WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit providing the Federal Communications Commission 90 days to complete the 2018 quadrennial review or show cause why NAB’s petition for mandamus should be granted, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than 200 members of the House of Representatives and 24 senators are now supporting a resolution opposing "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA), which signals the opposition of members of Congress to any potential legislation that imposes new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 202 cosponsors in the House and 24 in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt was the featured speaker at The Media Institute's "Free Speech America" Gala last night. The event corresponded with Free Speech Week, the nationwide annual celebration of America’s constitutional guarantees of free speech and freedom of the press that runs October 16-22.

WASHINGTON, DC -- A one-hour television and radio special of the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Awards will air nationally on over 700 local television and radio broadcast stations across the country beginning today, November 27 through December 24, 2023.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt participated today in a Senate AI Insight Forum titled "Transparency, Explainability, Intellectual Property and Copyright." 

Washington, D.C. – PILOT, NAB's innovation initiative, is now accepting submissions for the 2024 PILOT Innovation Challenge through January 19. The program provides mentorship and promotion for winning proposals, along with an opportunity to exhibit at NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 13-17, 2024.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is accepting entries for the 38th annual NAB Crystal Radio Awards, honoring outstanding community service efforts undertaken by radio stations throughout 2023. Winners will receive national recognition for their community service work during a special awards presentation at NAB Show, happening April 13-17, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards. These prestigious awards recognize the critical role local radio and television stations play in their communities across the country.

Washington, D.C.— NAB Show, in partnership with Future Media Concepts (FMC), announces the launch of a live, innovative workshop series, AI Training & Certifications, set to be a game-changer to enhance digital creativity and technical prowess using the latest AI technologies. Designed for both enthusiasts and professionals, these live programs offer practical, hands-on training both online and at NAB Show, targeting creatives in both broadcast and digital video to stay ahead of the curve and refine their skills.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced Donnie Simpson as the 2024 NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee for radio. Simpson, a legendary media trailblazer and award-winning program director, will be inducted at the Achievement in Broadcasting event at NAB Show, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), in collaboration with Hispanic media groups and organizations, today announced a first of its kind coalition focused on get out the vote (GOTV) efforts for the Hispanic community. The nonpartisan coalition consisting of 13 organizations is dedicated to increasing voter registration and voter turnout in the Hispanic community for the 2024 national elections.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced the finalists for the 2024 NAB Crystal Radio Awards, which has honored radio stations’ outstanding community service efforts since 1987. Winners will be announced during the We Are Broadcasters ceremony that takes place on the Main Stage at NAB Show, April 16 at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Washington, D.C.— With tens of millions of individuals worldwide engaged in the growing creator economy, NAB Show emerges as the central hub for networking, exploration and education within the evolving creator market. The 2024 NAB Show, slated for April 13 – 17 (Exhibits April 14 – 17) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, promises to empower creators with invaluable insights and opportunities. Leading the charge is renowned YouTube star, digital creator, filmmaker extraordinaire and multi-media innovator Casey Neistat, who will inspire creators to think outside the box and redefine their creative potential when he takes the Main Stage. Known for his signature "Do What You Can't" motto, Neistat will share his career journey, the unconventional choices that propelled him to success and offer actionable lessons on innovation and creativity.

Today over 550 radio and television broadcasters from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Broadcasters’ (NAB) annual State Leadership Conference (SLC). The conference, held at Washington Nationals Park and emceed by Emmy award winning journalist Michelle Marsh from WJLA-TV, featured remarks from policymakers, panel discussions and briefings preparing attendees for meetings with legislators on Wednesday, March 6.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today, in partnership with its Leadership Foundation, launched "You Belong Here," a multifaceted campaign to help broadcasters find, hire and grow talent in their stations. This campaign marks a significant milestone in the broadcast industry’s journey towards a more diverse, dynamic and inclusive future for local stations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan majority of the United States House of Representatives now supports the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA). The LRFA, which signals members of Congress' opposition to imposing new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 225 cosponsors in the House. There are 24 cosponsors in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced that Sun Sachs, senior vice president of Digital Products at Townsquare Media, is the recipient of the 2024 Digital Leadership Award. He will be honored during the Broadcasting Hall of Fame ceremony held on the Main Stage at the 2024 NAB Show, April 15 at 1 p.m. PT.

