WTH did you do today?

[Retired]

After years of trying to get the concept of the Blues, I watched Prime Time on Slow Blues. Listening to a bunch of videos of different guys talking about it and playing. Watching finger positions and them explaining it, I went up to grab the Casino and practiced it for an hour or so. I think I finally understand and can be creative to create some of my own now. Thanks to Prime Time. 

[mihcmac]

20 hours ago, Retired said:

After years of trying to get the concept of the Blues, I watched Prime Time on Slow Blues. Listening to a bunch of videos of different guys talking about it and playing. Watching finger positions and them explaining it, I went up to grab the Casino and practiced it for an hour or so. I think I finally understand and can be creative to create some of my own now. Thanks to Prime Time. 

One way to understand basic A&B blues progressions is to look at early R&R like Johnny B Goode which is a blues pattern played fast applied to primarily 3 chords like A D E going from A to D back to A then E then D  to  A to resolve on E. With many variations.

These can be applied  to 8 through 16 bar blues in 4/4 each bar basically having 4 beats. What makes a blues is not the A&B progression but more like the on the edge attitude and the rules can be broken.

A blues could have 1 chord or several using an R&B rhythm, very simple like I'm a Man, or complex like Stormy Monday or Ball and Chain.

Good examples of early blues could be Lightnin Hopkins or Howlin Wolf, then getting more polished like Jimmy Reed, there are tons to choose from, but find some to listen to.

"Note that my explanation here is totally wrong and totally right."

Edited March 3, 2022 by mihcmac

[Retired]

8 hours ago, mihcmac said:

One way to understand basic A&B blues progressions is to look at early R&R like Johnny B Goode which is a blues pattern played fast applied to primarily 3 chords like A D E going from A to D back to A then E then D  to  A to resolve on E. With many variations.

These can be applied  to 8 through 16 bar blues in 4/4 each bar basically having 4 beats. What makes a blues is not the A&B progression but more like the on the edge attitude and the rules can be broken.

A blues could have 1 chord or several using an R&B rhythm, very simple like I'm a Man, or complex like Stormy Monday or Ball and Chain.

Good examples of early blues could be Lightnin Hopkins or Howlin Wolf, then getting more polished like Jimmy Reed, there are tons to choose from, but find some to listen to.

"Note that my explanation here is totally wrong and totally right."

Thanks, And so far, I only hit one aspect of it. I'm just trying to play up and down the neck with the same chord shape except using different strings. So yeah, I have a long way to go yet. 

[mihcmac]

14 hours ago, Retired said:

Thanks, And so far, I only hit one aspect of it. I'm just trying to play up and down the neck with the same chord shape except using different strings. So yeah, I have a long way to go yet. 

Ok,, so bar chord style, based on an open E chord. Slide The chord up where your "baring finger" is on the 3rd fret making it a G bar chord, then slide this bar chord to the 8th fret will make it a C bar chord, then slide up 2 more frets to the 10th fret making it a D bar chord, these would be the chords used in a basic blues in G.

The pattern you would apply starting on G (8 beats) then to C (8 beats) back to G (8 beats) then D (4 beats) to C (4 beats) back to G (4 beats) and resolve on D (4 beats) then repeat.

Your barring finger position basically the lowest note determines what key you are playing in for a basic blues pattern.

There are many other variations of this pattern that are used but this is a good place to start.

Edited March 4, 2022 by mihcmac

[Retired]

4 hours ago, mihcmac said:

Ok,, so bar chord style, based on an open E chord. Slide The chord up where your "baring finger" is on the 3rd fret making it a G bar chord, then slide this bar chord to the 8th fret will make it a C bar chord, then slide up 2 more frets to the 10th fret making it a D bar chord, these would be the chords used in a basic blues in G.

The pattern you would apply starting on G (8 beats) then to C (8 beats) back to G (8 beats) then D (4 beats) to C (4 beats) back to G (4 beats) and resolve on D (4 beats) then repeat.

Your barring finger position basically the lowest note determines what key you are playing in for a basic blues pattern.

There are many other variations of this pattern that are used but this is a good place to start.

