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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 10, 2020 7:31:51 GMT -6
We had talked a few months ago about another forum challenge, and it seemed to me the consensus was that everyone was interested, but no one wanted to get into anything too time consuming. It also seemed like no one really wanted to take on the responsibility of selecting material, distributing backing tracks, etc. We also had the recent thread disclosing that a lot of us already have all the BYCU books... I'd like to float the idea of using Blues Licks You Can use as this forum challenge. I think this book would work well for this. It is broken into 5 sections (Slow Blues in C, Up tempo Blues in A, Rock blues in E, Another slow blues in G, and Jazzy licks over shuffle in F), with 15 "licks" for each section. So there's a total of 75 "licks". The "licks" are mostly 4-bar sections from the 12-bar blues that fit into these progressions, with some discussion of each lick by JG. So for instance, in the first section there are 8 "licks" for the first 4 bars of a 12 bar blues, there are 2 licks for the middle four bars, and there are 5 licks for the last four bars. There is some variability through the book in how many licks fit with each section, there are some licks that are only two bars (and a couple that cover 6 bars), etc. The book includes downloadable audio files of each lick played slowly and up to speed, plus a full backing track for each of the 5 sections (thus if you got the book, you'd have all the backing tracks and no one on our forum would have to try to distribute backing tracks). The book is currently $17 (USD) on Amazon. I think JG's discussions of these would provide some educational benefit to this project. If we took on one lick every two weeks, this little project would last almost three years. If we got real zealous and took on one every week, it would take about a year and a half. If you miss a week, well, you can just pick right up with the next lick. I think this would be doable in 10 minutes per day or less, especially if we just did one lick every two weeks. Of course, the "goal" would be for everyone to post a video recording of the lick - even if it's 50% or 75% speed, with or without the backing - I think it's all good. We could exclude Phil from the video requirement, since his computer apparently does not handle video  . This project would also be easily joinable at any time by anyone else who happens into the forum. It might even attract some people and promote the BYCU series. Sorry for the long-winded post. Anyone have any interest? Any thoughts? Does anyone have this book, languishing on their bookshelf?
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Post by Phil on Apr 10, 2020 8:40:04 GMT -6
Bruce, Are you saying just to upload playing the single lick or placing that lick into a full 12-Bar progression to see it in context? I'm not sure what you mean. For me there's only one way to learn and internalize a lick so I can use it when I need it. I have to immediately use it in context and play it over and over. Of course, since I never did that in the past, I know very few licks even though I've worked thru 3 of John's books cover-to-cover. I'm going to think about this and offer a suggestion on how I'd like to approach this later today. Let's see what others think. This could be a useful learning experience. I'm 99% sure I have this book. I completely forgot about it.
P.S. My computer is in the shop to see if the video capability can be restored.  |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 10, 2020 8:56:54 GMT -6
Bruce, Are you saying just to upload playing the single lick or placing that lick into a full 12-Bar progression to see it in context? I'm not sure what you mean. For me there's only one way to learn and internalize a lick so I can use it when I need it. I have to immediately use it in context and play it over and over. Of course, since I never did that in the past, I know very few licks even though I've worked thru 3 of John's books cover-to-cover. I'm going to think about this and offer a suggestion on how I'd like to approach this later today. Let's see what others think. This could be a useful learning experience. I'm 99% sure I have this book. I completely forgot about it.
P.S. My computer is in the shop to see if the video capability can be restored. My thought would be to play it in context with the provided backing track. So if it's a lick that goes over the first four bars of the slow blues in C, play it and record it over that portion of the provided backing track. But in trying to internalize it, go ahead and try it over the middle four bars, try it over the last four bars, try changing the timing, play it in different keys, try playing it in different positions on the fretboard, try it at different tempos, etc. You could post whatever you want - the whole purpose would be trying to expand and internalize some licks. I think trying to speed through this would kind of defeat the purpose - just take a "lick" and play around with it for 5-10 minutes every day for 1 or 2 weeks. |
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Post by joachim on Apr 10, 2020 10:14:57 GMT -6
Great idea, Bruce! I am up for it - it could be great...
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Post by blackcountrymick on Apr 10, 2020 16:27:29 GMT -6
I've just ordered it, count me in!!
