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I split Brian’s video response to the questions from this post: https://www.activemelody.com/forums/topic/if-you-could-ask-brian-one-question/
-Bryce
Anchorage, Alaska -
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Hey Brian, this is really great. I once wrote to you when I first came aboard and mentioned to you, it’s all about a complete and finished composition and I remembered that you agreed with that. You mentioned it on your video here. Oh, I’m most grateful for the responsible position you have given me on your forum. Looking forward to many more years of your lesson and them kick a.. micro lessons.
Do look forward to the live thing.
Pete
Active Melody
Forum ModeratorGuitar music can let me free my soul out from my body and fly in the sky and then I’m on the musical notes of enchantment of life. 6stringer Pete
The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
Active Melody
Forum Moderator -
Thanks for the Q&A session Brian. Responding as you have via video, had a nice spontaneous ‘just sitting around having a chat’ feel that would have been hard to achieve via a written response.
I was particularly interested to learn what prompted you start AM and it was great to see how much satisfaction you get from using your exceptional playing and teaching skills to help other players in this way.
Thanks again,
Rick -
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Hey Brian, Thanks for everything you do! My Business Partner Andy and I (Another AM member) are sat watching this on our lunch break. In between talking Wooden Gates and garage doors, the only other daily subject is guitar and Active Melody!! Keep doing what your doing, your making a lot of people very happy!! cheers Phil (Lisa has to listen to my playing on a daily basis haha, she’s a fighter)
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First thing I watched this morning Brian, Thanks for doing this and letting us get to know you a little better….from day one and the reason I joined is the finished compositions that one can play for self or others….it creates a massive feeling of accomplishment! That’s the differentiator. I am also happy for you and your family that you found a way to monetize your calling and achieved a freedom that not everyone gets to experience….and that stress you feel as an individual business owner is a good thing, it will keep you inventing new things!!
All the best from a loyal fan,
Roberto
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Hi Brian,
That was great, really enjoyed listening to all of your answers to the questions. I hope that you will be able to do some more of this type of Q&A time permitting of course.
Congrats on making your dream come true with Active Melody!
My guitar playing has really improved since subscribing to AM and it’s all thanks to you.
( My next question for another time would be how many guitars do you have and a quick video of them all. Also, are you like some of us who can’t resist buying just one more guitar…..or are you able to resist temptation when going into a guitar store? – seems like you can justify any guitar purchase to your wife as a business related expense……)All the best,
Tim
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So Brian, we share in our humble guitar beginnings.
My first electric that I bought by saving up my lawn mowing fees was a black Crestline Les Paul…I paid $100 in 1974ish…looking it up online they were considered very good Japanese guitars. Mine is still in the family, I sold it to my brother when I quit guitar about 1987ish, he still has it. Pic below:
Roberto
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Thank you, Brian, it was great finding this on YouTube this morning.
Coming off what Roberto said, your compositions are great, many are tunes in search of lyrics and a band. I play several lessons (EP050, EP061, the first part of EP070, EP182, EP183 and probably some others) pretty closely to your versions (as close as I can get), but for me, the best part is learning the mechanics in a musical way (EP070 [both parts], EP083, EP090 and EP167/168 are the first that spring to mind, they contain so much transferable basic info, there’s lots stuff to build tunes and solos on). A lot of the material from the various A blues has blended together (I’ve lost many details in the process, need to go back and find out what I’ve forgotten).
I was glad you mentioned Ray Charles among the people you’ve heard, his music is such a solid foundation for so much that followed (and like a lot of pioneers, his genius was based on a shrewd synthesis of earlier artists’ work and their styles, it was a culmination of “all” that came before). Because of this, I’m not sure that all of his songs are “his,” but that doesn’t matter because his versions standardized them and brought them to everyone’s attention.
It was kind of a surprise to find out you favor improvisatory situations over arrangements, and that you struggle with click tracks (I think I understand the insecurities, once you have that, you’ll always find something to be insecure about—you probably have 64th note insecurities though, while mine are still in quarter notes).
Have a great day!
Don D.
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Brian enjoyed this much you explaining to us your personal background…you are a natural at teaching and very good at all you shared/share with us/your subscribers.. take off any time ..you offer plenty for those in the know..I have yet much to learn from many favorites I have yet to practice/learn… But yes keep em coming cause you are doing a fabulous job here😁
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Thanks for sharing that info Brian. Don’t be insecure. There are few, if any, people who could do a better job of teaching guitar and making that experience enjoyable. I know most of your viewers feel the same way. We look forward to seeing what pops up on Tuesdays and Fridays. You must be doing something right because Harley dog still comes in the room when I play.
