Maybe i should have started with this earlier on, but there’s just not enough time in a day… well, mostly there isn’t… Oh well, better late then never, i suppose…
This month ends the first degree of education, here at my local music academy.
This is the end of my first 3-year journey into music generally and ofcourse, guitar.
It comes with a small graduation ceremony and reception afterwards…
Next year i’ll start on the second degree, which will be about exploring theory about jazz, pop and rock music and listening to and dissecting songs.
Also more guitar lessons and playing in group sessions. (something i’m really excited about).
Can’t say it’s been easy, but it has sure been fun. Can’t wait to get going with the next part.
Update: a few months in the new module in school and it has been busy.
Songs i’m working on because we agreed as a group on what we would play are: Monster (The Automatic) and R u Mine (Artic Monkeys).
My teacher gave me the solo from stairway to heaven to learn (more about technique, i guess) and no one knows (qotsa) for fun.
So i’m busy these days playing and learning these songs.
Playing in a “band” is something completely different.
Drowning, is how i felt, first time out there. Didn’t know what, who or why.
You could say i hit the ground running.
Now, a few months later, i’m much more comfortable playing in a groupsetting and i’m getting there.
Let’s see what the year will bring…
Aha, we’re 2026 now… It seems that my last entry was december 2024…
Time for an update.
Second year of playing in a (school) group setting and it’s getting better.
Less stage fright, less anxious about turning an amp up so others can hear me actually play.
No more comments like: “we can’t hear you, turn the sound up”. That’s gone. I’d turn it up to 11 if i could.
Making mistakes is just part of the process, so if i’m making some, they’re going to be loud ones. Don’t care. (anymore).
Playing in a group setting is fun, allthough i wish there was some more motivation in the other “members” of the group.
I don’t get why somebody would spend that kind of money (it’s around 400€/y) just to go mêh, i’ll show up now and again and maybe learn the song we’re doing now.
Last year also brought the start of a pedalboard. Small steps at first, but as these things go, they breed…
The board itself has grown as well…
Bought me a tube amp too. (Harley Benton 15w, nothing fancy).
So where am i now? Learning to use the blues scale, learning to use the major scale, playing songs, learning guitar parts, figuring out different effects and how they form sounds together or on their own. Immensly interresting and fun.
I’m busy and though it’s frustrating sometimes, i’m having fun!
Thanks for the reminder. Indeed, looking back at that event, things are going better now.
Allthough i still get a strange feelling looking at myself on video. (People in the audience filmed our first performance last year.) Made some mistakes there as well, but, they’re loud…
Maybe that’s a “sort of” voyp? Worth posting? Mind you, i look like a modern day smeagol, sitting down, hunching over his guitar…
Here are 3 recording (done with a phone, so the quality isn’t all that good).
The songs we played are: Artic Monkeys, R u Mine, Deus; Timebomb and a song we cooked up ourselves, named “Zee van spijt”. (Sea of regret, literally translated).
Obviously, i’m the one with the guitar, sitting down, trying to be invisible…
Playing standing up and occasionally looking at the audience and smile while playing would maybe an improvement. And you definitely could play louder, that sounds really good and you can be proud of.
I’m not overly enthusiastic about your singer, but he’s not bad. With a little ear training, he’ll be fine.
Don’t worry too much, you look nice and I see no reason to hide. And since you can’t really hide on stage, it may be easier to hide behind an alter ego with a stage outfit, just a thought from me.
Hah, waisted enough time between two updates. Time for a new one.
Things i learned up to now:
To play standing up. (and even moving about a bit).
How to use a compressor pedal. (wonderfull thing, really)
More songs to play (in a band setting)
The major scale and the blues scale (minor pentatonic with the added “blue” note.)
Major and minor chords on the first 3-4 strings. (wonderfull addition, especially if you have a bass player).
Bought myself a micropog too, but so far, the results are a bit underwhelming. It sounds more like an organ, rather than a 12-string guitar. Need some more work on that, i guess.
That, or buy another pedal. (check more review first!)
What i’m learning now:
A version of “Keep your eyes open”, by Bill Frisell. I say a “version”. I didn’t went to Berkely. , so it’ll be a very different version, the key melody is definitly present, but no where near what Frisell does.
There will be frills added, but not like he does on several recordings. (Way beyond my league).
A little piece called, “Like Jimmy did”. Consists of several elements Hendrix used to do on the guitar. And again, you get to add some of your own things too, but the main thing here is to learn how he did it.
That all for now i guess, can’t think of anything else worht mentioning at this time.
