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Post by jack1982 on Nov 13, 2022 7:36:57 GMT -6
I had an okay week, working on "Promises in the Dark." The intro keyboard and guitar part is coming along pretty well. I'm really enjoying the keyboard, it's a completely different set of challenges and best of all, you don't have to worry about those damned bends The rhythm part is taking some time, it's all downpicked palm-muted power chords at around 150 bpm. I haven't played anything like that in a long time so it's taking some practice to get it anywhere near in time. I was having a hell of a time getting a guitar sound I was happy with for that part, but yesterday I was just using the same sound as I use for the solo, and I think that's better than anything else I've come up with. I'm making progress on the solo, the main hard part is some arpeggios on the high strings - you play the G, B and E strings in rapid succession, 4 times in a row, moving up through the triads. Been practicing that in isolation quite a bit. I think the next Fixit session is on the 29th, so as always I'm hoping to have something presentable by then. Hope you guys all had a good week
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Post by bluesbruce on Nov 13, 2022 8:43:49 GMT -6
Laid off of guitar (and golf) last week due to sore wrist. That seems pretty well resolved now. I'm now off visiting my brother in Denver, so still away from the guitar. Hopefully back to it later this week.
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Post by Phil on Nov 13, 2022 17:16:43 GMT -6
I'm still plugging away on some chord melody arrangements (primarily Misty and Georgia). They are slowly getting smoother. Of course, if I stayed focused and stopped jumping around to a 100 other things I'd probably have them ready to record by now.
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Post by wannaplayblues on Nov 17, 2022 8:40:12 GMT -6
Well, lots going on...
I've signed up with the Amateur-dramatics theatre band for the Christmas panto of "Cinderella". The band is made up of piano, bass, drums and guitar (me). We're playing a massive range of styles/tracks, including "Gimmie,Gimmie,Gimmie" (ABBA); "You Got A Friend In Me" (ToyStory); "Prince Charming" (Adam and the Ants); "School's Out" (Alice Cooper) and some Disney items too!
Rehearsals are going well, every Monday and Thursday! Performance week is the first week in December - every night including matinee on Saturday and Sunday. What's really weird is playing a track and then waiting 3-5 pages of dialogue before you play again. I've always played one track, followed by another in live situations. This is so surreal.
Got an early Christmas pressie - a new Amp! Seems I'm a Line6 man and have gone for the Catalyst 100watt!!! It's got *LOADS* of features, including a attenuator to reduce the wattage for late night practice. It's also NOT an amp simulator, it's got 6 "tones" that are unique to the amp and not based off anything. The clean tone is super clean. Check out my other post (ActiveMelody EP489) if you want to hear its sound (recorded via XLR out).
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Post by grampalerxst on Nov 18, 2022 7:16:59 GMT -6
Sorry guys, sort of let Sunday slip by without checking in. Jack, going from a steady dose of Ozzy to Pat Benatar is quite a leap! Look forward to it. Sorry to hear about your woes Bruce. If it helps, I'm feeling more and more confident whatever was ailing me this spring has resolved itself. Just takes a lot of patience for us old dudes. Phil, you sound a little like me in that distractions seem to get the upper hand too often. wpb, happy to see you stop by. Those catalyst amps caught my eye when they came out. I'm in the Helix ecosystem and really enjoy the newer "Line 6 original" amp models that have found their way into Helix. For my part I'm still plugging away. I had a "fun play" last night (perhaps mingled with a hoppy adult beverage) and it was one of those rare moments I encounter now and again that keep me sinking hours (and cash) into my little guitar hobby. I couldn't believe what I was hearing myself do. As mentioned Helix is my main rig and two weeks ago they came out with a dramatically improved cab engine in a firmware update, and that was certainly part of it. What was clear to me is that the part of "tone" that comes from the player is very much in the picking hand, and all those hours I've tortured myself messing around with little RH variations finally has me getting to the point I have the tools to chase the "sound in my head". Why it takes me years of deliberate effort to do what so many players do without ever really thinking about it is something I can't answer. Them's the breaks, I guess. And now that I've said that I can guarantee that when I pick up the guitar here in a couple minutes I'll be back to my usual clumsy awful playing, haha. Them's the break too, I guess. Today's task is to put together a new Helix preset for the lead/melody part of my little 2022 holiday project. I think I mentioned this one is going to be short and stripped down compared to what I've attempted the last couple years. Still on the fence about adding a second more ambitions item since if I made it a priority I could knock the first one out before Thanksgiving. If I knew I could wrangle the strings like I was last night with the red light on, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But that pesky light still conjures up the clams like magic.
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Post by jack1982 on Nov 18, 2022 7:27:08 GMT -6
WPB, wow that sounds great! Talk about motivational - two rehearsals a week and then 7 shows in a row, that will take your skills to the next level I have enough problems just doing one song a month with no live performance lol. That's a sweet amp too, looking forward to hearing more of it.
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