a little bit more of a handle on it when I finished my current album, Saints and Sinners. I was stuck, I admit. But as the jazzbos sometimes say, “You just ...
Jim,
Sorry it took me so long to get back. Thanks! It was a long time coming. Yes, we missed the youtube and smartphone age! It's too bad. But that old film stock took some damn good pictures and it still does. -Chris
I Wanna Be Adored: The Saga of Cargo Culte
Once, I swore I wouldn’t form any more rock bands. Then a bolt of lightning from Maine called me asking for guitar lessons. It was the beginning of a band and a friendship. Unfortunately, the friendship eventually dissolved into a Nigel Tufnel – David St. Higgins type of, “We shant work togeth...
Mix It Charlie, Fix It
Posted Aug 21, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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Saints and Sinners Return to The Bitter End Friday July 12 at 8pm
Posted Jul 9, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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Rock and Roll Dreams at the Metropolitan Museum
Posted May 25, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp Rules The Roost!
Posted Apr 13, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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Swing Into Spring with Saints and Sinners at The Groove April 23
Posted Apr 3, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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How To Properly Execute a "Pull-Off"
Posted Mar 31, 2019 at On Practicing Guitar
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