Yeah, I'm still experimenting. On U Tube, they will play a 3 finger position on say the 5th fret and move that up and down on the 5th and then move it to say the 7th and back. I'm moving it from the 3rd fret all the way up to the 12th fret going up and down the low E to the high E. And also playing 2 strings at times and doing different bends, hammer ons and hammer offs and vibrating strings. I try it with different melodies to see what I can get. Some sound pretty nice. I might have to start writing down what I like and not? They have some pretty good teachers on U Tube. They show different color dot patterns which I haven't hit yet. Now, I have never taken band or music before so I'm self learning this. I just play at home for fun. 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Play guitar for a bit, ride my mountain bike in while, gonna wash the dog (she won't be happy about that) and latter BBQ and watch some college BB.

[mihcmac]

21 hours ago, Retired said:

Yeah, I'm still experimenting. On U Tube, they will play a 3 finger position on say the 5th fret and move that up and down on the 5th and then move it to say the 7th and back. I'm moving it from the 3rd fret all the way up to the 12th fret going up and down the low E to the high E. And also playing 2 strings at times and doing different bends, hammer ons and hammer offs and vibrating strings. I try it with different melodies to see what I can get. Some sound pretty nice. I might have to start writing down what I like and not? They have some pretty good teachers on U Tube. They show different color dot patterns which I haven't hit yet. Now, I have never taken band or music before so I'm self learning this. I just play at home for fun. 

Keep pluggin' away, it just takes time to get comfortable with it.

I find myself playing more blues lately, largely because I currently a very strong vocalist. A few songs we are currently playing; Blue Jean Blues, Ball and Chain, Stormy Monday, Summertime, Red House and even Oh Darlin, interesting thing none of these use the same chord pattern or progression. The simplest most standard one would be Red House.

Edited March 5, 2022 by mihcmac

[Retired]

1 hour ago, mihcmac said:

Keep pluggin' away, it just takes time to get comfortable with it.

I find myself playing more blues lately, largely because I currently a very strong vocalist. A few songs we are currently playing; Blue Jean Blues, Ball and Chain, Stormy Monday, Summertime, Red House and even Oh Darlin, interesting thing none of these use the same chord pattern or progression.

I have been playing the 60's & 70's Rock & roll my whole life and would rather play Blues. I love Gregor Hilden's songs and others but I'm trying to do it without having to learn all those pentatonic scales. Mainly because I doubt I can remember them all. haha.  Just like I can't use my left pinky finger to play because it has so much arthritis in it so I cheat. 

[mihcmac]

21 hours ago, Retired said:

I have been playing the 60's & 70's Rock & roll my whole life and would rather play Blues. I love Gregor Hilden's songs and others but I'm trying to do it without having to learn all those pentatonic scales. Mainly because I doubt I can remember them all. haha.  Just like I can't use my left pinky finger to play because it has so much arthritis in it so I cheat. 

I think it is perfectly legal to cheat, I one and two finger chords all the time. I also have pretty severe arthritis I both hands, but I do Kung Fu hand exercises for making Rock Fist.

I have posted tis chart before, I do this exercise every morning while I am waking up, holding each position for about 10 seconds and repeat for a few minutes until flexibility and pain gets better.  Then holding my large cup of morning coffee, with my fingers wrapped around it feels very soothing.

Basically, if you don't move it, you will lose it.

Edited March 6, 2022 by mihcmac

[Retired]

1 hour ago, mihcmac said:

I think it is perfectly legal to cheat, I one and two finger chords all the time. I also have pretty severe arthritis I both hands, but I do Kung Fu hand exercises for making Rock Fist.

I have posted tis chart before, I do this exercise every morning while I am waking up, holding each position for about 10 seconds and repeat for a few minutes until flexibility and pain gets better.  Then holding my large cup of morning coffee, with my fingers wrapped around it feels very soothing.

Basically, if you don't move it, you will lose it.

That is so true. We were forced to do morning stretches at work every morning. From the head to the feet. a couple of those were included for the hands. That is one thing I need to get into again as I have lost a great deal of flexibility.  You did Kung Fu? Or just the exercises? When I was a teen, I loved Kung Fu.  Bruce Lee was my favorite martial artist's.  I did his stretches all the time and could kick high in the air. I gave my dad a rubber knife & asked him to stab me. He smiled and ran at me when I kicked the knife out of his hand. Those were the days. 

[mihcmac]

21 hours ago, Retired said:

That is so true. We were forced to do morning stretches at work every morning. From the head to the feet. a couple of those were included for the hands. That is one thing I need to get into again as I have lost a great deal of flexibility.  You did Kung Fu? Or just the exercises? When I was a teen, I loved Kung Fu.  Bruce Lee was my favorite martial artist's.  I did his stretches all the time and could kick high in the air. I gave my dad a rubber knife & asked him to stab me. He smiled and ran at me when I kicked the knife out of his hand. Those were the days. 

