Vol 1, Issue 1, JANU

Debut Issue

ARY 2018

#GuitarGirl guitargirlmag.com

Guitar MonaLisa Players and Gear Twins Acquisition Syndrome Guitar Girl Magazine Cover Artists Tish

Ciravolosmashes the MI glass ceili ng Gear with Daisy Rock Guitars Reviews TARA Talk

GUITARGIRLMAG.COM Vol 1, Issue 1, JANUARY 2018 Welcome to Guitar Girl Magazine and our debut of the digital/print magazine version of our popular music blog featuring girls that love to rock, interviews Founder/Editor: Tara Low with inspiring singer-song writers, gear reviews, and so much more! Our followers know that I started the Contributors: Guitar Gabby Lisa Lim music blog geared toward female guitarists over five Caroline Paone years ago with the vision of providing women a forum Alison Richter to not only be seen and heard, but to help them gain Sasha Vallely insights from other female musicians on how they Ché Zuro overcame the many challenges a new artist faces in the competitive landscape of popular music.

At first, I was concerned about keeping a constant Editorial Requests may be submitted to flow of content to keep readers engaged and coming [email protected] back for more, but I soon found that there was a Advertising Requests may be submitted to huge void where this type of publication could not [email protected] be found. Artists from all over the country, and soon the world, came to us via their publicists longing Subscription Requests may be submitted to for media exposure and to be taken seriously as a [email protected] guitarist – not just a “pretty face” or the “she’s good for a girl” comment. Music fans, both female and Comments may be submitted to male, found this unique coverage of female guitarists [email protected] enlightening and entertaining. The fusion of these Mailing address: two realities launched Guitar Girl Magazine and it The Low Group, Inc. has been growing rapidly ever since. d/b/a Guitar Girl Magazine 12195 Highway 92, #114-210 Now, in the pages that follow, I am so proud to in- Woodstock, GA 30188 troduce you to some outstanding talent and take (866) 364-4828 (Toll Free) you into our world through multiple platforms in- cluding online, digital and print! This marks a key Guitar Girl Magazine ©2018 milestone in our development as a first-rate publica- Printed in the USA tion with rich content that is sure to please young and All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without old, male and female, professional and novice, and written permission of Guitar Girl Magazine lovers of music who want to see women excel! is prohibited.

This is our inaugural publication and we will be GuitarGirlMagazine @GuitarGirlMag expanding and growing and adding more content as @guitargirlmag guitargirlmag we go. I am so ready for this to begin…and if you are +Guitargirlmag ready to join me, let’s go!! Front cover: MonaLisa Twins ~ Tara Low Photo credit: Rudolf Wagner

2 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Contents Features »» First Annual Guitar Girl Magazine Calendar for 2018 05 »» Guitar Players and Gear Acquisition Syndrome - Do you have G.A.S.? 07 07

Interviews »» “Not Bad For A Girl”: Tish Ciravolo smashes the MI glass ceiling with Daisy Rock Guitars 10 10 »» Inside the Industry with The WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore 18

Gear »» Gear: New 24 »» Gear: Reviews 25 »» BOSS Acoustic Singer Live 25 »» Orange Fur Coat Fuzz/Octave Pedal 27 »» Fender Duo Sonic HS Electric Guitar 28 »» Yamaha AC3R Acoustic Electric Guitar 29 18 GGM COMMUNITY HEALTH/WELLNESS (Coming soon) We want to hear from you! Questions, comments, Lessons suggestions, road stories, and, »» Girls Got Rhythm: Constant Flow 31 ...well, anything else you may »» Sheet Music (Coming soon) have on your mind! Send them directly to: TIPS [email protected] »» Handpick the Perfect Pick: Serve your Playing 37 GuitarGirlMagazine »» #GuitarGirl 30 @GuitarGirlMag »» Mind Game and Trivia 33-34 @guitargirlmag »» Music Releases 35 guitargirlmag »» What We’re Reading NOW! 40 +Guitargirlmag »» Fun Stuff 42 »» Mind Game and Trivia answers 43 guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 3 Meet the Team

Tara Low, Editor

Guitar Gabby Lisa Lim Caroline Paone

Alison Richter Sasha Vallely Ché Zuro

4 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com FEATURES First Annual Guitar Girl Magazine Calendar for 2018

We are proud to release our first annual Guitar Girl the sounds from that era has influenced them as Magazine 2018 Official Calendar featuring some very musicians with an emphasis on rhythm, lead guitar, talented women that we have had the pleasure to and a great back beat from the drums. Their sound showcase throughout the years. is unique in today’s music landscape, but bears a striking resemblance to the sounds of perhaps the Gracing the cover are the extremely talented twin most influential decade of our past- the 1960s. sisters from the United Kingdom, Mona and Lisa Their recent album Orange was released last Fall to Wagner. The MonaLisa Twins’ love for the ‘60s and rave reviews. www.monalisa-twins.com

The next twelve months feature artists across all genres from blues, rock, soul, pop to Latin pop/reggae. Meet the women of Guitar Girl Magazine’s 2018 Calendar.

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 5 FEATURES

January March WILDWOOD Daria Musk

WILDWOOD is an American Daria Musk describes herself as indie/pop artist based in Nash- February a Musician, a Millennial, and an ville, a multi-instrumentalist, Artistpreneur. She discovered it and a third generation Car- Malina Moye was much easier to sing to an ter. She’s chosen the moniker audience on social media rather WILDWOOD as an homage With a blend of rock, funk and soul, Malina than lugging her equipment from to her family’s 1927 song. She Moye has been named by Guitar World venue to venue, so she started recently released a remake of Magazine as one of “10 Female Guitarists live interactive online concerts “Ring of Fire” which she says: You Should Know.” A lefty and inspired by and became an overnight success “Recording my cousin June’s Jimi Hendrix, she learned to play the guitar singing to global audiences. She has song “Ring of Fire” live in the upside down. She’s played with legendary taken that success and translated studio gave me chills. I felt her blues rock guitarists Pinetop Perkins, it into speaking engagements, TED spirit in the room and could David “Honeyboy” Edwards and Hubert talks, and a consulting business to imagine her huge smile look- Sumlin, as well as performed on the tech and entertainment companies. ing down on me. I only knew Experience Hendrix Tours at the Rock Daria’s an “Artispreneur” to watch her when I was a kid, but the and Roll Hall of Fame’s tribute concert for as she will be launching a new album short time I spent with her left Chuck Berry and honored the Queen of and online video series to inspire a a lasting impression, and every England. Her 2014 record Rock & Roll Baby whole new generation of people to time I sing her song, I feel her garnered three Billboard charting singles on make what they love what they do! presence.” Prior to embarking various charts in the Top 40, so we’re excited www.dariamusk.com on her musical career, WILD- to hear her new album Bad As I Want To Be WOOD graduated from Har- due out in March. www.malinamoye.com vard, was a diplomat at the US February’s inspirational quote is from an Embassy in Paris, worked with interview we had with Tish Ciravolo back Governor Haslam creating the in 2012 when we first started our ven- Tennessee Promise program, ture. “You just have to practice. You’ve got to and founded a non-profit or- find your sound. You’ve got to find out who ganization in Nashville that you are. You have to practice, and just prac- serves refugee youth. www. tice, practice, practice. It’s the only way, and sheiswildwood.com it’s such a simple answer. I wish it was a para- graph, but it just isn’t. It just comes down to finding what’s inside of you that needs to get out. And you can only do that if you’re prac- ticing.” ~Tish Ciravolo,

Also included inside are inspiring quotes and advice from female guitarists Nancy Wilson, Lisa Loeb, Lita Ford and Jennifer Batten, as well as from women business owners Tish Ciravolo of Daisy Rock Guitars and Laura Whitmore of the Women’s International Music Network taken from interviews with Guitar Girl Magazine. The calendar is 8.5″ x 11″, stapled binding, pre-hole punched for hanging, with a UV high gloss cover. All major U.S. holidays are noted, as well as religious holidays. The calendar can be purchased on our website and on Amazon. Stay tuned for our next issue showcasing the artists for April, May and June. GGM

6 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com FEATURES Guitar Players and Gear Acquisition Syndrome Do you have G.A.S.? My Journey Dealing with the Syndrome!

By Lisa Lim known as NAMM to us musicians) friend, who also plays guitar, and showcases the latest and greatest halfway into the conversation she said, music equipment all under one roof in “You have G.A.S.!” I said, “Excuse me?” t’s that time of the year, well, for the Anaheim Convention Center. This She said, “Yes, you suffer from Gear the music industry that is, where year, it all begins on January 25th. Acquisition Syndrome!” Really! the biggest trade show on earth, IWinter NAMM, is held this month And that just happens to bring this She explained the definition- “G.A.S.” in Anaheim, California! The National thought to mind. I spent one day is a term used to describe an urge to Association of Music Merchants (aka recently chatting it up with a good acquire and accumulate lots of music

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 7 FEATURES gear. This term is commonly associated with guitarists who on my first electric guitar. Then, tend to acquire guitars, amplifiers, pedals, effects processors one day leaving a guitar lesson, – just accumulating extensive quantities of gear over an there it was hanging on the wall to extended period of time. Well, my guitar playing pal was my right as I’m walking out of the right! So that brought up another valid question. Where did music shop. What? A cool guitar! it all start? I found myself reflecting over the years all the Yes, I stopped and picked it up. gear I had acquired and that had come and gone. Visuals of The salesman said, “Wanna plug my studio with every corner filled with, well, you know, gear! it in?” Well, of course, I did. I just had to figure out how I was going For me, it started with the beater acoustic guitar my dad to be able to afford to purchase brought home one day after work and gave to me. It was that guitar, being a preteen with a true love! I played it for hours, developing massive blisters I was playing small weekly allowance. I started on my left-hand fingertips, but still kept at it like some mad in garage adding together my allowance, scientist! A few more acoustic beater guitars entered the along with money I had saved up, picture after that. bands, and then the “beg your parent ‘til freelancing they can’t take it anymore” trick Then, entered the desire for acquiring an electric guitar and occasionally thrown into the mix! The rest was guitar amplifier. So, with a couple of trades and a little bit of pretty much history. extra cash, I had my first electric guitar and guitar amp! True with regional love again! Who says you can’t find true love twice? I couldn’t bands, still I had a new guitar! Another love put it down. Not for a minute. I scored a practice amp with taking guitar affair sparked. I actually purchased two knobs- one for volume, the other for tone. Of course, lessons, and it around my birthday, so I spent both would get cranked to level 10 and my strat-style electric the good portion of my birthday would get kicked on the bridge single coil pickup position a continuing gathering playing for my family lot of the time, doing everything I could to make the guitar to learn and friends. I loved that guitar. scream and wail! about all the Well, time marches on and at There’s no doubt my family wanted to strangle me. Sigh. But, cool gear that time, I was playing in various I loved rock ‘n’ roll! And, I was on that quest for a wicked that was rock bands playing in standard, overdriven sound. How to do that? Well, I’m sure I blew the constantly alternate and open tunings. At speaker in my poor practice amp out within the first month, this point, I had saved up more but I wasn’t too concerned because it screamed distortion! coming out money and I wanted, yes, an extra and being electric guitar. Nothing fancy, The only other gizmos I had acquired at that point were a reviewed but something that would be fun tuner, capo, extra strings, string winder and wire cutter, guitar in guitar to bounce back and forth with. picks, guitar slide, guitar strap, polish, a soft-shell case, and Scored! extra instrument cables. So, after about six months, absorbed, magazines. reading all of my guitar magazines, every column, even Yes, guitar So you can see the pattern forming, studying every single advertisement, I had learned about every magazines, right? Up to this point, I have just effects pedal under the sun. A whole new chapter was about reflected on some early guitar to unfold in my gear acquisition. I wanted a distortion pedal. an excellent acquisitions, and there have been Sigh. So, I went out and scored an MXR distortion pedal. Came source for quite a few since I acquired the home, plugged it in, and a whole new dimension of screaming G.A.S.! syndrome at around the age of 10. overdrive and feedback came to life! Cool! As you can imagine, it is a miracle I’d been developing my guitar chops, immersed in my Jeff that my practice amp had made it Beck and Eric Clapton records, listening for hours every day this far so, of course, I begin the after school, and picking out lick after lick those guys played. quest of investing in another gui- Dissecting them. Sitting right beside my record player, tar amplifier. I remember scoring moving the needle on my turntable back to the same place a a Peavey Bandit 112 Solid State thousand times, listening, absorbing, determined to pick out Guitar Amp. Man, that amp wailed. each amazing phrase and chord progression. It had more tone controls, highs, mids, lows, built in overdrive and I was playing so many styles of music. Rock, jazz, blues, reverb! Watch out! Reverb! Ad- country. At this point, I was just 13 years old and still jamming dicted instantly. I ran that amp into

