Practice log 05-09-2022

I kept practicing YL40, playing along with Soundslice. Helps a lot, Robert 👍.

And today I made a 2nd recording, now with 120 bpm (instead of 100 bpm before) and standing up and with a „touch“ of vibrato: That was a BIG challenge for me, so, again, I only played the first 12 bars. And sorry for my bad strumming hand. I still have to work on that.

Birgit

Nice improvement! Now you are starting at the right place. I think it is easier to play this sitting down, at least for me. Do what is easiest for you!

I recommend trying it a bit slower. It sounds like keeping up is a bit difficult. Would you like me to send the jam track at slower tempos?

Have you tried looking my right hand closer for this? Maybe you could try playing it with the same picking approach as I do. It seems to me your right hand is struggling a bit. The angle of your wrist looks tense. The more relaxed your technique is, the easier it is to play this.

I also starting thinking - I have not put up the audio version of just the jam track on Soundslice. I've forgotten to do that on most of my lessons, I think. Would you like me to add that? The benefit is you can practice along with Soundslice and slowdown/loop the jam track, while also having the tab available. This is probably only useful if you have to look at tab while playing. Once it's memorized, Soundslice isn't as important I guess. The slowdown feature in Soundslice on the jam track should be useful though?  Comments are welcome.

Pretty much have this down, Robert.The soundslice of just the jam track would be nice to mess around with...Will

Robert, I agree with Will - would be great if you could add the audio version of just the jam track on Soundslice. 

And the slowdown feature in Soundslice on the jam track would eliminate 👍 the need to download jam tracks with different bpms when starting practicing.

Regarding the other points:

Thanks for your comments.

-   I adjust the bpms of the jam tracks in Song Surgeon. Done quickly and easily. I use Song Surgeon also for changing the key of jam tracks.

-   I will try the same picking approach as you do to relax my strumming hand a bit and I’ll try it a bit slower.

Thanks,

Birgit

Ok, I added the jam track to the Soundslice. I also added a the performance audio track too. Not sure if that is useful.

Note to self - always add the jam track to Soundslice - that's useful for learning, right?

That’s great, Robert. Now we have the «performance audio only» AND the «jam track» available in Soundslice 👍.

Both have their place in practice: At the beginning the «performance audio only» and for advanced practicing the «jam track». Helps a lot. I’m delighted.

Thanks a lot,

Birgit

Practice log 08-02-2022

After a three month break from playing the guitar, I’m resuming my practice program now for both piano and guitar.

With a bit of disappointment, I found out that starting to play the guitar was rather difficult, playing the piano was much easier for me. Maybe that’s because I’ve been playing the piano longer than the guitar – and my advanced age probably also plays a role.

After a long time playing only rhythm guitar, I’ll take Robert’s new « 5 Blues Boxes Solo – YL42 » as a perfect refresher. Sounds so bluesy and I like it very much 😊.

It looks easy at first glance, but Robert wouldn’t be Robert if he didn’t spice up the solo with slight variations within the structure of the bars, what makes it interesting to listen to. And going up the neck is also challenging for me.

I’ll start the way I learned it here at MGA:

....... without my guitar, trying to get the melody in my head, humming the notes while tapping the beat with my leg - and also focusing on where the blue notes are and the breaks.

In a further step I will hum the melody to the backing track and tap the beat with my leg.

Only then I will pick up my guitar!

Birgit

I am so glad to hear that you approach learning it this way! It really is the best way "get it right".

If you can't hear it, you can't play it - never forget that!

Practice log 08-10-2022

I’m still working with Robert‘s „5 Blues Boxes Solo- YL42“. It’s such a perfect refresher for me and I love to learn it ! Sounds so beautiful 😊.

First of all I tried to get the melody in my head - without the guitar. That was a very important step, because it was really challenging for me to focus on the notes that are held at the end of a bar and where the breaks are.

