Guitar Exercises and Technique Sessions Week 62 Harry Pellegrin www.pellegrinlowend.com

Weekly Guitar Technique Sessions

Week Number 62 .........January 5, 2006

Now is the time to HELP!

New Orleans needs your help. So does Mississippi and much of the Gulf Coast. Please donate to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.

This link will take you directly to the Red Cross' site. New Orleans was a beautiful little city, home of the jazz and blues, wonderful cuisine and warm, friendly people. Like all cities, it had its problems. During this holiday season lack is felt most keenly and wealth should rejoice in its giving. I think Dickens wrote that. Still applies. What is needed is a large influx of cash to put water, food and medical professionals on-site and wherever the refugees might be placed.

Thank you Texas for opening your arms to so many of the New Orleans victims! God Bless all involved in the relief efforts.

Please click through to the Red Cross and/or the Salvation Army let your heart decide how much to give.

Thank you

Salvation Army ON THE GROUND AND HELPING

Please consider a contribution to the Salvation Army's relief fund.

Ted

The picture

MY FAMOUS CHILI RECIPE!!

MISQUAMICUT BEACH, RHODE ISLAND

For the Mystery Lover

LOW END -- my first published novel

DEEP END--The Wreck of the Eddie Fitz (The exciting sequel to LOW END)

The Reader's Digest Overview of the Series

RELAXATION MUSIC

The Spa Anthology -- collection for professional use

Reflecting Pools -- My CD of keyboard tone poems

In That Zone -- My Second Keyboard Album!

For the Classical Guitarist

The History of the Classical Guitar

The Kenny Hill Munich

Transcriptions

El Noi De La Mare arranged in the style of Llobet

Nacht Tanz original composition by H. Pellegrin

El Testament D'Amelia arranged in the style of Llobet

Strength, Dexterity, Stamina & technique sessions

YEAR 2004 ARCHIVE

Exercise Week One: September 23, 2004 Warm Up and Work Out

Exercise Week Two: September 30, 2004 Legato (Slurs)

Exercise Week Three: October 7, 2004 The Barré in Melody Passages

Exercise Week Four: October 14, 2004 A Trip to Nosebleed Country

Exercise Week Five: October 20, 2004 Sor and the Interval of the Third

Exercise Week Six: October 28, 2004 Scale Passages in Bach's Chaconne

Exercise Week Seven: November 4, 2004 Right-hand finesse in Villa-Lobos

Exercise Week Eight: November 11, 2004 Working in Fourths

Exercise Week Nine: November 18, 2004 Apoyando

Exercise Week Ten: November 25, 2004 Rock and Rollers! Open string speed riffing

Exercise Week Eleven: December 2, 2004 Giuliani variation demands right hand intricacy

Exercise Week Twelve: December 11, 2004 Tremolo Study Number 1

Exercise Week Thirteen: December 18, 2004 Tremolo No. 2 Recuerdos

Exercise Week Fourteen: December 23, 2004 Guardame Las Vacas

The Main Exercise Page

Exercise Week Fifteen: December 30, 2004 Tremolo No. 3 Una Limosna

Exercise Week Sixteen: January 6, 2005 Special Effects

Exercise Week Seventeen: January 13, 2005 Blues/Rock Soloing--The Box

Exercise Week Eighteen: January 20, 2005 Blues/Rock Soloing Part Two--Bending the Box

Exercise Week Nineteen: January 27, 2005 Blues/Rock Soloing Part Three--Vibrato

Exercise Week Twenty: February 3, 2005 Blues/Rock Soloing Part Four -- Majorly Outside the Box

Exercise Week Twenty One: February 10, 2005 Tendonitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. AVOID IT!

Exercise Week Twenty Two: February 17, 2005 Getting Sor with an Etude... Apoyando PART TWO

Exercise Week Twenty Three: February 24, 2005 Sight Reading 101 with a Giuliani Rossiniane (Opus 119, No. 1)

Exercise Week Twenty Four: March 3, 2005 Bend and stretch, doing two things at once and finger independence

Exercise Week Twenty Five: March 10, 2005 Apoyando Part Three -- using Carcassi Opus 60 No. 16 to get that ring finger resting...

