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| Hi Pete, Happy New Year. Can you recommend a decent guitar strap? All the ones I've tried creak against the body of the guitar which drives me nuts. Also, I know you are a banjo player and I am just starting to learn. Is it essential to keep your ring and little finger down on your picking hand? I can do this but my guitar picking nails make scratching sounds on the skin. Can't wait for your new DVDs. Have a great year. |
| Richard
Norfolk , England - Monday, December 31, 2007 |
Richard; I like the Levy's guitar straps. They have a bunch of different models. Go through them with your guitar in the store. Try them all and see what works best for you. Yes, you should keep your ring and little fingers down on the head of the banjo. It will make a big difference in the sound and will help your technique. |
| Hi Pete, Recently, my 12 year old son, Alex, was shown your video of "Superstition", and he was just amazed. He decided to try to teach himself to play guitar. With his "learn to play" book and his inexpensive acustic guitar he is doing quite well. The reason for my e-mail though, is to find out if you are playing anywhere near us in the future. I'd love to bring him to see you. He watches your videos quite regularly, and I know that he would be thrilled to see you in person. I looked on your schedule, but it only goes through January 2008. Thanks, Kim |
| Kim Mayer
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kmayer@embarqmail.com Lucas , Oh USA - Thursday, December 27, 2007 |
Kim; I suppose I could answer your question better if I knew where you lived. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, I'm interested in a tab book for your First Light Christmas cd. Are you planning on making one? Or perhaps a dvd of your fingerstyle arrangements of Christmas songs? Happy Holidays, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Monday, December 24, 2007 |
Alex; I will have a TAB book out this spring so everyone can be practicing up for next Christmas! |
| Pete: I just read of your plans to post the lead part of LATE WINTER,EARLY SPRING. What a great Christmas present this news is. THANKS SO MUCH DAVE |
| Dave McKinney
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dmckinneyco@hotmail.com Whittier , CA USA - Monday, December 24, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, Thanks for that. I look forward to both of these tabs! Now I understand where the problem lies. I'm looking forward to that, especially the rest of Darcy Farrow. Cheers Steve |
| S Armstrong
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none@none.com Lincs , UK - Saturday, December 22, 2007 |
| Hi Pete,
I have been learning Darcy Farrow recently from your Homespun DVD and also watching John on The Wild Life concert DVD. A couple of questions. Are your transcriptions exact or dumbed down slightly? Also, for the Darcy Farrow song in your tab book and on the DVDs, I cannot figure out when you start to sing. Could you please give a bit of insight in to how to break down the tab so I can tell when to sing at all please? At the end of the DVD you sing a bit and I can't help but get the feeling the guitar part sounds somewhat different to what you just taught. Thanks Pete. |
| S Armstrong
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None@none.com Lincoln , Linc UK - Thursday, December 20, 2007 |
Steve; The transcriptions are not dumbed down. What I said on the DVD with Darcy Farrow was that I was showing John's intro to the song because it makes such a good fingerstyle arrangement on it's own. Maybe that was cut out in the editing process... At some point in the near future I am going to put the vocal accompaniment on my web site for those who want to learn that. Also, I am working on the lead guitar part to LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING. That will be up on my web site soon. Cheers, Pete |
| Pete, As always, the past show at LORD OF THE STRINGS was excellent!!!!! Please come to So Cal more, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!! Thank you so much for the wonderful show. Just wondering when THE CLEVELAND HILLS is going to make it to CD?? Also, any other pop tunes that you may cover in the future? Have a very Merry CHRISTmas and a wonderful New Year. From the ONLY guy who requests The Cleveland Hills! |
| Rich Elliott
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racegts@yahoo.com Huntington Beac , CA USA - Thursday, December 20, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, Just want to thank you for autograph on the Christmas Cd "First Light" I enjoyed the cd and can't wait for the music tabs to be published so that I can start learning to play them for Christmas 2008. I listen to "the Black Swan" can't seem to get that tune out of my head, Thank you Pete... I got to do something about that. Any chance on putting out the music tabs? Happy Holiday's! |
| Ray Lodholz
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rlodholz@msn.com Shelby Township , Mi USA - Thursday, December 20, 2007 |
| Pete Thanks for the wonderful concert and clinic on Saturday night at Charley's. After the show you and I chatted about your plans to do a Dan Fogelberg instructional DVD and concerns about Dan's health issues. Sadly on Sunday morning Dan Fogelberg lost his battle with cancer at only 56. I cannot think of anyone better suited to honor and preserve his musical legacy that you, Pete. Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family. And thanks again for all the great music and inspiration. |
| Glenn Anderson
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anderson9@comcast.net Dallas , TX USA - Monday, December 17, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, Love your music. Do you have transcriptions available for Sir Duke and I Got Rhythm. Thanks Mike |
| Mike Blasucci
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michaelblasucci@yahoo.com Naples , Fl USA - Wednesday, December 12, 2007 |
Mike, I don't have Sir Duke but I Got Rhythm is in The Peter Huttlinger Collection. You can get it here http://www.petehuttlinger.com |
| Pete,
I noticed when you finger pick that you keep your pinky tucked in with your other three fingers. Anyway, I've gotten into the habit of placing my pinky on the pick guard while I finger pick and at times I push too hard and it causes some mild discomfort in my finger. Besides the occassional discomfort, is this a bad habit? I've tried curling all of them like you do which appears to be very efficient but it also seemed quite a bit more difficult. Is this something I should retrain myself into doing? Thanks |
| chip
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chiprucker@hotmail.com Traverse , mI USA - Wednesday, December 05, 2007 |
Chip; You definitely should not have your fingers on the pick guard. It is indeed much more efficient to have them all tucked into your hand. Plus if any of them are on the pick guard then they are not available to use to play a string. I don't normally use my pick to pluck a string but sometimes I do need it. And when I need it, it is available. |
| Pete - I have always wanted to play lead on acoustic and electric. However, the scales that I play seems to have the same style. I know a few major and pentatonic scales. Could you please advise what is the best way to practice and expand my skills on playing lead, incorporating the different scale type to kick it up another notch. Please advise. |
| Prem Cesnan
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premcesnan@hotmail.com Cleveland , Ohio USA - Tuesday, December 04, 2007 |
| Hi Pete i just finished going through your Jim Croce dvd and i loved it! I'm ready to order your John Denver dvd next. My question for you is are you planning to add another Jim Croce dvd with more of his songs in the near future? After i bought your instruction dvd i bought Jim Croces greatest hits and couldn't beleive how much great guitar hooks are included on some of his lesser known hits. Once again thanks for the great job on the Jim Croce dvd. Murray Marshall Calgary.Alberta Canada |
| Murray Marshall
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mowww@shaw.ca USA - Monday, December 03, 2007 |
| Pete, what do you recommend for carpal tunnel symptoms in the left hand? What kind of stretches do you recommend before playing? |
| Tom
- Tuesday, November 27, 2007 |
| Hi! I was in your workshop at Winfield this year and really enjoyed it. I bought your First Light CD and love it. Wonder if I could find the tab for your First Noel? I'd love to impress my family at Christmas! Also, do you have any songbooks for beginning level? Thanks! Ruth Walker |
| Ruth Walker
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walkerr2218@sbcglobal.net Stillwater , OK USA - Wednesday, November 14, 2007 |
| Pete, Any chance you could post the chords for "Destructive" "Abbey Road" Thanks |
| Guido J Alvarez
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aquarius6524@aol.com germantown , md USA - Wednesday, November 07, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, I'm wondering what you might suggest for a good mic preamp. I record on Protools through an M-audio fw1814 and am using a matched pair of Rode Nt5 mics. I would like to upgrade a notch from what the 1814 offers, within $500 or so. I realize it's probably a matter of opinion, but...?? |
| Brad
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bradwarren@wildblue.net Hamilton , MT USA - Sunday, November 04, 2007 |
| Pete, I used your practice suggestions from your video. I go through all the fingerstyle variations that you suggest and find them very useful. I do have an issue though. As my index finger is cut off, for picking I use my middle, ring and pinky finger while fingerstlye picking. Could you suggest exercises to increase the strength and independence of my pinky finger. Thanks for any suggestions. Burruss WIlliams |
| Burruss Williams
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burrussw@earthlink.net Palmyra , WI USA - Wednesday, October 31, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, Are you planning on making a songbook available of your new recording, "Things Are Looking Up"? If you are...when will it be available? By the way...with your help, I was able to work through the fingerings to "Fields of Gold". Thanks for your help. Nancy and I hope to see you at Blvd Music in November. |
| Steve Berger
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steve@theberger.net Redondo Beach , CA USA - Thursday, October 18, 2007 |
| Stage Fright: Pete do you have any tips for dealing with stage fright? I find that I can play pieces well at home but then it falls apart in front of a crowd. I haven't played out in 4 years so I am a bit shy. Also how do you go about warming up for a show and for how long? I have a charity benefit to play for in a few weeks and have been trying to play out more at open mic nights just to get out in front of people to learn how to relax again. It's a bit different playing through an amp and in front of people as opposed to practicing in your bedroom, so I'm trying that to make it easier to deal with stage fright, but I wanted to get your perspective on it, and also how you warm up before a show. Thanks, Rob |
| Rob A.
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arpino1@cox.net Phoenix , AZ USA - Wednesday, October 17, 2007 |
| Pete, about two years ago, at age 63, I got serious about learning to play my guitar. Unfortunately arthritis is beginning to overtake my hands. It has gotten to the point that I am selling my steel string opting for a nylon string with a wider nut, which seems to less'n the knuckle issues. Have you got any exercises to help keep the fingers mobile? Love your DVD's, so much help! Thanks |
| Tom Armitage
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NewHopeChurch@wi.rr.com KENOSHA , WI USA - Wednesday, October 17, 2007 |
| Pete, I would love to find the sheet music for John Denver's Late Winter, Early Spring, but all I can find is the piano version. Can you either tell me how I might go about transcribing it, or where I could get the guitar version? |
| Jason
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jasonsallen@hotmail.com Hamilton , MT USA - Monday, October 15, 2007 |
| On one of John Denver's early lp's there is a solo guitar song that in the 70's was played a lot commercially. I don't believe John Denver played it but am trying to find out what and who the artist was and the album it was on. Can you help me? I believe it was the last track of the LP. Sincerely, Brad |
| Brad Bland
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caseybland @gmail .com slc , utah USA - Saturday, October 13, 2007 |
Brad; Check out the Rocky Mountain High album. The piece you are looking for is called Late Winter, Early Spring (When Everybody Goes To Mexico). John played rhythm guitar and Mike Taylor played the lead guitar. Pete |
| Hello Pete, It was great to hear and meet you at the KOG Cafe in Milwaukee recently. My family and I tremendously enjoy you music. My wife and boys turned to me and smiled when you started playing Darcy's Guitar because they have been hearing me trying to master it almost every night for a quite some time. I hope that you make it back to the Chicago area again. You asked that I pass along the picture my wife took of us at the KOG Cafe. I have not be able to figure out how to attach the jpeg picture on your website. Sorry if I am overlooking something basic. Let me know if there is an alternative way to get to you. Be well. Cheers, |
| Mike McArthy
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mikemcarthy@comcast.net Chicago , USA - Sunday, October 07, 2007 |
| Can I have the guitar sheet music for LeAnn Rimes - Destructive (Live from Abbey Road)please? I love this song and I want to be able to play guitar and sing along. Thanks Cortney |
| Cortney
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iknowthesinger08@aol.com Parma , MI USA - Sunday, September 30, 2007 |
Hi Cortney; I'm sorry but I don't have any sheet music for that song. You can probably purchase it somewhere on-line. It is a great song, isn't it? Pete |
| Pete,
I am really interested in learning more finger style chord work. Right now when I accompany others, I just strum and hope for the best. I viewed your John Denver instructional videos and thought that might be a good place to start. I have to say that I am a beginner. Could you recommend one of your DVDs as a good starting point. Thanks Kevin |
| Kevin Hay
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hey4hay@verizon.net Souderton , PA USA - Wednesday, September 26, 2007 |
Kevin; A Guitarist's Guide To Better Practice is one that I would highly recommend. There is a lot of information in there to help you avoid problems that may need to be corrected in the future. You might also want to try Essential Exercises for Fingerstyle Guitar. It is another good one with lots of exercises for your right hand. ;-) |
| Pete, you probably don't remember, but I took lessons from you in Nashville at a small music store near Vanderbilt in the early 90's. I was a medical student at the time. You taught me Alice's Restaurant, Hey Hey (Eric Clapton), Blackbird, among others. To be honest you were off my radar screen until I saw you in Homespun's catalog. I now remember you saying you were going to go work for John Denver. Anyway, now you are teaching me all over again how to play Denver tunes and you didn't even know it. I have come a long way but have no plans to quit my day job as a doctor! Thanks for all you do..keep up the good work! Jay M |
| Jay McGrory
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jmcgrory@vzw.blackberry.net Columbus , GA USA - Tuesday, September 25, 2007 |
Hi Doc; It's good to hear from you! I'm so glad the DVD's are helping you to continue learning. I had a great time teaching for many years at Cotten Music here in Nashville. I still get down there every couple of weeks and visit. You should too! Check out my web store to see what I've been up to with my own music the past 15 years. www.petehuttlinger.com All the best - Pete |
| Hi Pete! Your instructional videos have really helped elevate my playing. The best part of your lessons are the included tab booklets! So many times I've purchased learning videos by these great players that don't include the tab, and then speed through the lesson so they can show you how great they can play. I'm really looking to learn how to play "Chet Style" in particular, "Windy and Warm"(which I've seen you play great), and Tommy Emmanuel's version of "I'll see you in my dreams". Do you know of anyone of your caliber that teaches and tabs out these two wonderful songs? Thanks, Regan |
| Regan Wood
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reganwood@cox.net Las Vegas , NV USA - Monday, September 24, 2007 |
Regan; Thanks so much. I'm glad the DVD's are helping and the the TAB is working for you. The purpose of teaching a DVD lesson should never be to show off what the teacher can do. That is why we go on the road and do concerts. The only purpose should be to share the knowledge and show how to play something that the student wants to learn. I do not know where to get lessons on Tommy's material. But I'll be a 5 minute search on the internet will give you what you are looking for. |
| Hi Pete, When you arrange a song and want to play the melody in another key, how do you modulate to the new key? Is it customary to return to the original key using the same chord progression? Is there a standard chord progression like the VI chord that acts as a window to the new key? Is this called a pivot chords? Thanks, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Saturday, September 22, 2007 |
