Update

Will soon be starting a new on-line guitar course regarding improvisation. Today I happened to come across my chord melody sheet made up for “All the Things You Are,” and worked on bringing that tune back.  

Christmas, 2023

Christmas Morning, 2023!! 

Music Day

A day of music. 

In the morning went through a little guitar stuff.

Then played with the band at an old firehouse; really good time. 

Then tonight there was a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Mass. 

More ideas

Ideas (Update):

1. Work through the Blues book. (Actually started it again recently).

2. Work on reading music in different guitar positions.

3. Work with this website: Here’s a game changer—- found on line a site in which you can plug in chords, and it will generate scales that can be used to play over the chords. Tried it tonight and ….. and……and…..it works! Played a little improv over “What Child is This,” and it worked! A true GAME CHANGER!

4. Chord melody songs

5. Sudnow Method for piano.

Some ideas

1) Learn to read music for the guitar in positions other than the first position.

2. Use the Chord Tone Soloing book.

3. Use the Blues book.

4. Use the Charlie Christian book

5. Develop chord melody for songs 

Back-to-back

Had a Christmas gig Saturday with the band at an old fire house / museum. Then another Christmas gig today for “Breakfast With Santa” at the Church. Some take-always:

1. My improvisations / solos need to be better. 

2. Today was the public debut of using my Telecaster, and I like it.

Gig

This guitar stuff trying to learn Charlie Christian patterns is all good, but not the be-all-and-end-all to sounding like him.

Neither are scales Music. Seems like what needs to be done is using making Music out of the shapes and scales.

Played a good gig with the band today in an old fire station /museum. They also had toy trains set up:

Look out

Here’s part of a text message that I sent a friend:

“…EUREKA!!! Just recently had a EUREKA moment. I LOVE the sounds of the first real electric guitar jazz giant Charlie Christian. He utilized chord shapes in developing solos. Hmmm instead of learning “jazz arpeggios,” why not use the chord shapes that he used and of which I have some books that cover the shapes?! Chord shapes contain arpeggios, I’m thinking, and maybe I can be closer to his sound using them!

Weekend will bring 2 Christmas shows with the band. Saturday will play at a Fire House, and Sunday playing at a Christmas Church function.

Improvisation

I don’t want to be a jazz guitar player. Instead I would just want to IMPROVISE. That’s music to me: being able to express oneself in a way that doesn’t use language. You can do that with the visual arts too, but I prefer sounds.

Going thru my books trying to figure out how I can do that! Found a site that might help.

Stay tuned ….

Beaver Moon

November 27, 2023

Topsy Turvy

Trying to learn sbout what scales to play over chords and I’m not getting there (yet). I can play the modes pretty well, but I’m still not sure about when they are played. Went back on piano for a bit. Guitar - piano

Thanksgiving Eve, 2023

Found out yesterday that my aunt passed away yesterday morning. Feels weird. On my mom’s side there was my mom, my uncle, and my aunt. They have all passed away. My dad and all of his eight siblings have also passed away…

Had a nice time with guitar this evening. Got a music book in the mail, and played around with “Christmas Time is Here” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Was nice. 

Happy Thanksgiving / 2023

Modes

A friend got me into how to use the modes a different way and it’s opening sone doors. Needs practice of course!

Not a great music day

Fumbled through attempting guitar improvisation and piano tonight. Regarding guitar improvisation, difficult for me to determine what modes are associated with the chord changes. Played piano very briefly and fumbled. 

1. Learn circle of fifths in order to LEARN HOW MANY SHARPS AND FLATS ARE IN EACH KEY.

2. Then write out the chords for each key using:

M m m M Dom7 m m7b5.

Guitar

Ok so I haven’t practiced piano. That’s ok; guitar has been calling. Tried to do some learning regarding modes. I know how to play them, but some questions remain:

1) When they are spaced out over the length of the fretboard, can it be said that: the X mode (major scale mode), is the same thing as the Y mode elsewhere on the fretboard using my Improv book’s idea as a guide?

