Letters

Here's what others are saying about the lessons on MaximumMusician.com.

Darrin Koltow takes the thoughtful approach to his relationship with music and the guitar, and I have to admit I am partial to that.

He offers his thoughts to others from a pure motivation...His work conveys enthusiasm, which is an essential element of learning to play guitar.

Darrin's declared mission is to enable the player to have fun on the guitar learning path...It's good that he has decided to shore up the "fun front." ...As I was reading some of his site, he was cracking me up. He's a good writer, as well as a thinking person who actually has something worth writing about.

I am quite confident that anyone who spends time on MaximumMusician.com will find their progress on the path to becoming a musician and guitarist greatly enhanced and enriched, as they allow Darrin to take them on a tour of what the experience of learning to become a guitarist has been for him, and what he thinks is valuable to do if you are on that path.

-Jamie Andreas, author, the Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar, awarded Best Instructional Material by Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Jamie is also webmaster of GuitarPrinciples.com

Hands down, one of the friendliest and most helpful persons I've ever met (without meeting in person) has to be Darrin Koltow. Not to mention one of the hardest working! Besides all his efforts on his own site, Maximum Musician, writing various ebooks and teaching guitar, Darrin has been kind enough this past year [2002] to serve as Guitar Noise's Copy Editor..

You definitely have a good grasp of what beginners need to get started on the guitar.

-David Hodge, author, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Bass Guitar

David also writes for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and is on faculty at the Berkshire Music School, where he teaches guitar and bass guitar. He also teaches at Berkshire Community College and at seminars.

The Guitar Chords ebook is certainly all that I expected. It's practical, easy to understand and follow, and broad enough in scope. Well done!

After reading several pieces at this site I decided to order the Guitar Chords ebook (the J. Andreas endorsement didn't hurt either; I'm a fan of the Principles). I also signed up for the daily chord tip. While Jamie's endorsement helped, the main reason I ordered Guitar Chords is that I know what I'm going to get from it! It won't be just another guitar chords book (to add to the countless others that gather dust on my shelf). I know what to expect from the ebook based on my experience with MaximumMusician.com. Max Music is one of the most enjoyable and helpful guitar websites I've come across.

The reason I say enjoyable is because I teach and I love learning. I sincerely believe that learning can and should be fun; even the most complex theory can, with appropriate examples and teaching strategies, be made accessible. As someone who is an educator, I want to congratulate you on so creatively proving that point. I can't believe I've finally found an easy to understand and applied method for learning chord structure and progressions.

I am especially excited about this site and the ebook because I have for years yearned to and looked for effective ways to learn to play by ear. Not just the melody (which I can do) but chords. Thank you for your creative and effective approach to this subject matter. I'm looking forward to future interactions at MaximumMusician.com.

D. Butler, Educator

I just wanted to write to you and tell you that I just started using your lessons tonight and I can already strum some tunes. I have been struggling to play for a year with the help of a teacher and videos but nothing has brought me the instant gratification that your lessons have.

If I could stay awake longer tonight I would play all night long, but alas I guess I must sleep. I thought my desire to play had gone out the window. It almost became a chore to practice but your lessons have breathed new life into my passion for the guitar. Thank you so much for these lessons. They are fun and make me feel like I finally "get it"!

Sincerely,
Michelle Parker

So far I have received your book "Playing Guitar: A Beginner's Guide," regular e-mail newsletters, and the beginning of your new blues book, as well as useful information from your web site. Everything I have seen has been, or will be, very useful. I may not know what to do with some information at first, but I understand as time goes on. I frequently go back and review stuff I have seen before, but may not have fully comprehended, especially the stuff around theory. I am currently reviewing the Chord Exploring articles. I expect the Playing by Ear series to be helpful, too. Not enough people talk about this, and even fewer give explicit instructions for improving this skill.

Anyway, I felt that it was finally time for me to show some appreciation. Thanks for all your help. I wish you all the best.

