I tried this a while back (unfinished project) and I found that lick where you bend & then drop the bend and play again, I really like the sound of it when I only drop the bend a fraction before playing it a second time. Try it and see what you think.
Not bad at all Toby, I’ll give you a little cheat trick you can do to quieten down open strings! Being as you’re not going to use them just slip over one of those headband things that mute the strings, that’s what I do!
That’ll mess with me ponytail, as I ain’t got no spares !! I see lots of “pro’s” on YouTube doing that kind of thing. Sophie Lloyd has her first Truefire course (not a good teacher, way too fast but other factors prevail she’s got some velcro gizzmo.
Seriously, yes good tip for home recording for sure but I need to sort it good n proper and if I ever get my Justin sessions sorted (personal circs have a brake on that) it will be top of the agenda. “Don’t worry about it will just happen” I beg to differ !!
Despite the BMW Greenie pre-set just dialed in a John Lee Hooker pre-set and had a run through. MMmm maybe PG went shopping one day ? Very similar but a bit more “madman” raunch !
So those strings have been on that guitar for about 20 years no kidding, no idea what they are, time to replace, have to look into what.
I know the timing was off with that but I’d only been trying to learn the licks for 10 min before I killed the e string, really surprised it wasn’t B string with that big bend
OK not one to make a great deal of use of LLs to track progress but a recent suggestion made me think a line in the sand was required for this new project.
I always have a huge confidence crisis when thinking about taking on some of these iconic songs of my youth but given my recent Blues journeying, it seemed maybe time to have a crack of it.
So having watched the lesson yesterday evening, I decide to take some tentative steps this morning. And then for some strange reason thought it would an idea to record it.
Its raw, there’s a few clams and the nuances are a long way from where they need to be. But you have to start somewhere.
Did this on the Gretsch but will most likely pursue with Smokey or Cherry, the LPs.
That’s very well done for only one day. Polish that turd into a nice shinny diamond and use what you leant in your blues lick study course. You’ll find your technique in both phasing and bending will have improved.
@stitch it was a quick 45 minutes this morning to get the feel, including the recording. And yes the Blues lick study is really helping in all areas here. Just revisiting with one the LPs amped up and its showing more areas to work on - you can get a way with a lot with an unplugged semi !!
Now fumbling on a couple of licks but jumping around a few other bits and piece I am working on but I will spend some time fully focused solely on this later. The guitar part of the backing track will help as a guided to get that PG touch and feel.
Fast out the gates on this one, Toby. All the work learning licks is clearly paying off to get the notes and bends down. The tone sounded pretty good as well.
yeah I wanted to get an early reference point as it came together quite quickly, from an end to end perspective and as Rick kinda said, polishable, if there is such a word ! And for sure the lick work and especially the “diary melanges” I’ve done helps me to see where I am going more easily. As for tone that’s my stock clean practice tone. Its a HiWatt 100 DR103 model on the Mustang and my go to Diablo setting (everything on 6). I just have Overdrive, Reverb and Modulation available when needed. But it sounds much better with the LP and tone right down. But I plan to search my Fuse archive for Greenie Preset. Bound to be one.
Poked around with this enough today, so now off in another direction this evening.
Reckon you will enjoy it when work and power allows.
I made a start last night, just the first couple of licks. Lots to learn and develop just on the first lick, the bend, dip, vibrato. Tone is interesting, I liked the sound on the G string, but the B string lacks the same warmth.
May be a while before I hit the BT but plan to use the gtr track to get closer on the lick timing and feel. Drop it into Reaper so I can see the waveform and where I am falling short, as well audible comparisons.
Just break it down bit by bit and I am sure you’ll get there ! Have fun.
I’m having fun trying to learn this. I’m currently focused on the first 4 licks, just really trying to play the notes and bends, not yet worrying about timing. Gotta start somewhere.
Definitely more than basic here Shane, cracking job for such a short time of practicing, well done mate! As you say few areas where bends were perhaps not exactly as the recording but they weren’t far off and more importantly they didn’t stop me from enjoying your effort. Well done!
Good start David liked your upload and progress update! First bend was really good, just a slightly muted note at the end but nothing that can’t be worked on. Can I suggest working a bit on a tone here? I would just try to apply some sustain here to keep the note longer, atm I reckon you are purely clean on the amp and either using a compressor pedal or a patch should help with that can’t wait for the next update this challenge is awesome!
I agree, this is a nice short solo but it holds some pretty difficult challenges. This was one of the first blues solos I ever tried to play and being honest about it I had never played it as well as I did on the one I put up on here. The biggest difference was that I played and recorded my own fairly simple backing track, this was in keeping with my less is often more principal.
I honestly think that it’s probably the best introduction to playing a blues solo you could choose because you learn the most important thing - to express feeling with your music.