Start practicing now to prepare. Get the CD at your local Guitar Center or just practice off the songs off the GC site.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/guitarmageddon/index.cfm

Sign up starts now.

Winner of the competition gets a cool Scion car, some awesome stuff like a reissue '59 Gibson (the exquiste moment in Gibson Les Paul history), and you get to record with Pete Anderson who recently produced Curt Kirkwood's CD Snow. :eek3:

Ya smelled meh. :nice:

I just read a comment that Guitar Center management tells the judges to vote for the younger kids when possible because that will generate more sales. http://www.smiliesftw.com/!/mad.gif Still, every guitarist should compete in order to get the 10% discount card and the t-shirt.

I guess I forgot to mention it is the "King of the Blues" competition. They are looking for the next great blues player. C'mon now y'all. Step right up. Don't be shy. :nice:

i'd like to hear you play... u should post some recordings or something... :cool:

Thanks dude. I got a little website going called Compo Beach Bum (http://www.compobeachbum.com) that has a bunch of recordings. Click on cover songs for some old stuff. I will post a rehearsal of these blues competition and hopefully get a video of the live performance.

Sweet!! :luck:

Dude, it totally sucked. I plugged in my PODxt Live into their Fender amp and it made an incredible shrieking sound. Although, it got applause from the crowd, the little twerp in charge basically had me plug direct into a Marshall circumvent the POD and it totally disoriented me since it sounds so different. And they had the backing tracks turned down so much, I could barely hear it. http://www.smiliesftw.com/!/madcry2.gif

There were about 10 competitors. I was the only one to use a slide. I used it for the first 12 bars of my song and then put it in my pocket while asking the little twerp in charge to turn up the backing track.

Sounds to me like it didn't go too well for you. Sorry to hear. :(

What pissed me off more than fact that the fukers didn't have a decent soundstage set up was that they allegedly didn't have the T-Shirts and 10% discount cards in stock.

What is bizarre is that some idiot that did the tired, old, behind-the-head guitaring (I think only Steve Miller ever did that so it sounded good) beat out Glenn Roth as a finalist.

http://www.glennroth.com/

Glenn was the first up and I was like damn that guy is good and he looks familiar. Then I remembered I saw him play at Toad's Place a couple times in a band called Fountain Project.

Why didn't GanjaFreebird compete this year? :confused: I thought he said he could play blues style guitar. In fact, he made a thread and numerous posts in regards to Guitar Combats in the Open Mic forum indicating he was willing to compete. :shrug: :p I guess he got scared. http://www.smiliesftw.com/!/tounged.gif

Dude, it totally sucked. I plugged in my PODxt Live into their Fender amp and it made an incredible shrieking sound. Although, it got applause from the crowd, the little twerp in charge basically had me plug direct into a Marshall circumvent the POD and it totally disoriented me since it sounds so different. And they had the backing tracks turned down so much, I could barely hear it.

:nonono:

I always warn musicians about depending on special effects...yeah, it's nice sometimes, occasionally I like using them, but the whole point of good musicianship is to play great one way or another. That's why I play acoustic much more often, because it shows me where I REALLLY am, and that way I can make make sure I'll play well one way or another, no matter what kind of guitar or equipment I have.

What is bizarre is that some idiot that did the tired, old, behind-the-head guitaring (I think only Steve Miller ever did that so it sounded good) beat out Glenn Roth as a finalist.

I guess all of the judges are crazy too, just like me and everybody else who disagrees with your opinions, am I right?:p

Don't know who was really better in this case, but showmanship IS very important, and in fact, from personal experience on stage, I can definately say that "behind the head" playing and other Jimi Hendrix showmanships can work VERY WELL towards the advantage of the performer if done well enough...it sure get the crowd excited!!:D Nobody wants to just hear borring shit without soul, energy, passion or feelings:p .

Why didn't GanjaFreebird compete this year?

What are you talking about?:confused:

I thought he said he could play blues style guitar.

I play all kinds of styles, and yes, especially the Blues, that's right.

In fact, he made a thread and numerous posts in regards to Guitar Combats in the Open Mic forum indicating he was willing to compete.

