I start lessons on Saturday with Bruce Bouillet

[James Lugo]

Well I'm officially back into guitar after many years of just playing for work I'm now obsessed again like I'm 14, this site hasn't helped. I studied with Bruce and Paul in 86' - 87' and I'm going back to Bruce on Saturday and getting back on the horse, so to speak. With all this shootout stuff at my studio, I've been watching and listening to my guitar playing morning, noon and night. I'm getting tired of my licks and I can't do the stuff I use to, from not practicing my hands just don't move the same way anymore but that's gonna change. Bought the first 4 VH records and started playing along this week. Unchained speaks to my soul, that guitar part kills me. When I was a kid I was so fast it was ridiculous, I was obsessed with Yngwie, Lynch, Martini and Gilbert and I practiced 10 hours a day. I'm not gonna be able to get that crazy but I'm gonna really commit to some serious playin. This website has made me want to play again. Andy Wood's comin out my way next month and want to have my chops up, I've really been enjoying his youtube videos.

Thanks guys.

 

[Szar]

More power to you!

 

[sebby123]

I feel you any time i hear Andy wood play i feel like i need to go lock myself in a room and practice.

 

[Digital Jams]

Good luck keeping up with disease free Andy Wood

Lessons with Bruce huh????? That is awesome! I saw him with Gilbert while at NAMM 2007 at The Viper Room and they rocked, good to see Bruce around again.

 

[James Lugo]

Yeah it's good to see Bruce teaching in LA. I'm really excited, though I have tendentious from playing so much when I was younger so when I play a lot my left hand aches really bad and my index finger on my left hand won't bend. Sometimes when I wake up I can't play a C chord, the old index finger will not bend to the first fret B string. But I'm gonna get on Glucosamine (sp?) tomorrow.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I'll be in LA Monday morning, the 15th, with nothing to do all that day. First beer's on me if your free.

 

[James Lugo]

I'll be in LA Monday morning, the 15th, with nothing to do all that day. First beer's on me if your free.

Shoot me an email:
james@jameslugo.com

 

[70strathead]

Yeah it's good to see Bruce teaching in LA. I'm really excited, though I have tendentious from playing so much when I was younger so when I play a lot my left hand aches really bad and my index finger on my left hand won't bend. Sometimes when I wake up I can't play a C chord, the old index finger will not bend to the first fret B string. But I'm gonna get on Glucosamine (sp?) tomorrow.

that sucks about the hand. Gaterade and bananas ( potassium)may help...I used get that from time to time mostly i think due to the fact i play scalloped necks. I had heard Bruce went through some tough times health wise, sounds like he's up and gunning again. good for him an you! i took a few lessons from Greg Howe when he was teaching at Tone Merchants, alli can say is WOW~!

 

[dstroud]

My guess is just a little bit of work and you'll be back where you were. It's just muscle memory, right? It's still there, you're muscles just gotta remember that

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah it's good to see Bruce teaching in LA. I'm really excited, though I have tendentious from playing so much when I was younger so when I play a lot my left hand aches really bad and my index finger on my left hand won't bend. Sometimes when I wake up I can't play a C chord, the old index finger will not bend to the first fret B string. But I'm gonna get on Glucosamine (sp?) tomorrow.

Do you ever get shooting pains, not in your fretting hand but in your strumming hand??

 

[James Lugo]

Yeah it's good to see Bruce teaching in LA. I'm really excited, though I have tendentious from playing so much when I was younger so when I play a lot my left hand aches really bad and my index finger on my left hand won't bend. Sometimes when I wake up I can't play a C chord, the old index finger will not bend to the first fret B string. But I'm gonna get on Glucosamine (sp?) tomorrow.

Do you ever get shooting pains, not in your fretting hand but in your strumming hand??

No it's like an acheiness in my fret hand and in the mornings I can't bend my index finger. I have to use my other hand to bend it a few times and then it will start to work. It also hurts when I play and open A chord that uses only the index finger on the left hand. I also play very aggressively when I'm in the zone and I think I just over do it sometimes. I try to back off but it's just not my nature, so I'm gonna just plow through it.

 

[Gitfiddler]

his lessons aren't that much $$, considering who's teaching. see if you can get him to join rig-talk.

 

[van hellion]

dude! bruce is a MONSTER! i saw him play with gilbert in cinci on the g3 tour. man it was total ego crush! im jealous those lessons will be incredible im sure! when i get to LA its gonna be guitar nerd central with you west coast guys!

A Wood

 

[King Guitar]

Fight the good fight James

I am thinking of taking lessons again myself from Duke Robillard in RI

 

[James Lugo]

Fight the good fight James

I am thinking of taking lessons again myself from Duke Robillard in RI

Thanks man, I can't sleep. Got guitar on the brain....

 

[James Lugo]

dude! bruce is a MONSTER! i saw him play with gilbert in cinci on the g3 tour. man it was total ego crush! im jealous those lessons will be incredible im sure! when i get to LA its gonna be guitar nerd central with you west coast guys!

A Wood

Yeah buddy it's gonna be fun. You are catchin' me at the right time, I am so into this we're gonna have a good time. You'll dig my studio and I'll introduce you around to all the cats. Just today I was talkin to Bob Rock and Glenn Ballard. It's gonna be cool, I'll show you what Bruce showed me and get your take.

I doubt I can do it but my first little goal is to be able to play the rhythm track to 'I'll See The Light Tonight' for the amp shootout. We'll see, I can't play those descending open string runs at the end of each rhythm figure. It feels like my left hand is lagging, not sure. I'm gonna slow it down tomorrow and practice it at half speed for a few days and really get the feel and pocket. Back in the day a lot of guys played those type of passages using mostly the tip of the pic, a lot of teachers were teaching using a stylus pic which forced you to keep the pick up off the strings and just use the tip. But I'm a digger when I play, so I have to have extra control when playing those passages not to lose my balance and over do it.

Anyway, I gotta get some sleep, it's 3:15am, I have a monster session tomorrow.

Andy,
Let me know ahead of time when you're coming out to LA. Maybe you can teach me some 2 stop chicken picken ala Brent Mason??? That shit is insane on your video, I played it for a buddy last night and he held his head low in shame because you brought it so hard.
james@jameslugo.com
818 259 0190

 

[PeteLaramee]

Congrats! I think it's awesome you're going back to taking lessons. I keep threatening to do the same, but I can't seem to leave my house. I think I'm going to hold out until Ralph and A Wood agree to give me lessons in my basement.

 

[Gainfreak]

This is awesome news!! Bruce is a monster!!
I took lessons again for a while until the economy hit me hard and I could no longer afford it. Im planning on going back as soon as i can!!! I wish you the best of luck and take it easy on that left hand.
Id really love to get into theory as I don't know much at all!!!


oh yeah, On another note...Watch that Andy Wood guy......He's trouble I tells ya

(love ya Andy )

all the best!

Ralph

 

[Digital Jams]

Sorry to here about the pains when you play, I too suffer arthritis and now and then my middle finger will lock up now and then. It takes me at least 10-15 minutes to warm up, throw a guitar to me cold and there is not much there until I get the joints moving.

I do know when you get a great teacher good things happen as I had a monster that Ralphie hooked me up with, of course I would be scared shitless to play in front of him but did get my playing up a level or two.

Would love to start up lessons with him again.

 

[stefvorcide]

Bruce was a monster !!!!!! Good show James, and good luck with Andy W, I need to get lessons from him as well