8 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com FEATURES the ground. In fact, I smoked it! on the wall at my favorite local music shop. Of course, a big Onward! price tag was hanging on it, too. I had to play it. It was the most amazing guitar I had ever laid my hands on. How many I then decided I needed to get a times have you said that? Well, I drove myself insane trying to guitar amp half stack. 100-watt figure out how I was going to buy this guitar. This guitar was head, solid state and a 4 12’s so unique and played like butter. The Floyd Rose Tremolo was cabinet. Why? Well, why not? Did tantalizing. The guitar was set up for speed. Once again, a big you ever watch Headbanger’s Ball price tag. Sigh. on MTV or go to a concert? Well, there were stacks and stacks of I went home and went through all my gear deciding what I guitar amps across the stage! absolutely could live without. This was a major investment. I Being a rock guitar player, how I’m a had money saved up. Gear to trade in. So, after parting with could you not want that? Rock on! musician. I’m two guitars and $800 in cash, that guitar was mine. And I’ll have you know, after all of these years, I still have that guitar! But now, I need pedals. Ah, a not rich by That one was truly a keeper! I jokingly tell my husband to BOSS pedalboard with a BOSS any means, bury that guitar with me when I depart this amazing world. distortion pedal, chorus pedal, at least when He just shakes his head, but knows I’m serious. That guitar equalizer pedal, tuner pedal, and a reviewing has brought me so much joy over the years. It’s played power pedal to power up all pedals hundreds of gigs, traveled across the country touring, and on the pedal board. Yeah! Next, a my monthly banking been through the best and worst of times. Oh, the stories it Cry Baby Wah Pedal. It was quite could tell. Whew! At this juncture, it really needs a fret job. the wall of sound coming out of statements. That guitar survived hundreds of gigs. These days it stays my bedroom, under my parents’ I’m a stored most of the time in its hard case close by in my studio. roof, as a teenager. Summer days, musician by And on occasion, I break open its hard case, take it out, and go windows opened, and I played for choice. I have down memory lane with it. all to hear. Luckily, my neighbors were incredibly understanding no regrets. I Fast forward to today. So much gear has since entered the with the rebellious teenage girl love what I do. picture. Now, it’s tube amps, boutique amps, and more living next door cranking up her So, yes, guilty effects pedals. Solid body and hollow body electrics. Teles half stack! Slightly rebellious, huh? as charged! I and strats. Resonators, Floating trems and Bigsby’s, stop tail bridges, D-Tunas, various single coil and boutique guitar I was playing in garage bands, have G.A.S.! And being pickups, recording gear for laying guitar tracks, computer freelancing occasionally with re- apps. Custom built guitars. Microphones for my guitar amps. gional bands, still taking guitar that the Guitar stands, guitar amp stands, guitar amp road cases. lessons, and continuing to learn Winter NAMM Guitar road cases. And the whole amazing world of acoustic about all the cool gear that was trade show is guitars with all of the choices and options that exist there. So constantly coming out and be- this month, much gear! ing reviewed in guitar magazines. Yes, guitar magazines, an excellent we can all With today’s technology, there are so many outlets for source for G.A.S.! assume there acquiring and learning about gear. Just about every music will be more gear catalog is accessible online, you have guitar forums, Oh man! The ultimate guitar musicians online lesson companies, eBay, YouTube, every music product revealed itself one day, when I with G.A.S.! company has its own website with lesson portals, and just was leaving a guitar lesson. Sound about every music magazine is accessible online, too! Wow! familiar? Yes. It was an American So many resources to tap into! Kramer Pacer Imperial. The guitar was built after Eddie Van Halen’s Fact. I’m a musician. I’m not rich by any means, at least when designed specs for his Kramer reviewing my monthly banking statements. I’m a musician at the time. Locking Floyd Rose by choice. I have no regrets. I love what I do. So, yes, guilty Tremolo, Seymour Duncan double as charged! I have G.A.S.! And being that the Winter NAMM humbucker pickups, maple neck, trade show is this month, we can all assume there will be medium jumbo frets, 3-way pickup more musicians with G.A.S.! switch, and a custom body finished with killer graphics. It was sitting in True gear head signing off at Guitar Girl Magazine! Pick up an enclosed display case, hanging your guitar and play! GGM

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 9 INTERVIEWS

“Not Bad For A Girl” Tish CiravoloSmashes the MI glass ceiling with Daisy Rock Guitars By Alison Richter

When Tish Ciravolo launched Daisy as a welcoming online presence where changed the world for young women Rock Guitars almost two decades women could gather and connect. who aspire to play. ago, it wasn’t to get rich or capitalize on a particular demographic. Her The Daisy Rock prototype was simple: Last year brought changes to Daisy Rock. intention was a natural extension a daisy drawn on paper by her daughter A 14-year distribution partnership with of the challenges she had faced as a Nicole when she was 18 months old. Alfred Music Publishing ended when woman and bassist: finding a properly In Ciravolo’s mind and hand, the stem the company, under new leadership, sized and weighted instrument that became a neck and a leaf became a decided to focus solely on books. would fit comfortably in her hands and headstock. She presented the idea Ciravolo signed a global distribution around her neck, and a company that to her husband, Michael Ciravolo, and licensing agreement with KMC would nurture instead of patronize, and president of Schecter Guitars, and an Music, which saw the reintroduction encourage rather than condescend. instrument was born. Initial response of twenty Daisy Rock models at the to the first Daisy Rock booth at NAMM 2017 winter NAMM show. This year, From NAMM shows to stages to was predictable: the guitar was “cute,” Daisy Rock is presenting a ukulele line, music stores, Ciravolo witnessed and but it would never take off, at least and some new guitar designs are in the experienced gender bias that left not according to countless men who works for late spring/early summer. women of all ages feeling excluded, viewed it as a curiosity or a one-off. Ciravolo is optimistic about what’s trivialized, and uncomfortable. She Millions of instruments sales later, ahead for Daisy Rock and its role in was determined to fill that void with Ciravolo is enjoying the last laugh — and bringing more women of all ages into specialized guitars and basses, as well the satisfaction of knowing that she has the music industry.

10 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 11 INTERVIEWS

Daisy Rock debuted in 2000. How has the phone together. They had an hour- this. I can’t believe nobody ever thought the company grown and what steps long conversation and he said, “Of of it before you thought of it.” The only did you take to grow it? course it’s important. It’s important reason I thought of it is because I lived When I started the company, nobody to get more girls to play guitar and get it. I was a musician in the ’80s, playing believed me. That was my first into the music business.” So Newsweek around Los Angeles, and the first time I impression. The first thing I did was did a little paragraph about it, which I went to buy the first bass that I wanted the Rockrgrl Conference in Seattle in thought was huge. Because Newsweek to buy, my boyfriend and the guy behind November, and I met Courtney Love did a piece about it, Time magazine the counter decided what bass I would and she signed my first sample guitar called me. They did an article about do play because girls didn’t go to music that now hangs in the NAMM Museum, more girls need to play guitar, and they stores. There was just no community because I was inducted into the did a quote from me and a paragraph feeling. As I started playing out in clubs, Museum in 2006. I did my first NAMM about the company in a full-page I was dealing with “She’s not bad for show and I had a 3×3 area. I was a article. Because Time magazine called a girl,” and “We don’t soundcheck the division of Schecter at that point, and a me, People magazine called me. People girl bands.” All of a sudden, I started thousand times people would walk by did a photo shoot and a full page about realizing this is an old-school boys club, and say, “Oh my gosh, that’s so cute,” it’s time to let the girls rock, it’s time to and it’s not so much the guys in the and every guy would say, “That will get more girls rocking. Then I did the bands, because they were open to just never work. Girls don’t walk into music Today Show with Katie Couric. having good players. It was the people stores and buy guitars.” So I started my that surrounded the bands, the sound company doing consignment sales. I people and the club people, who were would say to dealers, “I know there’s discriminatory. nothing like that on the market. I know you’ve never seen a pink flower guitar When I got this bass, I had to take it before. But if you put it in your window, back because I couldn’t play it. It was I will let you sell it and then pay me like trying to play a baseball bat. I went for it.” Which is unheard of in the back to the music store and played music business, but I was convinced every bass on the wall until I could that there were girls out there who find something I could play, which would walk into music stores who had was a Yamaha BX-1 with a smaller never walked into music stores before neck. When I met Michael, he built because they were not an inviting me a couple of basses. I just need the place for girls to be prior to 2000. I neck to be thinner so I can push on started getting immediate success the strings, and I don’t need it to be doing consignment sales. Musician’s WHY IS THERE so heavy. So, it took all these organic Friend was one of the first companies things that happened to me as a female who jumped on board with me. A GIRL GUITAR? musician until I started this company and designed the first girl guitar with So, it took a handful of guys in our WHY IS THERE A this idea that it needs to be lighter in male-dominated industry to say, weight with a thinner neck profile. “This is important, and it’s about time FLOWER GUITAR? somebody did something for the What was the market like at that time girls in this scenario.” Immediately I as compared to now? What changes started having a press impact. In 2002, have you seen, good and bad, over the Newsweek called me. The reporter So, there was this press impact that course of almost 18 years? said, “I don’t really believe in this happened that really played into why Financially, between 2000 and 2008, brand, I don’t think it’s important at the guitars started selling, because I continued to grow in sales. I started all, but if you have somebody famous people wanted to understand what’s small, I got up to the $3 million market, that can talk to me and tell me that it a girl guitar. Why is there a girl guitar? and then the 2008 crash happened. is important, I’ll write an article about Why is there a flower guitar? Why is Since 2008, it’s been a recovery. Of you.” The only person I knew, that my there something in the marketplace course, I’m recovering really well husband knew, was Robert Smith from that has never been there before? Over now, but just thinking about what the The Cure, and he thought the brand the course of 17 years I’ve heard the MI industry has been going through, was fantastic. We had Robert Smith same stories all the time, like, “I can’t that’s the financial implications of and the reporter from Newsweek get on believe nobody did this before you did what we’ve all been going through,

