BLUES has been the main focus of practice this last couple of months.
Iāve added a couple more pieces from the Blues studies module so thereās just the ā6th Trickā to look at.
In Grade3 Iāve been exploring the C chord and just moved on to learning my first triad shapes. Triads are a lot of fun and, like the Blues stuff, they have me moving around the neck more.
Greensleves- Hmmā¦Iām not practicing this one much now. To be honest, I got a bit fed up with it. I can play through it but can never get it to flow quite like it should.
Was worth having a go at though because it highlighted the need to put some practice into my picking technique.
I also came across the concept of in/out picking in one of the blues lessons, so I now have a 5 minute slot for pick technique.
I think Iāve said before that I donāt put any thought into how I pick when Iām playing something - I just let it happen quite naturally.
By putting some time into focusing on the various ways of picking, Iām hoping that when I go back to āletting it happen naturallyā my grey cell will have more options to send to my hand!
Another thing to consider is the slightly different sounds that different pick actions produce. That could also be a factor in what my brain tells my hand.
Transcribing
There are transcribing lessons coming up in Grade3 but before I get to them Iāve recently started the Transcribe 1 course.
So far, Iāve transcribed the first three exercises in āPentatonic beginningsā and they were a piece of cake. I donāt go mad doing one after another though, I do one and then mess around with it for a few days. I improvise around it and also find it by ear in other places on the neck, then move on to the next one.
Iāve only learned pattern 1 of the pentatonic scale but I realise that these other places will be part of other patterns.
Iām chuffed that I found these first exercises easy because it means that the time I put into developing my ear is paying off.
The exercises will no doubt get harder as they become more complex. That can only be a good thing!
Hey David, am I mistaken or you have changed your LLās name? Love this one!
Ambitions are good to have!
Your update was an interesting read, Iām happy you can see your progress with your earā¦we put the hours in and when something finally seems like it has been easy itās like āok, Iām doing well!āā¦and itās just great, Iām happy for you!
I guess anyone who attempted it can relate to thisā¦ for me the issue was that I wasnāt doing a good job with my fretting hand and the way I transitioned between chord shapes was not smooth as it shouldā¦and it is not yet, Iām afraidā¦but Iām working on this aspect through different pieces now and eventually I hope to be able to move my fingers more efficently.
Exactlyā¦letās just ā¦only it takes so much focusing on single aspects so that things then happen naturallyā¦my grey cell is a bit slow on the uptake I guess
Thanks for sharing your update, have fun with your Blues studies
Hey Silvia, thanks for checking out my update.
I think developing our ear is one of the most important aspects of learning and playing guitar. That ear told me my chord melody playing could be a whole lot better and that led to looking into pick technique.
There are aspects of the blues pieces that involve strumming and then picking single notes. Itās not chord melody as such but hopefully it will lead to getting a more consistent sound.
Iāll certainly have another go at chord melody sometime and pick up on your idea of trying different songs to keep it interesting.
Your grey cell is working just fine, and your eagle eye spotted the change of title. Good eh! ā¦(whatās emoji for ambition?)
Iām intrigued to see what you come up with for yours.
Hi David, I have enjoyed reading through most of your learning log. You started Justinās lessons just a few months before I did so it was interesting to look at your progress. I am interested in the blues also and I recently went back over the blues module in grade 2 to review a few skills like playing rhythm and the solo to a metronome and improvisation. I was impressed that you made the jump to grade 4 blues lessons, since I am still slowly working my way through grade 3. I was wondering whether you had tried the blues module in grade 3? The grade 3 module 14 blues solo appears to have been taken from the acoustic blues solos in grade 4. The best of luck and fun in your grade 4 blues studies and I hope to be there also by the end of the year.
Hey Steve, thanks for the read.
Iām working slowly through Grade3 too, but Iām also doing a few blues lessons from Grade4.
Iāve done the Lickin Riff lesson in Grade3 and itās based on the Vari Shuffle Climb lesson in the G4 Blues Studies module.
Although itās Grade4, the blues lessons there are within the capabilities of Grade3 students who have an interest in the blues.
Iām never going to be a singing strummer so Iām creating my own pathway through the lessons.
Youāll enjoy the Blues Studies when you get there!
@SteveL_G99
Steve, if youāve learned the Lickin Riff in Grade3, youāll be ok with the Vari Shuffle Climb. There are no licks in it, itās mostly the same shuffle rhythms with some climb up/downs to link the chords.
Tore Up a Sidestep and About That Bass are single note riff patterns with a section of nifty chord playing in the Sidestep.
Enjoy!
@MAT1953
Thanks Michael.
I wouldnāt say Iām working through G3 methodically. Some things I skip, some I sort of have a quick look at, and those that interest me I put more practice into. I may well go backwards and forwards in the grade for quite a while - time will tell.
Yeah, I suppose my interest in the blues is helping with transcribing. The pieces Iām transcribing are all using the minor pentatonic scale. Itās a scale that Iām fairly familiar with but since I started transcribing Iāve started looking at it more closely. Iām fairly savvy with the sound of, and the intervals in the Major scale but Iāve never done the same thing with the minor pentatonic - until now!
I know you have other priorities but itās good to hear you enjoyed G2 blues. Itās well suited to acoustic guitar too.
Not a big lot to report this month because Iāve pretty much been practicing the same things as last month plus a couple of additions.
Iāve added Legato Pentatonics from Grade3 and Iāve also started practicing string bending.
Hand strength isnāt an issue so itās about getting the pivot action and getting the bends in tune. Other strings keep joining in as well, so I need to work on the muting aspect too. Itās early days though and I know it will all improve with practice.
I could do the finger gym exercise straight out of the blocks so legato pentatonics is about turning it into music. Again - early days.
