Finding Your 'Voice' on Guitar

Listening Homework:

Support the cause:

Answering some questions about finding your voice on guitar, bass DI, recording music on a laptop, supporting the cause, busking and more! Plus check out Tim Hardin!

Listen to the new album:

A little about me:

Sean Daniel is a man. A man of simple needs and desires. And the one desire, no, the one NEED, that stands above all is to spread the challenges, joy and intellectual stimulus of music to people of Earth and beyond.
Born on the mean streets of upper middle class suburban Chicago, Sean learned the ways of the world through the dizzying heights of success to the lonesome depths of failure and emerged with the promise of a better tomorrow reflecting in his eyes and fiery passion in his belly.
He plays and teaches guitar on his YouTube channel where he regularly releases original music and projects to the adulation of legions of fans, who often compare him to Chris Pratt and one time Ryan Reynolds. He’s currently in the market for a nice leather jacket.

[chrisedley]

I have a 2012 MacBook Pro. It was slowing down but I replaced the hard drive with a solid state drive and now it rocks again!! A few friends have done the same and it appears to be THE way to breath fresh life into an older Mac.

[DavidRFIT]

Don't forget the first step in supporting a Youtuber is thumbing up the video and leaving a comment. It may sound banal but many people don't do that, not understanding the importance. Question for the next Q&A, a tiny off-topic: what would you suggest to someone that is a total disaster at singing (like, not able to hold almost any existent note) for graduating from 0/10 to at least 2/10 skill level?

[GuyGGormanandtheGMen]

I love busking! I haven't had any bad experiences with it. I know that no one owns any part of the sidewalk, but I try to keep a respectful distance from other street musicians, vendors, and cafes. If I'm close to one of the aforementioned folks, I ask if it's okay to play there. I don't use any amplification. It's often not legal, and it's uncool to be so loud than no other street musician can play with a couple of blocks of you. I don't make huge money busking, but it's very rewarding and great for practice! (Sometimes if I make a mistake I just replay that bit over and over. People usually aren't listening THAT closely.) Busking is also a form of advertising if you have a sign listing where people can find you online, etc. I love interacting with folks, watching the world go by, and feeling like I'm a part of the community. My focus is on enjoying the activity so I try to busk in pleasant surroundings, and I play a lot of my originals even though covers are more lucrative. I often look up while I'm playing and say, "Wow! I get to do this! Thank you!"

And, Sean, thank you, thank you, thank you!

[jpzografos]

Just wanna say thank you for responding to my question in your video! Definitely helped!! Your videos have helped me make such fast musical progress over the last few months. Haven’t had such fast progress in my life. Felt like I couldn’t understand anything music related (especially theory) until I discovered your channel!

[purplepieman]

You sounded more like Billy Madison then Macho Man. “Shampoo is betta. Stop looking at me swan!” You’re awesome

[garyreidmusic]

Like my school career, I never do the listening homework, but this time I'm glad that I did!

[DirtBikes_MathGarden]

Such a good channel. Seriously. Love this. You bring enough humor to keep me interested in the useful information that can be monotonous and boring to trudge through. You’re a funny cat, keep that up.

[jimleininger]

"Voice"... this winter I upped my game. Learned theory, which is making everything easier. Now I'm having fun transcribing licks/solos, and then when I have them about half memorized, I quit. Do something else. SQUIRREL!

But what is interesting is how you pick up an accent from having spent time imitating that artist. I spent time a week ago focusing on Knopfler's Brothers in Arms. Last night I was noodling to a loop of Am F Em (not the key or vibe of Vrothers in Arms) and noticed a little Knopfler coming out of my fingers. Pretty cool how that works.

So I need to be thinking about what I want my Voice to be, and choose my accent influences accordingly.

Great stuff Sean! Keep it up

[nicholasmoore]

Re: busking - I play guitar every month or so with a friend in Saratoga Springs NY and as I walk by "buskers" with my guitar case I always get at least one dirty look.

[JohnnyFootwrinkle]

Busking is brilliant for building confidence and experience. The first time i did it I was so full of nerves I walked past the pitch before turning round and going back, the first minute was probably the worst until my mind saw that people we'ren't judging me and barely anyone actually even looks at you, all the fear and nerves that surround public performance just disapeared. I stayed for about an hour just strumming easy chords whilst singing stuff liie coldpaly and oasis, I went home with £45 in my pocket for an hours work! So definitely give it a go just for fun of it :)

[nachobeerhunter]

Thank you for the video, Sean. Happy New Year to you from the great white north!

[tobyzxcd]

Q&A How did you develop your upper voice? did you have singing lessons? a vocal coach?

[slingerace]

"Question for the next Q&A, a tiny off-topic: what would you suggest to someone that is a total disaster at singing (like, not able to hold almost any existent note) for graduating from 0/10 to at least 2/10 skill level?"

This!

[maxonmendel]

As a guitar student, I have always brought my own curriculum to lessons. Like books I wanna learn from and stuff.

[angeloxavier]

Yes Sir, you really share good music theory that gives rebirth to gaining interest in picking up the guitar and trying stuff out. Atleast it helped me start playing lead again on jam tracks after looking at your videos

[jonathangobin]

Hey Sean. i really enjoyed the Q&A video today. really glad that you are able to help other people with your experience, even if you never will see them face to face.

[StopFear]

Some people sometimes really think “want to” play guitar but in actuality they don’t understand what it implies and instead think of a permanent electric guitar sound. If it’s not your thing, just put it down. It’s ok. I think guitar is for people who don’t start with electric guitar culture in their head, and people who know what classical guitar is and are willing to learn the basics from that first.

[pogchamp]

Sean you keep consistently releasing videos about things I'm thinking about lol I love it <3 When I started all I cared about was shreddy lead playing but now i'm so much more interesting in finger style and writing cool chord progressions, especially blending rhythm and lead. Keep being awesome... and of course... EMERYLD

[nathanbernhardt]

Thanks for the practical music theory knowledge. I learned from Metallica that fast down picking and using the flattened second and fifth are the key to thrash metal rhythm guitar.

[slingerace]

Keep the pompousness coming, Sean, as you have earned it!