May 2013
3 posts
Style Guide, Vol 19.
This week, I think I’ll attempt Behind Blue Eyes and hopefully practice Sunshine of your Love.
Last week, same old, same old.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Greensleeve, Tears in Heaven, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Rain Song. Possibly Wish you were here.
Style Guide, Vol 18.
This week I’m still practicing Layla, possibly Strawberry Fields and parts of Shine on you Crazy Diamond, although that’s a really intricate song.
Last week, I got to play on stage, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, I need to work on lyrics though. Big jam at open mic too.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Greensleeve, Tears in Heaven, While My Guitar Gently...
April 2013
5 posts
Style Guide, Vol 17.
This week, I’ll be practicing Layla and Bell Bottom Blues on the guitar and Comfortably Numb on the piano.
Last week, I practiced a bit of the above songs and Space Oddity. Open mic could have been better but it could have been worse, so whatever. I also revamped a chord progression to make it more bluesy.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Greensleeve, Tears...
Style Guide, Vol 16.
This week, I plan on learning a bit more of Bell Bottom Blues.
Last week, I was practicing Layla and Bell Bottom Blues, as well as a bit of Stairway to Heaven and Space Oddity.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Greensleeve, Tears in Heaven, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Rain Song.
Style Guide, Vol 15.
This week, I plan on practicing Layla and probably Moonlight Sonata, but it is a very long song.
Last week, I got down Greensleeves and I was practicing a few transitions in Brain Damage I don’t have perfectly.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Greensleeve, Tears in Heaven, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Rain Song.
Style Guide, Vol 14.
This week, I’ve been practicing Layla, it’s not as difficult as I once thought, but it might take me a bit of time to get down, I’ve more or less got the opening down. The chorus has a syncopated bassline, so it might take a bit of time to gt it as the book suggests, but I think it’ll be groovy if I can get that down.
This week, I think I will practice a bit of...
March 2013
6 posts
Style Guide, Vol 13.
Another week of practicing, I learned the end to The Rain Song last week, hopefully I can practice that and Sunshine of your Love, but I’ve had a busy week working.
This week, I’ll attempt to learn Layla. I want to play another Clapton song. Also practice blues and chord soloing.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Tears in Heaven, While My Guitar Gently...
Style Guide, Vol 12.
Last week, nothing too much happened, I just practiced all my songs.
This week, I’m practicing the solo to Sunshine of Your Love. I’m also learning the ending to The Rain Song. I just went to open mic and that went quite well. Everything is easier and I’m not as nervous.
Current set list for Open Mic: Breathe, Brain Damage, Eclipse, Tears in Heaven, While My Guitar Gently...
Style Guide, Vol 11.
So last week, I installed the new machine heads and tremolo springs, best investment ever, my guitar will star in tune for day. This week, I’m polishing up Breathe and adding it to my list of song I play on Open mics regularly. I also want to practice Comfortably Nub on the keyboard, but let’s see how that goes. I’m also finishing the solo to Sunshine of your Love.
Last week...
Style Guide, Vol 10.
So this week, I’ve started practicing playing Another Brick in the Wall, part II. It’s a fun song in D minor. Also, I am getting new machine heads for my guitar, so I will be able to practice those solos I’ve yet to practice.
Last week, I practiced a lot of my scalar runs, had a groovy jam session with the bass, and had fun with the instruments I used, even a bit of the drums.
Style Guide, Vol 9.
This week, I’ve been practicing Rain Song and I’m working on two progressions so I won’t be behind. I also plan on replacing my machine heads.my Dean Custom, because it detunes too fast.
This week, two progressions, and maybe TIme by Pink Floyd.
White coworker: You're really good at this job but I gotta admit it still bothers me when people like you come to this country & take jobs from real Americans.
Me: Where do you think I'm from?
Coworker: I don't know what you are, but I know you're something. What are you?
Me: Native American.
Coworker: Oh... then I guess you didn't come here, huh?
