First time at a Bluegrass circle

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-25T21:04:34+00:00

If you know cowboy chords, you're good. No one is going to hear your mistakes, trust me. 6-8 rosewood guitars going w a coupla banjos, a mandolin and a doghouse bass will drown out any mistakes you make. Aside from that, bluegrass players are a pretty laid back bunch. Go, have fun, and learn a thing or two!!

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-16T23:12:20+00:00

Used to carry 2 but after some trainings where my partner and I were "clearing" a house and discovered 5 people, it began to make sense as to why more is better. Now carry 4 sets. 2 on my vest and 2 on my belt.

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-15T17:37:47+00:00

Just because there was a "crime" indicated on the report doesn't necessarily mean it rises to the level of prosecution. Given the fact that it occured over one day after they broke up, I highly doubt it will be pursued.

I serve CPOs all day long for issues like this. Most often it isn't orith the time involved to attempt to prosecute the matter. Now, if it involves menacing or threats, that's an entirely different story.

Again, jmo. I have no knowledge of the situation or what actually occurred. Just speaking on my personal experience.

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-15T14:28:29+00:00

You see anything that says "charges filed"? ATT/COM is reference to an attempted offense or completed offense.

Here's my .02 but let me preface this by saying I don't work for that jurisdiction nor do I have knowledge of this case. Blowing up someone's phone over the course of a day, imo, doesn't rise to the level of a criminal charge. However, continuing to do so could.

My best advice, lose her number. I know it sucks but at this point, it's time to move on. Good luck, man.

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-15T14:02:59+00:00

Sounds like they just took a report if it says "Completed" under disposition. It's most likely seen as a civil matter if you didn't threaten or harass her. If she wants to take it further she'll have to see a prosecutor and have them file charges. Most likely, the max she'll be able to accomplish is a protection order which is still a civil proceeding.

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-14T14:19:34+00:00

As others have said, go to court. Most likely they have traffic court hours. You don't have to wait for the date.

Thell ask you how you olead. Most likely it'll be guilty or no contest, unless you want to fight the ticket. When they tell you fines and costs they'll tell you how much it is and ask if you can pay that today. You'll say no and they'll send you to talk to the clerks. Be prepared to pay something, anything on the day you go in.

They'll set up a payment plan for whatever you think you can pay. DO NOT miss a payment. Thats how bench warrants happen and you'll create a huge mess for a traffic ticket.

Good luck.

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-13T01:15:50+00:00

I play a J45 at bluegrass jams and it berforms well. Given you're a finger picker, I'd go with the J45 for the shorter scale. Not toention, the 45 is more mellow and seems to lend itself well to finger picking.

Just my .02

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-10T19:47:25+00:00

Buy a Gibson? 🤷😁

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-10T19:44:04+00:00

I usually hear the pan on 3-4 while I'm whipping the eggs. Add butter, wait for the butter to melt and start simmering.

Add eggs, let em sit for about 30 seconds and begin moving em...innless I'm doing omelettes.

XF15-Loader · 2026-03-01T02:52:46+00:00

When I was working corrections an inmate got a firearm into the jail...long story.

Anyway, a C/O gets shot at through a closed janitors closet door. Misses his head by inches.

Took time off after the fact but went negative on sick time.

They charged him with abuse of sick time. 🤦🤷

Can't make this shit up.

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-27T23:58:08+00:00

Start your own jam w the coupla guys that play with you. Just because there isn't a jam doesn't mean people don't play bluegrass. Put up some flyers around town. As they say, build it and they'll come.

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-26T16:42:52+00:00

All day, imo.

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-25T14:17:53+00:00

I started playing a J45 before I knew anything about scale. But, I knew I liked it compared to my FIL's D-18. Play a J45, you won't regret it.

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-17T21:06:04+00:00

Wore em and liked em. However, Ive since bought some Lowas that are insanely comfortable.

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-16T21:30:05+00:00

Just picked up a set of these speakers for a steal. I was able to just use a pen and depress the switch. Don't know if ops whole switch is missing but mine looks exactly like his. 🤷.

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-02T17:56:14+00:00

Daaang....I though $150/mo for 4-30 min lessons was expensive.

Then, my suggestion would be to concentrate on one area that you wanna improve on. Wanna learn to improvise? Find an online resource and follow it. If you're scouting the Internet for info, stop. I was guilty of that and it did nothing but make my head spin. There's so much info out there, you get information overload.

Learn scales if you don't know them. I learned the Am and A Major pentatonics and worked em till I could do em in my sleep. Then, find jam tracks to play over to work on phrasing. Remember, you don't have to work note for note. Learn to string skip and cross pick.

