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I Tried

Happy Shasta Phil 8/26/09

I was going to manage this blog from Safari, but it doesn't play well with Google Apps, so I am using Firefox now for both my blogspot blogs. I even tried composing the page on NeoOffice, and copying to blogger, but it took extra steps to get it to work. Copying the Google Docs page while in Safari didn't transfer the pictures to the Blogger editor, so that was a waste of time. Trying to compose the page with the Blogger editor while using Safari was unnecessarily clumsy and practically unmanageable. Images would not import to the cursor insertion point, but instead, would only appear at the top of the page. Moving them to their appropriate place on the page was a slow, step by step, dragging operation because it didn't recognize cut and paste. Sizing images required typing in dimensions rather than just grabbing the corner and making it bigger or smaller.

I use Safari sometimes to watch You Tube and Hulu just for variety, but overall Safari is pretty much useless.

It makes sense to use the programs that work best, (easiest, fastest, most intuitive, and do what you want them to), and it seems that the FF - Google combination works splendidly on the Mac. I have tried Firefox and Google on Windows, but like most things on Windows, it doesn't work without problems. Some of the best editing features are missing, it looks bad, feels wrong and discourages creativity with it's graphics proportions and annoying colors, (but that describes all Windows programs).

I am so glad I use Apple computers, (even if I don't use their Safari Browser).

Violin Maker John

John Harrison plays his vintage Stratocaster. 8/26/09

John and I did a little rehearsing this afternoon at the violin shop. We are preparing for the Blues Festival, here in Redding. I am not sure which night we are scheduled to play, but I will find out tomorrow night at the Shasta Blues Jam. We shall see.

Playing For The Blues Society

If I don't give it everything I've got, why do it at all?

Here is a recording from the Blues Jam. Rick Larsen is playing the keyboard. John Harrison and Phil on guitars. Mark Mlcoch on bass, and Rocky Rossi on drums. The recording is from the tape out on the PA mixer.

Enjoy
I Dont Miss You by Phil Seymour

What Would Happen

If I Were To Teach

I have been asked, over the years, to teach some of what I know about music. I generally decline, but I did actually sign on to teach guitar when I was a teenager. It was the younger brother of a girl I was interested in, so I accepted the job.

I made the mistake of asking him what he wanted to learn. This turned out to be nothing I was familiar with. I never really learned the stuff most guitar players played. I am a singer who plays guitar.

I didn't even know the regular chords that guitar players played. I had discovered early, that the chords and diagrams on sheet music were there for people with high voices. I had to transpose every song into a key that fit my voice. This meant I had to learn, “Barred”, chords.

This meant that I didn't use chords with open strings. I also didn't use a, “Capo”, because it would be in the way when I changed chords. The chords and progressions I had learned were very difficult for a beginner to do.

I showed him a couple of boogie woogie riffs and told him to practice those until next lesson.

There was no next lesson.

I have tried the “take what you like” method, which is basically, if you see or hear something you like that I am playing, I will show you how I do it. That sort of works.

One of the difficulties in teaching guitar, as I know it, is I didn't really learn to play guitar on my guitar. I wanted to play the hammond B-3 organ, but I had a guitar, so I approximated jazz organ on my acoustic guitar while singing Kingston Trio songs when I first learned to play. I was in a duo with John Bradley where we sang Kingston Trio songs. At first I was singing and playing bongos, but if I played guitar, John could play solos and lead guitar.

Now it's over 50 years later and some people want to learn some of what I know about music. I think it might be helpful so that when I mention that a song uses a, “Dorian Mode”, they will know that it's from 18^th century music theory. Much of the chants and hymns that monks sing are based on this scale. If you play from D to D just using the white keys on the piano, (no sharps), that is the scale used for a Dorian mode. Of course, not all the songs will be in the key of D, so you would want to learn that scale and transpose it to what ever key the song is in.

Most of my favorite jazz musicians learned classical piano and the theory that makes it happen. It didn't matter if they were sax players, or drummers, the really good players all studied classical piano. I studied music theory, harmony, arranging and composing in college. My major was piano, but I am not a real pianist. I am a singer who plays guitar.

I think I may be able to offer some assistance to a couple of people who have asked me to help them learn more. Did I mention I was a drummer in a dance band when I was in the 11^th grade? I also played trumpet and sax in the marching band, but I am really just a singer.

Opening Song

Shasta Phil

Singing at Johnny's Cathouse Photo-Sandi Taylor

Shasta, The Volcano

Mount Shasta in July, 2009 Photo-Phil Seymour

Mount Shasta in August, 2009 Photo-Phil Seymour

I figure to use this blog as a place to write about the music and the environment.

I have a band that plays around northern California. We play blues and other music

It's really fun to perform, and people like to hear us play.

We are called;

The Phil Seymour Band

I tried to name us something clever and catchy, but when we would play somewhere, the announcer would call us the Phil Seymour Band. I don't mind, and it's okay with the guys in the band, so that's the name.

You can see us playing HERE.

Shastaphil@gmail.com