Alex; There are many ways to change keys. 1.) You can go directly from one key to the next without any pivot chords --- End in "C" and go directly to "D" or any other key. 2.) You can use the V chord of the new key as a pivot. End in "C" and then play "A" before playing "D." That gives the listener a clue that something is happening. 3.) You can play a II-7 V7 of the new key. End in "C" then pay "Em7" to "A7" to "D." Those are just a few of the many, many ways to change keys or "modulate." |
| Is it hard to answer all of these questions from so many people around the world? |
| Skylar
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Aol @jkck.com Augusta , Main USA - Monday, September 17, 2007 |
Skylar; Actually answering the questions is easy... finding the time is the hard part. |
| Dear Pete,
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me at Winfield. I enjoyed your shows. You were great. I would like to start learning fingerstyle guitar do you have any advice for an 11 year old? I liked meeting you!!!!!!!! Thanks again, Griffin |
| Griffin Duvall
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duvallmd@sbcglobal.net Sand Springs , OK USA - Sunday, September 16, 2007 |
Hi Griffin! It sure was great meeting you too! Thanks for coming to so many of my shows at Winfield. Do you go there every year? My advice would be to get a guitar, get a teacher who likes to have fun and have fun yourself. If you like it, send me another note and I'll give you more advice... ;-) |
| Hi Pete! In your recent newsletter you mentioned you would be making another DVD for Homespun Tapes this fall, to be released next spring. Can you tell us a little more about what you will be teaching on this DVD? Already have the space cleared in my library for the new addition! |
| Diane
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poco1988@aol.com ID USA - Friday, August 31, 2007 |
Diane; I will be doing two DVD's. One will be on Chords ---- what are they? where are they? What do we do with them?... and there will be another one on.... ;-) |
| I'm a big fan of your work. I've purchased 5 of your DVD's on homespun. I'm a black singer songwriter living in NY. I'm trying to learn how to arrange black music for guitar. The problem I'm having is a lot of it is keyboard based. Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Motown songs, etc. all keyboard based. I can't find anything on arranging black music with the black singer/songwriter in mind. You arranged a couple Stevie songs as instrumentals for guitar, which I've never heard anyone do before. Where can I learn how to do that, keeping in mind I have to sing this stuff as I play? I have your John Denver series, but John Denver arranged all of his stuff on guitar, and I'm trying to learn to arrange keyboard songs for guitar. Any ideas? |
| Richard Ladson
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rladso@yahoo.com Brooklyn , NY USA - Thursday, August 16, 2007 |
I would suggest getting the books of music for Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye etc... They should contain the chords for guitar in those books. :-) |
| Hi, Pete, just wanted to tell you a big thank you for your great music: Josie, Brown Bomber, Darcy's Guitar, Hortensia, Tommy in Morning, Sunny ... i don't want to bore you all with naming them all ;-) ... just plain beautiful music. And it's not enough.... you communicate your deep knowledge about music in general and guitar playing specially to others. This is probably in the tradition of other great musicians: a Yehudi Menuhin comes to my mind, who was not only probably one of the greatest violinist of our century, but also a great teacher.... ok i am just trying to explain for myself, this generosity: giving us not only great music, but also giving us your knowledge about the music. Thank you! This leads to my first question, which you not really have to answer: what's your motivation for teaching? My other questions regard your "Essential Exercises for Fingerstyle" Dvd. What guitar are you playing on that dvd? And the Bossa Nova piece was really a mind opener for me. Especially you blowing away in the end of the dvd..... can we expect more from you in that style? Best regards Christoph P.S. I missed you in Switzerland, just realised now that you have been here this year. Hope you'll be back. |
| Christoph Henrici
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chhenrici@gmail.com Bruttisellen , Switzerland - Tuesday, August 14, 2007 |
Christoph; Thank you so much for all your kind words! I don't know that I am as great as you think I am but hopefully I am learning a little more everyday. My motivation for teaching comes from the sheer joy of sharing. I like helping other guitar players because other guitar players helped me and because I still love playing the guitar. I am playing a Collings OM1 guitar. You can see them at www.collingsguitars.com My latest CD has another great Bossa Nova song on it called A Felicidade. The CD is called Things Are Looking Up. Cheers, Pete |
| I was wondering if there will be a book that accompanies the Christmas project you will be releasing this fall? I (as well as others I'm sure) really hope so!! Thanks for the joy you bring to all of us. |
| Ralph Wiley
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Wileyr@hotmail.com Biloxi , MS USA - Saturday, August 11, 2007 |
Ralph; I won't have a book available but I do plan on having some individual songs available for purchase on the web site. The book will be out some time next year. ;-) |
| Thanks, Pete. Yeah, I was aware that you taught "And I Love Her" on that lesson. I'll give it a try one day when I feel like my fingerpicking skills are up to it. Right now, I working with your Essential Exercises for Fingerpicking and with Ernie Hawkins CAGED dvd's, trying to build my fingerpicking and overall skills. I've been playing guitar for a loooong time but I'm just an "average" player, good enough to have fun and that's what matters. I'd love to take some lessons from you but I'm not sure my skill level is up to it yet. You're so far above me, I think I'd be intimidated to just play in front of you!! But still, one of these days..... BTW, how much do you charge for teaching? Look forward to your new Homespun dvd's. What are you planning for the chord exercises dvd? Hope I get a chance to hear you live again soon (saw you at the Chris Bozung benefit). Bert |
| Bert
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everett.bennett@med.ge.com Jackson , TN USA - Thursday, August 09, 2007 |
| Hi, Pete. Your music just knocks me out. Even my wife loves it and she's hard to please when it comes to music!! Sometimes when I listen to you I think, "You can't do that with just two hands!" Anyway, I know you're doing some more teaching dvd's for Homespun soon. I was wondering what you thought about doing a teaching dvd of Beatles music? "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is one of my favorites that you do. Any chance of a Beatle teaching dvd in the future?? BTW, I live in Jackson, TN, a little over 100 miles from you and I had not heard of you until I saw the John Denver dvd's at Homespun's website. One of the top guitar players in the world!! You need to advertise more or I need to get out more. Also, I was wondering, do you do any teaching? Thanks, Bert Bennett |
| Bert Bennett
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everett.bennett@med.ge.com Jackson , TN USA - Tuesday, August 07, 2007 |
Bert; On my Solo Arrangements for Acoustic Guitar I teach "And I love her." I do not have plans to do a lesson on Beatles songs but that's not a bad idea. I would imagine that I need to advertise more AND you should get out more. Come on over to Nashville for a lesson some time. Send me an e-mail and we'll try to work something out. ;-) |
| Pete, which guitar did you use for the recording of "Darcy's Guitar" on your Santa Rita Connection CD? Thanks, Barry |
| Barry
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jiozia@optonline.net Rochelle Park , NJ USA - Monday, August 06, 2007 |
I used my Collings OM1A. Most of The Santa Rita Connection was recorded on that guitar. |
| Pete, I resently bought "Hymns for Guitar" after listening to and learning to play "On Eagles' Wings" from your article in Finger Style magazine. I love all of the selections in this book. Thank you so much for writing it. I had one question that confused me somewhat. On "Be Thou My Vision", you wrote that you avoided DADGAD tuning, but on page 34 (measure 30 and 31) the base notes go beyond standard tuning. As you can probably guess, I am a beginner and have not had much experience with alternative tuning. Please write back as I am really interested in learning to play your arrangement of this song. Also, thank you for submitting "Eagle" to Finger Style. This way I was able to learn about your talents. Kevin |
| Kevin Hay
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hey4hay@verizon.net Souderton , PA USA - Monday, August 06, 2007 |
Kevin: Thanks for catching that one. It should be noted at the beginning of that piece that the tuning is Drop D. Tune your 6th string down to D and you'll be all set. ;-) |
| Pete, I've seen you play real fast using up and down picking with just your thumb. Any advice on getting that going? Do you just use your thumb or is it a wrist thing? Do you use a real light touch? I've been working on it and can't seem to get an even sound or much control. Thanks! |
| Jonathan
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jread@fagenfriedman.com Encinitas , CA USA - Saturday, July 14, 2007 |
Jonathan; Many people think I use up and down strokes with my thumb. I'm here to bust the myth... I only play with down strokes with my thumb. I suppose when I'm playing fast it appears that way but I can't do it either. :-( |
| Hi Pete, I thought I'd let you know that I have followed all of your advice and my wife informs me that my playing is improving very quickly since I moved to 2 to 4, 30 minute sessions per day. I have just learnt to play Poems Prayers and Promises and Fly Away which have both presented intersting challenges, especially singing Fly Away. I just wondered what type of flat pick you favour as I seem to have a job hanging onto a small one and use a bass player's pick for my metronome exercises. Your questioner who asked about up and down strokes with a thumb pick should look at Antoine Dufour on YouTube as he gives some exercises in a video lesson for this technique. Take care. |
| Richard
Norfolk , England - Thursday, July 19, 2007 |
I'd recommend going to the store and buying about 25 different picks in various guages. Try them all out and see what works best for you. |
| Hi Pete, The crossroads festival sounds fantastic. Congratulations!!! Wish we all could be there. Pete, this question is a little out there (involved) - I was wondering what some of the more common chord progressions would be within the country , jazz and pop realm. Maybe you would have a book you would recommend? Many Mahalos I hear it has been tooooo hot to fish in Montana; (at least that is what it said on yahoo news). Glad they didn't say Wyoming (as I know you have some fish waiting for you all there) |
| Andy
HI USA - Monday, July 09, 2007 |
Andy; The best way to learn progressions is to analyze the songs on your own. You will see the progressions much faster. Buy some fake books such as The Standards Real Book from Sher Music. You'll see lots of progressions for standards. I don't know what books are out there for country songs but there must be a ton. The fishing was great in Wyoming! ;-) |
| Hi Pete - I'm wondering if you have any instructional DVD's or tips that would help me nail down playing an alternating bass line using the thumb, while playing a separate melody with the fingers? I've tried to capture this style on my own, but each time I get a bass line going, I lose it as soon as I introduce a melody with my fingers. I find this style of playing fasincating, and would love to learn it. I would appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks Pete. I enjoy your music thoroughly. |
| Gary Renaud
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grenaud6488@charter.net Pomfret Center , CT USA - Friday, July 06, 2007 |
Gary; Go to my website - www.petehuttlinger.com - then click on Tablature. Scroll down to the one that says Thumb Work. That's a good place to start. Write me back when you can play that perfectly at a moderate tempo - quarter note = 140. |
| I just gave the Seamus album a listen. Good work. We know your acoustic gear. What's your electric setup? Sustain, drivin' bass and drums are fun sometimes, eh? |
| David Shade
Wynne , AR USA - Thursday, July 05, 2007 |
David; My electrics are Strat, Tele, and 335. I use a Fender Deluxe amp, Line 6 Vetta II a Roland Cube and then whatever else is around the studios. My pedals are simple: T.C. Chorus, Boss delay, Cry Baby Wah-wah, Boss compressor, Ibenez TS9 Tube Screamer Overdrive, RAT overdrive, Boss Blues Drive overdrive. It is definitely fun to crank it up and shake the walls a little! |
| Hi Pete,
My wife and I saw you in Shelbyville Saturday Night and we were both truly amazed. I have all of your DVD's but nothing prepared me for seeing you live, you are with out a doubt the most talented guitarist I've ever seen. And living around Nashville I've seen a bunch. I am a 52 year old "beginner" who has been playing the guitar for 40 years, but for the last 39 made no improvements. Until I started watching your DVD's I didn't care about improving, as long as I could play well enough to write songs I was happy. This changed 8 months ago when I picked up a few of you DVD's. It is impossible to watch you and not be motivated to improve. Saturday night my wife asked me where the other guitars were because it sounded like you were playing 3 at the same time. I watched every move you made and I came to the conclusion that you had to have hummingbird for a thumb and it's wings were your thumb pick. How in the world can anybody keep up a base line at that speed? Your fingers (all 10) were like alternating current 60 cycles per second. There is a serious question in all of this. As humble as you and others like you are, do you ever amaze yourself? I would watch you smile while performing (Which I have to say is a wonderful benefit to your performance) and I kept thinking. Pete himself can't believe his own ears!! His hands are working well and he's just going along for the ride. Thanks for showing up Saturday, even though you had a terrible cold and flu, I appreciated it beyond words. Sincerely, John |
| John Darch
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john.darch@hotmail.com Lewisburg , TN USA - Monday, July 02, 2007 |
John; Thanks for the nice note. Glad to hear you are motivated by something that I do. That's one of best compliments I could ever receive. I wouldn't say I amaze myself but there are times when things come together surprisingly well inspite of what I might feel I'm able to do at a particular moment. Saturday night I was smiling because I couldn't believe that things were coming out as good as they were considering I had bronchitis, laryngitis, croup, and a terrible head cold. My ears were all stopped up. Thank goodness the steroids were kicking in. It's nights like those where I just have to trust that all the years of practice will pay off. I just sit back and let my hands take over. ;-) Pete |
| Pete; Thanks again for a great concert/workshop in Longmont, CO. I was wondering if you had done any of the instrumental tracks on the new CD you had produced for Seamus Kelleher? I have no idea what is involved in producing a cd. I would imagine it is a lot. Congratulations!!! |
| Andy
Kahului , HI USA - Tuesday, July 03, 2007 |
Andy; I played quite a bit on Seamus's CD and arranged most of it as well. I played a lot of rhythm guitar both on electric and acoustic guitars. I also played banjo, resonator guitar and mandolin. The one that he calls Nashville Celli Band was me on guitars and banjo. Producing is a lot of work because you have to wear so many hats. Hire the players, book the studio and the engineer, go through all the music with the artist, arrange the music. Then you have to oversee the recording process and follow through with mixing and mastering. It's a lot of work but a lot of fun as well when the project turns out really well like Seamus' did. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, You have mentioned on this site in the past about a computer program that will slow down a tune but not change the pitch of the individual notes so it's easier to figure out exactly what notes are played. Please provide me with the name of that program and maybe a site from which it can be purchased. Thank you!! Steve |
| Steve Paxton
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sepvet@charter.net Ludington , MI USA - Tuesday, June 26, 2007 |
What you want is called The Amazing Slow Downer. You can find it at www.ronimusic.com |
| Hi Pete, I was checking your schedule and it said to check back for your Shelbyville TN show. The Fly Cultural Arts Center has it listed for this Saturday night June 30th at 7:00pm is that still correct, I don't want to miss it!! Thanks, John |
| John Darch
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john.darch@hotmail.com Lewisburg , TN USA - Sunday, June 24, 2007 |
