[sdiy] newbee! help!

[the-h at mail.utexas.edu]

Hiya synth diyers. I am just starting up with synth diy and have been testing a 
few things on breadboard and am getting some strange results. I first made a 
simple passive high pass filter just a capacitor with a resistor across it. It 
worked fine but then i switched the capacitor and resistor (to make it low 
pass) and it just stopped working, no sound at all. Ive also been trying to do 
some simple stuff (making an inverter or regular amp) with an op amp. and 
meeting with unbrideled failure, they just don't work. I think my main problem 
might be my technique for connecting the 1/4" jacks into the breadboard, or my 
laying out of components on the breadboard. If someone could recommend some 
construction and prototyping techniques it would help a whole lot. I have one 
of those minimal type breadboards, no power or oscilator or nothin (its the 
kind you can get at radio shack). Any help would be great.