Washington, D.C.— The 2024 NAB Show, taking place April 13-17 (Exhibits April 14-17) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will give attendees the opportunity to spark their imagination, better connect with their communities, witness next-generation technology in action and fuel their content through dedicated on-floor Community Zones.

Washington, D.C. -- PILOT, the innovation arm of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), today announced Amira Labs, AudioShake and Chord Communities as the winners of the 2024 PILOT Innovation Challenge and named Black Stock Footage and ConnectionOpen as honorable mentions. The winners will receive a trip to the 2024 NAB Show, held April 13–17, in Las Vegas. They will also be given exhibit space on the convention floor to demonstrate their products to potential customers, investors and partners, and the opportunity to present their findings in the Connect Zone Theater.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced that FOX's groundbreaking true crime series, "America's Most Wanted," will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame for television. The series will be honored during the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame Ceremony, held on the Main Stage of the 2024 NAB Show, April 15 at 1 p.m. PDT.

Washington, D.C. – From content creation to delivery to revenue, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the broadcast, media and entertainment industry. NAB Show is the epicenter for exploring the latest advancements, impacts, opportunities and challenges AI is making throughout the production pipeline. Sessions will delve into tools and efficiencies, disinformation and deep fakes, content security and cyber security issues.

Washington, D.C.— In the crowded media landscape, audience attention spans are shorter than ever. To stand out, content must truly connect with audiences. That’s the subject of a newly announced Main Stage session at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas featuring NBCUniversal entertainment chairman Frances Berwick and moderated by Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton. The pair will then be joined by “America’s Got Talent” host Terry Crews, as the trio of industry leaders will discuss the current TV landscape, as well as connecting content and audiences across NBCU’s television portfolio.

Washington – NAB Show launches exciting new content open to all attendees that pulls back the curtain on Hollywood. This series includes insightful presentations, interviews and discussions led by industry veterans, providing valuable knowledge on various aspects of filmmaking for a deeper understanding of the content creation process.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that Nandu Machiraju has joined NAB’s legal team as senior vice president and deputy general counsel. Machiraju will report to Rick Kaplan, chief legal officer and executive vice president, Legal and Regulatory Affairs.

Washington, D.C.— With 160 countries represented, NAB Show April 13 - 17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is solidly the global destination for all things broadcast, media and entertainment. Dignitaries and delegations from six continents will convene to discover cutting-edge technologies, forge strategic partnerships and shape the future of content creation.

Las Vegas, Nev. -- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced the 10 winners of the 37th annual NAB Crystal Radio Awards. Since 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards have recognized radio stations for their exceptional year-round commitment to community service. The 2024 NAB Crystal Radio Award recipients listed below were chosen from 50 previously announced finalists.

Today, Melody Spann-Cooper, chairwoman and CEO of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, testified on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) at a hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce titled, “Preserving Americans’ Access to AM Radio.” Click here for a copy of her testimony.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that Kirsten Donaldson has joined NAB as vice president of public policy. Donaldson will report to Shawn Donilon, executive vice president of Government Relations.

Washington, D.C.— The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation today announced Mutual of Omaha as the recipient of the Corporate Leadership Award. They will receive the honor during the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards, presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television and held in Washington, D.C., on June 4 at The Anthem.

Washington, D.C. – The NAB Television Board of Directors this week adopted a policy statement reaffirming the association’s commitment to protecting viewers’ access to live, local broadcast stations and the vital local journalism and trusted information they freely provide.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed its initial brief in its challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) local radio and television ownership restrictions.

Today, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the appointment of Nexstar Media Group, Inc., President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Biard to its Television Board of Directors, effective immediately. Television Board Chair Pat LaPlatney made the appointment in accordance with NAB by-laws.