2) So if the answer to (2) above is yes, and I’m thinking it is yes, can I substitute the Major pattern with a different pattern elsewhere on the fretboard, i.e., instead of only playing the major scale mode in a particular key, can I start in a different mode elsewhere on the fretboard as long as I use the counting technique?

3) What is a good procedure for figuring out what scale goes with non-diatonic chords in a progression? [It has something to do with the notes in the non-diatonic chord(s)]. 

Listened to some examples that I found on-line, and the ones I listened to were quite good! 

All the Things You Are 🎹

Continued to work on “All the Things You Are,” and it is sounding quite nice with those Sudnow voicings.

Finding out, and this may be something to expect in the future, that a significant amount of time at the beginning of practice is spent going over what I previously learned. 

Also finding out what I knew already: No Need to Rush Learning a Song. I may not get to 52 songs in a year (hahahahaha!), but that’s ok. Just want to stick with this. Daily! 

Sudnow Piano

Working on “All the Things You Are” mostly using the Sudnow Method. Must say that I am absolutely enthralled by the music that materializes as a result of the Sudnow Method. It just keeps drawing me back. In this tune, I’m also using a “closed voicing” for a particular Bbm7 chord. Maybe I’m about halfway done with this tune. I don’t think I’ll use the “Method” for the whole song; may use some regular chords. 

Just thinking out loud here. Why get another piano course?? This is how I want to sound. For songs that need less color tones, I can always just use “less color tones.” Wouldn’t it be great to work on this challenge: figure out one song per week. Try to keep at least three ready to play at all times; using sheet music or not. 

But I wonder what will happen if I work on one per week… Some guidelines:

1. Keep three in hand at all times even if using sheet music to look at while playing…

2. It is likely that some  of the songs learned will not exclusively use the Sudnow Method. Will not be held to a perfectionistic expectation of just using his stuff. The emphasis will be on balancing:

Sudnow’s Method with Sounding Good.

3. Learn the closed voicings.

In the past, I focused on using his method about 99% of the time for each song, and I’m not sure that was the best idea. Here I’ll focus on using the method as a foundation for the songs, but understanding that there are other ways of sounding good.

Piano / guitar / piano

Played a Christmas gig with the full band this morning for a sales event. First set was really good. Bass/aerophone player, me (guitar), and drummer later played a jazz Christmas set that went ok. My solos need work. Second set of band music did not go as well as the first. Came home, later tried piano with disappointing results. Hmmmmm. 🤷 

The good news is that I went to piano later today, relaxed, and liked the way “All the Things You Are” is happening. Doing it Sudnow style, but may vere off during the song and do sone other style, then arrive back using Suds’ voicings. 👍 

Blah blah blah

Stopped piano lessons today. Thinking about doing piano just for fun now, using the Sudnow stuff. Thinking of getting deeper into blues guitar.

Still wondering

Still wondering if I will stop piano lessons. Focus on guitar? 

Blues guitar? Focus on just enjoying the guitar rather than learning more than what I know? Learn to read music in other positions other than the first on guitar? Chord melody on guitar?????

Will I feel relief or remorse if I stop piano lessons? 

Am I selling myself short regarding my piano potential?

Ouch

Got back to piano tonight and things weren’t clicking. I haven’t practiced in awhile and perhaps that had something to do with it. Losing patience.

The Latest

Long story short:

Will go back to piano lessons with my teacher. But things will be changed a bit. Instead of having a lesson every two weeks, I’ll be having lessons once per month. (This will lesson the cost). Having monthly lessons instead of biweekly will also reduce the amount of pressure felt to learn my lesson. Feels ok; not looking forward to the pressure of learning, but also feels ok because I think in the future I would have regretted giving up the piano. 

If I could only turn off these negative thoughts that I have about me learning piano…

To try to do piano and guitar.

Big Music Day

Stopped piano lessons. Not feeling it. But…. I traded in my stratocaster (which I never bonded with) for a telecaster. Loving it.

Trust the Process

Practiced piano. Diatonic scale stuff in C & F, Dom7 chord drill, worked on the song “Loving You” adding thirds to Right hand as well as open chords to major chords. Trust the process. 

