Above: the Grisly Hand, stirring up the MidCoast Cares crowd.
Ten days after a gargantuan tornado destroyed a large swath of Joplin, a lot of hardworking people with big hearts presented MidCoast Cares: A Fundraiser for Joplin at Crosstown Station.
This video says a lot about how the event came together, so quickly and so successfully. By any measure, it was a success. But by this measure, it was something extraordinary: More than $11,000 was raised. All of it goes to Heart to Heart International, which will use the money for all the vital services and aid it will deliver to the city of Joplin and its residents.
If you were there, you felt the vibe. If you weren't, it's not to late to donate money, through the Red Cross or Heart to Heart or the Salvation Army. The work isn't done, but this week a lot of people in Kansas City made life better for some people who really need the help.
And as a bonus, some of us discovered some great new music!
Posted by: TK | June 03, 2011 at 05:21 PM
This was a great event, Haha Tonka could be huge, they have a great sound and that style is growing in popularity right now, nice to see all the support too. I was lucky enough to walk away with the guitar from the raffle as well, thank you MidCoast Cares! Now I need to learn how to play this darn thing!
Posted by: Green | June 04, 2011 at 02:21 PM
WOW!!! you won Green?
Dude that is freekin awesome!!!
It couldnt have gone to a better concert goer.
What kind of guitar is it?
3 quick guitar lessons
1) see the double dot? on the 12th fret?
That is the point where the string is divided in half, from nut to bridge. If you pluck a string open, it has a note... if you divide the string in half, by holding down at the 12th fret, it is the same note, but an octave higher.
2)The thinnest string and fatterst string are both the note "E" (if it is a 6 string and regular tuned.
You need to buy an electronic tuner (for about $12.00) and you need to properly tune it. Typical tuned is thin to thick string
E B G D A E.
3)If you have never played, and you are serious about learning, you need to get you finger muscles stronger than they are.
Just like anything you can build up muscles in you fingers. It can take 6 months, but over time you will get there. Go slow, get a guitar stand, leave it out and pick her to play whne you are just sitting there. dont hide her.
4)Dont let "them" tell you to do barre chords, until your fingers are strong.... just learn to properly fret, and give it time.
You can do quite bit with just one string.... dont let 6 over welm you.
5)Every string open (unfretted) has a note.... and if it is propely tuned (maybe take it a luthier to properly set up your guitar)($20-30) if it is set up proper, you strum an open string and then hold down on the first fret to move up a note, etc etc. Like keys on a piano each fret makes a higher pitched note.
E F F# G G# A A# B B# C D D# ..
E
Those are the notes for the E string. If you start on the G string they go up from ther, but in the same order.
If the open string is E and then moving from fret 1 to fret 12 .... if you notice, 12 frets up it is E again, becasue the 12th fret is also an E, but an octave higher.
Posted by: Nice | June 04, 2011 at 02:52 PM
You should also learn "tabs".
(FIRST YOU MUST HAVE YOUR GUITAR PROPERLY TUNED, buy a cheap tuner)
we are lucky to have Musicains friends' national warehouse right here in KC.
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Korg-GA40-Electronic-Guitar-and-Bass-Tuner?sku=210131
anyway..TABS..
Tabs are "cheat sheets" to help you learn play songs you love (and trust me dude, the first time YOU play a riff you know, and love, it will give you freekin chills)..... it is so awesome to create those sounds you love.
TABS
There are 6 strings and 24 frets.
If the tab says 1-5, that means holds down the 1st string at the 5th fret.
If the Tab says....
1-5, 1-3, 2-5...
hold 1st string at the 5th fret
then
hold 1st string at the 3rd fret
then
hold 2nd stirng at the 5th fret
===============================
if the tab says 3-10, 3-12, 3-10
hold 3rd string at the 10th fret
then
hold 3rd sring at the 12th fret
then
hold 3rd stirng at the 10th fret
Here is a simple video showing how to play Happy Birthday....
make sure you guitar is in tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJtYNnlyawU
There are 2 billion methods to learn guitar, most are designed to make you fail, avoid them.
There a lot of weird things about guitars and notes (example there are #(sharp) note between all notes EXCEPT C AND E DO NOT HAVE SHARP NOTES, why?, I dont know, I just deal with it)
So just deal with the first steps and you will playing in no time.
Posted by: Noce | June 04, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Thanks for the info, I would like to be able to play a couple things on it, its a intro guitar, nothing crazy but very nice, its fender squire and its branded with Heineken lettering. It's funny, I use to work at Musicians Friend, I packed and sent a ton of these things out.
Posted by: Green | June 04, 2011 at 06:02 PM
You probably sent me something. I buy (used to buy more) a lot of stuff from them. I am loyal to the local indie shops for some things, but for other stuff MF is the place. MF is good for cords and replacement speakers and picks and stuff.
I have only driven to the new location twice, but I used to drive to the one by the casino all the time. Now I just have them mail it to me, it only takes a day.
You should post a picture of your new baby, give us a look, or do you have a digital cam? or maybe there is a pic online of it.... for the contest.... anyway BIG congrats on winning it, that is awesome...
I have never won a fking thing in my entire life..... yet.... but I am still optimistic.... actually I think I am going to the win power ball tonight. I dont care that it is back down to only 20 million, that is ok with me, Im not greedy.
Posted by: Noce | June 04, 2011 at 07:09 PM
I worked at the Front Street location for a year, it was a nice summer job and they let me stick around during the fall and spring while I was in school. Pretty cool company, the owner started it in his garage, insane how much it grew over the years. Here is a shot of the guitar.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9351/52011903.jpg
Posted by: Green | June 05, 2011 at 02:56 PM
SWEET!!! get a lil amp($20.00)(they sound fine) amp and a 10 foot cord and a tuner and get busy. Its only rock and roll.
ps
I still have never won a thing in my entire life, but I am going to win the powerball on Wednesday.
Posted by: Noce | June 05, 2011 at 04:02 PM
tune it E B G D A E
thin to thick string.
You will know it is "properly intonated" if you pluck the string open and it reads E and then you hold down on the 12th fret and it also reads E..... or if it is the G string ir reads G etc etc...
It is worth spending what it takes to have it properly "set up" by a luthier. I suggest Mass Street music's luthiers.
or you can just buy a....
http://www.amazon.com/Off-Wall-Guitar-Standard-Instruments/dp/B0002GXFG8
....and call it art.
Posted by: Noce | June 05, 2011 at 04:32 PM
fun
http://www.jedistar.com/beer_guitars.htm
Posted by: fun | June 05, 2011 at 04:42 PM
I also follow through Google Reader!
Posted by: Pandora Ireland | February 15, 2012 at 01:45 PM