12 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS and that’s nine years later. On the about, why KMC, and what has the other side I saw this change. When partnership accomplished to date? we started, we did all this intense I knew I was going to bounce out of market research about how many girls Alfred, and Alfred was very helpful in play guitars and go into music stores. trying to find a new home for me. I had We took all that information from some friends that knew people at KMC magazines and from warranty cards and talked very highly about what we’d get back, and we determined they did. I had a couple of companies about 4 percent of the population I was talking to at the time. I thought was female in 2000. I would say that’s KMC was professional and knew how closer now to 26 to 28 percent. That to distribute guitars. I had been with is largely in part because I started my a music publisher for a long time, company, but it’s also society. All of a so I was really interested in trying sudden there was this change where it a company that did nothing but sell I had the big was socially more accepted for girls to musical instruments and knows how play guitar. to sell gear. You see companies that guys go after me are trying to bring themselves into It started in the early 2000s, and now the new millennium and selling stuff and think they everywhere you look, it’s so common to millennials, and you can see that and normal to see a 7- to 12-year- they’re trying to understand it and could come into old girl playing guitar in a movie, a they want to grow with it. I thought show, a commercial, and to see all the KMC was being very progressive the business mom bands having a good time on the with how they were going after the weekends. I just had a commercial with marketplace, and they wanted to be with a marketing Rocket Mortgage playing a Daisy Rock in the business of girl guitars. They bass. It’s been a cultural shift, and I want to help me grow the business plan that they think that’s affected our industry. After back up again. I started my company and I had a pink were just going guitar on the floor at NAMM, when I What is the international market like came back there was an array of pink for Daisy Rock? to take a guy guitars everywhere. I had the big guys I’ve had a great international go after me and think they could come presence. At one point I was in guitar, paint it into the business with a marketing sixteen different countries. I think plan that they were just going to take a lot of countries want girls to play pink, and have a a guy guitar, paint it pink, and have a guitar and they understand what girl guitar. Well, that’s not what works, Daisy Rock is. We were really that’s why it didn’t work for them, and present internationally a few years girl guitar.” that’s why I’m still the only girl guitar ago. That went away for a couple of company in the world. Because it years, and I want to push that wasn’t a marketing plan of “How can I again. We just signed with make more money?” It was a marketing a distributor in England plan of “How can I answer a problem called JHS — John Hornby that girls are facing?” So financially Skewes — and they’re I was growing a lot, and then 2008 amazing. They’re really happened, and of course changing behind the brand, and distributors was a hiccup, but there so I love them. will always be a new girl out there that wants to learn how to play guitar, and How large a part has Daisy Rock is the only guitar that’s out the Internet played in there for her. your numbers? It’s over 50 percent now. You’re almost a year into the global What’s so funny is to go back distribution and licensing deal with to 2000, when my webmistress KMC Music. How did that come was like, “You really have to put

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 13 INTERVIEWS the guitars on the website,” and I said, “I helped me design the guitars. He knows new electric guitar designs. I’m trying don’t think anyone is ever going to buy how to design incredible guitars. He to come out with something fun, like a guitar over the computer.” Seventeen has the luthier to do it. He knows the a rockabilly-style guitar. I want to see years later, here we are, and who doesn’t business. I learned the business from that market open up more. Wanda buy everything from the Internet? I him from the ground up. Jackson is one of my endorsed artists want to support the mom-and-pops, I and she’s the queen of rockabilly, so I want to support the chains, and I want There is an article from USA Today would really like to see a nice rockabilly a place for women to go and pick up a [December 15, 2009] in your 2011 guitar out there for the girls. guitar and learn how to play. I want all press kit, in which Andy Rossi, who at those places to still exist. But I think the time was senior vice president of There’s so much emphasis on the we’re all dealing with this behemoth of global sales and marketing for Fender colors and designs. Let’s talk about the Internet. — a company that, we should note, what’s behind all of that — woods, marketed a pink Hello Kitty guitar pickups, bindings. You mentioned the number of times — was quoted as saying, “With all It’s always challenging to get some you heard the word “cute” at that first due respect to Daisy Rock, creating lighter wood. It’s hard to make guitars NAMM show. Suddenly, Jimmy Page an instrument that is specialized for out of mahogany and have them be had one of your guitars in his hands, females is pandering, insulting, and light, so we’re always looking. I love to men began playing them onstage, and not what females want. Is there a say that Daisy Rock is unique, because everything changed. female violin? No. Is there a female it is, but in reality, a guitar is a guitar Yes, and the sad part of that conversation piano? No. There’s no such thing as a is a guitar. We’re all using basically is how many guitar goddesses are girl’s guitar.” the same parts. The difference with a there? You have a handful, and then you Andy Rossi called me and apologized Daisy Rock is the neck width, and all have all these major guitar gods. Having after that article came out. He says he the accouterments on a Daisy Rock are Jimmy Page say, “I love Daisy Rock” — I was misquoted. I think he’s a typical the things people gravitate toward. We was 15 years old all over again, going, guy who put his foot far down his use the same things as everybody else, “Oh my god, Led Zeppelin!” It’s an out- mouth. To me, that was an attack, and with the exception that we don’t do the of-body experience. They’re not even a lot of people that support me called abalone anymore, because obviously my peers. They’re people I admire so him and said, “What are you doing?” that’s bad for the environment, much, and they all wanted to play it. He called and told me, “I didn’t realize and we’re having a problem with Pretty amazing. Mark Mothersbaugh it was going to come out that way, they rosewood, just like everybody, through from Devo was one of the very first misquoted me, of course I love Daisy CITES because of the problem with supporters I had, and Josh Klinghoffer Rock and what it stands for, you’ve decimating the forests, and we want to from the Butthole Surfers, and of gotten so many more girls in the make sure that we’re always giving back course Robert Smith. I could go on and business than ever before,” and blah and rebuilding the forests. Of course, on, all these idols, and of course I love blah blah. I was like, “It would have we’ve got the Daisy Rock pickups, and them all. Less Than Jake just sent me a been really nice if you had put that in sometimes we use Seymour Duncans picture of them playing Daisy Rock in the article.” So yeah, it’s unfortunate. and sometimes we use EMGs. I’m not the studio. a company like Schecter that would What’s coming up for winter NAMM? use twenty different styles of pickups. Would the response have been I finally got a company in KMC that’s We’re more of an acoustic guitar different if your husband had debuted going to come out with ukuleles. We company and we have some electric the guitars as part of the Schecter line? were trying to do it so much with Alfred, guitars. We bring something to the Would he have heard “innovative” and it never successfully happened with table that no one else is doing. and “entrepreneur,” instead of “cute”? the factory people they dealt with. So The reason Daisy Rock worked is I’m super-excited about 2018, because What part do customers play in your because it came from an organic idea I’ve got three new ukulele designs. design strategies? Do you experiment and need that I was fulfilling for myself. I wrote a book called Girl’s Ukulele at the risk of a model not selling, or It wasn’t a marketing plan. Anyone Method, so I’m excited. I’m coming into play it safe and go with what worked who said, “I’m going to make money” the ukulele market a little later than a in the past? — it hasn’t worked. I think the backlash lot of other companies, but we’re Daisy It’s changed over the years. We used would have been the same for Schecter. Rock and we’re going to do something to do a lot of R&D. With Alfred I had It would have been, “Michael Ciravolo cool. We’ve got a couple of guitar a staff of 200 people at my disposal, designed this guitar for girls. Wait … he’s things, but they won’t be at NAMM. so we were constantly running things a guy.” People are smart. They’re not I think you’ll see something from us up the flagpole to see what the going to fall for that. That being said, he closer to May/June 2018, a couple of girls thought. With KMC, when we

14 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS come out with samples and we have different things, they run it by their staffers in Connecticut and see what everybody likes and doesn’t like. I also see the comments I get on Instagram and Twitter, because all I have to do is put something up and say, “What do you think?” and I usually get a flurry of responses. I don’t think I have a gigantic social media footprint — 12,000 or 14,000 is not the biggest — but the people that read my social media, and the girls that play the guitars and support the brand, are the ones that have this voice about what they’re looking for and what they want to see. So, I’m keen to understanding when people say, “I’d like to see this,” or what I’m missing, or what I don’t notice in the marketplace, and I do have people tell me and send me these great ideas.

What is your vision for Daisy Rock in the coming year? It’s really growing the company again, because I feel like there is a little bit of a dip. It’s the best time of the year for us, in a band, get a manager, get an agent. because all of a sudden after Christmas I just did a call-out for America’s Got I get flooded with all these little girls Talent. I’ve put artists on shows. I’ve who found a guitar under the Christmas put artists in movies. I am a conduit to tree. There is no better feeling. There put all these girls’ lives out there and is nothing in the world, besides the help them live their dreams. That’s feelings I have for my family and the what I’m doing with Daisy Rock. Yes, it things I do with my family, that comes matters what kind of wood, the strings, Wanda Jackson anywhere close to sitting down one the shape of the guitar, the color. All of day, taking a drawing my daughter did, that does matter, but in the end it’s that is one of my and making that into a piece of wood girl that’s going to play that song that’s that has changed these girls’ lives. A going to change everybody’s life. That’s endorsed artists girl that wakes up on Christmas, sees what matters. a guitar, and thinks, I can play guitar, I and she’s the can be a rock star — can you imagine How do you reach your target demo- what we’re going to be in 20 years if graphic, keep the products affordable, queen of rockabilly, this continues at this rate? Just think and make the company profitable? about how different the world’s going You’ve got to pay for the costs, but we so i would really to be in music. It means everything. have guitars under a hundred bucks. It’s why Daisy Rock can never go away. What’s our most expensive guitar like to see a nice It’s not because “Lo and behold, I’m now, $349 max? I know that people making a ton of money.” That’s not are living on $20,000 to $30,000 a rockabilly guitar the driver, and my husband will tell year incomes, I know those are the you. The driver is the life-changing struggling ones for Christmas, and out there for moments these girls go through, that’s why we have the Jr. Miss and the girls.” and knowing that there is a support Debutante and Pixie series, because system. We have social media, we have they’re $100, $120, $150. And I wrote the website, you have a question, you a book, the Girl’s Guitar Method, so want to know how to play a song, get that girl who gets that guitar doesn’t

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 15 INTERVIEWS sit down on her bedroom floor and feel lost. Ron Manus [CEO] at Alfred saw that need before I even saw that need, because that was his world. So you have to cover your costs, but that cute little guitar for that little girl has to be at a price point so that her parents will say, “OK, it’s not that much money. Let’s get her this.” Look at the economy. I’m in tune with why you have to have guitars in Wal-Mart at that price point — so you have the masses be able to buy your product I keep saying and not just the select few rich people. i just want to There was a time when women were almost nonexistent at NAMM shows, with the exception of “booth live another 10 babes” and the occasional adminis- trative person onsite with an instru- years because ment company. And then, one year, it seemed there were women ev- erywhere. When did you notice the I’m going to change in gender demographics? It used to be a total sausage-fest. I be sitting think I have a really good vision on how this happened, because I was the first Schecter booth girl in 1996, and on a porch fast-forward my life five years and I’m working at the Schecter booth with somewhere the Daisy Rock line, along with the Jagermeister girls, who are in bikinis and passing out shots of Jager. So I’ve seen with my it from both sides. I was also at NAMM as an endorsed artist by ESP Guitars grandkids in 1992-1993. So I’ve been to NAMM get them in the door.” And I think music for a long time. My concept was, “How companies have done the same thing. do you make it — just like the music saying, “Oh, We have more female executives. We store — how do you make it inviting for have the She Rocks Awards, which the girls?” Well, what you do is create back in the is 5 years old this year. I was the first something that’s for them. As soon as recipient with Laura Whitmore. Now there were pink guitars on the floor day, the girls there’s an awards ceremony for women and a Daisy Rock booth, all of a sudden, in the industry. Where was that 20 the guys who came to NAMM felt years ago? That didn’t happen. comfortable bringing their daughters, weren’t even sisters, wives, and whoever was in their Have people become overly sensitive life, because there was a place for them. there.” about “booth babes” and models Before Daisy Rock, there wasn’t a pink posing with guitars in print ads? explosion of stuff for girls to go hang Sex sells. Unfortunately, that’s our out at. I did that very successfully with society. If that weren’t the case, there my NAMM booth. In seventeen years wouldn’t be Playboy. I think it’s so of doing it, that has changed NAMM. I much better today than it has been in think NAMM has said, “OK, 50 percent the past. We don’t see quite as many of the buying population is female. Let’s magazines with the girl getting out of

