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Post by chrisnc on Jun 12, 2015 18:59:46 GMT -6
While I continue to bring Swinging the Blues up to full speed, I'm also working on Double Stop Stomp. Here we are with another slow version. Not perfect, but not too bad. I kind of had a couple weak notes, a not so clean double stop, and I kind of fumbled the first couple of pick-up notes after the turn-around. I'll continue working on this for sure and bring it up to full speed. soundcloud.com/chris-nc/double-stop-stomp-slowDefinitely having fun. Hope everyone else had a good week. chris |
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Post by Phil on Jun 13, 2015 5:06:36 GMT -6
Chris, It sounds very good. You are getting these studies down with precision at a slow speed. That takes a lot of patience. I think most of us (and I'm the biggest offender)want to play them too fast too soon. Now, for some constructive criticism, or what we euphemistically call around here a "smack-down."  The way you're playing this study sounds absolutely fine, but I just want to make sure you are aware of a couple of things. In the pick-up measure, both times through, you're not playing the triplet on beat 4. You're starting it before the beat and then playing the next 2 notes of the triplet on beat 4. In measure 6 that last triplet is 3 descending double stops. It sounds like you're skipping the 1st double stop (of the last triplet) and starting the beat on the 2nd double stop, holding it, and then play the last double stop of the triplet - like swung 8th notes. That last triplet is tricky to play. You have to play 3 different double stops in the space of a triplet. You can take any lick and vary the beat it comes in on or change the rhythmic structure however you want as long as it ends up fitting in. In fact, that's what it's all about in the end - putting you own stamp on it. The important thing is that you change it on purpose. If you think you are playing something as written and are not, then that could create a problem down the road. I know this probably sounds like nit-picking, but I'm just pointing out something that you might not be aware that you're doing. It's one of the things that makes this forum a little different from most. We're trying to help each other improve our playing by pointing these things out. |
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Post by chrisnc on Jun 13, 2015 5:58:15 GMT -6
Phil, First, thanks for taking the time to provide such a nicely written and well thought out response, much appreciated. You are right on the money with your feedback. Some of those items I'm aware of, but need to focus on, such as coming in early on the pickup notes. I tend to anticipate the beat before it gets there and need to lock in a little better. Recording has actually helped reveal some of this as I can actually see all of the timing issues when comparing the recorded tracks in Garageband. I also like your comment about swinging notes when I shouldn't, I need to spend some time on those parts as well. I get what you mean about playing a piece as it is written versus playing an improve or your own idea. To the non-BYCU listener, it may sound great, but if it isn't how John wrote it, then it's not really right. When I jumped onboard here, my intention was to leverage the feedback and become a better player, so this stuff is definitely helpful. I consider these recordings as rough drafts, and works in progress, tools rather than performances.  |
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Post by bluesbruce on Jun 13, 2015 6:55:06 GMT -6
Chris,
That's sounding pretty good, definitely coming right along. I'm glad Phil picked up these little timing issues - I'm afraid that would have slipped right past me, on more casual listening. Yes, recording yourself and putting it up here will definitely help you become a better player, and BYCU will definitely move you smoothly to a higher level of playing. You've just got to be realistic, that it takes some time to work thru it all. Thanks for sharing.
Bruce
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Post by jack1982 on Jun 13, 2015 7:25:30 GMT -6
Sounds good to me Chris, I haven't listened to that song in a long time so I missed all the stuff Phil was talking about. The timing is very good, just needs a tiny bit of polish. I usually listen to the drums while playing; some notes fall right on the beats while others don't, but if you can consciously hear those drums as you play, and hit those "on the beat" notes right on the beat, then everything else seems to fall naturally into place.
Very nice recording overall though!