February 2013
4 posts
Style Guide, Vol. 8
So, last week, I practiced Stairway to Heaven, Space Oddity, and really all my songs that I play on a regular basis. This week, I think I’ll get back to some Black Sabbath songs, namely N.I.B. and Iron Man. I’ve also been playing The Rain Song but it is in a totally weird tuning that messes up my guitar’s standard tuning so badly. I also made up two progressions last week, so...
Style Guide, Vol. 7
This week, I must work a little more on psychedelic progressions, although, I did make two for this week. I have been working a bit with both Stairway to Heaven and Space Oddity. I’ve cranked up my metronome to 80 bpm as far as alternate picking is concerned but I’m still working on my hammer-ons and pull-offs.
This week, I want to see if I can make a long series of chord...
Style Guide, Vol. 6
So this week, I’m still working on a psychedelic chord progression, I don’t have a clear understanding of arpeggios in context with progressions, so it’s making it a bit difficult. I have also been using a metronome to play scales and arpeggios. I have been working on my pull-offs and hammer-ons as well as sweep picking. My hammer-ons have in fact become way more audible. I...
Style Guide, Vol. 5
So this week, I plan on making a psychedelic chord progression. I’ve been working extensively on blues chord progressions on the keyboard. I’ve also been working on speed on my guitar and even started using a metronome.
Last week, not only have I practice speed, but my 5 normal songs for open mic. I’m hoping to work on pull-offs and hammer-ons to increasy my playing speed.
January 2013
4 posts
Style Guide, Vol. 4
This week, I’ve yet to make a chord progression, but hopefully by the end of the day, I will have something. Right now, I am practicing for an open mic on Weds. I plan on doing at least Tears in Heaven, Breathe, Brain Damage and Eclipse. Hopefully if I have time, I can learn the lyrics and the one progression to While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
Last week, I practiced a lot of my music and...
Style Guide, Vol. 3
So this week I am planning on working on chord substitution, either embellishing or simplifying chords and reharmonization, the process of replacing a chord with another compatible chord in a diatonic key. I made a chord progression last week, and plan to do another one this week. I feel I’m one behind though, so I will most likely make two this week hopefully.
I did in fact work on While...
Style Guide, Vol. 2
So this week, I’m trying to learn chord augmentation as well as reharmonization and chord substitution. Fancy words, far more simple then it sounds.
Still working on While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Layla…
Style Guide, Vol. 1
Hey, it’s the first Sunday of the year. I’ve decided to renovate my traveler’s log and make it a style guide. This year, I’ve decided to develop a jazz-blues style. I’m also going to make a chord progression every week, although I probably won’t post it up here. I’ll also post what I’m doing.
This week, I’m developing the basics, I read...
December 2012
4 posts
Traveler's log, vol 52.
Last traveler’s log of the year, I think I’ll change up the format quite a bit next year, I want to ultimately do more recording and live playing. This week I’ve been working on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Layla and Sunshine of Your Love, nothing too major.
I’m just going to work on my singing and playing this week.
Traveler's log, vol 51.
So this week, I’v been practicing the acoustic version of Layla and Sunshine of my Love. That’s going pretty well. I’m also Playing Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin. I need to find tabs for Layla and Dazed and Confused for accuracy.
Last week, I’ve been practicing the usual and working on harmonics on the 5th and 7th fret.
Traveler's log, vol 50.
It’s getting close to the end of the year, this week, I want to continue working on Sunshine of Your Love, and Great Gig. Space Oddity will probably get some time too.
Last week, practiced the songs I know, and bought a pair of condenser mikes and repaired my preamp, so when I practice with my guitar amp, I can hear myself and sing on key, although those mikes might cause feedback because...
Traveler's log, vol 49.
So, this week I plan on practicing Space Oddity a bit and maybe singing, but it has 2 vocals so, it might not progress far. I have the strange urge to Practice Time by Pink Floyd, so that might happen. Hopefully I get around to practicing the solo to Sunshine of my Love, but I lost my tuner, which interestingly enough, makes me less likely to practice.
Last week, just practiced Tears in Heaven...
