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Post by jack1982 on Oct 18, 2015 6:44:38 GMT -6
Well my golfing buddies have called it quits for the year so I was able to get in about 22 1/3rd hours on guitar and the usual 23 minutes on bass. Hate to say it but about 13 hours were classical guitar and around 6 was Christmas music, which didn't leave a lot for blues.  I did work some on Major Blues, I think I'll do the book version plus one chorus of my own. I've got a second one half-written but doubt I'll get it finished this week. Worked a tiny bit on Cheap Runs and an even tinier bit on The Gospel Truth. Didn't do any improvising and played through Major Blues on bass a bit. On classical I'm just trying to fix the 35 things I'm doing wrong with my right and left hand technique while practicing some songs  Playing along with the ever exciting metronome focusing on accuracy and using the correct fingers etc. I seem to be able to play softly or loudly, but I don't seem to have a halfway-in-between setting  I was wondering if you guys who are experienced with nylon string guitars could give me some tips on strings? I got some high tension ones, and I like the sound and the fact that I can feel the strings under my fingers better, but of course they take a little more muscle in the left hand. I also notice there are a lot of strings in the $5 range, and then a bunch in the $20 range; is there a big difference or is it like electric guitar where they're exactly the same thing just in a prettier package? |
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Post by joachim on Oct 18, 2015 7:27:17 GMT -6
Nothing new for me. Still working on lesson 5 in RnBYCU, triad exercises in BCYCU, and other different exercises.
I thought I'd be able to record lesson 5 this week, but it'll take at least another week of practice, I think.
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Post by cunningr on Oct 18, 2015 8:51:53 GMT -6
Well started the week well until the pandemic hit my house and the Demon from the exorcist to resident couldn't do anything for most of the week.
Anyway I did get good practice on Chord On Bleu actually have a version I am pretty sure is in time, put don't like it so going to keep working on it.
I started Lesson 2 Drivin Blues, to help get me going strong again.
Saturday did a Jam session with a good friend that was going to be an hour or so but lasted more like 3 and we wanted to keep rolling, good for me not
much helping him he is an excellent musician, but we are gradually going to put together a group I think, anyway lots of fun and lead to the soundcloud post I did today as a side project.
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Post by joachim on Oct 18, 2015 12:13:24 GMT -6
Well my golfing buddies have called it quits for the year so I was able to get in about 22 1/3rd hours on guitar and the usual 23 minutes on bass. Don't you have indoor mini-golf in Minnesota? Short of that, table-tennis is a fun indoor activity, or so I've heard. We need to level out the playing field here... Seriously, though - you're showing real dedication, and it really shows off in your videos. I think I read somewhere that 3 hours daily practice is what it takes to become a professional guitarist... We will have keep an eye out of you! |
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Post by bluesbruce on Oct 18, 2015 13:20:55 GMT -6
I was able to get in about 22 1/3rd hours on guitar and the usual 23 minutes on bass. I was wondering if you guys who are experienced with nylon string guitars could give me some tips on strings? I got some high tension ones, and I like the sound and the fact that I can feel the strings under my fingers better, but of course they take a little more muscle in the left hand. I also notice there are a lot of strings in the $5 range, and then a bunch in the $20 range; is there a big difference or is it like electric guitar where they're exactly the same thing just in a prettier package? Well, that goes a long way to explain why you can play as well as you do. I got in my 23 minutes on guitar and the other 22 1/3 hours on something that's spelled like "bass", but without the "b"... oh, well. So, I got back to the guitar grindstone this week. Now I REALLY think I can put up a recording of "Chord-On Bleu", just have to find the time to sit down and record it! Been working some on "Drivin" Blues". Got that rhythm part down, and it's so cool, I might have to put up a recording just of that. The lead part on that - well, lets just say it's a work in progress. I've got on to quite the rock and roll kick, after dusting off "Total Rock Guitar" by Troy Stetina. It's a lot of fun, and man can I really make a lot of noise with that distortion turned to "11" thing. Jack, those $20 strings play four times better than the $5 ones. It's simple mathematics. Really. That's provided that you're a four times better player than the dude (or female dude, to be PC) playing the $5 strings... Well, that's my 2 cents worth, and I'm sticking to it. Bruce  |
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Post by jack1982 on Oct 18, 2015 15:22:51 GMT -6
Well my golfing buddies have called it quits for the year so I was able to get in about 22 1/3rd hours on guitar and the usual 23 minutes on bass. Don't you have indoor mini-golf in Minnesota? Short of that, table-tennis is a fun indoor activity, or so I've heard. We need to level out the playing field here... Seriously, though - you're showing real dedication, and it really shows off in your videos. I think I read somewhere that 3 hours daily practice is what it takes to become a professional guitarist... We will have keep an eye out of you! Table tennis? That requires fast reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination - I'm happy if I can just make it through the day without smashing my toe into anything It's great having plenty of time to practice but the problem is staying motivated. I suppose that's why I got that classical guitar, but now it's like, should I focus on blues or classical or just split my time and be mediocre at both lol. |
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Post by cunningr on Oct 18, 2015 15:25:10 GMT -6
Jack I think strings are a personal taste thing, I tend to use different strings last pack I bought were Seville something made here in Spain, they sound good. I have found some brands do last longer than others before they start getting that dead sound, best advice I have is try several different brands and you'll find one you like, I usually try cheap and expensive but don't use that as a gauge. On my steel string acoustic best strings I have put on it are ESP coated been 2 years and they sound excellent albeit I don't play that guitar too much.
