Homeskoolin’ Volume 249, Tom Bukovac, “The Snake” 

I'm just a soul whose intentions are good...Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

A rich man is someone who can have a party all by himself. Uncle Larry is a rich man.

Hi Tom, I usually don't write comments on the internet. But today is a special day for me: tomorrow I will fly from Germany to Nashville for the first time since 2014. And a lot of things changed since then. And I'm totally serious when I say one of the best things that came along were your videos. There is this deepness and wisdom where we alI go "yes, thanks God I'm not the only one suffering from this". (I'm not a native English speaker, so forgive me if I say things in a weird or wrong way) For instance I always remember this early video where you talked about "time" and how hard it is to play a simple cowboy acoustic guitar track. And immediately I remembered all this painful moments sitting in front of a mikrophone in a booth trying to play what everyone considers an easy rhythm guitar track. But my hands were getting stiffer and stiffer and I was hearing all the strange noises an acoustic guitar is not supposed to make. And I hated myself so much I wanted to quit playing. And than you come along saying that's a normal thing because nobody does practice that kind of thing. And that was just one example of countless precious little moments you are giving to all of us. Thank you so much!!! So, I don't know why but I had to say this. Please go on with the videos, that's the kind of stuff the world needs. And by the way I always love when Gordon Mote is around. Tried to figure out his run down from the 4 to the 1 at the end of yesterday's video. Okay, sorry for my confused but heartfelt comment Paul

Your ”silly show” is youtube’s finest channel!!! You’re inspiring, to say the least!

I thought it was awesome that Pat & Doug came to visit you uncle Larry. Great time with them I bet.

That doinky tele just puts a smile on your face

Genuinely laughed out loud when you said Quora. Top two questions from today alone - "Would a cat have survived a fall from the top of the World Trade Center?" and "How did the drummer from Led Zeppelin lose his arm?"

As a priest... I wholeheartedly endorse the spirituality of Larry's homily titled, "*FUUCHHK Rolling Rock*"

Hey Tom, I spent time in '75 as a rookie QB in Oakland...Got a 1st hand experience of knowing The Snake...he even loaned me his car one night during training camp so we could "run the gauntlet" down the streets of Santa Rosa Ca where we had our training camp facilities...He was the real deal...Keep up the great shows...Now I have to go play guitar!!!!!

Not that you need to hear from me, but you are the most creative, original guitar player out there today, (that I've heard) Thank you for sharing that creativity with us. It really is a pleasure to listen to what you can do with a guitar.

I think the reason there were such great players back in the days, was two fold. 1. They had to be great. If they picked living by their instrument, they had no plan B answer no safety net. 2. They played so incredibly much live. They could play 8-12 hours 6 days a week. I saw the interview with George Benson on Rick Beatos channel. My god, the stories he told of the amount of hours he put in playing live.

Uncle Larry, you are not wrong. As a Polish Detroit-born lad from 4 generations of Lions fans, I was raised in a home where the loudest thing my dad ever yelled was "GIVE IT TO BARRY!!!!!"

I feel like I've got the spaces down after 40 years of playing. Now I'm gonna start working on the notes.

LOL!!! You sure know how to bring back some long lost memories Tom! I'm talkin' about using album sleeve/covers to clean the seeds out of our weed, lol. I damn sure did that..........back when dinosaurs roamed the earth ( I'm 62. ) I quit smokin' weed decades ago. But that was a fun little memory, silly as it may seem. You're the best Brother.

Thanks Tom, for your insights and sharing of your life, experience as a pro, and unparalleled musicianship. Your talent is so impressive it’s beyond words. Your perfect pitch and ability to gear something and understand the structure is impressive. You are a great dad and great friend to everyone. We appreciate you. thank you for your daily discussion and music gifts to us. You are reaching so many musicians and you inspire us to try to play each day. Even gaining a fraction of one of your rhythms, licks, grooves, or riffs gives us hope and we try and get better.

Killer Groove!

Yeah Uncle Larry!! Yuengling & McMahon RULE!! 🎸🔥🍻🏈👍

Tom, you are so spot on about why musicians of the past were such incredible players. During the Covid lockdown I thought I was developing ADD. I then realized it was information overload. Too many things going on in my head at the same time. I’d be doing one rhing and thinking about 3 other things at the same time.

Living in Houston, Texas in the early 80's when Stabler played for the Oilers it was always a big time when Hank Williams Jr came to town. The stories of those two Bama buddies are legendary.

Thank you Doug and Pat for introducing me to your site Brah......saw you on a Keeley vid a while ago......but only just saw the Doug and Pat vid yesterday..........keepin it real (&raw)....love it man...🤘🏴‍☠️

...waiter ....I'll have what Uncle Larry is havin😂❤

A forthcoming book should be entitled "Maybe your pocket, was right?". Good shit man

Love your humor and style Tom. I get the biggest smile whenever you say "I better hang up" ✌

On fire mate ...flying high....great melody ...chickens are hot....wow. from the UK🖖

That opening is badass!

