Very Good Practice Day

• Burned 361 calories on exercise bike in 1/2 hour.

• Almost done with learning the Dorian Minor scale patterns in the Aebersold Book 1 for guitar. Took my time with the flashcards of Conti's chord melody ideas. Doing well, progressing. 

No Practice Monday

• Rode the exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• No music practice today. Of musical note is my friend telling me about the Herb Albert concert he went to recently. Sounds like Mr. Albert is a great guy. I remember listening to THE LONELY BULL album my parents bought when I was a kid.

• Listened to a beautiful song today: EVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS by Supertramp. Told my son about how the clarinet at the song's beginning makes me feel "nostalgic" (a word he uses to describe some music he hears that reminds him of when he was younger).

• Ain't this cool.....during a text conversation with my older daughter, she sent me this:

"You make me SO happy dad ❤️ love you!"

One of My Two Beautiful Daughters !

Music Sunday

• It's now 11:48 AM and we will be practicing at about 12:00 to play two Easter Masses next week. One of the group members will play a large harp that sounds great. I believe he'll play "Morning Has Broken" at the least, with it. My main contribution other than being the guitar player, will be lead vocals on "Oh Mary Don't You Weep" (Springsteen style).

• Went through Conti flashcards prior to band rehearsal.

• Had some trouble with the flashcards wondering about their utility. Came to the conclusion that they will indeed be a valuable way learn to play in the chord melody style. Continue to have difficulty remembering them; but that's ok- I think it is time well spent. Making slow progress, but it is indeed progress.

• Continue to work on the Dorian Minor Scale in the Aebersold book one for guitar. Making slow progress, but it is indeed progress.

• Rehearsal for Easter Masses went ok. 

• Another upcoming music project: Will be working with bass player and vocalist on two songs: A modern version of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," and the Nora Jones version of the standard "The Nearness of You."

• Feeling like my illness has gone away; ready to get back on the exercise bike tomorrow.

Music Saturday

• I think I am feeling better enough to soon get back on the exercise bike.

• A good day of work with the flashcards and also working on the minor scale.

• Went to Mass tonight (Palm Sunday is tomorrow), and it was meaningful.

Sick!

• Still not feeling well. Dropped off my guitar at a local music store because it seems like the toggle switch that changes pickups isn't working correctly. The store had so much cool stuff! 

• Because I'm not feeling well I didn't think I'd possibly get to it, but I managed to get in some practice time with the Aebersold Book 1 scales as well as Conti flashcards. Finding it more helpful to use the flashcards with guitar in hand rather than just use the flashcards in isolation.

• Not something I would do on my own, but I'll be seeing the band "Death Grips" with my son in July. Oh my. He just read that post and accused me of being old!!! He'll get there!

Some Favorite Guitarists

NOT IN ORDER (to be continued):

1) Jimmy Page

2) Charlie Christian 

3) George Harrison

4) Keith Richards

5) Chuck Berry

6) Eric Clapton

7) Django Reinhardt

8) Scotty Moore

9) James Burton

10) Peter Frampton

11) Peter Townshend 

12) Jimi Hendrix

13) Brian May

14) Stevie Ray Vaughn

15) David Gilmore 

16) Robert Johnson

17) Paul McCartney

18) Tiny Grimes

19) Bruce Springsteen 

20) Steve Cropper

21) The Edge

22) Mick Taylor

23) John Lennon

Minor Day 2

• Again, just a little practice today of my Conti chord melody flashcards and my Aebersold Book 1 scales. Getting a little bit more learned of the minor scale.

• Due to recent illness, not feeling really up to getting back to exercising but I do not feel like this is a major setback (diet has took a hit, also). Slowly feeling better. 

Happy Birthday Mom

My mom passed away two years ago this past February, but today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, mom....

Here's a picture of mom and my son taken about 15-16 years ago, or so.

I posted the picture before, but it's a good time to post it again:

Cool Picture

A Japanese fan with tears of joy meeting Jimmy Page (who just happens to be one of my, if not my number one, favorite guitarist):

A Minor Day

 • Spent a (very) short amount of time on some minor scales in the Aebersold book 1.

• Continue working on learning my self-made Robert Conti chord melody flashcards.

• Yours truely, and Zoey:

Daughter and Me

Scales / Conti Cards

• Worked on the various configurations of the Major scale in Abersold's book 1. I may need to revisit them in the future, but for now I think I need to move on to the minor scale in Aebersold's book 1.

