Thank you I appreciate the feedback and any advice on offer. I have not got particularly big hands, bottom of palm to top of middle finger is 18cm and mid knuckle to tip is about 10cm. I struggle to hook my thumb over and fret cleanly (Hendrix chords). Could never mute the 5th string while fretting the say GBe.
I’ll have to look at the video and see what I am doing wrong but from what you suggest, my fingers should be more parallel to the fretboard ie flatter. Is that a fair assessment ? I’ll be doing some lick practice later this evening, just memorising repeat licks over some BTs, There are a few with tone bends so I will bear that in mind. I find it difficult to pull/flick off effectively when my fingers are flatter which may cause me to take a more angled approach. So I might just focus on one or two licks and work on more effective finger placement.
Sorry Clint had to wait to play your jam. Hey that all sounds familiar, so I might be on the right track. There will be more to come from Corey’s lick list, as I mentioned in the diary. Learn em, work em, record them with some others from Justin thrown in the mix. Haven’t a scooby what I did at 1:09 so I’ll check that, when I see what my fingers are up to, following Kasper’s obsefvations.
I also cannot do the Hendrix chord grip, as you say getting that 5th string is hard that way!
But otherwise, yeah, I think you got it right. At least that’s how I think it looks when I play. This stuff is hard to explain though, and also personal I guess. But however you look at it I think your fingers look a bit more “claw like” than I think they should. Wrt the bend, a good way to test is also that the bend and vibrato should not come entirely from the fingers, but is really a mix of finger and a “rocking wrist” motion. As I say, hard to explain… if everything else fails I can try to follow your example as use video as a form of communication…
But yes - which I should oc have mentioned first - it sounded good to me!
After reading Kasper’s reply I went back and watched your video again. I did notice your
fingers being curled up and thumb behind the neck.
When you started doing some bends your thumb does creep up over the top a bit but you
finger are still bent quite a bit.
To get a full tone bend your going to need to flatten out your fingers and hand and use your
wrist as leverage.
Thanks guys, that lesson brings back memories. Funny if I just practice bends (I did a session this morning) my fingers were flatter and the wrist was more active, because I was focused on the required pivot and just the bend (no other notes, runs etc). So I need to be more aware of that when jamming over a BT. So I guess take it slow and steady, where have I heard that before !
May collect more video evidence before the next Blues chapter comes out !
I think it’s you’re use to not muting the next string when playing chords but when playing
lead you want to have the ability to mute other strings or let then ring if needed.
This means flattening the fingers more.
@TheMadman_tobyjenner Ah, The Madman takes on the blues and is sounding good, with a plan in mind to bring us more goodness. I wish I could get as disciplined as you, Toby. This is an inspiration. TFP
I think Toby while you are getting into Blues licks playing over BT etc it’s invaluable to pick some blues songs and learn them throughout as well, doesn’t have to be Pride and Joy straight away but some easier stuff where you have plenty of tasty licks and you can pick up some ideas as well to incorporate into your own stuff. Just a thought
I’ve been listening a lot to BB, Freddie and Albert amongst others and looking for suitable songs, Bad Sign, Crosscut Saw type thing but also seeing/hearing the influences in Led Zep (eg Killin Floor/Lemon Song cross overs etc), Pete Green, Rory Gallagher, Eric the Shredder Clapton etc to a greater degree and tying things together with the old masters. And now recognising licks in my go to Southern Rock collection. Next figure out what to bend in the Major Pent !!
Pride and Joy is on the long term list but a good start from a rhythm perspective. Found a great compilation on Spotify, Blues Classics with 70 tracks that fall into my radar !.
So in these early days of building the lick library up, I am collating material for full songs inc vocals. As I said somewhere here (I think) plan is to add rhythm, lead and vox and not multitrack. So yes covers are planned but I want to get the mechanics right to start with.
Thanks for asking! Things are coming around slowly. My antennae are up and starting to pick up some vibrations.
Hint: Looking at some interesting new entry points into approaching improvisation. One is kind of a no brainer (wonder why I hadn’t thought of it before) and another is something fairly technical. Something just might click soon. Just need a cool loop or backing track to fire up the engines.
Thank you kinds sir. As to the vibrato, as often said in the British Parliament “I refer the honourable gentlemen to the answer I gave earlier.”
Had a huge dose of RBS with this one for some reason and started fluffing my lines. But yes marked for round 2 when I decide on which licks or key to use for the next Blues 22 outing.
Hello @TheMadman_tobyjenner
How do you place those videos so that you can see the video and people don’t have to click on such an orange hyperlink?
Or is that a smartphone thing? then …bummer … then David meant that to me before.
Greetings,Rogier
The good thing about the new “forum” is the ability to drop a link address directly into this text box. As you can see all my videos are hosted on my YouTube channel - no I am not a Utuber its just convenient ! - and I just copy and paste the link here. Simple as that.
Thanks , but I don`t understand it…
with you I see a photo that I can click on and I am not actually forwarded … Yes, but that’s how it seems …and whatever I copy or cut and paste…drop or …I only get that orange link.
I’m going to bazinga on my LL…See you later,am I afraid of
Edit: i have half an idea of what i did…so a few more times and it’s in my head…thanks
So, the trick is in placing the screenshot here…I figured first thing out…
now I’m going to … Consciously … take a screenshot … so it will just be the first time
Edit: hi, I just posted something right the first time…hopefully I don’t wait too long for the next video…it always takes me a while for something like this to stick…Thanks
Hey Toby,
You got a boss cranky tone there on the axe. Gotta love that mano! Timing was good to my ears… Bends sound fairly good and I think they are coming along. I even like the backing track…
Working on some more licks at the moment and seeing how I can combine them with Justin’s Blue’s Lead licks. So expect another recording along these lines now and then throughout the year. Song/sing wise focusing on the Open Mic but another in the pipe which could be next but also honing my finger style, so a more accomplished recording of that also brewing and a follow on the the recordings I posted in my Learning Log. Plenty of irons in the fire including some solo acoustic blues.
