September 19th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 342, Tom Bukovac, “Play Your Ass Out”

Chapters
00:00 - '70s rockin' and singing
02:44 - Turning the knobs on your guitar / Secret treble bleed
05:05 - Lesson: Making it sound British enough / Play softer / Bag of subtleties
08:00 - Lesson: Old school '60s sound
08:46 - Thank you to Nick Drushel / Frets on guitars
09:30 - No shortage of tone on the SG Special
10:08 - "What kind of fret wire"? / "What kind of action" / Action and setup
11:38 - SG vs. Les Paul (sustain and dead spots)
12:34 - Nylon saddles
13:13 - Fret jobs
16:25 - Rebinds
17:20 - Neck sets / Gruhn knowledge
21:16 - Sting - Bring on the Night - Piano solo by Kenny Kirkland


Notes
There’s a hilarious old bit of Nashville session folklore that I have heard since I first moved here…

It’s about a Japanese record producer who didn’t quite “know the lingo” getting really excited on a session and yelling “you play your ass out!!” to all the musicians hahaaaa

September 18th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus , “Silver Spoon”

Chapters
00:00 - Day job in a session/producing


Notes
Session log:
9/18/24

Nashville TN

I thought you guys might like to watch the way a song develops over several takes…
from a project your Uncle Larry is producing on a gal from St. Louis named Jaime French.

aside from being an amazing singer, Jaime is well known in YouTube land for being a comedian…she is actually about to embark on her own comedy tour, and she’s making this record to help support it.

Her and her husband Nick are here in town for a few days while we worked on 4 songs over the last two days at one of my very favorite studios in this town….the Smoakstack in Berry Hill.

Yes that’s the same place where we did all the Ann Wilson stuff back in the day…in fact we had three of the original Amazing Dawgs assembled on today’s session.

Jaime and I put together a pretty swingin little crew for these sessions…

Zack Zinck engineering (you know how Larry ALWAYS says that the engineer is the most important guy in the band…and our boy Zack is VERY VERY good at his job…)

Stix Mchugh on the drums

Tony T Bone Lucido on the electric bass

Sweet Davey Cohen on the piano and synthesizers

Paul Moak on guitar and synth

Dearest Samuel was our invaluable session assistant (also known as the SECOND)

the assistant engineer is the SECOND most important guy in the band)
A good assistant can absolutely make or break a whole session friends…this is a fact

Anyway, crack yourself a beer and take a little ride down creation road…it’s a good song and she’s a damn good singer. Hope you enjoy watching “the process”

I swear friends, even after all these years I am still mystified by how it all works…as I have said many times before , the power of collaboration is my favorite thing in all of music

September 15th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Special Treat “The Coolest Guy On Earth”

Chapters
00:00 - Dean DeLeo showing it properly


Notes
Well friends, I got clearance from corporate to show you these two EXTREMELY cool videos I have been sitting on for ages. I hope you enjoy as much as I have.

Learn how to play a couple of your favorite STP songs from the guy who actually played the parts on the record.

Dean literally is the coolest guy on the planet…such a sweet cat and so freakishly talented.

Rock on Homeskoolers

September 15th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 341, Tom Bukovac, “1000 Rainy Days Since We First Met”

Chapters
00:00 - Magic arrangements (Police, Sting, Every Little Thing She Does)
03:00 - Sting / NFL Betting
03:50 - Gear setup / Princeton Reverb / Gruhn Versitar guitar
04:44 - Back to magic playing / Picking vs finger picking
06:35 - Police - Bring on the Night vs Sting
07:45 - Gruhn video thanks
08:46 - Lesson: Own version of Sting song / Saddest chord of all time Amaj7/C#
10:00 - Lesson: Tune to frets [2 4 4 2 0 4] (F#min9sus)
11:09 - Greg Voros and PAFs in Dean guitar / "Joint on the lawn of a ZZ Top concert"
12:15 - Fender Twin Reverb
13:00 - "Mint" condition / 1957 Fender Telecaster brand new / Clean guitars
16:31 - JCM 800 and fact checking commentor
17:53 - Dear old friend getting wasted / Getting drunk
19:00 - Gruhn guitars


Notes
Larry gets down with Leslie

Thank you sincerely for the ongoing support of this channel my dear boys and girls


if you wanna throw a little something in the jar so we can put gas in the go cart go ahead friends...every little bit helps

my PayPal is tombukovac@gmail.com
my venmo is @Tom-Bukovac-1

if any of you guys out there are looking for a REALLLLLLY special 335 you should just buy that clean ass '60 that was in the Gruhn's video yesterday.