• Worked on memorizing my Conti chord melody forms, using my Flashcards. Getting there, using a personalized system I'm developing as I go along.

Your's Truely (Taken & Edited by Daughter)

Sick Day 2

• Yet another sick day. Went to see the doctor and was prescribed an antibiotic. Received Aebersold's second book in the mail.

• Worked on making flashcards to help help with ingraining chord melody material. 

• Went on piano for a minute or so. I'll just say it's probably a good idea I'm sticking with guitar if you get my drift.

Sick Day

Was sick today. So no exercise; did not play music either. Slept most of the day. But still looking forward to the new plan revealed in yesterday's post emphasizing Aebersold's and Conti's materials. Need to get my sunburst Epiphone fixed. I hope I feel better tomorrow. 

ROCK & ROLL

This is a lot of what Rock & Roll means to me:

http://youtu.be/ysW2RV0jU2U

GUITAR

• Rode the exercise bike for an hour. Trying to rebound from my excursion into the world of pizza and other calories last night.

• I think I'm over my brief re-entry to the piano that occurred yesterday :)

• I think it's best to devote myself to Aebersold improvisation materials for guitar. I'll get back to the guitar version of Book One, and I'm waiting for Book Two for guitar to arrive in the mail. 

• I would really like to build up my repertoire of chord melody songs that I had before (Conti's "Assembly Line" book), but I hate the memorization involved.

• Although I didn't finish the book, in my solos I can utilize what I learned from the Marc Silver book, as well as pentatonic patterns.

          •••••••• NEW PLAN •••••••

1. Aebersold stuff. Books 1 and waiting to see what Book 2 has to offer.

2.  I think I need to get back to Chord Melody on guitar using Robert Conti's "The Assembly Line" book. But rather than memorizing songs, I want to really internalize the various chords that he presents. Going to use flashcards to try to achieve that goal. Doing this to try to achieve what has been a longstanding and thus far elusive goal for me whether it be on piano or guitar: PLAYING SONGS ON THE FLY FROM A FAKE BOOK.....

Piano Friday

• Rode the bike for 1/2 hour and lifted weights. Unfortunately I had a lot of pizza.

• Started back on piano with frustration. It would be quite helpful to get rid of the ego. Started using the first Alan Swain book. I like his approach to incremental learning. Learned the first three chords, I'm up to page 5.

• This piano stuff just ain't fun. Considering bagging the piano and getting back into the guitar. I realize that this seems like I'm going back and forth without really giving the piano a chance. I just don't know if I want it that bad anymore. Especially I guess with some gains I've had with the guitar. I just do not see me focusing on both the guitar and the piano. I like focusing on one. 

The Two Measure Goal

• Feeling a little fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt getting back into the piano. What am I doing?? I won't be successful. Etc., etc., etc. But also paradoxically feel good about the change. Will have to be diligent in fighting back the inevitable oncoming frustration, and thinking that maybe there is a better method out there.

• Among other advice offered about practicing, Swain talks about learning a couple of measures at a time. Sounds good as a start. I can then build on that to add other goals to my practice after I start with the initial idea of two measure masterey. 

• My goal is not to improvise jazz piano leads. My goal is to make music at the piano playing songs.

• Feeling intimidated yet good about the change. 

• I think I got as far as I want with guitar at this point. I'll continue with my current bands, but I'm considering leaving the old time jazzy band.

MAJOR KEY CHANGE !

• Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Tempted to dive into the Sudnow Piano again. It was fun, but I had difficulty keeping up with the memorization of songs as they accumulated. But the sounds accomplished by this method are great.

The Major Key Change

• A MAJOR CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT!!

     Looks like I am being drawn back to the piano; thus I changed the name of this blog. Went through some options, and I am going to utilize Alan Swain's books.

     I may be much better on guitar than I am on piano, but I just can't help but be drawn to the sounds of the piano. Here we go !!!

      

Wednesday Alexander

• Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour. Also lifted some weights.

• Worked on the first two arpeggios in the Alexander book. For some reason(s), I like this stuff.

Alexander Book

• Burned 371 calories on the exercise bike for 1/2 hour. Have been lifting weights a bit. Weight continues to drop. 

• Decided to use the book by Joseph Alexander: "Fundamental Changes in Jazz Guitar: An In-Depth Study of Major ii V I Soloing."

• Played one octave major scales from Aebersold book. I think it's time to move on to the next page in that book.

