Tag: guitar

When I was a kid I asked my parents for a guitar for Christmas. I was probably under ten years old. They were struggling, scarcity minded, hard working folks who weren’t convinced I’d actually practice or stick with it. So they gave me a Roy Rogers special cowboy guitar, made out of cardboard.

It took me almost fifty years to get over it.

But these days I love attracting guitars and playing guitars. I’m fortunate enough to know musicians as well as guitar teachers. Weekly lessons with Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon are a blast. Talking music with guitarist Pat O’Bryan is always enlightening. And meeting luthiers (guitar makers) is also educational and inspiring. (Pic’s of Pat and me.*)

Recently I met Mark Erlewine. This luthier made guitars for every rock star I’ve ever admired, including Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Johnny Winter, Don Felder, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffet, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Squier, Bruce Springsteen — and the list goes on (!).

Turns out Mark has a little shop in Austin, Texas, which isn’t far from my home. I went to see him one day to check out a Mark Erlewine invention actor Michael J. Fox used in the famed movie Back to the Future: a travel-sized electric guitar called a Chiquita.

Side note: I love travel guitars. I have several, including a pride and joy called a TommyHawk, which was made for me in 1996 by the late Tom Barth. Only 300 were ever made. One went into the Smithsonian in 1997. I want another, if you come across one. (Pic’s of my TommyHawk, with a pocket sized paperback book.)

I went to Mark’s shop. He’s a soft spoken, gentle, humble man. He didn’t explain the gold record on the wall. He didn’t brag about all the photos on his walls of famous rock stars playing his guitars. Instead, I asked to see the Chiquita and he showed it to me. I loved it and bought it. (Pic’s of Mark and his Chiquita.)

But I didn’t stop there.

Now that I’m attracting new guitars, I’m always on the look out for the guitar with magic powers. The one that plays itself. The one that makes me sound better than what I am. I started to believe Mark could be the inventor of the Harry Potter guitar – the one that turns me into a shredding wizard with the guitar as my magic wand.

So I looked around Mark’s shop. He had a couple display cases. In one hung a guitar that seemed alive. Its soul was calling me. The flame top seemed to whisper my nick-name, Mr. Fire. (Pic of me and Mark.)

I asked to see that guitar.

Mark made it in the 1980s, the body out of one block of wood and the neck out of Brazilian rosewood. It has a whammy bar on the front and a sustain plate on the back of the neck. I played it and loved it. (Pic’s close-up of the flamed top.)

I now own that guitar, too.

What are the lessons here?

First, give your kids what they want. Had I started playing the guitar when I was seven, I’d be far better at playing today at almost fifty-seven. But my father wanted me to play the accordion. He bought me one of those. He paid for lessons for me, too. But I wanted to play the guitar.

Two, go for what you want. Too many people settle. They settle for what they think is possible rather than stretching and persisting. If you really want to be something or do something, don’t give up or settle for less. Hold to the dream. I’m taking guitar lessons today to bring to life my dream of playing from earlier days. I’m going for what I want. Childhood dreams do come true.

Three, have fun. I’m delighted to be at a place in my life where I can take time off to look at cars or guitars. I still do my work, of course. I’m still more productive and prolific than the average ‘Joe”. I still practice the seven steps in Attract Money Now. I still donate to worthy causes. But I also take care of me.

How about you?

Who are you taking care of these days?

What dreams remain alive in you – waiting for you to says YES to them?

What did you want to have, do or be as a child that might be fun to experience today?

What are you waiting for?

You can at least begin right now.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – Need help understanding the Law of Attraction? Claim your free 30-minute coaching session with one of my Miracles Coaches. It could change your life.

PPS – See the world’s only Alien Guitar.

* How’d Pat and I get so trim? The answer is at this secret location.

What’s a key to self-help, self-improvement or self-development?

Meet Ace Pepper.

Ace is the most upbeat, revved up and amped up guy I know. He absolutely loves making amplifiers for musicians.

I’ve seen people in love with their work before – from plumbers to postal workers to electrical repair people — but Ace Pepper takes the passion award.

The man is plugged in. He lives to make amps and does for famous musicians. I met him at a guitar show I attended with Pat O’Bryan. I liked Ace’s energy and was curious to what made him so contagiously happy.

I didn’t see Ace for almost a year, though. When one of my amps started to whistle when it was supposed to hum, I thought of Ace. Pat and I went to see him, my old amp in tow.

Ace gave me an hour lesson in how amps are built.

It was exciting.

It was in-depth.

It was intense.

I didn’t understand any of it.

But the guy’s boyish enthusiasm for his work was riveting.

I ended up hiring Ace to make me the amp of all amps.

I told Ace I wanted something so astonishing that Bruce Springsteen would hear the legend of it and contact me, wanting to buy it.

Now here’s where this gets interesting.

