Piano

Thinking of going back to piano. Practiced with the Gypsy Band tonight and it was fun! Here's our version of "Blue Christmas" with me on main vocal:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zimpjxloe292okg/BlueXmas.m4a?dl=0

Reversed Melodic Extensions

Went over repertoire. Still working on my melodic extensions from the Fewell book and taking my time doing it correctly as best as I can. Working on the first set of melodic extensions in the cycle of 5ths and working on playing them in reverse in order to maximize my possible usage of them. Worked on the E minor one tonight; that one has been fighting me since the fingering is different from the others. I'm anticipating a fight with the F# one next! Trying to get some of my original stuff on ReverbNation, but I must wait for my technologically savvy sin to help with that. 

Healthwise, I fell off the wagon yet again, but the wagon is still in sight and I can climb back on board.

Although I am no longer in the Gypsy Jazz band, they have asked that I sit in one upcoming gig with them since their other guitarist can't make it. So I'll be sitting in a Gypsy Jazz rehearsal of Christmas songs tomorrow. 

Busy Day

Walked my 1/2 hour but ate waaaaay too much pizza. Practiced my repertoire, and I'm still taking my time (trying to do it right) learning my Fewell melodic extensions (including in reverse order). 

The Learning

The learning never stops. Went over repertoire. Went over some melodic extensions and am learning to play one in reverse order. Reminder to self to have the Fewell book in hand when practicing the melodic extensions to not only make sure that my fingerings are correct, but to make sure that I am playing the right notes and following the circle of fifths correctly.

Melodic Extensions

Went over repertoire / continue to try to learn how to use Garrison Fewell's melodic extensions. 

Started vegan diet again today, and walked my 1/2 hour.

Melodic Extensions

Went over my repertoire, but spent most of my practice time trying to get those Fewell melodic extensions on my fingers. Working hard!

Went food shopping today to begin the vegan diet again tomorrow. Will also begin walking 1/2 hour a day starting tomorrow. I hurt my knee walking an hour a day not too long ago. 

Friday

A good Friday practice with most of the band of mostly Christmas songs. "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Kennon remains a challenge, but we are trying to work it out. I really have a blast singing and playing "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (The Bruce Sprinsteen versions). 

Jimmy Reed

Mr. Jimmy Reed. Some of the best blues music as well as best music in general that I love listening to.

Add another page

Went over repertoire; added another page of knowledge regarding the Fewell book. Seem to not look forward to practice, but once I get going, I'm ok.

Rock and Roll band practice tomorrow night.

Wednesday Practice

Did not go over anything new, but at least put forth time into going over repertoire and going over what I've been learning in the Fewell book.

I M P R O V I S A T I O N

I am going to learn this inprovisation stuff. I feel the Fewell book is helping. Will NOT give up. Did you hear that? I will NOT give up. Even when I miss a day or so of practice. That doesn't mean anything. I will get this thing in my hands so I can express myself using guitar sounds in a sonetimes beautiful and sometimes dissonant and sometimes funky way. Will not give up. The commitment and tools are there. 

Tuesday Practice

First of all, I know that the last paragraph of my last post should have been edited, but in not sure why it wouldn't let me edit.

But I had a good practice day: went over repertoire and adding a page of knowledge from the Fewell book. 

! ! Announcement ! !

Very proud to announce that my 17 year old son (who goes by the name "New-Hope") has released his first EP called "Not Tangible" on iTunes:

Not Tangible - EP by New-Hope:

https://itun.es/us/CcRH3

One thing I find cool is that one song is called "Treestars." When he was a small boy, me and him were going to form a band and he wanted to call the band the "Treestars."him were going to form a band, 

Florida State University

My alma mater Florida State University beat Notre Dame last night and that is just fantastic. 

Saturday Trek

Went to visit an old town today; had some good food, and met up with a high school friend who introduced me to the Rolling Stones many years ago.

Practiced my repertoire and continue to work on the Fewell book.

Happy Christmas

Went over some Christmas songs with the band tonight. Did a rough recording of John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War is Over)." Took the recording home and added tracks. This is me on everything except one background vocal and mandolin:

https://app.box.com/s/m1a7xzck4ohb91a2875t

Practice, Learning, Garrison Fewell

Practiced repertoire and the Fewell book. This improv stuff will take some time. Yesterday I actually tried to learn some stuff about modes.

I know I've probably said this before in different contexts, but yet again, I'm learning the fact that LEARNING TAKES TIME. There ain't no magic book. (Though Robert Conti's "The Assembly Line" is an exception!)There ain't no way of learning a musical instrument easily (for me, anyway). What I'm really talking about it that there is no real easy method out there that teaches inprovisation for me. 

