Good Music Day

Went over repertoire; just about done with the major scale forms in the Aebersold book; started the minor scale stuff. I like the way my ReverbNation stuff (http://rvrb.fm/1xaD9l9) is going. Big practice tomorrow with about 8 people involved in trying out the Johnny Cash version of "Children Go Where I Send Thee." The plan is to practice some jazz afterwards with some of those participants. 

Sore Throat

Some time ago I focused mostly on piano. Then I got back to my first i instrument (the guitar) at the influence of a current bandmate. Anyway, he came over tonight and we had a nice practice getting ready for some Christmas gigs. Man, I am so lame taking guitar leads. Oh yea, I have a sore throat, too.

Pushing it

Wasn't really in the mood to practice, but forged on. Went over repertoire, and I'm up to page 6 of the Aebersold book. Starting to get a little itch to start a new repertoire song.

Improvisation

Played repertoire.

Learning improvisation (to me, anyway) is difficult. Better get committed to be in it for the long haul if I expect to be able to do it in a way that is personally rewarding.  Went over some major scale stuff in the Aebersold book. Tried to improvise a little over some stuff with less than satisfying results. Must realize I am still early in the game and stay committed.

Just Another Guitar Tuesday

Practiced repertoire ... worked on major scale single octaves in the Aebersold book ... good about using the Aebersold book ... worked more on the song "Children Go Where I Send Thee" (Johnny Cash style) arranging it for the Church group (practicing it this Sunday with the Church band) to play it at Christmas Eve service.

Major Shift

Decided to use the book: Volume 1 "Jazz Guitar" by Jamie Aebersold; Adapted by Corey Christiansen in order to learn inprovisation. I want to improvise! Will be playing a number of gigs in December. 

I refuse to give up on this improvisation stuff. It just does not come natural to me but I am strongly drawn to learning it. The idea of doing it successfully in a song is just to cool.

Sunday Frustration

Went through my repertoire as well some Fewell melodic extentions. Very frustrated.

Saturday PreChristmas

IPlayed gig at Christmas Church get together. It was something of an indoor flea market, and we provided the music for it. My most fun part was singing the Springsteen version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as well as the Chuck Berry version of "Run Rudolph Run." Played really in three different bands. The first was the rock and roll band, the second was the band with an added guitar player who has a great singing crooner voice. I played acoustic guitar and sang "Blue Christmas" in the third band which was the gypsy band. That was probably my last gig with the gypsy band. It's not very fun for me, and I'd rather devote my musical energies elsewhere. 

The gig was kind of fun, but Christmas songs can be kind of boring. The audience was pretty much not responsive, but we were there for background music and not the main attraction. 

Came home and collapsed for a nap. Did practice my guitar: my repertoire and Frwell melodic extensions. Might be getting close to trying improvising utilizing the things I've learned from the Fewell book.

Setting up

Tonight will be traveling to bring some gear to where we will be playing tomorrow's gig. Looking forward mostly to playing Springsteen's version of "Merry Christmas Baby." 

More Melodic Extensiions

If you are reading this and interested in hearing some of my original songs, check me out on ReverbNation. Once on that site, I can be found by searching for: The Shortwave Radio Band. Check the sight periodically because new songs will be added. Right now it only has two songs.

Looking forward to Saturday's gig at our Church social hall. 

Good practice day; went over repertoire and melodic extensions. Up to page 27 in the Fewell Improv book. Looking ahead in the book, it looks like inext in line is actually applying the learned melodic extensions in an improvisational exercise.

Nice Tuesday

Went over repertoire; went over melodic extensions; up to page 25 of the Fewell book of major melodic extensions. Good day of practice.

Sunday Plan

First, let's go over what I did musically today: went over repertoire, reviewed my melodic extensions in the circle of 5ths forwards and backwards, and started to get back into chapter 3 of the Fewell book. 

Made another plan to help me with this jazz learning stuff:

1) Will continue to utilize Garrison Fewell's "Jazz Improvisation for Guitar: A Melodic Approach." Generally up to chapter 3 currently.

2) Decided that maybe using another approach can add to my repertoire of what I can do with regards to improvisation. Decided to try to use Jamie Aebersold's Volume 1 Jazz Guitar, Adapted by Corey Christianson.

3) Thinking that maybe learning to read music may be helpful. I know how to read in the first position, but it might be quite helpful to learn to read in other positions. Utilizing "Music Reading for Guitar: The Complete Method" by David Oaks.

4) Will continue to use the concepts in Robert Conti's "The Assembly Line" if wanting to figure out a chord melody arrangement of a song.

Not sure if I can commit to all of that, but I'll try. The priorities will be the Fewell, Aebersold books, and my chord melody repertoire.

Of course, I will also stay in the rock & roll

band.

Philadelphia Eagles win today!

Trying to get better with my health stuff  but with results not entirely successful.

Guitar!

Back to the guitar! Yesterday's temptation to go back to piano instead has subsided, at least for now! Determined I will learn to improvise over jazz standards! Went over my repertoire today, and also played a set of melodic extensions utilizing the circle of fifths forwards and backwards. Played acoustic guitar also at Mass tonight.