Vegan Guitarist

Still doing the vegan thing, and walked my hour today...

Tired tonight...

Did practice repertoire, the five Aebersold major scale shapes, and two Awbersild minor scale shapes.

Scales

Exercising, eating well, taking better care of myself, and losing weight. 

Went over repertoire. In the Aebersold book reviewed the five major scale shapes, and two of the three minor scale shapes. 

Looking ahead a bit, I'm realizing that it'll be a challenge to connect the scales (for example, the two minor chord shapes I went over today) especially when not starting on the first note I'm used to starting on. Well, although it's  going to be a challenge and a long learning process, I'm liking the sound that I'm getting with the scales.

Scales

Well I continue to walk an hour a day and follow a vegan diet. One thing that I have asked my wife to do umis to hide snacks.

Well I should ask her to hide my jazz improv method books too. I always get tempted to switch methods; it happened with my piano learning too. I should ask her to hide all the books!

Went over repertoire; I realize in going slow on that, but that's ok. But I really should push myself to learn more of the Christmas song. 

Moved on in the Aebersold book to learning some minor scale stuff. Wondering how I will keep all this stuff in my brain!

Healthy and an Experiment

Healthwise, lost 5 pounds since last week!

Reviewed repertoire today. Tried something new with regards to improvisation. Tried utilizing a Charlie Christian type of chord shape in improvising over a major chord. Didn't quite work out well, but it was a worthwhile experiment! 

Jamie Aebersold Volume 1

Must stop buying jazz learning books!

Went over repertoire today and ready to move into Dorian Minor shapes in the Aebersold book. Decided not to use the Negri book (at least for now) after all.

Continue to eat vegan and walk an hour daily. Made a delicious veggie pizza:

Happy Birthday, Son !

Son's 17th Birthday

Morning Walk Selfie:

Afternoon Walk:

Bye Bye Love

Had a little jam session with the other guitar player in the band. We did the great Everly Brothers' song, "Bye Bye Love." We are both on guitars with me singing lead vocal, and him singing harmony. Here it is:

http://soundcloud.com/guitarjazz/bye-bye-love on #SoundCloud

Did my hour walk this morning and I'm following the diet very well! 

Morning Walk

A bit of cold temperature out this morning:

Joe Negri

Continue to walk an hour and follow my vegan diet. Sixth straight day now.

I have a lot of books that teach jazz guitar improvisation. The trouble is sticking with one. One always seems to take the place of another. Well it happened again. 

Part of me wants to dig in and learn the details. Sometimes I'm tempted to learn the old fashioned way and learn licks and others' solos. Sometimes I want to learn scales. But I just got a new book and I will be diving into this one.

It's called "A Common Sense Approach to Guitar Improvisation" by Joe Negri, compiled and edited by Tim Bedner. There is not a lot of info/reviews about it on-line, but it seems interesting. I'm going to try to learn from it. Improvisation to me can be quite intimidating and frustrating, so this "common sense approach" looks inviting. 

Went over repertoire today and started the Negri book.

Morning Walk Selfie

A Good One

A really good practice day. Went over repertoire and just about finished with the major scale patterns in the Aebersold book. A nice surprise was that the patterns kind of 'came back to me' though I stopped learning the patterns awhile ago.

Just some thinking aloud: was nice to just sit and play today... I think when I focus on just having fun while learning, and not put pressure on myself to get things learned inside and out, my enjoyment increases. Getting some sweet sounds practicing "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)."

Sold my old amp and a pedal today so I ordered a hardshell case for my Epiphone es-339 Pro. I can say now that I am satisfied with my guitars. Really liking the Epiphones. And I really do not to shell out tons of money for a more expensive guitar. My stuff is fine. Only thing I can see possibly wanting in the future is a foot pedal to control my Roland Cube 60. But I'm in no rush.

Continuing my plant based diet and my hour walks, and it feels good.

Here's a picture of my good buddy:

A Good Day

Ate well and walked my hour this morning.

Had time to practice tonight: went over repertoire and finished learning the one octave major scale patterns. I think I'm really going to like this Aebersold book.

Book

Reading a good book about Jesus regarding having a relationship with him within the Catholic faith: "Taking it Personally: How your Catholic Faith Can Transform You," by Leo Zanchettin.

Morning Walk

What a Day

Ok it's 10:04 PM as ai type this, and I have to say I give myself a solid "A" when it comes to being more healthy today. Walked an hour and made some healthy starchy/vegan meals. Breakfast and lunch is shown below in earlier posts. For dinner I had spinach, a salad, and a plate of homemade spiced french fries with ketchup, and A1 sauce. Let's hope I can continue this journey in health.

Did some guitar work today, too. Went over repertoire, and restarted the Aebersold book with the scale section.

Healthy Day 1: Preparing Lunch

Vegan Burgers (actually "McDougall" Burgers) ready for the oven:

Lunch: Healthy Day 1

Homemade vegan burger following most of McDougall's recipe:

Breakfast: Healthy Day I

Microwaved oatmeal with soymilk, and added strawberries and blueberries. Awesome!

Vegan Day One

This is it! Day one of being vegan and taking better care of myself. Here I am during my hour walk this morning. Lots of work to do, but I'm committed.  Rest of today I'll be trying to get to that guitar!

