Posted by: Glenelg Guitar Studio | October 30, 2013

Sweet Home Alabama Anniversary today

“Sweet Home Alabama” was released Oct 30th 1973 by  Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping. It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band’s second hit single.

For those too young to remember or not even born then, this was a period of great social unrest in the US. “In 1963, the state was the site of massive civil rights activism, as thousands of demonstrators led by Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to desegregate downtown businesses and was the scene of some of the most violent moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Segregationist police chief Bull Connor unleashed attack dogs and high-pressure water cannons against peaceful marchers, including women and children; just weeks later, Ku Klux Klansmen bombed a black church, killing four little girls.”,

This classic song is just 3 years older than the guitar I’m playing it on. It was a fine clear day in 1976 when I caught the train to Adelaide from Brighton. I headed to Regent Music (now Harrison Music) in Regent Arcade and picked up my brand new Ibanez electric for the princely sum of $220. Not bad for a 16 year old still at Brighton High School, although I admit I had a brief trial apprenticeship shortly before that which gave me the money. Luckily a life in music has worked out for me as I could hardly have seen myself completing that Hairdressing apprenticeship!

And yes, the case you often see it in is the original as well.

This song is attainable for intermediate students, so if you want to try it, let me know next time we catch up.

Leigh

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Posted by: Glenelg Guitar Studio | October 21, 2013

Just Squeeze Me

“Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don’t Tease Me)”. Now we really are moving into the world of Jazz with this song composed in 1941 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Lee Gaines.  It has become a Jazz standard, covered by a a host of artists, and now even by me.

This version was arranged by Australian jazz Guitarist George Golla and is a little different to normal as I recorded the 2 parts individually. It was a lot of fun to make and I hope you enjoy it. (Many thanks to Ian and Robyn-my good friends and students of Glenelg Guitar Studio who took care of the recording and technical aspects of recording the duet).

Several students have learned this piece and as well as being very enjoyable to play, it is also attainable for intermediate students. So let me know if you want to add it you your repertoire.

Cheers
Leigh
PS….. the lyrics are at the bottom of the page.

Want you to know I go for your squeezin’
Want you to know it really is pleasin’
Want you to know I ain’t for no teasin’

Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Just squeeze me but please don’t tease me
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
Just squeeze me but please don’t tease me
Missing you since you went away
Singing the blues away each day
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I’m in the mood to let you know
I never knew I loved you so
Please say you love me too
When I get this feelin’ I’m in ecstasy
So squeeze me but please don’t tease me

Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Just squeeze me but please don’t tease me
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
Just squeeze me but please don’t tease me
Missing you since you went away
Singing the blues away each day
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I’m in the mood to let you know
I never knew I loved you so
Please say you love me too
When I get this feelin’ I’m in ecstasy
So squeeze me but please don’t tease me

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Posted by: Glenelg Guitar Studio | September 18, 2013

Acoustic Guitar Comes Alive and you’re invited to perform or just come along to listen

Hi Everyone,

Do you like to watch Fingerpicking  Guitarists in action?
Are you a Fingerpicking Guitarist and want to perform in front of a friendly informal audience?

A group of passionate Guitar players  of all levels, get together and perform for each other, on the last Friday of the month at the Dulwich Community Hall. It’s a very informal, encouraging atmosphere for players of all levels and highly recommended to everyone who is undertaking formal studies in Classical Guitar.

Warm night on the verandah

Leigh and Andrew

You get to hear  a variety of styles – Classical, Blues, Pop, Rock and Movie Themes. Several students from Glenelg Guitar studio have  performed pieces from grade 3 to 5 standard. For some it was their first performance, and certainly helped them on the way to a good exam performance. Some nights see  performances from guitar teachers, Denny Vuong, Cathy and Jason Waldron and yours truly. We also saw great performances from  guitarists of varying levels whose age ranged from 10 to 60.

Other students, parents and friends took the opportunity to come along and  enjoy the performances . A great night promoting guitarists in a friendly and very informal atmosphere.

The next night is Friday 27/9/2013 at the Dulwich Community Hall, 14 Union St Dulwich. We get going at 7pm for about 2 hours. The cost is $4 for performers and $2 for others. We would love to see you there encouraging and supporting other guitarists.

If you  are interested in these nights, please let me know and I will keep you up to date on performance information. 

Cheers.

Leigh

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Posted by: Glenelg Guitar Studio | August 31, 2013

Artisane

Hi Everyone,

Here is Artisane, the second of thirteen tangos by Astor Piazolla. The first one is here. It is one of my classical favourites and I hope that you enjoy it.

“Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay.  Tango soon began to gain popularity in Europe, beginning in France. Superstar Carlos Gardel soon became a sex symbol who brought the tango to new audiences, especially in the United States, due to his sensual depictions of the dance on film.”

In the 1920s, tango moved out of the lower-class brothels and became a more respectable form of music and dance. Bandleaders like Roberto Firpo and Francisco Canaro dropped the flute and added a double bass in its place. Lyrics were still typically macho, blaming women for countless heartaches, and the dance moves were still sexual and aggressive.

Sure, Tango is part of any classical guitarist learning but it is also evolving into areas of modern music. Check out the growling Tom Waits which is included in this post for a taste of the modern.

Catch up soon
Leigh

PS. Video is best watched in 480 quality or higher.

 

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Posted by: Glenelg Guitar Studio | July 27, 2013

Leigh plays a famous Spanish piece in drop D tuning

‘Drop D Tuning’  is when the 6th string (normally tuned to E ) is tuned down a tone to D.

“It is often used in Classical music, but it is also a favourite of heavy metal musicians, and those who play the blues although you’ll find it used in all styles of  Guitar music.

You’ll hear it in songs such as “Moby Dick” from Led Zeppelin and even “Dear Prudence” by the Beatles.

Another great tune played in Drop D Tuning is “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden. The lower frequencies in this guitar tuning makes it easy to create ominous musical passages. On the other hand, John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland” shows how Drop D Tuning can also be used in more of a ballad/pop setting. Whatever your style of guitar may be, Drop D Tuning is always there, waiting for you to explore it’s sonic landscape.”

My favourite in Classical Guitar pieces is  a Spanish influenced Capricho árabe (Arab Capriccio) which is a showpiece and classical guitar standard by composer Francisco Tárrega.  (Composed in 1892)

I hope you enjoy my much more recent recording of this piece and will forward it on to any others who may be interested.  If you want to know more about it please let me know next time we catch up.

Cheers …Leigh

P.S. The video was filmed in HD so its best watched in 720 HD, This adjustment is the “cog symbol” which appears on the bottom right of the YouTube screen as soon as you press Play arrow.  If the playback is jerky, you can pause the playback to make it load before playing. Give it a go in Full Screen mode for best effect.

 

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