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Post by Phil on Aug 2, 2015 3:29:09 GMT -6
Well, here's my less than stellar rendition of study #7 from MBYCU, "True Trem Blues." After an hour and a half of trying, I finally got a good take. Then I doubled it and that one actually came out good also. I started playing around with the VST effects and Reaper crashed. I didn't have the project saved! I lost both lead tracks AND the rhythm track. After that there was no getting a good take. This is the best I could do, and I don't feel like trying again for a while (months  ). Anyway, it is what it is and any comments/constructive criticisms are welcome. True Trem Blues |
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Post by jack1982 on Aug 2, 2015 5:51:17 GMT -6
That sounded excellent Phil, terrific job! You really nailed all that pedal tone stuff and I can't hear a single bend that I can nitpick  About the only thing I can come up with is maybe the super-fast lick in bars 17 and 18 got a tiny bit out of hand, but I mean TINY bit, not even noticeable really. I had to listen to it about 4 times before I noticed a couple of fudged notes, so I don't think you need to worry about that too much  Great job and hell of a lot of work! Really enjoyable to listen to overall. Congrat's! |
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Post by bluesbruce on Aug 2, 2015 6:36:10 GMT -6
Wow, Phil, I thought that sounded pretty impressive. I've got a CD of the MBYCU tunes that's in my car, so I've actually been listening to these tunes a lot (even though I haven't even put up a recording of the first one yet). I always listen to that one and think "I'll never be able to play that" - with all those flurry of notes and pedal tones. My nit-pick would be your rhythm part, where your strums sound to me like staccato "chops" more than "strums". Now that's a pretty tiny nit-pick, and certainly one of those "personal preference" things in playing. Your timing certainly sounded spot-on. I wish JG had provided backing tracks without the lead, so you could hear the rhythm part more clearly, but he probably figures by the time you're working on these that you're a "big boy" and can figure these things out for yourself. I've thought the same thing about BRYCU. Anyway, I'm rambling now. Again, very impressive playing on that one! It really shows your work and dedication.
Bruce
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Post by cunningr on Aug 2, 2015 7:42:55 GMT -6
I agree with Bruce that was impressive and I am not sure I'll ever be able to play that, guess we'll see.
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Post by Phil on Aug 2, 2015 8:53:54 GMT -6
Thanks, guys for the feedback. I'm not real happy with the beginning or the ending, but I'm pretty satisfied with the middle. Regarding the rhythm: I was kinda hoping that I buried it enough that nobody would notice how badly I played it.  I should have started practicing it a long time ago. I played it for the 1st time a week ago. It's a mixture of 8th note chops and longer held beats. I'm lucky I can play it at all. Like everything else it needs to be practiced till you get comfortable with the changes. Then you can concentrate on holding the chords for the correct amount of time and doing those little things that make it sound good. Regarding whether you will ever be able to play this: Of course you will. That peddle tone thing with the string skipping is a bitch, but with consistent, repetitive practice over time you will get it. It just takes the self-discipline to practice it consistently. I could not do it at all when I 1st tried. When I finally could play it well enough to play to the metronome I had to set it at 40 bpms and I kept it there for a long time. Practice it slowly and go for accuracy. How many times have you heard that from various teachers? Well, it's because it works. |
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Post by blackcountrymick on Aug 2, 2015 9:20:50 GMT -6
That was awesome Phil, every lesson in this book is a graduation in itself, I feel there are gigantic challenges to be overcome in every lesson except maybe the first lesson which throws you a false sense of achievement, THEN it throws Drivin' Blues at ya and you think I can never play that.....and then a while later it slowly starts to come within your grasp. This is the point I am at now but I bet its the same with every lesson. Great job Phil, you and Jack are the inspiration to show us following that it is possible to progress through such a difficult course.
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Post by joachim on Aug 2, 2015 9:28:14 GMT -6
Wow, that was great, Phil. It sounds like a REALLY difficult study, but you pulled it off really well. Well done!
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Post by Phil on Aug 2, 2015 14:04:08 GMT -6
That was awesome Phil, every lesson in this book is a graduation in itself, I feel there are gigantic challenges to be overcome in every lesson except maybe the first lesson which throws you a false sense of achievement, THEN it throws Drivin' Blues at ya and you think I can never play that.....and then a while later it slowly starts to come within your grasp. This is the point I am at now but I bet its the same with every lesson. Great job Phil, you and Jack are the inspiration to show us following that it is possible to progress through such a difficult course.I know I've said this many times before and it sounds kind of corny, but this forum provides a sense of being accountable to somebody. If you have a teacher you're accountable to him. If you're in a band you're accountable to your band members, and so on. If you allow it, this forum can provide some accountability. Of course it's all in your head and you're really under no obligation to anybody, but it gives you a reason to keep practicing this stuff. I know with absolute certainty that I would have never finished BYCU and made the commitment to finishing MBYCU without the moral support and inspiration from this forum. It's unfortunate that more people who start BYCU don't take advantage of this. Just look at the number of people who drift in and then disappear after a couple of weeks. The studies in these books are doable, but they aren't easy for most of us and it does take a bit of self-discipline and commitment to get through them. There will be some benefit to this somewhere down the line. I hope.  |
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Post by jack1982 on Aug 2, 2015 15:24:57 GMT -6
Totally agree with you Phil, if it weren't for the inevitable "Hey Jack, we haven't heard any recordings from you in a loooooooong time" I never would have finished BYCU or More BYCU. Sure it's just in your head and you're under no obligation, but it provides just that extra bit of incentive that a person needs to keep pushing forward.
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Post by Phil on Aug 2, 2015 16:42:33 GMT -6
Totally agree with you Phil, if it weren't for the inevitable "Hey Jack, we haven't heard any recordings from you in a loooooooong time" I never would have finished BYCU or More BYCU. Sure it's just in your head and you're under no obligation, but it provides just that extra bit of incentive that a person needs to keep pushing forward. Well said. We all need an incentive of some kind to do just about anything that we don't absolutely have to do. I'm sure there are people out there who are so self-disciplined that they can accomplish things with no other incentive than that they want to do it. I'm not like that. I need some external pressure. |
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Post by wannaplayblues on Aug 4, 2015 14:22:25 GMT -6
Phil - simply AWESOME dude! When's your first professional gig? 
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Post by Phil on Aug 4, 2015 15:02:04 GMT -6
Phil - simply AWESOME dude! When's your first professional gig? Thanks, WPB. I'll be playing at the Royal Albert Hall in Sept. Contact me to buy tickets directly from me. (Don't forget to include your credit card number.) |
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). Anyway, it is what it is and any comments/constructive criticisms are welcome. 
About the only thing I can come up with is maybe the super-fast lick in bars 17 and 18 got a tiny bit out of hand, but I mean TINY bit, not even noticeable really. I had to listen to it about 4 times before I noticed a couple of fudged notes, so I don't think you need to worry about that too much 
I should have started practicing it a long time ago. I played it for the 1st time a week ago. It's a mixture of 8th note chops and longer held beats. I'm lucky I can play it at all. Like everything else it needs to be practiced till you get comfortable with the changes. Then you can concentrate on holding the chords for the correct amount of time and doing those little things that make it sound good.
