October 28th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Volume 353, Tom Bukovac, “Low Hanging Chords”

Chapters
00:00 - Plucking some good ole guitar
01:50 - Hello, friends! / Freak accident in baseball cage
03:04 - NFL channel / Washington v Bears game
04:12 - Lesson: How to view chords / Knowing the fretboard / Root, third, fifth
11:40 - Lesson: Sound like a baritone / Cmaj [3 3 2] Dmin [5 5 3] Emin [7 7 5] F [8 8 7]
12:29 - Out-of-phase sound '52 Gibson
13:10 - Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel into melodic playing
13:38 - Lesson: Climbing up from the V chord
14:20 - Deep Larry from Brett Papa videos / Just the 3 bass strings coolness


Notes
Uncle Larry explains why you are basically fucked if you don’t instinctively and instantaneously know the notes on the neck …and talks about the “miracle at northwest stadium”

it has been well proven in the past on this channel that you guys simply do not give a FUCK about any type of old school country swing guitar, no matter how difficult, involved, or challenging it may be, but i am still doing it anyway... cuz i like it.

if i was going for likes and views i would just play tenths using only 6min, 4, 1, and 5 chords and sing "uh...uh...uh...." over it, because i know thats what you guys REALLY want

May 24th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Lesson “How To Rock”

Chapters
00:00 - Rock n' Roll
02:21 - Hey, friends / Ibanez 2350, bolt on neck, knobs
03:55 - K's Choice & Sam Bettens / Dan Auerbach
05:07 - Lesson: Power chord and different hammer-ons
05:50 - Lesson: Chuck Berry Rock hammer
06:08 - Lesson: Sus it hammer
06:18 - Lesson: Old Stones thing hammer (06:39 - Cont.)
07:13 - Lesson: Getting real cool hammer
08:00 - Lesson: IV chord over the I hammer (in B)
08:54 - Lesson: Fake open G tuning hammer
09:30 - Mess of intonation
10:15 - Lesson: Creepy hammer
10:37 - Getting Guthrie CDs


Notes
Uncle Larry discusses a little talked about but absolutely necessary element of rock guitar playing on a cheapo guitar

May 13th, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Jam “Wire Choir ‘75”

Chapters
00:00 - Amazing chords


Notes
Uncle Larry takes a trip back to the 70’s on an old pawn shop Guild 12 string

March 1st, 2024

Homeskoolin’ Bonus, “The Money Notes” with Bryan Sutton

Chapters
00:00 - Chords, changes, and what notes will hit the target
01:00 - Starting in F# / Ab to Dominant 7
02:04 - Outlining melody over chords and 'the note'
02:44 - "Is there a best option?" vs "This will work!"
03:30 - D Major
04:33 - "Whole other vibe" - Key of E
05:40 - Favorite chord progression
07:45 - Bryan update / Bela Fleck / Billy Strings story
10:13 - "Obscure Blue-Grass that everyone should listen to?"


Notes
Bryan Sutton sharing a minute of his lunch break to talk about the best notes of some familiar chords.

November 21st, 2023

Homeskoolin’ Volume 257, Tom Bukovac, “Common Chemistry”

Chapters
00:00 - Blue Grass mountain strummin' and a pickin'
02:10 - Get your fingers moving
02:58 - Brett Papa, free lessons, and proper subscription
05:10 - Cooking episode comments
06:20 - Not a religious program, nor pro-Aleister Crowley
07:45 - Gibson GA-83-S online / NFL
10:00 - Flight of the Conchords
10:24 - George Benson - Breezin' background cookin' music
11:30 - Plea for a cook ("Cool old woman" not "creepy dude who wants me to give him pedals")
13:00 - Travis Bean Wedge
13:30 - How can you hate anything Bruce Springsteen?
13:55 - Lesson: Springsteen


Notes
Larry talks about gridiron ergonomics and finding a cook.

cool voice...
https://youtu.be/UNS37Niqsc4?si=Y522P...