I mean holy SHEEPSHIT that thing is killllllller....

Featherweight...
Perfect neck....
you heard it.
it's 70K, which is a lot of dough....but you could potentially get it if you sold all your current guitars....
that would be a lot of work and a major pain in the ass...but trust me on this friends, if you actually DID it, it would be the smartest move you could ever possibly make....
this is the only guitar you would ever need or want to play.

i would buy it myself if i could swing it....i also really like that red '63 i currently have so it's not EATING at me....but i'm just telling you guys straight up, if you have been looking for a fucking MAGIC old guitar, there it is.

September 14th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Goes To Gruhn’s Episode 8

Chapters
00:00 - Discussing life along with instruments
01:34 - Dean Guitars / Golden years
13:00 - Dean bridge pickup
16:48 - Burst bridge pickup
19:22 - Dean neck pickup / Comparison
24:24 - Discussion
34:00 - ES-335
36:35 - Burst
37:19 - ES-335 discussion
38:00 - Burst neck pickup
38:34 - ES-335 neck pickup
39:30 - ES-335
40:00 - '64 Gibson Firebird 3
41:29 - Firebird
42:48 - Conclusion


Notes
Starring
George Gruhn
Cory Terrell
Greg Voros
Nathan Golliher
and Peter

September 14th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 340, Tom Bukovac, “Camera Shy”

Chapters
00:00 - Plucking those unusual chords beautifully
01:07 - Changing it up to an amazing progression
01:32 - Lesson: Dm - Gm - C - F - Ab/C - Caug - F (Etta James - At Last) / Best R&B Singer
03:21 - Gibson Les Paul Special from the '50s / What friends' guitars do you like?
05:27 - Greetings first (pet peeve) / Family
06:15 - The Doors - Love Me Two Times
07:35 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin) / "Sonically Pleasing Record?" AC/DC - Back in Black
08:50 - Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name Of (damn good sonic pleasing properties)
09:48 - Lesson: Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name Of
11:00 - Dodge Ram truck stereo with Zach Bryan music
11:43 - Forgotten how good records can sound
12:46 - Keith Urban
13:07 - V vs. Explorer
14:11 - "Has YouTube changed you?" / Ham in front of a camera now
16:30 - "Guilty pleasure album?" / CDs and multi-load CD player / Liz Phair
18:17 - Banding together in Nashville / Variety
19:48 - Bruce Springsteen concert best ever / Bad muther fucker
21:53 - "Good guitar sound live?" / Blackface Deluxe Reverb & Tweed Deluxe


Notes
Uncle Larry gets deep in the weeds early on a Saturday morning ….

What’s he building in there??

September 13th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Uncle Larry’s Grueling Upcoming Live Gig Schedule”

Chapters
00:00 - Beatles and more montage
00:46 - Thank you care package / Calendar schedule update
04:12 - Epiphone Olympic / Excellent chopper guitar / "And then you'll be happy"
05:28 - Stone Temple Pilots - Big Bang Baby call out to Dean DeLeo how to play "Sour Girl" and "Interstate Love Song"
06:58 - Birthday gig


Notes
Lots of gigs comin up kids

Get your pencils out

9/19 at underdog for “guitar night”

10/4 at riverside revival guesting on a couple songs with Randall Bramlett

10/5 sitting in on a couple songs at underdog for “undie fest”

11/6 & 7 with Jedd Hughes at the basement

11/13 with Joe Walsh at Vets Aid

11/19-21 at bitter end in NYC with Guthrie

12/20 my intimate birthday show at 3rd and lindsley

September 13th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 339, Tom Bukovac, “Solid Gold Party Rock Redeaux”

Chapters
00:00 - Tele-craziness with a "annoying" loop
06:35 - Try not to rush tempo
07:30 - Lesson: Loop with crazy plucking tempo
08:35 - Hello, morning beer / Favorite coffee cup
09:07 - Thanks race car connections / John Oates honor / Guthrie Trapp
09:47 - Lesson: Last minute learning songs / Playlists
10:57 - Lesson: Good ole lick (hammering and plucking claw)
12:20 - Tele love / Rattle and clank
12:39 - Lesson: Loop and Good ole lick together / Mixing Major and minor 3rds
14:48 - Lesson: Whole tone scale
15:24 - Twightlight zone and tv montage
15:38 - Steve Gorman "latchkey kid" story
18:10 - Solid Gold Party rock commercial memorization
19:54 - Lesson: Method of practice
21:43 - Lesson: Notes and feel vs. note for note all the way to too professional
24:48 - Thanks and salutations / McLaren "cuntiest" comments / Auto hate showing off (old cars, guitar players, etc.)