16 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS the swimming pool in a bikini, talking sleep with somebody, not having a guy for a girl that’s a real guitar and not about how she just loves a certain kind produce the album because he was a flower.” And I thought, Why would of cable — which happened for years. A sleeping with our drummer and our you do that? Even if you feel that way, shift happened. Has the needle gone all singer and they both found out about why would you turn on another girl in the way to the other side? My standing it. It’s so prevalent. When I worked at this industry where it’s so hard to get joke has always been, if I want to go to the Roxy in the late ’80s, and being in recognition? my NAMM booth, and I want six guys an all-female metal band, it was just in g-strings to carry me out over their unbelievable the amount of sh-t. But What are your words of wisdom, heads, and then work my booth in gold at the same time, I think what people encouragement, and caution for lame g-strings, handing out girl guitars, forget or don’t understand today is it young women who want to work in then the needle’s gone the other way. was so normal that to say anything or the music industry? But I can’t do that because it’s me doing raise a flag, except to protect yourself, One of the things I did when I started exactly what we don’t like the guys or say, “Hey, stop smacking me on the dealing with Guitar Center was I began doing. You want a respectful balance, ass,” didn’t mean I was going to write talking to them about safe haven kinds especially in this sexual misconduct an article in the L.A. Weekly about of places. As a female musician, I can’t history that we’re going through right how this guy was smacking me on the tell you how many times I ended up in now. I think this NAMM will be the ass all the time. Because this was just the middle of the Valley, by myself, on least sexually mistreated NAMM that something we dealt with. Go back to a Tuesday night at 8:00, dragging my you’ll ever have experienced, because the ’50s. It’s just something we’ve all gear to some poor rehearsal room with every guy who’s ready to slap the ass of been dealing with, and thank god the a room full of guys. It’s such an unsafe that girl at the booth is going to think, spotlight has happened, thank god place to be. I’ve always said “beware” Oh sh-t. Not that the idea of slapping there’s a media presence about how for girls that are musicians. They’re just her on the ass is going to change. It’s this is not the way it should be. Finally, as vulnerable in any kind of situation. just that the intention might, because that’s happened. I don’t even know if I Just because you’re in a room full of of how much the spotlight has been on would, but I have stories where I could guys that think they’re cool because how wrong that is. We are in a male- say this happened. But there’s so many. they’re musicians doesn’t mean it’s any dominated society, we have a male- That’s the thing — there’s just so many. more safe. It may be worse. I like the dominated business that we are all in idea that Guitar Center started doing at NAMM, and in 2018, that needle Does a company like Daisy Rock offer rehearsal rooms inside the stores, and is farther toward females than I have safe haven? At the same time, what having the studios inside the stores, ever seen it, and I’ve been going since does it say that we still need safe because that’s a safer place to be, ’88, so I can’t wait. I keep saying I just haven in 2018? rather than the dimly lit corporate want to live another 10 years because I think a girl’s not going to e-mail the parks that I ended up in. My words of I’m going to be sitting on a porch president of Fender and ask, “How do wisdom are, if you’re a girl and you’re somewhere with my grandkids saying, I play the first couple of chords in this going out auditioning, be very careful “Oh, back in the day, the girls weren’t song?” That’s intimidating. I relate to with what you’re doing. And on top of even there.” So it’s very exciting to see. that with younger girls. I want a place that, my idea, always, as a female bass It’s a time of change. where any question is OK, from “How player was to know what I was going to do I put on a strap?” to “How do I change play extremely well. The worst thing You toured, played clubs, auditioned a string?” to “How do I become a rock is to show up unprepared. And totally for labels, worked for a label [A&M], star?” Anything that I can help in that be real about what it is that you like. managed a club, waitressed at the scenario, I want to be that place, and I It doesn’t necessarily mean that what Roxy, attended concerts and NAMM have been for 17 years. I still don’t see they want is the best. It’s what you shows. “Hashtag” you too? a lot of women that have stepped up want to do, and what you like, and what Oh yeah, oh yeah. I like to be humorous, and said, “I want to be that safe place you’re feeling, because in the end it’s and there are ways to get back at for girls with questions about guitars the personality, it’s getting along with men that sexually mistreat you in and being a musician.” Unfortunately, other people, it’s supporting other this industry, and there are ways that I see bands like St. Vincent, who say, girls, it’s being part of your community. are very funny. I would always try to “Why do we have to stand up for the All of those are really important. And be creative with how to do payback, girls in this guitar thing? We’re all just then finding your muse, finding your but the fact that you have to do a equal.” I don’t know if you saw that voice, being that original voice and payback says how bad the industry whole attack she did on me, but I didn’t that unique thing that you are that are has been. I’ve dealt with it all: not appreciate that at all. Her whole thing talking through your music. Those are getting a record deal because I didn’t was, “Finally I came out with a guitar some wonderful things to hear. GGM

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 17 INTERVIEWS

Inside the Industry with The WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore By Alison Richter

When music industry veteran Laura Whitmore founded the Women’s International Music Network and its accompanying She Rocks Awards, she did so with a specific goal: to create an online community to unite women in all facets of the music and audio industries. Easier said than done, it would seem, but six years later, the WiMN is thriving and growing.

A graduate of Hofstra University, Laura Whitmore spoke with Guitar Girl site, and let them know what we’re with degrees in marketing and music Magazine about the WiMN’s beginning, doing. We’re super-active on all the merchandising, Whitmore’s career its milestones, her hopes and plans social media sites. We have people began at CBS Records. She spent 20 for the coming years, and why the that handle that for us and share years at Korg USA before launching organization is important to her, both articles, things that women in other her own company, Mad Sun Marketing, professionally and personally. organizations are doing, and tips. We in 2008. There, she provides public also have a lot of other events. None relations, artist relations, marketing, You founded the Women’s Interna- are as big as the She Rocks Awards, but event production, and much more for tional Music Network in 2012. How we host panels, we do workshops, we music and audio companies. She is also have you grown both the network and host showcasing events where female a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. the She Rocks Awards? artists can perform at bigger events. When we came into existence in 2012, We have an advisory board that is a Over the course of many years in the it was right before we launched the team of incredible women and men music business, Whitmore has seen first She Rocks Awards. Our idea for who have put their brains together the good, the bad, and the ugly. She the Network was to bring women to help us reach even further and do knows all too well the challenges that in the industry together, and have even more. That’s been fantastic. That women face in a longstanding male- the awards as a focal point for the was just put together [in 2017]. We re- dominated field, and what it’s like to conversation about women in music launched our website so we can share repeatedly hit one’s head on a hard, and audio. more news and events and things that thick, often impenetrable glass ceiling. are happening for women in music. It’s That is why she started the WiMN. The Since then, we’ve done a few things to more of a news site now. organization has grown into a news grow the organization and the people center, database, and outreach system, that we reach. Number one is we’ve Regarding the She Rocks Awards, the offering information, opportunities, interviewed a woman in the industry first one was in January 2013. It was contacts, workshops, and of course the every week for the last five years. We a breakfast at the Marriott Hotel and annual awards ceremony that takes have almost 300 interviews on our had about 200 people attend. Since place every year during the winter website, and that’s been a great way then, we’ve moved it to an evening NAMM show. to share stories, bring people to the event, and it’s got about a thousand

18 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS

As women in business, and in a creative field, we get bombarded with a lot of negativity.

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 19 INTERVIEWS people that come. It’s a multi-media You mentioned that there are 300 to exclude them. I think some of the extravaganza. That whole thing has interviews on your website. Is there a things they have to share and can do to really blossomed. The industry support common thread in the stories some of help us are important. But the majority for it has been fantastic and needed, the women are sharing? of people on the board are women. We and people want to be involved. I wouldn’t say that all of them have take advice, and if we want to do it, we similarities, but a lot of people talk do it, and if we don’t, we don’t. This year we are moving it to the new about how they had to take a leap of House of Blues Anaheim. It’s very close faith in their careers. They had to put What is your vision for the Network to the Convention Center and hotels. away the naysayers and not let them and Awards in the coming year? We’re bringing our silent auction back control their paths and their thoughts We have a few initiatives that we live. Last year we did it online. This about themselves. As women in worked through that we are developing year we’re doing a hybrid of online business, and in a creative field, we get for the organization as a whole. and in person. We’re going to have bombarded with a lot of negativity. I do One of them is the idea of creating a fantastic awards, more performances, see a lot of these women saying that database, and creating video, audio, an amazing house band, and all that in order to be successful they had to and information that shares women stuff we do to make everyone walk push through that negativity and say, and their careers in the industry, so away feeling inspired. “If you don’t like it, that’s OK, but I’m that when young women are trying to going to do this thing that I feel is me figure out, “What do I want to do with When did you notice that the event and is the right thing.” Whether they’re my life,” there’s a resource for them was growing, and what do you think business people, musicians, engineers, to see all these women working in the contributed to that growth? or whatever, a lot of them had to go music industry, their backgrounds, and There’s actually a very significant through those challenges. what they do. event that happened. The first two years we did were breakfasts. After the A lot of women that are successful Another thing that has come up as we second year, as we started to plan for in our society are more aggressive talk to people is, “I didn’t know anybody the third awards, NAMM came to us personalities because you have to put that was a woman that had my career.” and said, “We love what you’re doing. up with a lot as a woman. For better So we’ve talked a lot about how do Would you like to use our ballroom on or worse, you can’t be a shy violet. It we reach young women as they make Friday evening?” With that invitation doesn’t work. You can’t be afraid to career choices, encourage them to came a significant cost increase in put yourself out there and say, “This is participate in the music industry, and producing the event — five times as what I need,” or “This is what I want,” or give them some tools to be successful much as we had been paying — but the “I’m doing this and I think it’s good.” I’ve in that path. That’s one thing we’re room was amazing, and it was already been in the music business my whole working toward. outfitted with the stage and lighting, career, and there are a lot of things I so I took a leap of faith that year and had to deal with working with men and We are getting involved in some said, “If I don’t take advantage of this even with other women, just thinking, newer and bigger events. We’ve opportunity, that’s a mistake. It may This is a little bit terrifying, but I’m going typically done things like showcasing never come again.” to do it anyway because it feels like the at the ASCAP Expo, both NAMM right thing to do. A lot of women we shows, and Digital Hollywood. We’re I always feel like you don’t know speak to have gone through that. talking about doing a significant what you’re capable of until you’re event at South By Southwest, and challenged, and that year was, “I don’t The advisory board is made up some other partnerships we have. For know if I can get enough support to of women and men. Why was it example, one of our board members pay for this, but let’s try.” Obviously, important to bring men into the is head of artist relations for MAC we were successful, and I think that’s Network? Cosmetics, and she’s brought us into when the industry’s eyes opened to I don’t want to do the opposite and a bunch of other events that MAC is the event and the awareness level shot exclude men from the conversation. If participating in. Our main focus is to up. We had almost 800 people come there are men who want to contribute create awareness of the inequities in that year, and we saw a significant who have power and influence and the industry, provide opportunities increase in production level and can help us reach our goals, why not for women in music and audio, and participation. I think that was the year include them? There are three men to foster this conversation, so we’re Colbie Caillat was there, and we got on our board, and they’ve all been always looking for new opportunities some great names to participate, so it super-helpful in locating resources for to do that. And also to help expose was definitely the right move. us and presenting ideas. I don’t want what other women’s organizations in

20 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS the industry are doing, so we feel like who is in audio. We think about all the I was working for Korg USA at the we’re a hub for information and events different categories. time, in the marketing department. I that other organizations are putting out. did notice it a lot when I went to AES. As far as the musical elements, Fanny It was even more male-focused, and I As far as the She Rocks Awards, we are trailblazers. Their names have felt really out of place when I was at a continually try to bring something come up multiple years. This year, show like that. fresh to the event. We continue to three members have a new group try to grow the event and bring in called Fanny Walk The Earth, and I guess I focused a lot on women in other, larger entities to help spread they’re coming out with their first the industry starting in about 2010. the messaging that we’re pushing out album in decades, so this is the perfect That’s when my awareness level regarding the event: “Look at all these year to honor Fanny because we can shot up about, Look, there’s a female inspiring women. They are role models bring them out, Fanny Walk The Earth demonstrator. That’s unusual, that’s for other women in the industry.” So is going to perform, and it will be a very cool, we need more of those. I do we’ve been partnering with bigger special moment for them, I think. see companies making an effort to brands, for example, this year we bring more women in that are doing have Monster Energy, we are working So there’s no scientific process to it. It more than marketing. I’m not pooh- with Parade magazine, we have MAC takes a lot of thought, and sometimes poohing marketing, because that’s my Cosmetics, and Paul Mitchell that we have to reach out to a lot of people area, and I think there are a lot of great we’re going to be doing a project with, because people are busy, but we are women and men who are working in so it gears up the opportunities to raise thoughtful about how we select the marketing in our industry. But when that platform to a new level where we honorees list. you go outside of that, it’s fantastic can have a bigger voice for women in the music industry. That’s something we’re continuing to work on, with that event as the focal point to bring that messaging to more and more people. ...it’s fantastic to see companies bringing in more What the event is going to look like female sales people, more female demonstrators, more years from now, I don’t know. I’m imagining it’s going to be fabulous! To female product developers. I still think there’s a long way me, it doesn’t need to be bigger. I just to go, but I do feel that there’s a shift in being more open want it to reach more people, so I’m focusing on ways to do that, whether to having a female perspective in those areas, it’s through a livestream or other interactions that we can do. and I’m happy to see it.”