Frustration Turns to Victory

Yea so it was more than a little frustrating going over my repertoire today, playing "All the Things You Are," and drawing a blank. Just seemed to have forgotten how to play it!!!! In time, it came back, and all is well again. Went back to the guitar tonight and played some of repertoire and it felt good playing the songs.

Did a little experimenting with improv today, and decided to use the Jamey Aebersold book again to learn improv. I'm liking the use of scales.

As I write this, it is 10:51 PM. My life as a vegan along with urtilizing other healthy habits will begin in a little over an hour. Following the McDougall diet as presented in his book, "The Starch Solution." Went shopping for vegan stuff today, and also bought a food processor. Here we go!

Rock & Roll

A good practice night with a couple of the guys in the rock & roll band. Hooked up my Epiphone es-339 Pro into my Roland Cube 60 amp and enjoyed the tones that I got! 

Challenging

A little on the challenging side tonight with guitar practice. Went through repertoire, and yet again I struggle even with just one day off. Still trying to get the new song together.

Adding some more to my knowledge of Ellis's first shape. Frustrated with that trying to remember the notes. Wondered a bit if I should just forget about learning improv and just focus on solo chord melody guitar.

Becoming vegan this Sunday.

The Vegan Guitarist

4 days until I try the McDougall diet. 

A really good practice day at a relaxed pace. Went over repertoire. Worked a lot on the Christmas song, adding more of my knowledge of it. Worked a little more on the Ellis book but didn't add anything new to my knowledge of it; just revisited what I should know at this point. 

My Hometown

Went to visit my dad today in my hometown. He seems to be doing well.

In the car listened to some CDs that came with jazz solo method books. Was thinking a little of changing method books but then decided to stay with the Ellis book. 

A Good Practice Day

I think I may have ruined the pickguard on my Epiphone es-339 by trying the wrong way to remove the glue on it after I took off the "E" on it. So what?

A really good practice day. Used the Joe Pass to go over repertoire, add more to my newest chord melody song, and start page 6 of the Ellis book. 

I found that I have more fun practicing jazz stuff on the Joe Pass as opposed to the es-339. The es-339 will be my rock and roll and blues guitar of choice.

Reading "The Starch Solution" by John A. McDougall MD & Mary McDougall, and it's very interesting. Thinking of becoming a vegan.

Friday Rock & Roll

An "alright" practice with the rock & roll band. I like the sound of my new Epiphone. It felt good that another guy did some singing tonight other than me.

Brief

A brief practice today of repertoire stuff and Ellis material. Definitely time to start moving on with the Ellis book. 

EPIPHONE ES-339 PRO

Happy New Guitar Day to me! Received my Epiphone ES-339 PRO today, and it's cool. Practiced my Ellis stuff and some of my repertoire on it.

Just a Regular Practice Day

Went over repertoire, added some more memorized stuff to the Christmas song, and went over the material related to the first shape in the Ellis book.

Guitar to arrive tomorrow!

Considering the McDougal diet.

JESUS

No real practice today, but thinking about Jesus.

Epiphone

No practice today. (Except if you include me playing guitars at two guitar stores). 

Settled on an Epiphone ES-339 Pro. It had a mark on it that I didn't like, so they will be mailing me a new one. It's cool. 

A cool day

Went over repertoire; added more to my knowledge of the Christmas song, and reviewed what I learned so far from the Ellis book. I know I've only scratched the surface of the Ellis book, but I got a feeling I'm going to like it. 

Finished watching "2001: A Space Odyssey" with my son, and then we went for our hour walk. He's developed quite the critical mind as we discuss and argue things. 

Looking around at other guitars online. Window shopping other jazz hollow bodies. Loar and Godin guitars have sparked my interest. I like the really old fashioned look. But tomorrow should be quite the interesting day: going guitar shopping. 

ROCK AND ROLL (Part I)

ROCK AND ROLL (Part II)

Independence Day, 2014

A few great Sprinsteen songs reference today: "4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy),"

"Independence Day," and "Darlington County."

A good practice day; played repertoire and began the Ellis book. Learned the first shape along with its scales/arpeggios. 

Reading the book "Night" by Eli Wiesel. The extent to which humans can be cruel to other humans is amazing.

Different Road to Rome

Didn't practice today; but walked for exercise about 45 minutes. Could have done better healthwise today, but could have done worse.

This Sunday I'll be shopping for guitars at a couple of places. The dilemma now is getting something I can use for rock and roll vs. continue to save for something REALLY nice like a Gibson. 

Decided on taking yet a different road to learn improv. Decided to use the three Herb Ellis books. I already have "All the Shapes You Are," but his "The Herb Ellis Guitar Method: Swing Blues" book/CD should arrive tomorrow. There's one other that that I'll put off buying for now (maybe). Not sure exactly why I want to change methods. I like change. The "Swing Blues" book I think may help with the Charlie Cristian style I like so much.

Patience

At a relaxing pace, taking errors in stride, went over repertoire, and Aebersold scales. Realizing slowly that patience is key. May get yet another method book. Walked an hour with my son, and continue to try to make healthy choices.

Got my eyes on a telecaster thinline.