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Post by delb0y on Sept 4, 2024 10:19:47 GMT
Starting this month I've set some specific monthly goals for my playing. This was as a result of my listing everything I worked on / played / fooled with / generally messed about on in August, and I realised that not only had I already forgotten three quarters of it by the end of the month, I'd actually forgotten I even did three-quarters of it by the end of the month. I figured that was no way to improve, so some specific goals it was. I'm not sure if I've set too many, too few, whether or not there's enough variety to keep me interested, and whether or not I'll stick to the plan. We shall see.
Anyway, one of the longer term goals is to improve my right hand picking technique. I've set some specific exercises this month in this regard. Also I've started recording and (in this case) filming practice sessions to I can get a better idea of where I really am in some of these areas. The video below is an example of this. I'm focussing on trying to keep the right hand efficient and swinging (I have some role models whom I watch on YT and whom I'm trying to emulate). I've been working on this for a number of years and it's really hard to break decades of bad habits, but I do think I'm slowly edging forwards. Here I'm playing some standard licks that I've played on this tune (and others) before, and interestingly (or not) you can see how the right hand falls apart when I get lost or try something new. All that said, I'm actually pleased with this and with the progress being made.
I might use this thread to post about other progress, and if anyone's interested in my monthly goals / progress etc then let me know.
Derek
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 4, 2024 11:29:20 GMT
... I might use this thread to post about other progress, and if anyone's interested in my monthly goals / progress etc then let me know.... Derek That would be excellent, Derek - I admire your dedication - all the best with setting realistic goals and achieving them! Keith
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 92
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Sept 4, 2024 19:34:48 GMT
Go for it Derek, you are more focussed than I am.
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Post by delb0y on Sept 4, 2024 19:54:14 GMT
I've always been intrigued by the stories of musicians who at some point in their lives were able to practice ten, twelve, even fourteen hours a day for years. Most of the players I admire, be they flatpickers, fingerpickers, or jazz cats have done this. I could never figure out how they worked / went to school / paid their mortgage etc etc whilst going this. Well, I could figure it out, I guess. But anyway, I suppose I was envious. I'm still not in a position to do anything like that, nor would I be able to, physically or dedication-wise, but I am in a position, for the first time in my life, to be able to play for several hours a day, and I guess I just want to make the most of this opportunity. Hence this latest plan...
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Post by scorpiodog on Sept 5, 2024 8:50:38 GMT
;i, too, admire your focus. I'm afraid I don't do anything as organised as this.
In fact, all too often I go through the doldrums of despair and find it hard to summon the enthusiasm to pick up a guitar at all. I think (hope!) I'm coming to the end of one of those periods now.
If it wasn't for regular small gigs, which I always rehearse, I probably wouldn't have played at all since June.
Where ever do you get your dedication and joy of playing, Derek?
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Post by borborygmus on Sept 5, 2024 10:12:50 GMT
In fact, all too often I go through the doldrums of despair and find it hard to summon the enthusiasm to pick up a guitar at all. I think (hope!) I'm coming to the end of one of those periods now. At the Fretboard Summit in Chicago last month, I saw Tony Polecastro give a talk about breaking out of your guitar rut. I don't agree with everything he said, but YMMV. Here is some video from a few years back where he goes over similar ground. This may or may not be helpful! Best wishes for your playing, Peter
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Post by delb0y on Sept 5, 2024 11:23:51 GMT
Where ever do you get your dedication and joy of playing, Derek? Ha! I really don't know. My better half would probably describe it as a personality disorder. I guess I really enjoy listening to music and I love those moments when it really hits one deep inside, and I suppose I just want to know what the secret is, and to be allowed to join the club, as it were. "I want to be able to do that" is probably the driving force behind any dedication I might have. Peter Straub (one of my favourite authors) was a great jazz fan and he once said he admired people who did difficult things well. I suppose that's part of it, too. When I hear someone play something that moves me I also realise that it's taken a lifetime of dedication for them to be able to do that. That in itself is a moving, and wonderful, thing. I will never be like that, but it's nice to tinker around the edges, as it were. Derek
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 92
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Sept 6, 2024 9:50:47 GMT
At home I usually manage a good hour a day, if the wife is out it can be much more, but none of it is structured. Probably my biggest failing with this six string addiction.