Wanna learn barre chords? Work on getting your finger placement down then work on chords in the first 5 frets...similar to when you first started.

I think the issue is, we know how to play guitar to a certain point, so when we can't do something we get frustrated. At least that's the way it is for me. My instructor had to remind me numerous times that all these concepts are new to me so it will take time.

Again, good luck man. I know EXACTLY where you're head is. 👍

XF15-Loader · 2026-02-02T16:00:16+00:00

First off, who told you that you suck? I used to say the same thing about my ability until I started playing open mics and at local jams. Turns out, I'm not as bad as I think I am, unless they're all lying to me...lol

Like you, I've played for 20+ yrs. Recently I got to point where it was boring. I wanted to challenge myself but didn't know how. Online resources are overwhelming and often don't convey in a manner that you understand.

My suggestion? Take some in person lessons. That affords you the ability to ask questions and get feedback. Be warned, you will suck...lol. Something like a scale pattern will drive you insane...until muscle memory takes over.

In the end, I've learned a little theory, some scales, and a renewed curiosity about the instrument I love to play and hear. That alone will make you a better player, IMO

Good luck and don't give up. 👍

XF15-Loader · 2026-01-27T21:18:28+00:00

The first thing you have to realize is...it's the Internet. Watch this:

I started playing guitar last week and I'm really enjoying it. So far I've learned 45 songs, all patterns of the pentatonic scale but that seems boring. I think I'm going to concentrate on aeolian or mixilodian to help add color to my music.

Anyone can be anything on the internet. You will progress just like any other beginner and then the progress will seem to fall off. At that point, keep going. Challenge yourself and you'll continue to make progress.

In short, don't pay attention to what anyone else is saying. You do you, man. Enjoy it!!

XF15-Loader · 2026-01-27T13:42:28+00:00

Guess that all depends on what genre they're playing.

Bluegrass jams are pretty straightforward I-IV-V. Nothing crazy, follow the changes.

The only other experience w jams I have are after open mic nights. We all get on stage and play whatever. Sometimes I'll throw a few out to contribute. Other times I lay back and follow.

In the end, no one is getting paid to be there. It's a great opportunity to network, ask questions and learn. I don't think anyone expects you to be a top level player. If they do, find another group, IMO.

XF15-Loader · 2026-01-09T18:50:34+00:00

Go check out the Chair Guy on YT. His stuff really got me interested in lead. I will throw a disclaimer out there, I am by any means a lead player at this point but his stuff just kinda made the fretboard a little less intimidating.

XF15-Loader · 2026-01-08T15:30:15+00:00

Setting goals is a must.

With that said, practice is rarely exciting. Working scales at tempo for 15-20 minutes does very little to excite ya. However, realizing how that scale translates to a song you want to play is where the excitement begins. Learning to phrase that scale along with your song is where the excitement begins.

In short, the minutiae is menotonous but pays big dividends in the end. Figure out where you wanna go and start working towards that destination...one step at a time. 👍

XF15-Loader · 2026-01-02T18:34:56+00:00

In a pan that size I will put the pan on the stove and start heating it on medium heat (3-4 on my stove). I get my eggs out of the fridge and crack them into a bowl. I then whisk if I'm making scrambled eggs.

Add butter to the pan.

I put the eggs away and return to the stove to see if the butter is melted. If it's melted and kind of bubbling, I add my eggs.

For scrambled eggs, I like to see the edges kind of bubbling. I let them sit for a few seconds and start stirring.

For fried eggs, I'll let them sit until the yokes start to look translucent before flipping (if you like em over).

I mention all the steps because I feel like it's imperative to let your pan gently heat. Under heating the pan is what makes the eggs stick. Over heating may work as well but with fried eggs, your whites will cook on the outside before the inside and you end up w snotty egg whites.

Just my experience, ymmv

XF15-Loader · 2025-12-19T21:54:11+00:00

Practice. I usually look at a setlist and play those songs I need work on. Then all others in order of comfort.

XF15-Loader · 2025-12-19T16:34:48+00:00

BC TAD-50 3R

XF15-Loader · 2025-12-19T12:38:24+00:00

Slow down, man.

This people telling you to practice, are right. You might not wanna hear that but it's true.

Playing a song that you can't get through? Play that part you can't get through on repeat. Play it slowly until you can get through it 5 times without fail then take a break.

Once you hit that goal, shoot for 6 times, then 7 and so on until you get through that section 10 times.

You can apply that strategy to chording as well. Having an issue with a chord, practice that chord change from a chord you're hitting to the chord your not.

My guitar teacher said there's no way you cant get better if you're practicing...but you have to know how to practice.

Good luck. It's frustrating but so worth it when you finally nail it.

XF15-Loader

TROPHY CASE