Exercise Week Twenty Six: March 17, 2005 Get those fingers where they ought to be! Proper Left Hand Positioning

Exercise Week Twenty Seven: March 24, 2005 Drop D tuning a classical guitarist's perspective on a common practice.

Exercise Week Twenty-Eight March 31, 2005 Right hand Technique --tone production on the Electric Guitar

Exercise Week Twenty Nine: April 7, 2005 Right hand Technique -- tone production on the Classical Guitar

Exercise Week Thirty: April 14, 2005 Sight Reading 101 Part Two -- Back to a more Basic Approach

Exercise Week Thirty-One: April 21, 2005 Sight Reading 101 Part Three -- Let's Read all over the Freakin' Neck, man

Exercise Week Thirty-Two: April 28, 2005 Sight Reading 101 Part Four -- We got the flashlight and the Lizard Poison!

Exercise Week Thirty-Three: May 19, 2005 Sight Reading 101 Part Five -- The shape of things to come and tone ranges

Exercise Week Thirty-Three: May 25, 2005 An old Carulli Prelude gets that Butt-Ugly Thumb moving like a champ!

Exercise Week Thirty-Four: June 2, 2005 Jon Voight taught me not to be late. But until that time when I really learn the lesson, here is a neat Carulli Andante for you to finger.

Exercise Week Thirty-Five: June 9, 2005 Practice Versus Playing The Bout of the Century -- but who will win? He who practices, not just plays...

Exercise Week Thirty-Six: June 16, 2005 The Stretcher You want to get used to this here rather than at a gig. Actually an easy exercise that builds a skill.

Exercise Week Thirty-Seven: June 23, 2005 Lute Tabulature You'll need to know how the various methods work to cop some good early music. Viel Ton, the tab of Dowland. THIS IS PART ONE

Exercise Week Thirty-Eight: June 30, 2005 Lute Tabulature Spanish, Italian and French. The cuisine is great, but the tabulature is good too! THIS IS PART TWO

Exercise Week Thirty-Nine: July 7, 2005 Lute Tabulature German Tablature -- this is the tough one to interpret (at first.) THIS IS PART THREE

Exercise/Technique Session Number Forty: July 14, 2005 Standard Notation -- so simple even musicians can read it!

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty One: July 21, 2005 Planting and Hold That Note! Making your fingers work a little keeps them from working a lot!

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Two: July 28, 2005 Planting and Hold That Note! Making your fingers work a little keeps them from working a lot!

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Three: August 4, 2005 Rasgueado (Ooo, pardon me!) Yes, it's a sound, but not that one!

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Four: August 11, 2005 Back to Basics PART ONE -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Five: August 18, 2005 Back to Basics PART TWO -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Six: August 25, 2005 Back to Basics PART THREE -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Seven: September 1, 2005 Back to Basics PART FOUR -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Eight: September 8, 2005 Back to Basics PART FIVE -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Forty Nine: September 15, 2005 Back to Basics PART SIX -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret. This is the last part of the series. Next week, something new!

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Fifty: September 23, 2005 Rigging Your Pedals - Sounding like a garage band? Try rearranging the furniture!

Guitar Technique Session Fifty One: October 13, 2005 Be a tone meister with a crap amplifier!

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Number Fifty Two: October 10, 2005 Raiding Hollywood's soundtrack to find great tunes for transcription -- The Harry Lime Theme

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Number Fifty - Three: October 27, 2005 Another trip to an unlikely place for some recital repertoire PART TWO

Guitar Exercise or Technique Session Number Fifty Four: November 3, 2005 More repertoire from the 'lite' classic arena

Guitar Exercises Session Number Fifty Five: November 10, 2005. Mauro Giuliani shows us his stuff!

Guitar Exercises Session Number Fifty SIX: November 17, 2005. Napoleon Coste gives a glimpse of 19th Century life.

For the Rock N' Roller

The Fender Guitar (Stratocasters mostly!)