Dare I say this is the best Homeskoolin' video...EVER???

I was Raider fan since I was 5. Stabler was childhood Hero for sure. SNAKE

Man. This ending discussion of Isolated Originality is some of the most profound stuff I’ve heard in a while. Uncle Larry, you’re awesome.

The snake. The one and only KS. Hanging out in a bar on a Saturday night. Playbook in hand. Getting ready for Sundays game.

I was born & raised until in my teens in Rockwood TN. When I was a kid, I had kin folks that lived in the hills that never went more than 20 miles from where they were born. Some played guitar, banjo, uke, etc. It was a blast listening to them play. They had never heard of Elvis, Duane Eddy, Chuck Berry, Beatles, or any other bands that my dad let me hear back then. They played their own style, because they hadn't be influenced by the "new world" yet.

as soon as you started that beginning riff...man that tele is serious, also the man playing it is responsible.. cheers!

Stabler throwing to Fred Biletnikoff and Dave Casper ! Great stuff Uncle L. Thank you for checking in with us Home Skoolers !! Always a Pleasure. Best Wishes - John

Hey Buko. Holy shit! I had a Tascam 388 and LOVED that thing. My life was a constant battle to wring as many ways to get more tracks onto that thing as possible. It sounded great, was an incredible education in recording and fostered creativity. I think it’s great your boys will learn that before the inevitable time they’ll get into digital recording. For me, learning analog first allowed me to understand the various concepts digital is based on. Have fun! Your pal in Boston, Darin

That groove at the top was like a funk country combo...really unique...

1966 Tele is the best year, ever! Best feeling neck. I'm still kicking myself for selling my 66. I bought a 388 in 96 and me and Jimmy Yeary used it for a few demos when I lived in Ashland City. Cleaned the heads frequently. Ended up flipping it for a pair of ADATs, which I ended up flipping for a Korg D-16 ... transitions until I got pro tools. But it was cool. Wish I still had it. You'll have fun with it Tom, just be prepared to clean those heads, frequently. Cheers, Forrest

Someone sponsor Homeskoolin! This man deserves free beer if anyone does.

"Isolated Originality" - cool description...deep too.

The GT & Buk album . So freakin excited

Thanks for showing my boy Kenny Stabler some love… I was born in Oakland, all the way back in ‘65, and actually got to see him play. 🙏🏻🩶🖤

Funky groove... Love it

Hey Larry I just wanted to share something I recently learned about the telecaster. If you ever get clicking noises when your fingers hit the pickguard while your playing rub the pickguard with a dryer sheet. It reduces the built up static and the noise is gone. It drove me crazy until I finally learned this trick. It'll come back after a while but all you do is rub it with the dryer sheet again : )

I will never get tired of that twangy picking near the bridge sound on a tele

I might be wrong but I don't think so? You have made a living delivering ear candy!! Thank you!!

I’m a gonna raise a fuss, I’m a gonna raise a holler… brilliant Tom.

Reel to reel is so much fun. Changing the placement of the instruments around some nice stereo ribbons in M/S configuration I learned so much about room sound. I hope you an your Kids will have a great time!

Uncle Larry is a madman!

I think playing in front of audiences constantly is what made musicians so great 60s-80s. Cheers Tom!

It’s also how we had to learn… the learning tools today are amazing, but I’m divided on them… I had to learn everything from ear… wearing the tape thin…. Over and over and over. Now, I can grab the tab for anything, with music background, slow down etc… so cool. But man, I had to work to learn every note of every song and solo i loved by listening closely. I think there’s something to be said for what that does for your ear.

I love it when Uncle Larry’s stank face starts making an appearance! That’s when we know he’s really into it! Cheers.

Good shit.

I started watching Larry 3 years ago. I just graduated high school now ima senior in college far from home. Trippy. Thanks Tom u actually do feel like my uncle haha

Love the channel bro ! Keep an eye on the liver panel when they say fatty chill.

Definitely your most insightful video so far. Very cool.

Thank You for reinvigorating my love of music! ie Fred Biletnikoff huge part of Stablers game, would run patterns for hours

Man that was such a good episode! 🎸 Keep on rocking!

Don't apologize for ranting. You're allowed and your points are valid

Making me happy. Thanks Uncle Larry

Damn...old unc should be doing the scores for movies..... Talk about painting a mental picture or setting mood with sounds....tom is truly a maestro.

Yngwie Malmsteen talks about that very thing in a recent interview. He said when he was young growing up in Sweden they didn't have TV or popular radio. He had heard very little of popular guitar players. His parents were classical musicians so he heard some classical European music, but that was about it. It caused him to develop his own style of playing. When he was a teenager he heard rock music for the first time and he knew that's what he wanted to play.

I gave one away to my buddy (tascam 388) amazing amazing console!

