BabuLife

Cut Capo Instructional

One of the web searches I get on this site is for the Kyser Cut Capo post I did a couple of years ago.  I've found this nifty little tool a nice way to brighten up chords.  I've often thought about creating a video or some chord charts for folks looking for that info.  Instead, I've found a great video created by Mark Roach that gives you the basics.  So if you're looking for some cut capo instruction, check it out below.  The only thing I would add is that the G chord = A when playing with other instruments.  A=B, Bm=C#m7, Em=F#m.

Never Tune Your Guitar Again

I heard this was coming and couldn't believe it.  Please oh please someone do this for acoustic guitars!  Un-be-lievable.  Gibson has made many a guitar players dreams come true with this.  Thanks Brian for the vid link.

The New Guitar Update

As promised...a pic of the new geetar in action.  Still feeling extremely blessed by this beautiful gift. Thanks to my buddy Jim for the pic.

Nu-uh...I can't Believe this Happened

So I'm sitting in my office Friday late afternoon working on some music when I see Pat, our receptionist, through the window of my office door holding a giant box.  It looked like she needed help so I got up and went to the door.  I was confused by the giant Breedlove logo on the box wondering what in the world this was doing here.  Turns out someone out there felt led to purchase the guitar I blogged about and deliver it to my office.  HOLY COW!!!!  As our pastor, Tim Howey says . . . UN-BE-LIEVABLE.

To the anonymous donor...thank you soooo much.  I don't know what to say.  I was literally stunned and shocked.  Your heart was so uplifting....thank you sooo much for the card too.  God is definitely good.

Pics to come soon.

Meet my New Guitar . . .

Sometime in the future.  This is it.  The one.  I will be stuffing cash in my Dave Ramsey envelope system for this little item.  I dragged the wife out to Guitar Source today and embarrassed her with my guitar geek enthusiasm. 

So...have a look at the pics...it's the Breedlove Atlas AC25/SR Plus with the sunburst top.  It's going to take some time for saving, but I WILL NOT use a credit card.  That's for all my Financial Peace University buddies out there.

I HATE THIS CAPO

Don't get it.  Tried it this morning and it kept throwing my strings out of tune.  The Glider Capo in my opinion is trash.  See my earlier notes here.

Gear Envy & The Rolling Capo

Hi. My name is Ben.  I'm an accoustic guitar player.  And I have gear envy. What is "gear envy"?  It is the coveting of another's trinkits that assist their guitar playing abilities.  You see there isn't much needed for an accoustic guitar player.  You've got the guitar, a capo or two, a pick, a set of strings and maybe a strap.  That's it.  You can view my gear list on the lower left hand sidebar.  My list is so pathetic I even added a place where you can get gear.  As you can see from this picture, I've got a couple of capos and a pick.  It's nothing like the list found on Victor Estrada's site.

Well Tuesday I had a new piece of gear arrive.  A brand new capo.  Yes, I get excited over capos.  Everytime I walk into our local guitar store I check out the capo wall to see if there's anything interesting.  Every sales person has tried to sell me on purchasing the Rolling Capo to which I have always said "nah...$25 for a capo is just too much".  I looked it up on Musicians Friend and found it for a few dollars less.  Tuesday it came.

Rolling Capo Review - During our First Wednesday Worship (Ignite) I gave the new capo a try.  I still don't know how I feel about it.  I think I'm going to give it another shot.  The unique thing about this capo is that you never have to take it off the fretboard.  Instead of removing it, you "simply" roll it up past the nut when you want to play standard chords.  I say "simply" in quotes because that's what I was told.  I worried all night as I rolled up there that it was going to interfere with the tuning of my strings.  I think you have to put it just right on the edge of the nut in order for your guitar to stay tuned.  So far I give the Rolling Capo a 2 1/2 out of 5. You can purchase this capo here.

Has anybody used one of these?  If so, what'd you think?

This Just Ain't Natural

HT: Los

Got the Itch Again

This itch seems to come this time every year.  Why?  I don't know.  Could it be the summer heat?  I am wanting a new guitar.  I love my Breedlove, but I have a hankering for something new.  Does this mean I'll get one?  No.  It never does.  But...I'd love to know what guitar you play and what you would recommend and why.

Keyser Cut Capo

For generations, guitar players have been looking for the perfect way to play nice ringing chords without breaking fingers. Some have even tried the vice capo which is a little difficult to play with. When I would listen to worship, I found myself mystified and some of the chord sounds they would use.  Until I found the secret tool...

I've been using this nifty little invention now for about 15 months.  And I LOVE it!  The Keyser Cut Capo was featured on worshiptogether.com and I decided to try it out.  It really opened up a whole new dimension to my playing.  I must admit that I feel guilty for using it sometimes.  It makes guitar playing so easy that I feel like I'm cheating.  But then I hear the nice full sounds and that feeling quickly departs.

If you play acoustic guitar and lead worship in small group settings, this is an amazing tool.  It gives you the ability to play some of those bass notes in the chords when you don't have a bass player with you.  Chords like the E/G#, the F#m7 and the C#m7 sound great with this capo. If you're feeling bold, you can slap on a regular keyser capo and then slap the cut on raising the key and giving that same full sound.  I've done that from time to time.

For songwriters, you'll find this may be the perfect tool to reenergize that creative slump.  You can purchase the Keyser Cut Capo at worshiptogether.com. Songs that sound great with this capo: We Fall Down, Here I Am to Worship, You Are My King and pretty much anything in the key of E.  Get one and try it out!