Grade 43

By kalimar and brian

2 cats, 3 dogs, 5 children, and 13 guitars.

Brian and Kalimar are old elementary school buddies who have come back to start Grade 43. Listen in on what they are learning about guitar gear, practice ... more

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FAQs about Grade 43:

How many episodes does Grade 43 have?

The podcast currently has 18 episodes available.

Grade 43 episodes:

December 28, 2022Episode 19: Pent Up Demand - An Interview with Eric Alexander of Penta Guitar
Kalimar and Brian sit down and talk theory and all things pentatonic with Eric Alexander of Penta Guitar. When was the last time you really looked at your fretboard? Say hello to Line 0. Also, we ask for homework, gluttons for punishment that we are. And in case it's unclear, it's a circle of fifths, OK? Follow and Retweet to Eric (@pentaguitar) for free coaching! Guest of the year!
Grab Eric's book: www.pentaguitar.com and use the discount code: GRADE43
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
pentaGuitar JUST PLAY™ – JUST PLAY™
Modes: What are they and how do I use them? - Classic FM
Circle Of Fifths
What is a 12-tone system in music? – Sage-Advices
System - Wikipedia
What are the five pentatonic boxes? – Guitar Reviewed
Eric on Twitter
Retracing the Sounds of Sogdiana | The Sogdians
Syriac Orthodox Church - Wikipedia
Lute - Wikipedia
Oud - Wikipedia
Mandolino - Wikipedia
Niccolò Paganini - Wikipedia
Polytonality - Wikipedia
Grab Eric's book at a discounted price!
...more
1h 30min
December 13, 2022Episode 18: Sliding into our DM's
After letting things SLIDE for a while, the guys talk the ins and outs and arounds of slide guitar. Somehow, doing less is more. Wikipedia proves to be an excellent resource. Strings are talked about. Oh and Kalimar sounds a little like the internet, but c'est la guerre - at least you didn't see the video issues!
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Everything you need to know about starting to learn about slide guitar but were afraid to ask — seriously, this is a great article.
Sonny Landreth Slide Supernatural on Truefire
What Is POST? (Power On Self Test Definition)
501chorusecho
Kalimar's Code Name
Miami University - Wikipedia
Rowin DUMBLER LEF-315 Dumble Amp Simulator Pedal Ships Free | Reverb
Dumble Amplifiers - Wikipedia
Mid-Fi Electronics ::: Pedals
A Brief but Complete Guide to Guitar Compression — Anatomy of Guitar Tone
Elton John Guitarist Davey Johnstone on Their History, Final Tour – Rolling Stone
Kalimar's Multi Pedal
Supro Delta King 12 1x12-inch 15-watt Tube Combo Amp - Black and Cream | Sweetwater
JIMMY PAGE's 17 Greatest Guitar Techniques! - YouTube
Flying in a Blue Dream - Wikipedia
Fewer vs. Less: Correct Usage Guide | Merriam-Webster
Playing With Dynamics - TrueFire - Guitar Lesson - TrueFire
The Rock Slide Ariel Posen Signature Slide - Small | Sweetwater
Focus On: Standard Tuning Slide - Guitar Lesson - David Hamburger
Guitar Slides | Sweetwater
Amazon.com: Moleskin Padding Adhesive Tape, Moleskin Padding for Shoes, Moleskin Tape for Toes Feet Blisters Prevention, 2 Rolls : Health & Household
Brian's Slide Collection
Bonnie Raitt Explains Unconventional Way She Plays Slide Guitar, Talks How She Got Into Slide Guitar | Music News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com
You Gotta Move (Tutorial + Tab) - YouTube
Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil (Official Music Video) - YouTube
Back to School (1986) Academic Evaluation Scene - YouTube
11 alternate tunings every guitarist should know | Guitar World
14 Best Short Scale Electric Guitars in 2022 - Guitar Lobby
What is a Parlor Guitar? | Parlor Guitars
