Guitar / Bass / Piano

Will be playing in a trio for a wedding ceremony in a couple of weeks, and today we had a practice. Sounded nice. I’m on mostly guitar but play bass on “Ave Maria.” Another in the trio plays harp and aerophone. The other in the trio is a singer / piano player.

Actually practiced some piano, too. I think when I start struggling on piano, I too quickly want to give up. Went through Lesson 7 today, and just too a little fighting through. 

Struggle

Struggling with piano. But will keep moving on. 

Routine

Just a routine day of some practicing guitar and piano; nothing spectacular. Trying to learn a guitar solo on “My Favorite Things;” finding its needing work, but I’m getting there. Would like to use more of a variety of the pentatonic shapes than what I’m used to. 

Working on lesson 7 on the piano. Challenging trying to learn the right and left patterns when they are both doing something different. 

Good music day

Practiced some stuff related to learning “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Up to lesson 7 on the piano.

Ah ha

A little teachable a ha moment tonight. I’ve been having a lot of trouble learning a particular piano piece. But then I gave it a closer look … it was using a very easy pattern, when utilized, really made the piece easier to learn. Interesting how easily I saw the piece as being more daunting than it really was. 

All Over the Place -

Playing guitar at Mass next Sunday.

Jazz band still going forward. 

Pop band going forward.

Piano was off to a somewhat slow start, but going forward.

JAZZ BAND would be nice if I can map out some solos (probably will do that) and learn to play melodies in positions other than the first.

POP BAND - just have to remember the structure of tunes so we are all on the same page.

PIANO - will do this at my own pace / no rushing / no perfection in Everything. (Up to learning some stock chords).

Piano

Making slow head way in the piano learning. A bit of a learning curve involved in navigating how to course is organized, but I’m getting there.

Piano

First day of starting new piano course. Doing ok!

P I A N O

Still playing guitar. Bought a piano course today.

G u I t a r

Spent a controversial amount of time this weekend practicing guitar. Band practice this weekend went well; I get to sing Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby.” Using a different strategy for soloing that uses:

1. Considering using some modes to the pentatonic shapes.

2. Instead of shifting shapes each time the chords of a song change, I found it easier to play (and sound better) by changing the pentatonic shapes less frequently.

3. Interesting playing a corresponding scale that is the minor (if the song calls for a major) or major (if the song calls for a minor) of the given chord. 

Oh yea …. and still may sign up for piano lessons (on-line). 🤷‍♀️ 

Blah

Made a recording of “All the Things You Are,” chord melody style and then added a solo. Listened back to it, and decided the solo just wasn’t what I wanted to sound like. So I deleted the solo. What was left, the chord melody, wasn’t so great, but it was ok.

Again, it’s just a reminder that I have to actually rehearse the solos … work on them … not at the point where I can solo on the fly. Difficult changing pentatonic patterns quickly within the constraints of the chords.

Had a little dental work. Yesterday I lost a filling from eating candy. And I’m still dealing with a loose top tooth. Long story short: got the filling work, but putting the front tooth repair on hold due to $.

Nice Saturday

Was up about 5:45 AM with the dogs. Picked up guitar than and practiced chord melody song. Back to sleep then went to band practice. Good practice there today. I’m singing that old great song “Hey Baby,” and also “Heartbreak Hotel.” Also did done work on the CCR song “Down on the Corner.” Spent some time after that working up the chord melody song: “All the Things You Are.” Almost done it. It’s taking some work!! Still haunted by a wish to play piano, but the side of me that hesitates is still winning.

Another

Another good practice day. Went over scales (a little), but spent more time relearning chord melody to “All the Things You Are.”

Good Practice

Good practice day. Not a lot of quantity time, but put some good time in. Back to my notes to relearn “All the Things You Are” chord melody style. Sounding good. Went over some scale stuff too.