About this Blog
My name is Joe Walker. This is my blog on practicing guitar. In July 2007, I left my day job to practice guitar full-time for a year. I started this blog during that period in order to share the best of my ideas and epiphanies.
I'm currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in jazz studies at San Diego State University. I teach private lessons and play out as much as I can in my spare time, including with Zeppelin tribute band Dazed and Confused.
Background
I started playing in 1998, age 15, fooling around with grunge, alternative, and blues. I began taking my practice time seriously in college, committing 2 hours every day (no small feat; I was studying computer science, not music). I played in a couple college jazz bands (one with Bobby Bradford) and co-founded Blue Judy, an LA-based indie rock band. After college, I worked in audio post-production while playing with Blue Judy for 2 more years.
Influences
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, Nels Cline, Steve Vai, Al Di Meola, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, The Bad Plus, Kneebody, Thelonious Monk. There are always more.
Listening Habits
Via my Last.fm profile, here's what I've been listening to, sorted by tracks played:
Stan Trumbull (23 Nov 2007 at 8:07am)
We met on Thanksgiving. I am becoming more interested in all types of music and your work has interest for me. I have listened to some of the cuts on itunes and like the sounds of Blue Judy.
I mentioned Westminster Chorus to you. You can visit them at westministerchrous.org. They represent the best of Barbershop.
Good luck in your quest.
STAN
jason (10 Dec 2007 at 12:03pm)
Hello there! Found your website today and really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work!
Mark (20 Dec 2007 at 8:45pm)
This is a pretty cool thing. I play and teach for a living, but I have not had the time to devote to practicing like you are describing since college (and even that was spotty)...I'm curious to see how you do over the year!
guitarFlame (27 Jan 2008 at 8:05am)
I wish you good luck, man! That was a tough choice you made, quiting a computer related job, which usually brings in good money for the guitar. But this is the way one's got to do it to succeed! Good luck!
Glen Maldonado and Robyn Roberts (5 Mar 2008 at 8:24am)
Wow I'm jealous, really. I'd LOVE to do what you are doing and I'm going to be reading all about your progress - it's inspiring.
Glen Maldonado and Robyn Roberts
http://www.myspace.com/glenandrobyn
ramanan (23 Mar 2008 at 1:08pm)
hey.. i was just curious as to how life is as a musician coming up... did u get into lama... i saw ur applications demo on youtube...plannin to enroll there...
Joe (25 Mar 2008 at 7:50am)
Got into LAMA. Planning to enroll in the fall, but working on their scholarship app right now. Once that's done, I might look for summer work.
patty (2 Apr 2008 at 4:44pm)
I MISS YOU JOE!
P.W.Farrell (25 Nov 2008 at 5:30am)
Hey brother. Was just searching for some practise ideas and found your page. Nice work! I have a blog too but don't know how to do the link thing so I'll just give it to you: http://www.pwfarrell.com/blog Similiar idea to yours but less developed....I take my time. Hope we can swap some ideas.
Peace.
PWF
Neil Van Kleeff (27 Dec 2008 at 2:23pm)
Hi, I'm Neil, I'm 15 years old and I'm from the Netherlands. I play guitar now for 2 years and a couple of months and I really practice a lot and want to achieve something with it.
I find it inspiring what you do, when I finish school I also want to get myself a house and practice guitar for a year and then try to get into a music academy. I learn a lot from your blogs. I hope that you will have succes as a guitarist and that I will do the same as you, practicing for a year, without any stress.
Neil
Scott (7 May 2009 at 11:44am)
hey joe, nice blog you got here. it's great that you put in the time to learn how to play. especially during school. i'm curious as to what you think of my work. i've been playing for a while now. i'd like to hear some of yours so maybe you can post a video or audio and let me know.
http://the-guitarplayer.com/guitar-player-contact/
keep making music!!!
Scott (7 May 2009 at 11:47am)
sorry man, i copied the wrong url from a different page. i'll stick to playing the guitar and leave the computer stuff to the experts. http://www.talenttrove.com/media/51929-ShapeShifter is where my music is.
http://www.talenttrove.com
Joe Walker (21 Sep 2010 at 6:19pm)
Hey there, I am a Bassist, scratch that, THE bassist Joe Walker from Ohio, we should start a Joe Walker Band, I know there is a singer/rythym guitarist named Joe Walker in Kentucky, hit me up
Joe Walker
Sargon Lovkis (1 Sep 2019 at 4:08am)
Hi Joe,
I find your Real Book Rankings very useful.
I would much appreciate it if you could send me a copy of the spreadsheet(s) they come from. And any other Real Book listings you may have in Excel.
Regards,
Sargon Lovkis
28 Nearwater Way
Shelley
Western Australia 6148