|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 18, 2015 6:23:27 GMT -6
Well I guess this is marginally presentable. I was talking in the weekly update about moving some of the bends down a string and up 5 frets, but I figured out that I just needed to do the bends slowly and that solved my problem with them sounding too "piercing". I dunno, I listen to this a few times and the bends sound okay, then I listen to it a few more times and they sound terrible  Let me know what you guys think. |
|
|
|
Post by bluesbruce on Jun 18, 2015 6:54:57 GMT -6
Wow, Jack, I'll be pretty happy when I can play that "marginally" as well as you did. First off, I think your tone and your "groove" on that are just exemplary - it's just cool to listen to. I think there are a couple of bends in there where you are just slightly off the intended pitch, and I wonder if that is some of the "piercing" you're hearing. Those bends, they just keep haunting all of us... They are certainly far from "terrible", to me it's pretty subtle and a little bit of some dissonance, well, that's part of the blues, man. I may not have even thought twice about them if you hadn't handed me a loaded gun, so to speak, with your introductory comments. I think that's a pretty damned strong performance all in all.
Bruce
|
|
|
|
Post by joachim on Jun 18, 2015 7:22:58 GMT -6
I also think that was way cool! But it makes me wonder how if I'll ever be able to finish MBYCU - it looks really difficult...
Your rhythm, timing and feel was just perfect, and that's just as important as hitting the pitch on all bends...
|
|
|
|
Post by blackcountrymick on Jun 18, 2015 8:04:32 GMT -6
Now Jack this is a real reflection of your hard work and dedication (and thousands of hours practice  ) , only 2 more to go Jack and you will be the first to graduate this book, as far as I can see no-one has posted all the songs from MBYCU. Its way above my head to even attempt to critically analyse this study so I will just sit back with my headphones and and listen.....and enjoy.... |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 18, 2015 9:21:40 GMT -6
Wow thanks so much guys, you're all awesome!  That "piercing" sound on the bends at the 8th fret high E I was talking about mostly came from the fact that I had previously been bending them up quickly and holding them at (or more likely not at) pitch, which really sounded bad until after several weeks I finally figured out that John's bending up slowly lol. By that time I'd obsessed over them so much that they sounded bad to me even on those rare occasions when I would hit the correct pitch  Thanks for the kind words guys, really brings a smile to my face and gives me some enthusiasm to tackle Half-Steppin', which looks like it's going to be a real bear. |
|
|
|
Post by cunningr on Jun 18, 2015 9:47:01 GMT -6
I am in total agreement excellent job, I hope I get there when I grow up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Jun 18, 2015 14:07:20 GMT -6
Jack,
This is my favorite tune in the book. It's so lyrical. Your bends aren't terrible. Some are a little off, but I can't quite put my finger on what is wrong. Could it be that you're over bending? There appears to be some fast bends in this one, and I think you hit most of them right on. And, there is that bend-release-pull off again. JohnG apparently loves that technique. It's pops up in almost every study.
You really develop an appreciation of JohnG's playing abilities when you listen to his versions of the studies in MBYCU. He almost always puts this subtle vibrato on his bends.
Overall it's pretty darn good. I like your tone, too. It fits the mood of the tune. You have reached a point where we have to concentrate on those little nuances, because everything else is spot on. This study will be a good one to re-record in a few weeks or months and compare those subtle differences.
Man, only 2 more studies to go. You are really inspiring me to get moving. I may have to put "Jazzin' the Blues" and the other Jazz stuff on the back burner and really focus on finishing MBYCU. "True Trem Blues" is almost there and I've made a commitment to get it recorded by the end of the month. I've finally got that pedal tone tremolo up to full tempo. It needs just a bit more practice.
|
|
|
|
Post by wannaplayblues on Jun 18, 2015 15:56:49 GMT -6
jack1982 - perfection I'd say! Sounds like CD quality recording and I love the tones you're using!