Fender Construction Technique

AIR RAID -- Bronx Bar Band of the Early 1980's

The Discords -- Five-part harmony on Ely Avenue in the 1960's

Rory Gallagher -- Irish-born master of the Blues.

Funny Old Photos -- Harry Pellegrin in various incarnations...

Ensemble Performance

PART ONE: The Technique of Ensemble Playing: Emotions and Expectations -- the price one pays.

PART TWO: Rehearsal Etiquette -- Are you a squid in the band room?

PART THREE: Blending with the band -- do you fit in or do you take over?

PART FOUR: Numbers and Hand Signals -- It is polite to use your hands for some things

PART FIVE: Behaving at The Gig Professionalism Pays Big Dividends

PART SIX: VOLUME! How loud is too loud? How do you get loud enough and keep from assaulting ears and sensibilities?

PART SEVEN: Gig Realities --Some sage and humorous advice.

PART EIGHT: 'And so, the end is near, it's time to face that final curtain...' When is it time to quit a band?

Some Interesting Places to Visit

The Beautiful Bronx of the 1960's

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx -- Where the Elite Meet to Decompose

Untermyer Park in Yonkers -- Home of beautiful statuary and night-time occult practices. Son of Sam chilled here. So did the rest of us little urchins back in the 197o's

Scenes and Sites from LOW END and DEEP END

MORE -- The Scene of the Crime

ARTICLES

INTERVIEW: Jack Kirk Master Builder of Fine Classical Guitars. Conducted in 1983, this interview appeared in edited form in Soundboard Magazine. Here is a transcript of the tape made that day in June. Names are named and myths debunked.

Ever break a fingernail prior to a majorly important recital? Here's a way of patching your hand and your career using stuff you already have in the house. NAILS!

Want to fondly recall life as it was in New York City in 1983? Read this article on guitar in NY .

GUITAR QUEBEC 1983 -- A great conference held by the Guitar Foundation of America. Harry covered the series of master classes held. Read the article he wrote for the Winter 1984 issue of Soundboard.

An old Soundboard article from 1983, this piece discusses college education for guitarists in New York City. READ.

The Wave on a Cool Fall Afternoon A short ghost story

Are You Hard Core? From Plastic Pony Magazine Editorial

Wild Horses From Plastic Pony Magazine , June 1994 Diatribe on music and memory-jogs

On the Road Again From Plastic Pony Magazine , November 1994 Editorial

Excerpt Number One from The Monkey Butt Essays Editorial

Excerpt Number Two from The Monkey Butt Essays Editorial

Excerpt Number Three from The Monkey Butt Essays Editorial

Excerpt Number Four from T he Monkey Butt Essays Editorial

The Wake From Plastic Pony Magazine Maudlin piece on a dead guy and a dead motorcycle

Excerpt Number Five from Plastic Pony Magazine Editorial

Daytona 1993 Recount of a road trip to the sunny climes

It Pays to Advertise Editorial

Bias Anyone? The AMA hates outlaw bikers -- enough to, well, shall we say 'make up stories?'

Adirondack Weekend Another road movie...

Music and Motorcycles Bikes and tunes

Back to Some Basic Concepts

Clean chord transitions

New students often learn to strum a small number of chords. They also seem to invariably believe that there are at least three beats between those chords when they transition from one to another!

1, 2, 3, 4.... 1, 2, 3, 4..... (yawn, stretch) 1, 2, 3, 4 .... find a nice girl, get married, buy a house.... 1, 2, 3, 4

The student is counting out loud and strumming (or plucking) a chord for four beats. When the transition to the next chord arrives, they stop counting, stop playing, fingers yearn to find a new home on the fretboard. Time comes to a standstill until... There's that next chord!

Here's an easy chord progression -- one that a new student might encounter. If you are finger picking, roll the chord, if you are flat-picking, strum accordingly. Students will often see whole notes and heave a sigh of relief. They relax through the four beats and then panic when their eyes come across the next chord. They stop, arrange their hands and continue. Secret? When the student sees a whole note, he or she should not relax! Look ahead and see what the next measure contains -- use the 'down-time' to read ahead. This little overlooked concept can shave a few beats off a sloppy transition.

