Fretmentor's Blog
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Welcome to the Fretmentor Blog. A place for students, performers or simply those who enjoy learning about their banjo, guitar and mandolin instruments.
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
It’s Not Too Early … To Learn Holiday Tunes
That time of year is right around the corner. The Christmas holidays are fast approaching and while you may be asking why I am writing about it so early, it is not too soon for music students to start brushing up on those holiday tunes.
Just this past week, I spent time in the studio recording my original arrangement for “We Three Kings”. I arrange and recorded all three parts for guitar, mandolin and banjo. It will be released at www.frementor.com in a week or two. Best of all, it will be part of an album entitled “Jingle Ja ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Matchcovers & Music
A Matchbox from the infamous Cavern Club, where the Beatles (formerly the Quarrymen) first became popular
What is the Connection?
Over the past number of months, I have been busy working on a new blues instructional program for fretted instruments. One of the songs incorporated in my lesson plan is “Matchbox Blues”, which was written and recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1927. Many of you may not know who Blind Lemon Jefferson was but everybody from Carl Perkins, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Cash and more have recorded a similar ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Eric Clapton – “50 Years Further Down The Road” Tour
The latest feature for Fretmentor’s Blog is to hear about the experience of other music lovers, students and performers . Today, I have invited a guest (Andy Baumann) to contribute his review of the Eric Clapton concert he attended recently. At Fretmentor’s Blog, I look forward to other contributions and musical articles of interest. Please contact me to see how you can contribute such articles
Eric Clapton “50 Years Further Down The Road” Tour
Eric Clapton performing in Hollywood, Florida, March 30, 2013 ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Live Performance at the Carousel Concert-A-Thon in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
A recent feature for Fretmentor’s Blog is to hear about the experience of other music lovers, students and performers . Today, I have invited a guest (Doug Cone) to contribute a story on his experience performing music for the time in a public outdoor setting. At Fretmentor’s Blog, I look forward to other contributions and musical articles of interest. Please contact me to see how you can contribute such articles
Doug’s Tune
On November, 2009, I bought a Mandolin while in Galax, VA. I did n ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
A new feature for Fretmentor’s Blog is to hear about the experience of other music lovers, students and performers . Today, I have invited a guest (Chick Veenstra) to contribute a story about his attendance at his first music festival. At Fretmentor’s Blog, I look forward to other contributions and musical articles of interest. Please contact me to see how you can contribute such articles.
A Recipe for Fun!
Take 50 acres of cut cow pasture complete with patties.
At two intersections in the middle of nowhere, put up a big circus tent
Add 4-500 pickers and fans
Mix in 10 ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Have you ever been to Nechville?
I bet you didn’t know it’s located in Minnesota. Nechville, however, is not a Town but a wonderful toy store for the banjo enthusiast like me. Since 1989, Nechville has been manufacturing professional banjos for both the acoustic and electric banjo markets. There are a number of well known musicians who own and play a Nechville banjo, including two of my favorites; Bela Fleck and Alison Brown.
I recently purchased a custom made banjo from my friends Tom Nechville and his sales associate Al Price. The banjo I ordered was a custom m ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Fretmentor Bluegrass Class Members Performing At A Rehabilitation Center in West Palm Beach, Florida
A new feature for Fretmentor’s Blog is to hear about the experience of other music lovers, students and performers . Today, I have invited a guest (Silvia White) to contribute a story on her recent experiences playing music for a special group of elderly residents who welcomed and appreciated their gift of music. At Fretmentor’s Blog, I look forward to other contributions and musical articles of interest. Please contact me to see how you can contribute such articles ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Guitar Legend Doc Watson Passes Away
Not everyone gets to claim the title of being a living national treasure. Yet, Doc Watson was a true American artist who made significant contributions to the development of bluegrass and folk music. Sadly, our living national treasure passed away at the age of 89.
Arthel “Doc” Watson was born March 3, 1923, in Deep Gap, North Carolina. He lost his eyesight before his first birthday due to an eye infection. Despite his disability, Doc would became a master of both finger-picking and flat-picking style guitar playing. He also h ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Within a couple of months, we said goodbye to two of the great banjo players in the world. Earl Scruggs, the father of three finger picking, and Doug Dillard, one of the great melodic banjo players and an artist who popularized bluegrass as well as country rock music, have passed on. These two banjo icons provided a childhood of memories for me as well as others.
It is hard to dispute the legendary status of Earl Scruggs. It can be argued that no one musician has had more of an individual impact on how an instrument would be played or on the banjoists who have since played i ..read more
Fretmentor's Blog
2y ago
Keb Mo performing with his National resonator guitar
Some recording artists know how to give you your money’s worth. I think it cliche’ to say that the concert I just attended was the best I have ever seen. After all, I have seen quite a few and you always seem to like the latest. With that being said, on February 2nd, 2012, I did get my moneys worth from Keb Mo. He performed continuously for a good two hours or so at the Lyric Theatre, in Stuart, Florida.
Keb Mo, the artist formerly known as Kevin Moore, is a three-time Grammy Award winner. He is a singer, songwriter ..read more