After this step I grabbed my guitar and first played without accompaniment, then together with Soundslice at 100 bpm instead of 110 bpm. It helped a lot that I had the melody already in my mind. Made it easier to follow.

Today I played the first time only with the backing track – and just made a first trial video:

Oft course, the clean execution of the bends and vibratos remains a challenge for me for the next weeks! And I still have to work on the position of my picking hand!!!!

Without a second cutaway, it’s also a bit more difficult for me learning to play vibratos on the higher strings.

So I need a new guitar with 2 cutaways ……

……I need your beautiful Les Paul double cutaway, Robert 😉.

Birgit

Practice log 08-29-2022

At the moment I’m working with the first 12 bars of Robert’s „Rhythm and Licks 4“ (24 bars), the call and response blues. Sounds so beautiful and is really helpful, as Robert says, for praticing rhythm and licks and practicing keeping in time!

This lesson is very challenging for me because of the rhythm, the slides from above, the roll overs, double stops, hammer ons and pull offs.

As Robert recommended in his video, after playing with a metronome and then with the backing track, I tried to play the song without any rhythmic help to be able to feel if I have internalized the rhythm.

This is a first rudimentary attempt and I need more practice. I can see and hear that I have to play more loosely and with a lot more swing feel.

Birgit

Nice job on YL42! I think it would be easier to get a less choppy sound if you have a tone with gain or compression. An overdrive pedal will definitely help.

The rhythm & licks is tricky without a metronome/track. Try recording in the same video, back to back - first with track/metronome (a few times). Then switch to playing the same without any rhythm help and listen back and compare. Tap your foot when you play (if you can) and tap your foot when you listen back with a critical ear. That will help you identify problem areas.

Keep up the good job - I love it!

Practice log 09-20-2022

@Robert, I'm still working with your „Rhythm and Licks 4“. Today I made a first trial over the entire 24 bars with the backing track.

It’s still very challenging for me, so I have adapted some passages to my abilities. More important for me at the moment is to find the rhythm and be able to transfer it to the guitar.

Now that I have a recording with the backing track, I can now - as you said - identifiy the problem areas and then work on them.

Even if not everything sounds so nice, sorry, it’s still a lot of fun to play 😊.

And I also need a bit of time to get used to my new guitar, but it plays very well and I’m delighted.

Birgit

Nice guitar! What is it? Epiphone 335?

Your playing is getting better. There is a lot of rhythms going on in that piece! I realize that now when I hear you play it. So overall, you have the pieces in your head, it seems. The rhythms you play are a little bit off here and there, but it's pretty close! Well done. 

What would help is your picking/strumming technique. Take a close look at my right hand when I play this and see if you can try that. I know, easier said than done! The main thing I think you need to focus on for that is to strum those mini-chords with a more distinct strum. Like brushing off dust of your clothes with very quick motion. Short motion, but quick. Let me know if that helps.

See https://www.masterguitaracademy.com/lesson/soundslice-rhythm-licks-4/

Robert, it’s an Epiphone Sheraton II Pro Ebony.

Your comments help me a lot, thanks for your support 👍. I appreciate it very much. 

I put your version and mine (100 bpm) in Reaper on 2 tracks and it’s so impressive to hear at which points my rhythms are a little bit off !

As you pointed out, it’s now clear for me, that I have to focus on the mini-chords using a more distinct strum. I will focus on « short motion, but quick » on the « AND A ».

What I also have to focus on is to play the hammer-on and pull-off  (1st bar 3rd beat) on the « AND A ». My version sounds more like a « triplet », if any !

If I then also compare my video with your Soundslice version, I can see the big difference in the strumming technique. I’m going to work on that in detail now with your Soundslice version.

I will try my best according to my abilities. And I’m really going to try because it’s such a wonderful rhythm piece, I love it 😊. And I'm learning a lot!

Thanks,

Birgit

That is a beautiful guitar and the sound is very nice.  RR is the teacher so I'll just say that I can hear you settle into playing and more comfortable with the demands as the backing track progresses.  Stay with it!