Ok

Ok so I practiced piano today. I think part of what I don’t like about practicing is that prior to doing it, I think it’s too difficult. Psych myself out. Be nice to remember that practice had never been so bad as originally thought. Proved that maybe I CAN do what is asked of me for piano homework. 

Scale stuff, diatonic chord stuff, song stuff was practiced today. And it wasn’t so bad afterall.

W o r k I n g

Not a lot of piano playing today; more like learning. Trying to remember the maj7 chords … while trying to make the dominant 7th chords. Trying to make sense out of the chords in the diatonic scale; I think that’s coming along. Tempted to quit piano, but I think I’d regret it.

Bought some blues guitar stuff yesterday. Practiced Christmas music with the band today. 

Figure it out!

Practiced some chord stuff today as well as some song play. Somewhat confused: trying to mix open and closed voicings; sometimes turning the major into a maj7 doesn’t sound right; also, in min7 chords what do I play in terms of the 7th: the seventh or the lowered 7th? I think I can figure it out (using google!). 

Eventually will try to learn “Try to Remember” using open and closed voicings as well as learning it in three keys. A lot to work on. Tempted to purchase some blues instructional guitar stuff. 

🎹 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎹 🎸 

Ready

Started practicing my newest homework. A little confusing but I think I’ll get it. A lot to learn! 

Piano lesson

What I was hoping for occurred: my piano lesson today helped with motivation. Teacher was impressed with my maj7 chords. Received help with what I should practice. 

I can do this. 🎹 

It’s Getting Better All the Time

Ok the goal was to play all the maj7 chords in 24 seconds. Here’s what I got (of completed attempts):

First attempt -     6 minutes

Second attempt-  3 minutes

Third attempt-     1 minute 25 seconds

Fourth attempt-   1 minute 16 seconds

Fifth attempt-      58 seconds

Sixth attempt -     56 seconds

Seventh attempt - 49 seconds

Eighth attempt-    46 seconds

Hey I’ll take it!!

Piano

Continue to woodshed on those maj7 chords. Negative thinking creeps in with a bunch of self-doubt issues: I’m I really going to get this? You aren’t talented enough. You’re too old. Stay with guitsr. Get your stratocaster out and play blues. You’ll only play elementary arrangements. Etc., etc., etc. Maybe get a jolt of motivation as a result of my next lesson…

Christmas & the Woodshed

Practiced with the band for Christmas shows. Here is my go - to:

Also got some woodshedding in with piano practice. Trying to get those major7th chords in my fingers. It’s definitely woodshedding for me as I’d like to really get better with regards to switching chords quickly. 

Can feel the “stick to guitar and stop the piano” thoughts creeping in; nevertheless want to push forward on the piano.

Time away

No piano again today. Will have to get back at it this weekend. 

Christmas Jazz

 No piano today. From work, I went over to the drummer’s home, and our jazz trio practiced jazz Christmas songs. Thinking about guitar.

Woodshed

The progress is crawling but it’s progressing. Really like the idea of playing songs with open voicings on the piano

Woodshed

Learned a lesson today. Don’t try to play a chord exercise until you first know the chords. Snuck some piano practice in tonight.

Woodshed

Actually making some progress getting those maj7 chords. 

Woodshed

Continue to work on maj 7 chords. Difficult ! 

Cool that my son came for a visit. Here he is with Millie, Oliver, and Carl Jung.

Woodshed

A long term goal is to play a set of 12 chords in 24 seconds. My first attempt ended up with me playing the chords in about 6 minutes. Second attempt: a little more than 3 minutes. Not giving up. 

Thought I’d memorize the 3rds of each chord. So I thought I had that down. But the practicality of using that in a helpful way when I sat at the piano, was shown to be null.

Kind of got an idea (taking advantage that some chords share a particular shape) was to see what chords fit a set of chords. So it’s working somewhat for the following major 7th chords: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab Db.