Best regards, Mike Cross

I stumbled upon your site last night, and...wow! I play rhythm in a small praise group. We lost our lead a couple months ago, and are down to myself, a bass player, and sometimes a drummer. I'm good with the basic chords I know (though it limits our keys) and have been trying barre chords, but my hands just seem too small. I thought lead, and anything from 4th fret down, other than a 2 or 3 note intro, was beyond my mental AND physical ability until I saw your lessons.

I have a little Martin backpacker that I take to work with me and play in my car during my lunch hour, so I'll be focusing on the scales you showed me, and trying a regular pick instead of the thumb pick I am used to (bass/strum only, pretty much). Can't wait to get further into the lessons, and just wanted to express how wonderful a resource your work here is. Much appreciated, Darrin.

Thank you.

- Patti

After only a very few issues of your "Guitar Chords Tip of the Day" I must tell you how impressive they all are. I really appreciate the knowledge you pass on. Thanks for helping my education to continue. I get two other similar tip sheets and yours is best by far!

Still learning,

- Russell Adams

Hi Darrin,

The chapter "Chord Ingredients and Types" [from the ebook Guitar Chords] is indeed very helpful. I am looking at making my own music some day, and for a person who is learning on his own and wading out into deeper waters it provides a nice sense of direction. Your classification of chords in terms of what they sound like, and more importantly, why they sound as they do, is very helpful. So is the "when to use what" directions. What I like about your stuff is that it has a practical focus, without being too long winded or theoretical. It provides practical, helpful guidelines.

The Chapter "Popular Chord Progressions" is good as a summary for beginners. There is an amazing amount of rich information there. Also, it was great of you to mention the links to other sites. The "Blues Changes" section was also good. It cuts through the fog (of the material on the web) and gives the essence.

Thanks an awful lot for your detailed response to my queries in my mail. Your suggestions are extremely helpful and valuable. They have opened up new vistas. I understand I have to explore the paths they open up and find out for myself.

Your book has been invaluable. It provides a lot of information in a condensed form, without getting too messy with unnecessary details. And it contains material that you have to WORK ON and make part of your system. That is what I propose to do. I am going to work on it until I internalize it.

My sincere thanks and regards.

- Ritwik Talukdar

I have really enjoyed reading your book [Guitar Chords]. It gets to the point and cuts out all the confusing elements associated with guitar theory. The first time I read it, I suddenly felt confident about chords, especially replacing one chord by another. The book is full of gems like that. I would like to thank you again for everything and wish you success for many years to come.

- M.B.

  Darrin:

The Guitar Chords ebook has helped me a lot. I like the "one equals three six" chord substitution thing, because chord subbing is something I've wanted to know about for a while. Because of your book, I now have a little bit of insight on it.

I found the chapter on Transposing Keys VERY, VERY useful. There are certain keys you can sing in and there are ones you can't sing in, so it's nice to know how to change them around.

The Main Chord Types and When to Use Them section was very useful. After studying the chapter only a couple of times, I could already hear changes like those in some music I listen to. It really helps to try one of those chords when what I'm playing just doesn't sound quite right.

I must say I've enjoyed Chapter 5 the most, because blues is the main style I play. I found The "Little Big Changes" section very helpful. It taught me a lot about improvising, and I was able to use it in other blues riffs I play. Thanks for that!

The section "Putting Chords to a Melody" was by far the hardest but most rewarding chapter yet. I have always wondered how people put chords to a melody, and now I have a good grasp on it. Thanks.

- Chris Kirkbride

Darrin:

Thanks for the explanation about chord substitution in your last e-mail. It helped me understand it better.

I really like the transposing info in chapter 3. It's so helpful! I'm printing out that transposition chart right away!

It was nice to try out the chord combinations, replacements and substitutions in the Guitar Chords Appendix. I'd like to learn more of these. There are many new chords for me to experiment with.

