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.
David
ā¦ then you might need an acoustic as 
