JTC Amateur Guitarist & Songwriter

<BODY> <center> <img src=JTC-767.JPG> </center> <p>Welcome to my website. Here you will find info about me and my facination with the electric guitar. I will explain where I hang out on the web, where you can find samples of my playing, what equipment I use and how I use it, and playing tips. My goal is to help other amateur guitarists and maybe receive a few tips for improvement in the process. Please take a look around and when you are done leave me a comment on how to improve. <P>Thanks for your visit! <p>Bossier City & Shreveport <h1>Morgan City</h1> <p>Morgan City is the place I grew up. It's located in south Lousiana fairly close to the gulf cost. It is famous for the annual Shrimp and Petroleum festival. Named for Morgan City's primary industries which are shrimping/fishing and off shore oil drilling work. <p>One thing is for sure about folks from Morgan City... They love music, especially live bands playing outdoors. Especially the classic rock tunes. <h1>Photos</h1> <center> <img src="DSC00176.JPG"> <img src="DSC00194.JPG"> <img src="DSC00195.JPG"> <img src="DSC00196.JPG"> <img src="DSC00197.JPG"> <img src="DSC00198.JPG"> <img src="DSC00211.JPG"> <img src="DSC00212.JPG"> <img src="DSC00213.JPG"> <img src="DSC00214.JPG"> <img src="Practice Riffs Cover.jpg"> <h1>Backing Tracks</h1> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76416">Westvibe Backing Track</a> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76415">Gone Again Backing Track</a> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76126">Funky Back Track</a> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76125">Softvibe Back Track</a> <center><img src="guitarart.JPG"></center> <h1>JTC-Biography</h1> <p>I'm 37 years old and got my first guitar at the age of 9. I wanted a guitar because my dad's brothers played in a band and sometimes would sit out on the front porch of my grandmothers house with a 6 string and a bass and play Beatles tunes and classic rock songs. I thought it was awesome. So I asked my parents for a guitar for Christmas. I don't know the name brand of the guitar but I'm sure it was the cheapest one in the Sears catologue at the time. My progress with learning to play the guitar has been very slow. As a teenager I had few friends who played guitar and those who did have instruments didn't know how to play anything. Over time I managed to learn some riffs and started getting interested in rock music while at the same time my mom was trying to get me into the music scene at our church. Even though I was a 6 string guitar player my first experience in playing in front of an audience was at church but I played the bass guitar. I didn't know much about playing bass but I managed to put the same basic bass patterns over almost any song that the church would play during it's worship services. I did take some free lessons from this guy once for maybe two or three sessions however this person only played strumming type songs and did no soloing or lead work of any type. I thought to myself that I was already beyond the level of play that this guy was teaching so I didn't stick with his lessons. By the way, when on the first day of guitar lessons, your guitar instructor is tuning up your instrument for you and breaks the high E.... That's a signal that you probably are not learning from a very good teacher. Anyway, all of the way through my teenage years I spent hours and hours every day just trying to pick out my favorite 80's rock songs and learn them by ear. I didn't understand anything about scales and how to apply them or play them over chord progressions while staying in key. So I just worked out the main riff's and would play them for my friends when they would come over. I remember my mom banging on my door many times telling me to turn it down. I always played my little 15 watt amp as loud as it would go to try and get a distorted sound from it. I had no clue about effect's pedals at the time nor could I afford them if I did. At some point I started hanging out at the local music store and got to know the owner who's name was Jose. I later found out that he new my parents which was a plus because he then would allow me to go in and play instruments and test out effects pedals even though he knew there was no chance at all that I was ever going to buy anything. Jose was a pretty good guitar player and the fact the he would come over to me from time to time and make comments to me about my playing really gave me the inspiration to try even harder to learn. He would say things like " That sounds like a BlackFoot riff" or " Show this guy that thing you just did". I really was just making alot of noise then... I got married at age 18 and for me working full time plus being married ment very little guitar time. Additionally, my wife kind of discouraged me from playing. She acted like she didn't like it but I later found out that she thought if I got really good I might end up in a rock band and it would be the end of our marriage. So I didn't play the guitar very often for a long time. I'd still play but the guitar was never out an available. I'd pick it up only on occasion and only play an hour or so then put it back in the closet. Maybe it would come out once per month or so. over about the last 7 or 8 years I have been getting more and more interested in playing again. I started recording myself often and noticed a very quick increase in my ability to learn new stuff. I spent a year and a half in the Azores and while there I played my guitar daily for many hours each day. I was lucy enough to be offored a position as lead guitarist in a classic rock band