Over the years, I’ve been asked for tips on playing the guitar by a few people.

I don’t consider myself to be a shaman

by any stretch of the imagination. I’m a messed

up cat like everyone else. But I realize and

embrace the healing power of music… 1. Breathe deeply when you play! - You need to release tension.

If you watch any great guitarist jam - Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen,

Carlos Santana, etc., you’ll notice their strong

focus on breath! Besides opening up channels

to invisible forces and vibes, it actually guides your

phrazing in a beautiful way.

Breath in: ease off. Breath out: Release. Try it…

2. Phrase your solos! - A phrased solo always

sounds better than a frantic stream of consciousness.

Think of your solos as verbal communication. Stop for air.

Pause between sentences. People connect better with that human element.

3. Embrace the ritual! - Try this:

Say a prayer,

wash your hands or wipe off your strings(it’s symbolic of a fresh connection)

every time before you practice, or light a candle.

Smoke a doobie, if that’s what you’re into.

but always create a new beginning and an opened state of mind

before you pick up your axe. Show it that

it’s a holy instument to you. It’ll reward you for it.

4. Jam along with the radio!! - OK, so you won’t

dig every song. It’s all about versatility!

Just crank the radio up and play with every song.

Don’t play their lines- compliment them.

Jam your goddamn ass of and make that song kick even more ass

than it already does. Solo like a maniac! Fuck yeah, you can…

5. Can you whistle it?? - I don’t care how

billy-joe-badass you are. Don’t matter if you can

whittle the balls off a charging rhino. If you can’t leave your guitar

and whistle or hum your lines, FuGgedabout people digging it for long!!

So get off your ass and pick up that guitar!!!!!!

-Jeff Sanders is an aspiring shaman and creator of the zen psychedelic music of

Mountain Mirrors - www.mountainmirrors.com

###