Just for clarity, was there a lesson on Justin’s approach to memorizing the notes of the first two strings of the fretboard? For this step, I’ve just focused on the R5 and R6 power chord notes (5: C, D, E, F and 6: G, A, B, C) that were highlighted earlier in the module and then made sure I know all the surrounding notes as well.
6th string root G A B are the first 3 fret makers C one fret up from B
5th string root C D E are the first 3 fret markers F one fret up from E
I am really struggling practising the songs, because I can’t seem to pick out the strumming pattern of what I am supposed to be playing. I have been printing off the TAB for the songs and trying to work from that but not getting anywhere fast and I really want to play All the Small Things.
Will this come with the more I listen to stuff?
It will come with the more you listen. Tabs don’t show rhythm or strumming patterns.
You learn these by listening to the music.
This is Grade 3 but I think it applies to everyone no matter what stage your at.
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Thank you I took a look, and need to do more listening. It’s like Justin says a lot of the time we are doing other things whilst listening to music. I am usually running. So will just listen for the sake of listening.
Hi,
sorry to find out that there are no female artist on Spotify playlist “listening to some great Blues Tracks!”
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This is great!
Another one to check out is Susan Tedeschi. Here’s a video of her performing one of the songs on the list
Like it! Kind of noodling around learning new songs. Playing Mustang Sally with power chords and sliding the power chords in from a semitone below
I’m really struggling with this module. I’m not into this type of music at all and have no desire to practise. Justin recognises this and touches on the subject. Someone help me please. Should I just move on or persevere?
This module was loads of fun. Finally allowed me to play some songs I’m actually passionate about. Made me enjoy learning songs as opposed to just theory and practice routines a lot more.
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I’m finding the 2 finger power chords to be most useful and easier for my 60 year old fingers. I’ve been wanting to play On the Hunt by Lynyrd Skynyrd and it fits well in this practice module. Has a slide down and a slide up in the main riff. Fun to play!
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Power chords are so fun!!!
Stick with it! You got this. Power chords can also be helpful to play any type of song potentially and not just rock. I am struggling too.
Justins Spotify playlist for suggested blues listening recreated in Tidal for those that may use this instead of Spotify.
Hello!
Okay so i been hammering away at this module for a couple of months now, learning power chords and doing exercises.
I have memorized the root notes of the power chords and i can play the chord shapes on isolation.
I can also play the Am pentatonic scale consistently at 120 bpm.
I did explore palm muting (tho im bad at it) and can play the first part of the Enter Sandman riff more or less consistently (tho it doesnt sound great)
My main issue is with the 2 songs. I been practicing Song 2 by Blur and All the Small Things by Blink 182. I know them now, i have memorized the power chords and the song… but i still cannot execute the song right at the real speed, both songs still sound terrible.
So i been keep up with my practice thinking i cannot move to the next module until i get it completely right.
But yesterday i decided to check the Nitsuj Module 12 - Practice 4 video by Justin to see how far he is compared to me and at which point is “good enough” to move up… and im surprised to see that his playing is way more sloppy than mine.
For example, he plays All the small things at only 110 bpm instead of the 149 bpm than the song actually is and still commits a ton of mistakes, he’s Am pentatonic is also surprisingly inconsistent along with his Enter Sandman riff.
But after this practice he moved up to the next module.
So now im a bit confuse.
Have i been over-practicing? Should i just move up to the next module or do i just keep hammering at Song 2 and ATST until i get them 100% right at the real speed of the song?
I also used Nitsuj as a benchmark. I also found that he was sloppier than I tended to be on most things. There are a few exceptions for me:
- my accuracy for picking and fretting at speed is still quite poor.
- understanding the chord elements, note locations and similar ideas are still something I need to think about.
I think that you won’t spend “too long” on a technique unless you drive yourself to stop playing. It may be more time efficient to move on once you have enough mastery to play the things you want to play, but spending extra time will probably be useful later.
I like to add new items into my learning once I have a time block that became available because I retired a practice item I could do well enough to satisfy playing something I wated to play. this way, I keep the stuff I do poorly in practice, and move to new things to keep interest up at a pace I can generally maintain.
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I think its a question we all ask I am on mod 10 struggling with C major scale alternate picking dont know why just am at the moment, i can play the scale normally no problem, the rest of the lessons i can do, as for the songs i try to pick some from BC 2 using the G,A and F chords so i can use weak finger G mini barre A and full barre F, have been on this mod since 26th July so when do i move on ? if i manage to crack the c scale picking will it help later on? you dont have to learn those songs you can pick some from the BC 2 list i`m sure there are others you can use power chords on
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Hi Medu,
I’m not a teacher myself, but I was rather happy most of the time with my progress. But well, possibly my expectations were just lower!
Just from my own experience, I think that it helped me to go forward when I was bored or felt I struggled too much so the time I spend with the guitar was not enough fun or had become inefficient.
BUT - I always took note of those skipped or uncompleted lessons to go back later, if I rated them important!
I think it helps to jump a bit here and there in order to have the most fun you can, while always trying to improve in some field that will pay off some time on your guitar journey. Often, I founmd I was coming back later and I had gotten better as if by magic at a seemingly unrelated thing I had problems with earlier.
I hope that in all my babble some things make sense somehow 
so yes, go on, and if you feel there’s still something missing, come back later and check the lesson you found important and possibly uncompleted.
Best regards,
Dominique
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