The list of nominees and honorees is always diverse. How are they chosen? It’s a challenge. We are very aware You have been attending NAMM to see companies bringing in more of keeping that diversity, and part of shows for decades, and I’m sure you female sales people, more female our mission with the event is to honor remember them being 99 percent demonstrators, more female product women from all walks of the industry. male for most of that time. Suddenly developers. I still think there’s a long We invite people to nominate women, a shift took place and there were way to go, but I do feel that there’s a and that is important in helping us women in attendance and within shift in being more open to having a identify potential nominees. This year some of the companies. When did you female perspective in those areas, and we got more nominations than ever first notice that change? I’m happy to see it. before, which is great. It’s funny, because I’ve been in this business for over 30 years, so my first Sometimes we hear complaints about My staff and I, which is four or five NAMM show was a really long time events and publications with “she” people, go through all the nominations, ago. I think I was a little bit oblivious to or “women” or “girls” in their titles. and all the people that our board it in the younger years of my career. I What is your response to that? members bring up, or people we know, just went, and did my job, and it didn’t This is my philosophy on the whole and we think about, We want somebody occur to me that there should be more thing. In a perfect world, men and who’s running a nonprofit, somebody who women here. I was just doing what I women and anybody of any gender or works in the record industry, somebody loved to do, and what I wanted to do. whatever walk of life would be treated

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 21 INTERVIEWS equally and acknowledged equally for of money for marketing. We would We had the opportunity to be really their skill and creativity and whatever do amazing campaigns. When I was creative and do things that I thought it is they do in an amazing way. But at Korg, we had big parties, we had were great and innovative, so I never the world is not perfect, and until that fantastic photo shoots and campaigns, felt that I experienced a lot of the time, the only way for women to have and the marketing budget was very discrimination as a woman. Were a voice and create awareness is for us healthy. Now I feel it’s so guerilla. You there occasional things that happened to do things that focus on our group. are pinching every penny, and every that were very disappointing? Yeah. We’re not the only group on the planet time you do a campaign you have to I have a #MeToo on my Facebook that does that. It’s an effective tool reinvent it into something else. It’s somewhere. But for the most part I to bring people together and create very fatiguing. I feel like it fosters a enjoyed working with all the people a bigger voice. That’s why I think it’s different creativity. Marketing budgets in my career, including all the men, important to do that. have been decimated, and that makes and I am glad that women feel more things difficult. empowered, and have more voice, Do you take issue with companies and continue to grow. I love being a hiring “booth babes”? There’s obviously a lot of new part of that conversation, so I’m going Yes. I went to a trade show in a different technology that wasn’t around when I to keep going. industry, a computer tradeshow or started my career. We didn’t even have something, they had booth babes, and desktop computers at school. I used a You mentioned #MeToo. The music I thought, Really? They still have those? typewriter. Then you got DOS and a industry hasn’t come out much about

Music is a really intimate piece of you when you make music, and to have a safe place for people to create and share is important.”

I think it’s a cheap shot. If the product PC and a laptop, and you’re expected this, and in fact has often enabled, doesn’t stand on its own two feet, do to work 24 hours a day. Running my encouraged, and applauded bad you really need to have a sexy woman own business, I am pretty much on behavior. Musicians were often held there to draw people into it? Your call all the time. I do let myself take up as heroes, as cool, when they told marketing people aren’t finding the a vacation occasionally, and I have a “road stories.” right way to attract. great staff that backs me up, but when The stories from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and I was on my own, it was hard, because ’90s weren’t a secret. I don’t think all of You have worked in marketing, I had no breaks. But that has affected a sudden we’re going to find out about writing, editing, public relations, a lot of things: the way people make a rock star. I was watching a Rolling artist relations, at a record label, and music, what they buy, how they pay. Stone documentary, and they were as a musician. What was the market putting plaster molds on rock stars’ like when you began your career? I was very fortunate because my penises. [Note: the Plaster Casters.] That What are the changes you’ve seen, first job in the musical instruments was stuff people did back then, and it both good and bad? industry was at Korg USA, and I ended was part of the culture, you’re right. When I entered the industry, my up being at that company for 20 years. There have been some things in recent first job was at CBS Records, and the I felt like I was part of a fantastic team years, like Kesha, but that’s different thing I noticed is people had a ton of people that respected each other. because that’s abuse.

22 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com INTERVIEWS

I think women were accepting of that educating me, he was asking the right just women was such a relief.” It was rock star culture back then. I’m not questions, I felt respected. You don’t so lovely and nurturing, and it blew my saying it’s good or bad, I’m not making see that happen, or you didn’t, in a mind. It was what springboarded me to a value judgment, but I think going music store. do even more in this avenue, because I forward that kind of behavior is not was surprised. I didn’t realize how life- going to be acceptable, and it could I think it is getting better. I go to music changing it would be for some people, definitely hurt people’s careers if some stores and play guitars, and I haven’t and it illustrated to me how you can of that stuff came out. had a bad experience in a long time, create a safe space for nurturing art. but occasionally I will go into a shop Music is a really intimate piece of you My son is 17 and he listens to a lot of and think, I’m not a good enough player when you make music, and to have a hip-hop. Those lyrics are so horrible to pick up that guitar. Maybe it’s that safe place for people to create and and misogynistic! How is it OK that way for guys too. You feel like you’re share is important. that stuff is on the radio? I don’t being judged on your skill. So it might understand why there is that whole be a general thing. What are your words of wisdom, genre of such blatant sexism out there. encouragement, and caution for It blows my mind. I’m hoping that I feel like the retailers in our industry women who want to work in the something comes up about that so that have a much better awareness of this music industry? it can be talked about more. issue. I have had a lot of conversations One of the things I realized in my with Guitar Center about it, and I career after I left Korg was that You launched a network and awards know they’re working on it. I know it’s I was in a place where I let other for women, and your son listens to a big issue for them that they want to people define me, and what they misogynistic lyrics. solve. I’m glad that this conversation thought I was capable of, and what I know! I yelled at him before: “How is happening, and happening more they thought was successful. I would can you listen to that? Don’t you know frequently, and that the awareness caution people about letting other what I do every day?” He says, “Mom, that this is not OK is building. That’s people define their success. Once it’s just music!” “No, it’s not just music!” how we grow stronger together. I got out of that was when I came But I know a lot of those songs, and into my own. So I would say don’t some of them are good. They’re not all So if there’s a place where any woman be afraid to explore. And not being like that. can feel like she’s understood and so rigid in your definition of what respected, and it gives us a platform your personal success is — that is I just interviewed Tish Ciravolo, and to grow that conversation, I think important. As you said, I have done among the many things she discussed that’s how we create change together. a lot of things, I continue to do a lot was that she wants Daisy Rock to Is it ideal? No. Like I said before, in a of things, and I enjoy the things I do provide a safe haven for women in the perfect world we would all be together every day. Part of that is because music industry, but at the same time and feel respected, and everybody I let go of the idea that I need to do what it says about our industry that would be kind, but there is so much “this” or I’m not successful. So there’s women still need a safe haven. Why do negativity in the world that I think it’s a that side of things. so many women still feel out of place? great thing that women and girls have I even still feel out of place in a the opportunity to connect now more I do feel that there are more resources music store! Maybe it’s because of than ever. than ever to be able to take the my past. I went to college on Long reins of your own career, so I would Island, and I would go to a certain When I first started the Network, also say empower yourself to learn chain and they were the worst. They before I formed the WiMN, I did this and understand, and don’t expect were so dismissive, and it was such event I called the Women’s Music somebody else to say, “Here’s your an uncomfortable scenario. There are Summit. I brought together women who path.” You have to figure it out for still music stores that are dismissive were artists, musicians, performers, yourself. Sometimes that’s scary, but or disrespectful. and I had name musicians come in. it leads to the most fulfillment. There Meshell Ndegeocello and Malina Moye are a lot of people out there who are I think when anybody walks into a were there, and other people. We had willing to give you advice, myself music store, they expect you to know workshops, panels, performances, it included, so examine those things a lot. In other stores, an example was a three-day event in upstate New and have conversations with other I’ve used is buying my son’s skis. I York. Afterward, the women were people in the industry. There are a lot didn’t know anything about skis, but like, “This changed my life. To be in a of people who are willing to give their I didn’t feel uncomfortable when I situation where I was able to learn time, if you are thoughtful about how walked into the ski shop. The guy was and perform and communicate with you communicate with them. GGM

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 23 Gear

GEAR: NEW Another new model to be introduced by Martin Guitar this month at the Winter NAMM show is the D-45 John Mayer Custom Signature Edition acoustic guitar. Crafted of Guatemalan rosewood back and sides and Engelmann spruce top with aging toner, this new model will feature the forward-shifted Adirondack X bracing. The D-45 will have the full thickness neck with hexagon inlays, bone nut and saddle, and gold open gear tuners. John Mayer was very involved in the design and creation of this guitar and will personally sign the lim- ited edition of 45 guitars priced at $14,999. www.martinguitar.com/guitars/custom- signature-editions/d-45-john-mayer

Martin Guitar has announced they have reimagined and refined, and the outcome is remarkable, their Standard Series from styles 28 to 45. “I challenged my coworkers to help me with the significant task of modernizing guitars whose origins go back to the 1930s (and earlier),” said Chris Martin. According to the company, those challenges were met with updates to include vintage appointments, including aging and open-gear tuners; and for a more comfortable playing experience, a modern high-performance, thinner neck. Not only are there external updates, internal updates to the bracing systems have been developed depending on the guitar style that will include scalloped and forward-shifting top bracing. The reimagined and refined Standard Series will be on display at Winter NAMM this month. www.martinguitar.com/standard

NAMM will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA from January 25-28 with gear manufacturers from all over the world showcasing their latest and greatest innovative products. www.namm.org

Stay tuned for our special NAMM Edi- tion to see what new guitars and gear were offered at this year’s show!

24 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Gear GEAR: REVIEWS

ABOSScoustic Singer Live By: Sasha Vallely

BOSS recently introduced their new Acoustic Singer Amplifier series, a new line of amplifiers geared towards acoustic singer/ songwriters and duos.

This amplifier serves as both an decided to play some solo acous- and down the stairs while wearing acoustic guitar amp and a vocal PA tic shows and many of the venues I something that’s aimed at making you rolled into one featuring an effects played required you to bring your feel and look nice, not necessarily for processor that has a looper and a own PA system. I have a small PA, but you to be your own roadie. harmonizer. There are two models in with the stands, etc., that can take up the series- the Acoustic Singer Live a lot of space which you don’t always Although I reviewed the smaller and the Acoustic Singer Pro. I tested have for the smaller gigs. Sometimes version which might not pack as out the Acoustic Singer Live with my you have to just go directly through a much of a punch as the 120-watt pro, Fender acoustic, a Shure microphone, small amp with vocals and the sound I thought this amplifier might be ideal and a Roland GA-FC and BOSS FS-6 quality of that is never that great. for small restaurant or coffee shop foot controllers (sold separately). shows and practicing at home. I was eager to test this out as it would The Acoustic Singer Live is the small- save a lot of energy and space having On the back of the unit, it has er of the two amps, being a 60 watt your vocal effects, amp and PA rolled phantom power and a direct out of instead of a 120 watt; but other than into one. I also recently downsized my both channels which can be dry or the low/high frequency driver sizes, car, so I don’t have as much space for wet, a 3.5 mm auxiliary in for use they both have all the same features. equipment as I used to, not to mention with an external audio player, and It has two channels and is very com- the load-ins and outs from the shows. 1/4″ jacks for foot controllers. There pact and not too heavy. I recently Sometimes there are a lot of up is also a USB 2.0 jack.

