Hendrix

Never really got into Hendrix.....until today. Listening to Electric Ladyland....
Voodoo Child just blows me away. It is a spritual song to me .... Talks to me about the sheer power and strength of just being myself ... Must listen to more Hendrix....

Worked a bit more about the second major pattern today, and learned some more chords in the Baker book.

Cool Guitar Day

Used a Lead Guitar Method book, but had great results for unintended reasons....this book has some chord progressions on the CD, and, to make a long story short, I realized some interesring things about scales. The major scales sound great over songs in major keys, but do not sound that great in bluesey chord changes. Working on major pattern number 2, and learned more chords from the Baker book.

It will be great practice to play leads to the backing CD tracks on the Lead Guitar book.

Went to Mass today....interesting Scripture readings that seemed to focus on trusting God. Wish I had more faith, and I wish I could live my faith better.

Gave my son his first guitar lesson from his dad tonight!

I'm not impressed . . .

...with my guitar playing tonight.

Practiced playing in our trio, and my lead playing sure leaves a lot to be desired. And my strat needs a set-up. I thought it'd be OK to play the major chord scale when playing a progression in that key, but it sure didn't sound that great. I think its time to dive into the lead guitar book.....

A frustrating experience when it came to my playing tonight, although it was fun playing the songs.

electric work vs acoustic soul

Decided to not uee the scale book (at least not at this point) because I think the Fretbook Workbook is more comprehensive (when discussing the major scale, at least). Worked today on memorizing the major scale pattern based on the first pattern. Worked also on adding some new chord stuff from the Baker book. Used the electric for this stuff. Hooked up my digital delay, and wassn't impressed. Tempted to try to trade the digital delay for a flanger, but we'll see...

Picked up the acoustic and found out I missed it! Has a fleeting thought of getting rid of the electric with its companion amp and getting a quality acoustic and focusing just on acoustic. Ha. For now, I think my soul needs for me to work more on acoustic stuff. So I reinstated the Fingerstyle book in my learning.

Decided also that instead of shelling out the cash to pay a teacher to teach my son the guitar, I'll do it! It might help our relationship, too.

practice, practice, practice

GUITAR PRACTICE
Up to chapter 5 of the fretboard book / learning chords in the Baker book / learned one major chord shape.... It was enjoyable, but too fatigued to do more.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICE
Hard to put Christianity into daily practice....the idealism felt in night during reading diminishes during life in the front lines the next day . . .

The Learning Plan

Got my American Stratocaster last week and I'm ready to roll. Here's my current learning plan, using the "Musician's Practice Planner" (a kind of notebook which lists weekly goals on on the left side of the notebook and a sheet on the right side on which I'll list what was specifically practiced each day). See the column on the right side of this page to see the exact titles of the books I'm using. Here's this week's goals:

1) Scale Book: learn the 5 major scale patterns on p 6.
2) Baker Book: learn the chords on p.5.
3) Chord Tone Book: learn up to p.15.
4) Prepare for Wedding gig by learning the Canon
OTHER: Consider working on reading blues method book for fun / work on fretbook book

I've been reading the Bonhoeffer book, and I'm enjoying it. Challenging to live a faith fulled life...

Valentine's Eve, 2011

Been looking around to trade in my Ibanez for a Fender American Strat. I think that would suit me more than the Ibanez. Have one I might trade for from a guy online, but the one that mostly has my interest is from a guy I hopefully will be meeting on Thursday.

From a spiritual point of view, I've been reading "The Lamb's Supper" by Scott Hahn, and its really helping me understand the Mass.

A Lot to Learn...

Been working on memorizing some chords in the Mickey Baker book....on p.12 of the finger picking book. Looks like I'll be playing some solo fingerpicking stuff in a wedding soon. Still looking for the Method of Methods that teaches lead guitar; for now, trying to stay with the chord tone soloing book. Theres a lot to learn. Also working on the Learning the Fretboard book.

"Canyon Canon"

Here's my first recording here, shakey as it may be!  Its from the Mark Hanson book, and its called "Canyon Canon."  Here it is:
Canyon Canon (Link)

Taking the Leap

Last night, I practiced with our trio, and it was fun doing "Memphis." Today, it will be time to take the leap and start the new Fingerpicking book....stay tuned for an addendum....Been liking Chet Atkins recently!
Addendum
Ok, so what if I put a dang mark on the guitar changing strings. And so what if changing the strings was a pain. The guitar just sounds beautuful. Worked on the Fingerpicking Book, and it was fun. A couple more parts, and I'll be done the first song.

So Much!

Got my Takamine yesterday! Nice! It has a beautiful reminder of me of my very first guitar I had as a kid....

But there is SO MUCH to learn! I'll rehearse tonight with our trio, and that should be fun. Getting ready to play a Mardi Gras gig.

Spirituality

There's perhaps two ways of looking at this that may not be mutually exclusive. Zen guitar may say that I am to put my whole heart and soul into playing everything on order to celebrate the spirit of my soul and heart. And to play in harmony with others with courage, persistance, and selflessness.

Christianity may say that the whole purpose of living is to glorify Jesus. To die to self and to live for Him.

Again, perhaps they aren't mutually exclusive.... Perhaps one can accept first of all that the purpose of life is to glorify Jesus. Perhaps I can put my whole heart and soul into glorifying Him, and thus my music can be an extension of glorifying Him. Even in play with others I can focus on the others. Frustration in learning associated with the ego of the internal criric can be replaced with compassion, selflessness, and courage.

Its not about me, but its about the music. And the music is about the glory of God.

Post 2

I have an Ibanez Artcore AS103. Tomorrow I should be getting a Takamine GS330S in the mail... So many thongs to learn and do with the guitar...I'm currently in a band with a bassist/sax player and another guitarist/mandolin player....I'd love to do some Django stuff with them..currently we play some jazz, pop, and blues. I'd also love to learn fingerpicking and how to read music better...(in more than just the first position). Currently I have a lot of learning material that I can go through: a book on learning lead, a jazz book, a fingerpicking book, and I'm soon to receive a gypsy jazz book. Stay posted.