Compete against who?:confused: I'm a pro-musician who is not really into the battle of the bands so much anymore...at the moment I'm a bit more worried about making money by playing acoustic shows on the weekends, record several demos (one is possibly for Quincy Jones as well as a few other big people), planing a big tour for the summer, including very important and big venues and possibly opening for acts like The Yardbirds, Buddy Guy and Yngwie Malmsteen if I'm lucky...before moving to LA...I'm a little busy now...once I'm famous and all that, my albums will be availible for whatever competitions:) .

I guess he got scared.

Considering having enough balls to sing with Little Richard, Koko Taylor, play in front of Arlo Guthrie, and have Billy Gibbons, Allen Tossaint and Quincy Jones listen to my recordings among other...I doubt that any semi-profesional musicians and judges would make me feel scared at this point.:p

I always warn musicians about depending on special effects...

You are giving people bad advice. :(

I guess all of the judges are crazy too, just like me and everybody else who disagrees with your opinions, am I right?

No, you are usually wrong. ;)

Don't know who was really better in this case, but showmanship IS very important, and in fact, from personal experience on stage, I can definately say that "behind the head" playing and other Jimi Hendrix showmanships can work VERY WELL towards the advantage of the performer if done well enough...it sure get the crowd excited!!

:bs: Any sophisticated crowd has seen it before and it violates the number rule of on stage performance and that is never turn your back on the crowd. :)

Nobody wants to just hear borring shit without soul, energy, passion or feelings.

As I said, the only time I have heard good playing behind the back was Steve Miller.

What are you talking about?

What part of "I wonder why GanjaFreebird didn't compete this year" do you not understand?

I play all kinds of styles, and yes, especially the Blues, that's right.

That's nice. :p

Compete against who?

Other guitarists. :shrug: :p

Glenn Roth, who is a better guitarist than Curt Kirkwood - I based that on seeing both guitarists play live venues - played at the competition I participated in. And the guy didn't make it to the store finals. If you had won the whole thing, it would have been great publicity and you would have got to record with the producer that Curt Kirkwood used on his last album. I guess that, a Gibson guitar, and a new car is stuff you don't need. :p

I'm a pro-musician who is not really into the battle of the bands so much anymore...at the moment I'm a bit more worried about making money by playing acoustic shows on the weekends,

First of all, noone can call themselves "pro" unless they get a consistent paycheck. But you are not implying you are more "pro" than someone like Glenn Roth are you? :rofl:

Unless you are really good with the acoustic, people are not really interested. Blues on the acoustic is probably the most boring style. If you were really good at fingerpicking, then you should still be worried, but you would have to worry less. ;)


record several demos (one is possibly for Quincy Jones as well as a few other big people), planing a big tour for the summer, including very important and big venues and possibly opening for acts like The Yardbirds, Buddy Guy and Yngwie Malmsteen if I'm lucky...before moving to LA...I'm a little busy now...once I'm famous and all that, my albums will be availible for whatever competitions.

Be careful opening for Yngwie. I heard he doesn't let the openers set up at. But then again, if you just have an acoustic guitar and a PA, he may not care. :p

Considering having enough balls to sing with Little Richard, Koko Taylor, play in front of Arlo Guthrie, and have Billy Gibbons, Allen Tossaint and Quincy Jones listen to my recordings among other...I doubt that any semi-profesional musicians and judges would make me feel scared at this point.

Then why didn't you compete? :confused:

You are giving people bad advice.

Let me ask you a question: Are you joking here, are you just trying to be a clown or you really THAT dumb?:confused:

Depending on special effects is THE WORST thing musician can do. Being able to play excellent acoustic or electric without effects is VERY IMPORTANT, because once you are great at that, you can always switch to a Les Paul, a good equipment, put a bunch of effects on and ROCK OUT!!

But if you are ALWAYS used to playing in a certain way, with certain sound, effects, equipment...you might be disapointing if from some reason you will not be able to have those things on stage everytime, as you said happened to you.

I love having fun with special effects and all that, it's fun, but musicianship comes first, and that means, you should be able to do it all ANY WAY and make it sound good.

