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Post by jack1982 on Jan 4, 2015 9:02:17 GMT -6
I got in 15 hours on guitar and 3 on bass this week. That doesn't include the better part of an evening I spent figuring out the bass line for Tremlin' Tremolo in More BYCU. Worked quite a bit on Funky Soul from the R&B book - made a preliminary recording and I've got a long way to go lol. Hopefully with another couple weeks of practice I'll get it going. Worked on Tremblin' Tremolo in More BYCU, I can sort of play it at 15 bpm slower than full tempo; quite a bit of work left to do there. Spent some time with Sixes and Nines in the rhythm book, that's coming along okay but not ready for prime time just yet. Got my second book of Christmas carols which is a little more advanced than the first one. There's a great version of Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire in drop D tuning in there. Lots of fun stuff for fingerpicking. And I did quite a bit of improvising along with backing tracks. I seem to be gravitating towards a BB King style of phrasing so of course I ordered a BB King book  On bass I just worked some on my Bass Aerobics book and like I mentioned, spent an evening working on Tremblin' Tremolo. I seem to be slacking off on bass lately which I take as a clear indication that I need to buy another book, so I did  Got a new toy, a Fender Mustang II 40 watt 1X12 solid state modeling amp.  Been having lots of fun with that. You connect it to your computer via USB and control it via the Fender Fuse software which functions sort of like Pod Farm. The one thing I never liked about Pod Farm was that with my Strat I could never get the bluesy overdrive sound I was looking for - this thing has umpteen varieties of bluesy overdrive |
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Post by wannaplayblues on Jan 4, 2015 9:31:01 GMT -6
A good week for me too. Managed to get Hard Rocker down and recorded. jack1982 - that's a nice looking amp. Am gonna buy one in a couple of weeks was deciding between that and the Fender Champion 40 (http://intl.fender.com/en-GB/series/champion/). Am leaning toward the Champion 40 - less techno and more basic dial-control and sound. It also has a dedicated "clean" channel and "overdriven" channel. Will let you know how it goes |
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Post by Phil on Jan 4, 2015 9:53:48 GMT -6
I got in 10 hours of practice spread over 6 days. 7.25 of those hours were spent on "Cheap Runs" either practicing it or trying to get a decent recording! That's boarding on obsession.  So, I'm moving on. Today starts my 1st full week of practice for the new year and I've come up with a basic practice template based on a 1 hour session 5 days a week.
- 15 minute warm-up. I choose 5 exercises and play each for 3 minutes. I hate exercises, but I've found that I can tolerate just about anything for 3 minutes. - 15 mins. on a MBYCU study. - 15 mins. on another MBYCU study. - 15 mins. on anything else (reviewing or learning something new), but it must not be MBYCU. That is realistic and something I can stick to. I will use a timer to keep me honest. If I have less than an hour to practice I will at least hit the most important things. If I have more than an hour I can repeat any or all of the above for whatever amount of time I have available. Since this is based on practicing 5 days a week, it also allows me to do whatever I want on the other 2 days, although I usually don't practice more than 6 days a week. |
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Post by Phil on Jan 4, 2015 9:57:32 GMT -6
Got a new toy, a Fender Mustang II 40 watt 1X12 solid state modeling amp. I have a little Mustang I and have hardly used it since I got the guitar interface. My neighbors are very appreciative. What type/brand of mic is that? |
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Post by jack1982 on Jan 4, 2015 10:31:00 GMT -6
That mic is one of these: www.musiciansfriend.com/condenser-microphones/mxl-910-voice-instrument-condenser-microphoneIt seems okay. One of the reviewers on Musician's Friend said you can hear a mosquito fart 15 feet away - I find that to be far from the case. It's not terribly sensitive but works fine sitting right in front of the amp like that. Make sure you've got 48 volt phantom power if you're thinking of getting a condenser mic. I didn't and ended up spending another twenty bucks on a power supply for it  |
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Post by cunningr on Jan 4, 2015 15:16:35 GMT -6
Well I again lost track of time this week practiced everyday except yesterday because I had to Dr a hangover, but did play some.
