Weekly Update 06 August 2023

Sorry to hear about your elbow Phil - that damned exercise...and to think some people actually claim it's good for you 

I had an okay week, got "Unchained" finished up and started on "Lay it Down" by Ratt.  The main riff is rather challenging - you're holding down a 5th string root major bar chord and doing pulloffs to it with your pinky, so you have to keep the third finger flat on the fretboard.  Then you slide up on the middle strings with your third and fourth fingers while leaving the index finger in place;  very easy to get unintentional notes sounding on the high strings (which sounds terrible) unless you get a good arch in your fingers to stay off them.  So from "keep it down flat" to "raise it up as high as it will go" lol.

The solo has plenty of challenges as well, I think I'm at three-quarters tempo so far.

I haven't watched any concerts lately.  Last night I downloaded Led Zeppelin IV and Physical Graffiti.  I like to sit out on the swing in the back yard, on a beautiful summer's evening, have a few beers and listen to music on my phone and wireless headphones.  Really liking "Bron-Yr-Aur" (the acoustic piece) as well as "The Battle of Evermore," featuring a female folk singer.  I'd like to get a mandolin some day and learn to play that

Oh well, take care everybody, and be safe out there 

Thanks Phil!