Iāve completed the Pentatonic beginnings module in Transcibe1 and about to start the next module.
All these exercises were easy although the later ones took longer because they grew from 4 to 8 bars and the last one is 16 bars.
I seem to have settled into transcribing one exercise a week then messing around with all of them for the rest of the week.
I havenāt added anything to my Blues studies, I just keep playing what I already know. I never get bored of playing them but I havenāt got them to where I want them yet.
I want to be able to pick up the guitar and play without thinking. I still have to think about everything: the structure, where Iām at within it, the order of notes etc.
Speaking of playing without thinkingā¦I hadnāt done anything with the Major Scale Maestro module for ages. Iām a huge fan of Justinās Re-active Listening lessons and when I tried it recentlyā¦.Aaargh!! I was thinking too much. Thinking about chords, chord tones, scale degrees. My improvisation sounded terrible!
I have to get out of that and listen. LISTEN!!
Itās good to learn and know the theory but thinking about it when Iām playing gets in the way. Listen to the backing track, listen to what Iām playing. The re-active part doesnāt work when Iām thinking about the theory.
Iām also looking at how I actually play guitar. Youāre supposed to hold it like this and play it like that, this hand does this and that handā¦.etc etc. Me?ā¦well I just do it by what seems natural.
Justin, in most of his lessons and song tutorials, has the guitar on his right knee and the neck is horizontal. And that has been me too.
But now Iāve started playing with the guitar on my left knee and the neck angled up. Classical! I always have the strap on too, so the guitar is always in the same position sitting or standing. I think this position is better. The only problem so far is that I tend to push on the body with my picking arm, tilting the guitar. I need to keep an eye on that.
In other news -
Winter changed quite quickly to Summer and seemed to miss Spring out altogether.
My livestock are all back out in the fields and more or less looking after themselves. My workload has changed and is easier and I can find more time for guitar.
Hmmā¦maybe I should go back to the top and cross out ānot much to reportāā¦!
Hi David, your updates are always very interesting to read and this one is no exception! Many aspects of your learning experience I can relate toā¦
So do I! And when Iām strumming I find myself thinking about my foot tapping as well and check if my hand is going in sync
Iām more able to relax with my classical guitar and little by little I feel my ear connecting more with my hands and with the fretboard. But heyā¦itās a journey to conquer ourselves, isnāt it? Feeling deeply engaged in our practice, developing much self-awareness, find out more what works for us and what doesnāt etcā¦
Heheheā¦that feels so better! Iāve put a lot of effort and I still try and see if I can play my acoustic on the right legā¦but no way, my right shoulder hurts and after some swearing the guitar comes back on the left leg. The only thing that prevents me for giving it up itās that I tap my left foot as well and the guitar moves a lot with it
Iām glad to read your work is allowing you more time for your guitar, Iām quite at the opposite at the momentā¦
Now I really have to ask you, but you allow yourself the option of not replyingā¦I really would like some Blues AVOYP from youā¦you sayā¦
Rarely I have something where I want it to be (you rememberā¦Ana ) but Iām happy with myself anyway, and you seem too as you say you never get bored of playing āthemā.
Ok, no need for a reply to thisā¦only the feedback from other guitar enthusiasts as we all are here is soo valuable and helpful, and I thought it wouldnāt harm to mention this.
Yeah, I understand what youāre saying Tony.
When I compare the two positions, everything now feels a bit bunched up with the guitar on the right leg. The left leg position allows more freedom to move around the fretboard.
Itās certainly a journey to conquer, Silvia. Or at least try to conquer!
Little by little, we get nearerā¦
Now donāt go getting all excited at my mention of Classical, I arenāt about to try to emulate you or Ana doodah!
Recordings? Nah, itās not my thing. Iām quite happy doing what Iām doing and providing my own feedback. Iām a lot more critical than most on this forum, but I can also hear the good things in my playingā¦.occasionally!
Youāre welcome to come and see us when Iām in a band playing live music.
As always your LL are interesting and you seem to give an honest view of where you are.
Your direction of travelling with transcribing and blues is heading off in a different direction to me but I guess this is in a way is what Justin anticipates at this stage.
Slightly surprised about changing how you hold the guitar, but if it works for you then go for it. Just wondering if you have tried playing standing up
Those of us who are or were 9 to 5ers donāt always appreciate how much your workload as a farmer varies with the seasons.
JG courses cover a wide range of styles and interest and they allow us to follow our own individual path.
I donāt have the time now and the years left to learn everything so it makes sense to narrow it down to what interests me.
I was a bit surprised at moving the guitar onto my left leg too because I dismissed that position a while back.
I always use the strap now and the guitar isnāt really sitting on my leg, itās sitting on the strap. When I tried that on the right leg, the strap didnāt really do any good so I put it in a cupboard!
The old bones like a rest at the end of the day so I play mostly sitting - but now, if I stand, it plays just the same.
Seasons!!@?! The ground is very tender and sticky and yesterdayās contracting work didnāt go well, taking twice as long as it should have !!@?! - donāt ask!!
Itās a strange time right now.
My Dad died in mid June and I havenāt touched the guitar since.
I know Iāll get back to it sometime but Iāve lost my mojo for it. It doesnāt seem important at the moment.
Dad was 91 and itās been hard watching him slowly fade into an old man. I donāt want to remember him like that. Iād rather remember the influential figure he was.
He and Mum were married for 67 years. Sheās 90 and not in the best of health, although sheās coping very well with it all.
There are very few of their generation left now but despite that, the farming community of all generations came to pay their respects and filled the church to overflowing. It was hard to stand up and address them at the funeral, but somehow I got through it.
David
ā¦(whatās emoji for ambition?)
) but Iām happy with myself anyway, and you seem too as you say you never get bored of playing āthemā.
