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Post by grampalerxst on Mar 17, 2019 7:08:20 GMT -6
About 5 hours for me. Even with the short time things are improving incrementally. Still focusing on better control of note producing mechanics--it's about all I can accomplish with so little time.
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Post by joachim on Mar 17, 2019 7:20:19 GMT -6
I am working on Grovin' Easy in MBYCU, as well as some earlier songs. They are really cool songs. And I have managed to keep up noodling/improvising every day - I am starting to see small improvements, which makes it feel more fun and less work.
Then my Fender Princeton Reverb amp started making a large hissing noise regardless of all knob settings and whether or not a guitar is connected. I don't remember when I got it, but it can't be more than a year and half ago. My guess is that one of the pre-amp tubes needs to be replaced, so I ordered a set of new ones. If that doesn't help I will need to find an amp tech nearby.
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Post by Phil on Mar 17, 2019 8:14:15 GMT -6
Got 8+ hrs. I practiced with the metronome on 3 out 6 practice days (which is a big step for me  ), and I learned 2 choruses of a Jazz Blues solo. I haven't sat down and learned any usable licks or solos in a long time. I've spent a lot of time recently trying to come up with my own stuff, but not learning other people's stuff. I have to admit that other people's stuff sounds way better.  The two 12-bar solos I learned were from transcriptions of Emily Remler's live version of the Jazz Blues standard "Tenor Madness" written by saxophonist Sonny Rollins. I guess it would fall into the "Jump Blues" category, but I'm not too good at putting things into their proper boxes. I can play them just up to 160 BPMs, then the wheels fall off the cart. Emily plays this tune at about 200-210 BPMs! I can't even play the basic melody at that tempo let alone the solos. Anyway, you might enjoy watching this even if you're not into Jazz. She solos for 6 choruses after playing the main melody twice. I'm working on the 1st two.
Here she is:
There's also a terrific version on YT of Sonny Rollins playing it live in Japan in the early 90s. It's mind boggling. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Mar 17, 2019 10:14:26 GMT -6
Got in at least a half hour every day this week - got over an hour a couple of days! Been working pretty much on Stetina's "Total Rock Guitar". I need to get back to some of my "technical" stuff - notes on the fretboard, 16th note strumming, scales, legato exercises. I seem to have a hard time striking a balance between songs/lessons/technical exercises. Got to keep it fun, though, or it falls by the wayside...
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Post by cunningr on Mar 17, 2019 11:57:09 GMT -6
Well, my instructor gave me the what for cause of little practice but understood. That said Istarting last Wed i have mannage 3.5 hours. Found I need to work on put correct solos for the part if the progression the song is on. Also went stupid trying to play simple rythmn with my instructor, all that work lost guitar focus.
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Post by blackcountrymick on Mar 17, 2019 18:39:54 GMT -6
Had guitar lesson this week, working on fingerstyle blues exercises, and "Freight Train". Got in at least 1 1/2 hours most days practice. In addition to above work I have been working on some chord melody from the truefire jazz program - "St James Infirmary Blues". I don't think I am back to where I was about 12 months ago yet, but its my fault for having a break I suppose. Having an instructor definitely helps to keep you motivated and focused on progressing. Hopefully I will get more from paying for an instructor than buying a new guitar  . |
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Post by Phil on Mar 17, 2019 20:41:47 GMT -6
Had guitar lesson this week, working on fingerstyle blues exercises, and "Freight Train". Got in at least 1 1/2 hours most days practice. In addition to above work I have been working on some chord melody from the truefire jazz program - "St James Infirmary Blues". I don't think I am back to where I was about 12 months ago yet, but its my fault for having a break I suppose. Having an instructor definitely helps to keep you motivated and focused on progressing. Hopefully I will get more from paying for an instructor than buying a new guitar . Mick, sounds like you've been busy. Maybe you needed the break in order to get a fresh outlook.
A couple of questions: Is the version of "St. James Infirmary" the one taught by Howard Morgen?
Are you going fingerstyle exclusively now?
Here's a rendition of "Freight Train" played by a guy who's currently living in my house. 
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Post by joachim on Mar 18, 2019 11:12:08 GMT -6
Had guitar lesson this week, working on fingerstyle blues exercises, and "Freight Train". Got in at least 1 1/2 hours most days practice. In addition to above work I have been working on some chord melody from the truefire jazz program - "St James Infirmary Blues". I don't think I am back to where I was about 12 months ago yet, but its my fault for having a break I suppose. Having an instructor definitely helps to keep you motivated and focused on progressing. Hopefully I will get more from paying for an instructor than buying a new guitar . Great to have you back, Mick! When my improvisation skills are a little better I might bug you about JamKazam again - we live close enough that it might work. |
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Post by blackcountrymick on Mar 18, 2019 17:04:05 GMT -6
Had guitar lesson this week, working on fingerstyle blues exercises, and "Freight Train". Got in at least 1 1/2 hours most days practice. In addition to above work I have been working on some chord melody from the truefire jazz program - "St James Infirmary Blues". I don't think I am back to where I was about 12 months ago yet, but its my fault for having a break I suppose. Having an instructor definitely helps to keep you motivated and focused on progressing. Hopefully I will get more from paying for an instructor than buying a new guitar . Mick, sounds like you've been busy. Maybe you needed the break in order to get a fresh outlook.