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 25 Gear

that if you hit the mute, it will also cut the vocals as well.

You can change channels by using the foot controller, turning the boost, mid boost, loop and reverb, and if you buy the extra expression pedals, you can also change the drive value and volume. The channels are programmable, so you can tweak which settings you want for different songs and switch between them fairly easily. I would definitely recommend buying this pedal if you want to use the acoustic amp live.

One thing that really impressed me was the vocal harmonizer. I have a BOSS VE-20 that I have been using live for a while, but I have never tested out The controls on the front panel are to crank up the volume a bit. There was a VE-8 Acoustic Singer pedal, which arranged in two rows. a wide range of tones you can create apparently is what is used for this amp. from the amp. Using the EQ, you can It adapts the harmonies of your vocals • The first channel is the mic create rich, warm tones or brighter to whatever guitar chords you are channel featuring the switchable ones for solos, etc. using the acoustic playing, then picks out the appropriate phantom power of 48V for use of resonance. I liked the chorus effects live high or low harmonies for you. It condenser microphones and an and the reverb had a nice range to it sounds surprisingly real and a lot less XLR 1/4″ input with independent for creating hall like sounds if needed. “digital” than my other vocal effect unit controls for volume and a three- which was one of the downsides of band equalizer for the bass, I would have liked the looper to be a using that pedal. I am now considering middle and treble. It also has an little longer if needed as 40 seconds an upgrade, though I mainly use mine anti-feedback control and its own is the maximum amount you are able for loud rock and roll shows, so I’m not to use and there is no volume control delay/echo and reverb effects, and exactly sure how it would handle it at for the loop. I used it with a BOSS FS-6 a really good vocal harmonizer. those levels. It also has a cool double footswitch (not included). Like my other vocal layer effect if you want to get • The second channel is the BOSS looper pedal, you have to double that double-tracked effect. guitar channel featuring a 1/4” tap to stop the loop which I find difficult instrument input and an acoustic and annoying, as it’s easy to mess up resonance effect, independent the loops because of this which are All in all, I think this amp paired with controls for volume and a three- challenging enough for me to do in the the FS-6 footswitch, is an affordable band equalizer for the bass, first place. Also, you have to press and and useful tool for performing singer- middle and treble. It also has an hold to clear the loop and that gives songwriters and I would consider anti-feedback control and its you a moment of your previous loop adding one to my collection for the own chorus and reverb effects. before the pedal realizes you are trying smaller solo shows I sometimes play, There is a tweeter attenuation to clear it which could be annoying at a as it certainly saves time and effort and button to take out some of the live performance. A workaround with won’t break your back or your bank. high frequencies and a mute the clear function is to hit “mute” on button. It also has a looper which the amp before holding down to erase. Both the acoustic singer Live and Pro can be controlled from the amp During a performance, keep in mind are a true bi-amped design. GGM or through a footswitch which is easier for live performances. BOSS Acoustic Singer Live I found the Acoustic Singer pretty www.boss.info/us easy to work with, and I liked the anti- Price: $499.99 feedback controls for when I wanted

26 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Gear

Orange Fur Coat Fuzz/Octave Pedal By: Sasha Vallely

I always love to test out new pedals, so I or an octave fuzz sound. With other setting. This was not the case with the was pleased to hear about Orange’s new octave fuzz pedals, the sound cannot Fur Coat. There are a lot of positions line- the Fur Coat and the Getaway usually be switched on and off, so this that you can use by tweaking the EQ Driver. I am familiar with their other was a huge bonus and it allowed me or tone knob to create different but pedals- the Two Stroke Boost and to create some different tones. The controllable fuzz sounds. It still retains Kongpressor compression pedal, so I actual octave is adjustable, too, as it your guitar tone whilst adding fuzz was excited to give their new Fur Coat adds octave up as you increase the rather than layering fuzz, so that the Octave Fuzz Pedal a try. octave control. original sound doesn’t get lost as can happen with a lot of fuzz pedals. Orange Amplification has always The pedal can be used with a clean amp made good quality rock sounding or a more over driven amp for more of Aesthetically, it is very pleasing with amps; I myself own a Tiny Terror, so the “Fur Coat” sound, and the higher vintage colors, a cute little skeleton girl, I was interested to see if this quality up in the chain you use the pedal, the a nice little handle bar, and blue light would translate to their line of pedals. more distorted the sound you get. which changes depending on whether you activate the octave function or just As you might have guessed from the My only disappointment with this the fuzz function by itself. It is a little name, the Fur Coat is an octave fuzz pedal is that the octave cannot be on the large and heavy side, but not pedal. Orange says that it is “loosely used alone- it can only be added to much more than most boutique pedals based on the vintage Foxx Tone the fuzz; however, for me, this was and is smaller than a full sized Electro- Machine” creating a sound reminiscent the only downside. This is actually the Harmonix Big Muff or other larger- of the fuzz pedals of the ‘70s and is their fuzz pedal of my dreams, and I have sized pedals. only true bypass pedal. Weighing in at been searching for a long time! I have a little over a pound and measuring always had a love-hate relationship The Orange Fur Coat will make a approximately 3 ½” x 2 ½” x 5”, the with fuzz pedals. I love the sounds and great addition to my already “over- pedal features two foot switches (one dirty boost they create, but have had populated” pedal board and I definitely for octave and one for fuzz) and four a difficult time finding one that is easy intend to add one to my collection. I control knobs: Volume, EQ, Octave to control in multiple settings and can will still keep some of my other fuzz and Fuzz. create the exact tone I’ve been looking pedals I already own for different for. I can get that super ‘60s gnarly bee sounding fuzz tones, but the Fur Coat After giving this pedal a try, one of fuzz sound I have been trying to find will definitely become a big part of my the great features I like about it is from numerous other pedals. Some fuzz sounds, more so than the other that the octave can be switched on have come close, but I’ve found them pedals I own. I highly recommend this and off with a foot switch, while the difficult to control with screeching pedal if you’re looking to experiment fuzz is activated, creating just a fuzz feedback if they were slightly off with fuzz/octave tones.

I am stoked that I finally found the Orange Fur Coat Price: $155.00 sound I have been looking for and I Fuzz/Octave Pedal www.orangeamps.com look forward to seeing what Orange’s Getaway Driver pedal has to offer! GGM

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 27 Gear Fender Duo-Sonic HS Electric Guitar By: Guitar Gabby

The Fender Duo Sonic HS is one of those guitars that is guitar at home on my Facebook live (Gabby Logan or Guitar lightweight, compatible with all styles of music, and easy to Gabby), I loved the guitar’s fresh and clean sound even with rock with. In my early years of playing guitar, I was not a major light distortion. I played out of my mini Line 6 amp with a fan of Fender. I always felt like they sounded good with one little reverb and it sounded heavenly! style of music or styles particular to the design of the guitar. I always strayed away from Fender guitars, however, not When I was in rehearsal, I used this guitar in drop D too far, as I am a major fan of Fender amps. tuning for one of my songs to test the flexibility of the guitar’s sound put up against an entire four-piece Every now and then, I would go into a music store and band. I loved the brightness the guitar gave me, which pick up a Jaguar modeled after one of my favorite people allowed me to still stand out when it was time for my in the music industry, Kurt Cobain. Now, years later, I solos. In my rehearsal hall, I play out of a Vox half stack, have the pleasure of playing Fender’s newest reissue and I always play clean out of this amp and run my other of their Duo-Sonic model which was originally released sounds from my pedal board. in 1956- the Duo-Sonic HS electric guitar in a beautiful Canary Diamond finish with a pau ferro fretboard. Last, but not least, I played this guitar at one show in downtown Atlanta out of my Crate 50 amp and this When first plugging it in to play, I was not sure what to guitar provided me with the perfect agility when in the expect. But upon playing it at home, in band rehearsals, midst of songs being played back to back. I did not feel and even for a few shows, I was pleased to experience this the need to change guitars during my set as I sometimes guitar and what it gives off. will do for certain gigs.

By nature, I am a rocker. My band is a rock band, so I have All in all, this guitar has won me over with the ability to always played guitars that are built for rock. The main thing be everything a musician may need all in one. Would I love about this guitar is how lightweight it is. Originally I play this guitar again or add it to my family of guitars? designed by Fender as a student guitar thanks to Absolutely! I love it and would not mind having it as part its shorter 24” scale length, it has been a guitar of my guitar family. GGM of choice among beginner guitar players and players with smaller hands.

When you are wearing it on stage or even sitting Female guitar players that play a Fender Duo-Sonic: with it on your lap, it does not feel like you are Warpaint - Warpaint Talks Music, Inspiration, Fender even holding anything. These Duo Sonics were Offsest Guitars, and Quirky Style built to not feel like a burden; instead, they were (Source: www.guitargirlmag.com) designed with players like me in mind. Liz Phair – one of her main guitars is a now-faded white ‘60s Duo-Sonic. (Source: Wikipedia) The versatility of the sound is in the body build and the evenness and smooth playability of the Patti Smith – plays a Duo-Sonic and has featured her neck. The humbucker and single coil pickups guitar in song lyrics, for example in “Radio Ethiopia/ Abyssinia” from the Radio Ethiopia LP. (Source: allow for the player to switch to a solid guitar Wikipedia) foundation that allows playing with pedals and sounds to not be muddy, but creates a smooth and exciting time when playing. Fender Duo-Sonic HS Electric Guitar I used this guitar in three different Price: $524.99 atmospheres to test its ability to deliver www.fender.com evenly in every arena. When I played this

28 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Gear Yamaha AC3R Acoustic Electric Guitar By Ché Zuro

Never really playing a Yamaha acoustic and heavy-handed rock tunes. The guitar did electric, I looked forward to trying out this not disappoint. (Actually, I was sad to have to AC3R to see how worthy it was. And right send it back to Yamaha!) From finger picking out of the case, this vintage looking guitar to light strumming to full-on hard chords, the was impressive. sound of this guitar remained beautiful. Each note rang with clarity. Even when tuning down The design of the body and the thinner to double drop D or another alt tuning, along neck makes it easier for a smaller person with playing hard, the Yamaha completely to play, although a beginner may still have stayed in tune and sounded great all night. Set a difficult time playing bar chords. With up with the Elixir 80/20 Bronze light strings a solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood (0.12-0.53) with NANOWEB coating, it was back and sides, mahogany neck and ebony easy to play up and down the neck with crisp fretboard, this beauty boasts a single tones and resonating sound. (These strings cutaway style that was key for me as I like were also impressive, since I have playing chords on different frets, especially not tried Elixir for years due high up on the neck. The action and feel of to not being able to get that this guitar made me almost forget that this high-end jangle out of was an acoustic guitar! them. Now I LOVE them, Along with volume, bass and treble controls, especially on this guitar!) Yamaha’s SRT2 system allows you to blend between piezo and SRT2 preamp signals The AC3 would be a for a personalized sound. Playing this live GREAT addition to any was amazing, with NO feedback and a folky, country music art- crisp, clean, yet full sound where every note ist, rock artist, or even resonated. Being from a rock background, I the person who wants work my guitars hard, and the AC3R really a beautiful sounding does the job! guitar for writing. Or just to have a beauti- Deciding to play it at a club for the first 30 ful, great sounding minutes of my gig, I ended up playing the entire acoustic in their night with this guitar, performing soft ballads collection. GGM

Yamaha AC3R Acoustic Electric Guitar Price: $899.00 www.usa.yamaha.com

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 29 Every month, GGM selects several guitarists from Instagram that have tagged themselves with the hashtag #GuitarGirlMag to be featured on our website and here in our magazine! So, head on over to on Instagram and tag yourself. You may be next! Meet this month’s lucky winners:

Photo Credit: Courtnie Gurlie

About Me: My name is Satarra Troutman. I’m a singer songwriter and bassist from Atlanta GA. I’ve performed interna- tionally across stages in Europe and the US, and I’m currently writing and performing back in my hometown.