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Post by jack1982 on Oct 18, 2015 15:32:24 GMT -6
I got in my 23 minutes on guitar and the other 22 1/3 hours on something that's spelled like "bass", but without the "b"... oh, well. Good God man you must be exhausted  |
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Post by jack1982 on Oct 18, 2015 15:37:18 GMT -6
Jack I think strings are a personal taste thing, I tend to use different strings last pack I bought were Seville something made here in Spain, they sound good. I have found some brands do last longer than others before they start getting that dead sound, best advice I have is try several different brands and you'll find one you like, I usually try cheap and expensive but don't use that as a gauge. On my steel string acoustic best strings I have put on it are ESP coated been 2 years and they sound excellent albeit I don't play that guitar too much. Thanks Rich, I suppose I can stick with cheap strings for now, at least until I learn how to play a little bit lol. The ones that came on my Yamaha were completely shot after about 6 days - where the bass strings pass over the 3rd fret the windings were broken and starting to unravel. So these Martin strings I bought are certainly a huge improvement. I guess I'll just try different brand and gauges until I eventually settle on a favorite. |
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Post by joachim on Oct 18, 2015 21:25:10 GMT -6
It's great having plenty of time to practice but the problem is staying motivated. I suppose that's why I got that classical guitar, but now it's like, should I focus on blues or classical or just split my time and be mediocre at both lol. With the progress you're making, I wouldn't worry about losing focus. You should allow yourself to noodle with different projects - at least that keeps me motivated, and I only punch in two hours a day - if the kids will let me  |
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Post by Phil on Oct 19, 2015 19:25:53 GMT -6
Well, I did nothing for another week. Callouses are starting to get soft. It's going to be a couple of more weeks before I can practice again. Jack, regarding classical guitar strings - it's been several years, but in the old days when I played Flamenco I used Savarez on the bass and LaBella blacks (very high tension) on the the trebles. I found that Savarez really sounded good when they're new (for a few days), but don't last long at all and they are expensive so I quit using them. I then starting using Luthiers which I liked and they lasted a long time. I don't remember the price. My son got into finger style using my old Flamenco guitar and has been experimenting with various tensions of D'Addario. They are reasonably priced and he likes them. I think he's using high tension at the moment. |
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Post by jack1982 on Oct 21, 2015 5:41:43 GMT -6
It's great having plenty of time to practice but the problem is staying motivated. I suppose that's why I got that classical guitar, but now it's like, should I focus on blues or classical or just split my time and be mediocre at both lol. With the progress you're making, I wouldn't worry about losing focus. You should allow yourself to noodle with different projects - at least that keeps me motivated, and I only punch in two hours a day - if the kids will let me Yeah it's always great to try something new, definitely keeps things fun |
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Post by jack1982 on Oct 21, 2015 5:44:07 GMT -6
Well, I did nothing for another week. Callouses are starting to get soft. It's going to be a couple of more weeks before I can practice again. Jack, regarding classical guitar strings - it's been several years, but in the old days when I played Flamenco I used Savarez on the bass and LaBella blacks (very high tension) on the the trebles. I found that Savarez really sounded good when they're new (for a few days), but don't last long at all and they are expensive so I quit using them. I then starting using Luthiers which I liked and they lasted a long time. I don't remember the price. My son got into finger style using my old Flamenco guitar and has been experimenting with various tensions of D'Addario. They are reasonably priced and he likes them. I think he's using high tension at the moment. Thanks for all the info Phil, I've actually got a set of D'Addarios on order but they're backordered. I'll have to try out those Luthiers in the future, sure would be nice to have something that lasts a little longer. |
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Post by Phil on Oct 21, 2015 17:32:09 GMT -6
Well, I did nothing for another week. Callouses are starting to get soft. It's going to be a couple of more weeks before I can practice again. Jack, regarding classical guitar strings - it's been several years, but in the old days when I played Flamenco I used Savarez on the bass and LaBella blacks (very high tension) on the the trebles. I found that Savarez really sounded good when they're new (for a few days), but don't last long at all and they are expensive so I quit using them. I then starting using Luthiers which I liked and they lasted a long time. I don't remember the price. My son got into finger style using my old Flamenco guitar and has been experimenting with various tensions of D'Addario. They are reasonably priced and he likes them. I think he's using high tension at the moment. Thanks for all the info Phil, I've actually got a set of D'Addarios on order but they're backordered. I'll have to try out those Luthiers in the future, sure would be nice to have something that lasts a little longer. Savarez were definitely the most short lived strings I'd ever used. I want to point out that nylon treble strings typically last twice as long as the bass strings. So, you should look into buying split sets to save some $$$. |
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I did work some on Major Blues, I think I'll do the book version plus one chorus of my own. I've got a second one half-written but doubt I'll get it finished this week. Worked a tiny bit on Cheap Runs and an even tinier bit on The Gospel Truth. Didn't do any improvising and played through Major Blues on bass a bit.
Playing along with the ever exciting metronome focusing on accuracy and using the correct fingers etc. I seem to be able to play softly or loudly, but I don't seem to have a halfway-in-between setting 