October 21st, 2023

Homeskoolin’ Morning Quickie

Chapters
00:00 - Playing from the heart
01:18 - Favorite 2 chord sequence?
01:34 - Lesson: A couple of 2 chord changes


Notes
probably not the kind YOU’re thinking…

dig this awesome kid right here...

he plays it better than I do.....

music rules

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyoA1k...


a LOT of new viewers have recently asked "where is the tip jar?" when they felt led to contribute something after 248 free guitar lessons

You can make PayPal donations to this address:
tombukovac@gmail.com

You can make Venmo donations to this address:
@Tom-Bukovac-1


AND...you can purchase a myriad of Homeskoolin' related merchandise..including several different T-shirts and some beautifully constructed coffee mugs for those afflicted with thin lips...
https://dvg-inc.shoplightspeed.com/merch/tom-bukovac/

AND....believe it or not....i have a new website people....an actual proper website.
https://thesessionman.com

You can see all kinds of weird old photos there, you can also purchase a download of the live concert i did last December if you like.

There are still a few more of the hand signed limited edition Uncle Larry prints that Ziggy O'Leary did left....if you wanna check one out go here:
https://www.ziggysartstudio.com

A lot of these very same new viewers don't seem to know that Uncle Larry made a couple records that they could potentially listen to... one is an instrumental solo record called "Plexi Soul" that is available here:
https://tombukovac.bandcamp.com/album/plexi-soul

another is an instrumental collaboration with his dear friend Dean Deleo (originally from the Stone Temple Pilots organization) that is available here:
https://tripthewitch.bandcamp.com/album/trip-the-witch

May 10th, 2023

Homeskoolin' Bonus "I've Always Pictured You Wearing Pants Pt. 11"

Chapters
00:00 - Brilliant stretched chords


Notes
Simple lines intertwining....
this one is harder than it looks. Give it a try.

Echo courtesy of an old lavender DanEcho I bought in a pawn shop yesterday for 40 bucks cash out the door.

April 3rd, 2023

Homeskoolin' Volume 207, Tom Bukovac, "Uncle Larry Been....Steppin' Out"

Chapters
00:00 - Steppin' Out looping
03:35 - Hello, lads! / Blake Shelton session
04:30 - Jackie Greene story
05:50 - Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
06:14 - Lesson: Steppin' Out chords (F#Maj / Eb [x x 13 11 11 9])
08:00 - Thanks / Todd Sharp
08:44 - Complicated delays
09:00 - Cleveland music stores back in the day / Guild
11:30 - "Continue with pedal videos"
12:00 - Billy Sims / Beers / Kicking ass
13:03 - Date of the Fender neck?
13:29 - Nobels vs. Clones
13:57 - Jeff Senn Guitar


Notes

Tom discusses lounge piano chording and dips a toe in the VCB.

Thanks for watching guys.

If you are enjoying these videos the PayPal tip jar is
tombukovac@gmail.com

the venmo tip jar is @tom-bukovac-1

March 27th, 2023

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Chart Boy”

Chapters
00:00 - Sessions and charting


Notes

Many years ago when I used to record with johnnie and Donnie van zant, they used to call me “chart boy”….cuz I was always making charts of the songs…well the name kinda stuck.

Here I am charting one for the Struts…of course the band already knows the song, but the additional keyboard player, the engineers and myself can certainly use one.

March 16th, 2023

Homeskoolin' Bonus "Fat Cowboy"

Chapters
00:00 - Slow cowboy pluckin'
06:38 - Lesson: Target note | Ending note
07:35 - Lesson: Lower frets focus / Chords (BbMaj7, [1 1 0 2 x x]), (Fm6, [1 3 0 1 x x]), (E, [4 2 2 1 x x])


Notes

Here's how you get cowboy chords to sound fat as hell.

All your friends will be amazed at the next camp fire.

Oh and good morning

September 1st, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Pike’s Peak”

Chapters
00:00 - Deep melodic plucking
02:08 - Hello, class! / Seattle hello
02:44 - Coasta Mesa, CA show / Pat Benatar & Neil Geraldo (Timeless Guitars)
03:50 - BC Rich Eagle / Neil brings guitar out
04:39 - Puyallop, WA show
05:18 - Lesson: Chord voicing concept


Notes
Larry….he just woke up in a weird hotel…but thank The Lord he’s got his cheapo martin to plunk on….

August 29th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Monday Night Cool Lyrics Party”

Chapters
00:00 - Ian Hunter - Irene Wilde
04:38 - Hello, class! / Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Irene Wilde discussion
05:32 - Lesson: Mick Ronson licks
06:41 - Lesson: B-section
07:06 - Lesson: Bridge
07:55 - Lesson: Solo appreciation


Notes
A look at one of my alltime favorite tunes. “Irene Wilde” by Ian Hunter off the 1980 live album “Welcome To The Club” featuring the genius lyrics of Ian Hunter and the absolutely perfect guitar playing of Mick Ronson.