My Music: My original music is definitely soul music, but with funk and rock influences. I’m also playing bass with The Txlips band which is an all-female Rock and Roll group that’s a ton of fun!

My Inspiration: I’m heavily inspired by Cree Summer, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Lenny Kravitz.

My Gear: I play a Fender Jazz four string bass with DR Neons currently, but I also love Dun- lop Super Brights. My favorite rig is def a Little Mark 3 bass head running through two Aguilar 2x10 cabs! Big fat sound! About Me: My name is Victoria Watts and I’m a California girl turned full-time musician in Philly. I create my own unique mix Photo credit: Chuck Gloman of pop & rock, and will always chase the impossible!

My Music: Indie pop/rock (website: Victoriawattsmusic.com)

My Inspiration: Life experience and storytelling inspire my music.

My Gear: I’m a Telecaster girl all the way! I have one Standard American Telecaster and one Mexican Telecaster (shown in the attached picture) that’s modified with a Humbucker pick-up in the neck pick up. For an amp, I use a Fender Blues Deluxe re- issue, and have the following pedals in my main set up: Friedman BE-OD overdrive pedal, Electro-Har- monix Soul food, Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb, MXR Carbon Copy de- lay, and Boss TR-2 Tremolo.

30 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com LESSONS Girls Got Rhythm: Constant Flow

By Lisa Lim

Dream of being a solid rhythm guitar all factor into you developing solid constant flow. Starting and stopping, player? Constant motion in your rhythmic guitar chops. hesitating. This will inevitably throw strumming hand equals amazing your timing off. A very vicious cycle rhythm guitar playing. It equally Your strumming hand is a built-in met- any player can fall into. applies to your soloing chops as well. ronome. Constant down-up motion… Holding a guitar pick with a relaxed never stopping, even when the pick Conditioning your strumming hand to grip and keeping the pick parallel with doesn’t have to connect to the strings be steady and constant is essential. the strings, tip of the pick sweeping on that particular part of a rhyth- You’ve got to start with the basics across the strings. Using a thin or mic pattern. I’ve found this to be the and be realistic about doing this at a medium gauge pick with some flex downfall and shortcomings of some reasonable tempo. I encourage you is great to start out with. This will guitarists, when they do not allow that to tap your foot, as well, when you

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 31 LESSONS practice. Every time your foot hits hesitating when strumming, is a vicious Here’s an extra exercise you could try the floor, that’s the beginning of the cycle you want to avoid, if at all possible. as you’re settling into quarter, eighth beat, the downbeat. Every time your and sixteenth note rhythms. With your foot comes up off the floor, that’s the Let’s look at another rhythm in 4/4 fretting hand resting lightly on the offbeat. time. Now, dealing with an eighth rest fretboard across the strings, strum a on the beginning of each beat. Missing constant down up motion. Now, attack Start with down strums while fretting on your down motion, when your foot with more force with your strumming a basic chord. This is a quarter note is hitting the floor, while tapping out on certain strokes. Do you hear the rhythmic pattern. Quarter notes are the beats. When encountering a rest in unique rhythm you are establishing? one beat each. Count in 4/4 time. Four music, you have silence. So, an eighth Now, grab a basic chord and on the beats per measure. On each count - 1, rest is a half of a beat of silence in value. part of the pattern you are adding 2, 3, 4 - strum a down strum. Down, We’re going to strum and connect on more emphasis on, make sure your down, down, down. Now, think about the offbeat; the “and” of the count, fretting hand is pressing down. On it. Your strumming hand has to come connecting on an up strum, while the parts you’re strumming normally, up before it can strum down again, your foot is coming up off the floor. relax your fretting hand and let your even though it doesn’t make contact to So, your rhythm will be, rest, up, rest, fingers lean just a little bit to muffle the strings currently on the upstroke. up rest, up, rest, up. Counting “1 & 2 & the sound. After doing that for a bit, Seems basic, right? Even and steady 3 & 4 &”. Missing on the down strum, then try the same pattern. But, this strokes, only connecting on each down connecting on the up strum. Constant time, no muffling, just more attack in stroke or on the beat, foot connecting motion established. Note that your the same places of the rhythm where to the floor, when tapping. Do this at fretting hand will have to assist by you initially applied it. It’s endless, a slow tempo, then gradually increase relaxing its fingering, leaning slightly the possibilities! You’ll have a blast your speed, maintaining the constant over to mute strings on the beginning experimenting with this, the more you motion, without hesitating. of the beat, where the eighth rest takes explore it! We’re just getting started! place. This is a great example of a basic There’s so much more to come! Now, let’s continue in 4/4 time and reggae rhythm. Remember, start slow try an eighth note rhythmic pattern. and gradually increase your speed as Establishing this constant motion, Eighth notes are a half of a beat each. you become more comfortable with will make for an excellent foundation Strumming a down strum on counts 1, the rhythm. for your rhythm guitar playing. The 2, 3, 4 and an up strum in between on possibilities are endless, what you are what’s called the offbeat or the “and” of Onward, to sixteenth notes incorpo- able to play on the guitar. Remember, the count, when your foot is coming up rated in rhythmic patterns. A single this will equally be a benefit to your lead off the floor, as its tapping out the beat. sixteenth note is a fourth of a beat. guitar playing, soloing capability as well. Counting “1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Constant It takes four sixteenth notes to fill in These are some very basic examples motion, starting at a slow tempo, one beat or to be equal to the value of I’ve shared with you. Practice these and gradually increasing your speed as one quarter note. Strumming, down this will prepare you for more slicing you become comfortable in doing this. up down up, down up down up, down and dicing of the beats, incorporating Basic stuff, but, it’s so important. up down up, down up down up, to fill quarter, half, whole, eighth, sixteenth in a measure of four beats with six- notes and rests, plus tied notes I see it all the time. Players hesitating, teenth notes. Counting “1e&a 2e&a combinations and dynamics! You will putting their brakes on. This throws 3e&a 4e&a”. Establish a slow tempo, actually have a lot of fun with this, after their timing off and makes it difficult; tapping your foot. When your foot hits you’ve gotten over that initial hump of next to near impossible to execute the floor, you’re strumming down up. establishing what your strumming hand more advanced rhythmic patterns. When your foot is lifted off the floor, needs to be doing! If you can condition your strumming you’re strumming down up. Practice hand to maintain that constant motion, slowly, maintaining that constant Constant Flow! Pick up your guitar and I assure you, any and all rhythmic down up motion and counting, being play! GGM patterns you encounter down the road aware of how you’re fractioning out in your learning process will come each beat and filling in each measure. more natural to you. The stopping and

To view in more detail, check it out on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=l7MtVrxViKg

32 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com MIND GAME AND TRIVIA Mind Game

Mind Game answers found on last page.

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 33 MIND GAME AND TRIVIA

1 3 When did Daisy Rock 2 Female business 4 Guitars introduce executive Laura B. their first guitar to the What was the Whitmore founded The Yamaha AC3R market? inspiration for the what organization comes set up with first Daisy Rock to bring women in what strings? Guitar? the music industry together? 5 7 Name one 6 What is the BIG 8 female musician that convention being plays the Fender True or False: The held in January in Martin Guitar Duo-Sonic. Orange Fur Coat Anaheim, CA related reimagined and Fuzz/Octave Pedal to music? refined what series is Orange’s only true of their guitars to be bypass pedal (as of showcased at this this writing). year’s Winter NAMM show?

Trivia answers found on last page.

34 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Music Releases

RELEASES

Mare Wakefield & Nomad Jessie Chris Time to Fly In It For You Genre: Folk Genre: Country Release Date: 1/26/18 Release Date: 1/5/18 www.marewakefield.com www.jessiechris.com

Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones Genre: Rock Muriel Anderson Release Date: 1/26/18 ECLIPSE www.hannahwicklund.com Genre: Harp-guitar Release date: 2/2/18 www.murielanderson.com

Sarah McQuaid If We Dig Any Deeper Pauline Andrés It Could Get Dangerous Fearless Heart Genre: Folk Genre: Americana Release Date: 2/2/18 Release Date: 2/2/18 www.sarahmcquaid.com www.paulineandresofficial.com

Jane Lee Hooker Jennifer Lyn Spiritus Badlands Genre: Punk Blues Rock Genre: Blues-Rock Release Date: 1/26/18 Release Date: 2/2/18 www.janeleehooker.com www.jenniferlynmusic.com

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 35 Music Releases

Caitlin Canty Motel Bouquet Genre: Country Release date: 3/30/18 www.caitlincanty.com

Raven and Red We Rise Up Genre: Americana Release Date: 2/2/18 www.ravenandred.com

Erica Blinn Better Than Gold Genre: Rock Release Date: 2/16/18 Brandi Carlile www.ericablinn.com By The Way, I Forgive You Genre: Country-Rock Leilani Wolfgramm Release Date: 2/16/18 Live Wire www.brandicarlile.com Genre: R&B infused reggae Release Date: 2/23/18 Rachael Cantu https://www.facebook.com/ Love Rush Leilaniwolfgrammfl/ Genre: Indie Pop Release date: 4/13/18 www.rachaelcantu.com

Pauline Andrés Malina Moye Fearless Heart Bad As I Wanna Be Genre: Americana Genre: Funk, Rock and Soul Release Date: 2/2/18 Release Date: 3/23/18 www.paulineandresofficial.com www.malinamoye.com

Michelle Malone Sue Foley Slings & Arrows The Ice Queen Genre: Rock Genre: Blues Release Date: 3/2/18 Release Date: 3/2/18 www.michellemalone.com www.suefoley.com

36 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Tips Handpick the Perfect Pick

By Caroline Paone

Whether you’re a little-bit country like Bonnie Raitt, or rock ‘n’ roll like Lzzy Hale, a pick should fit your signature style. There are numerous pick manufacturers offering many options and styles to explore.