So... how does one take this further? With my students, I don't change the chord progression, no, what I do is make the chord progression LOOK more complex! When the student sees the quarter notes and realizes that he or she will be strumming or plucking on each beat, you'd be amazed how quickly things fall apart. After the first read-through, they then realize I've fooled them with the same chords (My work sheets don't include those little box diagrams, by the way.)

What does melody have to do with all this? Remember my sessions on planting? As a brief recap, often a melody line will be contained in a chord shape that can be planted. In other words, once the hand has been arranged in position, the melody can be plucked and the hand need not move. This simple arpeggio passage looks melodic, but is only chordal in nature.

The goal for the new student is to learn to move the hand from chord shape to chord shape without losing any time. It seems like a daunting task to the new student, but as millions of guitarists can attest, it can be done! The secret is to practice SLOWLY and evenly. Play these chord transitions with as slowly as it takes to make sure that the transitions happen within the written number of beats.

Please come back next week for more fun and games! If you like these exercises and technique sessions, please consider buying one of my books!

AVAILABLE NOW !

The Classic Guitar Method: Now in one volume, much of what the novice classical guitarist will need to know to lead him or her to the recital stage. From proper instrument care and maintenance to the necessary technical skills, musical mind-set, and the standard repertoire—all is exposed and explored with enough detail and insight that the student will wish to keep this book handy years to come as a ready reference source.

With the aid of a good teacher, the student will rapidly progress through The Classic Guitar Method attaining technical proficiency and musical eloquence.

This method stems from the need to incorporate a number of schools into a single cohesive curriculum. Years of honing a logical approach to the guitar and the creation of music culminate in this volume. As a self-proclaimed Disciple of Valdés-Blain , much of that famed teacher's focus can be found in Mr. Pellegrin's method.

ISBN: 978-1-4116-9442-2

Published by PAB Entertainment Group, P.O. Box 2369 Scotia, New York 12302

Please go to www.lulu.com to order.

As the holiday season has now arrived, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family all the joy, peace and love that this season offers.

If you are looking for some unique gifts, please consider either a copy of LOW END or one of Harry's fine CD's of inspirational and relaxing music.

LOW END is available through www.amazon.com and Reflecting Pools and In That Zone can be purchased through www.bathtubmusic.com. Thanks!

Harry George Pellegrin is an author of mystery novels, a musician and recording artist. Primarily a guitarist, Harry's latest recordings are keyboard-driven and most easily classified as New Age, though we don't like to consider the music in a 'genre box.' Harry G. Pellegrin's first published novel, LOW END, is a murder mystery set in South Yonkers and New York City in the late 1980's. The characters, all derived from friends and acquaintances, try to investigate the death of one of their own -- not so much to solve a crime, but to keep from sharing a similar fate. LOW END has been met with great critical acclaim. The sequel, DEEP END, is being shopped by a well-known literary agent at the time of this writing.

This page is designed for a number of reasons. We'll be honest, a primary goal is to expose a larger audience to Harry's music and writing. Another goal of the webmaster is to create a repository for the knowledge that years of experience in the performing arts industry has given Harry. Creating a chronicle of life in the Bronx in the 1960's and 1970's is another goal we hope to accomplish.

Harry George Pellegrin's first keyboard album Reflecting Pools can be auditioned here. Visit this page link to hear samples...

The second album, In That Zone, has a page where one can hear samples as well. Follow this link...

Spa Anthology -- need relaxation music for your Day Spa or Facial and Massage Facility? Click here for hassle-free music.

Do you know how to chain your effects pedals? Do you sound like a 'Wall of Oatmeal' sometimes? ALL the time? Check this out!

Can't read standard musical notation? If you can read the gas prices to the left, sure you can! Please see these articles for the help you need:

Exercise/Technique Session Number Forty: July 14, 2005 Standard Notation -- so simple even musicians can read it!