If this video gets pulled for copyright reasons i totally get it…my only intentions are to turn you Homeskoolers on to a cool old song they may not have heard. "When I was just sixteen - I stood waiting for a dream - At barker street bus station every night When I tried to get it on - she just looked at me with scorn - my courage Turned to fear and I took flight

For those looks they seemed to say You ain't nuthin' - go away You're just some face in some crowd so I walked home and I vowed I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Her name was irene wilde - oh such beauty for a child When she started dating boys - I nearly died For I could not barely stand seeing anyone hold her hand I though I had to crawl away and hide In my mother's Sunday room I composed so many tunes They were all the same - just a frame - for her name, and just to say I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Wild as your name I soon left that country town I been around, I've seen some fame, seen some ups and I seen some downs Smile through your shock as you hear your name out loud It's that face in the crowd - i didn't dig it - i'm much too proud...

When I was just sixteen I stood waiting for a dream A barker street bus station non affair At the time it seemed so sad, but it didn't turn out bad If she hadn't turned me down I'd still be there You know I think most folks agree, a little put-down makes them see They ain't no chain - they're just a link and that's why she made me think I'm gonna be somebody - be somebody - be somebody - someday"

August 14th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 158, Tom Bukovac, “Damn I Wish I Had More Fingers”

Chapters
00:00 - Plucking around in hotel room / Checking in
04:35 - VCB / "Dumbest things" (boomer bends, modeling, "she" guitars)
10:38 - Young guitar players (Seth Lee Jones)
10:51 - Lesson (guitar chords)


Notes
Some hot takes regarding guitar culture guaranteed to piss off at least 25% of my prescribers.

Come at me bro.

Dig this cat

https://youtu.be/J-I021NUidA

August 13th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus…”Uhhh…Is it Saturday? “

Chapters
00:00 - Tour update
05:45 - Chord lesson


Notes
It’s just uncle larry clarifying a few things that got a little sideways yesterday…and also getting into a little mild major brand defamation…

man, i’ll tell ya, when you are on the road and you start getting into time zones that have half hours involved, it’s kinda hard to tell what day it is. I am loving it up here in St John’s, I haven’t kissed any cods yet, but there were a few down in the hotel bar last night.

Ok. so the following is a private message to Ken, the guy who got totally bent outta shape about Tony’s comment.

So if you are NOT Ken then please stop reading right here…………..right at this line.

“Hey bro….bro bro….if we were all chillin in the bar together…me you and tony, i guarantee you would instantly be taken by his charismatic charm and natural ability to light up a room with his intense neuroses and tortured deep inner trauma that he wears on his sleeve in the most beautiful way. We wouldn’t have any problems. You would walk outta there saying “man, that tony, what a cool guy” You gotta trust me on this…i don’t hang around with idiots, even though i am one myself. I appreciate what you are saying Ken, but you just gotta shake the etch-a-sketch and take a new look at all this…put a new spin on it all in your mind. Tony IS gonna start his own channel…and you will watch it and you will laugh at it, because he is a fascinating guy…truly unique, one of a kind….and those folks don’t come around very often. The voting was almost unanimous (besides you) that we keep this ABSOLUTELY FREE channel raw and unfiltered, just like its always been. If the occasional thing comes along that gets stuck in your craw, please keep in mind….none of this cost you ANYTHING. We are all good bro….im cool with you if you are cool with me.”

Ok…carry on boys

May 27th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus, “Grab Them Chords Clean Boy”

Chapters
00:00 - Little instruction on chords


Notes
9 year old Marshall getting the typical quiz by his old man about knowing his chords and grabbing them quickly nice and clean.

April 22nd, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 139, Tom Bukovac, “Well How Big Ol’ Boy Was He?”

Chapters
00:00 - Passionate swirling playing with a flanger
03:09 - Ibanez Flanger (FL-305)
03:30 - Hey friends!
04:00 - Sessions with Ann Wilson and Tom's new song
05:15 - Collaboration is the greatest part of music
07:48 - Creative people
08:50 - '57 Gibson Les Paul Special and Music City Stud Finder bridge
09:15 - Musician Union drop-box idea
10:15 - Music City Stud Finder bridge
11:13 - Randy Newman - I Love LA
13:00 - I Love LA poly chords lesson / Genesis & Tony Banks
14:40 - Lesson: Bass note with sliding 4ths and little rubs
17:47 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - On the Hunt playing


Notes
A brief discussion on using triads over a single pedaling bass note to create "harmonic tension"

There have been many musical giants who have roamed the earth and conquered long before the time we are in now…we must always listen back and learn from those ancestors who learned/wrote and performed music before “the great distraction” took place.

