@csharprat, I thought that was very good.  You are on the beat, keeping in time and playing well. Let me be the first to say "Thanks!" for recording and posting- we all gain from these contributions, and I am inspired to dig into this lesson.  Coincidentally, I am trying to get my John Lee Hooker chops improved as part of my return to acoustic.

If you're interested in a critique (not a criticism), I'd put in my two cents for a little more swing on the groove.  That's just preference - I gravitate toward a down home feel over precise and tight to the beat unless its a driving rhythm that's pushing forward.  And for more accolades, you are more precise my efforts on those strings.  

Great work!

Yours Truly, Sloppy Joe Clayton

@clayton Thanks for listening. After I recorded it I thought it was way too slow. I was having trouble with the iV chord riff at 0:41 sec and slowed everything down to get it more precise. It's got a technique thing going on there and I've been practicing just that part a lot. I'm going to post a faster version after I get more confident.

I like your comment about playing with more swing feel. It really helps to hear good criticism and you are right, it's too robot like. Whoops, I've got to get back to work (I'm working from home today).

Take care.

@csharprat

Robert, I’m excited about your first entry in your practice log. It’s such a beautiful and tasty Robert Renman blues and your guitar playing is an enrichment for the forum.

I know from my own practice log experience that the tips you get will help you to improve your guitar playing. And with this support you become aware of things that you may not have paid attention to before. Helps a lot!

I can only encourage you to keep going.

Birgit

@bluesiline Thanks for the comments Birgit! I feel like we're in school and having to do recitals based on what grade we're in. It's made me a little nervous even though I've been playing for years with quite a bit of live performances, in front of audiences, under my belt. The big difference is, using the practice log, we're performing in front of kindred spirits who wish each other success and want to help each other. I'm grateful for Robert Renman and this forum of musicians and their comments and observations.

Hey that is quite brilliant! I think you sound great. Some more swing feel, yeah that would be sweet. It's very possible that you're really busy with trying to remember all the details. I think that once you play it enough times so that you don't have to think much about each part/lick/line, then you can focus on the swing feel. It'll come, I'm sure. Well done, my friend!

@robert Thank you so much Robert (says grasshopper to master). I appreciate your encouragement! I am getting smoother with this piece after playing it so many times. My wife has started humming it because she hears me practicing it a lot 🤣 . I'm having the most trouble at bar 17. I think the picking technique here is  important for me. If I use an up-pick sliding to the B note it makes the rest of the picking easier. That's what I've been practicing. I'll record another video when I get it smoother.

Awesome. Well use the technique that works best for you. That's always my answer when someone asks me, because there are many ways to play something and one way is not necessarily better than the other.

@csharprat

Robert, since you sometimes quarrel a bit with yourself, I listened to your recording several more times and I would like to add my appreciation for how cleanly you play the chords and the individual notes. Just great.

And if I look at the fingers of your left hand, they move easily and effortlessly over the fretboard. I don’t see any signs of nervousness there. Big compliment.

Since I will not reach such a level in my guitar life, I am all the happier for the pleasure of hearing this wonderful blues from a member.

There are so many wonderful RR lessons on the forum and maybe other members will now feel encouraged by your recording, Robert, to present the songs they have learned here on the forum.

That would be nice 😊.

Birgit

Posted by: @bluesiline

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Since I will not reach such a level in my guitar life, I am all the happier for the pleasure of hearing this wonderful blues from a member.

Birgit, first let me thank you for the kind words. Second, I'm 70 years young and have played guitar most of my life and I know, if you continue to practice, you'll reach smoothness and confidence as you continue your guitar journey. You are diligent with your study and it will happen.

I've been watching Robert Renman's YouTube videos for a long time, but this one, from the YouTube Shorts, really struck home. He was doing something that I haven't been able to do. (The phrase that I can't play is the last two measures)

I contacted Robert and he sent me the tab along with the Guitar Pro file. I was so grateful that I joined MGA immediately. Thanks Robert, there's so much to learn at MGA!

But here I am and still struggling with it. I've practiced it often but still can't seem to get it right. Robert's technique makes it sound like a machine gun of notes WOW. I sound bad. I don't know how he does it. I'm thinking it has something to do with his picking. (I finally got some of those picks from Hell but I still can't play this right LOL)

Here's the audio from his video:

Here's the tab of the last 2 measures:

Here's me struggling to play it:

I'll keep working on it but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

-RobertT (csharprat)

Hey that sounds great! I would advise you to skip the pinky. Use the ring finger for the pulloffs. The reason is the ring finger is stronger and will give you better control.

I will try to film a follow up video to this and play the lick slowly. 

@robert Thank you Robert! I'll start practicing using my ring finger. I'll post another video with my progress. I really want my playing on this lick to sound close to yours.

I think you're doing very well!  As for the last 2 measures...I tried it and I find I'm not used to the note order so I'll have to slowly build up speed until I get it under my fingers...Good Luck!