Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 27, 2016 at 8:19am

I love 3 and 4 strings, it just happened that things clicked with the four I think. I'm a swine for playing whatever I've built most recently so I've been playing with the four string. The whole clicking thing was simply the 12-bar blues and how it's structured. I've always thought that the theory was useless to me and I just wanted to play but it's surprising how that theory sticks in the mind and helps the practical fall into place. I was watching a YouTube video and copying chord for chord what I was being taught. I'd paused the video to practice what had already been taught and next thing I know I'm adding bits in here, changing tiny things there. I'd have kept on playing all night if it hadn't been dinner time!

You're absolutely right though that CBG really is an absolute eye opener. I know you say things haven't clicked for you yet but maybe that's because it was a gradual thing having played from so young. I'm sure you'd put me to shame with your playing, positive in fact!

Thanks for replying, Wayfinder. Always there with a listening ear and an offer of advice or just plain shooting the breeze.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 28, 2016 at 7:53am

As far as the technical understandings starting to click it was this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmD-KZ5uPbs&index=5&list=PL...

I settled on A C# E A and followed on from the link on the video to this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyns3bs561A&index=6&list=PL...

Granted I had to watch it six or seven times for things to start falling into place with the playing/application, lots of starting and pausing too, but it was worth the investment and getting into the right frame of mind. Hopefully it'll help others as well.

Permalink Reply by Blind Lemon Cello on March 27, 2016 at 8:15am

I'm always learning every time I pick up an axe. I sometimes record myself with just audio & or video, with a  focus on my hands. Nice to listen & watch yourself play and learn from your mistakes. 

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 27, 2016 at 8:22am

I'm thinking of doing the recording with audio in the next day or two so hopefully I'll be able to do the same learning from the mistakes. I'm sure there's hundreds of things I'm doing wrong, it'll just be a case of understanding enough to recognise the mistakes and then having enough knowledge of how to fix them all! haha

Thanks for replying, Blind Lemon Cello.

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on March 27, 2016 at 9:17am

Congrats Bear, that's great! I haven't reached the "click " yet on the blues, but eager to get there. Makes things a lot of fun when that happens.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 28, 2016 at 2:41am

It's just the simple stuff like the structure of a 12-bar blues, how to resolve on the root note, what is and where is the root note, capo usage after finally starting to remember the note names, understanding that the nut is actually creating the first chord when playing an open tuning, letting the emotion of the song dictate whether the next bar requires higher in tone or lower rather than aimlessly wandering up and down the neck. Simple stuff. Simple but mind-blowingly exciting. Thanks for the congrats, MadGomer.

Permalink Reply by Nigel McTrustry on March 27, 2016 at 12:22pm

That's awesome Bear!

Great you can play what you are hearing in your head. That's where it's at!

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 28, 2016 at 2:43am

Thanks, Nigel. Just need to keep on devouring music by others as much as I practice myself. Just like in learning English, it's all well and good being able to string a few sentences together but I need to have the vocabulary to progress?

Permalink Reply by Graham Wedepohl on March 27, 2016 at 12:27pm

Still waiting too

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 28, 2016 at 2:44am

It'll come Graham. I hope you get your bolt of lightning soon. Thanks for commenting.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on March 27, 2016 at 3:16pm

As Wayfinder said, I'm still waiting for it to click.  My biggest problem is I never seem to have time to sit and pick long enough for the light to come on.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 28, 2016 at 2:46am

Getting the time can be an issue for many but it's always getting the inclination to pick up the instrument for me. Too many distractions in today's digital and instantaneous day and age. Maybe I need to turn Buddhist and devote myself to the CBG until I achieve total enlightenment! :D

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