Setting Pickup Height by Ear

Here’s my favorite method for adjusting an electric guitars pickups for a balanced tone, no feeler gauges or micrometers needed: 1. Set the pickups so that they are level with pickguard or pickup rings. Adjust the polepieces (if possible) so that they roughly match the radius of the strings. 2. Plug the guitar into a clean amp and turn the… Read more →

Coming up in 2013

The Pete & Vic Duo‘s first studio album. Shows with Doug Carmichael at Sun Rose Cafe in Longmont. A new website and online billing for students at lessons.vicdillahay.com. St. Patrick’s Day concerts with Irish rockers Indigent Row. Another collection of acoustic music from Aspen Street. Student concerts and clinics at Guitars, Etc. Read more →

Swing Guitar Backing Tracks

I’m really enjoying playing over the 4 rhythm guitar backing tracks Jonathan Stout posted at the Swing Guitar Blog. It’s a nice change to have a true swing feeling on these songs, as opposed to the more modern jazz of typical play-alongs. Read more →

Chordbot – Harmonic Minor Blues

Here’s a Chordbot file from guitarist Richard Ellis for a 12 bar blues in harmonic minor. 12-bar-blues-(harmonic-minor) (Chordbot) 12-bar-blues-(harmonic-minor) (MIDI) Read more →

Chordbot – First Modulation in Giant Steps

Here’s a Chordbot file for the first harmonic move in the tune Giant Steps. 1st move in Giant Steps (Chordbot) 1st Move in Giant Steps (MIDI) Read more →

Chordbot Backing – Rhythm Changes Bridge

Here’s a Chordbot file for the bridge section of rhythm changes. This is just the B section, the full set of changes is here. Rhythm Changes Bridge (Chordbot) Rhythm Changes Bridge (MIDI) Read more →