 It seems to be helping. 🎹 

Woodshed

Didn’t practice long. Got through the Maj7 open position chords for all 12 keys once. The goal is to do that in 24 seconds. Let’s just say I didn’t hit my goal yet. 😂 

Woodshed

Dealing with learning open major 7th chords. So far: C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab. Takes time to do this woodshedding.

Woodshed

Played no piano songs today. Just learning some open chords (C, F, Bb) and 9th arpeggios (C, F, Bb). Started slow but then gained some traction. I should add in there: scales and surprise endings.

Piano Lesson

Piano lesson today helped with motivation. If I was still trying to teach myself, I’d probably have given up. 

Piano?

Consistent with this saying: “Jack of all trades, master of none,” it’s kind of like my piano work. Nothing that I play sounds really great; there’s a lot on my piano plate, but it’s like knowing a little here, a little there….but not feeling like I mastered a lot.

Piano lesson tomorrow.

Yuck

Yucky piano day. Wasn’t really into it. Fumbling fingers. Tried to record something, but it would have sounded bad. My daughter took care of two giant dogs:

Music

Practiced some Christmas music today with the band. Sounding pretty good! 

I like practicing pian ONCE I STARY. The problem is getting myself to just SIT DOWN AND START. To all those people who have communicated: “Best to practice a little each day, rather than marathon practice sessions, they are correct (to me). 

Practiced a little bit of scales scales (playing backwards remains challenging to me). Continue to work on songs.

P I a n o

Managed to get some practice time in today. Again, it was somewhat difficult to get started, but once I did, things went well. 

Music

Went through songs, scales, an arpeggio that used the 9th, and an song ending technique. Continue to work on “Misty,” but I’m adding in an arpeggio and the ending technique. Fully immersed in the piano now, going from one thing to another….. 

Will be playing guitar with the band at a fundraiser for the Church. We’ll be playing Christmas music. It’s a five piece band. When the band takes a break, I’ll be joining a subset of the five piece band, and we’ll focus on Christmas music played in a jazz style. So I’ll be picking up the guitar again. But I won’t let it interfere with my piano work!

Been thinking about my Stratocaster….

Practice practice practice

Did I say “practice?” It was a good piano day. Playing my songs (none played perfectly) and worked on “Misty.” So far my (not perfectly played by a long shot) repertoire 😁 is:

Misty

Embraceable You

All My Loving

Fly Me to the Moon

Try to Remember

More

Lovin’ You

Friday Nite

A good practice today. Relaxed. Things came together in a good way: songs, scales, a new ending device. Felt good to play this evening even though I almost did not practice.

Interesting

Again … didn’t feel like practicing piano…. negativity shows it’s ugly head …. but then I practiced and felt good about it. Challenging!!

A book I’ve had for awhile. Read some of it in the past, I think it will help with the negativity associated with my piano frustrations:

Keep swimming

Went to practice tonight and it started off with frustration. Got better. Worked on “Embraceable You’ as I keep forgetting certain parts of it. Worked on a technique to finish the song with a surprise ending. 

More piano

Practiced some song stuff today as well as a couple scales. Feels to be too much working on a bunch of things!

Music Day

Practiced a lot of piano today. Songs, a scale, and chords that use four fingers. Then tonight the band and I (on guitar) played a kind of rock and roll show for older folks. Here was the set list;

Caught myself

In practicing piano yesterday I caught myself just playing through a song and not sounding very good; it’s better to learn a little at a time.

Piano Fight

Practice did not go too smoothly today, but I persevered and was able to see it through. Practiced just songs today. Did not go completely through my repertoire, but it was ok. Frustrating when I forget how to play what I thought I had down better. 

Eagles Piano

Watched the season opener of the Philadelphia Eagles. We won, but, let’s just say it wasn’t our best game.

Got a lot of songs to work on piano. Did some of some of them today. Fighting with the major scales in some keys. 

Very good practice

Very good piano practice today. Major scales forward and back, chord drill, and working on the first three lines or so in a number of songs.

A Little Night Practice

Thought I might not practice tonight, but I managed to get some in. Trying to learn and/or get in my fingers some songs. Did a little bit of that tonight. It would be great to practice longer! I still kind of don’t want to practice, but once I start doing so, I’m liking it.