Washington, D.C.— The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the finalists for the 2024 NAB Marconi Radio Awards in a live streamed video. The winners will be recognized and honored at radio’s biggest night, the Marconi Awards Dinner, where the industry’s major players come together to celebrate excellence and recognize stations and individuals. The dinner will be held October 9 during NAB Show New York.

Washington, D.C.— On National Radio Day, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) proudly announces that David Santrella, CEO of Salem Media Group, will be honored with the 2024 National Radio Award. Santrella, who chaired the NAB Joint Board of Directors from June 2021 to June 2023, will receive this prestigious accolade during the Marconi Radio Awards at the 2024 NAB Show New York.

Washington, D.C.— NAB Show New York, set for Oct. 9-10 (Education Oct. 8-10) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, will energize the news and sports industries with the latest trends and technology. Held in the epicenter of live production, the event is perfectly timed as the broadcast, media and entertainment industry prepares for key moments such as the 2024 presidential election and the major fall sports seasons. Industry leaders will gather to explore key innovations and strategies reshaping how content is created, distributed and monetized in today’s fast-evolving media landscape.

Washington, D.C.— Proposals for technical papers and panels are now being accepted for the 2025 NAB Broadcast Engineering and IT (BEIT) Conference, part of the 2025 NAB Show, held April 5-9, 2025, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The conference is an unparalleled opportunity for industry professionals to present their expertise at the premier broadcast, media and entertainment event.

In response to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) approval of Audacy’s reorganization, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt

NEW YORK — The 2024 NAB Show New York concluded, solidifying its place as the must-attend East Coast event for not only broadcast, media and entertainment professionals but for anyone creating content across various industries. With more than 12,000 attendees, some 250 Exhibitors, 50 of which are first-timers, and 20 new product launches, the Show offered a comprehensive look at the latest trends and innovations shaping the industry. Held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the Show’s Q4 timing provided a pivotal opportunity for professionals to explore end-of-year purchases and prepare strategic decisions for 2025.

In response to the 2024 presidential and congressional election, NAB released the following statement.

Vocal Point is a collegiate group from Brigham Young University and is one of the worlds best.



This last Thursday night they were performing in a nearby town where my wife and I got tickets to go and watch them perform. It was an amazing performance and afterward i went to give their sound man the proper kudos he deserved as the unsung hero of the night.

When I talked to him I learned that he was also the groups manager/arranger. I right then and there invited him to stop by my classroom the next day. He said the group was busy and wouldn't have time which I understood. But before I left I told one of my students who was waiting in line to talk to the performers to ask them if they wanted to come to the class the next day.

Fast forward to 10:00PM that night. I get a call from the manager saying a few of my students also asked if they could stop by and the group would like to do it if they could come in the afternoon. :)

Luckily I have a great principal who agreed to let me get my choir out of their 5th period class at the last minute to come have a clinic with Vocal Point. I have great administration.


This was at the end of an amazing/inspirational last minute clinic.

Just Ask!

Last year I had this crazy idea -

Creating Viral Videos (A Classroom Project)

Well we did it and the kids absolutely loved it! I think it was their favorite part of the year. I have had kids asking me all year "Mr. G are we doing the viral video thing again this year?" And yes we are. I am going to tweak a couple things and give better expectations but overall I will stand behind the original idea of I am staying out of the way and let the kids creative sides come out.

Here is an old post that I found in my drafts folder. With my regional auditions coming up again here in a month I thought it would be relevant to go ahead with the post and try to get some ideas.

What do you do to help your students prepare for an audition?

Yesterday we had auditions for our Regional Honor Choir. I had 9 students qualify which is awesome considering I had 12 audition. I am not happy with my low numbers auditioning but that is a discussion for another day.

The audition is broke up into 2 different auditions. Sight Singing and a Solo. Both with different judges.

Sheet Music (Photo credit: jayneandd)

Sight Singing

The sight singing portion consists of 3 single line exercises and a Block and Contrapuntal Section.
   Examples @ http://www.azchoraleducators.org/

Solo

The solo is a 2 minute selection of folk/art song.

