Practice log 06-27-2021

Working with Robert’s new funk fundamentals course makes a lot of fun and I‘m learning a lot. Highly recommended for all 16th note funk strumming beginners!

I‘m focusing on getting a better pick grip while bending my index finger and putting my thumb on top. This needs a lot more practice.

The James Brown style groove is really cool and it’s fun to work with. I made a short video playing the first part of the groove at 80 bpm.

The challenge for me as a beginner is to change between the E9, A9 and B9 chords while continuously strumming 16th notes. Needs also a lot more practice.

Regarding a more loose wrist rotation, I can see in the video that much additional work has to be done but that’s the best what I can achieve at the moment.

And swinging my shoulders, head and hips to the groove doesn’t work yet either but I don’t give up.

Birgit

Annotation 06-28-2021: replaced A backing track by E backing track

It's really quite good now. Well done. However, I didn't explain how to swing those notes properly. I'll do a followup lesson on how to get the groove swinging. I now realize I was swinging in the performance but I never explained it. I am learning too! 🙂 It does sound much better when you get the swing into it.

The other thing is I think you are using the A backing track, but playing the chords for E. Try the same playing over the E backing track instead. I provided the tracks in A, just for variety for those who want to try that. I will try to add a performance video with the chords for A, which would be A, D and E 9th chords. 

Keep swinging!

@bluesiline Wow you getting better and better Birgit.
Love to see these, and i can not sitting still when i hear this! 👍 😀 

@blues-lover 

Thank you, André. There is still a lot of practice time needed until it sounds reasonably well. But for me the way is definitely the aim.

I always try to implement (according to my personal skills!) the input I get from Robert and Clayton how to improve.

And I derive great enjoyment from learning 16th note strumming.

Enjoy playing,

Birgit

@robert

Robert, hats off for your musical ear 👍 and for pointing out that I used the A instead of the E backing track. I‘ve just corrected the error.

Thank you,

Birgit

Could you try recording this again with no chords - just muted strings, focusing on locking in with the beat? That's the important part, and you have a bit work to do there. You are on well your way, and just need to be able hear and adjust the timing of those 16th notes. Recording yourself with the fretting hand dampening the strings will let you focus on the rhythm 100%, since there's no chord fingering or movements happening. Just think - RIGHT HAND - groove along with the 16th notes, and try to make it sound even and awesome! 🙂 

@robert

Robert, a short inquiry how I should proceed. Check out my video and tell me if this is what you imagined? I’m not quite sure if I understood you correctly.

I did scratches all the time with one exception: I muted the 2^nd 16th note of each bar.

I did it because it helped me a lot keeping the rythm going and not losing control!

Tell me if my approach is ok or not.

Otherwise I’ll focus now on playing the 16th notes evenly and with a little bit more wrist motion (if possible).

Birgit

Yeah, that's it. Try doing the same with no rest anywhere. Then add a rest at different places, but the focus is on keeping the 16th note rhythm locked in with the track. Steady Freddy! Focus 100% on the rhythm, and not the chords/string, etc. Now, you are the drummer, so make it as steady and groovy as possible. THEN, we can add chords and cool single note lines, etc. But we can't do that if the 16th notes aren't Steady Freddy. 🙂 

Practice log 07-19-2021

My focus is on keeping the 16th note strumming going during the chord changes. It’s hard work and needs a lot more practice but makes a lot of fun.

I tried to loosen up my wrist a little bit more, but there is still room for improvement.

I played the first 12 bars of Robert‘s James Brown style groove (YL29) at 85 bpm and I’ve added a few more bars with the following pattern: nxxx   nxxx  nxxv  xxxx. I couldn’t quite keep it up for the whole 2nd 12 bars during recording, but I will work on it.

And I will work on Robert’s 2nd pattern too.

Birgit

Wow Birgit you really growing, so great to see!
Keep that motivation, i have respect how you practice. 👍 

Nice work! It's really hard to coach all the tiny details but I think you could try moving your arm from the elbow and down a little bit more. It's not only the wrist that should do the moving - your arm from wrist to elbow also needs to be in on the action, in order to get a steady strum.

Are you tapping your foot to the beat?

@blues-lover 

André, you are always so encouraging and positive thinking 👍.

Thank you so much 😊.

Enjoy learning and playing,

Birgit

@robert, thanks to you, I’m tapping my foot now for more than half a year. I can’t play without it anymore 😊. I'm glad.

Regarding 16th note strumming, I’ve got now so much information for improvement from you and I’m now able to really see and hear what I have to work on.

My intention is to put into practice all those things that are possible for me according to my abilities and to present the whole 24 bars in a few months and we talk about it again.

Thanks a lot,

Birgit

Posted by: @bluesiline

I’m tapping my foot now for more than half a year. I can’t play without it anymore

That's it! You are making big progress in timing & feel.  That latest video was great!

Practice log 08-02-2021

One year MGA today. I keep going and I really enjoy it. I learned a lot of basic knowledge and got a lot of support.

For me reason enough to say thank you to Robert for his very special and amazing lessons with this certain and distinctive „Robert Renman touch“ that I really love.

His engagement here at MGA is remarkable and he always has a helping hand when needed. I didn’t expect anything like this when I started here and I appreciate it very much.

A big thank you also to Clayton. With his positive charisma, his wonderful way of writing and his suggestions how to improve he always keeps me busy and helps me a lot.

And thank you to all the other active members  - many of you, like Chris and Ron, are longstanding and loyal members 👍, always at hand when it comes to tips, recommendations, encouragement, personal experiences, anecdotes and so on. I learned a lot from you too.

A wonderful MGA team 😊 

Birgit

And as far as my practice log is concerned: I’m still working with « Funk Strumming – YL29“  and try to get all 24 bars under my fingers.

Parallel to this I’m now working with Robert’s lesson „Learn enclosure & chromatic passing tones in blues – YL21 ».  A really inspiring and good sounding chord tone practice exercise for a blues in A. And it’s great fun to learn!

Happy anniversary!!! You've had a great year! Keep it up!