So what I ended up doing is getting a bunch of books that teach guitar inprovisation. I have a hunch that dedicating one's self to any one of these books can lead someone to improvise. But it ain't easy! These books are not easy. 

So this is one tactic that I used: 

I got my improv method books and listened to the accompanying CDs or downloads to hear what I might sound like as a result of using the method in question. 

I kept coming back to Garrisin Fewell's "Jazz Improvisation for Guitar: A Melodic Approach." So this is the book I remain committed to. Now I may gain some knowledge from other stuff, but this is the book for me. 

Not to say this book is easy. For someone at my level, it is quite a challenge. But my habit is usually to quit one method and go to another when the going gets tough. I don't think I'll use that escape this time.

If I want to learn to improvise jazz, this is the method for me. The solos sound musical and not like just a series of notes. So it's time to stay committed, knowing that it will take a long time to get through this book, and there will be times of frustration, but the rewards might just include helping me to do what I want to do: express my spirit and soul using the language of melody and improvisation.

So thank you, Garrison Fewell!

As a kid, I thought the Batmobile was so cool

Not the Best Practice Day

Seemed like brain and fingers just refused to cooperate. Perhaps I'm tribe to do too much than what is recommended. So I'll just go back to following along most of recommended paths. Yesterday played guitar at Mass at Church and it went ok.

Rehearsal

Had rehearsal tonight with the rock and roll band to prepare for a few Christmas gigs. Added some new stuff. We probably sounded ok, but this was one of those nights where I wasn't really happy with my guitar playing. Sometimes my limitations really get on my nerves, and tonight was one of those nights. I think part of the blame lies in the fact that during rehearsals I do not use my own amp but rather a friend's. This leads me to not really get the sounds I want and can get with my own amp. 

Sometimes my goal of improvising seems so distant, and tonight was one of those times. But I refuse to capitulate !!!

Lennon / Rock & Roll / Jazz

First things first. Happy Birthday to John Lennon who is 74 years old today! 

Practiced some stuff in preparation for our rock and roll Christmas practice tomorrow. I added "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon.

Practiced a few repertoire songs today. Also reviewed some stuff from the Fewell book. Trying to play some of the stuff backwards to get them learned better. 

Rock & Roll Christmas

Our rock & roll band who be doing a couple of shows this upcoming Christmas season. Looking forward to practicing  some rock & roll Christmas tunes this Friday. Specifically, I'll be singing: "Run Rudoph Run," "Merry Christmas Baby (Sprinsteen version)," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Sprinsteen version)," and "Jingle Bell Rock." Some other rock/blues Chistmas songs we'll be trying where I won't be the one carrying the arrangements might include (but not limited to): "Blue Christmas," "Merry Christmas Baby (Blues version)," "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," "White Christmas (Drifters version)," and I think "Winter Wonderland (Fats Domino version)." 

Not A Lot of Time

Did not have a lot of time to practice today. Did manage, however, to go over Fewell's stuff and two of the more difficult chord melody songs. 

Tenacity

Not giving up on this guitar stuff. Practiced some repertoire as well as some stuff from the Fewell book.

Monday Monday Monday Monday

Played the "Christmas Song" trying to stay on track. Added another jazz Inprov part from the Fewell book.

Eagles Win / Guitar Win

Practiced my repertoire today. Also went slowly over one of the Fewell patterns. I'm thinking to learn this improv stuff, I need to take it slowly. And that's ok. I got everything I need: guitars/amps/two great method books. I don't need anything else except dedicated practice. The Philadelphia Eagles won today but they almost blew it at the end.

Remember the homecoming dances I spoke about in the post below? Well I found out two kids died as a result of alcohol and driving with regards to the dance. Sad and horrible.

Saturday / Homecoming Dances

Homecoming by dances were tonight for two of my kids. Musically, I mostly worked on that Christmas song. Looked thru some various jazz improv learning books I have, and again, the Fewell book won. I'm going to have to really commit to it, but I think it will lead to great benefits. My Florida State Seminoles (ranked #1) won again, but to be honest they did not look very domineering (I think the 43-3 score, believe it or not, was not indicative of how the game really went). Here are some pics of my son and daughter on this homecoming dance night:

And the Winner is.....

I think I am going to go back to my original plan of some time ago:

1) Will use Robert Conti's "Assembly Line" to build a repertoire of chord melody songs.

2) Will use Garrison Fewell's "Jazz Improvisation for Guitar: A Melodic Approach" to learn improv. This book connects with the sounds I like, and it seems to utilize a logical and elegant approach to building solos. So this book is the "winner" that I will employ.

Health Update and Jazz Guitar

         !!! NO SURGERY NEEDED !!!

Just some physical therapy, meds, and follow-up.

Received my 4,000th book today about how to improvise Jazz in guitar. So fat, I think the Charlie Christian one may be winning. Maybe.