Well... I recently moved from a 3-bedroom apartment to a 2-bedroom apartment. The old place allowed for me to use the smallest room for a studio, which was pretty nice and allowed me to focus on writing, playing, and recording. The new space I don't have that, and have been struggling with having my gear in the bedroom, and not being able to have everything within arms reach. It does have me thinking about the intentional use of space and equipment, and being more mindful about what I'm doing and using. I've been pretty intentional about buying guitars, but I still have a lot (basses included), and my magpie brain likes the new shiny of pedals... I appreciate this channel and the minimalist philosophy, and will watch any content you put out. Thank you 🙏
I love what you do here! I particularly enjoy your content about minimalism as it relates to music, as well as some of the mental struggles that come along with being a musician - I find these applicable and relatable.
After 30 years of playing I'm pretty much OK with the theory stuff, but as a fellow minimalist (or at least someone working towards it) I like the less-is-more videos. In 2021 I sold 9 guitars and bought 1. So far in 2022 I've sold 3, with 6 more to go. I have bought 3 pedals, but I sold 6 (and hope to sell another 20 or so) so that's OK! Has my music or my creativity suffered for having less gear? Not one bit.
THE one tube Amp that does it all (beautiful cleans and great pedal platform, blues to hardrock sounds!). And the pro's con's for a head/212 van VS combo 212 Amp... 212 because that's a little bigger sound than a 112, but not the pain in the ass of a 412. That's what I'm really struggling with for my coverband/personal stuff.
That's a good one. I generally prefer heads and cabs because combos always seem to rattle. That does make things more limited I guess though. If I had to pick one amp to do everything with I'd go Deluxe Reverb. My usual rig is a small head (10-20 watts) into a 1x12 cab with a warehouse guitars green beret.
Hey man, I've been watching your videos since late last year. In fact, when you suggested not buying gear for a year I thought, why not! So like you I haven't bought anything since the start of the year. I've found it to be really liberating to just play and create and not spend all my time thinking about the next purchase. The minimalist approach has also lead me to be more rational with what gear I use in my band. If a pedal isn't being used after a month or so it comes off the board. As I use a lot of tunings I've also sat down and figured out which 6 tunings can be easily accessed on just three guitars so I don't need to take so many guitars to rehearsals each week. Since you're asking, I've got a couple of suggestions for videos. One could be on how to use what gear you have to do something new. Like how to "fake" a certain sound with the gear you have. It would also be good to have a few videos on minimalism in composition and playing. There's a lot of videos on RUclips about building guitar skills and getting faster in playing, but there's not a lot about the minimalist approach of intentional playing. Kinda like the Zen Guitar philosophy. I've been trying to focus on intentional playing lately so it'd be great to hear more people talking about this. Again, keep up the great work, it's been inspiring.
Thanks so much for the kind words and I think that's a great Idea! That's a big part of how I play and am always working on making my playing more melodic and musical. I will 100% put a video together on that.
I love your channel philosophy. How about a video where you identify a chord or movement that you currently cannot execute and show us over the next few weeks how you analyze and problem solve until you *can* execute it?
Would be cool to see maybe your budget gear options (for example: interface, monitors...etc) as well as some electric tones and how you get them. I just purchased a captor x recently and really trying to learn it.
Gear is money, we want toget gear we can use now. This includes new and used. How to get the gear we can use and progress on to other lessons. Also gear that is not needed at the level you are at.
Can you elaborate on this idea a bit. I'm just a bit lost on what exactly you mean by gear you can use now and progress onto other lesson. I love the idea of gear that is not needed too!
Just to be transparent...I'm not a musician but I have a huge appreciation for great guitar playing. I wonder what your thoughts are on performers like Rodrigo y Gabriela that use their guitars for a full range of sounds especially percussion. Is this something you ever practice or have use for?
Hey sorry didn't see this earlier we could have had a good chat on the bike ride! I think what they do is awesome! I enjoy seeing it performed but it's not something I dabble in. In the last few years I've really learned that there isn't time to learn everything so I generally stick to working on what it is I like to do and the things I get hired to do. I spend most or all of my time working towards becoming better at playing guitar in a mix with other instruments. I noodle around in open tunings on the acoustic from time to time just for fun but not ever with any intent to get much better at it.
Mmm. Your channel is about minimalism. But why is there no how to create minimalistic melodies over basic chord progression?. like some people with only two notes for example.
Love it! Good to know some people are getting something out of the minimalism videos because I love making them. Anything specific theory or songwriting wise you're wanting to know?
@@minimalistmusician inspiration, how to put together chord progressions, how to make demos of songs (especially how to get drum sounds when you have no drums), a minimalist approach to instrumentation on recordings. Those are some ideas, eh?
Well... I recently moved from a 3-bedroom apartment to a 2-bedroom apartment. The old place allowed for me to use the smallest room for a studio, which was pretty nice and allowed me to focus on writing, playing, and recording.
The new space I don't have that, and have been struggling with having my gear in the bedroom, and not being able to have everything within arms reach.
It does have me thinking about the intentional use of space and equipment, and being more mindful about what I'm doing and using.
I've been pretty intentional about buying guitars, but I still have a lot (basses included), and my magpie brain likes the new shiny of pedals...
I appreciate this channel and the minimalist philosophy, and will watch any content you put out.