The Splinter Self - Playing the Changes: Demonstration - Eric Haugen - Guitar Lesson - TrueFire
Frank Gambale - Wikipedia
...more
1h 17min
November 16, 2022Episode 17: Hum a few bars: An interview with Ryan from 60 Cycle Hum
The guys sit down with Ryan from 60 Cycle hum and talk about...well...all kind of things. Daylight Saving Time, parenting victories, and like ... guitars and stuff.
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
How to Play the Flute — Pretty obvious when you think about it
Daylight Saving Time — SAVING!
(1) THE SECRET TO SUCCESS - Dickdy Fox - Jerry Meguire - YouTube
Sinister Plot to Eliminate Handedness — get it...sinister
Clipart, Vectors, Logos, Illustrations, Templates and Graphics - iStock — Where Ryan made a living before podcasting and reviewing gear
60 Cycle Hum – The guitar podcast
60 Cycle Hum - YouTube
JHS on the 'Tube
Amazon.com: Lefty's True Left-Handed Scissors for General Purpose Use, 2 Sizes Included
Bad Cats
NAMM
Gearfest
Putting the Band Back Together
RSS
WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
Tony Iommi — One of the original badasses
Surfy Bear
HX Stomp — We presume if you've heard Kalimar speak you don't need this but...
Land Lines — You may need this. It's been the internet for a while now.
...more
1h 33min
October 24, 2022Episode 16: Play Ball - An Interview with Steve Sterlacci
The guys sit down with part guitarist, part roadie, part internet entertainer, part dog whisperer Steve Sterlacci. On the docket: Guitars, practice, goals, playoffs, and the importance of video editing.
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Steve Sterlacci
The Kids in the Hall 2022 - YouTube
Jessica Lynn - Wikipedia
Amazon.com: BrianFay Wireless Guitar System Rechargeable Charging Case Can Last for 36 Hours UHF Band Transmitter Receiver for Guitar and Bass Audio Instruments (Black) : Musical Instruments
Equal-loudness contour - Wikipedia
Fletcher Munson Curve: Easily Understand in 5 Minutes | Parlours Music
Analog Man Boss GE-7/Pro
Line 6 Helix Guitar Processor — Steve's primary touring rig and a big part of his YouTube channel activity
The Sterlacci YouTube booger episode — This is the episode we talk about where Steve had a Fiverr freelancer add something to cover a booger that was hanging off his nose.
The Rock Slide | Polished Brass Guitar Slide — Kalimar's new slide. Having a properly sized slide makes all the difference. Kalimar added a piece of moleskin to the inside so it fits a bit more snugly.
Alex Price - YouTube — Alex sent Kalimar the wireless unit. Alex has a great YouTube channel. He's also professor of Jazz at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania.
Jack Johnson (musician) - Wikipedia — Kalimar started the episode comparing Steve to Jack Johnson. Here's why: Jack Johnson is a former professional surfer turned musician.
Tim Pierce Guitar — Steve learned a lot of his playing from watching Tim's channel.
Guthrie Trapp | Country Guitar Lessons | ArtistWorks — Steve described Guthrie Trapp's lessons as an absolute game changer for him in his musical journey.
SNARR Northeast - Special Needs Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation — Where Steve and Jessica rescued their adorable pup!
Line 6 HX Crying Lead Sound - Stomp, Helix, LT. HXFX, Pod Go - YouTube — You can see the Les Paul we got to see on the zoom call in this video.
...more
1h 16min
October 08, 2022Episode 15: Grade 43 Season Too cool for school
The guys get together and talk about...gasp...live music. With musicians...and all manner of other stuff. Kalimar drops the blues philosophy...modes ergo sum. Instrument cables. And what we'll be sliding into next time.

Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Pro Co EVLGCSLN-20 Evolution Silent Straight to Right Angle Instrument Cable - 20 foot | Sweetwater — Kalimar talked about learning about the connector you are buying with your instrument cable. It's often a good sign of the product. Look for quality connectors on your main instrument cables!
G & H plugs
Amphenol
Switchcraft
Neutrik
This is a link to the cable Kalimar ended up buying
Savage Guitarworks — Savage is a TrueFire Student who's active on their Discord Server. Really nice person.
Line 6 Catalyst 60 60-watt 1 x 12-inch Combo Amplifier | Sweetwater — Kalimar's new amp. It's a dumbed down version of Helix modelling technology. It's plenty loud. For occasional gigs (read not getting tossed around in a van or having beer spilled on it) it's fantastic. It allows you to dial in a quieter sound at home and then just pick it up and take with you. It's very lightweight - about 24lbs.
Some features:
Attenuator (reduces speaker output volume while maintaining same tone)
USB connection (so the amp can function as an audio interface)
XLR line out (for connecting to a PA)
headphone out
audio in
FX loop (allows you to also use your own fancy modeller and the Catalyst power amp and speaker)
Tens of thousands of different guitar, vocal, even harmonica lessons — TrueFire Discount code: KALIMAR30 g
Gives you discounts on all their courses, jam tracks, song lessons, all-access pass, etc.
Local Northern Virginia Blues Jam — This is the event Kalimar attended and will continue to attend as regularly as possible
PRS Headstock Tuner | Reverb
Nexxus 360 Tuner | Accessories | D'Addario
5 Principles of Organization - YouTube
Working Class Guitar — Cory Congilio's guitar Courses. He's got it laid out really well. Kalimar is working through "Complete Blues Guitar Vol 1". You can buy the courses individually or sign up for about $9.00 a month. Well worth the subscription price.
Spinal Tap Nigel Tufnel solo - YouTube
...more
1h 5min
September 13, 2022Episode 14: Sound Reasoning: Music a Different Way with Sekhar Ramakrishnan
You've not heard guitar like this. The guys sit down with life long collaborator, physics'splainer, and sound-art musician Sekhar Ramakrishnan. Sound systems, sytems of sounds, and brown M and M's all feature. You need advice about Ohm's, you came to the right place. Thanks for hanging in there fans - we brought two fistfuls of podcast back.
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Bitches Brew - Wikipedia
Home - Hotone Audio
Theremin, Lydia Kavina: Rachmaninoff - Vocalise - YouTube
Nels Cline
AMM (Eddie Prévost, John Tilbury, Keith Rowe) at Sonic Protest Festival 2016 - YouTube
index | SuperCollider
Ellen Fullman performs at MOCAD - YouTube
Space Ghost Coast to Coast Opening Theme - YouTube
04 Rafael Toral - Maersk Line [Touch] - YouTube
Keith Rowe at Kongsberg Jazzfestival , Norway 08.07.2010 - YouTube
Music | Illposed
Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP) - Wikipedia
Michael Hedges - Wikipedia
Order '1963: New Directions' Now
illposed
...more
2h 23min
August 15, 2022Episode 13: Panic Mode - A Portrait of Dorian Gray Areas
The guys put on their teaching hat and try to understand modes in a shotgun wedding of necessity and invention. Kalimar drops his guide to modes. Brian has some serious questions. It's a barn burner. Grab a soda and strap in.
Kalimar sums up his thoughts in this post.
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Modes: What are they and how do I use them? - Classic FM
Guitar Lab: Chord Scales Vol. 1 - Chord Scale Principles - Brad Carlton - YouTube
Typical Major Modal Explanation
Modes Chart
The NA Scale Building System — An interesting way to visualize a guitar or bass fretboard
Build a better scale — In case you want to explore how to build these scales, this can be useful.
Music Theory for Guitar
The Jazz Piano Book
Why Modes Are Confusing
The Cursed TRS/MIDI Cable
Maybe Don't Buy This Brand — While it's very inexpensive, the trs side was too long. I guess you get what you pay for.
