Thoughts of Lessons - Again!

[sunvalleylaw]

Ok, sounds good. I will freeform up what I am messing around with and see if it hits with anyone. As far as practice goes, CB kicks my butt. I don't have anything better to add, other than I am focusing on figuring out how to play the chords for a song, whatever song, in different places, what is most efficient or has the sound I want, then figure out what scale notes, chord tones, etc. exist in the "box" that exists in that area, then see where I can find notes by changing up the scale shape or mode.

Example: Black Magic Woman, I am playing it with barres at the 5th fret for Dm and Am, and sliding down a position for G. So I am identifying chord tones based on those barres. Then, I see how the regular old minor pentatonic fits. My instructor built me a little chart that shows what notes in that scale sound good over the I, IV, and V chords, so I add those notes in. Now, he has another chart of notes I am working with that is intended to be used with 5th string root chords and has a different sound. I will see if I can chart it out so you can see what I mean. This shape adds in some different notes and if you stay in that mode, sounds good, and different. Next we are learning the mixolydian scale, and then I am finding a root for the key the song is in, and playing mixo from there. This is very different. Next week, we are supposed to start deconstructing some songs and use the licks used to explore the above.


This is aimed mostly at improving improvisation over chords, and using some theory and structure to get me there. The goal is to allow me to move between different places on the fretboard, and also move between modes or scales as may be appropriate, to spice up soloing.

Adding the chord tones to the pentatonic, and extending the pentatonic box up and down the fretboard is coming along fine, but using the other shapes I am not used to is taking more time to get comfortable with.

IMO, a lot of the above relates to Mark Wein's recent lessons he has shared with us. A few weeks back, it seemed like a couple of us were working in this area. Warren, was that you? Part of why I want to do this study group sharing is if I write it out and discuss it with others, I tend to own it. Also, getting at an idea from different viewpoints or sources always helps. Well anyway, that is my freeform outline of the stuff I have been working on since taking up lessons again.

 

[just strum]

Another good lesson.

1) reviewed Born on the Bayou

2) worked a little on positions on the fretboard

3) Started Hey Joe

4) closed with a couple minutes of Purple Haze

Practice for the week is to learn more of the fretboard and focus on Hey Joe.

Next week: Red House. I've started working on Red House on my own, but we will be incorporating it into next weeks lesson.

Things seem to be coming to me easier and I felt more relaxed at today's lesson. I think I'm growing more comfortable playing in front of someone and the comments from you guys earlier in the week helped.

 

[Kazz]

Strum....I am so envious.....Red House is my favorite Hendrix tune...followed by.....Hey Joe.....


oh and CB.....my cousin went to Carnegie Mellon.....does that count?

 

[just strum]

Strum....I am so envious.....Red House is my favorite Hendrix tune...followed by.....Hey Joe.....

Trust me, if you heard me right now you wouldn't be. It is fun and the challenge makes it exciting especially when you begin to hear the improvement and recognize there is progress. However, I need to pack a lot of sandwiches because this trip is very, very long.

 

[just strum]

Well, a little update on how lessons are progressing. I'm not good, but I am better.

I think I mentioned in another thread that I decided to take a different route to my learning. Rather than work on songs, I wanted to learn scales and how they fit into the music I like, or maybe it's how the music fits the scales.

This was the original path I wanted to take, but we seemed to vier off the path a bit. Nothing wrong with learning the songs, but I felt I was merely mimicking rather than understanding. Learning songs can wait.

What I am finding is that as I expand my knowledge of the fretboard and get comfortable with different areas of the fretboard - by comfortable I mean to play with feeling rather than thinking where do I move my fingers next.

I'm not sure if this is the "right" way to learn, but it seems to be working for me. Since I am one of those people that has to know why they are performing a task and what is goal for the end result. This approach to the guitar just seems to fit.

The songs are still part of the learning process, but no longer the main part. The approach I am taking now is allowing me to improv and jam, which in turn provides quicker satisfaction.

My timing sucks, so that is an area I will want to begin working on. I also find myself listening to me at times and not the BT, so I end up having two separate songs or jams being played.

 

[thearabianmage]

I'm not sure if this is the "right" way to learn, but it seems to be working for me. Since I am one of those people that has to know why they are performing a task and what is goal for the end result. This approach to the guitar just seems to fit.

The best way to learn is to learn how you learn. As everyone will say, and in this I will be no different, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to learn (obviously, learning how to play guitar just by watching videos of other guitarists isn't the best way, but you can even still learn to an extent by doing that)

But, once you learn how you learn, take advantage of it and the sky (and your lifespan) are the limit.

The songs are still part of the learning process, but no longer the main part. The approach I am taking now is allowing me to improv and jam, which in turn provides quicker satisfaction.

This is a very good attitude to take (and I don't mean to sound patronizing or anything. . .)

