I will continue posting my “rehearsals” for the “10 Song Setlist Exam” here, as per JK’s suggestion, to get more eyes on it. Any feedback is always appreciated!
Fittingly for my 1st year anniversary of learning guitar and being registered on Justinguitar, I played the very first song I memorized.
After playing it a long time with a capo I switched it up a few months ago, to slowly get into barre chords and try to implement some rudimentary bass “walks”.
Still getting into the barre chords, so it’s a bit rough around the edges.
Of course, the singing is still something for future refinement…
It was quite a fun first year and a start to a great ongoing learning ride here on Justinguitar.com.
I was late to join the community, but it’s quite interesting and fun seeing all the different kinds of guitar players’ journeys and everybody trying to help each other or just have some fun! Thank you Justin, the admins and members for being rad!
Just 1 year Marcel??
That was impressive.
Singing and playing like that after 1 year is really impressive.
Nice dynamics and cool small embellishments. Sounded really good!
You’re percussive hits are really good and I liked the little runs you incorporated a lot. That really added to the performance. Except for some fluffs in the interlude section, rhythm seemed to be steady to my ears as well.
A little more time down the road with some more practice on that one, this will sound even cooler and smoother than now. But taking into account you’re only into it for one year, this is quite an impressive achievement. You can be proud on the skills you’ve learned and now also sneaking into barre-chord-land.
Well, we’re a guitar learning community, so I try to evaluate the playing in first place. But as you self-assess, there’s room for improving. Good thing: learning to sing is pretty much like learning an instrument.
You’re on a good way with your grade 3 exam, Marcel. Already looking forward to the next one. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, I unexpectedly fell in love with the instrument. Always loved music, but never imagined I’d be able to have the patience to play a “real” instrument. Thx for the kind words and listening to it.
Thx for checking it out. If I had a singer-friend or even guitar friend to jam with I’d probably wouldn’t present my early attempts at singing classics. But I rather do that than play to a backing track. I feel that’s even harder to do it justice then. On the other hand, I found it’s also fun when just practicing singing for yourself, as wrong as you like I highly recommend some private time singing along to your guitar wildly.
It’s fun opening up the fretboard slowly to all kinds of chords and new possibilities.
Again, thanks for your assuring assessment Yes, voice is not the main focus here, still, it’s highly encouraged in the course and I try to oblige to the extent of my ability. But as you said, like with any instrument I just have to find a practice routine for that instrument someday too.
Yeah, that’s something I need to learn in life in general. I feel there is still a long way to achieve looking relaxed while performing for me. But if I want to be able to play a set I need to find a way to be more relaxed.
Either really get the songs to a state I can play it in my sleep and replace concentration with feeling or for the moment find a method to at least make it look less tense.
Hey Marcel - that was great! Just one thought, do you ever practice with a metronome or a drum machine? You sped up quite a bit from beginning to end (which isn’t uncommon). Personally I use a drum machine quite a lot of the keep time and it’s fun too!
However, you’re really rocking it for 1 year into your journey, I really enjoyed it.
Cheers
Paul.
I couldn’t help noticing that in holding down some of your barre chords you’re bending the strings a little rather than pressing them straight down onto the frets. That’s going to make those strings very slightly out of tune for those chords so might be a habit worth trying to break?
Yes I should do this more. It was my the first problem analysed on my first video in the safe space thread. Now when the weather was nice I practiced songs more out and about, happy to be off the grid and not using any software. But I will try to practice it more with a click besides playing to the recordings more as well.
Maybe even put a click into my ear for the next video if the song doesn’t require tempo changes. Maybe a beat or metronome could reduce some brain processing power to have more capacity for playing and singing.
I noticed this when editing the video and yea I got to work on that.
Barre chords in general are still something WIP. I honestly looked a bit into grade 4 as I was afraid to mispractice barre chords early, but I think I know the general technique now and it’s more a matter of getting to feel the right positions and force to use. Also, some perfect barre chord practice will be one of the things I’ll implement into my practice routine from now on.
congratulations on your guitar anniversary, and especially on the progress you have made and the techniques you have learned in just one year. That’s truly impressive!
This is my so-so take for today, still much to improve some guitar misses and lots of vocal misses. Learned it later and it’s the only song not in Justin’s beginner songbooks or videos.
It’s good early practice for some more barre chord practice though.
Clearly getting into the Groove Marcel which is a very good thing. Keep working on those barre chords and very tricky transitions. Coming along nicely.
Looks like this one has a few things for you to keep working on. Seems there’s a lot in this one that’s beyond your current ability, and the chords aren’t ringing clearly - barres and barre A.
Thank you, guys, for listening and the feedback. Still need to find the right pressure. Last recording I squeezed the barres too much. This one it seems, I may played them too light. Doesn’t help that I practice mostly on electric due to noise issues and I still seem to not adjust to the acoustic accordingly.
In this song, I got used to playing the F and the Bb 7b5 in a staccato style and had some insecurities so this didn’t help show off my barre ability.
My problem: Listening back, I honestly can’t hear much dynamic difference between the barres in comparison to the open chords. I felt the ones that weren’t errors due to mental lapses rung out as long as I wanted them.
I’m okay with still needing much work on the barre chords and know I have to work on consistency and precision. But it bums me out not being able to hear the general ringing out problem with my barres myself though…
(what I know is the G7 lacks the 4th string ringing and I recognize the mechanical problem, but I still have a hard time hearing the error
I’ll see if I replace it with the open version or the easier version without barre but two muted strings)
Finally found some daytime to record again.
Not in the best headspace to really get into the groove and participate on the forum as much as I’d like at the moment.
Still trying to get these recordings done and post them as announced here:
8 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love Rehearsal
Sorry for the subpar sound quality, due to technical problems, this recording only has the iPhone microphones sound.
I know I have a lot to practice and improve on this song. Hope it’s still bearable to listen to for those interested, despite technical and musical problems
Thank you for sharing your performance of one of my most favourite songs
I enjoyed it a lot, have an earworm now for the rest of the day, and my foot is still tapping
This song is on top of my dream list, but I’m still a beginner, so it is much too advanced for me with the barre chords, the riff and all the other tricky parts.
So I don’t quailfy for any constructive feedback, but I know what I like, and I liked your performance a lot.
I highly recommend some private time singing along to your guitar wildly.
Yes, voice is not the main focus here, still, it’s highly encouraged in the course and I try to oblige to the extent of my ability. But as you said, like with any instrument I just have to find a practice routine for that instrument someday too.
…and that after a year 
… and you rock, too 
