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Post by wannaplayblues on Nov 2, 2014 3:02:50 GMT -6
Lots of playing this week - but not so much on Blues Sixths.
Picked up a couple of new books by Keith Wyatt and spent some time on those. Thoroughly enjoying them. I'm also thinking of a way to formalise my practice a bit more, perhaps creating a practice sheet to work from that allows me to detail what I did and when and issues I faced, etc. Would also allow me to see what I did in the past and when if I kept them.
Went to a guitar shop yesterday to pine over a PRS SE "Santana" guitar. The sales dude plugged me in to the amp and cranked up the clean tone - felt very nervous with everyone in the store on a busy Saturday afternoon. However, anyone there would have got a free performance of "Lazy Day Blues" and "Preachin Gospel Blues" as well as a shuffle rhythm 12-bar blues. In all seriousness, it was nice to have a few pieces in my mind to play. Gave me a better feel for how the guitar sounded in comparison to my 'Paloma' (yeah, she's still no. 1) and also ensured I wasn't there not knowing what to play with a guitar in my hands.
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Post by Phil on Nov 2, 2014 4:07:20 GMT -6
I practiced less this week than any week since the beginning of the year - 4 days for a total of 6 hrs and 3 of those hours were yesterday. I've got "Cheap Runs" up to 75% of full tempo. I hope to have this up to speed this coming week. I did nothing else from MBYCU. I've been trying to play the parts of "Sweet Home Chicago" that I transcribed. Magic Sam's version is very fast, 116 bpms. At that speed I can't recover from any stumbles. I need to approach it like a study and learn it in small chucks. WPB, I highly recommend that you start a practice log. It can be as simple or elaborate as you want. I helps to keep you focused and to see what you've done. I just jot down what I practiced and how much time I spent. I also might make some notes about difficult parts that I need to concentrate on or what I want to do the next practice session. I also have a ruff practice schedule that I almost never stick to. But my intentions are good.  Starting today I've written some goals to shoot for this month. I've never put my goals into writing before and I'm hoping that this will help me move forward a little faster and stay more focused. For example, my goals for November are to complete MBYCU Lesson 4 "Blues a la Chord." That's my primary goal. My secondary goal is to get started transcribing Mike Bloomfield's intro and solo from "It's My Own Fault" (he played this with Johnny Winter and it's on youtube). I also want to work on the intro to "The Thrill is Gone" and "Pride and Joy" from material I have. Both Steve Krenz and Griff Hamlin had free lessons on "Pride and Joy" last month. Anyway, that's my plan.  |
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Post by jack1982 on Nov 2, 2014 5:06:31 GMT -6
I practiced less this week than any week since the beginning of the year So I'm not the only one - that makes me feel better  I had a lousy week of practice, the first half of the week I was still suffering from a bad cold and didn't feel like doing anything but flopping down in my recliner, throwing a blanket over myself, and watching TV. Then the second half of the week I was busy with other stuff. I don't know know how the heck I managed to get Crescent City Rhythm recorded; apparently I did play at least one day last week lol. Hopefully this week will be better, I'm finally (almost) over my cold, and I think my schedule looks pretty free. Also did a little improvising over backing tracks, trying to get that thing in my head to control what I play instead of letting my fingers do the walking so to speak. And I worked a bit on the first song in Bass Aerobics, which reminds me of "I Hate Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe. I think I played through True Trem Blues in More BYCU about three times all week. Got another new book, Chord Progressions For Guitar by Tom Kolb. It's got about 100 progressions in various styles: folk, country, R&B, rock, ballad, blues, jazz/Latin/fusion and funk. There's a brief explanation of the style and technique before each progression. I really like it, especially if you're into songwriting, it's a real treasure trove of material. Want to create this mood? Do this. That mood? Do that. Very cool And all you guys talking about guitars has caused me to go over to Musician's Friend and fall in love with a Seagull Excursion SG Isys+ Acoustic-Electric Guitar. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Nov 2, 2014 6:00:29 GMT -6
Actuallly worked some on "All Forms Blues" this week. Also some on "Hide Away". I'm thinking you guys talk about a practice log is a good idea, but would probably make me realize how little I've actually been practicing.
Bruce
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Post by Phil on Nov 2, 2014 6:27:51 GMT -6
Actuallly worked some on "All Forms Blues" this week. Also some on "Hide Away". I'm thinking you guys talk about a practice log is a good idea, but would probably make me realize how little I've actually been practicing. Bruce "All Forms" is a good one. I know I always say whenever a study is mentioned that it's one of my favorites, but "All Forms" is my number favorite from BYCU. A practice log helps take the doubt out of what you think you remembered. I find it very helpful and it only takes a couple of minutes to write down what you did and what you want to do. |
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Post by cunningr on Nov 2, 2014 7:09:51 GMT -6
Must be something in the air, I practiced more than last week but not at the regular pace I was.
I am working out the timing issue with lazy day blues.
Practiced spread rythmns, and actually used one today. My son has a young guy over checking him out as a drummer in a metal band, just so happens he wanted me to play with him so we did some improvising blues.
Anyway am going try and get me a regular routin going again. Hopefully can record lazy day blues by next weekend, I am right there but still a couple a rough spots.
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Post by Phil on Nov 2, 2014 7:47:19 GMT -6
Hopefully can record lazy day blues by next weekend, I am right there but still a couple a rough spots. I know what you mean. I hit a rough spot on "Blues a la Chord." The part that's giving me trouble starts on bar 1 and ends on bar 29.  |
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Post by blackcountrymick on Nov 2, 2014 8:19:22 GMT -6
I didn't do much learning last week but I did get 2 lessons up to recording standard, so I am well pleased with that. One lesson learned though, when you are showing off your new guitar you have to play it LOUD!!  So I pretty much start from scratch this week with new lessons. Totally inspired by Jack's latest one man band offering I am starting "Slow Dance Dreams" from R&B. As Bruce says, its alternating bass thumb fingerpicking next so I will be cracking on with that also. If I do get some extra practice time I could do with looking at Chord on Bleu again and try to isolate and practice the problematic bits. So plenty do do this week for me . |
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Post by jack1982 on Nov 2, 2014 20:28:18 GMT -6
I am starting "Slow Dance Dreams" from R&B. That is such an awesome song! The chord changes in the lead take a bit of practice to get them nice and smooth, but you'll love the end result |
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Starting today I've written some goals to shoot for this month. I've never put my goals into writing before and I'm hoping that this will help me move forward a little faster and stay more focused. For example, my goals for November are to complete MBYCU Lesson 4 "Blues a la Chord." That's my primary goal. My secondary goal is to get started transcribing Mike Bloomfield's intro and solo from "It's My Own Fault" (he played this with Johnny Winter and it's on youtube). I also want to work on the intro to "The Thrill is Gone" and "Pride and Joy" from material I have. Both Steve Krenz and Griff Hamlin had free lessons on "Pride and Joy" last month.
I had a lousy week of practice, the first half of the week I was still suffering from a bad cold and didn't feel like doing anything but flopping down in my recliner, throwing a blanket over myself, and watching TV. Then the second half of the week I was busy with other stuff. I don't know know how the heck I managed to get Crescent City Rhythm recorded; apparently I did play at least one day last week lol. Hopefully this week will be better, I'm finally (almost) over my cold, and I think my schedule looks pretty free.