November 2012
4 posts
Traveler's log, vol 48.
So this week I’m practicing my songs and working specifically on Sunshine of your Love’s solo, Great Gig and Eclipse, which I’ve practically learned. Also I’m researching recording and starting to purchase recording equipment, just purchased a 1080p web camera, next I think I’ll get an interface. Hopefully by February, I’ll be able to at least record, albeit...
Traveler's log, vol 47.
So this week, I’ve been practicing Great Gig in the Sky, that’s coming along, as well as singing and playing Brain Damage + Eclipse, which is coming along nicely. I’ve practiced Sunshine of your Love and progressing further, and maintaining Tears in Heaven and Breathe. I’m ready for an open mic, although, singing might be a bit rough this week.
This week, I hope to...
Traveler's Log, vol 46.
So just got a new digital piano, a Privia PX400R, and I’m in love with it. I’ve been practicing Great Gig in the Sky, which is coming along well. My biggest issue is that the bass notes are heavily syncopated at parts, but that will come with practice. Also loaded a video on...
Traveler's log, vol 45.
So, this week I’ll probably practice Brain Damage and Sunshine of your Love, possibly Eclipse. I’ve actually become quite efficient at Brain Damage, save that Bm7 chord in the chorus, that’ll probably give me issues for a while. I’m also singing and playing. Hopefully I can practice Wish You Were Here, I know it and would like to practice singing and playing that, but I...
October 2012
4 posts
Traveler's log, vol 44.
So, this week, I’ve been practicing Singing and playing a lot. Tears in Heaven is the best, followed by Breathe, which I did at open mic, then a bit of Space Oddity. I’ve also been practicing (and singing) Brain Damage, and I might practice Eclipse.
Last week practiced my harmonica a bit and I still am.
Traveler's log, vol 43.
I’m still practicing Sunshine of your Love, I’ve also been practicing the Harmonica part for Mary Jane’s Last Dance.
I still need to practice Space Oddity and Tears in Heaven more.
Traveler's log, vol 42.
So, still working on Sunshine of Your Love, its going quite well actually, about half way done the solo, although it really isn’t that hard to play, it’s just the memorizing part that gets me. Everything else I put on the side for now.
I practiced my staple songs last week, although I think i need to practice Tears in Heaven and Space Oddity a bit more this week. And since I have...
Traveler's log, vol 41.
So this week I’m attempting to finish learning Sunshine of Your Love and practice more of I’m Tore Down. I want to practice Greensleeves also. Maybe the main parts to White Room will be practiced.
Last week, I practiced Sunshine of Your Love incessantly until I got the chord changes right and I got it. In addition, I’ve learned between 1/4-1/3 of the solo, so that’s...
Traveler's log, vol 40.
This week, I’m continuing to practice blues, specifically Eric Clapton’s version of I’m Tore Down. I’m also trying to get Sunshine of Your Love in tempo, I might practice White Room too.
I did practice I’m Tore Down last week, I never got a chance to Practice Greensleeves. I’ll probably practice my 4 songs I know well, Breathe, Tears in Heaven, space Oddity...
September 2012
5 posts
Traveler's log, vol 39.
So this week, I want to practice blues. I don’t know much about the blues but all my favourite guitarist started out in blues, such as David Gilmour and Eric Clapton. Also classical, such as Richie Blackmore. I think I’ll attempt to learn I’m Tore Down this week. I’ll practice Greensleeves since I do like that song.
Last week was amazing, first I played Breathe at open...
Traveler's log, vol 38.
So this week, I’m refreshing my repertoire, I’m finding i forget music easily, especially solos, so I’ve been practicing Smoke on the Water, Breathe, Space Oddity and Tears in Heaven until I memorize them. Also working on that outro to SOTW.
At least from last week, I’ve been practicing SOTW.
Traveler’s log, vol 37.
So, this week, I’ve started practicing the solo to White room and practiced a bit on the solos to Smoke on the Water, Iron Man and N.I.B. I also learning the Outro to SOTW, don’t know how I missed that. I’m also setting my RP355 too. I want to practice the Main riff to Thunderstruck this week.