called "Disclaimer". My experiences with this band are the highlight of my guitar life so far. I learned alot from this. It was super fun. In the beginning I was scared to death of getting on stage and playing in front of a crowd. Even now I spend about two hours before hand feeling pretty crappy from the nerves. However, as soon as I start to play all the nervousness goes away. It's always awesome after that. I have really made some bade mistakes on stage as well. You know things like stepping on the chord and pulling the plug out of the guitar or stepping on my effects box only to switch to the wrong effect. I nearly blew every speaker in the club one night when I hit an effect that caused ear splitting feedback during the middle of a song. I once even forgot where the solo was supposed to start in Sweet Home Alabama... Funny now but horrible then. However, was always fun. When I left the Azores I had to leave the band life as well. Now back at home with my wife I try to play my guitar every day. My wife now supports my guitar habbit and even buys me cool stuff and writes songs for me to put music to. How cool it that? I now have 5 guitars and I'm really into recording now and hope to someday be able to put together a nice recording studio. For now I lay all my tracks using a Boss Br-600 digital recording studio. I think this peice of equipment is awesome. However, I think its tough for serious recording studio professionals to respect such a small piece of gear. I'm planning to put together an independent CD to sell on CDBaby.com. My goal is to put together 14 original songs. My 10 year old son got a set of acoustic drums for last Christmas. He leaned how to keep basic beats and a few fills very quickly and we now have Father/Son jam outs on occasion. I have two other sons but they havn't really gotten into music too much. Maybe this will change in the future. I plan to retire from my current job next year. I would love to open a music store or something as a retirement job. I'm looking into it but I really have no idea how to do it or what the cost would be. There is already a really good guitar shop in my town called "The String Shop". So I may have to find something else to do. I will always be a guitar player though and I won't ever put my guitar in the closet again. <h1>Recording with the BR-600</h1> <p>Here is a very useful website for learning about the Roland/Boss BR-600 Digital Track Recorder.<a href="http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3927&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0">LibriVox BR-600 Forum</a> <p>I intend to put some tips and tricks on this page. The manual leaves you hanging on quite a few functions. I've learned a few shortcuts and techniques for improving the recording quality that I'd like to share. But for now this page is just a placeholder for things to come. <h1>Concerts</h1> <p>Ok, lets see if I can remember some of the concerts I've been to. Hmmm, Motley Crue for the Dr. Feelgood tour, Lynard Skynard, Bad Company, Ted Nugent, Metallica for the Sandman Tour, Hank Williams Jr., and I can't think of any more at the moment. <p> I'll get back to this. <h1>Albums</h1> <img src="album.jpg"> <p><a href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/jtcrock">Download the entire album from CD-Baby for only $5</a> <p><a href="dreaming_of_a_new_cloud-01-dreaming_of_a_new_cloud.mp3">Download a Free MP3 Track Here!</a> <h1>Favorite Guitarists</h1> <p><a href="http://www.satriani.com" target="_new">Joe Satriani <p><a href="http://www.vai.com" target="_new">Steve Vai</a> <p><a href="http://www.randy-rhoads.com/index2.php" target="_new">Randy Rhodes</a> <p><a href="http://www.stevieray.com" target="_new">Stevie Ray Vaughn</a> <p><a href="http://www.yngwie.org" target="_new">Yngwie Malmsteen</a> <p><a href="http://www.kennywayneshepherd.net" target="_new">Kenny Wayne Shephard</a> <br> <img src="guitarart2.jpg" align=right> <h1>Guitar Projects & Collaborations</h1> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=82365">Guitar.Com Texas Flood Jam (GTCF Jam)</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=78290">Voodoo Chile 2k7 with Plus Ultra</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=82544">Crazy Train Cover jam with Guitar.Com folks</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=81187">Guitar.com Theme Song</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=81324">Challenger from the Guitar.com Guitar Contest</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=80105">The Air Force Song</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79920">The Star Spangled Banner</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79132">Happy Birthday</a></p> <br> <h2>Free MP3's</h2> <br> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89892">Exidor</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89872">What Friends Do</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89460">Palms Down</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89324">Tip-Toe in the Dark</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89267">Open Collab (Heightened w...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89208">No Worry</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89140">Heros Conquest</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=89042">Black Cat Funeral</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=88992">Brazilian Sunshine</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=88915">Cuff - Take #2</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=88871">Cuff</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=88252">I Need your Love so Bad -...