U4 is another great unit with all the usual framework, licks, medley, playlists, history, transcribingā¦etc etc.
New for this unit are lessons on dominant 9th chords and a lesson on how to develop solos using threads and an introduction lesson on note function.
That lesson on developing solos is the stand-out lesson of the unit for me. Itās one Iāll be working on a lot in the future. I say in the future because itās really only a concept in my mind right now as Iāve been strapped for time this month and only done about half the practice of previous units. It is what it is though and Iāve got to remember that this is a lifetime course - no need to beat myself up when Iām not keeping up with it. Thereāll be plenty of time after the initial 6 months to learn all of this at my leisure.
Soā¦despite watching some of the above lessons, most of my practice has been with the fretboard framework and the licks.
Itās taken me all month to memorise the licks this time. Partly because Iāve ditched the ālyricsā that Justin puts with them. Simply ignored them and worked on getting the sound of the licks in my mind. Itās proving to be slower but itās the way I want to do it.
Hereās something thatās surprised me. Itās not Blim but itās Blues.
With all the chat recently about the new Solo Blues course, I thought Iād have another go at Boom Bass With Licks (I know, I know, I should have been practicing Blimā¦but wellā¦!)
I had a go about a year ago but couldnāt make head nor tail of it. Me and fingerpicking didnāt get on too well! So this week I tried again and it was much easier. I can play through the first 12 bars at about 70bpm. I dunno why that would happen when I havenāt tried fingerpicking at all since my first attempt!!
Anywayā¦.on to Unit 5 tomorrow and Iāve already added pattern 5 to my framework practice - to get a bit of a head start!
Exactly the words I would use for my ānoodling aroundā with the Major Scaleā¦not actually improvising.
Well, itās not just one skill we put at work while playing/practicing a piece of musicā¦I guess itās very likely you have been progressing on different levels and that the struggle back then maybe wasnāt just fingerpicking as you supposed ā¦ wellā¦ itās something that has happened to me, I thought I was struggling with something and watching back my recording it was crystal clear the struggle was a different one
Me and strumming didnāt get on well eitherā¦but we found a way to make friends and have fun togetherā¦I guess it might work kind of the same for you too
@Silvia80
Thanks Silvia.
I think youāre right - working on one area can bring improvement in other areas too.
Improvisation is hard. At least for me it is.
In Blim and the Blues we learn licks and they are our musical vocabulary. In each pattern weāve learned around 12 licks, so thatās 48 so far (not including even more licks in some of the other lessons!) I canāt remember them all without looking at the tab and giving some thought to them. Maybe improvisation will become easier when licks and phrases just flow from my fingers without thinking about it. Iāve a looooong way to go!
David @BurnsRhythm
Glad to see you are still progressing BLIM even if you have not been able to put as much time into it as you like. Are you going to do the solo blues next?
Your mention of fingerpick was interesting and you will find it a very nice style when you are forced into having to get an acoustic, but donāt worry the red tele is not any nearer.
Michael
Anyway, I donāt need an acoustic, I can play with my fingers on electric! Tone sounds a bit rough at the moment but give it timeā¦
Iām quite liking Boom Bass so Iāll keep practicing it this month and then there are 2 more pieces in the free bit. If I get on ok with those Iāll probably buy the full Solo Blues course.
Two more months of Blim and then Iāll be consolidating it for years. Solo Blues could be good to do alongside.
The last of the minor pentatonic framework patterns, pattern5, is introduced - and of course, another dozen licks to go along with it.
So I can now play the scale from one end of the neck to the other. It doesnāt flow - I have to think about where Iām at but I keep practicing it and Iām sure it will become ingrained eventually.
Justin introduces the concept of playing horizontally as well as vertically and diagonally. So Iāve been practicing the scale up and down the high e string all month, getting to know it in a horizontal fashion. Iāll move onto string 2 next month.
As well as the usual history, transcribing, Blues standards, there are lessons on mini & micro chords and a minor Blues lesson. And thenā¦.Slide guitar!!
Ah wellā¦.I had a go at it - with my homemade stainless steel slide! Jeez, itās a lot harder than it looks! I think Iāll be leaving that one alone for a good while!
Unit 5 curated playlists are good. The unit is titled The big guns of Texas so thereās a good dose of SRV in there!
As with last month, the main focus of my practice has been the framework and the new licks. I also try to practice licks from previous units but canāt always remember them and have to look them up.
Iām still no good at improvisation. Itās something Iām going to have to work on a lot next year.
Playing to backing tracks still throws me too. Again, not enough practice. The playing on one string exercise is helping. I do it over a bt, counting the bars and keeping it simple by just playing the root of each chord at first and then building in more notes. Playing more notes tends to take my focus and I stop counting the bars and then I become unsure of where I am in the progression. Just have to keep doing it and hopefully itāll improve with time.
Boom Bass with Licks
I like this!
Itās in the same vein as Blim - Blues - and yet itās so very different. I can now play the whole piece from memory. Iāll continue with it and focus on getting a better tone out of my fingers.
On to the last Blim unit tomorrow and then Iāll have to start thinking about my plan for going through it all again next year.
I keep finding gems in the course which Iām sure will help me a lot going forward.
U6 is ram-packed with information. Most of it is a reference for the future and how to proceed with the course going forward.
That doesnāt mean any relaxing though. The usual intro plus 12 bar lick medley is intro plus 36 bars with 32 new licks to learn!!
Iāve faired better than I thought I would with it. I havenāt learned it all but I can play the intro and 24 bars from memory. It needs tidying up and getting up to speed. Iām starting revision of the course in January so Iāll learn the last 12 bars when I get to U6 revision.
So thatās the end of the 6 month course but I have a lot of work to do with it in the coming months and years. Itās a fantastic course and I have no regrets about taking it on from my lowly level. Yes, itās been an intensive 6 months but Iāve thoroughly enjoyed it and, even though my playing aināt great yet, Iāve learned such a lot. Far more than if I hadnāt signed up for BLIM. I now know what I have to do!
The end of Blim also marks the end of 4 years of learning with JG and Iām now starting to play the sort of guitar that I want to.
Youāre right, it is just the beginning. Justin says if heād had this course when he was 15 it would have taken him 5 years. Well I aināt Justin, for startersā¦ā¦and I aināt 15 either!!
Iāll keep plugging away at it and hopefully keep improving.
David
ā¦ then you might need an acoustic as 
Aye aye Sir, will do!
