|
|
Post by Phil on Jan 18, 2015 4:46:24 GMT -6
Got in 6 days of practice for a total of just over 6 hours. I'm continuing to work on getting "Cheap Runs" smooth, clean and tight. "Jumpin' Blues" is coming along fine. I thought I'd record it this weekend, but the RHYTHM part posed a problem - lots of chord voicing changes. This is proving to be a great rhythm exercise and learning experience. This would probably be a piece of cake to you guys who are diligently working through BRYCU. I took a first look at "Big Bends" in MBYCU - it's going to be "Big Problems." I'm finally using a metronome regularly. It's making a big difference. I don't use it all the time, but am using it for part of every practice session. I spent a little time everyday working on the tremolo picking exercises in lesson 6 to get prepared for lesson 7 "Trembling Tremolo." These exercises are a presenting a real challenge themselves, but it's amazing what persistence and consistence can do even for short periods. I'm using my trusty metronome to practice them and track progress. I didn't get around to doing much of anything beyond MBYCU this week, but seeing noticeable improvements in technique is keeping me motivated. And, most importantly, I'm enjoying it even if I don't find time for other things. I want it all and I want it now - but that just ain't gonna happen.  |
|
|
|
Post by blackcountrymick on Jan 18, 2015 4:56:27 GMT -6
I want it all and I want it now - but that just ain't gonna happen. Man you are singing my theme tune!!! |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jan 18, 2015 5:28:58 GMT -6
I got in 11 1/2 hours on guitar and 6 on bass this week. Still working on trying to get the timing right on Funky Soul, also worked on Tremblin' Tremolo - that's going to take a while to get the timing right at such high speed, but it's coming along satisfactorily. And worked on Ninth Chord Study in Eb in the Rhythm book. Who knows maybe I'll get that recorded this week. It's a difficult little song with all the sliding of partial chord forms. Also did some improvising along with backing tracks. On bass I worked on Bass Aerobics and practiced Tremblin' Tremolo.
Got some new books: Blues Bass Classics which has a bunch of really cool tunes in it. I got started a little bit on "As The Years Go Passing By" by Albert King. Also got the BB King and Albert King play along books. Everything in the Albert King one is tuned down 1 1/2 steps and in drop D (so B I guess). His favorite technique seems to be to do a 1 step pre-bend, then hit the note and bend it up an additional step, so he's getting into a lot of pentatonic minor box #3 notes without ever leaving box #1. Also got a bass play along book, the classic rock one. Some cool tunes in there - as if there were enough hours in the day for all that lol.
Oh and I ordered the Big Book of Backing Tracks which has 200 tracks to jam along with. What I'm looking forward to most though is it's got suggestions for different scales to use over each chord. I really like changing scales over each chord as it gives you a lot of opportunity to add more emotion to your playing.
|
|
|
|
Post by blackcountrymick on Jan 18, 2015 5:50:38 GMT -6
My main focus last week was Drivin' Blues, I have got speed of whole song about middling between slow and fast tempo and it feels that for now this is it, any faster and I just fall over myself and miss loads of notes, so this one is going to take longer than I first thought. I had a break from it last night and picked up again with the BRYCU lesson 11, I've probably had about an hours work on this previously and was very surprised how quickly it all came together, I am only sight reading it as yet but I will have another go this evening if possible and who knows maybe a recording  , so I'm with you on this one Jack. |
|
|
|
Post by phillip on Jan 18, 2015 6:48:42 GMT -6
I got in 11 1/2 hours on guitar and 6 on bass this week. Still working on trying to get the timing right on Funky Soul, also worked on Tremblin' Tremolo - that's going to take a while to get the timing right at such high speed, but it's coming along satisfactorily. And worked on Ninth Chord Study in Eb in the Rhythm book. Who knows maybe I'll get that recorded this week. It's a difficult little song with all the sliding of partial chord forms. Also did some improvising along with backing tracks. On bass I worked on Bass Aerobics and practiced Tremblin' Tremolo. Got some new books: Blues Bass Classics which has a bunch of really cool tunes in it. I got started a little bit on "As The Years Go Passing By" by Albert King. Also got the BB King and Albert King play along books. Everything in the Albert King one is tuned down 1 1/2 steps and in drop D (so B I guess). His favorite technique seems to be to do a 1 step pre-bend, then hit the note and bend it up an additional step, so he's getting into a lot of pentatonic minor box #3 notes without ever leaving box #1. Also got a bass play along book, the classic rock one. Some cool tunes in there - as if there were enough hours in the day for all that lol. Oh and I ordered the Big Book of Backing Tracks which has 200 tracks to jam along with. What I'm looking forward to most though is it's got suggestions for different scales to use over each chord. I really like changing scales over each chord as it gives you a lot of opportunity to add more emotion to your playing. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the Big Book of Backing Tracks as that is one I have considered ordering. I am afraid my " weekly update " would be short as I barely picked my guitar up this week, although I am hoping that is gonna change now that I have my copy of BYCU. I also received a new dvd this week, The Best of The Allman Bros. I put it in last night just to sample and couldn't hear a thing the instructor was saying, it must have been mixed wrong as you can still hear all the guitar parts so I think I'm just going to keep it rather than go thru the hassle of returning it. |
|
|
|
Post by jack1982 on Jan 18, 2015 7:40:21 GMT -6
Sure Phillip, once that book arrives I'll give my thoughts on it in one of these weekly updates.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluesbruce on Jan 18, 2015 8:47:26 GMT -6
I worked some on BRYCU, trying to get back in the groove. Also worked some on All Forms Blues from BYCU. Haven't got into timing my practice - I think I'd come up embarrassingly short compared to some of you guys. Right now I'm on a ski weekend at Park City, Utah. No guitar, but good for the body and soul...
Bruce
|
|
|
|
Post by cunningr on Jan 18, 2015 9:58:18 GMT -6
This week I finished up More Minor Blues and recorded again thanks for the motivating feedback. What I realized thought is I need to break the lessons out more in my practice routin because I think I am missing out on some important points like some of the chord progressions.
I spent minimum of 1 hour a day everyday this week, plus additional unacceptable time.
Started a new routin to excercises my fret hand called hand gym. Takes about 5 minutes and helps work the muscles in your hands.
I also spent a lot of time just doing scales major and minor patterns.
Spent 5 mutes a day minimum on alternate picking and speed excercises.
Started lesson 14 major Blues.
Also spent considerable time on Albert Kings Boom Boom with my play along book. I have the main bits down can play it at full speed about every other try.
I also down loaded the Hal Leonard slow down tool that works with their books, works great and easy to use.
|
|
|
|
Post by joachim on Jan 18, 2015 11:06:59 GMT -6
I didn't get as much practice time as I'd like this week - 2 or 3 days where I was too tired to play when I finally had time. So I didn't get around to recording "Hard Edge Blues", which was my goal for this week - maybe next week.
I did start on the next song "I Got a Break Baby" from the T-Bone Walker play-along book, it's an inspiration to see how musical those lead parts played exclusively in 1st positions can be...
I also worked on lecture #15 in BRYCU, which looked completely overwhelming at first, but it's actually coming along much better than I would've thought. The are some chord changes I still need drill, but I think I got the rest down.
|
|
, so I'm with you on this one Jack.
