Socio's Learning Log

[sairfingers]

Haha yes James/Dave. I’m very lo-tech with recording. I admire and respect all the others with their DAWs and multitracking of course but other than posting here for a bit of feedback, my recordings aren’t going anywhere, so a phone is good enough. It’s beyond me why others have more as this is essentially a beginners website/forum. I’m now ducking my head to avoid the inevitable onslaught of replies .

The first thing is to get the video framed the way you want it. For constructive feedback you need to show your fretting hand and strumming hand in the frame. Including your head is optional!
I’ve found that strumming and singing in a ‘normal’ way works pretty well after that.
The exception to this is if you use a backing track or a loop or whatever through an amp because the built in phone mics are designed to pick up the closest sounds.
I have a Trio+ looper/backing band creator. If I use that through my amp I need the amp volume pretty high so the phone can pick it up. It’s then a case of experimenting with your vocal and guitar volume to get the balance right.
Now, if I only knew how to work a DAW.

Edit : Have a look here. Home Recording
If you’re short of a rabbit hole to go down then here’s one!

[batwoman]

You’ve got a variety of pots filled with tasty goodness simmering away here James.

@Socio

Amongst all the learning I’ve actually developed the music to my own song which I quite like, I just don’t know the lyrics yet It might just end up as an instrumental.

This is a wonderful outcome and expression of the inner musician, quite magical.

[DavidP]

@Socio

Yes, progress is coming along. I wouldn’t say excellent but slow and reasonably well.

Slow and well is excellent in my book, James.

@Socio

I would be very grateful if you could give me some pointers to getting that Bm transitions down. I’m doing the PFC every day and not really having any difficulties. It seems to be only when I want to apply it to the song.

Not that I am most qualified, to offer such tips, but maybe try these initially eventually as One Minute Change drills. In no particular order of priority:

1. F# to Bm. May help to use this to build on from being able to play the E-shape barre, needing the familiar E to Am shape move of three fingers and the adjustment of the barre.

2. Make an Am with middle, ring and pinky and then slide Am to Bm. May help to just have to add the barre

When those are working well, perhaps try F to Bm, E to Bm, slowly increasing the movements required.

Finally OMCs on the chord change for the song you are playing.

@Socio

I was going to reply to you calling you trigger but not sure every one would have got the reference to only fools and horses

Such a great show. Still not getting why using Trigger would work Guess it’s been too long and I don’t know it as well as I know some others.

@sairfingers

It’s beyond me why others have more as this is essentially a beginners website/forum. I’m now ducking my head to avoid the inevitable onslaught of replies

I generally agree with you Gordon, but not sure about this ‘essentially’. But shan’t take the bait and ramble off …

[Socio]

Thanks David, I will give that a shot. As for the reference to trigger check out this clip Trigger's Best 'Dave' Moments | Only Fools and Horses - YouTube

[sairfingers]

Do you like Bob Dylan Dave, I mean James? The chord progression for Lay Lady Lay is -
A, C#m, G, Bm.
This progression is a good exercise for moving barre chords down the neck changing between the E Major shape and the Am shape barre chords.

[DavidP]

@sairfingers

The chord progression for Lay Lady Lay is -
A, C#m, G, Bm.

That’s one of my favourite Dylan tunes

[Socio]

Thanks, Maggie. I’m trying to make the best practice of everything I have learned from the Strumming Techniques Course by applying it to songs with chords that have learned from Modules 1 to 9, albeit I I’ve thrown in that extra challenge of learning the Bm.

I thought it would be a good idea to experiment with strumming patterns, alternate picking, and chords I have learned. To just let it loose, feel the rhythm, have some fun and bond with the guitars. It may even help me along the way with ear training etc.

[Socio]

Yes, I do like a bit of Bob Dylan and that’s a song that I really like so exercise and enjoyment at the same time, just what the doctor ordered.

P.S. as they’re that many Dave’s on here we might as well call everyone Dave just like we call everyone Jimmy in Scotland

[Socio]

How are you finding the Trio Plus? I’ve been trying to compare it with the Boss RC-500. At some point when I’m a bit more skilled I’d like to try some of this stuff out Gerry Cinnamon - 'Sometimes' Guitar Tutorial // 2 Chord Song + LOOPER Pedal (no capo) - YouTube. It would tie in nicely when I get to the stage of learning the A major scale.

