Jon Shields

  How to Choose the Right Guitar Strings: A Guide for Every Player You’ve picked up your guitar, ready to play, but something feels off. The strings don’t sound quite right, or maybe they feel too stiff or too loose. The problem? You might not be using the right strings for your playing style. With so many options out there, choosing the right set can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry—breaking it down makes it simple. Acoustic vs. Electric Strings Before anything else, make sure you're picking the right type of strings for your instrument. Acoustic guitar strings are typically made of phosphor bronze or 80/20 bronze , producing a warm, resonant tone. They have higher tension and are generally thicker than electric guitar strings. Electric guitar strings are often made of nickel-plated steel or stainless steel and designed to interact with your pickups. They have lower tension , making them easier to bend and play. An easy way to check? Look at the packaging—it will clearly say...

  Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man : A Jazz Standard with a Story Some songs go beyond being just music—they carry history, controversy, and cultural weight. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man is one of those tunes. Written in 1927 by Jerome Kern (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) for the groundbreaking musical Show Boat , the song became a jazz and pop standard recorded by legends like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. But beneath its catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics lies a deeper story—one that reflects the racial and social complexities of the time. A Song Wrapped in Controversy If you’re not familiar with Show Boat , it was a revolutionary musical for its time. Unlike the lighthearted revues that dominated Broadway in the 1920s, Show Boat tackled serious themes—racism, identity, and social injustice. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man is introduced early in the show by the character Julie, a woman who appears white but is secretly biracial. When Julie sings the song, the B...

  Choosing the Right Guitar Strings: A Guide for Every Player Picture this: You’re standing in the guitar shop, staring at a wall of string packs, each boasting different materials, gauges, and brands. Phosphor bronze? Nickel-wound? Tens or twelves? If you’ve ever felt lost in the sea of choices, you’re not alone. Every guitarist—whether they play jazz, classical, blues, or rock—faces this dilemma at some point. So, how do you know which strings to choose? Let’s break it down. Step One: What Guitar Are You Playing? Before picking strings, you need to identify your guitar. The two main categories are acoustic and electric , with acoustics further divided into steel-string, classical (nylon-string), and resonator guitars . If your guitar has nylon strings, a slotted headstock, and a bridge where the strings are tied in knots , it’s a classical guitar —stick with nylon strings. If your guitar has steel strings, bridge pins, and tuning pegs in a vertical orientation , it’s a steel-str...

  A Solo Guitar Take on When You Wish Upon a Star Some songs are more than just melodies—they become a part of our collective memory. When You Wish Upon a Star is one of those rare tunes that has transcended its original purpose, becoming the signature sound of Disney and an enduring piece of musical history. Tonight, I’m taking this classic and giving it a fresh solo guitar treatment—no backing tracks, no loopers, just me and the music. If you’ve been following along, you might remember that I’ve played this tune before as a bossa nova. But this time, I’m switching things up. I’m keeping the tempo lively, but steering away from the bossa feel, offering something a little different from the version you might expect. Originally written in 1939 by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Disney’s Pinocchio , When You Wish Upon a Star was first performed by Cliff Edwards as the voice of Jiminy Cricket. It plays during both the opening credits and the film’s closing scene, setting the to...

  Exploring a Bossa Nova Classic: Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) Some songs define an entire genre. Others become the bridge that introduces a new sound to the world. Corcovado —also known as Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars —is both. Written by the legendary Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1960, this bossa nova standard helped shape the wave of Brazilian jazz fusion that swept through the U.S. in the early ’60s. With its lush harmonies and effortlessly flowing melody, it’s a tune that guitarists, vocalists, and jazz lovers continue to return to time and time again. Two Titles, One Masterpiece If you’ve ever wondered why this tune has two different names, the answer lies in its history. The original Portuguese title, Corcovado , refers to the famous mountain in Rio de Janeiro—the one crowned by the Christ the Redeemer statue. The song’s lyrics, when first written in Portuguese, painted a scene of quiet, romantic solitude, capturing the essence of Rio’s beauty. It wasn’t until Gene Lee...