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Post by jack1982 on Feb 1, 2015 7:20:46 GMT -6
I got in 14 hours on guitar and 6 on bass this week. Started on Groovin' Funk in the R&B book, which is an awesomely cool song. Really funky rhythm and the lead is all root / octave stuff jumping around the fretboard. The bass part will take some practice too. Worked on Tremblin' Tremolo in More BYCU, I've been practicing it up to about 95% full tempo, but the subtleties of the timing will take quite a while until I'm happy with them. In the Rhythm book I'm working on G Minor Blues, mostly on writing my own solo for it. I guess I'm about half done. Putzed around with it for about 2 hours yesterday and got basically nothing accomplished lol.
On bass I recorded this cover song:
Also worked on week 20 in Bass Aerobics. Week 21 starts a new chapter on string crossing, so that will be fun. And I got going on Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon.
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Post by Phil on Feb 1, 2015 7:38:52 GMT -6
I got in 6 days of practice, but only for a total of 5 hrs. and 15 mins. I can't seem to get in 7 days, but I'm satisfied (not really) to get in 6 days even if it's for only 15 mins. as my minimum goal is 4 days - 4 hrs. per week.
I spent more time on exercises (1.5 hrs) than on anything else. I worked on "Cheap Runs," "Jumpin' Blues," Big Bends," and started toying with "True Trem."
I also reviewed "Blues ala Chord" which was a total disaster. I need to start reviewing on a regular basis.
My main goal for January was to learn "Jumpin' Blues." I did get a half way decent recording of it, but didn't record a good version recorded yet.
"Big Bends" is going to be a big problem until I get some 9 gauge E strings.
Overall I think I made progress this month with tremolo picking by working on the exercises in Lesson 6.
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Post by Phil on Feb 1, 2015 9:17:58 GMT -6
Well, I guess most of the stuff I work on these days isn't very interesting for you guys as it's not strictly blues related, but what might be of interest is that I followed in Phil's footsteps and transcribed my first Blues tunes (in order to build up some repertoire, to live up to the title of the BYCU series and to pay the dues to play the Blues)... I have a list of songs, starting off with some Albert King... actually Albert's not that hard to transcribe... unfortunately this can't be said about his playing... although i found out whic notes to play, it's not like I know how to play them... sounds kind of meager when you listen to how the man did it... I hope I'll get there so I can record it... in terms of practice time, I hardly manage it to get more than 4 days - 4 hrs. per week (neither my boss nor the family would leave me alone that long), but I guess if the little time is used well, it's better than nothing... however, sometimes in the weekend there are unexpected exceptions to the norm - like today  Albert King has to be among the most difficult guitarists to copy. He played a guitar strung for right-hand turned upside down so he could play it left handed, tuned to something like an open C-minor, and could bend 2 full steps. T-Bone, you must be a masochist to attempt this. I don't want to put any pressure on you, but we are anxiously awaiting the recording of you playing this transcription.  |
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Post by Phil on Feb 1, 2015 9:21:53 GMT -6
Jack, nice bass playing on this minor blues. It really sounds good. Albert is staying right with you. |
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 1, 2015 9:43:48 GMT -6
Jack, nice bass playing on this minor blues. It really sounds good. Albert is staying right with you. Thanks Phil! Speaking of Albert King I've got that guitar play along book of his, which is all tuned down 1 1/2 steps, so I ordered a set of .012's for my Ibanez thinking that maybe down 1 1/2 steps plus up two string gauges would equate to about the feel of .010's tuned down 1/2 step - which as usual with my calculations if probably completely wrong  but it should make for an interesting experiment. |
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Post by Phil on Feb 1, 2015 9:47:48 GMT -6
Jack, nice bass playing on this minor blues. It really sounds good. Albert is staying right with you. Thanks Phil! Speaking of Albert King I've got that guitar play along book of his, which is all tuned down 1 1/2 steps, so I ordered a set of .012's for my Ibanez thinking that maybe down 1 1/2 steps plus up two string gauges would equate to about the feel of .010's tuned down 1/2 step - which as usual with my calculations if probably completely wrong but it should make for an interesting experiment. My only concern is that you might be cutting into your 20 hours of practice time by doing all of this experimentation.  |
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Post by jack1982 on Feb 1, 2015 10:47:58 GMT -6
Tbone, they've just got it that way in the book, I imagine to make the bends easier, but like I say it's just an experiment and it would save me the trouble of transposing everything in the book down three frets which would be kind of a pain when it's on the first fret to start with lol (there's a CD included which I'd sort of like to play along with so i can't just switch keys). I would think with the heavier strings the truss rod adjustment should be fairly minimal but that's no biggie, I'm always messing around with that stuff. Phil - yeah I've already got way too much stuff on my practice schedule lol Ah well, one can dream, can't one? |
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Post by phillip on Feb 1, 2015 13:22:16 GMT -6
I've spent some time with my guitar everyday this week except today. I'm still honing BYCU lesson 1 and have started in on lesson 2. I'm also going back to my Gibson L&M guitar course. I really need a refresher on the basics that the course covers; I didn't even go half way thru it the first time so I have alot to cover there.
I got a new pedal this week also; a Joyo Vintage Overdrive; I've been running it thru my Vox Pathfinder and getting some pretty decent tones.
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Post by cunningr on Feb 1, 2015 13:23:09 GMT -6
Well I didn't get as much practice in as I wanted, prolly got a solid 5 hours in even though I couldn't play at all on Tuesday.
Spent most of my time with new routine 5 min fret hand excersises, 5 minutes alt picking excersises, 10 minutes on scales, 5 minutes on chords, the rest of the time practicing major Blues. Messed around with la grange a little after watching the string gauge video.
Speaking of play along books I am working on Boom, Boom which I think is Albert King tuning is E# lucky the Hal Leonard software makes it easy to change the key, so been practicing it in normal tuning.
Also spent too much time guitar shopping, I have been wanting a ES335 my birthday is coming up I might just do it, was also looking at the Les Paul Peace addition, anyway I told the spousal unit I was buying a new guitar, I omitted price data.
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Post by bluesbruce on Feb 1, 2015 13:44:35 GMT -6
OK, I know I've been threatening it for months, but I think I'm actually ready to try my hand at another video. I'm having to work this weekend, but one of these days I'll find the time to get 'er done. And just for Tbone, it'll actually be out of one of John's books, so as not to cause any further turmoil on the forum...
Stay tuned for further developments
Bruce
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Post by blackcountrymick on Feb 2, 2015 3:48:02 GMT -6
I was very pleased last week to have posted lesson 11 from the Blues Rhythms book, that was quite a painful lesson for my old hands but I got there!!!
Bass aerobics book arrived and did workout 1 vid last night.
Plan for this week is to do a lesson 12 rhythm video and carry on working Drivin' Blues.
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but it should make for an interesting experiment. 