I really appreciate the opportunity to learn about guitar chords from you. Thanks so much for working with me. I hope to find more time to perfect my guitar playing in the future.

Take care and God bless.

- Erick Reeve

I have just started reading the "Chord Exploring" articles and want to tell you how well you write. They have been informative and interesting. By the way, I do read David Hodge's work and am a huge fan. He is a great teacher. You are in good company. Keep up the great work.

Thanks.

Stuart Carson, North Carolina

I can't tell you how much your site and newsletter have meant to me.

You, sir, are a rare bird. You understand your instrument, music, the needs of other guitar-lovers at all levels and how to explain to us how to meet our own needs. I am so glad to have found your site. The stuff you send out inspires me to keep dreaming my dream and gives me tools that allow me to do more about achieving it.

Thanks.

- Brooke Perkins

I felt I should let you know how valuable I find your writing and how much I appreciate all of the work and thought that go into preparing it. Thanks for all the effort and time.

- Clair Hardy

I get excited when I get your Guitar Study newsletter. I have my email on all the time at work and my eyes light up when I see it. Then I like to print it and read it again at home.

People here probably wonder why I'm laughing when I'm reading email, but your humor is pretty good and thoughtful! Humor is one of the best joys in life! Thanks Darrin!

- Dennis Corbin

Hello, Darrin:

I am a Pastor-Teacher who worked in music for 15 years, which put the "beans" on the table (playing country when country was not cool). I am 77 years old, which explains why country wasn't cool; it was "hillbilly," which was a dirty word.

About two years ago I started teaching myself fingerstyle in earnest. I had to lay off guitar improvement for about 20 years while building the Church. I am meandering so you'll understand where I am coming from: the basics in guitar need to be gone over from time to time.

And I find it funny, encouraging, and instructive when you send the Guitar Study newsletter and post articles on your web site. Your lessons and articles bring back to memory things that had gotten gray. This is my way of saying, "Thank you and God bless you." Learning Chet-Merle style is hard for an old man. But you make it all a little bit more palatable.

You are performing a service for some people that would not have it were it not for you. We live 75 miles from the nearest medium size town in deep East Texas. So you are the only musician-teacher I get to associate with. Most of the men I worked and played with are long dead and gone. So I hope you will keep up the good work. We need you.

Bob Crenshaw, Texas

PS:

If you're ever down in Texas we would love to have you stay with us a while. I am kind of a baker extraordinaire and love to bake for friends.

Darrin:

I sent you ten bucks for 4 reasons:

a) money means nothing to me* b) your Playing Guitar: a Beginner's Guide turned on a light for me, regarding barre chords. It felt really good to actually learn something c) I'm an optimist, but still I figure there are at least 9 folks out there using your Guide who didn't send you any money d) I've spent far more for far less.

Thanks so much for putting together what I think is an incredibly useful little book. Besides just the 'tech' stuff that is the meat of the Guide, your philosophical comments are really welcome for a newbie such as myself. It's encouraging, and I think most newbies need that.

You put together something that reinforces the most important aspect of learning guitar - the notion that really tough challenges that last a lifetime are exactly what lifetimes are for, and exactly what makes them worth living. Without at least a wee bit of suffering, we wouldn't have any decent music at all, eh?

Thanks again, Darrin. You do good work.

*Uh...just joking. If money meant nothing to me, I would have sent you a gorgeous new guitar, right?

- Kirk Fleming, Colorado

Dear Darrin,

Thank you so much for the lesson on how to play by ear. So many people say you must play by ear to be a great guitar player. However, they never give advice or teach us how to do that.

I always thought playing by ear was a very difficult task. I never attempted it until I saw your site. You have done a fantastic job. Now I know how easy it really is; you just have to take baby steps. I can already understand how playing by ear is going to make me much better.

Thank you so much.

Kirk R.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This lesson [Blues Triad Mastery] brought [triads] to life again and I enjoyed practicing them for a change.