Stay well,
MikeMike
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Thanks Brian for all you do, coming up to my third year. OMG you have no reason to feel insecure – that’s my job lol…
Really enjoyed the video format Q & A session, I think it makes us all a bit more human/closer.
A question for you if I may – once you have an idea of the lesson , how long does it take you to get it to “performance” level and do you tab it and learn it or learn/work on it and tab it once you’re satisfied? Also how far in advance do you prepare the lessons, how many are “in the bag” in case of problems?
BTW I loved the out-takes video that you did a while ago, once again it shows we all make mistakes and to put that out there, for me, shows why this is the best site/teacher on the net… Made me smile.
Paul
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Hey Paul – sadly I don’t have many “in the bag” – the ones I do are just in the event of an emergency 🙂 After I get something that sounds pretty good I record it on my iphone and use that to refer back to throughout the week, so I can do it over and over again enough to get comfortable with. Tabbing takes around an hour and I do that at the very end – once I record the slow walkthrough video… so the tab matches as close as possible. In fact, I watch that video to create the tab.
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I actually missed this video!! After having seen it there are a couple of things that come to mind!
Regarding your wiring, and I know this won’t change how you feel, but never forget that there’s this whole community that basically worships you! You are an inspirational source to “thousands” of people. Each and every one of those individuals decided that you were promising enough to invest a little money into so we could receive the full Brisperience. Now look at your retention of those customers, get your spreadsheet out or however you balance this community. That number is what you should take to heart.
There are many of us premium members that probably would get along just fine with only PART1 of every lesson. Mainly because you got us to a level by your own teachings that has given us the tools to kind of figure out the rest. But we are still here, paying customers year after year. That’s because there are concepts more important than getting content twice a week. You are doing something you REALLY enjoy, and that shines through in every single lesson you make. You have never disappointed me with a single lesson, and I only really do the acoustic ones and just cheat on the electric ones. But even so, if it’s Friday and my frantic reloading of the lessons page and your YouTube channel suddenly shows an image of you holding an electric guitar, I still rejoice because I know I’m going to get to listen to someone talk about a subject he loves, and that means I WILL get something new out of it.You are an awesome person Brian, down to earth and knowledgeable regarding yourself and your persona. Trust your instincts and you’ll slowly with time be able to appreciate yourself in the way that WE appreciate you!
I think you have so much untapped potential and should be teaching more subjects within music. You could and should take on subjects that are traditionally by many considered to be “dry” or hard. I don’t doubt for a second that you could make a course in music theory, anchored in the muddy waters of the blues, that would be both inspiring, juicy and liberating for most people!
The sky is the limit, and if you show your insecurities the number of members populating this community alone, maybe they’ll get back into their corner and shush the Helsinki up? 🙂
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
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Agree with everybody, Active Melody is awesome site with great features for any level player from beginner to advanced,, you are exceptional talented instructor for my favorite Genres,, I’m happy for being here and pleased you are doing great, obviously we enjoy these awesome weekly lessons,,even the micro lessons are amazing.. You are a natural and glad you continue increasing members especially your generous discounted premium annual membership fee. I’m happy to be here and wishing you peace joy and happiness and good health for you and Family, Happy Birthday too Brian! Thank you for sharing happiness too!
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What a grand surprise part two of Muddy Waters today! Thank you very much sir! you have an extraordinary to entertain as well as teach with each following lesson! Now going to sink into this part two extension, the turn arounds!! :). going to enjoy this very much! You have my auto renewal and recommend you highly.
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Brian , I am getting too old to do home improvements ( at least the heavy work stuff) but I still work as a handyman trade for my customers.. so much for myself..
you are are great teacher polite and very cool person you know what I mean.. anyway, you asked.. the best thing is I am appreciating you starting to add a bit more theory while you explain these weekly lessons like (everything you are doing is fine is what I noticed) peace be man!
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Q&A I think is good for this line of work but I read / hear you.. think you are doing great Brian, you do a great job moderating too lol okay man ty again ,, looking froward to more fun and weekly lessons.. everything helps me and Brian hoping I too can connect dots lol.. hope andwishing all is well bro,thumbs up!
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