Norio's Intro

NorioDS

Coupla guys hinted that they'd like to see an intro from me, so here goes. (Sadly, no gear pics lately, other than my DS-1 in the off-topic lounge)

I'm 25, stay in Centurion (PTA), grew up in Joburg, and I've been off-and-on playing guitar for maybe 7 years. In the beginning, I just played acoustic, and only knew farmer-brown chords. Eventually started playing classical but didn't understand a single thing I was doing. Essentially, my teacher at the time believed in parrot-fashion learning. Something I despise to this day. So the only thing still with me from those days is a half-decent finger-style but totally under-developed and not used for lead but at least it's there and available for later use ?

I eventually (after over a year of not playing) met Meir and started going to lessons with him and my world transformed much like a lot of you guys are having your worlds transform after reading his lessons. He was tough on me because of his passion for music and it was EXACTLY what I needed. He revived my passion for guitar which had all but died.

The major scale, playing with feeling, sliding, legato, improv.... I had the ride of my life and, thanks to Meir, also learned how to make exercises out of something you find difficult, how to teach yourself new things and how to be incredibly analytical of your own playing as well as how to aim for clean notes and not just flashy effects and sloppy "speed". (Of course, clean speed is cool)

Meir also introduced me to Ibanez, Satriani (first lesson!), Vai, Andy Timmons and a lot more. He's a crazy man which is why he makes the perfect teacher for me -- coz crazy is awesome in my book ?

(Hmm, this is sounding more like a Meir bio than a Norio bio ?)

I love the blues, rock and roll and metal. IMO, the best music came out of the 80s and I love discovering new stuff from then that I never even knew about.

Pop music (and even Emo) has it's place in the world. I listen to some pop and Fallout Boy has some amazing melody and a great lead voice. I like looking at ALL types of music and picking out what I like. About the only genre of music I can't appreciate is dance-music / doef-doef / untz-untz. HOWEVER, every now and again they come up with a cool line or something that I think to myself, MAN that would sound great on as a solo with some distortion and real instruments ?

My gear is a black Ibanez RG42DX. No amp so I use my laptop every now and again. Hopefully that will change soon and I can get Francis' Korg PX5D. Actually, I don't own the Ibanez either. It's still his until I can pay it off ?

I've got a Strat-style Starfire which is horrible but was my first electric so I still keep it around. When I first got it, all I could do was play some basic chords so it's a great reminder of where I was not too long ago.

Career-wise, I'd love to run this forum as part of my career but as far as performance goes, I'm not sure. I've in my first band ever and enjoying throwing in some bluesy lead where I can. Long-term, I'd love to just play Jazzy stuff in restaurants, ships, wherever that kind of stuff goes down well and wherever I'm not going to be asked to play the latest pop-tune or something just to make a buck.

I've also got a goal to have released a CD nation-wide by the time I'm 30 (or thereabouts). I'm going to try use my technical and marketing prowess to get it going myself and promote it online. Although, who knows what might happen between now and then, so I'm open to whatever comes my way.

Erm, anything else you d00dz wanna know?

Manfred-Klose

So if it wasn't for Meir that taught norio how to have fun playing guitar, this forum would never have been started?

+1,meir
+1,norio

NorioDS

Damn straight, Manny ?

Wessel

Norio wrote: About the only genre of music I can't appreciate is dance-music / doef-doef / untz-untz.

Im so with you on that one !!

Norio wrote: Erm, anything else you d00dz wanna know?

When did you decide to start the Forum ? And how did it come about ? And which of the Tv show Heroes characters superpowers would you have wanted....This is an inportant question.

NorioDS

Wessel wrote:When did you decide to start the Forum?

Ehh about this time last year? ? I was frustrated with the lack of good info about guitars in SA and I knew no one else was doing the guitar-forum thing properly yet so I hopped on it. I'm a bit of an entrepreneur so it comes naturally to me. The first time I did something like this was with www.FreeArticles.co.za. It was the first of its kind in SA and a huge success but now there's a lot of competition.

IMO, South Africa is very young and there's a TON of opportunities for people who aren't afraid to be the first to do something here. Just take an idea that you've seen work elsewhere and give it to SA. It makes a lot of sense because we're different to everyone else so we want our OWN flavour ?

Wessel wrote:And which of the Tv show Heroes characters superpowers would you have wanted....This is an inportant question.

We've started watching season 3. AWESOME stuff! I'd have to pick Peter Petrelli, he's easily the most powerful. Sure he's emo but I wouldn't take his personality or hair (season 1), just his powers ?

Manfred-Klose

Erm, anything else you d00dz wanna know?

What line of work do you do, still cant figure it out?
Do you make websites for people?

Sorry for asking, just curious.

NorioDS

Manfred Klose wrote:What line of work do you do, still cant figure it out?
Do you make websites for people?

Yep, perdy much. Been that way (it's an ailment, really) for 7 years or something.

I prefer building sites for myself, though. It's WAY more rewarding and provides the unique potential to provide a long-term residual income instead of just short-term.

Manfred Klose wrote:Sorry for asking, just curious.

No worries mate, I'm happy being an open-book. (mostly)

FenderBender

Well +1 for your web prowess, without which we'd be doing something boring right now!

FatBoy

Long overdue!! Cool man, good to get some background info about the man who started all this. I really need to get my act together, I have had so many ideas on cool sites to build but just never actually got round to build it before the "I'm sure it wont work because....... started setting in" Kudos to you sir!

Renesongs

Welcome to GFSA Norio - hope you enjoy your stay ?

Satriani

ABOUT time I agree! This site has come such a long way from when you first told me you were 'thinking' of doing a forum. It's more than a forum now, it's like a second home for all the axe wielders on here and the ones still finding their way here.

I would also like to add a note on Norio. He is the kind of student who actually LISTENS, PRACTICES and LEARNS without letting outside influences deviate him. This may sound like anybody who goes for lessons, but BELIEVE me, it isn't the case.

I have decided to give you lessons once a week indefinitely until you are sick of them, for your contribution to the guitar phenomena in SA.

NorioDS

Satriani wrote:I have decided to give you lessons once a week indefinitely until you are sick of them, for your contribution to the guitar phenomena in SA.

Eish, thanks man!! This is an awesome birthday pressie!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

NorioDS

Renesongs wrote: Welcome to GFSA Norio - hope you enjoy your stay ?

Tee hee hee!

AlanRatcliffe

Hi Norio

So, does this mean I have to do an intro too? Or can I let my posts speak for themselves?

Manfred-Klose

Yes alan a intro would be nice!!!

I just realised if have to also to a intro............

CornFlakes

Fashionably late intro.. ?

Renesongs

So, does this mean I have to do an intro too?

Judging by your post detailed post Norio would have to buy more storage for your Bio , and the rest or so of us that didn't do an intro ☹

I just realised if have to also to a intro............

So I'm not the only on erq learning to touch nby type ?

Satriani

Only a pleasure Norio. Just let me know when you wanna get started ?

Garth-S

I just have to say a huge thanks to you Norio, for being so innovative , facilitating the forum, and giving us this awesome knowledge base for guitar related stuff. You deserve to be blessed man! ? Obviously not forgetting Francis and Alan ?

NorioDS

Thanks ? I take donations ?