Exercise/Technique Session Number Forty Four: August 11, 2005 Back to Basics PART ONE -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Exercise/Technique Session Forty Five: August 18, 2005 Back to Basics PART TWO -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Exercise/Technique Session Forty Six: August 25, 2005 Back to Basics PART THREE -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Exercise/Technique Session Forty Seven: September 1, 2005 Back to Basics PART FOUR -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Exercise/Technique Session Forty Eight: September 8, 2005 Back to Basics PART FIVE -- teaching the new student to read above the fifth fret.

Exercise/Technique Session Forty Nine: September 15, 2005 Back to Basics PART SIX (The last in this series, but not on this topic! Teaches the new student to read above the fifth fret. Next week a new topic. YEAH!

What you'll find on this page -- links to Harry Pellegrin's pages on classical and electric guitar technique, rock bands of the past, AIR RAID included. Rory Gallagher, master of the blues, one of Ireland's favorite sons. Harry has a small tribute here as he was a great fan of crime novels and his brother Donal graced the book LOW END with a wonderful foreword. There is a tribute to Harry Pellegrin's mentor Albert Valdes-Blain and his teacher and mentor Andres Segovia. What does that make Harry? Second generation Segovia?

"You'll see pages on Fender's wonderful and innovative guitars. But you'll also find information on my novels and music. Look, I hate to be self-promoting, but I think you'll find my stuff to be worthy of your attention. Please check it all out." -- Harry Pellegrin

No Excuses required for Leftover Turkey Recipe!

NEW! The History of the Classic Guitar from Lute to the 21st Century (New article on Vicente Arias has been added)

AND

Some Arcane Tips for the Guitarist who wants to Play the Lute

What's New? The New Album!

Hey, the new album is out! That's right, finally a follow-up to the reissue of my old album from the late 1980's.

Reflecting Pools is a departure for me as it is totally keyboard. Well, the guitar did show up on one track...

Click the image to the left to learn more, hear a few tracks --even get ordering info if you want it!

"...Reflecting Pools is a notable first album [for Mr. Pellegrin]. A dramatic sense of tonality and mood are propelled by exemplary musicianship and exciting compositional exploits."

Available through www.BATHTUBMUSIC.com...

...And containing nine tracks that are relaxing, inspirational -- sounds like a snooze. Not really, this is great stuff to listen to on a rainy afternoon, while with your significant other (nudge, nudge, know what I mean?) Please visit the Reflecting Pools page on this site or www.bathtubmusic.com. In That Zone, is now out! Please visit www.bathtubmusic.com for details and to order.

LOW END What's new with the book that came out over a year ago? After being on back-order at Amazon.com for what seemed like a century, it is my understanding that copies are once again shipping. Barnes and Noble's website is on-again-off-again, but PAB (on Amazon as an authorized vendor) has LOW END in stock and it comes with a CD!

DEEP END, the exciting sequel, is being shopped by my literary agent even as we speak.

The Guitar Sessions: Weekly tech tips and exercises to help the guitarist improve. This feature has really taken off. Each week a new page is posted with either an exercise to get the left and right hands moving more efficiently and effectively or an interesting piece from the standard repertoire , demonstrating a necessary technical ability. Judging by the hits these pages receive, you guitar players love this feature!

The page is updated every Thursday. Visit the 2004 Archive as well!

My Mission, My Policy

In my opinion, the murder mystery genre reached its zenith in the 1930's and 1940's. The novels penned in those decades were taut, no-nonsense stories of people in life and death crises, people who did not flinch when confronted with overwhelming odds or overwhelming emotion. Some of these tales could be hard-edged and hard-boiled, but the heroes invariably had a soft side as well.

I believe that over the years, in an attempt to mimic real life, the writers of murder mysteries--and most other literature, for that matter--have lowered the standards of excellence set by such authors as the gritty Raymond Chandler and the sophisticated Dorothy Sayers. Many authors misinterpret smut for romance and brutality for strength.

