Sudnow Method

On my travels yesterday I had a chance to listen again to my Sudnow Method CDs. And yes, I'm returning to his method. Some things I'll have to address, sooner or later, though: 1)Impatience. Impatience in trying to get a song learned quickly and recorded quickly so I can move on quickly. This impatience has resulted in songs played with pauses and hesitations that were ugly. SOLUTIONS: Dont let anyone hear any recordings for at least a year. Take your time. Do not move on to another song until the present song is practically perfect. And by practically perfect, I mean going at a pace that would be practically perfect too. Take your time with memorization. If it means putting off new songs, than put off new songs till later. No Rush.Do not worry about 'where will this lead me after 15 songs.'Just do it and we'll see later where it leads.

Still Floating Around

Will probably stay in the band I'm in and go back to some utilization of Sudnow's piano ideas. Might just do a little Beatles stuff with our keyboard player, and that is what may find itself in the band. Still might go for songwriting stuff....meeting with Mick tomorrow regarding songwriting and guitar stuff. Trying to see the WHO in Philly in December.

In Flux

Have a wedding to play in two weeks.... May be leaving the band....to focus on Beatles / songs of the 60's duet ..... don't feel excited by the band anymore and we seem to be getting no place very fast ..... Songwriting is in a drought.....thinking of piano (again).....may get together with Mick on Sunday....

Practice

Practiced two out of four major scale patterns from the scale book. Can hear the critic already: "You gonna remember all these scales? No way!" Will hang in there! Worked a lot recently on assembling material for our acoustic Beatles duo.

Theory + The Duet + The Beatles

Worked on some of the Barrett book today. Also working on getting songs ready for an acoustic duo I'm in focusing on Beatles songs and songs from that time period. Got an interesting Rolling Stone magazine yesterday focusing on the 100 best guitarists. I don't understand how Lennon and Harrison were included but McCartney wasn't. I could maybe excuse them for only including Harrison, but if you include Lennon, McCartney better be there too.

Theory

Contemplating seeing The Who perform ""Quadrophenia."Still trying to learn more theory work using the "Guitar Fretboard Workbook" by Barrett Tagliarino. Currently on page 20. So much to learn: not only general music theory but also fretboard knowledge...

Theory

While on vacation, I'm learning and soaking up all I can about music theory in theory in a great little book, "Pocket Music Theory," by Keith Wyatt and Carl Schroeder. They really give an easy way of learning the different sharps and flats of each key; I guess some call it the circle of 5ths or something like that - I never understood it until I saw it presented in this book, and they don't even use the term "circle." I anticipate that things will get more and more complicated as the book goes on, but I also anticipate it will be quite helpful stuff, too. On page 24 of about 172 pages. From my experience, too many music books just leave me lost in the wilderness of confusion. This book intends to keep it practical, and that's what I need.

GarageBand

Amazed by technology.... Recorded this by plugging my guitar into the iPad (using the iRig)and using GarageBand. https://www.box.com/shared/035e04e66f7888916776

Scales

Sent away for an inexpensive music theory book....also gonna learn this book: "The Guitarist's Scale Book" by Peter Vogl.

July 25, 2012

The two original songs? Not good enough. But won't give up. Got a beautiful white PRS guitar today in a trade...

Song #2

Working on song #2 with the lyricist.... Getting into guitar again ....

S o n g

Looks like a song the lyricist and I have been working on has a chance of being demoed soon.... Then possibly off to publishers.... Excited!

July 16, 2012

Couple of things: 1. Saw Roger Waters perform "The Wall" on July 14th...wow!!! Great show, great message, and what made it even better was I got to bond with my son by bringing him to the show. Great time in the car listening to Pink Floyd and the Beatles too. 2. Might be adding a drummer to the band....

July 7, 2012

Had a good time last nite playing with the band for about 34 senior citizens in a retirement type home. Was great: they seemed quite appreciative, and they seemed to enjoy us. That's what sharing music is about. Might be auditioning a drummer soon.

E X P A N S I O N

Been working with a successful lyricist. We've been working on an original, and he suggests it's about 90% ready to be sent to publishers for consideration; needs some polish. Also putting my toes in the water with regards to possibly joining a band. The present band I'm in has a gig tomorrow as well as a gig sometime next week. Been looking at guitars on line....(sigh....) Listened to the latest Beach Boys album yesterday, and today doing some listening to Springsteen's Wild, Innocent, and E Street Shuffle album.