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Post by jack1982 on Apr 11, 2020 6:31:50 GMT -6
Yes I do have that book languishing on a bookshelf somewhere - hey I found it, it was right next to the "Disco Guitar Bible." I really like your idea Bruce, I've been participating in the "challenges" at another site and that's exactly what the last two have been about. So I'm primed and ready lol. Tell me which lick to do and I'm on it  |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 11, 2020 7:40:48 GMT -6
It sounds like we've got enough interest to go ahead with this then. Phil, this sounds like we'd be working on exactly what you're talking about - learning a lick and placing it in a 12-bar blues context. Let's start with Lick 1 (which is audio track 3 on my download). This lick goes over the first four bars of track 78 (which is a 12-bar blues in C with a quick change, sounds about 65 BPM). Let's plan for two weeks of playing with this lick - learn it, try it in different keys, in different positions on the fret board, at different tempos, change the timing or sequence of notes in it - whatever you'd like to do with it. At the end of the two weeks, plan to share a recording of you playing this lick over the first four bars of track 78. Also feel free to share anything else you do with this lick. I think if you'll spend 5-10 minutes a day playing with this lick, at the end of two weeks you'll probably "own" this lick for life and can pull it out and use it as needed. My intention for this exercise would NOT be for this to take over all your practice time, but just over time to build up an arsenal of licks and phrases you can use in a jam session or improvisation over a 12-bar blues.
So why don't we say by Sunday, April 26 to aim to post Lick 1. We can alter this exercise as we see fit, and we can jump around some if everyone wants, but for simplicity it'd probably just be easiest to plan to just go through the licks in numerical order. Mick (and anyone else ordering the book), just let us know if we need to push the date back due to slow delivery for your book.
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Post by joachim on Apr 11, 2020 11:10:36 GMT -6
Good thoughts, and great initiative, Bruce! Looking forward to it, and to have some forum activity.
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Post by cunningr on Apr 11, 2020 11:45:48 GMT -6
I have that book also, might be a good solution!
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 11, 2020 13:32:01 GMT -6
Good! Sounds like we've definitely got enough forum members expressing interest to do this! Marc, Grampa, Wannaplay, T-bone - you guys in? Anybody else? Grab a copy of Blues Licks You Can Use and let's learn some blues licks that you can use!
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Post by Marc on Apr 11, 2020 13:36:08 GMT -6
Good! Sounds like we've definitely got enough forum members expressing interest to do this! Marc, Grampa, Wannaplay, T-bone - you guys in? Anybody else? Grab a copy of Blues Licks You Can Use and let's learn some blues licks that you can use! I'm down aka count me in |
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Post by cunningr on Apr 11, 2020 13:48:30 GMT -6
Good! Sounds like we've definitely got enough forum members expressing interest to do this! Marc, Grampa, Wannaplay, T-bone - you guys in? Anybody else? Grab a copy of Blues Licks You Can Use and let's learn some blues licks that you can use! Got to replace my hi E string again, I broke it today. So you want to choose the lick? |
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Post by joachim on Apr 11, 2020 15:41:24 GMT -6
Good! Sounds like we've definitely got enough forum members expressing interest to do this! Marc, Grampa, Wannaplay, T-bone - you guys in? Anybody else? Grab a copy of Blues Licks You Can Use and let's learn some blues licks that you can use! Got to replace my hi E string again, I broke it today. So you want to choose the lick? Bruce called Lick 1. I just dusted off my copy and found the audio recordings. I remember now that it annoyed me long ago that the recordings didn't include a metronome or used the backing tracks, and it still annoys me... |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 11, 2020 16:14:16 GMT -6
Joachim, I'll e-mail you this lick with the metronome. I'll try to make a video tomorrow showing you how easy it is to do this in your DAW - you just copy the metronome at the start of the track, then open a new track, line the beats up and make another copy of it that lines up with the beats, then just repeat that loop. It's probably easier to demonstrate it.
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Post by joachim on Apr 12, 2020 2:03:06 GMT -6
Joachim, I'll e-mail you this lick with the metronome. I'll try to make a video tomorrow showing you how easy it is to do this in your DAW - you just copy the metronome at the start of the track, then open a new track, line the beats up and make another copy of it that lines up with the beats, then just repeat that loop. It's probably easier to demonstrate it. Thanks, Bruce. I didn't think of that approach - good idea. I know how to do that in Reaper. Even though the licks are "Groovin' Easy", I think the timing can be little subtle in some places, especially if you don't have a recording with a metronome. Perhaps others might actually benefit from our videos, if we stick with it. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 12, 2020 7:51:35 GMT -6
OK, Joachim or anyone else interested, here's a video showing how you can use your DAW to extend out the metronome count for these BLYCU demos:
I always thought it was kind of funny these demos were recorded without metronome (other than the four beat intro) or backing as well.
