Well it was about time I got a new Madman’s Diary Chapter out there in the new Community, whilst we were still in the month of January. And here it is folks.
So after Clint @CT posted this link in Gordon @sairfingers Bb noodle,
I went off and start to build some new entries in my Blues Lick Library to add to those I have learnt doing Justin’s Blues Lead 1. Plan is to put at least one of these out each month along with other Diary chapters of “normal” songs.
In true Madman fashion I’ll let the video do the talking. Enjoy
Apologies, there is a bit of an echo on the intro, weird as AI channel was zeroed and no Mic track in Reaper. The Mackie should have just Died into OBS. Something to sort out for the Open Mic !!!
I should add there’s been no heavy mixing on this project. And there some string muting to be addressed for next time, I’m a bit rusty.
SG is plumbed into the Mustang III which is using a Fender 57 Champ, Ranger Boost stomp, Sine Chorus Modulation and Ambient Reverb. The stereo line out goes to 2 tracks in Reaper, panned 45 degrees L & R and both tracks have Scheps Omni Channel with the pre-set Sustain My El Gtr. So yes I could have spent another hour fine tuning but I’d then spend a day syncing video and audio, sorry CAB but hey I did not record the audio anyway
I think you’re progressing nicely, Toby. I could hear the repeated licks, and I could hear some space as well. I liked when you tried some bends, it does all have a bluesy feel but the bends adds to that. No suggestions on anything from me, beyond my play grade as they say!
Glad to see the Madman’s Diary continuing updates.
That was nice Toby the Madman.
Its always enjoyable to listen to your videos and your playing. I will wash rinse and repeat its beyond my pay grade to give advice on your playing.
Look forward to the next installment.
Nice job! Enjoyed the intro as always and the short study… sounded good to me. Nice repeating licks, bit of speed variation would have been good but it’ll come. I do quite a bit of noodling over backing tracks but nothing structured. Maybe this year I’ll take a look more closely.
Good stuff Toby, that sounded great.
After Clint posted the link and the discussion with yourself at the beginning of the year, I bought the TrueFire 30 Beginner Blues Licks course.
I’ve not started it yet but you’ve just given me the inspiration and impetus to get going with it.
Thank you Jason. The BT for this one is a laid back 60 bpm and you get suckered into staying mellow. I have just realised this also includes the 2nd lick on the list which, I’d been doing by stealth. It certainly worth a look. The Blues Lead licks I used here are from Justin’s pattern 2 section. More to come and good fun for sure. I’d like to head to some old style blues song, sing over a chilled rhythm in 7s and chuck some licks in between. But it could be a while before I join it all up !
I went a bit mad. I signed up for the year, bought that course and a few more. As I said to you before, I struggled getting Justin’s pattern 1 licks to fit anywhere with BTs but have a couple of great ones on the 30 licks course. I’ve gone through the 30 licks to see the content and then went back to learning one every couple of days. The plan is to focus on the first 10. Get the initial ones up to a level I’d be happy to record, record and then start on the next, so a rolling program of 10 WIPs, so to speak. Its given me a renewed impetus to look at Justin’s BL lessons, as I hit a bump on pattern 3 but loved the Blues scale licks. Joining the two sets of material has been an ear opener.
As Justin says in his lesson, learn that one lick and use it again and again. I still find it fascinating the same lick based on the 1 chords sounds completely different over the 4 and 5 but I guess folk would switch off hearing that one lick repeated for 3 or 4 minutes,
I know exactly what you mean. I have at least 4 if not 5 irons in the fire. And yes I have seen that one as well and it will be added to the list. 15 minutes is reasonable. My missus has had another bad patch and as its winter, gives me some silver lining time. So post dog walk its an hour of fingerstyle mid morning. Grade 3 review early afternoon, early evening Blues hour and late evening sing/play time. Come spring I’ll re-evaluate timing but the mild winter suggest early Feb tractor mower time. So next trick is fingerstyle practice with fingerless gloves and knee steering, if the grass gets too long. Mad dogs and Englishmen !
Ah, good to see some traditions continuing as if nothing had happened
Enjoyed the chat, even though it was more geared to the uninitiated.
I never really got into appreciating the blues, although it from what I can tell, it’s a blast to play.
You did well on that, good Sir. Maybe enough to keep the Scotsman at bay a little longer? Mind you, when @CT get back from fishing, he’ll chuck a stick of dynamite and blow yez all out of the water…
Yeah had to give it a slant towards the newbs but had to be done. But now the beast is unleashed normal service will be resumed. Plus it’s too bloody cold to sit in the courtyard with a beer, especially in the dark. Now that could throw up some good blues lyrics.
Nice one Tobe, I see you are nicely picking up legacy of good old Clint here enjoyed your little blues impro, some nice phrases and good licks, heard a bit of bending as well. It should be a bit more flowing with a bit more practice all the best!
One of the finest ways to start my day, checking in with what the Madman is up to and enjoying the music!
Enjoyed the intro. Thanks for the congrats, and will forgive a slight mistruth to suggest I was noodling some blues. Mine back then was rather simple improv. But as you may have noticed, I’ve started down the blues road (first trying to get the hang of bends). So in due course some more bluesy noodling.
Lots to like and enjoy watching you play. Look forward to more of this as you learn and practice. Can’t offer you specific feedback, I’d just trot out all the standard yadda yadda yadda that you know well.
Ain’t that the truth. I can dream about singing the blues, throwing in licks and riffs, hitting the looper at some point and then jamming over my own rhythm, before returning to the singing.
You’re right, Gordon. Now you are retired, 15 minutes this and that should be 30 minutes
It’s definitely coming along Toby, I liked your use of the fretboard and the introduction of a few bends - the important thing with bends is that if they’re anything more than a gentle curl make sure that they go up to a note that’s in the scale you’re playing. There was an odd one that was a tiny bit short but that’s down to experience and will soon come right. One other thing I noticed was not much vibrato, it’s good to use some at the end of phrases, but hey that’s the next thing to look at!
Overall I’m impressed with your progress into playing the blues, well done buddy!
I don’t know why but with these sessions I am getting a dose of RBS again. Doesn’t happen if I record when I sing and play rhythm (level checking etc), so could just be a confidence thing. And I am getting a muting complex on the thicker strings at the moment ! That I believe is holding back the flow and adding additional licks but its all work in progress and the feedback helps a great deal.
Glad to have made your morning but probably not the best time of day to listen to my banter. Well maybe this one, as it being a Madman Intro for the new folk ! And if you are laying some Blues licks down and impro-ing, that’s a noodle in my book !
Glad you enjoyed watching. Funny I still feel out of my comfort zone recording this kind of thing and there is a lot of tension in the playing, that is not there on the sing/play side. So guess the only way round that is to do more.
Been listening a lot to the old Blues maestro’s and getting a feel of how to blend the licks n lyrics. So I need to look for a couple of easy songs to work on and factor in some 7 chords for the gaps and get a package together. All good fun.
its beyond my pay grade to give advice on your playing.
enjoyed your little blues impro, some nice phrases and good licks, heard a bit of bending as well. It should be a bit more flowing with a bit more practice 
all the best!