Piano Improvisation Guitar Improvisation

Working on developing some stuff regarding guitar improvisation. Seemed like I paid more attention to the time I used in my piano method book. Almost finished chapter 2. Tonight I worked on a blues improvisation in the key of C.

20 Health

Up to page 20 in the piano book. After some days of slipping off of my diet, I'm doing better today. 

Still wishing there was a simple way of remembering chord melody chords for guitar.

Lennon

 

Music

Up to page 19 in the piano book; much yet to review in this chapter, though. Struggled with trying to come up with a method (using a couple that  I have) of attempting to simplify the playing of chord melody guitar. Nothing there is clicking. I can play a song chord melody style, but it takes a lot of preparation and practice. 

Took my son on the long drive back to college today and really enjoyed his company! (Photos of us in his dorm room before I left him are below). Listened to some music in the car together including Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," Boards of Canada, Fleet Foxes (Loved it!), some "Sgt Pepper" some "Five Leaves Left" by Nick Drake. The Dylan left me underwhelmed, though it was interesting to hear my son discussing Dylan's lyrics. I really should listen to more Nick Drake than just the "Pink Moon" album that I have. The Fleet Foxes really impressed me.

I started my ride home listening to some Bill Evans, Art Tatum, and Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. I was not really getting into any of it, except the Bill Evans. I couldn't get far into listening to any of it, except I did play the Bill Evans CD straight through. I'm just not a fan of nonmelodic stuff or what sounds to me anyway, of mere technical prowess. 

Then I started listening to some cool music I saved on my phone.  I played "LJ Plays the Beatles" by Laurence Jubar and loved it. Imagine driving home with a huge sun setting and hearing "Here Comes the Sun" played by Juber kick in. 

Needless to say, the thought of me playing fantastic piano or fantastic guitar after hearing this stuff sure entered my mind....

But that's ok. I'll continue to work on mostly the piano book. Not going to complicate things by working on guitar chord melody.

As I approached home, I started blasting some great music! I BLASTED parts of "Trampled Underfoot," "Kashmir," and "Custard Pie" off of Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" CD. Even got in some Rolling Stones: "Slave" (oh man, that 7th chord in there right before the sax solo is Rock & Roll heaven!), "Bitch," and lastly, some of "Moonlight Mile."

Now, time for bed. Hoping that LaLa Land wins for Best Movie and a bunch of Oscars tonight.

 

 

That idea

That idea I had in the post below? Didn't work for me.

Wait.

💡

So far, with regards to the guitar chords I'm learning, there are only two strings on which the root is based.

As my daughter would say..... "Wait..."

💡

There HAS to be a system of sorts for figuring out the scale degrees in a guitar chord based on using as anchors its root and on what string the root is located. Just as on piano there are ways of using anchors to determine scale degrees, there MUST be an easier way by utilizing root anchors rather than relying on rote memorization .This would help immensely in learning chord melody guitar style. More to follow...

18

Up to page 18 in the piano book. Guitar is calling me again, though. 

Being able to quickly and easily determine where various scale degrees are near chords is a challenge, but seemingly very helpful in song play, be it chord melody guitar or piano.

My son is home for the weekend, and we both enjoyed the movie, "Get Out." I was showing him some guitar stuff to help him with his guitar playing, and I told him not to be intimidated by the material. Great advice that I need to remember in my own continuing learning of piano and guitar.

Sunset

Two pictures taken by my youngest daughter tonight:

 

 

17

Time to move on to the last piece on page 17 of the piano book. Tempted to get a New Age piano teaching book but I'm not sure. Really messed up my diet in a big way today. 

My son is home for the weekend and we may see a movie tomorrow. Band practice also going on tomorrow for a St. Patrick's Day gig.

17

Up to page 17 in the piano book. Learned a new scale and some application of it.  Pretty soon it looks like I'll be tested on my knowledge of all the material learned. That's ok. I'm really enjoying this most recent "piano journey of me." No hurrying, just doing what I can when I can.

16

Ok so I'm ok now with pressing on in the piano book to page 16. Learned two blues scales in two keys and their application; one more key to go before moving to a new section of the book. Still really liking this book. 

Weight

Lost 18.8 pounds since December 21, 2016. Not bad. 

Candle Piano

 

Practice

Practice today on the piano did not lead me to yet turn to page 16. That's ok.

Just a nibble of interest in my Gibson for sale. Probably would regret selling it, but I'm really drawn to getting a quality acoustic guitar. 

Liking John Fahey.

Psycho

 

 

Another Victory For the Piano

Well, I now have both of my electric guitars for sale. (I'll keep one if the other sells). Kind of a big move putting my Gibson for sale, but when the urge hits, well, I move on it. If I ever sell one of them, I'll probably start saving for a Martin or other higher end acoustic guitar.....or, shall I say it? Possibly an acoustic piano.

Yep, the piano has sure gotten a hold on me again. I think what's really helped is the piano book that I am working out of. It seems very concise and extremely powerful.

Worked on the first of two exercises on page 15, and I'm going to challenge myself tomorrow to work on the second exercise on this page (again, moving on when I feel it's ok to).

Score: Piano 1 / Guitar 0

An overall good day of music practicing. Tried to get some serious guitar practice in, and I gave it a try. But did not quite click.