Yes - I will be perfroming Saturday night June 30, at The Fly Cultural Arts Center in Shelbyville, Tennessee. 7:00 PM Bring your guitar and join in the jam after the concert. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, love your music! I was watching the PBS special on John Denver, what an amazing special. I have a couple of song books that have the chords for Leaving On A Jet Plane, but in the special John is playing the song fingerstyle. One take has him on a 12 string, and the other take he is on a 6 string. Could you share the fingerstyle pattern he uses? I grew up listening to his music but just started playing guitar and would love to add this song to my playing. Thanks for the great web site! |
| jeff
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jbvg1@comcast.net sammamish , wa USA - Sunday, June 24, 2007 |
Jeff; I don't remember John playing Leaving On A Jet Plane on 12-string but if it's on the DVD then I guess he did. I teach that song and many other in the Homespun Tapes DVD series Learn To Play The Songs Of John Denver. There are three volumes and you can get them right here on my site. Just pop on into the store. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, while I've played guitar for a few years, its only been the past year that I've taken up Fingerstyle guitar....& your Practice, Jim Croce & John Denver CDs are great aids. Here are my 2 questions: 1)I notice you use a thumb pick as do other fingerstylists, is it preferable for steel string or is the use of the thumb nail OK if you have strong nails like I do? 2)My right picking hand tends to bob up & down somewhat as I do fingerstyle...I know classical technique requires a very stable right hand so should I work to minimize my right hand bob/movement? Thanks Pete, I'm both a fan of your music & teaching. |
| Steve Gibson
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aircooledenthusiast@yahoo.com Colorado Spring , CO USA - Saturday, June 23, 2007 |
#1 I use a thumb pick 90% of the time. It helps to balance out the volume between my thumb and fingers. #2 You want the motion to come from the fingers - not the hand. Keep your hand, wrist, forearm and arm steady. Stop the bobbing asap and practice plucking from the tip of the fingers. |
| Quick question on tuning for Goodbye Chester. Standard tuning or dropped D? By the way, thinking of coming to see your show this Friday (6/22) in Longmont, Colorado (not far from us here in Boulder). Will Goodbye Chester be on the list of songs that evening? Would love to hear it live. Would also love to hear the story of the song. Thanks. |
| LushMojo
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williamfhouse@gmail.com Boulder , CO USA - Monday, June 18, 2007 |
Goodbye Chester is in Standard Tuning. No guarantees on the tune, but your chances are better at hearing it if you go to the gig than if you don't. ;-) I'll see if I can re-learn it for you. Pete |
| HI Pete: Monday 6-27-7 4:29 pm RE: Jim Croce DVD learn to play his songs I am attempting to learn to play all the music lyrics by Jim Croce following your chord arrangements. If you could possibly provide for me the chord arrangements for the songs as included with the Tablature. I think this would be more helpful as I practice the chord arrangement and chord sequence changes. Your assistance would be appreciated. PS: Do you think you may put in the works a Buddy Holly arrangement? I look forward to your reply. T'll then I'll kept practicing. In regards, Dave |
| Dave Pelletier
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gonedonner@yahoo.com Oxford , MA USA - Monday, June 18, 2007 |
Dave, All the TAB for everything I played on the Jim Croce DVD is included with the DVD. Other than that, I'm not really following your question. Pete |
| Hello Pete, how are you doing? My question is about bar chords and practicing scales/excercises. I practice all of the drills which you teach on your DVD's. I practice 1hr per day on work days (I work 10hrs a day) and 2 to 2 1/2 hrs a day on rest days. How much time should I spend doing exercises and scales. I am keen to build up my speed and dexterity but often find that my forearms pump up when I'm doing exercises which stiffens my hands. Secondly, are there specific exercises to increase bar chord strength and clarity? I often find that the 2nd string goes into the depression in my second finger joint and buzzes. This happens quite often when I am playing Romanza. My hands are generally strong being a former strength athlete but any ideas would be gratefully received. I look forward to hearing from you. Take care mate. |
| Richard
Norfolk , England - Saturday, June 16, 2007 |
Do the exercises for 15 - 30 minutes. Then work on new material - songs, arrangements, licks etc. - then come back to the exercises for another 20 minutes before you are finished. If your forearms are pumping up I can assume that they are not relaxed. You must concentrate on relaxing your forearm all the way through your fingertips. If you tense up at all it is bad. Relax and play again - but slower. |
| I got a free CD with the Fingerstyle magazine (Ritchie Blackmore on cover) and On Eagle's Wings was my favorite. I played in a church choir for years. It really brought tears to my eyes. Just love it. I would like to learn to play it. Do you have tab or sheet music I can purchase from your site? |
| Luis
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lsantos8@mac.com san Rafael , CA USA - Thursday, June 14, 2007 |
Luis; I do have the TAB for Eagles' Wings and several other hymns in my book, Hymns for Guitar. You can find it in the store on this site. Pete |
| Hi Pete. I saw that your first Collings was an OM-2H. Now you play an OM-1. Why the switch to mahogany? Thanks! |
| Jonathan
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jread@fagenfriedman.com Encinitas , CA USA - Sunday, June 10, 2007 |
I have many guitars. Some are rosewood and some are mahogany. This particular OM that I play is an amazing instrument. For me it has just the right balance of feel and tone. ;-) |
| In the battle between artist and the sound board controller, how do you ask the sound man/woman to set their equalizer settings so that you can take advantage of your instrument settings? |
| Doug
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dr1evans@ponyexpress.net Faucett , MO USA - Friday, June 01, 2007 |
Doug; It is a battle that should not exist and I have found that the better I become on my instrument, the more helpful the soundmen are. They tend to take me more seriously if I walk into soundchek and rip some amazing stuff off on the guitar. However.... To answer your question - I always ask them to start with their board flat. All eq knobs in the center. I have them turn the house speakers off so I hear just the monitors. I keep my AER amp close by me and I usually bump up the low end just a little. When the monitors are sounding just right to me, I ask the soundman to come and listen. Then I tell him that I'd like the same big fat sound in the house. Not thin like a lot of folks do. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. At a certain point I just have to hope for the best and trust the soundman to do his job and I try to do mine. ;-) |
| Pete, Have you ever considered doing an instructional dvd that includes various artists? What do you think of doing a instructional dvd that includes such classics as: leader of the band, land slide(live version), blackbird, peace train, and dust in the wind? |
| Chip
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chiprucker@hotmail.com Traverse City , MI USA - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 |
Chip; We did one like that a few years ago and then had trouble getting the video rights to a few of the songs. We did Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, America and a few others. It was a great idea but I guess our timing was off a little. ;-( |
| 'Goodbye Chester' tab is available in The Peter Huttlinger Collection available on this site. It also contains the tab of many of his other awesome tunes! |
| Diane
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poco1988@aol.com Emmett , ID USA - Saturday, May 19, 2007 |
| Hello Pete. Just became acquainted with your music today (via iTunes via a certain acoustic guitar forum). Amazing stuff. The melody for Goodbye Chester just wrecks me. Any chance of seeing that tab? Thanks for putting all those beautiful notes together. |
| LushMojo
Boulder , CO United States - Saturday, May 19, 2007 |
| Hi there Pete! :-) Thank you for two lovely concerts in Kirby. Both Gunn and I just loved them. The last night you played "McGuire's Landing", did you retune the guitar during your performance? Hope to see you again soon. Happy flyfishing! :-) |
| Stein Sundby
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stesunb@hotmail.com Oslo , NORWAY - Friday, May 18, 2007 |
Stein; Thank you so much for making the trip all the way from NORWAY to see us in Kirkby! McGuire's Landing is retuned to DADGAD (from low to high). Thanks again for the hat! It helped in Switzerland. Pete |
| Hi Pete: Both Steve and Lee have offered some excellent suggestions for JD solo guitar pieces! John's "signiture" songs are certainly the more popular, but he also had some beautiful music that did not receive as much air time. Songs like: Windsong, The Wings That Fly Us Home, Looking For Space, Like a Sad Song, Rocky Mountain Suite, Durango Mountain Caballero, Alaska and Me, Song of Wyoming, Perhaps Love, Song For All Lovers, just to name a few! :-) In truth, if you do tackle this project, the pieces you select will, without question, be transcribed to sound absolutely beautiful! Thanks for even considering the project! OK, do trout caught in the Alps taste any different? Think you need to do more fishing all over the world...fish and compare! |
| Diane
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poco1988@aol.com Emmett , ID USA - Thursday, May 17, 2007 |
Diane; Good choices. I did not eat any of my Alpine catches. Remember the CD is called Catch & Release not Catch 'em and Cook 'em! ;-) I do like the idea of fishing all over the world. |
| Hi Pete.....after some thought, my list is similar to Lee's. A must would be Leavin' On A Jet Plane. My other picks would be (not in order of preference): Rocky Mountain High, Follow Me, Darcy Farrow, Perhaps Love, Christmas For Cowboys, Poems, Prayers and Promises (pretty much a must have), Heart To Heart, Rhymes And Reasons, Annies Song, Aspenglow, Around And Around, Starwood In Aspen, The Eagle And The Hawk, Goodbye Again, We Don't Live Here No More, I Want To Live, Trail Of Tears and Whispering Jesse. That's a pretty tall list but it gives you some ideas. Thanks and keep up the great work...you are truly an inspiration. Hope to see you in this neck of the woods in the future. Steve |
| Steve Paxton
USA - Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
Well, all I can say is that it's too bad that you guys can't think of any songs...! :-) |
| Hi again Pete, It looks like there's at least several of us writing here who would love some JD songs done solo fingerstyle. I picked out 20 songs to consider. I'm not sure all of them would work well that way, but just in case... Rocky Mt.High, Country Roads, Calypso, Fly Away, Poems, Prayers and Promises, Today, This Old Guitar, Back Home Again, Tools, Garden Song, Deal With The Ladies, Boy From The Country, Grandma's Feather Bed, Darcy Farrow, Follow Me, For Baby, I'm Sorry, Matthew, Perhaps Love, Rhymes & Reasons. Many thanks! |
| Lee
san jose , CA USA - Tuesday, May 15, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, I don't have a question but I thought I'd let you know my requests for songs for a future dvd. I'd like to see a solo guitar version of JD's "Leaving on a Jet Plane". As you've done in other dvds, I get a lot out of your discussions on your arranging ideas of a song and the general thought process you go through when you do it. Some other tunes but by a different artist: Dan Folgelberg's "Leader of the Band" and "Longer Than". Best regards, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Tuesday, May 15, 2007 |
| Hmmm... Maybe this can be a 2 CD set! |
| Lee
San Jose , CA USA - Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
| LOL!!!! :-) |
| Steve Paxton
USA - Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
| Oh yeah......JD tunes for solo guitar. Now THAT would be very cool. |
| Steve Paxton
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sepvet@charter.net USA - Monday, May 14, 2007 |
What tunes would you like to see done for solo guitar? |
| Hi Pete, Please disregard the e-mail I sent you a couple of weeks ago. I figured out what was going on with the link to "Ask Pete". Just checking in to see when you were coming to TX, OK or AR? Ramona and I can't wait to see you and we really are enjoying the new CD. I know you get tired of getting asked....When will the tab book be ready? FYI - Going to see Tommy E. in Austin next June 20th and I plan on staying over a couple of days with my in-laws and take tour of the new Collings plant. The old one was quite remarkable but from what I hear the new one is super high tech and leaves the old one in the stone age. Any chance "Erin's Waltz" will be in the new tab book? We can't wait to see you!! Barry & Ramona |
| Barry Bonds
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farley513@cableone.net Whitewright , Tx USA - Monday, May 14, 2007 |
Barry and Ramona; Great to hear from you! No plans at the moment for your neck of the woods. I'm working on the book as I get time. It'll be a couple of months for sure. ERIN'S WALTZ won't be in this one. It will just feature tunes from the new CD - Things Are Looking Up. All the best, PJH |
| Hi Pete, I just started learning Walkin' to High Ledges and really think it is a great tune. My problem is I am having trouble getting the percussive part down. I am pretty good at slow speed, but when I speed up I lose the beat. Any suggestions on getting this technique down? p.s. I have the same problem with this technique on your Josie transcription...please help. Thanks. |
| jack
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jewan@columbus.rr.com columbus , OH USA - Monday, May 14, 2007 |
Jack: It's hard to address that from a distance but here's a tip: IN GENERAL I do the percussive stuff to accent beats 2 & 4. Like a snare drum would do in a band. Think about that when you are practicing it slowly. Speed up in small increments... just a few beats at a time. As soon as you start to lose control, slow down and start again. ;-) |
| Pete Welcome back. Do they really eat Bon-Bons in Switzerland? I was looking at the Gordon Lightfoot question regarding a possible future DVD. I really like the song Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Would you care to share this songs chord progression ? (I am guessing B____). I noticed he is on tour in July in Colorado. |
| Andy
Kahului , HI - Monday, May 14, 2007 |
Here you go: Capo 2nd fret A(add9) Eminor G D A(add9) |
| Hi Pete, I second Diane's request below for some solo fingerstyle arrangements of JD songs! Thanks, Lee |
| Lee
san jose , CA USA - Friday, May 11, 2007 |
You never know.... |
| Hi Pete, Hope you folks had a great time overseas! Welcome home! Love the new CD and was wondering if you have an approximate date for the release of the book of the music. Also, from reading many of the posts from your site, it is obvious you have a large following of JD fans. If you do future JD DVD's of his music, may I suggest possibly including some of his pieces for solo guitar? Thanks for all of the great music! |
| Diane
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poco1988@aol.com Emmett , ID USA - Friday, May 11, 2007 |
It's good to be home. Breakfast in Zurich and supper in Nashville... whew! JD for solo guitar is a good thought. I'll keep it in mind. Fly fishing in the Alps for trout was incredible! |
| Pete - I have always wondered how John Denver played a 12-string guitar so cleanly and beautifully. I am struggling like no other to play fingerstyle on my 12-string guitar. I am having trouble hitting the string pairs equally. I do not use acrylics or fingerpicks just a thumb pick. Did John use acrylics, fingerpicks or calluses on his fingers when playing his 12 string? Always thank you for sharing your lifes experiences and knowledge with us. |
| Jim Redman
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jredman@woh.rr.com Dayton , OH USA - Thursday, May 10, 2007 |
Jim; John played with picks sometimes though not all the time. I'm not sure when he did or did not use them. He did not use acrylic nails. |
| Hi Pete, I'm still shopping for a fingerstyle steel string guitar and so many choices, and when you can't actually play most of these guitars before you buy I'm just wondering what qualities make a good fingerstyle instrument (STEEL STRING) As apposed to using it with a pick? Is it the nut width? I play classical style now and don't want to have to make real severe adjustments when I switch from one to the other. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Al P.S. Any plans on someday doing a duo recording with the likes of maybe Earl Kluh or Lawrence Juber etc. someday? |
| albert facendo
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al.facendo@altria.com mount vernon , ny USA - Thursday, May 10, 2007 |
Albert; This is all very subjective. What one player likes another can't stand... First and foremost the guitar must feel comfortable in my hands. It must - absolutely must - play in tune. Then I start listening for tone... is it too warm, too bright, does the guitar project well, is it too boomy --- all of that stuff goes into the process. I do like my guitars to have a neck width at the nut of 1 3/4". Hope this helps. Pete |
| Loved your playing at the Christmas guitar show in Woodstock, Il. a few years back!