If you are indeed getting something useful out of the thoughts conveyed in these videos, please support your local public television station with an honor system paypal donation at
Tombukovac@gmail.com
Or
venmo @Tom-Bukovac-1

February 18th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ “Morning Meditations With Larry”

Chapters
00:00 - Soulful playing
03:51 - Hello, class / Thanks
04:28 - Humidifier / Mosquitos
05:45 - E Maj & C Maj / Jumping around fretboard in scale
07:30 - Learning guitar and empathizing (flip it over)


Notes
Part one of a series of unfortunate “morning meditations” you Homeskoolers might have to endure….Larry rambles on about nothing once again.

February 6th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 126, Tom Bukovac, “A Hillbilly’s Approach To Major Tonality”

Chapters
00:00 - Slow intro playing
02:45 - Deluxe Reverb / Covid / Thanks
04:29 - Bob Ezrin / Peter Gabriel / Tony Levin / Sting
08:40 - Sessions, voicing chords
09:54 - Chords and "bonus notes" (Tim Lauer - keyboards)
12:25 - Staying away from chords
13:29 - Piano voicings and extensions
18:46 - Gibson Les Paul setup
19:21 - Return to chords and voicings
20:20 - Internet at Bukovac house
20:45 - Expand your chords
21:10 - Guitar tuned
22:58 - Dean DeLeo signing CDs


Notes
Uncle Larry on day 4 of having Covid, gettin’ all deep and probably pissing some more people off, as usual

correction....Allan Schwartzberg played drums on the first PG solo album, not Jerry Marotta...
also, please note I named every song on that album from memory except..."Waiting For The Big One" hahaaaa

February 4th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 124, Tom Bukovac, “If I Leave Here Tomorrow….”

Chapters
00:00 - Beautiful playing
01:51 - Covid positive
03:17 - NFL reruns
04:34 - Tele Custom / "I thought you didn't like Teles"
05:41 - Skynyrd - Freebird / Allen Collins (Isolated track)
06:51 - "Rave up" ending lesson
07:47 - Secret of inverting chords / Pull-offs and chords (Need to know)


Notes
Well, if you’re wondering what a man with Covid plays and looks like here ya go fellas.

and here's some poetry for ya'

"IF",
BY RUDYARD KIPLING

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

January 28th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Super Bonus “Passion”

Chapters
00:00 - Guitar setup expertise
00:38 - "3/64ths"
01:01 - "Raised the action"
02:05 - Step 1...
02:49 - Mathematics of frets
03:32 - Playing the Tele
03:58 - Nut slots and action
04:43 - "Choke"
05:25 - Nut and bridge height mathematics
06:18 - Choking, relief, radius
08:11 - Width / Height of frets
09:26 - Steps from here
11:03 - Fender go to steel? '54 / Trivia
14:34 - "Bend the piss out of the high E"
15:18 - Playing it again / Explanation
16:15 - Continue setup
17:25 - Creasing and stretching the strings
19:34 - '60 Tele Custom
20:45 - Tuning with fingers and playing position
23:00 - Playing it fully set up, acoustically / Tuning with chords
25:17 - Fret end dressing
29:45 - "Worst Nightmare?"
32:50 - Back to fret softening / Fret end jewelry
38:10 - Make your own glue
39:00 - Leather stropping block and chrome polish
42:50 - File and gouging the wood
44:09 - Playing it fully polished


Notes
This one is pretty inside friends….
it could be considered long and boring for some, i totally get that.

This one is actually aimed at those of you out there who REALLY wanna know the inside shit on how that last little one percentile of top tier professional guitar set up and guitar physics REALLY works.

Did you ever notice that any time you see a person doing anything at the highest level it could ever possibly be done at, there is one common denominator you will find every time…..PASSION…..

I mean TRUE passion and a deep love of the craft. There is also deep respect for doing things the RIGHT way.

Greg Voros, head of the repair department at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville…the boy is a true artist, and a dear dear friend of your drunk old uncle….i cannot tell you how much i respect this dude…this video should give you a real good idea why.

Greg is joined about halfway through this video by Lin Crowson….another Gruhns employee who has freakish expert level knowledge of authenticating and repairing old guitars.

Hope you enjoy folks.