37 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 37 Tips

As you may know, the teardrop-shaped Slender companies that sell variety packs with pick has transformed significantly along Thin picks are popular for acoustic different gauges, such as Ernie Ball’s its journey through music history. It’s players going for a bright, clear tone mixed thickness nylon picks. morphed into various shapes and sizes, (or a somewhat trebly quality). A thin and took on a variety of textures, too. pick offers a good amount of flexibility Or change gauge “on the fly” with Grip You could say it’s the unsung hero of mu- when navigating the strings and Tip picks by Dava Guitar Picks. They sical gear; a small thing that can make a strumming. However, thin picks can come in delrin, nylon and poly-gel and big difference in your playing and sound. wear down easily or even break. designed with a unique over-molding process. Perfect your sound in a pinch Serve Your Playing Nonetheless, if a slim pick provides with Dava’s innovative multi-gauge For a guitarist or bassist, the aggres- you with the best results, such as a flexibility. sive plucking and strumming of strings percussive, or a lighter sound, keep a can be rough on the fingers, especial- pile of back-up picks nearby during a Explore Textures ly when an artist is new to her instru- practice-session. You may also want Plastic, please ment. Tina Weymouth of the Talking to try using a pick made out of nylon, There are many popular plastics used Heads recalls having blisters and which is known for its durability. to create picks, including celluloid, ace- “bloody fingers” early in her career. tal (Delrin), acrylic, lexan and nylon. At Surprisingly, it was punk legend Sid Medium one time, tortoise shell was popular for Vicious who suggested she use “a plec- Next up are medium. This sized pick making guitar picks until it became ille- trum.” Weymouth later used a combi- will offer you a nice solid glide. L.A.- gal to use; but, replacement materials nation of fingers, plectrum, alternat- based acoustic player Tom McLehose are on the market such as delrex. ing fingers, thumb–whatever got her prefers medium picks. “Light are too there. Like Tina, feel free to experi- flexible,” he says. “I’m a pretty energet- Nylon is the go-to material for guitar- ment with what serves your playing ic player and have a tendency to strum ists who like a pick that softy glides best. In reading this article, it’s helpful pretty hard, so the bounce in the light across the strings. It’s also nice in the to note that creating music is an indi- picks just doesn’t cut it for me.” grip department and if you’re going for vidualistic process, so don’t be afraid a vintage tone. to embrace what type of pick fits your The Classic Fender Medium has long personal style and phrasing best. been a standard in the industry. It’s Members of the band Evanescence made of celluloid and suits players use nylon picks by Dunlop, such as the Natural Selection looking for a traditional feeling pick Tortex Pitch Black 488 for playability. Selecting the right pick involves a that still offers versatility. The “351” bit of trial and error. The thickness, as it is known, is timeless. Celluloid is a man-made material used shape and texture of the pick can by a wide range of manufacturers. It all affect your strumming, grip and Heavy was the popular material used for early tone. Picks come in a variety of forms When it comes to rock and metal mu- pick production. When picks are made and substances from tried-and-true sic, a heavy pick is befitting for ag- with this substance, they are known plastics to exotic gemstones. gressive players. Thick-gauged picks for offering players a natural feel and are also used frequently by jazz gui- a warm tone. Take the time to find a pick that’s tarists and bass players going for a comfortable to hold and appropriate solid attack. Over the years the varieties of plastics for your type of music and sound. have broadened. For instance, Planet Consider exploring the following tips A lot of electric guitarists lean to- Waves by D’Addario relies on Duralin, when evaluating picks. wards heavier picks (typically gauges Delflex and Cortex for picks made beyond .80mm). A heavy pick helps to for durability, flexibility and note First, check out the different sizes bolster your control during rhythmic definition. available on the market. strumming as well as playing leads, and Pete-Townsend-style power Rockin’…hard! Gauging Thickness chords. At the other end of the spectrum are Picks range in thickness from extra- picks made of wood, metal, stone, light and medium to extra-heavy. A Change it up copper and even glass. Some of these pick gauge is measured in millimeters, If your repertoire varies, expand alternative substances are a little rare such as gauges 0.44 to 1.5mm (and your pick arsenal according to song in what’s commonly used, but there beyond that to 3mm). and sound. There are manufacturing are bold players who do explore them.

38 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Tips

Stone, ceramic and exotic: Shape up! images and unique qualities can be Gemstone picks made of (agate) stone The classic teardrop and rounded nice for a vintage-inspired studio or are known for their beauty and the triangle shapes are the standard for displaying. unique sound they provide. You can for some, while others like jazz find stone picks at StoneWorks and guitarists prefer picks with pointier Likewise, Jimi Hendrix-adorned picks PickBoy. tips. Alternative-shaped picks can (by Dunlop) are retro cool. Album- offer certain benefits, from sound to cover artist John Van Hamersveld PickBoy’s ceramic Pro Pick is made attack. If you’re looking for something lends his legendary concert posters with a combination of ceramic and more signature, some manufacturers and album covers to these iconic picks. nylon that rocks a raised, grip pat- offer specialty picks like smaller jazz The Jimi Pick Tin and Frontline picks tern. A growing area for the com- models and even round picks. will awaken your inner voodoo child. pany is their exotic series, including picks made from tropical hardwood, If you’re a speed-picking kinda girl, Nita Strauss, former Iron Maidens bone and horn in a variety of shapes Planet Wave’s Black Ice pick has an member currently with Alice Cooper and gauges. over-shaped design that will give an and her own band We Start Wars, has edge to your playing. her own line of picks displaying her Metal-tones & more: signature and photos. Ice Pix incorporates an assortment V-Picks offers a wide variety of picks of materials in manufacturing their that will work well if you play a small The Internet is a goldmine for pick- picks. The copper Flex pick provides guitar or if you’re a jazz player. Their lovers. Sites supporting guitarists and a sharp attack and its ridge-cut design pointed models offer a bright, but full- collectors are popular from eBay and GGM makes it easy to hold. For those bodied tone. Designed with a special niche pages to musical enterprises. who wish to experiment more with blend of acrylic, the grip is excellent, sturdy textures, they offer a metal so you can play fast but precise. sampler, which includes copper, brass, stainless-steel, and steel flex picks. A cool twist in guitar playing comes by way of the SnakePick. The coil design If you’re playing calls for a stronger easily wraps around your finger and edge, or you want more muscle, there keeps the pick from slipping. It’s avail- are metal picks like Dava’s Rock and able in four gauges as well as differ- ent coil sizes, too. We love the sleek Master Control models. The “master” Early Days: features a nickel silver tip with a plas- style, but creator Paul Slingsby had a tic grip. functional purpose for designing this A Bright Idea pick: “The SnakePick was created to help students place more focus on History calls it a “plectrum” (de- Fashionable and Eye-popping their fingering and to humanize guitar rived from the Greek plektron, pleg: Hit your best notes in style with picking. It allows the plectrum hand meaning to strike), but the mod- fashion-statement picks. HotPicks to relax and avoid cramping up,” said ern pick was born on the streets has a line of contemporary picks that Slingsby. of Manhattan in the 1920s. A cre- go from funky to fabulous. Gothic, ative salesman purchased sheets peace, and girls rock designs mix style Remember, the possibilities of tortoise shell-colored (cellulose with functionality. are endless… nitrate) plastic and began making Lastly, from a playing perspective, heart-shaped decorations. Luigi Want to attract attention? Ernie continue to experiment and broaden D’Andrea repurposed the hearts as Ball’s eye-catching Pearloid and your techniques and pick selection. picks and sold them to music stores Super Glow (glow-in-the-dark picks) With so many picks on the market, for mandolin and guitar players. are fashionable and fun. For players you’re sure to expand your options, (Source: D’Andrea USA) who want to stand-out, their mixed- look and sound. It’s all about finding color packs include statement shades what you love and what works best Today, modern manufacturing relies like psycho red and slinky pink. Next, for your sound. Now, get pickin! on a host of man-made and natural a true expression of art meets music: materials for mass producing picks. Henry Heller designer picks. Made Collectible and Artistic with quality materials, they possess Picks also serve as coveted items for original edgy artwork. collectors. Picks with band logos/

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 39 Book Reviews What We’re Reading NOW! By Tara Low

Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard Around The World By Phyllis Fender & Randall Bell

This is her tribute to the man in 1991 as told by his second that we all know as the genius wife, Phyllis Fender, through the that amplified a solid body guitar, memories and stories Leo shared impacted the sound of music, with her. From his meager begin- and became a household name nings and upbringing on a farm and iconic figure in the music in Fullerton, California, to perse- industry; but, to her, he was vering through physical disabili- simply her husband, my “Leo.” ties, and his relentless desire to Co-written with Randall Bell, pursue an education and to learn Ph.D., he and Mrs. Fender spent about anything mechanical. He countless hours at Polly’s Pies took a chance at opening his own in Fullerton, California sifting radio repair shop after being Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard through documents and photos; laid off from several accounting Around the World is a lovely researching and making notes of jobs; and through his hard work tribute from Phyllis Fender to the memories they both shared and determination, he ultimate- the simple, yet complex man that from their time spent with Leo ly became the inventor of some impacted the world of music. Fender. Dr. Bell grew up in the of the finest amps and electric The reasoning behind the book? same neighborhood as the guitars in the world- a company In the introduction, Mrs. Fender Fenders and his father led the that would dominate the music explains that there’s a plethora R&D department for Fender, so industry for years. he was very familiar with the life of books on the market today He was simple, humble, unas- and times of Leo Fender. behind the iconic Fender guitar, suming, a smart business man, but she wanted the world to This treasure of work walks us entrepreneur, inventor, worka- learn more about the man behind through Leo Fender’s life from holic, world-renowned individ- the guitar. his birth to his ultimate demise ual, award winner, husband and

40 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Book Reviews

father, and a Rock and Roll Hall photos depicting the Fender Reading this book, being involved of Fame Recipient, but it was his Radio Repair shop in Fullerton, in the music industry, and hav- relentless pursuit of perfection symbols of the Fender name ing lived in Southern California, and his deep love for music (and throughout Fullerton, photos of I thoroughly enjoyed the photos the angels that brought us that the Fender plant, his family and and history of Fullerton. I even music) and his guitars that cata- vacations, his office at the G&L had to take a trip to Fullerton on pulted Fender to its iconic status plant which is exactly as he left my last visit to California to see that lives on today. it, and rock stars with Fender some of the sites myself! I recom- mend the book for anyone want- Phyllis Fender lovingly refers guitars. It ends with what they ing to learn more about the man to Leo Fender throughout the refer to as a “driving tour” of behind this iconic brand. (Lead- book as “my Leo.” The book is not Fender’s life showing the schools ership Institute Press; 2017; all about the guitars. It’s about he attended, the modest homes $14.99) Leo Fender the man. It’s easy to he lived in, and even his favorite read, full of history, and features “Sizzler” restaurant.

We Were Going to Change The World: Interviews with Women From The 1970s & 1980s Southern California Punk Rock Scene By Stacy Russo

and fans which provided another the first place. Where are they perspective. now? So, it began. The foreward is written by bass- After countless hours of re- ist Mike Watt best known for his search, conducting and editing work with rock bands Minute- interviews over several years, men, Dos, Firehouse, Big Walnuts and some self-reflection, Russo Yonder, Banyan, and The Stoog- delivers an informative, moving es. He speaks of those days with and empowering resource about his buddy D. Boon experimenting the life and times of the women with music and how they stum- involved in the punk rock move- bled upon the punk rock scene. ment in Southern California. He attributes his inspiration to What drove their desires, their pursue his musical career in this passions, their angst? genre to the women he witnessed The book contains 37 interviews, on stage performing- in particular, photos, and a glossary. Several in- one woman, Alice Bag. Librarian, educator, poet and fluential musicians from that time The inspiration behind Russo’s will include Exene Cervenka, who writer Stacy Russo of Southern book? She was struck with the was featured in the exhibit “X: 40 California brings us a collection idea after attending an oral YEARS OF PUNK IN LOS ANGE- of interviews and photographs history workshop by the social LES” at the Grammy Museum in from women immersed in the justice organization Voice of Los Angeles late last year, as well Southern California Punk Rock Witness. She herself grew up in as Alice Bag, Kira, Phranc, Johan- Scene during the ‘70s and ‘80s. the Southern California punk na Went, Teresa Covarriubias, and What makes Russo’s publication rock scene during that time and Jennifer Precious Finch. Many oth- interesting is this fact that the knew how it had impacted her er musicians, writers, photogra- subjects interviewed were not life. She wondered how it had phers, DJs and fans are also includ- just the musicians from that era, affected others like her and what ed. (Santa Monica Press; 2017; but the photographers, writers attracted them to the scene in $16.95)

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 41 Fun Stuff

It’s said that coloring can help reduce stress, so grab some color pencils, along with your guitar and notepad, and de-stress…

42 Guitar Girl Magazine guitargirlmag.com Mind Game and trivia Answers Mind Game Answers

Trivia Answers

1) 2000; 2) daughter’s drawing of a daisy; 3) Women’s International Music Network; 4) Elixir; 5) Warpaint or Liz Phair or Patti Smith; 6) True; 7) NAMM; and 8) Martin Guitar Standard Series.

guitargirlmag.com Guitar Girl Magazine 43 SIGNING OFF…

WHAT’S NEXT

Bonus Issue March Issue Winter NAMM 2018 due The Mighty Uke and the out March 2018 Girls that Play Them

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