• I'm up to the top third of p. 8 in the Alexander book.

Monday Aebersold

• Burned 356 calories in exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Lost 34.4 pounds since Jan. 5. Lost 5.6 pounds since last week. At this point, since January 5th, I'm losing weight at a rate of about 3.44 pounds per week.

• Worked on page 5 of the first Aebersold book for guitar.

• Ordered Aebersold's new edition of book 2 for guitar

Yours truly before last night's St. Patrick's Day gig. (The tie didn't stay on at gig time).

Chill Sunday

• Rode exercise bike for an hour. 

• Kind of not extremely sure where my next move musically is. Was tempted to go back to Sudnow piano method. Will probably end up getting volume two of Aebersold's book, but the guitar edition.

Here's a couple pictures of yours truly as a kid:

• Decided to go to the basics. On page 5 of the Aebersold book 1 adapted for guitar. Will in fact order book 2 for guitar.

Gig Night

I• Rode the exercise bike for an hour. I don't know how many calories I burned because the batteries in the bike are getting weak and wouldn't cooperate with giving me a reading.

• Starting to think I should focus a bit more on playing (composing!) and not just learning. 

• Gig was a memorable one; audience participation felt good! I did my Springsteen act during "Pink Cadillac" and acted the Rock & Roller during other songs like "Be Bop A Lula," and "I Saw Her Standing There." We had an outstanding woman singer who blew away everyone with songs such as "At Last," "Can't Help Falling in Love With You," and "Summertime." Pic below is of our stage (my guitar is seen in the middle):

Gig Eve

• Burned 365 calories on the exercise bike for 1/2 hour. Got off diet a bit today, but lost 33.8 pounds since Jan 5.

• An old friend sent me an audio of a guitar lesson teaching use of scales that was interesting!

• Rehearsed with the band tonight for tomorrow night's gig. A singer we have is quite talented and really sound great; she did a great version of the old standard "At Last."

• A bit mixed up with where to focus my learning regarding improvising. Again, I feel the draw of the Aebersold book, (as well as a book of scales that I have).

• Did some improvisations using different things I have learned to "The Way You Look Tonight." I made a backing track and improvised using different ideas/methods. The improv that sounded the best was when I just let go of a strict utilization of rules....

Whiplash

• Burned 367 calories on the exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Determined after feedback from others that to do a solo, it should be the Silver's book delineates: indeed change patterns dictated by the key of the CHORD AND DO NOT JUST PLAY THE PATTERNS IN THE KEY OF THE SONG. I got lucky, it seems, playing the patterns in the key of the song and not the key(s) of the chord(s) in "Over the Rainbow" because apparently the chords in that particular song are mostly in one key!

• Worked on improvising to "The Way You Look Tonight."

• Saw the movie "Whiplash" (ironically with my son) and . . . WOW......

I found it to be intense, inspiring, and thought provoking about the world of making music.

Over That Rainbow

• Burned 371 calories on exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Lost 31.2 pounds since January 5.

• Experimented using Silver's patterns to "Over the Rainbow." Instead of focusing on the key to each particular chord, though, I focused on the key to the song. Although it had its mistakes, the results sounded closer to the melody. I think it was ok.

Fairly Intense Guitar Day

• Burned 358 calories on exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Doing fairly ok with diet.

                      ---GUITAR STUFF---

I will just ramble here....tried many times to improvise over the verse to the song "What a Wonderful World." I recorded the chords being played slowly then attempted to improvise using the patterns....was unsuccessful....didn't sound good....thought I had the patterns in my head but when it came to actually playing them in a song, WOW; a world of difference as I found myself being confused. Was going to go to a different method....sent a recording to some friends for feedback which is pending...when I played it back after some time away, although it was by no stretch of the imagination a gold medal solo, there might be a seed of some good stuff there if I hang in there...just listened again....I'm liking it more....I went from being discouraged to liking it....perhaps I need to be more careful

In choosing patterns and be more patient in playing them.

Monday

• Burned 359 calories on exercise bike in 1/2 hour. Gained 1.2 pounds this week.

• Didn't practice guitar too much today but I do feel like I accomplished something important: taking it slow,I really worked on Pattern 2 in the Sulver book.

• Again, I want to sing the praises of that Silver book. Just ingraining those patterns is key. Work on ingraining the patterns rather than work on looking for another method! 

