JohnG
Full Member
Posts: 193
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Post by JohnG on May 7, 2015 14:33:51 GMT -6
Hello my friends. I am in the process of working up an app (for iphone and android), which would be a sort of "lesson player." It would help you work through lessons, step-by-step, with suggestions along the way, and where you can repeat the hard parts and move on with the easy parts. It would have a metronome and mp3 and midi players. There would likely be a sizable you tube component as well. It's in the early planning stages, which is why I am posting this. I would really appreciate any feedback on what you would like to see featured. Also, I'd like to know just how much interest there is in any app at all. So please, step up and be heard. Thanks.
I have been toying with the idea of trying a kickstarter campaign which would result in a free basic app with complimentary lessons. Any thoughts or advice on that would be greatly appreciated, too.
By the way, initially I wouldn't be able to include the actual lessons from the HL books (copyright issues, you know). Maybe if it gets going they'd be interested in some kind of a deal. But I have dozens (hundreds?) of lessons ready, and unlimited possibilities.
JG
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Post by joachim on May 8, 2015 2:53:21 GMT -6
John,
A kickstarter campaign sounds ideal for something like what you suggest. I am not familiar with the required technology, but perhaps it's possible to develop an app that runs on both iOS, Android and a PC without tripling the effort - something to think about. I think many (myself included) still use a PC or laptop for most things.
I am sure anything related to your lesson material would be great and very much appreciated. One area I where I would love some lectures or advice is improvisation. How to get started, how to practice it and how much. Should you just practice different licks over a backing track, or is there a more methodical way to get started? I know that Band in a Box has some sort of exercise mode that first plays a lick, and then user should respond with a matching phrase or lick.
And perhaps a progressive compilation of technique exercises targeted at playing blues guitar is something to think about. Similar to how the lectures in BUCY are progressively laid out. For those not having a good teacher technique exercises are probably a random choice from searching youtube, and it's difficult to assess how important they are, and to keep a progressive study plan. Or perhaps the exercises in BUCY and MBUCY are what you mostly recommend?
Thank you for the great lecture material and hosting this helpful forum.
Joachim
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Post by bluesbruce on May 8, 2015 7:51:23 GMT -6
It sounds like a pretty cool idea. I would suggest to include some adjustable "slow downer" capability - where you can play back audio at less than full speed for learning. This, of course, wouldn't be a problem with midi. I'd also suggest some grading system for difficulty of lessons - I personally don't want "this is a standard 12 bar progression" or "this is how you make an open G chord", but there's people who do need that - so maybe classifying them in some fashion ("never picked up a guitar", "have completed BYCU", etc). Or maybe you're envisioning a series of progressive lessons somewhat like BYCU? At my stage, what would be really cool would be a Youtube video of you and a band playing a song (could certainly be an original to avoid copyright issues), with a lesson for sale "teaching" the song - solos, rhythm parts, maybe even discussion of the bass and drum parts or other instruments (this could broaden the sales market beyond just guitarists).
I do think you'd have to start with either a free or very low priced app and a couple of basic lessons to let people "try it out" and see whether they like the technology.
Bruce
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Post by jack1982 on May 19, 2015 5:42:38 GMT -6
If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you make it compatible with PC as well? Personally I don't have a smart phone and although I know app's are all the rage these days, whenever I practice guitar I'm always sitting in front of my PC and the mouse, keyboard and much larger screen makes more sense for me.
As far as lesson material, I'd LOVE some info about how you're able to get your guitar sounds on all the Blues You Can Use CD's. What amps do you use, and if they're vintage stuff that's not readily available and prohibitively expensive these days, what modern alternatives would you recommend, and for those of us on a limited budget, what lower priced alternatives would you recommend? Also are there certain pedals you prefer (specific brands etc.) and how do you go about setting up the amp for a Strat vs. Les Paul vs. ES-335 sound and that sort of thing.
Songwriting info would be fantastic as well. You provide a wealth of information on the subject in your various books, but a step-by-step walkthrough taking us from "spark of an idea" to expanding on it to adding the finishing touches would be great.
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Post by cunningr on Jun 18, 2015 16:21:45 GMT -6
John,
I just saw this thread thought a comment would be nice.
The video would be great as you mention, but a practice track that the speed could be adjusted with a snapshot of the tablature, would be cool.
Like tone mentioned your books have a lot of content, so companion material might be nice or short lessons on some more difficult licks or techniques.
Also I really appreciated this weeks lick, I was playing this tune over and over again while driving to work, so it provided a distraction but a good one.
I use an iPad and have an interface I can use to plug in guitar band for on the practice.
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Post by mikeherb on Aug 7, 2015 8:09:43 GMT -6
John, First of all I love your book. I bought an iTunes copy for myself plus a paper copy and I've bought about 3 paper copies for friends. You are on the right track, a lot of people, especially younger, don't have CD players anymore and computers are starting to not even come with them. The digital route is definitely the way. I like your iBook for iPad best. I've always enjoyed the Guitar Aerobics app which is a big more spiced up than the book. You could do it that way too at not a huge cost. It's basically a book that comes with the backing tracks at various speeds at the push of a button. Perhaps tracks of the chords being played and a scale practice track? I've found those parts get overshadowed by the solos and then I end up going back 5 lessons ago to learn the scales. Maybe the solos are just too cool  |
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