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=88249">Look At The Sky w/ Spoken...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=87897">JTC Fur Elise</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=87394">Mouthfull of Venom</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=87369">Bells of Fury</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=87204">Nebulous Void</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=83014">Number 12</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=82544">Crazy Train Cover</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=82365">GCTF Jam (6 Guitar Solo)</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=81324">Challenger</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=81187">Guitardotcom Theme Song P...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=80105">The Air Force Song (Heavy...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79920">Star Spangled Banner (Ele...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79803">Look at the Sky (Electric...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79332">Blue Christmas with Heavy...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79132">Happy Birthday (Electric ...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=78809">Son Ga Te' (Electric Guit...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=78551">Wrong Path</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=78092">Classical Mix (Electric G...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=77905">Waka Wow Kung Pow (electr...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=77904">Nightmare (Version 2)</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=77881">Fongo-Z Guitar Jam (Elect...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=77283">Black Marble (Complete So...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76779">Key Banger (Electric Guit...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76778">Circus (Electric Guitar)</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76777">Im In Love (Second Take)</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76689">I'm in Love</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76687">Metal Collaboration THE C...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76485">Black Marble - Backing Tr...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76353">April Jam (Electric Guita...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76352">Lazy Days (Electric Guita...</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76350">Play Music Tonight</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76269">Cloud 7 (Electric Guitar)</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76212">Nightmare</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76210">No Kisses til Sunday</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76122">Come Home</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76120">JuJu Baby</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=76116">Time - So Far Away</a> <br><a href="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=78290">Voodo Chile 2K7</a> <p>This is the gear I currently use to play and record. I've also included a short review of each item. <p><u><b>Guitars</b></u> <br>1995 Fender (Squire) Stratocaster Bullet Series <br>70's Lotus Les Paul Copy <br>2002 Washburn X-25 <br>2006 Floyd Rose DST-2 <br>Classical Acoustic (Year and Name brand unknown) <br>2007 Dean Edge 10A BASS <p><u><b>Amps</b></u> <br>Behringer VAmp <br>Peave Rage 15W <p><u><b>Recorder</b></u> <br>Roland/Boss BR-600 Digital Recording Studio <p><u><b>Effects</b></u> <br>RC-2 Looper <br>Digitech RP100A <br>BR-600 Casm effects <br>Volume Pedal <p><u><b>Drums</b></u> <br>5 Peice Pulse with Cymbol pack <br>BR-600 Drum Machine <p><u><b>Monitoring Gear</b></u> <br>Chordless remote headphone unit <p><u><b>Tuner</b></u> <br>Ibanez Digital Tuner <p><u><b>Wall Hangers</b></u> <br>Who manufactured these things anyway? <p><u><b>Guitar Cases</b></u> <h1>Recording in Iraq</h1> <p> I recorded alot of stuff while I was in Iraq. Basically I'd go to work about 0630 - 2100 then when I was off work I'd go to my room and play guitar. I'd record somethin new just about every single day. I was nice to have the BR-600 recording unit because I could do all the recording and guitar playing I wanted without bothering anyone. Just throw on the headphones and crank it. That simple. So, I'd spend about an hour and a half per day like this. <p> When I'd record something worthwile or something I wanted to get other folks opinion on I'd pull the flash card from my BR-600 and take it to the morale computer area and upload my tracks to the Icompositions website. Typically within an hour at least one person would make a comment about a song but soon there would be 3 or 4 comments and that's enough to let you know if you need to try again or not. <p> I wasn't able to do many songs with vocals because I didn't have a way of isolating the exterior noise from the recordings. You never know what might end up in your recording in Iraq. Airconditioner noise, people talking outside, gunshots and explosions, etc... Mostly the aircondition made too much noise and when I'd turn the A/C off then the whole world would hear me singing with no music (headphones). Too embarrasing for me so I stuck to recording the guitar for the most part. And the songs I chose for my albums are all instrumental. <p> I'm very grateful that I had the guitar and recorder in Iraq. It really kept me from worrying so much about the situation there. <p>I also have to thank Musicians Friend for their ability to send to