A couple of short Blues Etudes to warm up for the ‘almost ready to start’ Blues course.
The first is an Albert King style piece with a few of his signature techniques, with contrasting choruses.
The second is a Chicago Style Blues that’s all about double stop 3rds.
These are from a Keith Wyatt coursebook that I’ve been studying for a little while now.
Great fun to learn and play. Not perfect yet, but getting closer… .
Tension is a main obstacle here imo; something I’ve been working on for a while now. It’s an insidious little beast, particularly with the camera on, but I’m beating it gradually, and methodically. I think these little flubs here and there will disappear when I do.
As usual, any feedback, tips, advice etc welcomed.
Both of the Etuds were well played: the Albert King style piece , to me, seemed to have more colour and variation with the vibrato and bends. Good luck with the blues course.
Hey Shane great to see you sharing you BLIM prep here in Gen Pop, I’ve been doing likewise.
A couple of great pieces there. I think sometimes when you are learning set pieces, some people think its a bit of a cop out from “improvising”. But you have to learn each lick one at a time and then seamlessly join them together, like the most natural thing in the world and everything is golden. In reality that is a million miles away, so you just keep plying your trade.
AS to the flubs ? As I am finding the more you record the less there are. But they are always loitering, so beware !
Really enjoyed these - dropped into the YT rabbit hole and checked out your Tracy Chapman cover too. Lovely stuff! I really need to woodshed some licks over the next couple of weeks before we start BLIM officially!
Thanks for the listen, and feedback Toby. Much appreciated mate.
I think that learning set pieces, and improvising, are 2 entirely different things. Those who think otherwise, or believe that one is the lesser of the other are entirely ill-informed.
Dude… let’s just say I can’t wait to see the progress you have made after the BLIM course… you’re like a rocket screaming towards the stars… all that grafting you have been putting in is paying major dividends.
For sure. Learning the set pieces is good for technical development and confidence, which you can then exploit freestyle in the land of impro. Both feed the same beast !
I am with you on the tension as an insidious beastie. I had to put my guitar down a few years ago cuz I couldn’t control it.
These days, I just try to notice it where and when it happens and then – “breathe into and out of the tense area”-- sounds wierd but it’s a technique I picked up doing stretching and yoga that works for me on the guitar these days.
Great to hear you sounding so good. Gives the rest of us motivation to put our own noses to the grindstone.
Hi Shane,
That sounds great again , I’m more and more looking forward to the day that I can reproduce that wonderful sound of yours, and then perform those sweet licks here… once again you create a burning fire in me
Ha. Well I suppose with this particular
etude, the first chorus is subdued, with the second chorus taking it up a notch
and containing most of the bends, including a 1 - 1 1/2 - 2 toner.
.
Loved both of these Shane, especially the Albert King style
Thanks for sharing them here. I’d love to see updates and progress from you too
You’re going to be amazing in BLIM! Have a great time!
(very cute cat too! )
Two super performances Shane. Well done mate.
I hope you don’t spent the first half of the BLIM course twiddling your thumbs as you wait for everyone else to catch up!
Oh Gordon, @sairfingers you jester. Thanks for the listen, and the kind words.
Actually, the course appears to have attracted alot of very experienced and talented folk from outside the community, which is great for everybody.
Let’s hope a few stick around and join the wider community.
All the best, from cold Australia. (Getting down to 15°C here in the daytime. Disgraceful .)
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and everything is golden. In reality that is a million miles away, so you just keep plying your trade.
