Dragon's Heart Wyvern Series Picks Review

Dragon's Heart Wyvern Series Picks Review

Mark Starlin
Reviews, Guitar

A little over a year ago I did of review of the Dragon's Heart premium picks. You can read that review here. Dragon's Heart premium picks offer a unique shape that provides three different picking edges and tones. They are also quite thick and don’t flex. Some players like the added thickness and rigidness of the premium picks, but other players prefer the more traditional flex and thickness of a standard pick. Realizing this, the folks at Dragon's Heart have recently released a new series of picks called the Wyvern Series.

NI KOMPLETE Audio 6 Review

NI KOMPLETE Audio 6 Review

Mark Starlin
Reviews, Guitar

If you play guitar you should record yourself. It is a great way to judge your performances, write songs, learn recording, and improve as a player. If you own a computer or laptop it can become the basis of a home studio. But one additional item you will need is a good audio interface. I chose the Native Instruments KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 interface for my home studio.

Songs Worth Learning - 20

Songs Worth Learning - 20

Mark Starlin
Essentials, Music, Guitar

Walk Don't Run - The Ventures

This classic surf song was actually first written and released as a jazz song by the great jazz guitarist Johnny Smith in 1954. It was later recorded by Chet Atkins and played fingerstyle. The Ventures heard the Chet Atkins version, which had a slightly “country” breakdown but was still overall on the jazzy side.

I Want To Be A Clone

I Want To Be A Clone

Mark Starlin
Thoughts, Tips, Guitar

Many guitar players start out by copying their heroes. It is only natural to want to learn the music you like and copy the players who inspire you. When I was a teenager, I also wanted to play like my guitar heroes. But I wasn’t very good at copying their style.

The Best Things In Life Require Risk

The Best Things In Life Require Risk

Mark Starlin
Thoughts, Music, Gigs

I am mainly a guitar player but a couple of years ago a guitar student of mine asked me if I taught bass. I said “I don’t play bass, but have wanted to learn how for a long time. How about we learn it together?” She agreed and we started alternating guitar lesson one week, bass lesson the next. 

New Gibson "Nobody Famous" Signature Model Archtop?

New Gibson "Nobody Famous" Signature Model Archtop?

Mark Starlin
Thoughts, Guitar

Open Letter to the Gibson Guitar Corporation:

"I just want to publicly let the Gibson Guitar Corporation know that I am available to endorse a Mark Starlin "Nobody Famous" signature model L-5. Sure you already have Wes Montgomery and Lee Ritenour signature model L-5s. But just imagine the outpouring of positive publicity Gibson would get if you built a signature model L-5 for a non-famous jazz guy named Mark Starlin (me) who could never afford one, and who would write about the guitar repeatedly on his website, and brag about it on gigs.

Songs Worth Learning - 19

Songs Worth Learning - 19

Mark Starlin
Essentials, Guitar

Amie -  Pure Prairie League

Pure Prairie League was one of the earlier bands to earn the title of “country rock” band. They initially had limited success selling albums and were dropped by RCA Records after two albums. But they continued to tour. Which paid off when radio stations began playing their song Amie and it became a radio hit.

Mesa Express 5:25+ Review

Mesa Express 5:25+ Review

Mark Starlin
Reviews, Guitar

I play guitar in a cover band playing music spanning the 1960s through today. I also play at church. So I need tonal versatility in my gear. I have always preferred to get my main clean and overdriven tones from my amp, not pedals, so I need an amp with both great clean tones and great overdriven tones. For me, that means a tube amp.

Taylor Swift = Superhero

Taylor Swift = Superhero

Mark Starlin
Music, Thoughts

I never really thought too much about Taylor Swift until recently. To me she was someone who wrote love and breakup songs that many girls loved. My girl guitar students were usually excited to learn the song “Ours” and my guy students usually groaned at the mention of her. But in the past few months she has elevated herself in my opinion in several ways.

Guitar Music B.T. (Before TABs)

Guitar Music B.T. (Before TABs)

Mark Starlin
Information, Thoughts, Guitar

If you are under 50 you may not realize that Guitar TABs didn’t exist in their current form before the 1980s. There have been different forms of unique stringed instrument tablature as far back as the 15th century (for lutes), but modern guitar TAB is a fairly recent addition. I am not sure exactly when modern guitar TAB became common, but if I remember correctly it was sometime in the early to mid 1980s.

Playing Guitar Is Like Running Track

Playing Guitar Is Like Running Track

Mark Starlin
Thoughts, Guitar

People often ask me how long it takes to learn to play the guitar. I usually tell them, it depends on how good you want to be. Playing guitar is a lot like running track. Seriously. It is somewhat like a marathon, except you never finish. Guitar is a lifelong race. Actually it is more like the hurdles...

Songs Worth Learning - 18

Songs Worth Learning - 18

Mark Starlin
Essentials, Music, Guitar

Bridge Of Sighs - Robin Trower

Robin Trower initially achieved fame and success in the band Procol Harum (Whiter Shade Of Pale.) Then he launched a successful solo career in the early 1970s. In an era when originality in music was actually prized and encouraged, Robin Trower was often unfairly criticized for sounding too much like Jimi Hendrix. Imagine that happening today.

Learning Songs On Guitar

Learning Songs On Guitar

Mark Starlin
Instruction, Information, Guitar, Tips

Most people learn to play guitar because they want to be able to play songs. That is the fun part of playing any instrument. There are several ways to go about learning songs on guitar. The most common are printed music, videos lessons (YouTube or paid websites), TABs from the internet, private lessons with a teacher, and by ear.

New Relics

New Relics

Mark Starlin
Thoughts, Guitar

I have watched the "relic" guitar trend for several years now, but personally, I’m still not sold on spending thousands of dollars on a new guitar that looks like it has been beat up. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have to admit they do have a certain appeal. And guitar builders certainly wouldn’t keep making “relics” if they didn’t sell.

The Calm Before The Gig

The Calm Before The Gig

Mark Starlin
Gigs, Thoughts, Guitar

Some times I am scrambling to get set up before a gig. Other times I can relax and take my time. Saturday was one of those relaxing times. I got to the venue early and had plenty of time to set up and enjoy the beautiful weather and quiet before the sound check, last minute set list changes, and gigging began. 

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