Sevi's Sweat and Tears (aka learning log)

Being a Country Fan, I am biased but yes, it is totally worth checking out. You will see, there isn’t a thing like “the country music”, there are lots of different subtypes that sound different, but yet familiar. It’s an interesting topic on its own you really can get lost in. :slight_smile:

If you really want to follow that path, you can DM me for listening suggestions or any other hints. :slight_smile:

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OK, let’s try this again, since apparently I am not allowed to post about the kind of Country music I would like to listen to. Got a formal warning for politics, and everything. I’ll send you a DM for it, @Lisa_S, let’s see if that’s allowed. I have found some queer Country music that I like, and would love more recommendations along those lines, if anyone knows any.

1. Dezember 2024
I learned the rest of the chords to Hallelujah to day, which means I can now play through it at least, even if it is only with two strums per bar on account of that blasted F barre. It’s already going up smoother though, so it definitely was a good decision to put that song into my repertoire. Though maybe I should cool it a little with practice, since my fretting hand is starting to ache unpleasantly, and it stays for longer and longer after practice.

I also love those little base runs, and I’m having fun figuring them out on my own. C to E or E minor is weird, there are so many notes inbetween that it’s difficult to choose. I’d love to go up instead of down, cause then I could use the chromatic, but then I would have to find a different shape to play E chord in, one that’s an octave up from the open thick E string. Ah well, a fun thing to figure out tomorrow^^

Country music is dealing with each and every topic, that touches the heart, soul and life in general. Basically, there’s probably country songs about pretty much everything. It just depends what’s important for the song writer. And it has to be “true”, means country music is often about ones true feelings/thoughts about a thing. So I’m pretty sure there’s loads of songs on queer topics, too. :slight_smile: But in that specific direction I can’t advice, as I have not yet thought too much about the preferences of certain artists. :sweat_smile:

This is such good advice and so obvious! I think sometimes we can get so caught up with the learning that we forget to stand back and stick to and reaffirm the basic and foundations.
Choose a piece, learn it bit by bit, learn it until can play it without looking for the notes, add metronome… Play along to the music.

I’m such an idiot, I very rarely even think of playing along to the actual song… This will teach timing, rhythm, timing, dynamics etc etc, it is the ultimate teacher, but you have to have all your ducks in a row first I think…

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4. Dezember 2024
I gotta say, my fretting hand is developing weird muscle aches now that I’m playing so much more F barre. I know how to keep it in acceptable margins from long experience, and I’m doing a lot of stretches to help it along, but it does feel weird how out of balance my hands now feel. My left hand feels like it’s becoming Lance Archer, while my right stays Darby Allin forever. Ah well, they work well together, so that’s probably a good thing^^

I’ve gone snooping about in other grade three modules again, and I think I’ve found the next thing for my Blues journey: triads, and then chipped triads. It sounds so lovely. For trying to finally get the hang of singing to 16th note strumming, I’m gonna try everything the kind people in the thread said, starting with singing to muted strumming, and then recording both strumming and singing separately, etc. And I think I’m getting back to the Folk Fingerstyle course, too, which means practicing the patterns again, and finding songs for them for the moment.

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I leaped ahead too and had a sneaky peak at triads. Bit of a rabbit hole so be warned :rofl:
I understood the concept, its actually blindingly simple and I think I was stuck on it for ages , looking for the complications…
I’m also using it as a tool to help me memorise the fretboard as this is something I really struggle with.
I’m still only using the 1, 2 and 3 strings for now…

Have you ever heard David Allan Coe’s “Perfect Country song”?

“You Never Even Called Me By My Name” is the Perfect Country & Western song! Listen to it & you’ll hear why he says so! :grin:

Tod

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Tod, that’s a great tune!! :smiley:

Haven’t heard that one before, it’s a true shame! You are totally right, it’s the perfect Country song and an hommage to all the Country greats. Luv’it! :smiley:

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