I'll Follow the Sun

• Burned 754 calories on exercise bike for an hour.

• I think a key for me using the Silver material is to really know the patterns inside and out. 

• I made a recording of me playing the Beatles' "I'll Follow the Sun" in order to practice improvisation. I like it! Here's a link to it:

https://soundcloud.com/guitarjazz/followsun-copy

• Watched part of the movie "The Buddy Holly Story." I'm thinking that part of what makes musicians successful is hard work, dedication, and a solid belief in what one is doing musically.

Saturday

• Diet did not go very well yesterday, but back on track today. Burned 766 calories on the exercise bike for an hour.

• Rehearsed with the band with which I will play a dinner/dance next week.

• Played with the Church band at Mass tonight. Went well.

• Recorded a background track for a song I'd like to try to improvise on: The Beatles' "I'll Follow the Sun."

• Tried to improvise on it using Silver's patterns, but I need to work on it. I'm used to starting and ending the patterns from the first note to the last note, but I need to know them inside and out in order to sound better.

Gig Night

• Rode exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Played a long gig tonight with the old style jazz band. Was fun. The other guitarist really is fantastic. Our lineup is two guitars, a violin, a viola, drums, bass, accordion, and a sax. Five of us sing; tonight I sang "Moonglow," and "Honey Pie." I tried playing a little improv stuff but on only the more simpler songs.

Snow / Silver Book

• Did 1/2 hour on exercise bike. 

• Lots of snow today. Thanks be to God I didn't get in an accident.

• Learning three of five patterns on p.122 of Silver book. 

• Thinking of listening to the Silver CD.

• Thinking I need to change patterns as a function of key changes during songs.

• Thinking I need to learn the chords in the Silver book to get the maximum benefit of what the book offers.

• Just got done listening to some of the CD that comes with the Silver book. It solidified that I'm on the right path with his book/CD.

            ••• CONCLUSION •••

I think my practice (at this point) needs to include three elements in the Silver book:

1) Improvising over tunes

2) Learning the chords in the book

3) Continuing going through the book learning what it has to offer.

122; 379; 1/2

• Not that I've mastered the earlier material, but I'm up to page 122 of the Silver book, which gets into new patterns.

• Feeling good about improvising. I have no financial interest at all in saying this, but it's thanks to Marc Silver's book: "Contemporary Guitar Improvistion."

• Burned 379 calories on exercise bike for 1/2 hour.

• Getting ready for some significant snow that we are supposed to get tonight.

Improvisation

• Rode the exercise bike for 1/2 hour today. 

• Interesting day for improvisation work. Instead of trying to follow instructions "to the t" (which I tried today), it seemed to actually sound better when I used the 5 Silver patterns in key with the tune I was playing. Just staying in the main key of the song (even if the song changed keys) didn't sound too bad!! (Of course I did have to change somewhat during the middle part of the song ["Over the Rainbow"]). Just following the patterns, mostly in the key of Eb, and using my ear, went well. 

• I am not done the Silver book yet; it has  some more sections. After the book, I may go back to the Ellis book to try to get that bluesy sound.

• I can also intersperse Silver's five patterns with my prior knowledge of the pentatonic scale in my improvisations.

• Making progress by being flexible!

Improvisation & the Silver Book

• Rode the exercise bike for 1/2 hour this morning. Lost 30 pounds since January 5th! 

• Did not have a lot of time to practice today, but did do some experimenting with Silver's five patterns.

• Although I am confused a bit in some of the book, I am finding it to be a goldmine. I am gonding that in these early stages of improvisation that I will need to think and plan more of what I intend to play. That's ok! I am thinking that later on, things will come more naturally.

725 Silver

• Burned 725 calories on exercise bike for one hour. (I also was on exercise bike for an hour yesterday but the bike didn't allow for a calorie count then).

• Went over material in the Silver book. I'm not sounding very good with my improvisation on "Over the Rainbow," and although I don't think I have the method wrong, I think that perhaps improvisation (paradoxically ) takes more planning (at least at my current ability level). I also think that in my current planning of the inprovisation to this song, I made some mistakes in choosing patterns. 

• My improvisation doesn't seem to have the natural flow of music. The lines, even when I choose the correct notes, do not sound the way I want them to. Sounds choppy. 

ADDENDUM

• Just tried playing an improv over the song again with corrected postion(s). Sounded somewhat better. Have to ingrain better how to go from position 5 to position 1 and vice versa.