Great website calling itself,  the home of roots music instruction, gear and news.  The site has some interesting categories to check out.  Worth mentioning are the instrument demos and the section on luthier built instruments.  Peghead Nation 

Levon Helm.  No need to introduce this gentleman.  Besides being one of my drumming influences, he also introduced the mandolin  into the  Americana/Roots/Rock  music scene with The Band.

Levon’s influence on me was so great that when I chose the finish on my first Ludwig drum kit it was Sky Blue Pearl, similar to a kit Levon was using!   The other thing I identified with?

Continue reading Levon Helm Mandolin Drummer →

Originally authored by Wayne Chase and printed by Woodside Rose Press in Canada.  I purchased this poster over 25 years ago and have been looking for a reprint for a very long time.   It looks like it is now reprinted by Roedy Black Publishing, and offered on their website, How Music Really Works. Continue reading Wayne Chase Woodside Rose guitar chord poster →

Its all about rhythm and timing.  Words I hear myself saying over and over again.  My students must be tired of hearing it, but its the truth.  The sooner one gets it under the belt the more fun they will have. There is absolutely no way around this one.  If a student on guitar or mandolin seems challenged in this area, I feel its best to send them home with this assignment:  Go to the music store and purchase a cheap metronome, drum sticks and a practice pad and report back to me! Continue reading Its all about the rhythm and good timing →