At Jannus Live in St Pete, seeing my old band do some GD, very excited
Sit tight! My next video is on its way. Just a lot of editing. See you all soon!
Alright guys, I don't think I can really convey the power of the Master Music Formula fast enough. So far I have made three videos about it, but I want to make more.... so much more. I have hundreds in my head right now and I just want to hear from all of you what you want to get from the MMF. It can explain everything and I mean everything. Some of topics I have in my head include, How to create melodies agains chord progressions, how to create amazing chord progressions to melodies, the definitive concept of Parallel and Relative Modes, How to choose your soloing machine of choice, how to delve deep into the human element, In the mind of (you name it...)and the MMF, Why CAGED is the ultimate mindset for guitar, The dual perspective you need to conquer the instrument, Why the REAL definition of a Key is a must for success, understanding the individual pieces of the MMF, and so so so much more... What do you all need/want me to teach so that you can take the MMF and decode any song, lesson, idea that you have? Let me know in the comments. The Master Music Formula is truly unbreakable and the definitive mindset for how music works, I promise. Rock on everyone, Stich
SPAC tomorrow…. Can’t wait
Come get your Free Guitar Lesson with me at Summer Jam Camp Out. Many people have, and I tend to think they really enjoy it! See you all soon with new vids.
Thanks so much to Journey Instruments for the travel guitars! These things rock!
So, I am sitting in my RV in East Lyme CT, about to leave for the Summer Jam Campout in Brunswick, ME and I wanted to write a small blog. I had to take my wife to an urgent care because of a pinched nerve in her neck. As I was driving through the wooded lanes, sunshine randomly piercing through the branches, I was brought back to a song, a riff, that perplexed me as a young guitarist. A riff I really haven't listened to for about 25 years. The funny thing was, I couldn't really remember how it went. I could only remember something about the timing, the overlap of two guitars and a bass that really captured my attention and piqued my interest in riff writing. I couldn't even remember the name of the song, but I knew what album it was on. As my mind wandered, we arrived at the urgent care and I let my wife go in.
As she went into the building, I picked up my phone and went right for the album. "No Doy" by moe. I remembered the guy with big red face, the blue eyes, and the nail sticking into his head. I felt 20 again, I couldn't wait to hear that riff and see why I was obsessed with it back then. I pulled up the track list and stared for a while. I started playing each song from the beginning and then I got to it. "32 Things" As soon as I heard the riff, I was transported back to my friend Brian's house, sitting on his couch listening to the album and hearing this riff for the first time. But, something was different. Even though it was the riff that perplexed me back then with its speed, color, and complexity, it didn't hit me that way this time. As I listened, this time, my fingers and mind could feel the shape and flow of the riff, and totally understand the timing of the bass. The awe, wasn't there, it was replaced with a sharp realization.
I had to replay the riff several times to see why I couldn't bring that original feeling back. After three or four times, it hit me. How far I had come as a guitar player from then to now. Now, this isn't bragging, this is the shocking realization of how much time, and effort, and playing I have done since I first heard that riff. When I first heard it, I knew a very little bit about how much guitar and music worked. But, as the years went on, day after day, every minute practicing, or just thinking about the guitar, it has all added up. It is like being in a boat and enjoying the ride, only to turn around and see how far you have gone without noticing it. Every little moment from then to now, being a quintessential stepping stone, and I didn't even know it.
My brain almost fractured when trying to think of how I was perplexed with the riff. I tried and tried to get back to that mindset and hear it as I did back then, but I couldn't do it. All I could feel was that I once was perplexed. The years of playing, and practicing, and teaching made me so familiar with the fretboard and the flow of music, and I never realized how far I had come. Again, this might sound like bragging, but it is not. The story is to tell you all. Keep going. Even when you are frustrated by something, keep going. When you feel like your knowledge is too sparse, fractured or incomplete, keep going. When you feel like your fingers can't move the way you want them to, keep going. When you keep hitting the wrong strings, keep going. When you can't remember the songs when playing them, keep going. When your friend is an amazing guitar player and you feel inadequate, keep going. When you watch Billy Strings and want to put your guitar down because he is so good, keep going. When you take a break from guitar because you need to, keep going. When all you can play is a form #1 pentatonic box, and despite all of your knowledge that's what you default to, keep going. It all slowly and steadily adds up, and one day, you will turn around and smile at the thoughts that once perplexed you.
Every day with the guitar in your hand is another step, another piece, another perspective that stays with you. Trust me. As long as you keep playing, your mind and fingers will find new paths even without you knowing. Not until you turn around and see how it all adds up. Remember, there was a time, a millisecond before you ever touched a guitar. In that millisecond before your fingers touched it, you knew nothing. String names, note names, scales, how to hold the pick, how to hold the guitar, and everything was a mystic mystery. You can see how far you have come by switching the guitar to your opposite hands, Righties hold the guitar Lefty, Lefties, how the guitar Righty, and see how foreign it feels. You could have learned guitar that way. But now you see how far you have come in your journey. Don't Stop, Keep Going. It will always come together in due time. I promise.
Hope you are all well and thanks for reading. See you soon with new videos.
Stich
P.S. Wife got medicine and should be feeling better soon.
Hey Everyone! Sorry I’ve been a little lax in the video department lately. Spending time with the family and getting the RV ready for the summer. Hope you are all doing well and just a reminder, I’ll be at these Summer festivals. Hope to see and meet some of you there!
Northlands Live Music Festival in New Hampshire
6/15 - 6/17
Summer Jam Camp Out in Brunswick Maine
7/14 - 7/17
Grateful Campout in Brunswick Maine
8/11 - 8/14.
As always, thanks for being a part of the community.
Rock on,
Stich
Don’t worry, next video is coming soon! Triads (yes I said it), Chord Formulas and Improvisation! All in one lesson. It’s gonna be HUGE! Rock on. Hope you are all well!
I will be making a video about this, but I first thought I would make a post. So, as you probably know I have a ton of videos on my channel. I have, and always will be trying to make guitar easy for anyone who wants the answers. I love sharing my knowledge and hearing of the enthusiastic results and comments. But, as a teacher, I am always wondering what questions I am missing. What topics big or small that need explaining. I know we all have questions when learning guitar, and believe it or not, I know that if YOU have a question, MANY people have that question. So.... email me at IHAVEAGUITARQUESTION@gmail.com Tell me what you are struggling with, what you really want to understand..... anything. I will try my hardest to make videos on that subject to keep you playing guitar forever. Rock on, Stich
Such a great place! Going back for another festival! Hope to see you there!
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-grateful-camp-out-2022-ti…
Are you a frustrated guitar player? Been playing guitar for years but are having a hard time understanding guitar scales or even guitar chords? Or when to use them for guitar improvisation? How is your Music Theory? Do you yearn to understand how Modes work? Want to learn when to use a Pentatonic Scale vs a Major Scale or Minor scale? Heard about the CAGED chord system but don't truly understand the guitar yet? Want to learn all the best guitar tips and tricks in a truly understandable manner, and better yet play guitar with confidence? Well, you have found the right place.
My name is Ian Stich. I truly understand what is going on in the mind of our favorite guitar players and also what is in the mind of a guitar student. I invented the NeverLost Pentatonic series to show students how easy the guitar can be. Let's take those guitar tabs you have been learning and become confident, educated guitar creators.