Been a bit of a lag between the lesson and the posting of it. Sorry about that one. The holidays make it a bit difficult to keep up with all of this sort of "normal" stuff. Oh well, at least I didn't forget about it totally.
This lesson was officially the "We're gonna learn an entire song" lesson. "Wish You Were Here" was the default choice because it has a good chord progression, I can already play the rhythm part, and the solo sounds great but is not too difficult. We started by me playing the song as I know it. I forgot the stinking progression, again, but that was the last time!
Andy realized I knew that part fine, so we moved on to the solo. He showed that it was a continuation of the G scale in two different positions. Super easy really. With us working together for just 15 minutes on it, I could struggle through the entire thing.
Since the lesson, I have been working on it digillently. I can get through the entire solo at full speed. The only problems I am having are the chording parts in the solo, sliding them up and down the two frets. I seem to over shoot one way or the other every time. It just takes more practice to get the exact feel for that distance, I suppose.
We skipped Monday, 12/26 for obvious reasons. I assume that we are still on for 1/2/2006. Andy didn't mention not having it that day and I'm Jonesing a bit, to tell the truth!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Lesson 7 (12/12/2005)
Fun time this week. The guy that had a lesson before me quit, so Andy had asked me to come at 6:00 instead of 6:30. Well, the shop owner actually scheduled someone at six, so there was a bit of a conflict. I took the 6:00 spot last night, but we agreed that they would prefer the 6:00 slot, and I really don't care. In fact, I think I preferred 6:30, with no one after me. It just seems more laid back.
As for the lesson, we started out with me playing a C scale. Then I showed him that I had practiced moving it to the generic shape and could play it anywhere. He then asked about a G scale. Luckily, I had been practicing that one too. I don't have to too good as a generic shape, but I can play it pretty well in open position.
With the spirit of the season, we moved on to playing "Jingle Bells". He said for me to figure out the lead in C. Andy said it starts on the third, now go! Well, I did OK on that actually. I plinked it out while he strummed the chords. Then we moved it to G. Same thing there. We then moved on to Amazing grace. Same sort of thing, listen and figure out the melody. Get that ear to hearing and the fingers matching.
He said to really work on figuring out those melodies. It helps train that ear and also helps get the speed and accuracy up in those scale shapes.
Towards the end of the lesson, Andy showed me how to tie the open position G scale to a C shaped scale played down on the 7th fret, which is actually a G scale when played there. Using an open string to slide back and forth between the positions, you can tie the shapes together. Play the G as normal, but when you get to the high E string, play it. While it's being played, the left hand moves up to the 7th position and the next note in the scale is played B string, 7th fret. From there, continue in the C pattern. That finishes out the G scale! Awesome how that stuff all mixes together!
Not sure exactly what for next time. I think I'm going to hammer on some melody lines, and try to match them up with the scale shapes I know. I also think I'll work on tying the G open and the 7th position C shape together on different strings.
Louis
As for the lesson, we started out with me playing a C scale. Then I showed him that I had practiced moving it to the generic shape and could play it anywhere. He then asked about a G scale. Luckily, I had been practicing that one too. I don't have to too good as a generic shape, but I can play it pretty well in open position.
With the spirit of the season, we moved on to playing "Jingle Bells". He said for me to figure out the lead in C. Andy said it starts on the third, now go! Well, I did OK on that actually. I plinked it out while he strummed the chords. Then we moved it to G. Same thing there. We then moved on to Amazing grace. Same sort of thing, listen and figure out the melody. Get that ear to hearing and the fingers matching.
He said to really work on figuring out those melodies. It helps train that ear and also helps get the speed and accuracy up in those scale shapes.
Towards the end of the lesson, Andy showed me how to tie the open position G scale to a C shaped scale played down on the 7th fret, which is actually a G scale when played there. Using an open string to slide back and forth between the positions, you can tie the shapes together. Play the G as normal, but when you get to the high E string, play it. While it's being played, the left hand moves up to the 7th position and the next note in the scale is played B string, 7th fret. From there, continue in the C pattern. That finishes out the G scale! Awesome how that stuff all mixes together!
Not sure exactly what for next time. I think I'm going to hammer on some melody lines, and try to match them up with the scale shapes I know. I also think I'll work on tying the G open and the 7th position C shape together on different strings.
Louis
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Lesson 6 (12/5/2005)
I really feel like lessons are starting to pay off! My physical techniques may not be growing by leaps and bounds, but my knowledge of how music is put together is really starting to blossum. I feel that the techinques are going to come. Last night I even got in and out of some barre chords without too much trouble.
As for last night's lesson, we played several songs in several keys. "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Sweet Child O' Mine" in C, G, D, and E. The program I wrote has REALLY helped me with those keys. I can almost pick out all the IV's and V's without thinking about it.
We then moved on to talking about scales and patterns. He mentioned the CAGED method. I had heard of that before, but I didn't really know what it meant. In short, there are five basic patterns of major scales. They are named CAGED after the chord shapes in open position that they mimic. Then he said, take the C scale that you already know, and move it up a fret. I started playing, missed one or two, but pretty much got it right.
We finished up with some "Jingle Bells".
For next time, I plan on having the C shape playable in any position. I think that is very doable. I might even try to figure out one of the other shapes, say A?
Later,
Louis
As for last night's lesson, we played several songs in several keys. "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Sweet Child O' Mine" in C, G, D, and E. The program I wrote has REALLY helped me with those keys. I can almost pick out all the IV's and V's without thinking about it.
We then moved on to talking about scales and patterns. He mentioned the CAGED method. I had heard of that before, but I didn't really know what it meant. In short, there are five basic patterns of major scales. They are named CAGED after the chord shapes in open position that they mimic. Then he said, take the C scale that you already know, and move it up a fret. I started playing, missed one or two, but pretty much got it right.
We finished up with some "Jingle Bells".
For next time, I plan on having the C shape playable in any position. I think that is very doable. I might even try to figure out one of the other shapes, say A?
Later,
Louis
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