My novels aspire to the standards set by the 1940's mystery writers. My tales are as real and grimy as the mean streets that spawned them. Even so, and though they deal with modern issues, you will not find gratuitous sex in my characters' relationships. Sex may be alluded to, but it is never allowed out from behind closed doors. You will find that my books are entertaining to a broad audience--I have had positive comments from teens to grandmothers. One reader was surprised when I told him that there were no obscenities in the book he'd just finished. He hadn't missed them! A good story doesn't need such unnecessary 'embellishment.'

I have conducted book signings at churches, country clubs, libraries and even a street corner (don't ask!) and I've never been called to task for, or ashamed of, my work. Pick up a copy of my latest novel and see if it isn't a good read!

Harry Pellegrin

As a native New Yorker and an American, I am still angered by the cowardly attacks of 9/11. Unless we restore New York City's skyline to its condition prior to September 11th, 2001, the miserable scum who attacked us will have won! Visit www.makeNYNYagain.com and rebuild America!

About My Site:

This site is a way for me to commemorate and celebrate a life and lifestyle that is now extinct. Why extinct? Is it that Thomas Wolfe " You-can't-go-home-again " thing? Is it because life is so much different now that what we experienced in the Bronx in the 60's and 70's is no longer relevant? Yes. No. Yes and no? Definitely maybe ! Why do I always start these little essays with questions?

At first, the main thrust of this site was to promote my book. It is a worthy goal; the book tells a good tale and everyone who has read it finds it entertaining and thought-provoking. With that sole goal, I went live with this site back in August of 2003. What happened next is what makes this site truly valuable.

There are people I grew up with, attended school and with whom I played in bands -- neighbors, friends, good family -- who I hadn't seen since I moved from the Bronx in 1986. Divorce had forced me into exile, time and distance conspired to seemingly turn this into a life sentence. Thank the muses for the internet! This site wasn't live for more than two months before I was reunited with Paul Silvestro , a childhood friend whom I hadn't seen in seventeen years. His brother Larry , the guy who had turned me on to playing guitar and taught me the things about music that matter the most, now with him I had no contact since 1983. Twenty years! Too long. I felt as if a part of my soul had been restored -- a part that had been missing for ages and had long ago been written off. But more was to come.

Anthony Pernice, Art Clement , Mike Moretti -- all reunited to me.

The 1960's weren't good to a number of us -- many of us had our personal demons to exorcise, be it substance abuse or the insidious hedonism of the times. but through it all, we were instilled with a vibe, cast in an artistic mold--call it what you will--but unless these same environmental stimuli are exactly reproduced, there will never be another crop of people quite the same.

This page delves into what we experienced and how we incorporated these experiences into art, music, literature and life . I've paid tribute to my neighborhood, the Wakefield section of the Bronx. The Discords -- Larry Silvestro and Artie Clemente's first band in the early mid-sixties-- they're here with their matching outfits, Fender, Hagstrom and Gretsch guitars plus those impeccably precise five part harmonies.

And speaking of the Bronx, I can't talk about Wakefield without mentioning Mount Saint Michael Academy on Murdock Avenue. The Mount was my Junior and High School and although I was not a happy camper while there, I made a few really good friends and consider the education received to be a fine one.

Of course, there is an homage to Leo Fender and his magnificent designs, the Telecaster © and the Stratocaster ©. I officially declare C.L. Fender an honorary Bronxite. These instruments have literally changed my life and the way we all hear music. Check out this page on my site.

Rory Gallagher, whom I saw play in 1973 and who has influenced me ever since--he has a page here as well. He has gone on now, but the impact he made is still rippling outwards, changing how we interpret the blues.

Untermyer Park in Yonkers and Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx are included on this site. We were kids interested in a good ghost story and both these places were terrific for providing a few innocent and fun goosebumps.

...and of course, my book!

Please enjoy this site. Nose around. Anyone can find something here to read and get a chuckle.

Thanks!

The Website of Harry George Pellegrin Author, Musician, and Recording Artist

Weekly Guitar Technique Sessions

Classical Guitar

Rock N' Roll

Now is the time to HELP!

New Orleans needs your help. So does Mississippi and much of the Gulf Coast. Please donate to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.

What's New? The New Album!

Available through www.BATHTUBMUSIC.com...