Summer 2000

My First Gig
By Rod Jackson

In the midst of preparing for my very first public performance, I discovered Zen Guitar. It really helped me to remain calm and centered and helped me realize that no matter what happened, I was about to experience the culmination of a dream.

The entire gig lasted a brief one and a half minutes, but I was THERE in the moment and only slightly shaky--even though I was playing for 20,000 people with my image on a big screen and amplified for the first time in my acoustic life.

I had auditioned five months prior, and, out of 400 tryouts, was one of 20 people chosen to play the National Anthem at a Portland Trailblazers home game. What a rush at the end, during a little harmonic flourish, to hear the pindrop-quiet crowd start to roar their approval for my months of work--arranging the song in a Dmaj open tuning, practicing the darn thing hundreds of times and re-tuning my guitar over and over.

The MOMENT was fantastic and will live in my heart forever.

Zen Guitar helped me to not overamp with nerves and to thoroughly enjoy my very first gig.

Mahalo Nuiloha!

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--Rod Jackson <indigomoon@oregoncoast.com> offers his tips on tuning for beginners at ZG Lessons, "In Tune With Yourself."

 

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