Beginner needs help!!

[Deleted]

Hi Michael & all,
I just found this website & joined straightaway!!
Having acquired a collection of guitars I thought it about time I learned how to play them - I'm managing very slowly but steadily with guitar but slide is causing me to pull out what little grey hair I have left and scream (my singing is worse than my guitar playing so you really don't want to hear my screams!).
I've been reading through this great message board all afternoon & have seen several previous requests for info on slide teachers/lessons - at the risk of starting off by boring you all I have to ask the question again -
Does anyone know where I could get any lessons?
I live in Berkshire (near Newbury) and am often in London and up & down the M4.
I like most music apart from commercial c#*p but mainly interested in blues.
I have a Vintage single cone which is crying with pain at present. Can anyone help please??!!
Also, where can I find out about all these workshops & sessions that are mentioned in many of the posts?

Cheers, and congratulations on a great website forum.
Regards, Clive Baron.

[Sonya]

Hi Clive,

Welcome to the forum! I can sympathise with your frustration with trying to learn to play slide - been there, got the tee-shirt.... but if you are based in Berks you should definitely go to the European Blues Association weekend workshops at Bracknell in March 06 (there's a link on this website, and it's also listed on Michael's Concert and Tour dates page).

Go along to Michael Messer's slide guitar class. Don't be put off by the fact that there will be experienced players there, because Michael always tries to give each member of his class some individual help, and you will get lots of support and encouragement from him and from the other students. And it is quite likely you will meet people at the workshops who live in your area who you could meet up and jam with. Also you will find out about other workshops and events taking place.

Good luck and happy slidin'
Sonya

[Michael Messer]

Hi Clive,

Good to have you on board and many thanks to Sonya for such kind words.

The next EBA event is in your neck of the woods; 3rd, 4th & 5th March at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell. This is a blues tutorial weekend and is highly recommended. Contact the EBA via their website for further info & bookings.

There are very few people around who are capable of teaching slide guitar, so other than our EBA events I would advise tutrial DVDs and lots and LOTS of listening to records and trying to play along and copy the licks. There is no shortcut, you just have to keep doing it until your wife, children, dog, cat & hamster all plead with you to STOP!!!!! Then when they leave the room....you start again!

Keep in touch and please feel free to ask any questions. If I do not respond immediately I am not ignoring you, just busy. I do try to keep in touch with all forum members.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Marshcat III]

Clive,

If you can make it to where the Southern cross the Dog (M1/M25 interchange) sometime, I'd be glad to help. I gave lap steel/slide workshops at the London Resonator Centre for a number of years and have several slide students on the books (including one who recently flew in from Hong Kong for four days of lessons!). You can get in touch via www.deltaechoes.co.uk.

Aloha!

[Alan]

www.deltaechoes.co.uk

no .co.uk.

[Marshcat III]

Thanks! Errant full stop......

[Deleted]

Hi all,

Many thanks for your replies & advice.
I am booking for the weekend at Bracknell and sending off my membership application for the EBA. Sounds great - can't wait! - anything going on before then!?

Marshcat III - thanks indeed for the offer - I will get in touch via your link.

Thanks again. Cheers, Clive.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Clive,

That's great news. I am sure you will enjoy the Bracknell EBA weekend. There are no EBA events happening between now and the Bracknell weekend, but in August we have the big event....a whole week at Northampton University which comes highly recommended!

Keep in touch,

Shine On,
Michael.