Does your state do anything similar? And what are you finding works for you?

If you are like most choir directors one of the things you do everyday and even multiple times a day if you teach multiple classes is Warm-ups. Here are the best 4 warm up resources that I have found.


      1. The Complete Choral Warm-Up Book By Robinson, Russell/ Althouse, Jay 

     2. Pop Warm-Ups and Work-Outs for Guys

We just had our regional auditions and my students did very well. Today I had the idea to type out all the notes that they received from their auditions. This way I have a digital record for as long as I want and secondly I could put that into wordle.net and see what trends I noticed.


The Result

I like this because it is a fun way for me to look at some of the things we need to work on as a whole. Also, I plan on showing this to my class and asking them what they notice from it.

• Approach the note from above.
• Singing is an athletic event.
• Drink in the breath.
• Listen louder than you sing.

• Let the breathe fuel the sound.
• Stop talking.
• Smile with your eyes
• Sing through it, not to it.
• What are you singing? To whom are you speaking? What are you trying to say?
• 80% of life is showing up. The rest is what you do after.
• Gird up your loins!
• Pitch is not optional or approximate!
• Stand from the waist up.
• Pull the taffy!
• What are you singing ABOUT?
• One more time...
• Make mistakes. Make them boldly. Make them once.
• Lay a big fat green egg, because I cannot fix "nothing."
• Have a love affair with the center of pitch.
• Too much, too soon, too bad. (About a crescendo)
• Once a mistake, twice a habit!
• Don't make it more accidental than it already is.
• The higher you go, the brighter. The lower you go, the brighter.
• No one can smile and sing except Miss America...and she only learned one song.
• Bend your knees.
• Long vowels!!
• Put more space in your face!
• No one note is the same as the other.
• Everything we do, we do together.
• Never sing louder than beautiful.
• Look up here!
• Do not take steps backwards!!
• I own your eyes.
• Pretend there's a string being pulled out of the top of your head.
• What does [accel./rit./fermata/etc.] mean?" After various mumbled responses with the actual definition, "No, it means to look at me!"
• There's a reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth.
• The arch of the eyebrow governs the shape of the tone.
• Honor the rests, please.
• Look up and live.
• Miss a note. Get a rhythm.
• Enjoy the process not the product.
• Ok we're going to go from the top to the end. I promise I'm not going to stop.
• All music must dance.
• Watch!!!!
• Better to be confidently wrong than wimpily right.
• One more time.
• Let your head rule your heart and your heart rule your head.
• Never louder than lovely.
• They who cannot spread light, are content to generate heat instead.
• It's a SONG, so SING it.
• Sing through your eyes.
• Good is the enemy of excellent.
• Fish lip and rabbit teeth.
• We want bel canto, not can belto.
• I coach choir.
• I'm tired of that mistake, make another one.
• Do we sound like one?
• Do as I meant, not what I said.
• Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.
• Look #, don't b flat, and act natural.
• Make it interesting!
• The eyebrows matter - it's hard to look interested and sound dull and equally hard to look uninterested and sound engaged.
• Look up and live!
• Sing as if you were fatter stand as if you were taller.
• Strong and wrong is better than feeble and right.
• North-south vowels rather than east-west vowels.
• One more time...
• If the basses are bad, the choir is bad.
• Sing on air.
• Sing from your toenails.
• “What's your favorite piece?" Students: "The one in our hand!"
• Men - sing like football players in tuxedoes.
• Vertical vowels, please.
• Breathe in the shape of the vowel.
• Sit tall.
• Don't 'sing the voice - - sing the phrase.
• Don't land hard on the last note of the phrase just because you've got extra air to spend.
• English is a second language for conductors - Sarcasm is first.
• That vowel sounded like a cat being pulled through a keyhole - backwards.
• That sounded like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
• “How do you Spell Monodynamoc?" (Choir starts to spell) -interrupting- "Wrong! It's B.O.A.R.I.N.G!"
• Vomit out the air.
• Breathe as if you have 20 noses around your waist.
• Don't let the consonants contaminate your vowels.
• This is a Chor"us" not a chor"me"!
• Use your "Disney eyes"
• Sometimes it's more beautiful when you DON'T sing! (Rests)
  