Went to the piano. Up to page 15 of the piano book. Really enjoying just taking it slow, but allowing myself to move forward in the book without expecting ultra-super-duper perfection. 

Interesting how the piano continues to hold my interest despite my skill level on it vs the guitar. 

Tomorrow will make four years since my mom died.

Sunday

 

 

Piano Saturday

Up to the second of two pieces on p. 14 of the Caruso Book. Today just seemed to go so quickly. 

Played electric guitar at Mass, but I think we could have sounded better if I was on acoustic. We seemed to miss a bottom sound that the acoustic guitar would have provided. Playing the guitar only reinforced to me the good move that I am making in concentrating on learning piano. 

Yesterday

Yesterday was my youngest's 15th birthday!

 

 

 

Piano!

A little musical soul searching went on recently. Decided to switch back to the guitar. But then it happened. Instraed of practicing the guitar, I went right to my piano and practiced a good deal there.

To what extent should I stick with what is more comfortable (guitar) and learn more there? Or should I really stretch myself into more more uncomfortable territory (piano)?

I think the answer (for today, anyway), is focusing my time on what I love best regardless of my ability there. So I'm sticking with the piano still, and my utilization of the Caruso Book. I trust that a very careful and patient utilization of this method will get me a lot closer eventually to where I want to be.

The SOUNDS are what are important to me. The SOUNDS of the piano really touch my soul at this part of my life more so than the sounds of the guitar. The SOUND of a piano playing a song really gets me more the sound of a guitar playing even the same notes to the song. 

Decision made. Will carry on!

Nothing to See Here

 

Piano & Guitar

So I bought a new guitar course. This one is on chord melody. But I remain firmly committed to learning the piano. On learning days there is only so much time that I can devote to a piano exercise. So I can shift to the chord melody material.

This is kind of novel to me, working on piano and guitar, but let's see how it works out!

Continued to work on the Caruso Book tonight and looked at some of the chord melody material. 

Sick Day II

Another sick day today, but did get some piano practice in. Moving to a different key. Things getting a bit complicated, but I'm hanging in there. The more information I get, the more I wonder how much I'll be able to keep in my brains and fingers. Just doing it. 

Sick Day

Dad a bad cold today, and spent most of the day sleeping. Up to a new set of exercises in the Caruso Book on p. 14. Getting a little confusing now as more information is added, but I am not giving up. Wondering if  if I should go back to use the Sussman material in addition to the Caruso Book in order to work on song play as well as improvisation. 

Movin On

Up to page 13 in the piano book. I think I might not be doing myself any favors by staying on a piano lesson too long. 

Had a photoshoot for our band today. Went well. 

I think that I am getting ill, though....nose, coughing, etc.

Oh yea, I saw the movie "Split" last night and thought it was good. I think it tried a bit too hard to say a bit too much, though. 

Still loving "LaLa Land" is the best movie that I've seen in awhile. Jazz.....dreams.....!!!!!

Turned the Page

I seem to be getting the hang of what I'm doing in the Caruso Book. Turned the page, and I'm playing the material better. I'm up to page 12, and even playing the first piece on that page. Going well. 

Zoey

 

Some Snow

 

Keeping' the Faith

Good piano practice squeezed in today. I believe I underestimate my potential to learn the piano. Making good progress in the piano book; not quite ready to go to page 12 yet in the Caruso Book.  

Listened to some Christian radio (David Jeremiah) on the way home from work today, and the message was that God loves us. It was a good listen. Will have to check out the website for Pastor Jetemiah's book. Catholicism makes sense to me, but the rules and guidelines sometimes don't sit well with me. Add to that, my experiences with nuns and priests.... I wonder if I was brought up as a Protestant if I would then convert to Catholicism. 

Went back to reading the book "Half Time." We will probably get a significant amount of snow tomorrow, so if I don't go to work, I'll be reading that and practicing piano.

I'm keepin' the faith with my health habits; lost 14.8 pounds since December 30th. 

Piano Snow

Spent a lot of time today at the piano on the last exercise on page 11. I'm getting there; having no expectations and just doing the work is helpful.

There's a chance we might get some snow tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to that.

Glad that people are using their voices to protest Trump. Shows me that apathy isn't winning.

Dad

 

Page 11

Ok so I think it's now time to move to the last section of p. 11 in the piano book. Two chords were giving me some trouble, but I think it's time to move on.

Still taking part in more healthy habits. The weight loss is going slow and with some backsliding, but it's happening.

Visited my dad yesterday, and as a result, had some sadness. He's 90 years old, a survivor of the Great Depression, is one of nine children, a solid Catholic, and he did what he could in providing for his family (my mom, my brother, and myself). His heart broke when my mom suffered with dementia and Alzymers and ultimately died four years ago this month. I don't like when he seems to have hurt feelings. 

Page 11

Ok so I'm learning the second (and final) exercise on page 11, when I realize that I messed up with the first exercise by missing a chord. No problem, but back to the first exercise again! 

Made a little recording of me playing "Scarborough Fair," but I realize that it was mostly probably a method of avoiding piano practice!

Was a little tempted to go back to just sing learning on piano, but I think the path I'm on now is best.

Despite some backtracks, overall, I'm still also taking better care of my health. Went to the eye Doctor today, and found out that the reason why I need a new prescription for my glasses is because my vision has improved!