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Post by chrisnc on Jun 13, 2015 11:41:48 GMT -6
So Phil, I went back and reviewed your notes along with the book, with guitar in hand. You are absolutely right on those double stops. For some reason, even though I counted the 6th/7th fret double stops, I completely ignored the one that's the first of the last triplet and I just go straight to the position change and take care of the 5th/5th and 3rd/3rd fret notes. Shucks!  Rather than learn it all over again, I just used some white-out and "corrected" the book.  |
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Post by Phil on Jun 13, 2015 15:09:14 GMT -6
So Phil, I went back and reviewed your notes along with the book, with guitar in hand. You are absolutely right on those double stops. For some reason, even though I counted the 6th/7th fret double stops, I completely ignored the one that's the first of the last triplet and I just go straight to the position change and take care of the 5th/5th and 3rd/3rd fret notes. Shucks! Rather than learn it all over again, I just used some white-out and "corrected" the book. Man, why didn't I think of that? Then again, my whole damn book would be covered in white-out. I can't tell you how many times I've played parts over and over, and then found out I was playing them wrong. If you think about it, it's wrong only because you're trying to learn something from and by the book. That's necessary, because you have to learn the rules before you can rightfully break them. But, the reality of music is - if it sounds good it is good. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Jun 13, 2015 17:35:16 GMT -6
But, the reality of music is - if it sounds good it is good. +1 on that, Phil |
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Post by cunningr on Jun 14, 2015 2:02:32 GMT -6
Not bad, I had a tune the timing was always off then realized I was coming in a beat late, so important to get those synced. What are you using to connect your guitar to your Mac?
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Post by wannaplayblues on Jun 14, 2015 2:06:27 GMT -6
So Phil, I went back and reviewed your notes along with the book, with guitar in hand. You are absolutely right on those double stops. For some reason, even though I counted the 6th/7th fret double stops, I completely ignored the one that's the first of the last triplet and I just go straight to the position change and take care of the 5th/5th and 3rd/3rd fret notes. Shucks! Rather than learn it all over again, I just used some white-out and "corrected" the book. IMHO you will be a better person/guitar player if you can take genuine constructive criticism and use it to improve. Sadly, too much criticism is not genuine and much must be ignored. That, however, has not been my experience here! It's all been genuinely constructive and aided my playing greatly! |
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Post by chrisnc on Jun 14, 2015 5:44:45 GMT -6
Not bad, I had a tune the timing was always off then realized I was coming in a beat late, so important to get those synced. What are you using to connect your guitar to your Mac? Thanks for the comments everyone, good stuff. As far as my recordings, I've got several ways to connect to my Mac and I'm currently experimenting with each. I can go straight from my Digitech RP360 multi-effects pedal or I can go through my Focusrite Scarlet Solo interface, and I just sold some older gear and while at the used music gear store found a Shure SM57 mic, which I have set in front of my amp then plugged into the Focusrite. The results of each are very different and I'm still learning the nuances of each. I'm also very new to Garageband, but so far, I really like it. |
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Post by cunningr on Jun 14, 2015 7:10:26 GMT -6
I use garage band also, I use a irig interface. I like using a mind input also, but it's almost always too noisy for me to record much that way.
Not sure you know but if you double click the backing track you can select the flex check boxes and use the tempo to set the track speed.
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Post by blackcountrymick on Jun 14, 2015 11:05:18 GMT -6
Good work Chris, you have a strong foundation with this song to build it up to the required tempo. There are always little nuances and differences in the way we hear and learn songs to every one else so no one really gets it exactly right, and that's good also.
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The way you're playing this study sounds absolutely fine, but I just want to make sure you are aware of a couple of things. In the pick-up measure, both times through, you're not playing the triplet on beat 4. You're starting it before the beat and then playing the next 2 notes of the triplet on beat 4. In measure 6 that last triplet is 3 descending double stops. It sounds like you're skipping the 1st double stop (of the last triplet) and starting the beat on the 2nd double stop, holding it, and then play the last double stop of the triplet - like swung 8th notes. That last triplet is tricky to play. You have to play 3 different double stops in the space of a triplet. 