I heard you may be doing a "learn to play" Gordon Lightfoot dvd, any truth to this, if so any update? Also I agree with another poster about one of your last recordings of Rocky Mountain High,,,,, your fill in work made this BY FAR the best recording of this song,,,,,,,,Ever! (and I heard them all) Keep up the Great work & "Tight Lines" |
| Bob T
Illi USA - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 |
Howdy Bob; I have recorded a couple of Gordon's songs for Homespun Tapes (unreleased) and we may yet be able to release a full lesson of his material. I'll let you know if it comes to fruition. Best, Pete |
| Hi Pete. I write from France. I'm very enjoy of your guitar style. I search an arrangement of Rainbow Blues to work it. Can you help me. Thanks a lot Patrice |
| patricebulleux
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patricebulleux@free.fr marseille , fran france - Monday, May 07, 2007 |
Patrice; Rainbow Blues is in my book called Catch & Release. For can find that book in the store on this site. Pete |
| Hello. Just wondering what it was like to know and work with John Denver? What was he like? |
| Lisa Redding
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calicogirl@up.net Calumet , MI USA - Monday, May 07, 2007 |
Lisa; John was the best boss I've ever had in the music business. Every night was great fun on stage. |
| Hi Pete! I had a great time at Fur Peace. I hope you are doing well. Do you think training material on using the CAGED system of chord patterns and another one that uses a concept of rows in learning the scales and chords all over the fretboard are good methods? Did you use these methods when you learned the fretboard? or is there another way you recommend? Thanks, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Friday, May 04, 2007 |
Alex: I never learned the CAGED system and still don't understand it. All the systems and things that are supposed to make learning the guitar easier don't do much for me. My advice is to learn a bunch of songs. Then learn to play them in other keys. As for scales, learn them all inside and out - spend a couple of years learning them - then forget them and just play. In the end the goal should be to be able to play more songs - so that's what I recommend. |
| Hi Pete. This is a response to Richard's question about how to tackle uncomfortably thick fingertip callouses. Richard, get yourself a set of inexpensive emery boards from a local pharmacy, and you can use those to "sand down" your callouses to a desirable thickness. |
| Paul
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rkymtnhi7@aol.com MA USA - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 |
| Hey Pete, I heard a version of Superstition by you and I really enjoyed it. I was wondering if you have an arrangement for it that you would be posting on your site. I also liked the way you did Josie very much. Thanks bob |
| Bob
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guitarman527@msn.com Linden , NJ USA - Sunday, April 29, 2007 |
Bob; My arrangements of Superstition, Josie and many others can be found in my book - The Peter Huttlinger Collection. They are all in TAB and standard notation. ;-) Pete |
| Hello Pete, how's your luck? Just a quick question about finger callouses. I have read about a few guitarists who file there callouses to stop them getting too thick. Mine are very thick and quite uncomfortable so I tried it and found it helpful. What are your thoughts on the subject. Be good Richard |
| Richard
Norfolk , England - Sunday, April 29, 2007 |
Richard; Well, I'm in England right now and I brought my flyrod with me so I'll post later if I have any luck on the water. I don't have any problems with callouses but if anyone else out there has something to add, please share it with the rest of us here. Cheers. Pete |
| Hi Pete, I know that you purchased two guitars from CB guitars and really like them alot. I was wondering if you now prefer them to the Collings guitars or does it just depend on what your playing? Also I would like to know what model Collings you do play. I personnally love the sound of the collings and haven't had the oportunity to hear a CB. Still waiting for you to come to NY., I missed the Carnegie show. Best regards, Al Facendo |
| al facendo
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al.facendo@altria.com mt. venon , ny USA - Thursday, April 26, 2007 |
Al; I play a Collings OM1 and an OM1A. They are both excellent guitars. The CB is similar to an old Gibson J-45 but better --- way better. Lots of low end and it's deep and rich and incredibly clear. You can hear my CB Model-J if you go to my home page and listen to a tune called THE BLACK SWAN. Try some headphones or if you have a stereo hooked up to your computer set the volume on stun! Enjoy |
| I will be traveling to see you in Colorado in October. My wife and I are flying. I am wondering if you usually take your favorite guitar as carry-on luggage? Do airlines allow you to do that? How do you usually travel with your guitars? Thank you. |
| Jim Redman
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jredman@woh.rr.com Dayton , OH USA - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 |
Jim; I see you have missed the many discussions on this site about flying with guitars. Fly Southwest Airlines. They are the kindest to musicians. Make sure you get in the "A" group and you will be able to carry your guitar on with you - put it in the overhead compartment. Any other airline you'll need a good case and a prayer or two. I have Calton cases for my guitars. They are from Canada but you can have your local store order one for you. See you in the Rockies! |
| Hi Pete Looking forward to seeing you in Kirkby,UK on the 5th of May. Just wondering if you have any plans to release a concert DVD. All the best |
| Graeme Stewart
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graeme_stewart@btconnect.com South Shields , Tyne UK - Monday, April 23, 2007 |
Graeme; No concert plans at this point. But it's on the list of things to get done. Cheers, Pete |
| Hi Pete, Since it'll be a swing jazz emphasis during the Colorado Roots Music guitar camp, what kind of flatpick do you recommend for that style of music? By the way, I know very little about how to play swing or gypsy jazz so this is going to be a learning experience for me....and a real adventure! Thanks, Rob |
| Rob Arpino
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arpino1@cox.net Phoenix , AZ USA - Sunday, April 22, 2007 |
| Hi Pete I must admit I haven't listened to alot of jazz in the past. Your song Get a Klugh (great title) has opened up new doors. I am having trouble with the Key Changes. I am thinking the song starts in E then changes at about 1:56 in the song. I would imagine there are other key changes in the song. Would you care to share some light with respect to the above? I am just trying to play the major scale(s) over different parts of the song. I didnt' realize Earl Klugh had so much music out there. Thank you |
| Andy
Kahului , HI USA - Sunday, April 22, 2007 |
Andy; You are correct. The tune starts in "E" and modulates to "G" then back to "E." It does all that a couple of times. Good ears. Pete |
| Pete, I was recently reacquainting myself with your 1st ?Better? practice DVD and really like the Chet-style tune you close the lesson with. What is the tune? Did you record it, and is there a transcript? Thanks PS you need to come back and gig in Texas! |
| Mark Sullivan
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mark.sullivan@randolph.af.mil San Antone , Tx USA - Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
Mark: I'm fairly certain the one at the end of that DVD is my tune, Tommy In The Morning. I recorded it on two CD's. The first one is The Santa Rita Connection and the second is Things Are Looking Up. The first is solo guitar and the 2nd is with a band. I originally wrote it with a band in mind but it works really well as a solo piece. The transciption is in my book called The Peter Huttlinger Collection. Thanks for the questions. ;-) |
| HI Pete Thank you for a wonderful time at Fur Peace Ranch. I am enjoying your arrangement of While my Guitar Gently Weeps. It took me a little while however its coming along. To the question at hand: On Live From Abbey Road with LeAnn Rimes on YouTube from your site link - Could you tell us a little about the song ie name, key ? How do you count the rhythm? Thanks again |
| andy
Kahului , HI USA - Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
Andy; Thank YOU for coming and make the Fur Peace experience a great one. It takes all of us to make it happen. The song you asked about is called Can't Fight The Moonlight. It goes through a few different keys. It starts in B minor and then the chorus is in C minor. The last two choruses modulate up to Db minor. It's in 4/4 time but if you're not familiar with bossa nova rhythms it can be a little difficult to count at first. It's a medium tempo and 4 beats to the bar. ;-)Pete |
| Hello Pete, Firstly thanks for the suggestion about splitting practice time into smaller chunks. Great results so far. I'm learning Monaghan Jig from your 'Better Practice' dvd. As you probably know there is no tab for the rhythm section in the booklet. I printed off the tab from your site but it does not appear to match what you play on the DVD i.e the tab shows 6th string open throughout the first 4 bars. On the dvd you play on the 5th string. Is there an accurate tab for the dvd version available. I've tried running the dvd frame by frame but it is a bit of a blur. Cheers Mate Richard |
| Richard
Norfolk , England - Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
Howdy Richard; The TAB from my web site is what I've always played for the rhythm part of Monaghan's Jig. The 5th string open would not makes sense because it's all based around an E minor tonality. Try the TAB and I think you'll have excellent results. You may want to substitute the open E string for the 5th string at the 7th fret. (Also an "E" note) ;-) |
| Hi Pete, I'm sure you get tired of questions about JD. You have done a great many things of your own and they are awesome and we should be asking questions more about those things. That said... can you handle one more small barrage? I have been working on learning Rocky Mountain High, probably not what I should have tackled as my first piece on the guitar, but there you are. Lately I have been listening to different versions of it to try and get the rhythm and nuances of the piece and my favorite version is on a CD that was released shortly after John's death, called "A Celebration of Life". This version has the most amazing fills and I am guessing those were greatly your doing. Bravo. Brings up my questions though, I hope you don't mind. 1: Why were these songs recorded? I'm guessing so you could practice and hear back things you wanted to bring to concerts? 2: Not really a question, but a reiteration, the guitar on this recording is some of the best work I think I've ever heard. 3: My real question. I've been playing this version of Rocky Mountain High in my car as I drive back and forth to work, trying to keep the rhythm and speed in my head. I noticed something that I can't figure out: I count 1,2,3,4,1,2.. etc. and can keep everything just perfect until I go through a chorus and I always come out the other side with the verses at 3,4,1,2... Am I losing the beat or did the timing shift to 5/4 or something for a couple of measures? Thank you, Pete, for any answers you can give me and for being one hell of a guitarist. I hope you'll come through Vegas one of these days. |
| Ken Fuller
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krf100@earthlink.net Las Vegas , NV USA - Wednesday, April 18, 2007 |
Ken: I don't mind answering questions about John Denver's music. I'm happy that people still have a hunger for it and I'm pleased that I know a lot about his guitar style so that I can help. Thanks for the great compliments. I don't know why they were recorded but lots of artists go in the studio and make new versions of their songs from time to time. Keep working at the count on Rocky Mountain High. It stays in 4/4 time. All the best, Pete |
| Pete, Loved the weekend at Fur Peace Ranch...hope you and Erin had a safe drive home. I'm still working on adding some more interest to my version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps...any plans to put the tab for your bluesy intro up on the site? Cheers, pk |
| Paul Koontz
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pkoontz@yahoo.com Menlo Park , CA USA - Wednesday, April 18, 2007 |
Paul; We did have fun, didn't we? I love the Fur Peace Ranch! We had a safe drive but not much cell phone signal the way we went so that was a drag. I get a lot of business done in the car and when I can't, it gets frustrating. I do plan on getting my arrangement of While My Guitar Gently Weeps up on the site but I just have not had time recently. It'll happen in a month or so. Pete |
| Hi Pete, Here's a question for you that perhaps others have too. I am working on "Catch & Release" and making pretty decent progress. However, I am not clear about the solo in the song (notated in your songbooks as standard tuning). You don't really address the solo on your DVD. When you play "Catch & Release" alone do you somehow include the solo or play the song as on the DVD without the solo? If you include it, how do you deal with the different tuning? Otherwise, I guess I'll have to find someone else who can learn either the song or the solo to play with. ;-) Thanks and best wishes, David |
| David E. Tupper
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tuppe001@maroon.tc.umn.edu Chanhassen , MN USA - Wednesday, April 18, 2007 |
David; When I play the tune Catch & Release by myself, I don't play the solo. It's definitely for two guitars to play - or you could get a mandolin player - or both and have some fun with it. When I play it, I just leave the solo out and play some cool rhythm parts in that section. |
| Hi Pete. You make it look too easy! My question is about how you set your guitar up. What is the set-up at the 12th fret and do you use any/much relief on your stage guitar? Also. Do you do your own adjustments/maintenance? Thanks |
| gordon
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dansar@ptd.net stbg , pa USA - Monday, April 16, 2007 |
Gordon; I don't do my own set up so I'm not sure about the 12th fret question. I have very little if any relief in the neck. Guitars shouldn't be hard to play and they should be in tune. For a great one check out www.collingsguitars.com or www.cbguitars.com Pete |
| Pete, Your DVDs are great! Just wanted to drop you a line and say hello. I am looking forward to the Colorado Roots Music seminar in August. Will you be focusing on any particular subject on the guitar during your classes? ....by that time I'll need to escape the inferno in Phoenix...I can just see it now...mountains, fresh air, trees, and of course...guitars. Rocky Mountain High in Colorado! |
| Rob Arpino
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arpino1@cox.net Phoenix , AZ USA - Saturday, April 14, 2007 |
Rob; Great to hear from you! At the Colorado Roots Music seminar we will focus on swing music a lot. It's sort of a swing week there. That is not to say that I am not going to address other questions or areas of study. That's what the good folks at the camp said they want to concentrate on. I choose to concentrate on my students' needs. ;-) Pete |
| I recently purchased the Peter Huttlinger Collection songbook, and I was wondering what the appropriate metronome speed would be for Brown Bomber when played fully up to the speed on the Naked Pop recording? (which I think is going to take a LOT of slow speed practicing...)