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Post by joachim on Apr 12, 2020 9:37:00 GMT -6
Thanks, Bruce!
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Post by Phil on Apr 12, 2020 9:53:48 GMT -6
Bruce: that was a good, informative video about getting around in Reaper. You should have done a voice over. It would have given you an opportunity to explain in more detail. Nevertheless, I learned a lot about splitting and copying and pasting. Thanks for posting it.
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Post by Phil on Apr 12, 2020 10:02:13 GMT -6
Hey everyone, as you know I'm not one who likes to dwelve too much into the private on a public forum, but please let me start this post by saying that I really hope that, despite the circumstances, you and yours can enjoy these new beginnings the spring season brings us and get some of the Easter feeling. Bruce, I really think that's a nice project you're kicking off there. However, I'm not ready to committo it yet. As I might have mentioned I had another sport accident last year and suffered a wrist injury which abruptly interrupted my playing. Among other things, I was working with JG on MBYCU then, and I really felt I was making progress and my actual musical skills where finally catching up with my theoretical knowledge. So, this was quite the bummer. As of today, my wrist has healed upp quite well, although the road to recovery is a rocky one, it takes quite some time and requires periods of rest every now and then. In any case, I never really stopped playing and am back at it for quite a while now, working on other stuff I had on my list or have put on the backburner etc. Even though I haven't picked up lessons with John again yet, I'm planning to do so later this year - but you know how it is with even the best laid-out plans, so let's see how that works out. I'm not ready for live lessons yet, because i don't know if and how I could follow the proper practice regimen that would be required to make such an effort feasible. So, the same goes for a commitment to project such as yours. I'll watch it freom the sidelines and am ready to cheer you up (or give you the well-deserved smackdown) every now and then, but other then that I won't participate for now. The one project I'd like to do later this year would be the Mickey Baker project as once discussed with Joachim, especially after Phil's excellent online review of the book rekindled my interest in it (it would also be the only book I'd work on this forum as I'm obliged to my selfinflicted strictly BYCU policy  - now get out those tomatoes). Finally, I still owe Jack some "Memphis!" Stay home, stay safe, stay happy, greetings, T. (BTW, the typos are equivalent to easter eggs, so happy searching!) Greetings, Tony I hope your wrist situation improves rapidly. Don't rush it or do anything that's painful.
Thanks for the kind words about my Mickey Baker book review. I didn't think anybody had read it. I was watching a YT lesson yesterday and the 1st thing that popped into my head was, "That was covered in Mickey Baker's book." This occurs at least weekly. It's amazing how much is covered in that little book. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 12, 2020 10:25:52 GMT -6
Joachim and Phil, you're welcome. That was done in Logic (using Quicktime to record video of me doing it on my computer and iMovie to insert the text), but you should be able to do these basic functions in whatever DAW you use. The exact menu items and command names may vary some, but you should be able to figure it out. I'm not like some kind of "DAW power user" or anything, but you should be able to put this lick over the backing track in your DAW as well - you may have to time stretch one or the other track to get the beats to line up. You could also probably get all the beats to actually line up with the correct tempo in your DAW (I just left Logic set on the default tempo of 120 in this video).
A really advanced project for anyone wanting an extra credit assignment would be to take backing track 78 in BLYCU into your DAW, setting it to the proper tempo (so you could just use the metronome in your DAW), and THEN take licks 1-15 in BLYCU each into a separate track in your DAW (lined up with the proper timing to the backing track). Then you could mute all the tracks and just enable whichever one you wanted to hear, and play it along with the backing track. You could loop whatever section you wanted (the middle four bars, for instance). You could also "mix and match" (by enabling selected tracks in your DAW) several licks to put together an entire 12 bar solo (like JG talks about in the book). Wow - now that I think about, I think this would be really useful. Hmmm, I might work on this project myself! It would be easy enough to export these individual DAW tracks as compressed audio files (like MP3's) and e-mail them out to anyone who participates in this to import into their own DAW. Hmmm...
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- now get out those tomatoes). Finally, I still owe Jack some "Memphis!"