Practicing with the band tomorrow for a gig we’ll be playing soon at a place for older folks. I’ll be playing guitar, and singing at least two songs tomorrow: Be-Bop-A-Lula and Johnny B. Goode.

As a kid I used to go to Wildwood, NJ for summer vacations. Here’s a picture that reminds me of what Wildwood looked like many years ago. I hate(d) rides, but I used to go on “The Pirate Ship” and “The Golden Nugget” as seen in the picture below. As a kid, I really liked going on the boardwalk.

Selling myself short

Thought I was going to be overwhelmed and not successful in practicing this time. But surprised myself in that it went really well. Interesting how songs once learned can come back after working on them a bit. Would like to be building something of a repertoire. It’s not memorizing but training the self to get the fingers into the groove. Teacher suggested that I go back and keep songs after learning them rather than just letting them go until learning another. Worked on that today with “Fly Me to the Moon” as well as “All My Loving.” Went well!

Piano Lesson

Got a lot to work on. Four finger chords. Keeping songs in my fingers. Perhaps new songs. I’m up for it. 

Piano Lesson Tomorrow

Piano lesson is tomorrow. Still not grasping how to finger some of the  the major scales going backwards. 

Practice

Practice playing things SLOWLY.

A good day of practice today. Felt good at the piano. For this week’s homework, I can play “All My Loving,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Tru to To Remember.” Doing those dang scales still. Oh yea, “Try to Remember” is the one I’m using some theory with, as well some ear stuff. 

Saw the movie “Oppenheimer” today for the second time. Really intriguing. I have the book, but have not gotten to far in it yet. Complex story and it’s just so interesting to see this brilliant man, who is working to help the USA win the war, finds himself on the defensive as the USA goes back attacking him. Can just imagine the anguish he may have felt building such a weapon. 

Last Day of Vacation

Worked a lot on the piano today. Fly Me to the Moon, All My Loving, and some other one using my ear that I don’t remember the name of. Continue to battle with scales (mostly playing them backwards). Piano, piano, piano. 🎹 

Home

Back from vacation. Had some issues when car battery didn’t work. Got home and later got frustrated with piano (though learned something).

Tattoo You

So here we are on vacation in MD and it was decided that we all get the same tattoo. My wife got a smaller one, though. 

Family Vacation, 2023, Maryland

First time in awhile, my wife, myself, and out three adult children are on vacation together. 

Trump

This whole thing about Donald Trump is fascinating. Here’s a guy who tried to change election results, yet he still has so many people in his corner. The GOP debate was last night, and many of the Presidential hopefuls raised their hands when asked if they would support Trump if he is convicted. Wow… his mugshot was taken today, and I was going to post it here, but I decided that I didn’t want to lessen the value of this blog my putting it here.

Piano thoughts

Came to something of a resolution today. Here are some thoughts I’m having now related to that.  I’m not going to be a famous pianist. I’m probably not going to have my ultimate goal met  which is playing piano in a restaurant gig. Having questions about how good I can get in how much time. But I think I’m finally coming close to knowing what “enjoy the PROCESS” means. Spent MUCH time learning “All My Loving” today. And I got to thinking that all this practice, and I’ll probably forget how to play this song. I’m fearful of playing “Embraceable You” now because I don’t want the experience of not being able to play a song that I recently learned! But just going back to the piano a lot today…. I guess doing what I’m doing with piano is really a good thing even if I don’t teach the “ultimate” goals I mentioned earlier. It’s simply a wonderful way of NOT WASTING time…a nice way of keeping my brain working as I am getting older.

All My Loving

Worked on that Beatles tube “All My Loving” today. Continued work on scales. 

Piano Frustrations

Worked on some frustrations I was having today regarding my piano playing. Long story short is that I was criticizing my playing; however, I think I may have figured out what was a contributing factor.

I have to work on developing more patience with my learning process. This is only the first day that I started on new material, so of course I’m not going to sound great! 