APO addresses and the prompt delivery of the stuff I ordered while in Iraq. No complaints. <h1>Guitar.Com Stuff</h1> <p> I just wanted to put in a plug for Guitar.com. Guitar.com kept me sane while I was in Iraq and I have learned alot from the members who post daily in the forum. If you have the time check it out. If you are a beginner guitarist you can really learn alot by exchanging info with people you'll meet there. Additionally, the opportunity to show off your skill comes up pretty frequently as some of the members like to do online collaborations. In these collaborations members will play a piece to a song then pass the file to the next person to add another part. In the end someone mixes all the tracks and a new tune is borne. Mostly Jam sessions but there have been a few complete songs. Check it out! You'll like it. <p>Here is a link to <a href="http://www.guitar.com" target="_new">Guitar.com(beta)</a> <h1>Icompositions Stuff</h1> <p> I visit Icompositions almost every day just to see what's up. I typically post all of my new material there just to see what others think of it. This is a great place to sample a ton of amateur independant artists performances. It's all free. <p>You'll notice that I haven't posted anything new in a while. The reason for that is because I damaged my recorder and it's taking forever to get the parts to repair it. It should be soon. In the mean time I'm making up cool new licks every day and forgetting how to play all of them. I really need my recorder back. <p>Please pay Icompositions a visit. You'll like it I'm sure. <a href="http://www.icompositions.com">Icompositions</a> <h1>Guitar Resources & Weblinks</h1> <p><a href="http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3927&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0">LibriVox BR-600 Forum</a> <p><a href="http://www.guitar.com">Guitar.com</a> <p><a href="http://www.icompositions.com">Icompositions</a> <p>These are some of the sites I've favorited over time. I still frequent many of them. You may find them useful. <br>* Especially Useful <p><a href="http://www.quazen.com/Arts/Music/10-Websites-to-Make-You-an-Incredible-Guitarist.57143">10 Websites to Make You an Incredible Guitarist</a> <p><a href="http://www.riffsguitarsales.com/index.html">Buy or Sell Used Guitars</a> <p><a href="http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/guitar/index_rb.html">* chord house guitar room (advanced) -- online guitar chords and scales</a> <p><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/moneychords/lesson.html">Chord Progressions</a> <p><a href="http://www.chordfind.com/">* ChordFind.Com - Guitar Chord Finder</a> <p><a href="http://www.chordsandscales.co.uk/viewer/">* ChordsAndScales.co.uk - Guitar Chord and Scale Fretboard Diagrams and Calculators - A Pentatonic Minor</a> <p><a href="http://www.hotfrets.com/tabwriter.asp">* Create Tablature Online Free - Tab Maker </a> <p><a href="http://www.jazzguitar.be/modi.html">Free Jazz Guitar Lesson Guitar Modes</a> <p><a href="http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/index.php">** Guitar Chords</a> <p><a href="http://www.eioba.com/a40212/guitar_chords_how_to_solo_over_chords_with_the_minor_pentatonic_scale">Guitar Chords How To Solo Over Chords With The Minor Pentatonic Scale</a> <p><a href="http://www.blackbeltguitar.com/Scales.php?subaction=showfull&id=1074059111&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6200&">Guitar Scale Lessons</a> <p><a href="http://www.jazzguitar.be/melodic_minor_modes.html">Guitar Scales Lessons Melodic Minor Scale Modes </a> <p><a href="http://tabcreator.rukind.org/">Guitar Tab Maker</a> <p><a href="http://www.guitartrader.com/guitarcodex/index.html">* Guitar Trader Web Tool (sales & chords) </a> <p><a href="http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id81_en.html">Guitar Trainer</a> <p><a href="http://guitarsecrets.com/guitar_chords.htm">Guitarsecrets.com - Guitar Chords and A minor pentatonic scale </a> <p><a href="http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/index.htm">* JamStudio.com - The online music factory - Jam, remix, arrange chords and loops - free guitar</a> <p><a href="http://www.jazzguitar.be/jazz_guitar_chord_theory.html">Jazz Guitar Chord Theory</a> <p><a href="http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord-scale-note-printer/">** The Bass and Guitar Fretboard Diagram Printer </a> <p><a href="http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/">** Free music theory lessons for experienced guitar players </a> <h1>String Shop</h1> The String Shop is the local guitar store that I go to. I don't go there too much, and I don't even know the people who run the place by name. But I have found them to be very nice and extremely helpful. <p>You can check out their shop here <a Href="http://www.thestringshop.com">The String Shop</a>. <h5><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/jtcrock" target=_new>CD Baby</a> <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=272368356&s=143441" target=_new>Itunes</a> <a href="http://payplay.fm/jtcrock" target=_new>Payplay</a> <a href="http://www.ruckus.com/ruckus/music/album.do?from=search&albumId=1436761" target=_new>Ruckus</a> <a href="http://www.groupietunes.com/artists/JTC" target=_new>Groupietunes</a> <a href="http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=195649" target="_new">Audiolunchbox</a> <a href="http://www.greatindie.com/ipnmusic/store/list.php?item_number=634479698279" target="_new">Greatindie</a> Contact Info: Email me at guitarmcp@hotmail.com<br> Find me at guitar.com profile page JTC<br> Find me on Icompositions artist page JTC<br> </h5> </BODY>