March 28, 2013

Learning my patterns. Loving how the blues pattern can be adapted to play in major keys.

March 23, 2013

Hold on to your hat.
May be joining/forming a rock and roll band. Not a "rock" band, but a REAL rock and roll band that plays the real stuff (60's and 50's stuff).

March 20, 2013

Although I know the three patterns, I don't really KNOW them the way I should. I mean I can play them s e p a r a t e l y, but the trick is mixing them; i.e., playing the middle of one than going into the middle of another one, etc. Worked a bit on that today.

March 18, 2013

Worked, just a little, on those three patterns...

March 17, 2013

Worked today on the third guitar pattern and how it might fit with songs in
major keys.
Had a good talk with a friend who recently lost his dad.

March 16, 2013

Pounding two lead patterns into my brain and worked on a way to remember their proper usage in minor and major situations. This stuff is more fun to me than learning gypsy jazz......probably because the gypsy stuff is more foreign. Love picking up that Casino again!

March 15, 2013

Miss playing things on guitar other than gypsy. Band member experienced in lead guitar playing came over and had some great things to teach me. Want to go back to the Conti Assembly Line Book as well as learn the stuff taught to me today.

March 14, 2013

Boring. Started the GJ Book. Went over some finger exercises and some licks. May go to a local gypsy jazz festival in June.

March 13, 2013

Started some reading in earnest of the GJ book.

March 11, 2013

Received in the mail today the book, "Getting Into Gypsy Jazz Guitar" by Stephane Wrembel. Looks great. From now on in this blog I'll refer to this book as the "GJ Book." Will soon be time to dig in.

March 8, 2013

Not a great practice session; not horrible either. Had our singer, drummer (who played bass on one tune), stand up bass player (who also played some sax), other guitarist, and myself. Here I am wanting to focusing Gypsy Jazz instrumentals, but I find myself doing stuff like "When Will I Be Loved," "Goodnight Sweetheart," etc. Also did a jazzy "How High the Moon" for which my solo was less than stellar. I guess before we (or at least some of us) focus on the Gypsy Jazz stuff, I better learn how to solo... However, the other option is to try to get that other guitarist with us so that the current other guitarist with us might focus more on mandolin.

March 6, 2012

Worked hard in Pearl Django's version of "I've Found a New Baby." The speed at which i play the intro is no where near their recorded version, and i still have to memorize the notes in that section. Will order the book: Getting into Gypsy Jazz.

March 3, 2013

Played a charity function at Church today, and it went well. Gypsy Jazz is difficult! (Or any improv, for me!)

March 2, 2013

Started practicing Gypsy Jazz. Working on a few exercises in the Chang DVD. Might also work on the Romane book. This is challenging stuff; learning a new way of picking.

March 1, 2013

Good band practice tonight. Will be playing a benefit at Church on Sunday, March 3. Will start off with a Gypsy Jazz set plus drummer; minus our violin player /
will then play with two guitars, our vocalist, and keyboard player.