  Full Article

  
  

Yet again, Mr. Ransley delivers another awesome Pentatonic guitar lesson. If you haven't yet checked out part 1 of Robert's Pentatonic lesson, I highly recommend that you check that one out first, before continuing with this one. You can find the first installment here. I'll now turn over the reins - enjoy!

Pentatonic Scales (lesson 2)
(For any instrument)

Hi all,
Robert here with the second part to the pentatonic lesson. I hope you got a grasp on lesson one because this lesson is a direct continuation. Enjoy it and remember if you have any questions place them in any comment section of www.bluesandjazzguitar.blogspot.com. Have fun!

What follows is the superimposing of a major pentatonic scale, whose root will change, over a static root. This will produce the relationship of:

Maj. Pent.
Static root

The major pentatonic scale will ascend by half step and we will analyze the resulting tones when played over a fundamental static bass note (root).

At this point I will refer to all non chord tones (2nds, 4ths and 6ths) as their compound interval equivalent (9ths, 11ths and 13ths). These are also known as the extensions of the chord or scale. So:

2nds = 9ths
4ths = 11ths
6ths = 13ths

Let’s start with C major pentatonic (1, 9, 3, 5, 13) over a root C or mathematically I/I (Maj. Pent./Fundamental static root)



Note that in the “fraction” I/I, the fact that both roman numbers are the same simply means that the roots are the same. The roman number on the left will be the major pentatonic scale and it shares the same root as the roman number on the right which is the fundamental bass note.

Now, we want to analyze this relationship and see the resulting tones to determine over what chord(s) it will fit.



So, when a C note is sounding in the bass and you play a C maj. pent. scale, the resulting tones are those listed above the scale. We need to see which notes are chord tones (part of the structure of the chord), that way we’ll know what type of chord it fits. Chord tones in this case are 1 = Root; 3 = Major 3rd; 5 = Perfect 5th. A clear major triad is formed inside the structure of a (or any) major pentatonic scale. So this scale must sound good over a C major chord. The 9th and 13th are the extensions or color tones.

In lesson 3 we’ll start to compare this scale with other roots and you’ll see all the neat sounds it produces! ‘Til then, bye…

When I first started getting into recording my own music, I tried every way to find the best free solutions in recording software. I can remember like yesterday, scouring the internet for the most mediocre of recording programs. I would download and use them, but still the results were always limited, and probably because of the times. Now why did I choose to do this? well the reason back then was because I didn't know anything about recording my music, and especially not by way of direct, digital methods, so I didn't want to waste any money at this time.

I can now honestly say that I am a proud owner of Ableton Live, which I use religiously, and would recommend to absolutely anyone. However, the program is a little pricey AND it requires months of experimentation just to get the basics down. Is this recording program worth all the money and effort? yes it is, but a lot of people want something that they can use immediately, without having to spend hundreds of hours devoting their time to reading through training manuals, and investing just as much time by way of trial and error.

I recently found a great solution to this problem. Though this is a guitar
instructional blog, I have no problem talking about recording software or anything related, because recording your own music also benefits the expansion of learning and recording musical art, well....duh!

There is a beat creation program that is now available called Sonic Producer. This beats program, mainly assists a musician in creating music of a hip hop or rap flavor, which you would think would only benefit those who are interested in hip hop music or similar styles. I beg to differ.

I have a drum set, yet I do not have the space, amount of mics, equipment, nor acoustic set up to facilitate the process of recording live drums. This is great if you have a drummer to work with, but if you are an independent guitar player such as myself, and you want an easy solution, then a recording program like Sonic Producer is the way to go.