Cheers.

- S.S.

I like your demeanor and your approach to guitar. I've been reading/learning guitar-related info on the 'Net for about 4 months, and I've liked your site and Guitarnoise.com.

- D.C.

[You have] common sense and devotion to the cause.

- R.B.

*Thank you* for the help you provide those of us who want to be David Gilmour and Al DiMeola but haven't the skills to be Al Bundy, on guitar.

- L.K.

Personally, I do think A Musician's Most Important Skill is a bloody good and well written article.

- Gunharth Randolf <guni@ibreathemusic.com>

Darrin:

I appreciate your site and definitely appreciate your demonstrated interest in helping us guitarist wanna-be-betters grow up a bit.

- Larry Schmitt, Denver, Colorado

Hi, Darrin. I just wanted to thank you for all the time you must obviously take to put Guitar Study together. And also for the encouragement that you so readily dole out.

- Scott Enriquez

'A Musician's Most Important Skill' is for anyone who wants to play guitar well. Motivation is important to becoming a better musician and this article helps the reader channel the motivation for positive results.

- Paul Hackett, Executive Producer, GuitarNoise.com

Thanks for the thoughtful reply to my email and the helpful links. You really do go the extra mile. It's nice to know someone cares.

- A.

I just read the Most Important Skill article and it is great. Inspiring and truthful. I will definitely look for more of your stuff.

- T.P.

I enjoy your newsletter very much.

- R.B.

I just spent the past couple of hours with your article "They're All Dominant 7 Chords." It was very interesting, and most of it made sense, both in theory and to my ears.

Thanks for an intriguing (and ear opening) lesson.

- V.W.

Not only is the Skill article right on target, but writing down goals is a good practice for all areas of your life. I've found that it gives you a "base" to measure your progress against, not to mention an almost subliminal reminder to "keep at it."

Also, it was good to see a guitar player that can write clearly & has something to say. How rare is that? I did enjoy your article. In fact I printed it and plan to write out some more goals for myself. Lord willing, I'll bring my playing up to a little higher level. Thanks.

- Steve Featherston

I read your articles on the site and they are really informative without being too technical...very helpful indeed.

Thanks and regards.

- Ritwik Talukdar

I think this article [How Chord Progressions Work] is very useful to someone like me who is just starting to play the guitar but has no musical knowledge.

- B.W.

Hi Darrin. I just checked out your Playing by Ear lesson on WholeNote. This lesson I have rated 5 out of 5 points. It is easy to understand. You have conveyed a relaxed manner and give the learner a perspective that they can easily grasp and put to practical use. Also there is a 'fun' element. A very good, useful lesson for beginners. Thanks for the lesson and I look forward to more.

Best regards,

- Steve Shaw

Great article.

[from iBreatheMusic.com reader of Skill article]

Darrin,

I bought your Maximum Musician ebook. It is great and really can give motivation. I believe your book is great for every skill level.

It makes you organize your practicing. Thanks for a great resource. It is a perfect book for me. I loved it!

- E.Z.

I really like your book [Guitar Chords] and I am glad I bought it. Have a nice day!

- T.S.

Thank you for your follow-up and your professionalism. Your approach to the hows and whys of study is refreshing and in my opinion absolutely correct.

- S.L.

Darrin,

I enjoyed your [Most Important Skill] article! Very precise highlights on what constitutes directed progress.

- M.V.

Once again thanks for your quick and positive response. Your words of encouragement are very helpful as well. I was frustrated this weekend at not being able to play those chords. I will substitute the chords you suggested and see how they sound in the song. My guess is they will fit just fine.

Once again thanks for your help.

- J.S.

Hi, Darrin:

Your books are good stuff. Thanks.

- M.S.

Darrin:

Your info about getting out of a rut will be a massive help. I am grateful you took the time to help me. Thanks a lot.

- J.S.