Thank you 🙏
Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying.
I love what you do here! I particularly enjoy your content about minimalism as it relates to music, as well as some of the mental struggles that come along with being a musician - I find these applicable and relatable.
Thanks so much for letting me know. Great to know people are actually enjoying the minimalism videos! I'll keep them up. Cheers
I love minimalist concept of gear or guitar in general
Great, lots of that comin!
I’m always curious to hear more about how full time players make a living w music.
Great idea Keith! It's so different for every player and I love hearing about this stuff too! Maybe a day in the life kind of thing!
Yes to this!
I should do this. I’ve made full time music work for the last six years.
After 30 years of playing I'm pretty much OK with the theory stuff, but as a fellow minimalist (or at least someone working towards it) I like the less-is-more videos. In 2021 I sold 9 guitars and bought 1. So far in 2022 I've sold 3, with 6 more to go. I have bought 3 pedals, but I sold 6 (and hope to sell another 20 or so) so that's OK! Has my music or my creativity suffered for having less gear? Not one bit.
I would love to see a warmup/practice routine, more stuff on improvising, maybe a recording session or how you record your backing tracks.
These are all great ideas and I absolutely will make some videos on these topics! Thanks mark!
THE one tube Amp that does it all (beautiful cleans and great pedal platform, blues to hardrock sounds!). And the pro's con's for a head/212 van VS combo 212 Amp...
212 because that's a little bigger sound than a 112, but not the pain in the ass of a 412.
That's what I'm really struggling with for my coverband/personal stuff.
That's a good one. I generally prefer heads and cabs because combos always seem to rattle. That does make things more limited I guess though. If I had to pick one amp to do everything with I'd go Deluxe Reverb. My usual rig is a small head (10-20 watts) into a 1x12 cab with a warehouse guitars green beret.
Hey man, I've been watching your videos since late last year. In fact, when you suggested not buying gear for a year I thought, why not! So like you I haven't bought anything since the start of the year. I've found it to be really liberating to just play and create and not spend all my time thinking about the next purchase.
The minimalist approach has also lead me to be more rational with what gear I use in my band. If a pedal isn't being used after a month or so it comes off the board. As I use a lot of tunings I've also sat down and figured out which 6 tunings can be easily accessed on just three guitars so I don't need to take so many guitars to rehearsals each week.
Since you're asking, I've got a couple of suggestions for videos.
One could be on how to use what gear you have to do something new. Like how to "fake" a certain sound with the gear you have.
It would also be good to have a few videos on minimalism in composition and playing. There's a lot of videos on RUclips about building guitar skills and getting faster in playing, but there's not a lot about the minimalist approach of intentional playing. Kinda like the Zen Guitar philosophy. I've been trying to focus on intentional playing lately so it'd be great to hear more people talking about this.
Again, keep up the great work, it's been inspiring.
Thanks so much for the kind words and I think that's a great Idea! That's a big part of how I play and am always working on making my playing more melodic and musical. I will 100% put a video together on that.
I love your channel philosophy. How about a video where you identify a chord or movement that you currently cannot execute and show us over the next few weeks how you analyze and problem solve until you *can* execute it?
Great idea! I've got something like this in the works right now!
@@minimalistmusician thank you! Imagine the value you add to our student experience when we see how you learn a new difficult thing. Priceless. ❤️
Would be cool to see maybe your budget gear options (for example: interface, monitors...etc) as well as some electric tones and how you get them. I just purchased a captor x recently and really trying to learn it.
Cool! Great ideas.. also the captor x is a great tool!
where are you located? love your channel!
Thanks so much. Northern Ontario, Canada
Gear is money, we want toget gear we can use now. This includes new and used. How to get the gear we can use and progress on to other lessons. Also gear that is not needed at the level you are at.
Can you elaborate on this idea a bit. I'm just a bit lost on what exactly you mean by gear you can use now and progress onto other lesson. I love the idea of gear that is not needed too!
Just to be transparent...I'm not a musician but I have a huge appreciation for great guitar playing. I wonder what your thoughts are on performers like Rodrigo y Gabriela that use their guitars for a full range of sounds especially percussion. Is this something you ever practice or have use for?
Hey sorry didn't see this earlier we could have had a good chat on the bike ride! I think what they do is awesome! I enjoy seeing it performed but it's not something I dabble in. In the last few years I've really learned that there isn't time to learn everything so I generally stick to working on what it is I like to do and the things I get hired to do. I spend most or all of my time working towards becoming better at playing guitar in a mix with other instruments. I noodle around in open tunings on the acoustic from time to time just for fun but not ever with any intent to get much better at it.
What type of computer do you use or find ideal for a minimal setup (edit videos, RUclips, etc)?
I’m using a Mac mini m1
Mmm. Your channel is about minimalism. But why is there no how to create minimalistic melodies over basic chord progression?. like some people with only two notes for example.
Personally I’m not that interested in gear videos. Those area dime a dozen. I’m more interested in theory and songwriting.
Love it! Good to know some people are getting something out of the minimalism videos because I love making them.
Anything specific theory or songwriting wise you're wanting to know?
@@minimalistmusician inspiration, how to put together chord progressions, how to make demos of songs (especially how to get drum sounds when you have no drums), a minimalist approach to instrumentation on recordings. Those are some ideas, eh?