Practice log 11-07-2021

@robert, as promised, I did the „Comping Blues 4 » Texas strumming, again, now at 115 bpm instead of 100 bpm.

I tried to focus on, as you recommended, "locking in with the groove" and I think it’s a little bit better than before. Not perfect yet, right hand motion needs to be more distinct, but at least I put a little more pressure on the strings than in the 1st recording.

For me is important, that I used my thumb very consciously! for muting the low E string. Gets better and better to bend the thumb over the neck.

And I’m happy that it always works better to mute all the necessary strings with the lower part of my index finger (high E and B string for E7 resp. high E string for A7 and B7) and to mute the A string with the tip of my middle finger (for A7 and B7).

I keep improving my comping,

Birgit

I think you doing better and better. From what I can tell - you want to use a lighter right hand. Try to brush the strings rather than raking them. Light but distinct. So probably need to swing that arm a little bit more. Like brushing dust off your clothes.

@bluesiline you are making progress.  All of your work is evident in your continued improvement!  Keep it up!

@bluesiline Absolutely agree with Clayton you are making progress. When i hear you playing this i wanna took my mic, and wanna sings SRV-Mary had a little lamb. Better for my neighbors, when i not singing. So i keep listen to to what you playing and sharing with us.
Thanks for that! 😀 

Good groove.

Seems to be relaxed when playing, foot is stomping .

I noticed that your thumb is pointed more up also.

@hillbilly_joe 

Thank you, Joe. It takes time to gradually implement all the small improvements……

Greetings to Japan,

Birgit

@blues-lover 

André, I send a big 😊 to Holland: thank you for your comments and thank you for listening to my recordings. I think it’s not always easy listen to the guitar rhythms a beginner produces, but I appreciate that all the more.

And don’t worry that you can’t sing, neither do I. But it’s all the better that you were able to transfer your enthusiasm for SRV to me, and I will be eternally grateful for that 👍.

Enjoy playing,

Birgit

@bluesiline 

Focusing of total relaxation is one of them small steps. 

@bluesiline He is arrived in Holland now Brigit and thanks for that. 😀 
It's absolute no problem to listen to your practice playing. 🎸
You deserve good comment , with all that great practices you let see us again and again. I appreciate that a lot. And beside, I'm not a great guitar player, but i like to play guitar much And every time i learn something from my favorites players, i go to sleep with a big smile on my face.

So nice to motivate each other, so we can getting better 👍 

Practice log 11-20-2021

I’m expanding my chord vocabulary, working with Robert’s „Prince Funk Guitar Lesson Chesea Rodgers“ and learning 3 string voicings for Bbm, Cm and Fm. It’s a big challenge  playing only top three notes for each of the chord and to play no other strings than G, B and high E

The Fm voicing gave me the most trouble to play cleanly. I still have to work on it.

It’s an outstanding lesson 👍, highly recommended, because Robert explains very well what is necessary „to strum the chords to make it really funky and groovy, playing mostly on the „ands“. Great.

That‘s a big challenge for me and I will watch the video again and again and learn from it.

This is my first recording, playing at 85 bpm. Will take me a long time! to play it, like Robert, at 120 bpm.

What I can see in my first recording:

Positive: I’ve loosened up although it’s not easy to play for me but makes a lot of fun 😊.

What needs to be improved:

-     I have to play more staccato, more precisely, still have to work on it a lot

-     My right hand has to dampen the strings better in combination with my left hand

-     Sorry for the terrible sound. I need a little help in choosing (and applying correctly!!!) a  suitable amp sim plugin for my DAW (on Windows PC).  

Birgit

@bluesiline 

You got it !   

I need to pick up my guitar and get going again.

I see and hear motion in your performance- that is very good!

Reminds me of last Thursday night's Experimental Jam session where I've been playing bass.  I spend 90% of my effort locking and holding The Groove letting the open space (without notes) bloom and finding just the right down-beats and up-beats to make my sound.  

Thank you, @clayton, tiny little steps but a lot of fun!

And it would be nice to hear – on occasion - some of your down-beats and up-beats.

Birgit

@bluesiline So great to hear you every time Birgit. When i hear this piece, Than the Jamaica sun go shine here in Holland, even when it's freezing ☀️🌴

That's nice! You're getting the hang of it. Just think of your hand as the drummer!