Teach Me Guitar:

When I first started out, I always tried to learn the most difficult thing that I could possibly find. It usually sounded completely terrible, but it helps you to find your flaws and develop your technique. I think a lot of people try to put too much emphasis on being a blisteringly fast guitar player and miss the whole point of learning an instrument; to express yourself.

Take the time to sit down with a piece, and really work on it. I spent about 6 months working on Satch Boogie, (for a topical example ;)) and by the end, I could get a pretty good sound. As well as this, try and bring your own approach to your playing... It's all too easy to try and imitate a famous guitarist and end up sounding like a replica Satriani/Vai/Clapton etc.

It takes a damn lot of time to get good at the guitar, and even longer to get great at the guitar. Quite a lot of the getting great part is having the confidence to say "F*ck yeah! I'm a great guitarist!". If you can get a hang of that (but don't over-use it and try to avoid saying it too often in public :-D)

I think what makes a guitarist truly great, is their own unique sound (the same with all musicians in essence) because of this, it's really important to try and develop your ear. Try to avoid using TAB as far as possible and work instead on learning the nuances of a song and it's emotional context... My dad used to say to me:

"You play with your ears son, not with your eyes"

I'm so f'in lucky......i've won the bid on ebay for a very cool JS shirt ...running clocks or something.....just discovered all the cool stuff in that place. Dangerous place for sure!

Michelle: Thanks for the info!! Nothing on Crocodilerockcafe.com about Yngwie....nothing on TM either yet. Maybe just too early.....NP> No biggie.

Ibanezplyr: I'm so glad we got to see JS together.....he had the sun glasses thingie going on long b4 us but I think he really got a kick outa us. Did Steven get the CD I sent him for his Bday? Billy Sheehan "Cosmic Troubador"? I never heard from him........

I've got 5th row for Greensburg, PA & 1st row for Boca Raton, FLA...not sure if I'll make it to Portugal so I'll see JOe as much as I can here......... it's a crazy situation! :-((

Whoa, hessman82, Powerslave214 is gonna just luuuuv u!! lol.....he keeps angling for a VA show too...he's been a lone voice for awhile...mebbe you two can start up a chant!

Love the new web message Joe...yer crackin me up!!

Forgot to ask earlier:

lucysorets...thanks for the mail..yu have one too....as for next weeks matches..i cannot wait for ....BARCELONA vs CHELSEA........pick of all the games...i hope barca thrashes chelsea this time and the referee calls it down the middle unlike last year....

satriella...hi..i am ok....how about yu???

zenfish..hi frenchie........whats up in yur area?????

alexandre....hi...

tracie..austin....artanis...hi..

jon....nice to see the man in green........jon..thanks for the info..got the mail(newsletter)...great news.....btw,when is the MAN IN BLUE going to post again?

joe... just watched the webcast awsome stuff man.

He really meant to say PHILLY PHILLY PHILLY!!!

actually, yer both wrong...he meant to say RENO RENO RENO!!!

26 days! : )

did i hear RENO RENO RENO? hmm....i'll repeat it...RENO RENO RENO...or better yet PORTLAND PORTLAND PORTLAND!

thanks joe

love the webcast too!

highwayman, Hrh Fish is sort of right, you have to get the artists permission. But even if Joe says "yeah, feel free to shoot as many photos as you can" you still have to get permission from the venue. It depends what you're using though really. If you take a small camera like a disposable or a digital compact or something you can just bury it in your pocket and then use it all you're like....usually people don't care.

If you walk in with a tripod and a flight case containing a couple of SLR's with a couple of different lenses and flashguns to go with 'em, you might get kicked out! haha.

Joe never seems to mind photos though, you always see people with cameras at gigs. The only time I advise not trying to sneak one in is if you're going to a show that is being filmed for DVD - when I went into Steve Vai's Aching Hunger Part II show in Holland last year, we all got frisked! Sorry....that was a long answer to a short question wasn't it?!

DEAR JOE/ WEBMASTER / or ANYBODY ELSE WHO CAN HELP........

Have just been on the Sony store about to pre-order a signed Joe CD BUT THEY DON'T SHIP TO THE UK!!!!!!

Surely in this day and age it could be possible to post a CD by airmail...

Also... will there be Premium Ticket Packages available for the UK show in London?

yo folks! the webcast is now live, as is the 2nd episode of the podcast-- check 'em out!

Hello long time no see!

Hello again all -

Just saw the podcast and have been looking at the new straps. I find your art very interesting. I wonder what the historians will write about this modern art...did Satriani study under Munch or it's Munchianesque art (what a title!)

G'day Guys,

My name is Dejan and I'm an Australian based fan of freaky shred guitar playing for the 20 years. I have also grown up surfing in Southern Victoria around Phillip Island and my music is inspired by yes - Joe, Vai and EVH, but also the surfing lifestlye I've been lucky to experience with mates over the years. Anyhow, I'm have launched my website and CD "Dejan - Deep Blue Cathedral".

This isn't a shameless plug for my music, but I'd love to hear some genuine feed back on both my site and the music it contains.

The link is www.surfmusic.com.au

Please feel free to drop me a line. I am in the process of writing CD no. 2. Anyone that's tried it knows the difficulties involved, so i hope to get some positive feedback instead ruthless bagging!!!

stay cool,

climber...lol

Jon/Joe...thanks for the listening party....this is a real treat....any chance to add a Platinum pckge to NYC, or Boston.