I do have Ableton Live which is in my opinion the most phenomenal recording program ever to grace the face of the planet, and is pretty much the cream of the crop for beats, but I know that it isn't the cheapest solution. With the release of Sonic Producer, I can seriously say that this is the cheapest solution for creating backing tracks to compose to or jam over that I have ever seen. Sonic Producer contains thousands of samples to work off of, and if you are more traditional, you don't just have to work with new age hip hop beat sounds. Yes, it can deliver exactly what you want, no matter what your style is. Its 30 bucks!!! my God!!

I can't believe this, because anything of this high caliber is always in the multi-hundred dollar price range. I'm really thrilled, because though it can't do what a program such as Reason or Ableton can do, it isn't that far away from the quality of these programs.

I look at it this way, and from the perspective of a mainly lead guitar player - the drums and bass are the bones of the song, and the rhythm guitar is the meat. What's the candy of this operation? lead guitar of course! It doesn't matter what your deal is, you gotta have the bones to make this music thing work. Sure, you can turn the bones into the candy of your masterpiece, but you still gotta have 'em!

There is nothing tastier than creating raw beats to either practice guitar over, or to recording with. How do you think I practice or find inspiration? I gotta have beats and bass!! with my recording program, it takes me five minutes to get a good, basic backing track down. Sometimes I just practice over a set of drum beats, but a lot of times it amounts to a complete song.

I also like the fact that Sonic Producer is so easy to use, and it the necessity of it easily fits in with other plugins or bits of recording software.

If you feel that rhythmic backing tracks are what is lacking in your arsenal, then definitely check out Sonic Producer.

Imagine that someone came to me and asked "what is in your opinion the most important guitar lesson on the site of GuitArticles? which of ALL of the lessons should a student pay the most attention to, and think about on a daily basis?". My answer would be THIS guitar lesson. This is not a how to, a step-by-step, nor does it even feature some sort of example by way of video, audio, or tab. No, it is just so important that it can not be summed up so easily with a multi-media file, or me saying "put your 1st finger here, and play this".

This article in particular can be summarized by one word. ATTITUDE. When I say attitude, I'm not talking about feeling "bad ass", or metal or anything like that. Even soulful, gentle, emotional music has attitude. When I say attitude, I'm talking about what you feel inside when you play music on any instrument, or what you can potentially feel inside.

The shear thrill and energy that you get from playing the guitar shapes your decisions in phrasing, note choices, timing, feel, and most importantly - how you produce the notes or chords.

If you've ever seen my videos when I'm improvising, you will notice that there are times when I get quote, unquote - medieval with the notes. In other words, the feeling of immediate alignment causes me to snap the hell out of the strings. Not break them, snap them with so much emotion that I have inside that it can only come out through my hands.

This feeling is similar in intensity to the feeling that you get when you are really angry, but in a good way, and chances are my best playing comes forth after I have been frustrated for a very long time. Its a valve - its a release, and anyone (and many do) can use it in the form of guitar. It doesn't matter whether you consider yourself artistic, creative, beginner, intermediate, advanced, or "skilled" on the guitar, we all are people and we all carry the same emotions - USE THEM.

Intensity is more important than technique or theory. Period. Intensity can even come in the form of playing something quietly or gently, because this requires a focus that is on the same plateau as playing something ridiculously hard and loud.

You should also come to realize that this kind of control of expression over your playing does not happen right away, and it certainly doesn't happen in the first few years of playing guitar. No, first you must create some things for yourself that only you may like, AND a guitar player has to develop a decent sense of coordination and skill. It doesn't take much, but the better you get, the more ideas you can express (because you'll know how to express them), and you will have broadened your mental and physical palette to be able to play with. When I say play - I mean experiment. It would be kind of hard to write these words if there were only two letters in the alphabet - get it?

Below is a video of me jamming over one of my favorite songs. This is not a form of self promotion at all, because I actually consider this to be my worst jam yet (there are lots of mistakes). The point is, pay close attention to how much energy I put into my playing. It is at times intense, because I'm all their - mistakes included. If you listen closely, you can hear just the guitar strings over all of the noise.