[Dave911]

Wish that was available for streaming. I’ve never seen it and it looks like something I would enjoy a lot!

[Dave911]

@Socio

as they’re that many Dave’s on here we might as well call everyone Dave

Here’s a fun little bit about “Dave”

[Socio]

It’s definitely a show I’d recommend to watch if you get the opportunity to stream it. It’s one of those shows where you could watch it over and over again and still be laughing.

[batwoman]

@Socio

I thought it would be a good idea to experiment with strumming patterns, alternate picking, and chords I have learned. To just let it loose, feel the rhythm, have some fun and bond with the guitars. It may even help me along the way with ear training etc.

An inspired, creative and all round excellent idea James. Enjoy

[Socio]

Well, it’s been a couple of days, and your advice @DavidP is starting to slowly pay off. I also tried just playing random strumming patterns to loosen myself up and not thinking I’m playing a song and that helped too. Hopefully won’t be too long now before I’ve got those transitions sorted. Thanks for your help.

[Socio]

Grade 1 Consolidation Update

#1 You should be able to tune your guitar with a tuner.

I’m confident tuning a guitar. Though I just bought a replacement tuner, a Peterson Stroboclip HD. So, I will be familiarising myself with using a Strobe Tuner this week.

#2 Memorize and play the 8 essential beginner chords on the guitar

I’m confident with playing the chords from memory and without looking at the fretboard.

#3 Play 30 chord changes in 1 minute.

I’m confident of doing this with any pairing of the 8 essential beginner chords.

#4 Play The Old Faithful strumming pattern consistently at 80 beats per minute.

I’m confident of doing this up to 120bpm, along with the other strumming patterns taught on Part 1 of the Strumming Techniques Course.

#5 Memorize 5 easy songs.

I’m confident of playing from start to finish Brown Eyed Girl, Stand By Me, Mad World, Girl Like You and Last Kiss.

Current Progress

I’m currently working on Module 9 of Stage 2, while I continue to consolidate Grade 1 by learning more songs and applying the strumming techniques that I have learned from the Strumming Techniques Course including playing on the base note. So far, it is going well.

Why does it always rain on me?
This song is coming along well. It’s the first song that I’ve played and felt I’m making music. It’s been really fun playing along with the YouTube video of Travis playing it. I have to admit, at first, I thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew taking on this song, but the changes to and from the barre chord are starting to come together. I just need to keep working on those Perfect Fast Changes.

Bad Moon Rising
This is a song I’m really enjoying playing on the base note. It’s been a good song to take and apply the lesson from the Strumming Techniques Course. I’ve been starting off slowly and gradually increasing the beats per minute. A bit more practice required but it doesn’t feel like practising a strumming technique when it’s a lot of fun.

Sweet Home Alabama
The reason I chose this song was to have a song where I could practice some alternate picking and strumming at the same time. It also has that little section where I could apply the F Chord or one of the cheats to practice F Chord changes. It’s also one of those songs that as I develop I can go back and learn the proper version taught by Justin. Surprisingly, it is coming along well and playing it is a lot of fun.

GAS

Still no sign of the electric guitar that I want becoming available. It’s probably going to be a few months or more before it’s available. It will be worth the wait, I tell myself.

In the meantime, I’ve ordered a Trio Plus, which I’m looking forward to using. I’ve been wanting to learn some songs that use a looper. And having read the reviews on here for the Trio Plus, the band in a box sounds like fun.

I’ve also ordered a Scarlett 2i2 Studio package to start recording and analysing my progress as I continue on my guitar learning journey.

[DavidP]

Bravo, James, keep on keeping on!

[sairfingers]

Great update James.
You’ll enjoy the Trio+. If I can help at all let me know but as I said in the other topic on the subject there are plenty really good videos online that explain things clearly.

[Socio]

Thanks, Gordon. I’m looking forward to trying it out with Why Does it Always Rain On Me with the base part being played by the Trio. If it works out, then that could be my first AVOYP. I just need to perfect those barre chord transitions and get my glaswegian accent back.

[Socio]

Well, that’s the Scarlett 2i2 package arrived this morning. Looking forward to setting it up and learning how to use it.

[Socio]

Today’s practice session went up a notch. I managed to find a video on YouTube of one of the songs I’m currently learning where the band takes a step back and let’s you play along while they do the drums and bass. So, a new dimension was added to my song practice.