I mean, what would you do if somebody called you immediately to the stage (with one of your guitar heros or something like that) and gave you somebody else's guitar and told you to just play the thing and do it well? Or what if you were around great musicians and they just gave you and acoustic guitar and asked you to sing and play a few songs? Being in those situations quite a few times, I can definately say that I always survived, usually impressed the people and occasionaly would steal the show. What would you do? Tell them "I'm sorry but the special effects don't work, so I can't play"?:p

I'm trying to help musicians here who are really interested in becoming very good...I wouldn't give no bad advice:) .

No, you are usually wrong.

Ohhh, so you do agree that not all people who understand music very well (and often agree with me) are "crazy", right?

Any sophisticated crowd has seen it before and it violates the number rule of on stage performance and that is never turn your back on the crowd.

I don't know, everytime I do it, I get the crowd going wild...same to most Hendrix and Berry inspired guitar showmanship.

I know you may be jealous of the dude being loved by the crowd and judges because apparently he was a good showman, so just say the obvious without putting down somebody just because he won:p .

As I said, the only time I have heard good playing behind the back was Steve Miller.

Ummm, you rarely hear good music;) , but for the matter of fact I've seen Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, SRV and others do a great job with that too.

Some people also believe I do a good job playing behind the back, but it's up to the listeners to decide:) .

What part of "I wonder why GanjaFreebird didn't compete this year" do you not understand?

The part of "When, where, and why" should I have gone out of my way to do it?:confused:

Other guitarists.

Such as?:confused: People who just play guitar for fun, or people like Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck?

I'm not interested in putting anybody to shame (well, I admit I used to enjoy it before going pro:) ), I want to compete against people that will make me play THE BEST OF MY BEST in order not to make a joke out of myself. A REAL challenge, and of course the price must be good enough for me as well $$$$, after all I AM Jewish;) .

Glenn Roth, who is a better guitarist than Curt Kirkwood - I based that on seeing both guitarists play live venues

Since you are 95% of the time wrong about some guitarist better than another one, and especially since Mr. Kirkwood is considered to be possibly the best guitarist in his style of music (go to allmusic.com if you don't believe me) and since he influenced, inspired and is respected so much by some of the most known and greatest performers...especially for his unique and innovative guitar work...I have BIG DOUBTS.

But who is this guy, what does he play, how good is he, and why doesn't he get the respect that Curt Kirkwood does, if he is so much better than him? Obviously he wouldn't be into this battle of the bands thing if many people agreed with your opinion:p . Some of my fans believe that I'm as good or better than Hendrix:eek: ...I wish life was THAT easy:rolleyes: .

played at the competition I participated in. And the guy didn't make it to the store finals. If you had won the whole thing, it would have been great publicity and you would have got to record with the producer that Curt Kirkwood used on his last album.

Wait a minute...but this dude Glenn Roth is better than Curt Kirkwood, right...now, I'm obviously not on Kirkwood's level (otherwise I would be considered as one of the greatest guitarists ever, which I'm not, at least NOT YET;) , so I must be WAYYYYY inferior to this friend of yours...and he STILL lost to somebody who apparently only could play behind his back and didn't even do a good job at it....so what kind of competition is that...I'm quite confused...so would I have to be WAYY better than Mr. Kirkwood to possibly win this, or would I have to play THE WORST possible in order to win...and since I'm neither among the best nor the worst guitarists ever lived...I probably wouldn't win it...so I'm not exactly sure how this competition really works according to you:confused: :p .

First of all, noone can call themselves "pro" unless they get a consistent paycheck.

I do NOT play a show (unless a big charity concert) where I get less than $250, and since now I'm back with electric shows (TIME TO ROCK!!) I probably have to increase my price to AT LEAST $500 a night.

I guess you could say I'm still semi-pro because I still go to college and all that, but that's still where my money comes from and I am working hard to make it there, so unless you believe that all real musicians must be millioners, I'd say that I AM a pro-musician.

But you are not implying you are more "pro" than someone like Glenn Roth are you?


All depends, I'm ignorant about him, his achievement, the great musicians that praised him as an artist, his musical abilities...so until I know all of that, I wouldn't know the answer to your question. I have BIG doubts however that he's anywhere on Curt Kirkwoods' level, but then again, Robert Johnson DID die without much money and one can't get better than him, so I wouldn't say "NEVER" either.

I guess that, a Gibson guitar, and a new car is stuff you don't need.