|
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 18, 2015 17:09:48 GMT -6
Thanks so much guys, much appreciated! Phil, yeah I think those bends sound sharp too, especially the last one, which is the first one in bar 6. I totally agree about the lyrical quality of this song, every single phrase has its own subtleties that make it more like singing than guitar playing. You'll love it when you get to it Looking forward to hearing True Trem Blues! |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 19, 2015 5:28:34 GMT -6
Oh here's the backing tracks: soundcloud.com/jack-c8/sets/backing-tracks-for-makin-changesI went with an 1/8th note count-in because it's such a slow tempo song I found it easier to hit the first beat that way. The first bar or two of the bass line is the same as the CD, but after that I just made the rest up myself because the guy on the CD is playing a 5 string bass and I've only got a 4 string. I don't think I ever posted the backing tracks for Eight Bar Boogie so here they are: soundcloud.com/jack-c8/sets/backing-tracks-for-eight-bar-boogieI made up my own bass line for that one as well due to the 5-string vs. 4-string thing. |
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Jun 19, 2015 14:09:52 GMT -6
Jack, Thanks for posting links to the backing tracks. Maybe I'll get to use them someday. I think getting past "True Trem" might be a major breakthrough for me. I have fantasies that the rest of the studies will be easy. Don't tell me the truth. Let me enjoy the fantasy for a little while. Now, tell the truth. How long have you been waiting for someone to tell you your bends are sharp? I remember, many moons ago, we were joking if the day would ever come when someone would tell us our bends are too sharp. Maybe that's why JohnG. usually puts a little vibrato on his bends. Think about it, if you're moving the string from sharp to flat (vibrato), floating around somewhere in the middle of those various pitches is the correct pitch. You're bound to hit it.  |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 20, 2015 5:32:43 GMT -6
Jack, Thanks for posting links to the backing tracks. Maybe I'll get to use them someday. I think getting past "True Trem" might be a major breakthrough for me. I have fantasies that the rest of the studies will be easy. Don't tell me the truth. Let me enjoy the fantasy for a little while. Now, tell the truth. How long have you been waiting for someone to tell you your bends are sharp? I remember, many moons ago, we were joking if the day would ever come when someone would tell us our bends are too sharp. Maybe that's why JohnG. usually puts a little vibrato on his bends. Think about it, if you're moving the string from sharp to flat (vibrato), floating around somewhere in the middle of those various pitches is the correct pitch. You're bound to hit it. No Phil, I'm not excited about bending sharp, I want to do them right darn it!  I guess it all boils down to developing a good sense of relative pitch so you can hear when you've hit the correct pitch, and the 5th of the scale (like in bars 4, 5 and 6) always gives me problems in that regard. Oh well, I'm not a mile off like I was 6 or 8 months ago, so maybe in another 6 or 8 months... |
|
|
|
Post by joachim on Jun 20, 2015 6:03:04 GMT -6
In the meantime you can rely on us to dutifully point out whatever shortcomings in your bending technique that remains |
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Jun 20, 2015 8:01:19 GMT -6
No Phil, I'm not excited about bending sharp, I want to do them right darn it! I guess it all boils down to developing a good sense of relative pitch so you can hear when you've hit the correct pitch, and the 5th of the scale (like in bars 4, 5 and 6) always gives me problems in that regard. Oh well, I'm not a mile off like I was 6 or 8 months ago, so maybe in another 6 or 8 months... OK, then just find the pitch right smack in the middle of flat and sharp. |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 20, 2015 8:10:09 GMT -6
No Phil, I'm not excited about bending sharp, I want to do them right darn it! I guess it all boils down to developing a good sense of relative pitch so you can hear when you've hit the correct pitch, and the 5th of the scale (like in bars 4, 5 and 6) always gives me problems in that regard. Oh well, I'm not a mile off like I was 6 or 8 months ago, so maybe in another 6 or 8 months... OK, then just find the pitch right smack in the middle of flat and sharp. Sounds like golf - the pro told me if I could hit a slice and a hook, then hitting it right down the middle would be a simple matter of going halfway in between. So how come I never hit a fairway? |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jun 20, 2015 8:11:49 GMT -6
In the meantime you can rely on us to dutifully point out whatever shortcomings in your bending technique that remains That's why I don't need a wife - I've got you guys to point out everything I do wrong |
|
Let me know what you guys think.
) , only 2 more to go Jack and you will be the first to graduate this book, as far as I can see no-one has posted all the songs from MBYCU.
That "piercing" sound on the bends at the 8th fret high E I was talking about mostly came from the fact that I had previously been bending them up quickly and holding them at (or more likely not at) pitch, which really sounded bad until after several weeks I finally figured out that John's bending up slowly lol. By that time I'd obsessed over them so much that they sounded bad to me even on those rare occasions when I would hit the correct pitch 
I guess it all boils down to developing a good sense of relative pitch so you can hear when you've hit the correct pitch, and the 5th of the scale (like in bars 4, 5 and 6) always gives me problems in that regard. Oh well, I'm not a mile off like I was 6 or 8 months ago, so maybe in another 6 or 8 months...