Today spent about 3 hours working on more minor blues, I have it all memorized so just need to work out some kinks timing is pretty good also based off comparing back to the original, I managed to get the practice and backing tracks syncd. Also tested usin my mini mass to send recording feed back to garageband, it works but the tone looses something just don't like the tone.
The rest of the week I practiced everyday for over an hour. Learned main intro part to joe Bonamassa's Dust Bowl, learned a Sevillana on my nylon acoustic guitar as well.
I accomplished guitar maintenance as well, adjusted neck again weather change caused it to go out of speck, check pup heights and put on new strings, and polished it up.
Watch many videos on amp settings and pedals, ordered a to flashback delay to add to my pedal collection.
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Post by Phil on Jan 4, 2015 16:00:21 GMT -6
I accomplished guitar maintenance as well, adjusted neck again weather change caused it to go out of speck, check pup heights and put on new strings, and polished it up. Rich, One of these days I'm going to have to talk you into setting up my guitar. I just can't seem to get it right myself. |
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Post by cunningr on Jan 4, 2015 16:08:37 GMT -6
I accomplished guitar maintenance as well, adjusted neck again weather change caused it to go out of speck, check pup heights and put on new strings, and polished it up. Rich, One of these days I'm going to have to talk you into setting up my guitar. I just can't seem to get it right myself. I am not happy either I have a very slight bit of string buzz I can't seem to get out, maybe my nut is worn down some seems pretty low on the first fret. I need to route out my rear pup cavity I can't quite get it low enough because the pole adjustments are a little long. |
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Post by blackcountrymick on Jan 4, 2015 16:37:18 GMT -6
Well guys, here we are 4 days into the new year and I see all those not give in to GAS resolutions have already been blown away, start as we mean to go eh?  I got 8 hours guitar time this week and rather pleased with the outcome, I have managed to do an OK test recording for Chord-on Bleu putting all the parts together and will probably start tomorrow with a bit more practice for a video. I have also recorded a little Americana style finger-picking lesson I have been working on. I have not done a practice plan as such but I have made a list of lessons that I would like to complete over the next 3 months or so but with the main focus being MBYCU. I see Jack and Rich have both got new amps to play with, well done guys, enjoy . I've been thinking for a while that I might like a small 15 watt tube amp to annoy the wife with  without also upsetting my good neighbours also. |
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Post by Phil on Jan 4, 2015 17:13:59 GMT -6
I am not happy either I have a very slight bit of string buzz I can't seem to get out, maybe my nut is worn down some seems pretty low on the first fret. I need to route out my rear pup cavity I can't quite get it low enough because the pole adjustments are a little long. "Worn down nut seems low," "need to route out rear pup cavity." I hope this is not starting off to be a bad year, Rich. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Jan 4, 2015 21:40:00 GMT -6
I see Jack and Rich have both got new amps to play with, well done guys, enjoy . I've been thinking for a while that I might like a small 15 watt tube amp to annoy the wife with without also upsetting my good neighbours also. Wow, Mick, I can annoy my wife without even plugging in my guitar... just sayin' Bruce  |
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Post by bluesbruce on Jan 4, 2015 21:44:19 GMT -6
Oh, I didn't put an update in. Well I've been playing some again. Wish I could say I had 10 hours or such, but I at least think I picked up the guitar more days than not. That's my best report in weeks. I might have to try to clean the dust off my recording studio one of these weeks. I'm getting left behind in all the MBYCU whirlwind.
Bruce
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Post by cunningr on Jan 5, 2015 0:25:57 GMT -6
Well Bruce I am like you anything I do pretty much annoys my wife. Bruce I think that if you at least pick up your guitar you are doing something, 10 minutes of directed effective practice is more beneficial than you think. Rich Ps 15 watts is louder than you think  . |
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So, I'm moving on. 
without also upsetting my good neighbours also.
.