I have read just about everything I could find that  Bruce wrote, while I am a Nidan In Aikido his concepts are very comparable and the hand exercises keep all my guitar fingers working.

Edited March 7, 2022 by mihcmac

[Retired]

6 hours ago, mihcmac said:

I have read just about everything I could find that  Bruce wrote, while I am a Nidan In Aikido his concepts are very comparable and the hand exercises keep all my guitar fingers working.

Is Akido what Steven  Seagal does?

[mihcmac]

13 minutes ago, Retired said:

Is Akido what Steven  Seagal does?

Yes, Steven was one of Koichi Tohei's top students as well as my first sensei Paul Coscarart and later Kirk Fowler.

Edited March 8, 2022 by mihcmac

[Retired]

10 minutes ago, mihcmac said:

Yes, Steven was one of Koichi Tohei's top students as well as my first sensei Paul Coscarart and later Kirk Fowler.

 I always wondered how good Steven really was.  That explains it, Thanks.

[mihcmac]

On 3/7/2022 at 2:33 PM, Retired said:

 I always wondered how good Steven really was.  That explains it, Thanks.

Koichi Tohei, like most martial arts masters, tended to encourage his advanced students to fly on their own, which Steven has done very well.

[MissouriPicker]

Got my old Gretsch squareneck out today.  Slide is fairly easy with open D tuning (even for me), so, as I await 7-8 inches of snow starting later tonight I’m working on some easy chord shapes for open tuning to mix-in with the slides.    Working-up the courage to take this to one of my gigs.  I know I would be fine with it, but I’m just so damn comfortable with my Gibsons…..But, I do love the sound of a resonator.

[mihcmac]

30 minutes ago, MissouriPicker said:

Got my old Gretsch squareneck out today.  Slide is fairly easy with open D tuning (even for me), so, as I await 7-8 inches of snow starting later tonight I’m working on some easy chord shapes for open tuning to mix-in with the slides.    Working-up the courage to take this to one of my gigs.  I know I would be fine with it, but I’m just so damn comfortable with my Gibsons…..But, I do love the sound of a resonator.

I still like playing in drop D, which is just the low E tuned to D. Its easy to adapt to with your fingers or a slide. Anyway I usually keep one guitar tuned to it and sometimes I will put a heavier string on the low E.

[CNJ]

Really crummy day, rain/snow mix so the dogs were just put in the yard for a few minutes.  I then decided to give each a bath at Pet Supplies Plus.  They have a package called the dirty dog card that gives you fives washes for $25 and they supply the wash stalls, all the shampoo, dryers and towels.  The rest of the day has been just lazing around playing guitars and sipping beers.  Damn!  I like this retirement thing.

[Pinch]

I was trying to improve tone by fiddling with the pickup height. Took ages to get back to the previous sweet spot. 

The 61 Burstbuckers are INCREDIBLY sensitive when it comes to pickup height. Like, millimeters. And they sound great set REALLY low. That's a PSA for anyone getting a 60s Standard. 

[mihcmac]

On 3/9/2022 at 11:37 AM, Pinch said:

I was trying to improve tone by fiddling with the pickup height. Took ages to get back to the previous sweet spot. 

The 61 Burstbuckers are INCREDIBLY sensitive when it comes to pickup height. Like, millimeters. And they sound great set REALLY low. That's a PSA for anyone getting a 60s Standard. 

I normally adjust my bridge pickup to its best position then with the selector switch on both then lower the neck pickup to get the balance I want so it doesn't overpower the bridge pickup.

[merciful-evans]

Commencing a home sit & caring for 3 french bulldogs. So no guitar playing for a few days. Found a church last night & Cherry attended the Sunday service this morning. Just about to walk one of the dogs. 

[mihcmac]

I have been actively playing all of my guitars lately, spending a few days playing each one while tweaking to get the best out of them. As good as they all are, the one below keeps coming out on top.

[Pinch]

Hung over, so I needed some comedy gold. Reading the Breitbart comment fields. 

[mihcmac]

Having coffee and trying to wake may brain up.

[Mr. Natural]

On 2/19/2022 at 1:20 PM, Mr. Natural said:

I had coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks, then I drove around the corner to my favorite early morning bar for more coffee WITH a double shot of Bailey's followed by a couple of beers.

The same thing I did on 2/19/22 (see above).