Hey Tom, I absolutely agree with your assessment of the reason for players of the past being so good and so diverse. I've said that same thing many times (to many a disinterested listener, hahaha). And yeah, it was the beautiful isolation that propagated so many awesome styles. What I wouldn't give to go back to those less distracted days. Good call my friend. Rock on!

On a flight to Dublin I just heard the Ann Wilson Cd on the phones. What a great record: great songs, wonderfull atmosphere, amazing guitars all over the place, and a killer sound! The drums, just everything sounding soo good. Love it…And yes, I waiting on the Guthrie Trapp Cd.

That intro was fucking outstanding 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Always the best!

Uncle Larry, I have a ‘66 blonde Tele. It’s a maple fingerboard cap over a maple neck. I was told that the maple fingerboard was a custom order in ‘66 with the truss rod adjustment accessible from the pick guard end. No bullet at the headstock. Spaghetti lettering. Can’t see your headstock, but is that what you have?

As a lefty kid, I totally idolized Stabler. I thought "he throws the same way as me!" Plus he was impossible for me to understand in interviews. He ruled.

That Tele brings a twang factor of ten to the table for sure!!!

Tom……you crack me up dude…..you are one funny cat!

Enjoyed this one, Little Tommy! I share your affection for Kenny Stabler. He was my favorite QB growing up. You have 2 minutes left to score, get the ball in the hands of The Snake!

There is no such thing as bad music coming outta those fingers Mr. Bucovac, but I especially appreciated that opening jam!!! Thank you!!!

Hey Tom, I love that drop D boogie you played when you were pointing the tone on that Tele’, the “quack-quack” on the D & G strings just kills me, I’ve been playing it and laughing all morning. Love it. Thank you sir.

Very Cool, Thankyou. Awesome Tune. As far as 'old time players' goes, Scotty Moore was one of the first actual Guitar players I remember seeing and 'taking notice of' (well Elvis maybe, but I considered him to be the Singer not guitarist) and he is still a huge inspiration today to my love of playing guitar and will always be a favorite. All the Best. Cheers

My parents both grew up in the Oakland area, and so were Raider fans throughout the 70s. That team and its fans enjoyed some of the most colorful and iconic players ever and Coach Madden of course. They bought me a Stabler jersey when I turned 5. Many good times sitting in front of the TV. 😁

That jam was fanfreakingtastik !

Spot on about what made musicians better in the old days. That and everyone was a lot poorer too. Being hungry is a real motivation. It will get you on stage in a hurry...I guessing.

the 388 is a great unit to get those projects done! Enjoy!

ive had the conversation with friends about how much better musicians were back in the day and we come to the same answer. Players were much more focused in the old days. Now days people dont even just sit and listen like they used to. They have to be doing something else while listening. If that other thing isnt playing an instrument to learn what they are listening to, then they arent listening as well as they should.

I loved the opening licks. Great feel and pocket.

Damn Tom, you talk abut a pocket, you got a mean one!

Not wrong Uncle Larry … Barry best running back of all time! Thx for shouting him out.

Thanks as always Uncle Larry for reminding us that great music is always about the whole and not just one part. Right notes, right spaces, perfect pocket, just right feel…and so it goes

I believe it was Dean Parks that said: before pro tools we had pros.

Love the topic With ya on the caliber of player back then (for whatever my opinion is really worth / who am I) People would grab a guitar, listen to records, and their ability came thru being influenced by such highly accomplished musicians in their own right. “Necessity is the mother of invention “

I grew up in Houston and had the pleasure of knowing and partying with him, the late great Kenny Stabler, at a night club he partly owned...many nights he mostly complemented, Kenny knew how to "party," too. Kenny was a lot of things, but he was an awesome dude above all.

Tom, that was the COOLEST jam.

The well never runs dry!

when I grow up I wanna play like that,, ,,,,

He "Strikes" Again!

You really did nail it about the internet and technology!

Thanks agin Unc🎸🎸

Loved the talk about differences between then and now musician. I'm so glad we only had three TV stations and no RU-vid? I think musician had to really stop and think about the song instead somebody showing you how to play a song note for note on you tube. You had to develop your hearing and your brain into your own style? Keep up your great channel! PS I love RU-vid now ;so, I can go back and learn the song, correctly.

Snake & Tooz were seen regularly at local dive bars in Bay Area. Saw them at a bar friends band played at in Hayward, CA.

Uncle Larry having a moment- nice

Damn honky, that was a funky groove for the intro! 🕺🪩😂

i think that another reason for the quality and depth of guitarists in the old days was a generation that was forming its own identity in the face of war and cultural upheaval. uncharted waters to sail at the right time and place.

Radiating...

I can watch shit all day long. This is as good as it gets.

I mixed Sir Mix Alots My Posses on Broadway from one of those old Tascams. Also, cool Tele.

the last power outage was very productive for me.right away noticed i have too many distractions

Woh! Welcome to Wednesday night!!