L.A. SPEAK

Riffese: a selection of guitarists’ slang: old lady: n . guitar. “My old lady is in the car.” natives: n. club regulars; not necessarily fans of the band. “Nobody came to see us; it was just natives. “ sharks: n . pay-to-play bookers. “Those sharks made us buy 100 tickets for our own gig.” shark club: n . pay-to-play club. shedding: v . to practice intensively, as in going out to the woodshed to practice. “I just learned a new technique and I’ve got to shed on it.” shredding: v . playing as fast as you can. “He was shredding so hard he broke two strings.” tech head: n . musician who has racks and racks of sound equipment. “That tech head’s racks are taller than he is.” tap dancer: n . someone who uses foot pedals extensively during his/her playing. “He’s a tap dancer-- he hardly ever plays straight.”