A couple of questions: Is the version of "St. James Infirmary" the one taught by Howard Morgen?
Are you going fingerstyle exclusively now?
Here's a rendition of "Freight Train" played by a guy who's currently living in my house.
St James Infirmary is from Truefire - Play Jazz Guitar 3 taught by Frank Vignola. I've not plugged in for over 2 weeks now, but its only what I am currently working on. That's a great rendition by your son, mine is an aweful lot simpler at the moment but it's the sort of level I would like to achieve. |
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Post by blackcountrymick on Mar 18, 2019 17:09:32 GMT -6
Had guitar lesson this week, working on fingerstyle blues exercises, and "Freight Train". Got in at least 1 1/2 hours most days practice. In addition to above work I have been working on some chord melody from the truefire jazz program - "St James Infirmary Blues". I don't think I am back to where I was about 12 months ago yet, but its my fault for having a break I suppose. Having an instructor definitely helps to keep you motivated and focused on progressing. Hopefully I will get more from paying for an instructor than buying a new guitar . Great to have you back, Mick! When my improvisation skills are a little better I might bug you about JamKazam again - we live close enough that it might work. That sounds good. I have a new, more powerful computer now so it may well work for me. I have been doing a little bit of improv with my new tutor but its more about me maintaining a steady rhythm part for now. Its real fun actually trying to keep 2 guitars bouncing off each other trying to keep in time!!! |
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Post by wannaplayblues on Mar 19, 2019 3:08:05 GMT -6
Been working on a few bits and pieces. Most recently I decided to bite the bullet and go for something that would be a right-of-passage for me, namely BB King's The Thrill Is gone. So far, Anastasia (guitar) and I have got the Intro solo down so I recorded it last night for you all to enjoy:
Some things I've already noticed about BB King's playing compared to mine...
- He gets A LOT of use out of just a few notes - way more than I anticipated (yep, I'm a fool for not realising this sooner)
- The 'BB Box' is a real thing
- He bends strings all the time - even bending up to a note he just played
- I have no hope of recreating his 'butterfly vibrato'
- He presses the strings a lot lighter than I do
After starting to learn the solo, I had to resign to the fact that I'm not him and will not sound identical to him, ever, but that that's ok! I had to start pressing the strings lighter than usual to get a smoother cleaner tone. My picking I tried to make less agressive, too. Also, in my mind at least, he seems very good at being relaxed with the timing. I'm not saying he's out of time, rather, I feel more rigid whereas he seems to have this sweet laidback feel.
Learning another's infamous solo definately makes you think about how you play in contrast to them.
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Post by jack1982 on Mar 19, 2019 6:00:34 GMT -6
I had my usual week but just had to stop by and ask Phil why he wasn't in that video Great job by your son, and WPB, awesome job on that BB King tune! Magnificient tone. I've gotta start picking up the ol' geetar and just jammin' along with some backing tracks for a bit each day...something to get me back into it. Right after I get my taxes done lol. |
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Post by cunningr on Mar 22, 2019 18:17:27 GMT -6
Been working on a few bits and pieces. Most recently I decided to bite the bullet and go for something that would be a right-of-passage for me, namely BB King's The Thrill Is gone. So far, Anastasia (guitar) and I have got the Intro solo down so I recorded it last night for you all to enjoy:
Some things I've already noticed about BB King's playing compared to mine...
- He gets A LOT of use out of just a few notes - way more than I anticipated (yep, I'm a fool for not realising this sooner)
- The 'BB Box' is a real thing
- He bends strings all the time - even bending up to a note he just played
- I have no hope of recreating his 'butterfly vibrato'
- He presses the strings a lot lighter than I do
After starting to learn the solo, I had to resign to the fact that I'm not him and will not sound identical to him, ever, but that that's ok! I had to start pressing the strings lighter than usual to get a smoother cleaner tone. My picking I tried to make less agressive, too. Also, in my mind at least, he seems very good at being relaxed with the timing. I'm not saying he's out of time, rather, I feel more rigid whereas he seems to have this sweet laidback feel.
Learning another's infamous solo definately makes you think about how you play in contrast to them.
The other thing with BB King is he never played and sang at the same time! |
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), and I learned 2 choruses of a Jazz Blues solo.
.
