A Telecaster Is a Blank Slate: 5 Questions + a Joke with Ned Oldham

Louisville-born, Charlottesville-based psychedelic-folk guitarist Ned Oldham, of the Anomoanon, Old Calf, and other critically acclaimed projects, is a recent addition to our teaching roster at Lessonface, and we are thrilled to have him. He was kind enough to answer some questions this week about his own learning background, his advice for beginning guitarists, and current projects.

Lessonface: How were you first introduced to your instrument? How did you learn to play?  

Ned: I found my first instruments in my maternal grandmother's attic. The first was an old mandolin with just three out of eight strings; the second was an acoustic guitar, also with just three strings: low E, A and B. It had belonged to my uncle, my mom's half-brother, who had died before I was born. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a 1942 Gibson J-45. I learned how to tune it--just those three strings--from some friends at school, and taught myself by ear. I think the first song I learned was "Sunshine of Your Love," but then I also just fooled around and learned about what I later understood were the basic intervals between low E and A strings (fifths with the root on either), and major and minor thirds, and also the wider intervals using the B string. Later I got the guitar strung properly at Guitar Emporium in Louisville (they offered to buy it any time I wanted to sell--which I never will) and learned some chords from my middle-school friends, notably Brian McMahon, Jonathan Hawkins, Chris Hawpe and David Grubbs.

Lessonface: What kind of instrument do you play today? (Brand, model, whatever you'd like to share) What model would you recommend for beginners? Any other favorite equipment?

Ned: I play a "telecaster" put together from parts by Atticus Stovall. I wish I'd gotten a telecaster sooner, and I recommend it, combined with a small tube amp like a Fender Blues Junior, for any beginning player. I also just got my first Les Paul Standard, which I love. My current gigging amp is a Vox AC15C1, which has great tones and wonderfully lush reverb and tremolo. For acoustics, I'm spoiled by my old Gibson J-45, and a Huss & Dalton 00; but I would encourage any serious player to save up for a nice Martin, which will most likely cost something north of a thousand bucks, and might still need a sixty dollar setup from a good luthier... it really makes a difference. All that said, there are so many different types of guitars, you should do everything you can to get to a store where you can try a bunch of different ones over a period of several visits. You can learn a lot online, especially about which guitars keep or increase their value over time, but you can't make a really informed judgement of whether it feels good or not until you hold it in your hands.

Lessonface: What are your current musical projects? What new developments or events in your field are you most excited about?

Ned: My most recent record is a 7" on No Quarter records, which came out in August. I'm excited about playing live shows, and just playing in general. Not very excited by many new developments in the field of music; I'm more interested in what stands the test of time.

Lessonface: What advice would you give someone wanting to learn your instrument?

Ned: Enjoy practicing. Listen to the other players.

"Summer Never Ends," from 2010, with the Anomoanon. A timely song as the weather turns dreary here outside the Lessonface HQ, and a very pleasurable listen.

Lessonface: Do you have any favorite quotes about music, learning, or your instrument you would like us to share? 

Ned: I like an anecdote from John Coltrane giving a speech to the graduating class at Berklee:
"You can play anything you want as long as you resolve it correctly."
I'm not sure this actually happened, but I like the sentiment. If you understand that sometimes the mistakes can be the best parts, you can relax.

Lessonface: Do you have any favorite jokes about music or your instrument? Tell us.

Ned Oldham: Only a joke I use when it's time to tune up during a performance:
Q: "You know how when you see ducks flying in a V formation, how one side of the V is longer than the other? Do you know why that is?"
A: "There are more ducks in the long side."

Related:

• Ned Oldham's booking page

• Free guitar tutorials with great teachers

• Our complete hand-picked list of guitar teachers