Also, more generically, do you have any good tricks for figuring out the right metronome speed for any given piece of recorded solo guitar? The "listen along and guess" method I've been using is pretty slow and inexact. And I heartily second the request for you to play a show in Atlanta some tiem. |
| Lee
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lfulford@yahoo.com Smyrna , GA USA - Wednesday, April 11, 2007 |
Lee; I recorded Brown Bomber at 165 bpm. I think it may be a little too fast. Something more sane would be around 140 to 150 bpm. Get a Dr. Beat or some other metronome that allows you to tap in the tempo. While the song is playing in your CD player, tap in time on the metronome. You'll have the tempo in a few seconds. Remember though that many solo guitarists don't record with a click track and their time can be suspect. But use that method to get in the neighborhood and you'll be happy. |
| I've been practicing a ton on my Collings OM-2Hc and have good days and medium days. On the latter, there doesn't seem to be enough string spacing for my right hand. Do you play with the standard Collings spacing at the saddle? Any tips for making the most of the real estate that is there? Thanks!! |
| Jonathan Read
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jread@fagenfriedman.com Encinitas , CA USA - Tuesday, April 10, 2007 |
Jonathan; Yup, standard spacing at the saddle and 1 3/4" at the nut. Do you have large hands? 1 3/4" seems to be good for fingerstyle guitar but if there's not enough room for you, you can find other guitars with wider spacing. Try a classical guitar and see how that feels. The spacing there is 2". Pete |
| Hi Pete, I've been an electric player for along time (I'd say intermediate level) and recently I've had the desire to begin learning solo acoustic guitar, i.e. the idea of taking any contemporary tune and adapting it to acoustic really appeals to me. At this point my fingerpicking skills are about equal to my flatpicking skills and, neither is that advanced. Where should I start - Fingerpicking or Flatpicking (what are the relevant advantages of each, I'm leaning toward fingerstyle) and, what we be a good approach to patiently learn a style over time? Regards, Wayne P.S. Love to see you come play a concert in St. John's Newfoundland |
| Wayne Rice
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waynerice@nf.sympatico.ca St. John's , NL Canada - Sunday, April 08, 2007 |
Wayne; At this point I'd say let your desire fuel your direction. What I mean is if you like players who play fingerstyle guitar then jump in there. If you enjoy hearing the flatpickers then that may be your path to choose. Each style offers different opportunities. I prefer fingerstyle for the pop tunes that I do because it's easier for me to get the separation in the parts with the bass, chords and melody. Pete |
| Hi, Pete. I'm interested in your practise guide book and fingerpicking hymn book after stumbling on your site. Anyhow, I was wondering if you've ever played with John Standefer? He does a praise guitar workshop and I joined one of his for a weekend. He was an excellent fingerstyle player and an inspiration to me. Harry |
| Harry Bakker
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chbakker@295.ca Embro , Ont. Canada - Saturday, April 07, 2007 |
Harry; I do know John and I really love his playing! Hope you like the hymns. Pete |
| Pete, two questions. 1.) Why is John Denvers Aerie CD not available (other than imported from Japan)? 2.) What ever happened to Dick Kniss, Mike Taylor and Joe Henry? I cannot seem to find anything about their current musical status. Thanks and keep up the awesome work. |
| David
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dshoffman77@msn.com Charlestown , IN USA - Tuesday, April 03, 2007 |
David; I don't know why Aerie is not available in the US. I'm not involved in that part of the business. Dick Kniss plays bass with Peter, Paul and Mary and has been doing that for many, many years. Mike Taylor is in South Carolina where he is an archeologist. He teaches at a university and still plays on the side. Mike joined us in Aspen two years ago for our annual Musical Tribute to John Denver. Mike and I performed Late Winter, Early Spring (When everybody goes to Mexico). It was the first time he had performed it since he recorded it on the Rocky Mountain High album. Joe Henry is still writing songs. He has had great success in recent years in Nashville. He has two cuts on Vince Gill's new 4-CD set and had a number one last year with Rascal Flatts. |
| Hi Pete, I have been playing for a year now using your fantastic DVD?s. I practice for one hour per day. My question is this; I learn a piece and can play it fine with only minor errors. I then come back to it a few days later and make shed loads of errors. I find this quite frustrating. Is it normal? Thanks for all the pleasure that you?ve brought into my life. I?m hoping to head north and see you whilst you are in England. Keep up the inspiring work. Richard |
| Richard
Norf England - Thursday, March 29, 2007 |
Richard; It sounds like you are going through the standard learning process. The guitar is a very physical as well as mental instrument. Lots of practice will build that muscle memory so that you don't have to think as hard about what you are doing and your hands will just react. Try to find two or three sessions per day when you can practice 30 minutes at a time. It really helps to spread the practice out instead of playing and then waiting for 23 hours to play again. Hope to see you in the UK. Cheers, Pete |
| Hi Pete, Hope all is well. I was wondering what computer program you would suggest for writing tab ( that includes chord diagrams (i.e. similar to the one utilized on My Sweet Lady) . Also do you have a book planned for the future, depicting your songs on Things Are Looking Up? Thanks again, see ya soon |
| Andy
HI USA - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 |
Andy; I believe that program is Finale. I write out all the music in Finale and then e-mail them to someone who works for Homespun Tapes. Then he does the layout for the booklet. I'm pretty certain he's using Finale also. I do plan on having a book out soon to go with Things Are Looking Up? I'll be sure to send out a note when it is ready. :-) |
| Dear Pete, thanks so much for your dvd's. They're great and I have all of them. Hope I can see you live some time. Your teaching of John Denvers Late Winter, Early Spring is great but would you consider posting a tab on your site of Mike Taylors part? I was sad to see it was not on the dvd. I know your busy but I hope you will try. I know all of us with the lesson would love to have it. I am looking forward to your next dvd. Thanks Again, Dave |
| Dave McKinney
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dmckinneyco@hotmail.com whittier , ca USA - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 |
Dave; I don't have the TAB to that tune and it would have taken an entire DVD lesson to teach it. We were really trying to concentrate on John Denver's guitar parts for the lessons. We might revisit that one someday. Thanks for the suggestion! |
| Dear Pete, I studied classical guitar in college back in the mid 70s, and have been teaching both classical and acoustic out of my home for a few years. I would like to know if you have future plans on coming to Georgia anytime soon to perhaps visit the Georgia Fingerstyle Guitar Organization (gfga.org)? I'd like to bring my young guitar students to see and hear you. I really like your "Tommy In The Morning" and "I Got Rhythm" from the Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine CD! Have you ever considered writing a fingerstyle of "I Dreamed I Dwelt In Marble Halls" in a C Tuning for an upcoming "Fingerstyle Guitar" magazine issue? Hope to see you soon! |
| Terrell Phillips
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melissa.phillips@bellsouth.com Snellville , GA USA - Monday, March 19, 2007 |
Terrell; I don't have plans for Georgia right now but hopefully I can get back there soon. I don't really do anything in "C" tuning. I'll think about the tune though. Thanks! Pete |
| Hi Pete,
Do you offer for sale tablature for your version of the ABB classic, "Little Martha"? Thanks, Paul PS I saw you and Bill Collings at Buffalo Bros. recently. Great evening! |
| Paul Gruenwald
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paul.gruenwald@att.net Oceanside , CA USA - Friday, March 16, 2007 |
Paul: I don't offer that one at this time. I will probably add that in the near future, to the Free Tablature section as a "study" piece. Pete |
| I think I remember a few years ago that you were doing an event in Colorado and Mike Taylor was possibly going to play as well. Do you know what he is doing these days. I believe he had a tremendous impact on John Denvers music. Late Winter Early Spring is just a fantastic song. |
| TTowner
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tte415f@comcast.net North Augusta , SC USA - Monday, March 12, 2007 |
T; I had the great pleasure of playing Late Winter, Early Spring (When everybody goes to Mexico) with Mike Taylor in Aspen, Colorado a couple of years ago. It was the first time he'd played it for anyone since recording it on the Rocky Mountain High album. When he was with John Denver, they never played it after recording it. I was very lucky indeed. He came to my hotel room and we played it a few times and it was just like the record. I had goose bumps. That night after we finished playing it for the audience at our John Denver Tribute Concert, he got a standing ovation. He was thrilled. He couldn't believe anyone cared about that tune. Mike has been an archeologist since he left John's band. He lives and teaches in South Carolina. |
| Hi Pete, I just bought the Jim Croce DVD and the Guide to Better Practising. I have learned most of the JC songs and I am so pleased. Your DVD is about the best I have in my collection. A great job!. I have watched the Guide to Better practising and will now go back over and work on most of it. I do have a question about practising arpeggios. I am familiar with the scales you show on the DVD from the Levitt Books. But I don't have any set arps to practise. Is this something one should do? I'm going to try my hand at some improvising jazz/blues/rock solos and I hear using the arps of chords is a good way to start. Any suggestions would be helpful. I will be buying more of your DVD's. Will probably get the Solo Acoustic and maybe one JD. I wasn't a great fan of John Denver but I think I will give him another try. I will write to Homespun and request more PH DVD's. Looking forward to new CD's from you. Do more Steely Dan and maybe some bands from the 60's. A Buffalo Springfield or Neil Young tune perhaps. |
| Tom Paterna
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tp@nyc.rr.com New York , NY USA - Monday, March 12, 2007 |
Tom; Thanks for the compliments on my DVD's. We work hard to make them as good as we can. Guitar is one of those things that is so wide open that the possibilities are amazing. If you can imagine arpeggios then you should do them. Scales? Do those too. Chromatic exercises, tunes in guitar-friendly keys and not-so guitar-friendly keys. Forget the key of G and try Ab for a month. Arpeggios are the language of the chords so yes, you need to know them all. Try them on one string, two strings, three strings etc... Learn other people's solos then take the best licks and put them in your music vocabulary. I'll send your suggestions to Homespun Tapes. In the meantime here is a nice little article about Bill Leavitt whom you mentioned. He was the head of the guitar department at Berklee when I was a student there. www.classes.berklee.edu/gr/wgl.html |
| Pete, First of all, let me express my great appreciation of your recorded music, I consider it the rare breed of solo acoustic guitar playing that wows guitarists who appreciate the amazing skill displayed as well as non-musicians who love the musicality and the great compositions and arrangements. Your music has always been a great insipiration that makes me want to improve my own abilities. My question is about playing with a thumb pick. What type and weight thumb pick do you prefer, and when choosing a thumb pick, how tightly should the pick fit? I play fingerstyle with bare fingers, and while I have dabbled on occasion with the thumb picks, I've never found one that I felt very comfortable with. I would love to add some of the more percussive elements such as those in the second "verse" of I've Got Rhythm, which I assume come from a combination of palm muting and the use of the thumb pick. Do you know if it is possible to get an approximation of that effect with bare fingers, or is using the thumb pick the key? Thanks very much for your response and keep up the great music! |
| Lee
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lfulford@yahoo.com Atlanta , GA USA - Tuesday, March 06, 2007 |
Lee; I feel very lucky to have people appreciate what I do. When other players like it, that is the ultimate stamp of approval. I use a John Pearse Vintage thumb pick. It seems to match the thickness of my fingernails. It should fit tight enough to stay on but not cut any circulation. Try a few to see what works best for you. I think that the thumb pick is definitely the key to getting a good, solid bass sound. The flesh and bare fingers is a great sound too but it doesn't work as well for the style I play. |
| I am working through your DVDs "A Guitarist's Guide To Better Practicing" and "Arrangements For Solo Acoustic Guitar" Vol 1. I have Monaghan Jig melody off the page and under my fingers at about 100 BPM (still trying to get the rhythm) and I also have learned And I Love Her. At what point in my practice should I move on to another tune? Should I have one tune perfect and up to tempo before starting to learn another tune or should I have several tunes that I am working on. I only have 1 - 2 hours a day for practice and want to make the best use of my time in building my repertoire along with scale practice, etc. Thanks. |
| Mike
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Mike@chartingmycourse.com Lebanon , TN USA - Monday, March 05, 2007 |
Mike; You should spend the 1st 3/4 of your practice time working on warming up, practicing current songs, chords etc. and then use the remaining time to work on new things. Remember to build time in once in a while to just play for the pure fun of it. Work hard for a few days and then goof off and play whatever comes to mind. Pete |