The Spark Product Line
The World's Greatest Super Computer — Admittedly, it's from a time when we just added the adjective "super" to something to make it awesome.
Over the Top — Two Words: Lincoln Hawk
Music theory - Wikipedia
Josh Smith, playing through chord changes
...more
1h 25min
August 01, 2022Episode 12: Summer Cleaning
The homework is FINALLY unearthed from under the pile of gear and the guys discuss the fun of muting, clearing the decks, and the merits of gear therapy, podcast style. Remember, most of us are rhythm guitarists!
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Dan Benjamin, of the Grade 43 podcast intro on the web
TrueHeart Blues with Kirk Fletcher — we and Cornell Dupree
Cornell Dupree - Wikipedia
Spark MINI – Portable Smart Guitar Amp and Bluetooth Speaker
Donate Musical Instruments - Pickup Please
Ideas For Donating Used Instruments
five watt world - YouTube
10 Packs of 3.5 inch Professional Plastic Small Spring Clamps Heavy Duty for Crafts or Plastic Clips and Backdrop Clips Clamps for Backdrop Stand,Photography, Home Improvement and so on - - Amazon.com
Twitterrific: Twitter Your Way — because it's a bitch to review that many chorus pedals
Amazon.com: Anker Outlet Extender with Stepless Dimming Night Light,Surge Protector, 331 Outlet Extender with 6 AC Outlets and 2 USB Ports, 18W USB Wall Charger Plug for College Dorm Room, Home,Cruise and Kitchen : Electronics
Anker 12 Outlets Power Strip Surge Protector (2 × 4000 J）with Flat Plug,8ft Extension Cord, White - Walmart.com — because we're running a datacenter, not a podcast right?
Personalized Gear Advice | Sweetwater.com
John Nathan Cordy talks about Gear acquisition syndrome
Donate your used strings - Help Women in different stages of addiction recovery handcraft jewelry as a form of art therapy.
Brazilian Guitar Pedal maker - Cachalote
Josh Skaja
Eric Petrus Novacaster
Kalimar's new midi control pedal
Kirk Fletcher's New Album
...more
59min
July 18, 2022Episode 11: Good Cooking - An Interview with Eric Petrus of NOVA Guitars
The guys sit down with Eric Petrus of NoVA Guitar Setups and talk entrepreneurship, custom Tele's, the crossover between chef'ing and guitar craft, and partying like your job depends on it.
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Understanding Neck Profiles — C Carve? Soft V? Undercoating?
Eric's Guitar Repair Business Courses
Petrus NoVAcaster Custom Guitar
Covers — Not what you think...
What Is A Kill Switch? — Kalimar Demo's the NoVa Guitars using custom strat by @novaguitarsetups and the @cachaloteaudio fuzz using an expression pedal.
Classical Guitars and Truss Rods — well...how the hell do you truss it then????
The Whole Neck Idea
Eric’s Newsletter
...more
1h 17min
July 04, 2022Episode 10: Hey Joel - An Interview with Chase Bliss Founder Joel Korte
The guys sit down with Chase Bliss founder (and all time Grade 43 Zoom Champ) Joel Korte to chat a little about pedals but more on music, life, passion, balance sheets, and of course, Star Wars. Spoiler Alert: Kalimar is Darth Vader's cousin.
Like what you're hearing? Buy us some guitar pics on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grade43
Really like what you hear? Consider supporting us every month on http://www.patreon.com/grade43
Opinions are 100% our own and we are not currently not sponsored by any manufacturer we mention. Some of the above links are affiliate links.
Sponsored By:
On Trajectory Financial Planning: See where your money is taking you, at OnTrajectory.com!
Links:
Chase Bliss Videos on YouTube
The Official Mute Button of Grade43 — not that we really remember to use it...
Watch this first: Chase Bliss Going Direct To Consumer
Chase Bliss Habit Tapes
Generation Loss: Cooper's Pedal
Find a Casette Player on eBay
Alternative Video Conferencing
Star Wars — This is a space show
Kirk Fletcher Course on TrueFire
...more
1h 3min

FAQs about Grade 43:

How many episodes does Grade 43 have?

The podcast currently has 18 episodes available.