Just accept that it’s ok to take it slow…

Piano Lesson

🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 

A really good piano lesson today. Trying to take it all in. Realized that I probably spent too much time on “Embraceable You,” and not enough time on drills, scales, that kind of stuff. Started organizing my practice time today with some time to be spent learning songs (he gave me three today!), an some time on scales, theory and ear training. Getting there.

🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 🎹 

Wildwood Visit, 2023

Visiting an old friend in Wildwood today. Went with my brother. Really nice time. Spent some time on his boat during which I was somewhat nervous but it was quite wonderful.  Interestingly, met up with his brother who is taking piano lessons. Was really feeling good during my talking with him in that he is a guitar player too, but he used the same word I used in talking about the piano: “beautiful” I used the same word when my teacher asked me why I would want to play piano when I already play guitar. Told him the piano just sounded “beautiful” Nice to know there’s another guy out there not too far from my age learning piano. Went to Mack’s Pizza (the BEST). 

Piano

Still at it and liking it. Yep I get tempted to get back to learning the guitar deeper, but the I sit at the piano and it feels so right. 

Saw the movie Oppenheimer recently and loved it. So weird how it is true. Bought the book today.

29

Happy 29th wedding anniversary to me and my wife!

Had a cool piano day. Recently my piano teacher texted me what was a pop quiz question; luckily I got it right!

H a p p y F r I d a y

Ok seeing a little pattern perhaps. Not feeling like practicing piano … then practicing anyway (despite the feeling)… leads to positive feelings. Saw that again today. 

Forty

Was tired this evening but got in about 40 minutes of piano practice. Glad I did it. Added a few more measures to the main song I’m learning, went over maj, min, aug, sus4, and dim chords. Also worked on playing by ear to the 1-6-2-5 progression. I’m liking this routine of practicing daily.

Health wise, continuing to work on keeping my blood sugar in an acceptable range (diabetes II). 

p i a n o

Confused about thirds….  Went to the piano and started a new version of “Embraceable You,” and had some negativity. But I forged on and it turned into being something quite enjoyable. Maybe this stuff is stuff I can do.

Music Day

Played at Mass today with the Church group. Acoustic guitar. I wanted to do How Great Thou Art like gospel music; upbeat. We ended up doing it straight and boring.

I practiced piano a lot today and continue to work on Ebraceable You. Sounding better than the version below, but not by much. Recording really does help; identified in playing it back how stilted I sound; that’s ok for now! As I worked on it, there is one line that I’m finding difficult. Dealing with that by trying to memorize it. 

Update on the kids. Oldest is now 26, middle one is 23, and youngest one is 21. There is now an empty nest, except for the two doggies, Oliver and Millie. 

Dealing with diabetes now, and glucose levels. 

Embraceable You / (Take 1)

Getting there:

https://soundcloud.com/guitarjazz/my-song-48

Ok Piano

Almost didn’t practice today, but it turned out to be a productive one. Worked on two songs, scales, chords. 

IF YOU (Me) BUILD IT (Practice) IT (Piano Playing) WILL COME 

Musicians…

Piano

A little practice today in day 3. Added a new song, worked a little on that and “Embraceable You.” Scales, major, minor, augmented, diminished triads. Must keep momentum!

Piano Practice 2

Day 2 of piano practice. Did my chords, scales, and continue to work on “Embraceable You.” I like how it was relaxing yet challenging. Thinking that if I just put in the time, then the results will come in time. It’s not my job to race ahead… my job is to Put In The Time.

PUT IN THE TIME

Put in the time focused on quality, and the results will come in time. 

P I A N O 2023

Ok so I guess I’m full circle here. Can’t get the piano out of my system yet. Started lessons (again). Started yesterday with an excellent teacher! Started yesterday, and had my first practice session this evening. Working on a song (Embraceable You), working on triads (major, minor, augmented, sus4, diminished), to work on some major scale fingerings (forward and back), learning how to use diatonic harmony to help remember songs, etc. 

IM BACK !! 

Time to Piano

Starting piano lessons again, using the chord approach. First lesson to be July 25. Taking lessons online from someone who I took lessons before years ago. 

June Gig, 2023