| Hi Pete, This question goes back to your days with John Denver. What is the chord progression used for the song Poems, Prayers & Promises? Is there any capo use or special tuning of the guitar. Also, if you can give me an idea of the picking pattern used on that song I would appreciate it. Hope to see you again at Winfield. Really enjoy all of your music and have most of your albums now. Thanks, Gary A. |
| Gary Auchard
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w0ebb@juno.com Leavenworth , KS USA - Monday, March 05, 2007 |
Gary; I teach the song in great detail on the Homespun DVD called Learn To Play The Songs Of John Denver Volume 3 (or DVD #3). There is a TAB book that accompanies the DVD. Pete |
| Hi Pete, Firstly, glad to see Ask Pete is back! Thanks. On to my question; I am wondering when the Jim Croce DVD II is coming out please? And also, what songs will be included? Also, any plans for a John Denver 4 DVD? Recently I purchased the Wild Life Concert and saw a younger you enjoying yourself playing various instruments. It would be nice to have a few more of John's songs which were played in that concert being taught by you. Truly S.A |
| S Armstrong
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Stv_Ace@hotmail.com Lincs , UK - Sunday, March 04, 2007 |
S.A.; We don't have plans for any more DVD's at this time. I would like to do more but I am also trying to concentrate on my own writing and playing these days as well. When we get back to it, I'm sure Jim Croce #2 will be on of the 1st things we do.... and probably another installment of John Denver. Pete |
| Pete, I just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying your DVD 'Essential Exercises for Fingerstyle Guitar' and I'm finding it really useful. I also have a question about alternate tunings. Are they something that you should experiment with early on in your playing 'career' or are they best avoided until you have more playing experience? best wishes Sam |
| Sam
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daringtobesane@yahoo.com Liverpool , UK - Sunday, March 04, 2007 |
Sam; I prefer to play in Standard Tuning (EADGBE low to high) most of the time. I do some Drop D and DADGAD things but the bulk of my learning has been in standard. If we all would learn that tuning well, we can communicate much better with each other when we play together. That said, if you feel yourself drawn to alternate tunings I would be wrong to tell you not to go there. Pete |
| Hi Pete! Just wanted to wish you, Chris, and Molly a great show at Carnegie Hall! Wish I could be there! Looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing some great photos! You guys are gonna be awesome as usual! All the best! |
| Diane
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poco1988@aol.com Emmett , ID USA - Thursday, March 01, 2007 |
Diane: It was awesome! More fun than anyone should be allowed to have in one evening! ;-) Pete |
| Hi Pete, I'm really enjoying your John Denver instructional DVDs through Homespun. Unfortunately, my favorite JD song, "Sunshine On My Shoulders" is not included in the set and I am having trouble finding an accurate tab for it online. Have you done a tab version of the song or do you plan to do one in the future? Thanks! Diana |
| Diana
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bluesfan@mac.com Los Angeles , CA USA - Thursday, March 01, 2007 |
Diana; 12 string guitar is the key to Sunshine On My Shoulders. The pattern is simple and when we get around to doing a 4th John Denver DVD, I'm sure that will be on the list. Here's a tip: Capo 3rd fret for the earlier versions of the song and 1st fret for the later versions (i.e. The Wildlife Concert). Pete |
| Hey Pete, I have the JD set and the Jim Croce volume and just love them! Great work. I have played RMH since the early 70s and I play it pretty close (or so I'm told). However, I learned a few new things from your DVD so I am trying to 'unlearn' the way I have always played it. In listening to JD play the chorus I can hear him doing a walk-up and walk-down. Then I got the Wildlife Concert DVD and saw him play these passages. I might have the walk-up but the walk-down is too quick to catch and I'm not good enough to find it by ear. There's a good shot of it from about 27:16 to 27:27 into the DVD. He made it look so easy. It looks pretty neat to see you in the background playing exactly what you show on your instructional DVD. Can you post the tab to thsse little passages/licks? It's driving me nuts trying to figure it out! Thanks. |
| David Falkner
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askpete@12fret.net Bossier City , LA USA - Wednesday, February 28, 2007 |
| Hi Pete- Do you have an update on when your new cd will be released? |
| Don
Boston , MA USA - Wednesday, February 28, 2007 |
Don; The new CD - Things Are Looking Up - is out now and ready to ship. How many would you like? ;-) Pete |
| Hi Pete, I was wondering if you have ever given any thought to making a DVD that illustrates the process of arranging a solo tune for guitar? I realize it is a creative process, and there is no way you can teach precisely how to arrange a tune. But if you were to start from scratch with an idea for an existing song, and walk us through the thought process, how you select the notes and the chords, etc. I truly believe it would open some creative doors to those of us who don't have any idea of how to even start. I also think it would be a great seller since all of us undoubtedly envy your ability to make such beautiful arrangements, and the thought that we may actually be able to do one too would be very enticing! What do you think, is it possible? Thanks for the great music! |
| Sarah Whistling
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whistling@gmail.com La Luz , NM USA - Saturday, February 24, 2007 |
Sarah; I've thought about that but I don't know if I'm the one for that project. I tend to do arrangements either very quickly in my head or I will write parts of them out on manuscript paper and fill in the rest as I go. Sometimes I just look at a lead sheet and make it all up based on the written melody and chords. I think Muriel Anderson did a lesson on arranging tunes. She is excellent and it would be worth looking into. |
| Hi Pete - guitar necks come in different widths measured at the nut. People have different finger widths too. Are there particular finger placements (or anything else) I should try to determine if, say, a 1-11/16 neck is OK but I'd be better off with a 1-3/4? Many Thanks |
| Ben
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helen_ben@bigpond.com Canberra , ACT Australia - Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
Ben; Most finger pickers prefer a 1 3/4 or bigger width. Flatpickers like the 1 11/16 a lot. The best advice I can give you is to play lots of guitars to determine which feels the best for your hands. ;-) |
| Hey Pete. I've been keeping tabs via the website. Looks like you're keeping busy. Way to go!!!! The camp in Colorado looks awesome. Doubt I'll make it this year but would love to go sometime. Here's my question: There are all kinds of chords up and down the fretboard of different inversions and fingerings. Take, for example C major,... what helps you decide if you are going to play it in the first postion or play the E shaped C maj at the 8th fret or the "long C" (G shape)at the 5th fret)? I've got all these chord possibilities, so where do I play them? Thanks in advance, and keep up the GREAT work!!! You're awesome man!!! Steve |
| Steve Paxton
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sepvet@charter.net Ludington , MI USA - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 |
Steve; Much of the choice as to where to play a particular chord is purely subjective. There are some basic rules I follow: When I'm playing with another guitar player I try not to be in the same area of the guitar as they are. If they are playing chords down in 1st position, I"ll probably play higher inversions and vice-versa. If I'm playing for a singer I'll try to stay out of the way of the melody so I don't crowd the music. If it's a solo guitar arrangement the melody always dictates where I am playing. |
| Hello Pete. I really enjoy your guitar playing and hope to be able to see you in concert or at Charlie's Guitars someday soon. Question... I saw your photo with Leann Rimes and you were armed with a Collings Small Jumbo. Does the Maple body on that guitar compare to East Indian Rosewood or Brazilian? I want to purchase that guitar but have been hesitant as I always considered Maple as an Archtop Electric wood. I have played some Collings guitars at Charlie's but not the SJ. I play a D35 so I am used to the Rosewood sound. Any input would be welcome! Jim |
| Jim Moreland
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jjjmoreland@verizon.net Grapevine , Texa USA - Sunday, February 18, 2007 |
Jim; That was a guitar which was on loan to me for the Live From Abbey Road sessions I did with LeAnn Rimes. I used it on a song called Destructive and it was great. Maple is a brighter sound than rosewood of mahogany. It is punchier also. You need to try the guitars in a quiet room - one right after the other. And bring a friend to play them for you so you can step back and listen. |
| Hi Pete ! could you tell me the order of strings played in the intro of monaghan jig after the e minor chord l have the video and the tab but it is still a bit too fast for me to see although you've still slowed it down Thanks Terry |
| Terry McLavey
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terry-star@mystics.co.uk Hayle , corn UK - Sunday, February 18, 2007 |
Terry; If you read the TAB from left to right that will tell you the order of strings. |
| Hey Pete! I'm sorry about the mix-up. Earlier this month, someone posted that they could get a CD off of your site that wasn't yours. I am a bit flustered, and embarrased that I was quoted for saying that my CD was on your site - when in fact, I remember no such thing being said! But you handled it with grace and humor, and without anyone dying or contracting a serious illness. :-) So, many thanks! Adam |
| Adam Gardino
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Gui_tar_zan@mindspring.com Colorado Spring , CO USA - Friday, February 16, 2007 |
| Hi Pete. I have practice questions. As you know there are many tasks that can be brought into a practice session. I would consider myself a beginning/intermediate player of about 3 years. I have purchased the "Better Practicing" DVD which has been great instruction for me. My question is regarding time management and the content of the practice. My sessions are limited to 30-60 minutes, 3-4 days per week. I often want to blaze through scales and left/right hand excercises to get to learning a new tune. New tunes can take me months to learn to a level where I can truely practice and/or perform them. At my level, how would you sructure my practice sessions to build a good foundation and still have the accomplishment of learning and playing songs. Glad your here! Steve |
| Steve Clair
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sclair@oz.net WA USA - Thursday, February 15, 2007 |
| Ah - so Chet used a different tuning! Boy, did you save me a lot of pain. Thanks so much. I will check out the TAB. |
| Scott Black
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scott-black@sympatico.ca montreal , qc canada - Wednesday, February 14, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, I really like your song "Things are looking up". Could make a solo recording and release it as you have done with other songs in the past? How difficult is it to play compared to other songs like Josie or Monaghan Jig? Is it in standard tuning? What key is it in? Did you come up with it in one sitting or was it a song you developed over a long time? I've only heard the sample track and a version you played at Windfield but it's one of my favorites. Best regards, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Wednesday, February 14, 2007 |
| Hi Pete, I have your tapes and as a result I am starting to play fingerstyle - great fun after many years thrashing out rock and blues. I am still fairly ignorant of fingerstyle history and the great players and I have just discovered Chet. Yes, I guess I have been on the moon or something. I am trying to learn Black Mountain Rag. Is this a standard? I can hear it, as I have good ears, but getting my fingers to cooperate is a different matter. I hear the voicings in A, very clearly. But it seems to be in G. He must have tuned the guitar down as he plays a low G in the root movement. My question is this, and of course if you don't know the tune I am wasting your time, but the begining of the melody is an 8 bar bit in A, before it goes into the A-D-A-E progression. I am trying to figure out if it was fingered in 5th position on strings 2 and 3 or in first position on strings 1 and 2. Would you know? If you are ever near Ottawa Canada I'd love to take you to some of the best large mouth bass fishing in the world, just south of there. Love your playing. Scott |
| Scott Black
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scott-black@sympatico.ca Montreal , QC Canada - Tuesday, February 13, 2007 |
Scott; Black Mountain Rag is an old fiddle tune. It is definitely a standard. Doc Watson has a great version for flatpick guitar (which is the way most guitar players play the tune) and yes, Chet Atkins did a fingerstyle arrangement of it in Open G tuning. DGDGBD (low to high). There are a couple of websites out there where you can download the TAB for free. Check them out and you can see what he played on each measure. ;-) |
| Pete - I have heard from more than a few people who have told me that John Denver, as his voice lowered, tuned his guitar a full tone down to DGCFAD rather than normal concert pitch of EADGBD. So then I would have to put my G7th capo on the 2nd fret to be in standard tuning. I have a 6-string and 12-string Martin guitars. Did John do this on both his 6-string and 12-string guitars or did he do this on just his 12-string because of the string tension on the guitar? I personally find it easier to try and sing (of course alone in my room) at this lower tuning. What are your thoughts on doing this as a standard tuning for guitars? |
| Jim Redman
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jredman@woh.rr.com Dayton , OH USA - Monday, February 12, 2007 |
Jim; The last part first: "What are your thoughts on doing this as a standard tuning for guitars?" We already have a "standard" tuning for guitar. If we call another tuning "Standard" then does that negate the first one? I think so. There can only be one standard tuning. There are many valid tunings - I love Drop D tuning and DADGAD tuning but really we all have to agree that standard tuning always means EADGBE.
