Weekly update 23-8-15

I actually got over 9 hours of real practice. I finally go into a decent practice routine, I am working on chord on blue, the rythm at slow speed is pretty good just having some trouble with the ending, I just can't get the feel. I also started working on the lead for chord on blue as rythm working on the slow version. I also make sure I do the practice excersises. I took a peek at lesson 2 mbycu and working the practice pieces into the routine.

I also spent time on simple 7ths in brycu I have that one down pretty tight, just cleaning up the ending, I will probably try to record it this week or next.

I have also added Texas Flood into the routine, still at about 80 percent speed on the intro, I have it memorized just trying to get the runs up to speed.

I also started relearning more minor blues, and trying to figure out how to improv something of my own to add to the song.

Overall, I am spending more like 1 hour and 15 or 20 minutes a day, in the evening and my 10 minute morning practice mostly scales. Running out of time so I am not planning on adding anything else for awhile.

I had a so-so week, I would like to have played more, but I still made progress.

I am still on lesson 3 in RnBBYCU - I've been at that lesson for a maybe 2-3 weeks now, but it's slowly getting there; not an easy lesson, though. I didn't have time to practice Troy Stetina's books much - I still spend most of my time on BCYCU, RnBUCY and scale/lick/technique exercises.

Phil - happy retirement! This summer has been so hectic for me with three kids, a job, and all the other usual obligations, that I really envy you...

I know you can do it. You just have to convince yourself that you can.

The last few studies I took small sections and tried to master a bar or 2 slowly before moving on to the next bar. I also make little exercises out of the difficult parts that I'll throw into my practice even if I'm not working on the study that day. This is in contrast to my usual way of learning the whole study half-assed and then trying to get it right.

This seems to be working. However, I just went back and listened to my version of "True Trem Blues" and I can hear all kinds of problems that I didn't hear when I recorded it. Never-the-less, I think I'll still stick with the small chunks method for now. I actually think it's less time consuming than the way I was doing it before.

Not a lot of serious guitar at all for me, my family got in the way so much this week   . I love them dearly but they must try to be not so needy!!!! 

I've had a break. I was getting pessimistic about how little guitar I was playing, the feeling of progress not being obvious so much of the time, and how everyone seemed to be posting awesome stuff.

In fact, I spent some time just working on Blues rhythm shuffle playing. I may even post some samples of my efforts.

It's been good - and I feel more ready to get back into things. I don't ever want my guitar playing to be a negative, but rather, something I go to as a breath of fresh air and a freedom from life's daily struggles.

Sometimes being self-motivated and self-directed is tough and has its low points for me.

WPB, we've all been there...   and bought expensive new guitars to get over it! 

That's kind of ironic WPB, because you're one of the forum members who I see churning out all this neat stuff and making all this progress, and then I make a recording about every 3 months on average... We're all our own harshest critics, aren't we.  I hope this is just a minor blues you're going thru (how's that for double entendre?).  Share some shuffle rhythm with us - that's what the recording I made when I got my new Ibenez guitar was mostly.  They say even the rippin'est lead player is playing rhythm and back up about 90% of the time, so it's definitely a skill worth working on.   Glad to see you're still hanging in - I was afraid we were gonna have to get Mick to send his dog after you!

Bruce