Hella Jam 23

Mark Urso, Enya X4 Pro
Brandon Raimondo, Hagstrom Viking Custom Deluxe

This is entirely improvised.

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Mark Urso
mark@markurso.com
@MusicVidNet

Mark Urso Releases “Stardust” on Friday!

Announcement time!

I’m proud to release my second CD, “Stardust,” a nice assortment of guitar-focused music, covering the usual suspects with a fresh approach; the Dead, Dylan, Patty Smyth, Randy Newman, Lowell George, and of course Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish!

Thanks to the inimitable Salvatore Fontana and guitar hero Brandon Raimondo, who join me for a couple trance inducing jazzy original compositions. I renovated Stardust, Continue reading “Mark Urso Releases “Stardust” on Friday!”

Enya EA-X4 Pro Carbon Fiber Guitar

Enya EA-X4 Pro Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar

This review (w/video) of the EA-X4 Pro Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar is intended for people somewhat familiar with the instrument. Still, I’ll go over the basic functions and features for those just hearing about this new product. I receive no compensation for my review. I picked this guitar up a couple weeks ago. It arrived from a USA origin within 4 days in very good shape. I changed the strings to Thomastik 10s, but otherwise it’s out of the box, requiring no adjustment.

A full video review is below. Continue reading “Enya EA-X4 Pro Carbon Fiber Guitar”

Stardust

Stardust

Who’s got two minutes and forty-four seconds to spare? Go!

This song was written in 1927. It was the theme for our AM radio station’s (Westerly, RI) nostalgic music format, many years-ago. Stardust was on my license plate. After all the years, I conceded the MANY varieties of notations of this song weren’t working for me on guitar, so I arranged it myself. I wrote all the chords you see me playing, and when I was done, I remember thinking it was kind of amazing that I didn’t listen to the song once, and I don’t think I’ve heard it in years. It’s just in there, in my brain! Continue reading “Stardust”

Guitar Lesson Three – Barre Chords

Guitar Lesson Three

Lesson three will begin as this document.
I may make it into a video later.

It’s inspired by a Quora question. Read on!

If a guitarist never makes an effort to learn barre chords, what are the playing experiences they’ll never be able to enjoy?

That’s a great question!

I can assure you, when you start playing barre chords, you’ll also start to learn how to play the guitar! You’ll begin to understand the simplicity of how the guitar is laid out and how to find all the notes you need!

Everything on a guitar is done is sections, even when it appears a guitarist is flying all over with his hands. There are simple reference points, which can be found by counting up to what fret you’re on, using the dot markings as reference points, or, most likely, using your current position as a reference point (where you’re moving from).

Hagstrom Viking and Hagstrom HL550 guitars. Choose your weapon!

Let me show you how versatile and simple the guitar can be, by starting in one place. There are many things you can “assign” to a location on the neck of the guitar. Then, I’ll show you how you can move at once, to another location, and, relatively-speaking, everything stays the same.

In other words, I’ll show you freedom and simplicity you can never see if you don’t come up the neck for both single notes and chords, as well as logic Continue reading “Guitar Lesson Three – Barre Chords”

How To Be a Guitar Beginner

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I’ve produced a couple of guitar lesson videos and plan to make more as well. I enjoy discussing my own journey learning guitar and helping others. I find music is an important part of my daily life! I enjoy giving beginners tips in a sometimes-confusing art, where lingo can turn into a different language when a teacher has education chops.

Did you get a new guitar for Christmas?

Today’s article comes from a Quora answer from me.

How do I start learning guitar? I have an electric guitar, and I tend to give up easily. Does anyone have any tips or recommendations?

Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Only one. But the lightbulb has to really want to change!

First of all, you have to really want to do it! I can tell you what I do!

I practice every day, and I have no idea why, generally! But I do remember picking up the guitar about ten years-ago when I was older, and I put a completely different, stronger, effort into it than I had as a young person.

There seems to be two ingredients to getting into a regular relationship with my guitar, and they’re not easy: time and patience. Oh, I love the way the guitars sound, and touching and playing them, creating music … Continue reading “How To Be a Guitar Beginner”