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Post by jack1982 on Jan 6, 2019 6:21:04 GMT -6
I actually practiced a bit this week, believe it or not  Worked on that "improvising in the style of Little Wing" challenge at the other site. It, um...doesn't sound much like Little Wing...yet  We're using a 4 bar chord progression (G, D, Em C) and you strum the chord on the first beat of each measure, then come up with single note lines (using pentatonic major in the key of the chord over the major chords, and pentatonic minor over the Em) on the other beats. Also got a little rhythm figure we're using to get started, but I kind of use that for the "important" notes while adding in plenty of other stuff too, if that makes any sense. So that's a lot of fun, you just have to play around with it a lot to get a feel for how the notes sound and which ones you want to play next. I'm making an effort to practice more in the new year, hopefully this will keep me energized for a while. |
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Post by Phil on Jan 6, 2019 9:31:44 GMT -6
Glad to see we're back to the weekly update and Jack's back playing guitar.
I got in 8 hours, but 3 of those hours were all in one day so it wasn't a normal week. However, I did work on all the stuff I planned. Yesterday I tried a stretching exercise I got from Steve Krenz who got it from Phil Keaggy who got it from somebody else. I first saw it about 4 years ago. Couldn't do it on first attempt so I put it aside and forgot about it. It's a bear. I couldn't even completely reach the first step. I'm going to see if I can do it 5 minutes a day for a while and see what happens. Of course, my problem has always been sticking to something for a long period. I don't know how I got thru 3 of John G's books cover-to-cover. Actually, I do know how. It's directly related to this forum.  Anyhoo, check out this video starting around 7:30 to see the exercise. Give it a try and let me know how you did. Steve Krenz doesn't have very big hands. In fact, he can't even do the thumb over the neck thing. |
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Post by grampalerxst on Jan 6, 2019 10:01:49 GMT -6
Well, decent week for me. I'm not totally settled into what I envision my 2019 routine to be yet, but I averaged about 2hrs/day.
On the AT lick I slowed back to 60% tempo. Oddly enough I was better at 70% than at 65% (starts to get more reflexive than deliberate at 70%). So I decided to go back to 60% to see if I could shake out whatever was going wrong at 65%. I'm also working on the entire 16-bar intro which brings in a complementary set of challenges. It's technically less difficult thn the lick but requires a lot of touch.
Still working that first chorus of Pride and Joy. If I get a chance today I'll update the reps thread one last time, but I've hit the point where the gains are slowing down. I'll keep in the routine for a good while longer while working on getting the RH part perfected.
I got Texas Rock cued up in Transcribe! and have started the rep approach to it. I realized I don't play it right any more, I sort of modified it to make it a little more fun to play. I'm going to stick with that version, work on it 10 minutes/day, then track it 3-4 weeks.
Jack--that sounds like a fun challenge. The "Little Wing-style" playing is among my favorites and something I hope to tackle one day.
Phil--I took a shot at the stretching exercise. Didn't spend much time. I could sorta do it with my first finger starting at the fourth fret, but no lower. Even at the 4th it was a little painful so I wouldn't jump right there to start if I was going to do it a lot.
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Post by bluesbruce on Jan 6, 2019 10:30:14 GMT -6
Pretty good week here, too. Hopefully it's not like the gym phenomenon come New Years (where every gym in America is completely full of resolutioners for the next 2-3 weeks). Right now, it's just technique practice, but I'm going to add in some songs eventually. I've also decided to take on the dreaded learning the notes on the fretboard (I've put this off for years). All the gurus seem to say this can be accomplished in just a couple of months with 5 minutes a day, and I'm going to do it! Also updated to the latest EarMaster software, and am likewise going to try to stick with ear training exercises for 5 minutes a day. I've already learned that I'm not very good at distinguishing major, major b5, and augmented chords (actually, the major triads are easy to pick out, but I'm having a bear of a time with the other two). There's a whole variety of different exercises, not just chord recognition. I plan to mix it up, keep it interesting.
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Post by jack1982 on Jan 6, 2019 11:15:46 GMT -6
I made it down to about the 4th fret as well, but I won't comment on how many notes rang out cleanly I tend to lay my hand over to the side as opposed to keeping my fingertips perpendicular to the fretboard, as it allows a bit of cheating but of course those stretches tend to lay the fingers over the higher strings. |
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Post by Phil on Jan 6, 2019 13:25:57 GMT -6
I made it down to about the 4th fret as well, but I won't comment on how many notes rang out cleanly I tend to lay my hand over to the side as opposed to keeping my fingertips perpendicular to the fretboard, as it allows a bit of cheating but of course those stretches tend to lay the fingers over the higher strings. That's not cheating. There's no way to keep your fingers perpendicular on long stretches. Of course, you don't have to play chords that require long stretches, but it's nice to be able to occasionally play one when you need it.
I'm going to keep at this for at least a week or 2 and see what happens. I'll report my progress.
Now I'm committed to doing this. 
BTW, in the rest of that video he shows you how to play the 7 diatonic chord arpeggios in one position and some other arpeggio exercises. Arpeggios are something that I keep wanting to learn better but rarely practice. I think I'll start doing this one position arpeggio thing and the stretch as a warmup for 5-10 minutes. I stopped doing any type of warmup a long time ago.
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Post by cunningr on Jan 6, 2019 16:42:35 GMT -6
Well I couldnt even begin to provide an accurate time count but in excess of 2 hours per day for sure.
I did string swap on my new strat, but on Blues Sliders and they sound excellent. I am really strating to mesh with the new axe, no shoulder pain so am getting more time playing. Having trouble getting my palm muting on first 3 strings though, welcome any tips.
Practicing Honky Tonk, Born Under a Bad Sighn, and started looking at I am Tore Down. Learned a new Roger Waters lick, and a bass line groove for class next week, and trying to focus on turn arounds.
Redid my pedal board with velcro too and pretty much finshed my sons electronic drum build.
Also ordered a Trio + pedal, was looking for a looper as a practice add but thinking now an Boss RC3 might have been better option.
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Post by jack1982 on Jan 7, 2019 16:39:52 GMT -6
Hey I found a way to combine guitar playing with working out - I got one of those Fitbit watches that count your steps. Since it's on my wrist, it also counts chord changes as steps! I got credit for about a two mile walk just messing around with this Little Wing project  |
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Worked on that "improvising in the style of Little Wing" challenge at the other site. It, um...doesn't sound much like Little Wing...yet 
We're using a 4 bar chord progression (G, D, Em C) and you strum the chord on the first beat of each measure, then come up with single note lines (using pentatonic major in the key of the chord over the major chords, and pentatonic minor over the Em) on the other beats. Also got a little rhythm figure we're using to get started, but I kind of use that for the "important" notes while adding in plenty of other stuff too, if that makes any sense. So that's a lot of fun, you just have to play around with it a lot to get a feel for how the notes sound and which ones you want to play next.
