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Post by Phil on Jan 25, 2014 5:43:19 GMT -6
I finally stopped fooling around with the studies in BYCU. Instead of just getting a study down half-assed (or worse) and moving on to the next, I decided to focus on 2 that I really like and are challenging for me, but within my grasp - "Minor Blues" and "Preaching Gospel Blues". I practiced them over and over again and got them burned into my brain. I can now play them along with the full track with no problem.
So, I thought it was time for me to download the backing tracks, record myself, and proudly post the results on this forum.
Man, I have to tell you that I got a real eye opening experience. On my first attempt (Minor Blues) I was totally lost and couldn't get my bearings. It was like being lost in a forest without a compass. The difference between playing along with the full track and just the backing track is the difference between night and day. I was shocked at my ineptitude and have a new found respect for the people who have done this and posted their results.
Now I have a whole new challenge - going back to the simpler studies and playing them along with the stripped down backing tracks.
If you have reached a certain level of competence with a few of the studies, I highly recommend that you download the backing tracks and give it a shot. You may be in for a real eye opening experience.
Phil
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Post by nursedad on Jan 25, 2014 7:48:02 GMT -6
keep in mind the backing track are not the same as the tracks in the BYCU book. To me they sound a little more complicated and so a tad more difficult to play to....but they sure sound nice.
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Post by TommyD on Jan 25, 2014 8:13:26 GMT -6
Lately I've been working with the Jazzin' The Blues book from the BYCU series. It has the backing track included with each lesson. It really is nice to be able to have that to play along with after learning the lead portion of the tune. And the backing track is the same, only the lead guitar is omitted.
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Post by grampalerxst on Jan 25, 2014 10:28:03 GMT -6
I know exactly what you mean Phil! Later this afternoon I'm going to download the backing tracks and see how it goes with BYCU Study 1. One is very exposed in such a setting. Many years ago I bought a CD of "Blues Jam Tracks" and tried out all my "cool licks". Train wreck, was in way over my head. That's one of the reasons many years later I was drawn to the BYCU series. It's a very organized and gradual approach. Wish me luck, and good luck to you!
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Post by Phil on Jan 25, 2014 10:45:14 GMT -6
keep in mind the backing track are not the same as the tracks in the BYCU book. To me they sound a little more complicated and so a tad more difficult to play to....but they sure sound nice. This is true. The rhythm guitar distracted me in places. However, as guitarists we need to be able to play over these tracks. If I don't learn to play over these tracks how in can I ever expect to play with other musicians? I'm convinced that once I get the hang of it I'm going to wonder how I ever had a problem with it. It's just going to take some practice and careful listening. |
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JohnG
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Post by JohnG on Jan 25, 2014 10:59:31 GMT -6
keep in mind the backing track are not the same as the tracks in the BYCU book. To me they sound a little more complicated and so a tad more difficult to play to....but they sure sound nice. Just a quick response to nursedad's comments. While it is true that the BYCU backing tracks are not the exactly same as the tracks accompanying the book, they are based on those tracks. You will hear slight differences in the arrangements, but they are no more complicated than those from the book. I worked hard to make the feel on my backing tracks the same as on the book's CD. Thanks nursedad, for your complement (they sound nice). Please give them another chance. As Phil said, playing without the prompt of the recorded lead guitar part is more difficult. I hope that anyone using them will start with the slow tempo version. They all have one. I find that slowing down whatever I'm working on actually helps me to bring it up to speed more quickly. Thanks. JG |
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Post by Phil on Jan 25, 2014 13:12:16 GMT -6
I know exactly what you mean Phil! Later this afternoon I'm going to download the backing tracks and see how it goes with BYCU Study 1. One is very exposed in such a setting. Many years ago I bought a CD of "Blues Jam Tracks" and tried out all my "cool licks". Train wreck, was in way over my head. That's one of the reasons many years later I was drawn to the BYCU series. It's a very organized and gradual approach. Wish me luck, and good luck to you! The tracks are well worth buying. Each study has a slow and a normal tempo version. I'm finding that the keys are: 1) start the pick up measure on the right beat. Now, that sounds so obvious that it shouldn't even be necessary to say it, but it's not so easy to do. And if you start even slightly off the whole thing goes awry very quickly. I find that counting the beats out loud helps. 2) concentrate on hearing the chord changes and don't let anything else distract you. 3) try to internalize the beat - tapping my foot helps with this. 4) keep plugging away and don't get discouraged. When you finally get it (and you will) you'll have a real feeling of accomplishment. Good luck to you too, but good practice will help more than luck.  Remember - practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Phil |
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Post by grampalerxst on Jan 26, 2014 6:29:17 GMT -6
I know exactly what you mean Phil! Later this afternoon I'm going to download the backing tracks and see how it goes with BYCU Study 1. One is very exposed in such a setting. Many years ago I bought a CD of "Blues Jam Tracks" and tried out all my "cool licks". Train wreck, was in way over my head. That's one of the reasons many years later I was drawn to the BYCU series. It's a very organized and gradual approach. Wish me luck, and good luck to you! The tracks are well worth buying. Each study has a slow and a normal tempo version. I'm finding that the keys are: 1) start the pick up measure on the right beat. Now, that sounds so obvious that it shouldn't even be necessary to say it, but it's not so easy to do. And if you start even slightly off the whole thing goes awry very quickly. I find that counting the beats out loud helps. 2) concentrate on hearing the chord changes and don't let anything else distract you. 3) try to internalize the beat - tapping my foot helps with this. 4) keep plugging away and don't get discouraged. When you finally get it (and you will) you'll have a real feeling of accomplishment. Good luck to you too, but good practice will help more than luck. Remember - practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Phil One of my foibles has always been dealing with those rudimentary things (like how to count into a song and start of in sync with everything else). I guess my pride has waned as I've aged and I've nurtured enough humbleness to admit that I'm essentially incompetent at some of the simplest things and actually "practice" things that most everyone (including a couple teachers I had short stints with) assumes are things everyone should be able to "just do". You mention counting out loud, and that's something for the first time in my life I've really sat down and attempted to do. I guess I used to think I was too cool for that, haha. I agree on the backing tracks. $10 well spent. Although struggling through that recording process for Texas Rock detracted from my scheduled practice time it was probably worth the effort. At least I know that counting along with the metronome during practice guided me through that pickup. I tended to focus on the drums when I was playing along, but that piece is more of a rhythm piece than a solo piece in a lot of respects. |
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Post by Phil on Jan 26, 2014 13:58:55 GMT -6
Grampa, Whatever difficulties you had or are still having certainly didn't reflect in the recording you posted. That turned out very well. I'm looking forward to you posting "Hard Rocker" very soon.  Phil |
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Post by nursedad on Jan 27, 2014 10:09:50 GMT -6
John I didnt mean to imply that they were too hard to play along with, I think they are great I try to play with both the ons in the book and the download versions
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JohnG
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Post by JohnG on Jan 27, 2014 10:26:06 GMT -6
Well, and I must correct myself. I forgot that some of them are somewhat different than the cd accompanying the book. Minor Blues and More Minor Blues, for example. I might have to work up some instructions on using them.