Notes
Thank you guys sincerely for all the ongoing support of my pitiful little channel…I really truly appreciate it.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t tell you guys that enough.

It’s not you, it’s me I swear…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1qdmKUOytA

September 12th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “What A Weird Job”

Chapters
00:00 - Commercial - behind the music


Notes
My favorite thing about the life of a session man …you just NEVER KNOW what you are gonna be doing from one day to the next …it’s literally impossible to predict….

Working on a new commercial for some heavy hitter race car folks …guitars on loan straight from the Gibson showroom…

I bet a lot of you guys don’t even realize that I grew up playing a Floyd ….

September 12th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Built For Speed”

Chapters
00:00 - McLaren


Notes
Havin a little fun down at the Gibson Garage with a different kind of hot rod than those old Chevy’s I normally drive.

Special thanks to Julian Raymond, Erik Logan, Nolan Siegel, Erica Krusen, Scott Borchetta and Dave…

September 11th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 338, Tom Bukovac, “Menstrual In The Gallery”

Chapters
00:00 - Struming along
00:30 - Lesson: Chord (G B D G B G) on piano (Root, 3rd, 5th)
02:10 - Fairview antique stores
02:43 - Steve Gorman
03:22 - Jethro Tull / Flute - Ian Anderson / Best acoustic guitar (Ian Anderson - My God)
05:45 - Music City Bridge for Gretsch
07:31 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin) / Worst guitar sound (Randy Rhodes - Crazy Train)
08:58 - Guitar arrangement of classic songs
10:37 - Thanks
12:00 - Antique shopping and vinyl paradise


Notes
Uncle Larry giving it to ya Homeskoolin style on a fine Wednesday

Buy one of these friends…you will not regret it
https://musiccitybridge.com/products/space-bar


Try to fathom for a second that this is a totally live performance ….no tracks, no bullshit..

Music is so much better now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq-bcFOI56E

September 10th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 337, Tom Bukovac, “Customer Service”

Chapters
00:00 - Real nice tune on the Gretsch
02:55 - Eric Johnson harmonics / Hello, friends! / "Progrm", "Melk"
04:20 - Betting streak / Funny story with son and go cart
09:10 - Motorhead / T-shirtsRamones, Nirvana, Misfits, Pink Floyd
10:29 - Bro-code violations
12:12 - 'Old guitar consignment'
14:00 - 'On hold before sale'
15:09 - 'Dating ex-wife'
15:35 - '62 Gretsch White Falcon / Binding rotting
16:21 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin) / Funny quote
16:42 - "Biggest flaws"? / Protecting Time


Notes
I like to put thumbnails on my videos that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual video

I hope you guys are truly getting as much outta these videos as you say you are.

Thank you guys for the continuing tips and donations

It helps a lot

My PayPal is tombukovac@gmail.com
My Venmo is @Tom-Bukovac-1

September 9th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 336, Tom Bukovac, “How To Make A Loop Like Larry”

Chapters
00:00 - Funking picking and hammering loop
05:18 - How to make a loop / Erase loop in time
06:19 - Struggling with loopers (internal rhythm) / Boss RC-1
07:00 - Lesson: Sportsbar Blues loop timing / Finger counting / Erasing on the fly
08:12 - Lesson: Funking picking and hammering lick / Internal click track
13:13 - Lesson: Using different sounds for contrast and make frequencies work together
14:22 - Lesson: Sharp vs. bassy tone / Frequency range (Bass: 100-200hz, Chunky guitars: 500-800hz, Tough mid-range guitars: 1K-2K, Vocal: 3K and up)
16:20 - Lesson: Tremolo on 1 track, not the other
20:30 - Lesson: Too much melody in the loop sucks / Melody holes


Notes
After eight million requests I figured it might be time to tackle this subject

September 6th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 335, Tom Bukovac, “Red Zone Blues”

Chapters
00:00 - Pluckin the P90s
05:10 - Hey friends! / Bukovac birth (father rheumatic fever and heart attack)
07:10 - NFL game
08:52 - Tom Bukovac vinyls after 50 years old / Old friends catching up Mark Bright / Carrie Underwood
11:53 - '52 Gibson Les Paul / Show stopper / Neck pickup is amazing
15:02 - 50 watt tremolo plexi through Bogner 212
16:19 - That Fizz enemy
17:20 - '52 Les Paul / MojoAxe bridge
17:55 - "Wasn't sure at first" / Neumann u67 mic / Let the instrument teach you


Notes
No, I didn’t use a 335 for this episode…it was too cliche

September 5th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 334, Tom Bukovac, “The Arc Of Life”

