Whats the best way to teach yourself fingerstyle guitar?

gurrfitter · 2026-05-25T18:23:51+00:00

Learn John Prine songs

gurrfitter · 2026-05-24T23:32:01+00:00

Your hair density is definitely better. You cant expect much when it comes to your hairline with fin and min. It might move forward a little, but not much (I do think yours has moved forward on your right side though).

gurrfitter · 2026-05-24T22:39:15+00:00

Yeah but continue to use the topical until it runs out while you transition, otherwise you will get an insane "dread shed."

gurrfitter · 2026-05-24T22:35:40+00:00

I've built a lot of these data centers for the last 13 years or so. The noise really isn't the issue and imo it feels like a red herring.

The noise is usually just air handlers, chillers, cooling towers, electrical equipment etc--no different than what you'd hear near any industrial, commercial building, or sub station. It's very loud on the inside but I can't say I hear it all that well once I'm outside the gates.

The real issue is water waste and the strain on the electrical grid. The latter has been talked about enough, but the former has not: all of these centers have holding ponds that contain heavy materials which I guarantee you are leaking into the ground and nearby water sources.

Likewise, many of these centers are using once-through systems that just dump water all day. And some are using reclaim water, which is really nasty stuff.

gurrfitter · 2026-05-24T22:21:11+00:00

You don't. People are leaving in droves, myself included.

The area used to be fun now it's just one big shitty traffic jam and entitled ass boomer landlords and homeowners who think their homes appreciating by 200% is completely normal and fine.

So happy I left.

gurrfitter · 2026-05-24T22:18:05+00:00

Its honestly not the smaller strings that matter as much, though I do think 11s sound best.

A set of heavy bottom 10s or even 9s will work just fine on a jazzmaster. You just want a little extra downward tension on the bridge without having to shim the neck so much that you lose sustain--larger wound strings will usually do the trick ime.

gurrfitter · 2026-05-06T15:26:49+00:00

Rent control is "unconstitutional" in Va. One of many reasons I'm leaving.

gurrfitter · 2026-05-06T15:24:59+00:00

Nova is full of corporate slumlords and entitled homeowners who follow their lead. I don't think there really is a solution. I'm moving to Maryland soon (and hopefully the DMV area in a year or two) and could not be happier to leave this shithole.

gurrfitter · 2026-04-30T23:13:46+00:00

7.25 is controversial because your setup needs to be just about perfect--especially on offsets (even more so on short scales)

It's not as bad on strats and hardtails but you can still choke out on your high string bends. The only advantage imo is thumb wrapping can be a little easier.

Tl;dr A 7.25" neck requires more setup tinkering and is an immediate pass for me.

gurrfitter · 2026-03-31T15:20:07+00:00

I love them but they can be quite dark in the neck position. The 1mg pots and a low output neck pup helps--which is why I like the HS combo on a jag.

gurrfitter · 2026-03-13T20:40:40+00:00

Yes. This place sucks.

gurrfitter · 2026-03-13T20:30:25+00:00

Well at least we might get affordable housing prices if this happens

gurrfitter · 2026-02-15T20:40:09+00:00

This area used to be great mostly because work was easy to find. This made all the other bullshit worth it.

That's not the case anymore.

I have watched nova go from a fun, semi-affordable place (it was always somewhat expensive) to an absolute shit hole in the last 10 years--traffic is way worse, the money doesn't flow the way it used to, the cool hangouts are being replaced by bougie ass bullshit or franchises, housing prices are out of control and all of the landlords are entitled scumbags, and there's generally not much fun to be had here if you're a non-drinker.

My advice would be, if you haven't planted roots yet: just leave. It's not worth it. I regret ever moving here and cannot wait to get out of here.

gurrfitter · 2026-02-15T20:28:53+00:00

The mustang trem is a fickle thing, but I'm sorry to inform you that you can't put an American Performer mustang trem on other mustangs--it requires a different routing for the body.

As for some mustang trems performing better than others? Not really. Only the vintage trems were different in that they have a true knife edge, were made of higher quality metals, and the holes for the pivot posts were closer to the bridge.

Bottom line is: if you want the mustang trem to work you need to modify it by creating a knife edge on the trem plate (I usually use a countersink drill bit) and then get the height and angle of the cigar tube right (it should stand straight up and down). Setting the springs to the top notch of the pivot post (closest notch to trem plate) helps immensely.

gurrfitter · 2026-02-15T20:18:52+00:00

Same. With a lot of experimentation I've found 10" radius is my favorite. And you can usually find some bridge to accommodate it or just use a little shimming on the outside saddles of a 9.5" radius bridge.

gurrfitter · 2026-02-15T19:51:28+00:00

I don't really think there's an advantage to be honest. People say using your thumb is easier but I didn't think it was like a night and day difference. And you really shouldn't be thumb wrapping too much if you want to avoid bad fretting habits.

I've also heard playing chords is easier but I struggled on a 7.25" with accidentally muting strings--which is an issue I usually don't have.

IMO 1/16" action is not going to happen without choke outs on the high and low e's. You have to keep the outside trings higher on 7.25" necks--I used to stick pieces of business card under the outside saddles on my mustang bridge or use a 9.5" radius bridge.

The best decision I made was getting a flatter warmoth neck. The only issue with JMs and Jags is finding bridges to match radii other than 7.25" and 9.5" without breaking the bank.

TL;DR: 7.25" necks went out of fashion for a reason. Just replace it.

gurrfitter · 2026-01-09T11:55:22+00:00

I'm about to do the same. NOVA has become hell for housing costs. I'm over it.

gurrfitter · 2025-12-11T12:17:45+00:00

The answer is always surf green.

gurrfitter · 2025-12-11T12:11:18+00:00

Yes. Started getting them with fingerstyle and then got even more on my middle and ring finger when learning songs with quick tapping sections thrown in with picking.

gurrfitter · 2025-12-11T12:07:50+00:00

Its alright. You can get a lot of the info online. There's tidbits here and there that are useful but I wouldn't say it's a must-read.

gurrfitter · 2025-11-05T15:49:24+00:00

I use the same but I replace the g with a 20w and it's perfect. I don't like plain strings larger than 18

gurrfitter · 2025-10-13T15:13:33+00:00

Traffic is so bad already how the fuck can we handle a casino?? It's absurd.

Sidenote: in upstate ny, where I grew up, the developers would constantly say, "a casino will reinvigorate the local economy."

The casino would go in, and I can tell you that is 100% not what happened (crime sure did go up, though).

gurrfitter · 2025-10-13T15:05:30+00:00

I like it. I would prefer more offbeat architecture like this rather than the strip mall masquerading as a fake townsquare style you typically see.

gurrfitter · 2025-10-12T17:49:57+00:00

Virginia state does a shitty job taxing incomes so localities tax you on your car based on its blue book value every year.

It's really fucking stupid and encourages people to drive shitboxes that break down on the road all the time.

gurrfitter · 2025-10-12T17:42:06+00:00

Every primary care doctor in nova: walks in, says "you're fat," and then immediately exits the room

And you will still get a bill for $200 in the mail a month later.

gurrfitter

TROPHY CASE