Thanks for your kind words, nursedad.
JG
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david53
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Post by david53 on Feb 19, 2015 21:52:14 GMT -6
Hi Folks
I read this the other day - I know it was posted a year or so ago but I am new to this book and program. I have reached Minor Blues when I discovered this forum and the jam tracks, I bought them and was ready to really move ahead with my playing by playing the lead over the background track but like Phil said, it was not a good experience. Playing along with the original track with the lead supplied by the book was relatively easy compared to playing it with just the background track. For me, I found that it was crucial to get the intro timing perfect. If I missed that then I was toast for the rest of the recording. Fortunately, I have also got an instructor and today we worked very diligently on getting the timing just perfect at the beginning. After that I was almost able to play the whole thing in sync - "almost" being the key word here.
Dave
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Post by joachim on Feb 20, 2015 2:06:53 GMT -6
David,
I am experiencing the same thing. I can really get into the grove when I am playing lead along with JohnG's recording, but when I have to play with the backing track alone, then I have a hard time getting the timing right - it's really hard for me to start the different melodic figures at the exact right time, when I don't have John's recording to lean on.
I just started on the Lick book in the series, and there the problem is much more pronounced for me, when I need to combine the licks to a full solo, since you don't have everything pre-recorded to practice along with. And if you start a figure too late, then you have to rush the entire thing before the next measure starts... It's a wise decision to have an instructor to help with this.
Joachim
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Post by nursedad on Feb 20, 2015 6:25:28 GMT -6
My issues with timing are well documented here but I am in the same boat I can play along with the original versions and my timing is good not perfect but good for me anyway. Put the downloaded version on and I struggle.
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Post by cunningr on Feb 20, 2015 14:47:48 GMT -6
When I am practicing I load both the practice and the backing track get them synchronized then I record over the backing track and compare the timing to the original.
It helps give me a reference to check my counts. Anyway, the key is learning to count out load.
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Post by bluesbruce on Feb 20, 2015 15:32:59 GMT -6
Great thread to resurrect! It's interesting that Phil started this one, just a little over a year ago - and listen to him wail away now! This is another and a very important step along the way, and all of you CAN (and WILL) master this, but only with work and practice dedicated to it. I agree strongly with Rich on this one - learning to count the rhythm in a 12 bar blues is paramount - you gotta know what bar you're in, what beat you're on, and which part of the "trip-a-let" (assuming it's a swing rhythm, which most of these are).
Bruce
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Post by Phil on Feb 20, 2015 18:04:58 GMT -6
Wow, I didn't remember posting this. This was when I realized what a mistake I made in not going through the book in sequence. I jumped directly into studies that I wasn't ready for, and found myself in the deep end on the pool without knowing how to swim.  It's kinda cool having this historical record to look back on. Now, if I could just go back and delete all the stupid things I said over the past year.  David, Once you get comfortable playing with the backing tracks a cool thing to try is to stop playing for a few beats and see if you can pick up again in the right spot. Last week I tried playing a study I'm working on with another guitarist playing the rhythm. We were stumbling all over each other because I'm so used to stopping and starting all over again when I make a mistake while playing with a backing track. When you play with real live human beings you have to be able to recover from mistakes and push on through the song by getting back on track again. That was yet another eye opening experience for me.  |
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Post by bluesbruce on Feb 21, 2015 12:37:39 GMT -6
When you play with real live human beings you have to be able to recover from mistakes and push on through the song by getting back on track again. +1 on that. It's a very important point. It's not that pro's and more experienced musicians never miss a note (like we all do), they've just got the experience to get right back on track. I think this is another of those skills that develops with time and experience... Bruce |
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david53
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Post by david53 on Feb 21, 2015 18:43:19 GMT -6
One of the things my instructor has emphasized to me is that when I goof up I should not stop and start again. He insists that I continue to the end, picking up the tune wherever I can. I have continued to try this, although I admit that sometimes when I am really out of step, I start again. But it does help to play though if only because it keeps you focussed on the whole tune and not just something that tripped you up.
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Post by nursedad on Feb 21, 2015 19:50:26 GMT -6
When I am practicing I load both the practice and the backing track get them synchronized then I record over the backing track and compare the timing to the original. It helps give me a reference to check my counts. Anyway, the key is learning to count out load. Not sure I am following you, what exactly do you do? |
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Remember - practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. 