My timing sucks, so that is an area I will want to begin working on. I also find myself listening to me at times and not the BT, so I end up having two separate songs or jams being played.

Another important aspect of learning anything is to be your own worst/best critic. Don't just tell yourself how crap you are, but on the other hand, remember that you are not, and will never be the best. That was by no means a personal statement towards you as a player, just a fact that every person in the world, no matter what they do be it guitar, art, pool, poker, has to come to terms with.

I think you've got the right idea about things, so keep it up. Remember, it's not how long you practice, but what you practice that is the important thing.

Good luck, and remember: Have fun!!! :dude:

 

[just strum]

thanks Joe. I am really getting into this with each passing week. I was up to about 3:00 AM last night (this morning) playing guitar and reading up on guitar techniques. Probably be up again tonight doing the same. It just seems that all the guitars are sounding so good right now that it makes it difficult to determine which one to play.

I am increasingly focusing on the blues or things with blues influence. Besides timing, I need to work on not filling up every second with guitar notes. One of the members here started this thread http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=5806
this is something I have to keep in mind when I'm playing.

As for being the best, the best is only short lived and someone always knocks you from your thrown. I will stick with being determined and maybe someday getting the opportunity to play a song with the best. Hell, I'd settle with getting advice from the best.

Again, Joe I appreciate your comments.

 

[thearabianmage]

It's all good, mate. And it's great fun staying up till the wee hours of the morn messin about with giddyfiddles in some sense or another! I stayed up till 4:30AM straightening the neck of a guitar I bought for £7.50, then I levelled the frets and gave 'em a crown.

It's satisfying, isn't it? Not just my little crowning and stuff, but the whole mission - staying up with the one (or one of) the things you love doing with no one else to bother you. You can get on with what you want to do, and it all just seems to flow. Maybe I'm just waxing on too much about a normal thing, though. . . (assuming it's normal for people to stay up until the early hours of the morning indulging their passions. It is, isn't it?)

 

[warren0728]

(assuming it's normal for people to stay up until the early hours of the morning indulging their passions. It is, isn't it?)

absolutely...i stayed up till 3:30am this morning finishing a book i couldn't put down....played a little guitar every once in awhile too, to give my eyes a break!!

ww

 

[TS808]

I had gone back to taking lessons last year around October or November but had to put things on hold due to health problems my instructor was having...too many cancellations. Nevertheless, it was helpful, and it I really liked it because it helped me polish things up a bit as well as "re-visit" some things that I hadn't done in a long time.

Another thing that I find pretty helpful is to write some rhythms on recording software and play along.

 

[thearabianmage]

absolutely...i stayed up till 3:30am this morning finishing a book i couldn't put down....played a little guitar every once in awhile too, to give my eyes a break!!

ww

It's gotta be done! That's all there is to say. There are so many theories as to why night-time (10PM-6AM) is the best time to learn/study/practice/do things. . . But all in all. . . It just rocks! I mean, right now it's 2:30AM here, and I ain't no-where even finished for the night/morning! There's still a bonafide list I have to check off before this little Arab pushes off!

And night time is definitely the best time to read, hands down. What book is it?

 

[warren0728]

And night time is definitely the best time to read, hands down. What book is it?

it was "the sleeping doll" by jeffery deaver....now i'm reading "step on a crack" by james patterson....it's 2:00 am here now....

ww

 

[just strum]

Well, my prepayment ran out today, so I had my last lesson until September. This time of the year gets so busy due to yard work, that I figure I wouldn't be getting the bang for the buck.

Today we worked on Voodoo Child (is it Voodoo Child or Chile, I've seen both). Beginning fairly simple, just have to work on the rest on my own.

Just in case my instructor moves to another location, we swapped e-mail addresses and cell numbers. One of the instructors is interested in my SG, but I will need to take it in there later today or tomorrow.

So, I'm on my own for now. I have some of my books and I will be utilizing Mark Wein's lessons as well as Dolphin Street. My coworker that lives near me is on the mend after arm surgery, so that will help having someone to play with. I will actually be able to show him some things instead of only being on the receiving end of learning.

It was getting difficult to meet the scheduled time every weekend with the things in the yard growing so fast. It seemed the only time it wasn't raining was when I was at lessons.

 

[warren0728]

Well, my prepayment ran out today, so I had my last lesson until September. This time of the year gets so busy due to yard work, that I figure I wouldn't be getting the bang for the buck.

i am not taking lessons right now either....because of summer (kids out of school) making a regular appointment wasn't working....

So, I'm on my own for now. I have some of my books and I will be utilizing Mark Wein's lessons as well as Dolphin Street.

i'm also going to use the book i got for my lessons as well as rob and mark's sites....

sounds like we are on similar paths! :beer:

ww