Jam Track, Monica Valli, Brown Bear Guitars
Guitar Practice
Last week, we had a jam track in F minor/Dorian. Let's revisit the Dorian mode again, but this time in the key of A minor.
This is a pretty straightforward progression, using all triads, with common chord shapes.
Below is an example of the A Dorian Mode (which is the G Major scale, but starting with and focusing on the 2nd note - A), which we can use to solo over this progression. There are of course lots of ways to play scales around the neck, but it's often helpful to set constraints while practicing, and focusing on a specific position.
Gear Showcase
Brown Bear Guitars
Brown Bear Guitars is the work of Ontario, Canada-based luthier Jesse Brown. Jesse specializes in building traditional designs of the ‘50s, with a modern touch.
Probably best known for his killer take on vintage-inspired telecaster®-style guitars, Brown also hand-builds guitars in the style of the Stratocaster®, Jazzmaster® and others.
Using sustainably sourced woods like Swamp Ash, Mahogany, Maple, and Rosewood, in addition to exotic woods, all bodies and necks are hand-carved to precise user specifications, and Brown Bear guitars feature specially selected hardware.
Jesse meticulously hand carves each guitar neck to your exact specifications. The nut width, fretboard radius, and neck profile, and more are customized to your needs.
Jesse focuses on guitars that will bring out the best of you - as a player, and ships worldwide. In addition to custom guitar builds, Brown Bear offers guitar refinishing and repair work.
Check out Brown Bear Guitars: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Guitarist Spotlight
Monica Valli
With a refreshing guitar style that oozes with soul and authenticity, Nashville + Austin-based Monica Valli has been making a name for herself within the guitar community and beyond.
Monica’s path has been interesting and inspiring…
She was first introduced to guitar at 8 years old. She took lessons, played for a year, and ended up giving it up to focus on just being a kid.
At age 15, she picked it back up, and by age 16 she was playing bluesy dive bars around her hometown of St. Louis.
Her dedication and talent led her to Berkeley College of Music to further develop her skills. After graduating, she moved to Nashville and started a successful career as a hired-gun guitarist & backup vocalist for a wide range of artists across various genres.
Dive bars turned into theaters and bigger venues, and extensive touring and studio work gave her a ton of experience, helping her develop her own voice as a guitar player.
When the Covid-19 pandemic put the live music world on hold, Monica started restructuring her musical path. In addition to developing her songwriting and recording her own original music, she started building an online presence.
She started doing some online live streams playing guitar, and also started teaching guitar lessons - including through a great Patreon page where she posts guitar licks and tricks, covers, and behind the scenes content.
Monica has also become a force on Instagram, where she currently has 186k followers. In addition to posting great videos of her soulful guitar playing, guitar brands (including Fender) have taken notice, and partner with her to showcase their new products.
Monica recently released her debut single, "Roam," a folk-rock song that showcases her wonderful guitar work and alluring songwriting.
Key Gear:
- Fender Blues Jr. amp
- Fender Telecaster
- Fender Stratocaster
- Gibson Les Paul with P90 pickups
Check out Monica: Website | Instagram | YouTube | Patreon
Trending
- 🎸 Fender introduced an updated line of budget-friendly Champion II amplifiers.
- David Gilmore sat down with Guitar World to chat about his new solo album, why he loves Strats so much, and more.
- Martin Guitar recently announced a new Custom Shop Experience Center in at its headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In their words 'This new facility aims to provide an unparalleled environment where Martin’s valued retailers, distributors, select customers, and artists can immerse themselves in the artistry and craftsmanship behind Martin’s custom-built instruments.'.
- 😔 In a continued wave of guitar-focused print magazines shutting down, joining Guitar Player Magazine, are Total Guitar and Guitar Techniques Magazine. I guess you can now stand in the magazine section at Barnes & Noble and read this newsletter on your phone. 😉
- Supro announced a new Black Magick Reverb TB (TB = Tyler Bryant), which is a higher-powered version of their popular 1x12" amp.
Currently spinning in the office
Molly Miller Trio's new live album: Last Sunday