I don’t know how to use a professional amp.  Oh, I know how to plug a guitar cable into it and turn it on. But Ace’s amps have a dozen dials, multiple plug-in holes, and wires coming out of the back of it. He makes amps that would challenge Tesla. Having him build me a professional custom-made amp was asking him to build me a car I couldn’t drive.

Yet.

And that’s a secret to self improvement.

I told Ace I wanted him to build me an amp that I would “grow into.”

What I meant is this: I’ll learn how to use the amp once I have it. I’ll experiment, ask questions, make mistakes and grow. I’ll stretch myself into a comfortable fit.

This is true of virtually anything you want to learn.

Set an intention and then start working/playing/learning to grow into it.

Same with singing.

I don’t sing.  Never used to, anyway. But I decided to do something huge and daring – not knowing exactly how I would accomplish it – and announced one day I would put on a one-man theatrical show called “Mr. Fire’s Wonder Show: An Evening of Magic, Music and Miracles.”

Talk about establishing a goal I’d need to grow into!

Singing?

Magic?

Miracles?

Well, the Law of Attraction kicked in and I started to attract the people and coaches I need to make that goal come true.

I stumbled into a vocal coach by the name of Guy Monroe. The guy is a-maz-ing. He’s also amped up about his work.

He took me under his wing, coached me with his vocal and verbal methods, and terrific upbeat energy, and I’m now singing Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Harry Chapin and more.

Recently I startled myself by singing Glen Hansard’s wonderful song, Falling Slowly, from the movie Once. I didn’t think I had a shot at getting close to the song, as it has such vocal extremes in it, from soft to shrill.

But Guy coached me, encouraged me, and I went for it.

I not only sang it, but I sang it pretty darn good.

Of course, I’m no Glen Hansard, but I’m an excellent Joe Vitale.

I’m proud of myself for daring something worthy and learning how to sing, accelerating my guitar playing, and getting an amp I have no idea how to use — yet.

Again, if you want to know a secret to self-help and self-improvement, re-read this post.

And then set a big, bold, daring goal for yourself, based on your passion.

It will help you “amp it up”.

Expect Miracles.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – You’ll notice that a key to growing fast and achieving your dreams with the Law of Attraction and more, is to have a coach. Listen to my interview with the Miracles Coach of 2009 by clicking right here. It’s another secret to self-improvement and self-help. Go for it!

Yes, I own the world’s only Alien Guitar. I attracted it via Ireland and outer space. I don’t know how to describe it. But I’ve been letting some people see it. Mathew Dixon got to meet it yesterday. His expression was priceless. Watch it by clicking on the below image:

Mathew wasn’t the only person to meet the Alien Guitar.  Recently Sarah Marie dropped by and was also introduced to it.  I’ll tell you about that, if you’re interested, soon.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — While you’re scratching your head about the Alien Guitar, be sure to read my latest book for free by clicking the banner below:

On November 20 I held an autograph party for the release of my latest book, Attract Money Now. Despite the bad weather, some people drove hundreds of miles to the Vitale Cigar Room to meet me, talk, and get their beautiful hardcover book signed. It was a wonderful evening.

One of the people who came was a young woman from my local area who I didn’t know. She had some questions. As she asked them, I kept thinking someone should film this, as her questions were sincere and perceptive. For example, she asked –

“What’s the one thing you had to change to keep stretching and succeeding?”

It was an easy answer. In my book, Attract Money Now, I say that your wealth is hiding under the very thing you are afraid to do. Face your fears and you can stretch and succeed.

Another question she asked was –

“As you grow, do your friends fall away?”

I told her yes, they often (but not always) do, but it’s a natural process. People who were best friends of mine at one level of growth just floated out of my life as I changed and evolved. There was no animosity. It just happened as an organic growth process.

She also asked –

“Do you have to learn stocks and bonds, trading, banking and real estate to attract big money?”

I told her no. I don’t know anything about trading or real estate and don’t want to. As I explain in my new book, you can attract more money by doing what you love. It helps to think like an entrepreneur but the key is in following your own passion.

She and I talked for a little longer and then, as more people came to greet me, she wandered off.

But a little later in the evening she returned with an acoustic guitar in hand. I love guitars and had to know what she was doing with one.

“I want to face my fears,” she told me. “I was wondering if I could play a song for you.”

I of course said yes.

My friend Pat O’Bryan was there.  I quickly asked him if he would film the performance. He agreed.

I guess I was expecting her to play something soft, easy, and sweet. But this woman fried the room, brought everyone to a stand still, and melted my heart as she sang an incredible aria from an Italian opera.

Her voice was stunning. I got goose bumps as she played. It was heavenly and unforgettable.  See for yourself by clicking on the below image:

Her name is Sarah Marie. You can find her music on www.cdbaby.com. She has a myspace page at www.myspace.com/sarahmariesedona

Sarah got past her fear.

All it took was a deep breath and a step forward.

What have you done to face your fears today?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — If you want help in getting past your fears, consider Dr. Joe Vitale’s Miracles Coaching.