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| Hi Pete, I'm planning on traveling on the airlines with my guitar as a carryon but I am not sure how to bring the wire cutters and capo. How do you do that? Have you ever had any trouble with security? Should I pack it with the checkin bags? Thanks for keeping this "ask a question" page going... I really get a lot out of it. Best regards, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Sunday, February 11, 2007 |
Alex; Anything that you are not allowed to have as a "carry-on" item an airplane should be in your checked baggage. Capos are okay. Wire cutters are NOT. More than 3 oz. of water are NOT. Yes, this means we are all forced to pay the exhorbitant airport prices for a bottle of water. IDEA: Take an empty bottle through security then fill it at a drinking fountain. Save up to $3.50. |
| Pete, Just wanted to request a song for your next album -- Danny Boy! I'd love to see what you do with that song. Matt |
| Matt Fahey
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matt.fahey@wdpi.com Champlin , MN USA - Friday, February 09, 2007 |
| Hey Pete, How can I make my songs flow smoothly? Also, my pinky on my left hand locks up in the extended position, very difficult too keep it bent. Thank You for your help. John |
| John Ventura
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floorguyny@peoplepc.com Chaffee , NY USA - Tuesday, February 06, 2007 |
John; You've just asked one of the most important and hardest-to-answer questions for guitar players. It's hard to say for each individual player what is going to make things flow smoothly but there are some general things you can think about. Practice changing chords and make sure your left hand is in place so that all the notes of the chord ring out. For your right hand - whether you fingerpick or flatpick - work on the simplest and most basic things you know as a way to warm up. When that sounds good to you, move on. And last, you must a lot. More than anything, it takes lots of time with the guitar in your hands. ;-0 |
| Hi Pete, Your new CD sounds off the charts: CONGRATULATIONS !!!! I see the Road to Hana can leave a lifelong impression. Seems like there is a t- shirt there somewhere. Would it be possible to reveal the guitar tunings and keys for the songs of your new CD on your new web site. Many Mahalos |
| Andy
Kahului , HI USA - Sunday, February 04, 2007 |
Andy; I'm so glad you like the samples of my new CD. I think you will enjoy the complete tunes jsut as much. The tunings for each piece are included in the CD booklet. Pete |
| Pete, Just listened to the new CD samples......AWESOME!!, can't wait to get my hands on it. One question though,where is Erin's Waltz? I truly love that tune and if you remember you played it in Little Rock last February at Acoustic Sounds. Would it be possible to post it on the website just as you did Runnin the Rooster? Will be ordering the CD as soon as possible and the tab book also. Keep up the great work my friend. Hope to see you soon when you get to our neck of the woods. God Bless Barry & Ramona |
| Barry Bonds
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farley513@cableone.net Whitewright , Tx. USA - Thursday, February 01, 2007 |
Barry; I'm so glad you are enjoying the new music! I should have them 3 weeks from today and they will go out the same day - if all goes well. Erin's Waltz will be on an upcoming CD... probably later this year. See you soon, Pete. |
| Pete,
My guitar sounds good in standard tuning but when I change it to DADGAD tuning, the 2nd and 1st strings sound tinny, especially the second string(b string in standard tuning). Is there anything I can do to correct this problem? I enjoyed learning 'Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus and other songs in that tuning. A luthier told me it's hard to achieve that balance. How do you keep your guitar sounding beautiful in different tunings? One more question if I may. Is Amazing Grace in your Pete Huttlinger Collection book? Thank you and keep producing wonderful guitar pieces. Gene |
| gene
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ilheum@msn.com littleton , colo USA - Thursday, February 01, 2007 |
Gene; Try a heavier gauge for the 1st two strings. I do this sometimes if my guitar sounds tinny. If you are using light gauge strings, then try a medium 1st and 2nd string. If you are using medium strings, try heavy. That trick has done wonders for me. ;-) Pete |
| Hi Pete, A while ago in Notes from Pete? You had written that your friend had taught you what to look for differentiating a good guitar from a really great guitar. It would be great to hear some of your ideas with regards what you look for in a great guitar. Mahalo |
| Andy
Kahului , HI USA - Thursday, February 01, 2007 |
Andy; It is so subjective as to what makes a good guitar. You can tell by the large number of companies out there making instruments. The ones that succeed all seem to have the customer base that likes their instruments. With that said, I look for tone, intonation and playability. I don't really care what a guitar looks like. I once bought a 1952 Gibson J-45 that has 22 cracks in it. I paid way more than it was worth but I loved the sound and it felt great in my hands. Would I buy a new Gibson? - nope. They just don't build guitars that appeal to me any longer. I love the guitars that Collings is making in Austin, TX and Chris Bozung in Fairview, TN. After that - there's not too much that grabs me right now. Pete |
| Hi Pete, Really enjoyed 'Scotch and Soda'. A little bit of a departure, but great sound as usual! Really looking forward to the new CD! Is there any chance the Carnegie Hall gig will be recorded for a future release? CD or better yet, DVD!! Take care! |
| Diane
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poco1988@aol.com USA - Wednesday, January 31, 2007 |
Hi Diane; I'm glad you liked 'Scotch 'n Soda'. It's actually not a departure for me at all. I've been playing tunes like that for 20 + years. I rarely play that kind of music out because I'm never sure if anyone will accept it from me. But these days I'm getting back into really studying music again and I thought I should dive back into jazz. The Carnegie show will not be recorded. It's a bit too pricey for our budget to record a show at Carnegie Hall on either audio or video. Will we see you in NYC? ;-) |
| I saw Adam Gardino at the Black Rose on Fri. night and forgot to bring extra money in order to buy his CD. He gave me this website and said that I could order it from here. I do not see it listed anywhere, so would you please let me know how and where it can be purchased. Thanks, kjwmoos |
| Karla Weatherley
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kjwmoos@aol.com Colorado Spring , CO USA - Tuesday, January 30, 2007 |
Karla; What an interesting situation we have here... I've never heard of Adam Gardino but I'm so happy that he sent you to my web site. While we don't offer his CD's, we do have a nice selection of Pete Huttlinger CD's and if you like Adam, we think you'll LOVE Pete. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, I notice that on some guitars the frets seem to be almost buried in the fretboard whereas other guitars have frets that sit higher. Which is best? Is this just a preference? What do you and other top players prefer? Also, I'm looking forward to you new cd... When will it be available on itunes? Thanks, Alex |
| Alex Orr
Fort Worth , TX USA - Monday, January 29, 2007 |
Alex; Like everything having to do with guitars and music, fret height is a preference. I like mine at a medium height. Too low and I'll be having them replaced too often because I play so much I would be wearing them down. Too high and my guitars will go out of tune if I play hard with my left hand. The new CD is going to the manufacturer this week. We should have them in three to four weeks.. Pete |
| Do you know of any intense fingerstyle guitar camps/courses in or around western canada? I have recently begun to incooperate fingerstyle into my songs, and want to progress in this style rapidly. thanks for your time, Mike |
| Mike Smillie
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Just_Another_Brick772@hotmail.com Calgary , AB Canada - Sunday, January 28, 2007 |
Mike; I'm sorry but I'm not aware of much of anything in Canada except excellent fly-fishing and geese! Wish I could be of more help. ;-) |
| Hello Pete, Do you have any plans for additional instruction DVD'S? I have found the two on practicing to be extremely helpful, and look foward to more insight from your playing, arranging, and teaching experience. I'm going to order your songbook, (Pete Huttlinger Collection). I do not see the song titles listed, so I can only hope your version of Elenor Rigby is included. This is my all time favorite fingerstyle Beatles cover. Kudos! |
| Matt Lange
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mlange148424@comcast.net royal oak , mi USA - Sunday, January 28, 2007 |
Matt; 1st Eleanor Rigby is not included in the book. I do want to do more instructional DVD's. They've been very rewarding in that I hear from so many people that they are learning from them! I would suggest writing to www.homespuntapes.com and letting them know you want more. ;-) |
| Hi Pete. Thanks so much for the concert last night at Buffalo Bros Guitars, it was amazing! I few months ago I purchased your Homespun DVD "A Guitarist's Guide to Better Practicing." As I had to admit to you last night, I haven't been using it like I should. But I'm determined to work with the video again as I've been inspired by your incredible playing. I actually play old styles, ranging from fingerpicking country blues to flatpicking hot jazz ala Eddie Lang. How should I approach the practice routines in the video? Should I concentrate at first only on either fingerpicking or flatpicking, or should I practice both? Also, when I fingerpick I sometimes use picks and sometimes use bare fingers. Should I choose only one for the time being? Thanks so much! |
| Nick Alexander
Downey , CA USA - Wednesday, January 24, 2007 |
Nick, You are welcome! I really enjoyed going to Buffalo Brothers Guitars. What a place that is! I wish I had more time to hang out there. Here's the scoop with the Practice DVD... The approach to your practice should be the same as anyone else. Take the time to slow down, perfect the things that "seem" easy. I mean really perfect them. Then move on. Practice lots of different things -- scales, chords, chord inversions, playing melodies with a flatpick and fingerpicking them. I am not a fan of fingerpicks other than a thumb pick. I just have not heard any that sound pleasing to my ear. It seems much harder for people to make a clean attack on a note. I always hear the scraping of the pick. On the other hand if you love them, use them. Pete |
| Hi Pete. It is good to hear the Jim Croce project has really worked well for you and that you are contemplating doing volume 2. I can't wait to see it happen. I am always here to help with more ideas. Just to let you know I got a great stay at home plan for you, which I am sure you and your new wife will appreciate. Let me know if you are interested. Anyway, I have a beautiful sounding Martin DM-12 (12-string acoustic)and my daughter is getting married this year and would love to learn to play Annie's Song on it for her. I know that John Denver played many fingersytle songs beautifully because they were played on a 12-string. I have learned to play your 6-string version you taught on JD Volume One. My question I have for you is: Will it be hard to do the same on the 12-string guitar and what are your thoughts or hints you would give me to play it on the 12-string without being clumsy. Thank you for all you do. Best wishes for you always. Jim |
| Jim Redman
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jredman@woh.rr.com Dayton , OH USA - Sunday, January 21, 2007 |
Jim, If I stayed at home I wouldn't get to enjoy traveling and meeting new people and playing concerts etc... I find the 12-string guitar very hard to play. After a couple of songs my left hand is worn out. So I stick to 6 string. But if you stick with it and build up the strength in your left hand, I'm sure it won't be too hard to switch over. Just make sure you take things slowly at first and make sure you can hear each note clearly. ;-) |
| Hi Pete. I've bought several of your instructional videos and I was curious as to if any focus on "Chet style" picking? Also, just wondering if "Jim Croce volume 2" might ever be in the future. Thanks for all you do! |
| Regan Wood
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reganwood@cox.net Las Vegas , NV USA - Sunday, January 21, 2007 |
Hi Regan! I don't have any DVD's that focus entirely on Chet Style playing. However, I do cover some of that on Solo Acoustic Guitar Arrangements, Volume 2. I have a tune called Darcy's Guitar that is very much in that style. It's a nice intermediate tune to work on. We are probably going to do a "Jim Croce Volume 2", we just don't have a date for it yet. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, Any suggestions on flying with your guitar? I am traveling to NYC the end of February and want to take it with me, but do not want to check it as baggage. your advice is greatly appreciated, and looking forward to your new CD, thanks for the great music! David Keary Jackson, MS |
| David Keary
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dkeary@bellsouth.net Jackson , MS USA - Sunday, January 21, 2007 |
David, Try to fly on Southwest Airlines whenever you can. They are the most musician-friendly airline in my opinion. All of their planes are 737's and there is plenty of room to put your guitar in the overhead bin. Checkin on line 24 hours in advance and you can get in the "A" group, assuring that there will be room for your guitar. Also, get a case from Calton Cases. They are out of Canada but there are many stores that can order the case for you. They custom make each case to fit. I've had great luck checking my guitar as baggage when I use that case. When I fly any airline other than Southwest, I use my Calton Case. Pete |
| Hiya Pete, Happy New Year to you and the lovely Erin, from a mouthy MC in the UK!! - Help, I have a boss who is dabbling a bit with Dobro, and asked me (as if I would know) the tuning used on JD's "Back Home Again" - think it wasn't you who played the Dobro on that track, Ray says it might have been James Burton, not too sure, but you would help me earn Merit Points with the Boss if I could give him a reply. Looking forward to seeing you again in May over here in the UK, might just get to show you a bit more of our area this time around - remember when we saw the Northern Lights on our way home late that night after the gig last year! I would like to show you my bit of the English Coast - North Yorkshire. Lots of Love & Peace, Maggie Gee xx |
| Maggie Gee
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maggie.gee@ntlworld.com Marske by the S , UK - Thursday, January 18, 2007 |
Howdy Maggie! It was Steve Weisberg on the dobro. That record was before James Burton's time in the band. Steve told me he was in Open G tuning with a capo on the 2nd fret. I'm planning on coming over early to England. Might do a little fishing, or pick up a gig somewhere's. How about coming over to New York City in March and see me and Chris Nole and our friend Mollie Weaver play at Carnegie Hall? You'd have a blast, I'm sure! Pete |
| Pete:
I just got through several of your instructional DVD's. Absolutely the best instruction I have ever had. As an old guy just starting out, I wished I had discovered these much sooner! I just finished the technique ones and Croce and am now on the second of Denver. I would love to see you do a DVD of favorite and playable acoustic blues. I was at your concert in Mission Viejo this past year. Truly a humbling experience for me...and frustrating to see the sponsors do such a poor job of bringing in a crowd. I chewed out the local guitar group at my church (Saddleback) for being so complacent and missing a great event. If you come back to Orange County let me know and I will spread the word. My question on behalf of my 23 year old son who just dropped out of business school to pursue a career in guitar. He is thinking of music school in the fall but has people in LA telling him to just sign on for lessons with some of the musicians (great ones) in the area and take what he can from each. He has only been on a Martin D28 for two years, but is actually getting pretty good, writing songs, playing in coffee houses, leading small group worship. Would you recommend formal training or what he is thinking of doing? Second part of the question: I mentioned that my perception is that many great FS players all seem to have a classical background. He is thinking of pursuing classical training. Do you have any advice for him? By the way, I bought a fabulous Robert Ruck classical from Kim Sherman, what a straight shooter! The guitar was everything she promised and more. The first time I ever bought a guitar sight unseen, especially at that price! So I trust and respect her highly for that as well as other email advice she has given me on several occasions, always very gracious and patient in replying. So, fyi, if you happen to be in her shop, let me know what you think of the McGill MKS! I am collecting special guitars to eventually pass down to my 7 kids, 4 of whom play guitar. It's more fun than stocks which I don't understand anyway. Thanks again for the great education Blessings, Dr H |
| Glen A. Halvorson M.D.