Last week I’ve really just been practicing Space Oddity and Tears in Heaven....
Traveler’s log, vol 36.
Last week I learned the solo to Tears in Heaven, wasn’t hard at all, but I’m pretty bad at the bridge, so I’ll need to practice that, also the ending needs to be learned to… Ok jam session this week, I plan on making more chord progressions to jam to.
This week I want to become better at sweep picking. I need to work on making some more chord progressions. I need to get...
August 2012
5 posts
Traveler's log, vol 35.
Time is ticking away. It’s already been 35 weeks. So last week was a very successful week. I had a jam session at an open mic. I learned a few things and showed off a bit of my singing/soloing skills. Also the music was my conceptual idea. I learned what I can do for an intro and the importance an also to make an ending, oops. I got a huge complement on the sound of my semi-hollow...
Traveler's log, vol 34.
This week, I’m working extremely hard to learn Hey You by Pink Floyd. Hopefully I make it but I’m running low on time. After Weds, I’ll work on Tears in Heaven. I also played Space Oddity at the bar, it was fun.
I’ve only been working on Hey You mostly last week.
Traveler's log, vol 33.
So this week, I’m learning how to play Tears in Heaven. I’ve actually become very good at it, because it uses fingerstyle, something I’m somewhat new at, I just need to learn more of the song. I’m hoping to learn a solo this week and practice the old ones. I also need to learn my lydian scale, I’ve just been extremely busy.
Last week, I learned all of Space...
Traveler's log, vol 32.
This week, I plan on learning the Lydian scale and work on my lead work and I guess work on my newest song, White Room. Hopefully i will get to Wish you Were Here, possibly I’ll work on it a lot tomorrow, unless I get that letter I need.
So it’s been an interesting week, since I can’t currently work because of my lack of a license, I’ve been working on music a lot....
July 2012
5 posts
Traveler's log, vol 31.
So, this week, I bought a rad new Marshall amplifier. It’s clean and 45 watts, 10 watts more powerful than i wanted but I’m not complaining. I’m going to probably finish memorizing Breathe, I can get most of it without looking. I’m going to practice Wish You Were Here, just got tabs to make it easier and sound better. I’m going to practice my modes a bit more, as...
Traveler's Log, vol 30
So, on vacation, so I’m just going to practice Space Oddity, Stairway, and Greensleeves and Breathe I guess. I might pick up my lap steel too.
Still practicing the scales and random things. I’d talk more but I’m on vacation.
Traveler's log, vol 29.
So, this week, I’m working on the songs from last week songs, also I’m practicing the scales I know because I got sidetracked.
Last week I practiced a lot of acoustic songs, Space Oddity is coming along, both the guitar and interesting enough the bass, Breathe is coming along, Stairway is being maintained, Smoke on the Water was maintained, Greensleeves is getting better.
Traveler's log, vol 28
So the electricity is back, yay. This week I’ll be practicing Stairway some more, I’m learning Greensleeves, and hopefully the bass to Space oddity. I’m also learning a little bit of blues, because my favourite rock guitarists, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, got their start with blues. This week is the week to learn the Phrygian scale.
I’ve practiced Space...
Traveler's Log 27
So, apparently my electricity is out, so I won’t be able to practice any solos this week. I think I might just practice Space Oddity, it’s an acoustic song that I more or less know. I’ll probably practice the transitions in Stairway to Heaven too.
Last week I practiced my major and minor scales as usual, and I practice the pentatonic scale, the blues scale and I learned and...
June 2012
4 posts
Traveler's log, vol 26
So, I’m practicing chord progressions this week and the second solo to Comfortably Numb. I should be getting a book on Surf Rock for the guitar and Hawaiian music for the lap steel, so surfs up.
Last week I was practicing some chord progressions, the solo to Comfortably Numb, which I learned, playing a minor scale through 2 octaves, which I must admit, I don’t know how I didn’t...