Being rich an popular come second to me. My first concern is about becoming a great artist...the rest will hopefully come:) .

Unless you are really good with the acoustic

I have yet to meet somebody who told me differently, at least for the last couple of years, so while I'd rather not be arrogant and say "I'm a really good acoustic guitarist", I would say that I'm good enough for most people who ever listened to me or have seen me...that includes Arlo Guthrie and Billy Gibbons among many others.

people are not really interested.

Ummm, I can't say that Johnny Cash or Joan Baez are virtuoso acoustic guitarists either, and yet no matter what you may think of them, people WERE and ARE VERY interested in them, considering their rank as some of the greaetest ever.

Blues on the acoustic is probably the most boring style.

Eric Clapton believe is the greatest style and many real musicians and music fans agree with that.

Hey, just because you ain't got the blues and you sound borring with it on acoustic, obviously, it doesn't mean that it's true for everybody, as history showed with Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson (as well as McTell), John Lee Hooker or Clapton when he plays the acoustic.

If you were really good at fingerpicking, then you should still be worried, but you would have to worry less.


I do that occasionally, in fact I started playing the guitar with this style...I play in all kind of styles, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, especially Rockabilly...I do all kinds of stuff, both on acoustic and electric, it's just the fact that I much prefer playing the greatest style ever, which is The Blues of course, and I don't have to worry about anything because most people do have feelings, therefore I can make them relate to the Blues if I can do it good enough:) .

Be careful opening for Yngwie

He's a great guitarist and I like a lot of his stuff...hopefully it will happen this summer, but I'm more concerned about impressing (or not impressing) Buddy Guy (my real GUITAR HERO) and The Yardbirds (one of my favorite bands of all the time, despite having only 2 original members left).

I heard he doesn't let the openers set up at.

Yeah, I heard he was an *******. But I don't care, I won't have a hard time when it comes to him...on the other hand, if Buddy Guy ends up putting me down, as he did a few times with Jonny Lang, it would really hurt, but then again, if he ends up telling me "YOU GOT THE BLUES" (as he did to one of the musicians I work with)...I can really die happy:D .

But then again, if you just have an acoustic guitar and a PA, he may not care.


OH NO, it won't be acoustic:p . Actually I'm back with the electric, full band (or a few of them), and I'm definately going to play THE BEST I can...if that ends up happening.

Then why didn't you compete?

Where is it, when is it, and why would I?:confused:

Also, I either play with a band or another person or by myself...NEVER with any kind of pre-recorded tracks, drum machines or anything like that. If I'm doing something, I'm doing it the best I can, and I'm either going to do it alone or with some very good musicians who will be on stage with me, as I sing and play lead guitar, and I had to be in charge of the volume levels in order to make sure I sound good. If I wanted a backing track, I might as well just jam with my Jimi Hendrix CDs at home, right?:p

I listened to Glenn Roth, and he is a very good guitarist, he's excellent in what he does, and while I admit that I am not as good as him in that style, I have heard and personally know guitarists who are probably even better when it comes to fingerpicking and all that kind of stuff.

However it is a little bit stupid to compare him to somebody who is considered to be one of the best guitarists from the 1980's and 1990's, and invented a new style which inspired many great rock artists. And it's not only about being WAYY more innovative and respected among Rock artists and critics...Curt Kirkwood is even technically MUCH better because he can play in all kind of different ways and lots of styles (punk, country, jazz, blues and more, not just fingerpicking), and of course he plays with much more soul;) .

Be careful opening for Yngwie. I heard he doesn't let the openers set up at. But then again, if you just have an acoustic guitar and a PA, he may not care.

It looks like I'm going to be the one to pick Mr. Malmsteen at the airport and bring him to the hotel and then to the gig.

I still don't know if we're opening for sure, but it sure would be good...it's be REALL cool if Yngwie came up on stage for a guitar duel with me, although it's kind of scary considering him being technically one of the best guitarists.

Really!? That's amazing news, GF!!! :cool:

I've read a lot from people who've met him over the years, and the stories vary widely. All I can say is I've met him several times, first dating back to when he was with Alcatrazz, and he was just the nicest person in the world!

When is this happening?? Do keep us posted!