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drh@drhalvorson.com Newport Beach , CA USA - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 |
Doctor H., Thanks for the nice words and good suggestions. I think your son should finish college 1st. Making a living in music in a real long-shot for even the best of players. Even on the best of days, it's just plain hard. I got a degree so I could at least teach if nothing else worked out. I think he should take lessons from all the best players/teachers he can find. Take a few from each until he finds one that he really clicks with. Taking some classical lessons can only help... especially with technique. He should explore many styles of music from Rock/pop to Jazz and folk and bluegrass. How about the great music from Brazil and Africa... There's so much to learn. Kim Sherman of Cotten Music http://www.cottenmusic.com is the best! She is one of the most knowledgable people in the business and is honest and fair. |
| Pete, thanks for posting the new tune, its awesome! What guitar/strings did you use for the new album? If it was the Elixir Pb's, what do you like better about them, than the Poly's? Thanks, |
| Chad Fengel
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fngrstyl1@mchsi.com Avon , IL USA - Sunday, January 14, 2007 |
Chad, Glad you like the new tune. It's not on the new CD but it is something that was kinda fun so I thought I'd throw it up there. The strings I used were the Elixir Phosphor Bronze. They sound a little brighter initially and last just as long. There's also something in the attack that is a little more present that I like about them. |
| Hi Pete. A pity that your Oslo trip was cancelled. I just love your tutorials, do you have any plans for a fourth JD instructional DVD? If not, do you concider making tutorials of other artist such as John Prine and Nanci Griffith? I'm looking forward to your next CD. Perhaps I'll see you in England this May. |
| Stein Sundby
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stesunb@hotmail.com Oslo , NORWAY - Saturday, January 13, 2007 |
Hello Stein and Happy New Year! How's the ice-fishing in Norway this year? We don't have any plans for a fourth JD DVD but you never know. What songs would you like to see included? All the best, Pete |
| Pete, I must say that I am a huge fan! I am determined to learn how to play Superstition! Do you have an instrucitonal video for it? Please tell! Thank you! |
| Camille Nelson
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cnelson@sentiom.com Salt Lake City , Utah USA - Saturday, January 13, 2007 |
Camille, I don't have an instructional video for Superstition but I do have the music in my book, The Peter Huttlinger Collection. Maybe that will help... ;-) |
| Hi Pete, I just want to THANK YOU for being such an inspiration and musical mentor for so many of us. Your DVDs are the best to have come out of Homespun. I was wondering if there is a program for transcription, that would make it easier to put some chord diagrams out for some of your more difficult songs (chord progressions) . I was wondering with your teaching experience; is it better for students to work these progressions out for themselves (i.e. with the jazz progressions like Rhythm Changes, I Got Rhythm etc...) rather than being sort of spoon fed with chord diagrams. In addition; Would you have any suggestions (i.e. books or anything else) regarding learning about chord substitutions and some basic rules to follow ? Your new song Runnin' The Rooster is really great; how did you come up with the title? Many thanks |
| Andy
Kahului , HI USA - Saturday, January 13, 2007 |
Andy; Great to hear from you! How are the waves these days? I always suggest getting a teacher to help out. It can save years of frustration. Definitely use chord diagrams to help any time you can get them. I'm planning on revising the books that I have out to include more fingerings and diagrams for some of the tougher stuff. |
| Hi Pete, I have a couple of chord fingering questions. I have almost mastered "Tommy in the Morning" but struggle with making the fairly quick changes between the Am, A7/C#, and Dm (several places in the song)--the A7/C# is especially awkward to switch in and out of--any recommendations (besides continued repetition and practice)? Also, how do you finger the G, D, and Bm chord progression in the extra section of "McGuire's Landing" (in your collection book, it is the part on pg. 69, measures 40-41)? Finally, I am looking forward to your new CD; are you planning a book of transcriptions for it? If not, please consider a Pete H. collection volume 2, with "Flowers of Edinburgh", "30 Feet of Ireland", and some of your great other songs. Many thanks. Best wishes, David |
| David Tupper
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tuppe001@maroon.tc.umn.edu Chanhassen , MN USA - Friday, January 12, 2007 |
| Nice to see a world class artist taking the time to answer questions from fans and students etc. It's that personal touch that makes all the difference! I was wondering if Pete had considered adding any UK dates to any forthcoming tours etc? In Scotland in particular Pete would be perfect for the Edinburgh festival and the Dundee guitar festival both feature world class guitarists as part of the program. Pete's style and musical charm would be a very large draw for these festival. Also as an ex GIT instructor I would highly recommend that if Pete is performing near or in LA that his agent contacts the school to arrange some clinics etc. Again the students would benefit from his musical experience and insight. Love your music. Kind Regards Graeme Marshall |
| Graeme Marshall
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graememarshall1@btinternet.com Aberdeen , Scotland - Friday, January 12, 2007 |
| Pete, I have all of your Homespun Videos and they are excellent. On the "Better Practicing" video Homespun includes the tab for the lead part of Monaghan Jig but not the chord shapes for the rhythm part. Is there any chance you would post them on your website? Thanks, Riley |
| Riley Walker
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walkera@uncw.edu Wilmington , NC USA - Friday, January 12, 2007 |
Riley, Great suggestion! We've added it to the web site in the Tablature section. Pete |
| Hi Pete.. I posted a question on another forum called flatpickin and was graciously referred to you regarding the answer. John Denver's sound is always so very impressive to me... the guitar is so perfectly crisp and clear and always seems so evenly balanced. In particular at the beginning of the song Rocky Mountain High.... how in the world does he get that sound?? How was it tracked?? Type of guitar, fx, amps etc... Do you have any idea?? I've been mesmerized by this for many years... Any insight you may have would be wonderfully appreciated. Thank you! Matt |
| Matt R
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mattrob@satx.rr.com San Antonio , TX USA - Thursday, January 11, 2007 |
Matt; Rocky Mountain High was recorded when I was about 10 years old so I don't have any 1st hand knowledge of that. But I can tell you that back in those days he was playing Yamaha and Guild jumbo guitars. That gave him his big sound. He used medium gauge flat picks. The sound was also recorded on tape back in those days. It's just a lot fatter, warmer sound than anything we do in the digital world. When I recorded my CD called Naked Pop I did the 1st tune in the digital world and on 2" tape simultaneously. Then I listened back while the engineer switched from one version to the other. It was like night and day. Recording to tape was the only answer for me. These days it's not practical, since everyone and their brother has a digital studio. As far as effects, it was probably only reverb. Less is more... In his later recordings John Denver would use a mic and the pickup in his guitar. That was what is was. Not my favorite. Hope this helps. Pete |
| Hi Pete, This is Barry and Ramona....remember from the Acoustic Sounds Cafe/Little Rock AR show and Charley's Guitars workshop. Hope all is well with you and can't wait to get our hands on the new CD. Just a gentle little reminder........."Thirty feet of Ireland"???? won't let you forget, still one of our favorites of yours!!! Are you planning any shows/workshops in the Texas,OK.AR. area in 07'? God Bless You Pete, we are your #1 fans in the Great State of Texas!!! |
| Barry & Ramona
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farley513@cableone.net Whitewright , TX USA - Wednesday, January 10, 2007 |
Hello Barry & Ramona, It's great to hear from you! I'm working on the book for my new CD as I write this. Since I'm in transcription mode, I'll add Thirty Feet Of Ireland to the list and get it done for you. I am planning on coming to Texas, Oklahom and Arkansas later this year. I'll be sure to post as soon as we have the dates firmed up. Pete |
| Hi Pete, I recently stumbled across your music on ITUNES and have been listening to your CDs non stop since donwloading from there. I've been stuck in a musical rut with the guitar for awhile and your playing is certainly an inspiration. Since you did spend some time in the Boston area, albeit a while ago, I was wondering if you might know of any good fingerstyle guitar teachers in the Boston area that you'd recommend ?? I've been looking for awhile but haven't been able to find anyone. Keep up the great work, would love to see you perform in Boston some time. thanks |
| Jamie Limbey
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jlimbey@aol.com boston , MA USA - Wednesday, January 10, 2007 |
Jamie; Glad to hear you are inspired! Whenever I get in a musical rut I just give myself a new challenge. Wether it's a new tune or soloing over certain chords or some new exercies - the work never ends. I would recommend calling Berklee's guitar department and asking if they could maybe suggest a teacher. Many of the teachers there do private lessons as well. You won't get a better foundation that what they can give. Give it a try and let me know what pans out. Pete |
| Pete, your music is absolutely wonderful! I play a little bit of guitar, but I've started playing piano a lot more. (I know chords better on the piano than on guitar.) I was wondering how do you really get ideas to compose a song or arrange a song to feel truly original (or original yet familiar in an arrangement). I know some music theory. I have this great music theory class. (I'm in my senior year at high school.) I can play various chord progressions, but after a while, nothing really sounds good enough anymore. (I arranged JD's "For You" and "My Sweet Lady" on the piano, decent arrangements, but that's pretty much it.) How do you do it so well? |
| JB
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Jerod@wels.net USA - Tuesday, January 09, 2007 |
JB; I think having a good foundation on piano will help you immensely on any other instrument you might want to play. Piano is just laid out so well. It's easy to see everything. Guitar is not quite so simple. Learn lots of songs in lots of styles. Learn a simple song in all twelve keys. Then learn a jazz tune in all twelve keys! It will take a little time to do this but you will help yourself more than I could ever explain. Play with other musicians every chance you get. It's fun and you'll learn a lot. ;-) Pete |
| Hi Pete, Thanks for bringing back the "Ask Pete" forum on your website. I'd really like to learn the technique that you use on Darcy's Guitar of partially muting the E, A & D strings. Every one of my attempts at this results in either too much or too little muting. This may be difficult to put into words alone without a visual, but could you please explain where to properly place the right hand to do this. Also, is using a thumbpick critical to the angle and placement of the hand for this technique? I play without one. Thanks for all of your recordings and instructional DVD's. They give me the inspiration to keep working at it. All the Best. |
| John LaShier
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lashier@pronetisp.net Endicott , NY USA - Monday, January 08, 2007 |
John; I'm glad to have some time again to devote to this part of the site. To get the muting just right it takes time. You have to listen a lot and experiment a lot. I do find it easier to do when I am using my thumb pick. It tends to make the bass notes a little stronger since the pick has such a more definite attack than the flesh of the thumb. To see me showing this technique, check out my DVD Solo Guitar Arrangements Volume 2. I teach Darcy's Guitar on there and you can see up close how I mute. :-) |
| Pete, Happy New Year!! Saw you at the JD Tribute (both shows) in Aspen back in October. The orchestra really added a lot. Top notch!! Got any tips for that Bm7 chord at the 7th and 9th frets in McGuire's Landing. I got your Solo II DVD as a gift and that's the only problem I've run into. It's a toughie!! Thanks, Paul |
| Paul
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pjapax@comcast.net Greeley , CO USA - Saturday, January 06, 2007 |
Paul - Barre the 1st three strings with your index finger at the 7th fret. Your little finger should go on the 2nd string, 9th fret. Ring finger should go on the 4th string (later on in the piece it goes to the 6th string) at the 9th fret. ;-) |
| Hi Pete, Happy New Year. I attended a workshop you did at Charlie's Guitar shop in Dallas a couple of years ago. I recorded the session and sent you the CDs. Of course you were amazing. I've now relocated to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia (Norfolk, VA Beach, Newport New, Williamsburg, etc)...do you have any plans to do anything in this area in the coming year? Best regards Lee Harper |
| Lee Harper
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leeharper@charter.net Smithfield , VA USA - Saturday, January 06, 2007 |
Lee; Great to hear from you! I don't have plans currently to be in your area. But, as that is one of my favorite parts of the country, I'm going to try and get over there. In the meantime keep an eye out for Stephen Bennett. He lives in the area and is one of my favorites. Pete |
| Pete, I'm sorry if this has at some point been asked/answered, but is there any place I can get mp3s (or any sound file) for the various songs and exercises in the "Tablature" section of the site? I learn a lot faster if I can hear something. By the way, I think your arrangements of "Tis So Sweet..." and "Amazing Grace" are two of the most beautiful sacred interpretations I've ever heard. You're an inspiration, thanks. |
| Ryan Pierce
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brookieluvr@comcast.net Chattanooga , TN USA - Saturday, January 06, 2007 |
Ryan; That's a good question. I have not considered putting up mp3's of the various exercises. I will think about it and try to find the time to record them. Thanks for the nice comments about Tis' So Sweet and Amazing Grace! ;-) Pete |
| Hey there! All the best in the new year. I'm curious as to what finger picks you use. On the "Learn to Play John Denver" DVD, it looks like you have on some type of press-on nails and a standard thumb pick. Is there a standard, quickly removable type of fingerpick you could suggest? I don't want to lose the "touch" of the string from my finger tips. Thanks. |
| Marcus
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marcus_e_fowler@hotmail.com Florida Keys , FL USA - Saturday, January 06, 2007 |
Marcus; I use a thumbpick but no finger picks. I have acrylics over my reals nails. $10.00 at any beauty salon will set you up. Pete |