Chapters
00:00 - Some traditional guitar
03:25 - Hello, friends!
04:00 - '57 Gibson Les Paul / Mark Bright, Carrie Underwood connection
05:41 - Looking back on life ("Arc of Life")
09:19 - Black Keys stuff / Dan Auerbach & Pat Carney
09:38 - Creative studio vs Corporate studio / Music as a painting and delivering
13:47 - Randall Bramblett / Putting your hearts into it vs. time and budget radio play
14:52 - Playing the Goldtop / Good guitar gives you everything / Thanks
16:04 - Led Zeppelin stealing, but amazing / Blues


Notes
This is the tune I mentioned, but check out this whole record friends…
Randall Bramblett

September 4th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 333, Tom Bukovac, “Section By Section”

Chapters
00:00 - Some sweet tunes on the Tele
04:56 - Hello, friends! / Nicknames
05:42 - Sentimental from old days at Rudy's butcher shop
09:09 - Nicky G grill / Black Keys stuff
09:55 - NFL football
10:22 - Lesson: Dropped D / Riff Rock / Learn by sections
12:58 - Selling guitars / Rickenbacker Capri
14:34 - Cutting the capacitor (cap) off / Fender amps also
15:10 - Tone control on a Strat / Overhaul Lake Placid Blue
16:45 - Lesson: Cool Dropped D lick
17:27 - Lesson: Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page - Whole Lotta Love
18:42 - Small Faces - You Need Loving / Robert Plant stole Whole Lotta Love
19:15 - Undetected imitation and originality


Notes
If you do end up going to Rudy’s today, you might want to stop and have a quick gander at 441 east 319 st….

That’s where it all happened friends

August 29th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Silent Lakeplacidity”

Chapters
00:00 - '65 Lake Placid Blue Stratocaster


Notes
Special thanks to Geoffrey Moore and Seth Cook for making this a reality.
I promise I will use it for good, not evil.

August 28th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 332, Tom Bukovac, “Reclaimed Youth”

Chapters
00:00 - Just an intro tune
02:44 - What's up cats / Lennon's vocals on Sexy Sadie
03:21 - "One of the coolest piano sounds"
04:15 - Martin acoustic / "Everybody should have a Martin" / Playing
05:22 - Recapture youth
06:43 - First guitar Applause acoustic
07:49 - First electric Crestline SG copy
08:22 - Lesson: First lick Chuck Berry
08:45 - Arya / Gibson Les Paul / Fairweather band
10:21 - Fairweather story cont. / Jeffrey Moore guitar rig / '65 Lake Placid Blue Stratocaster
11:18 - 2 Deluxe Reverb amps facing each other
12:36 - "Still have that Strat?" / Worked out a deal for the guitar
14:53 - Thanks / Heated discussions / StringLocker cleaning the carcusses
15:38 - Update
16:45 - Lesson: Chord progression with DbMaj7 with the claw -> F#Maj7 -> BMaj7 -> EMaj7 (Cycle of 5ths)


Notes
Uncle Larry gets a bit sentimental on a Wednesday morning.

August 26th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 331, Tom Bukovac, “Royal Power Pop”

Chapters
00:00 - Plucking out a song to a loop with a little Leslie in it
03:23 - Hello, friends! / Life update / NFL diddy
04:46 - Morgan Wallen session
05:58 - '79 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe / Playing
06:30 - Lesson: Blue Oyster Cult / 2 parts as one / Burnin' For You
07:30 - Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper lyrics
09:00 - "Hardest thing about being a session man?"
11:00 - Numbnuts from Tulsa in the comments / "Jam off" / "Off his meds"
13:53 - The Gear Page Moderator and getting banned
14:45 - Lesson: Smear with hammer into bend / Pre-bend dead in tune
16:50 - Lesson: Bending strings / Tightly slammed fingers


Notes
Uncle Larry gets his English melody on.
God Save the Queen

so, do you think i even stand a chance in a "jam off" against this fella?

• Early 70s Carvin AS50

August 25th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Jam “Let Us Not Forget”

Chapters
00:00 - Some amazing 6 & 12 string sounds through Leslie


Notes
In a world of modeling amplifiers and boutique pedals that simulate everything, it may have been a minute since you plugged your axe into a real Leslie.
Ain’t nothin’ like it friends…

Well, I’m officially banned from the gear page friends…over the most innocuous little comment…I suppose it’s been building up over there.

The moderators hate me…they are are more sensitive than the gas pedal on a 70 Hemi Cuda…but deep down they know I’m right…

So now what am I gonna do with my life?
I’ve thought of gardening perhaps…