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Post by delb0y on Sept 6, 2024 12:34:16 GMT
I use a Samson G Track Pro USB mic for my recording. I plug it straight into my laptop. I've always simply set it to "Cardiod" mode as that was the mode the instructions suggested would be most useful for normal recording. I also usually compromise the position of the microphone in order to get video without the camera in shot. Anyway, this morning I thought I'd try the other modes (and also set it nice and close to the guitar). So here we have the same thing played in the same position first using my normal "Cardiod" setting, then "Omni" (whatever that is) and finally "Fig 8" which I can recall the book saying was useful if you were, say, interviewing someone and wanted the microphone to pick up from both sides. soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14843616The "Fig 8" setting sounds so much richer to me. Don't know why I've never tried this before. I guess it's picking up some sound reflections from the room. Here's the whole piece played with this setting with a tiny bit of tweaking. soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14843617EDIT: one big issue I always have us making a piece of music sound good through headphones / phones / laptop etc. The above judgement was made whilst listening through headphones. I've come to a different conclusion when listening on the cheapest of phones. What's a poor boy to do?
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Post by 3chordtrick on Sept 12, 2024 13:52:46 GMT
At home I usually manage a good hour a day, if the wife is out it can be much more, but none of it is structured. Probably my biggest failing with this six string addiction. You and me both I think,I wake up in the morning ( no, not a song lyric..) and look forward to playing some guitar after doing all the chores around the house, but I’m not organised enough to set myself learning targets,as all my guitars are in different tunings,so I enjoy noodling around,playing sometimes a rough total of around three hours a day, or learning to play something that a jam friend and I are working on to play when we meet,which is usually once a week,when he has the time,I really wish I could find other players in my area to jam with though, it’s a musical desert where I am,plenty of open mikes to attend,but that has never appealed to me.
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 92
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Sept 13, 2024 4:00:17 GMT
As I am no longer in a band I am just playing for me, no targets, songs to learn or gigs to prepare for. It is great therapy though.
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Post by Mike Fowler on Sept 29, 2024 20:54:20 GMT
I keep trackers in a journal.
One is for technique pieces. Little exercises, whether they be part of other tunes or little exercises in themselves.
The other is new/ and developed material.
The other (largest by far) is performance pieces, divided roughly into steel string pieces and the nylon strung pieces.
I have to get that organised because I seldom have enough time to play and have to make the odd half hour or even ten minutes, count.
I'm lucky if I get four hours a week these days. Nerve injury, work, household obligations etc etc. They all conspire to thwart me I'm sure. 🥴
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Post by delb0y on Sept 30, 2024 12:57:12 GMT
Just doing a review of how I got on with my goals this month. It's been interesting. I wonder if, for someone such as myself who tends to go off on guitar distractions too easily, maybe I should set fortnightly goals rather than monthly? I might try that this time. Still need to think about it.
I did achieve most of what I set out to do, but fell short in a few instances. But there are reasons - and these are those aforementioned distractions. On reflection, I should have seen the distractions coming.
Firstly, I'm playing a bit of guitar for a drummer friend of mine who wants to make an album. That's taking a fair bit of time as he only plays a few basic chords so I'm having to sit down and try and work out what the songs in his head really "look" like. It's challenging, but, to be fair, the very first track he's completed sounds absolutely stonking! I can't wait for the project to be finished and to be able to share some of it.
Secondly, I also had a Swing 23 gig at the end of the month for which I had to practice a fair bit. As it turns out the gig was a very well received evening with lots of drunken people up and dancing and enjoying themselves whilst at the same time being possibly the gig I've least enjoyed in my life, and may very well have been the final nail in my gigging career. We shall see.
Lastly, I'd neglected to include any Gypsy Jazz in my September goals and that became a big distraction because I couldn't go a whole month without playing and learning some Django. This was exacerbated by Francis making contact to say he'd completed the build on his Maccaferri style guitar...
So I do feel I took a few steps forward in September, but I think I need to be a bit stricter with myself, and also to be more careful about my goals.
Anyway, now to ponder on the next month (or fortnight)...
Derek
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Post by NikGnashers on Sept 30, 2024 15:01:32 GMT
I have been playing an hour every night as usual after work, but now I am playing plugged into an amp and using a mic too, in order to get me comfortable with amplification.
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Post by delb0y on Sept 30, 2024 15:07:31 GMT
I have been playing an hour every night as usual after work, but now I am playing plugged into an amp and using a mic too, in order to get me comfortable with amplification. Long ago I learned to practice as I would play at a gig - so standing, with a mic, and the guitar (and vocals) going through an amplifier. It definitely helped when it came to gig time.
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