Shamoozal.com - Smorgas Board

I'm actually watching that guy's jazz and blues stuff. I want to learn more about jazz and blues so I can free style better. His stuff is pretty helpful actually.

_________________
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. "

I have two questions for you I forgot to ask earlier:

What is the difference of using a heavy pick vs medium pick? I've been using a medium pick and it seems to be working well for me. I just want to know if there are benefits to using one style of pick?

The other thing is what type of strings are on your guitar so I know what to buy when it is time to get new ones....

_________________

The type of pick you use can determine, in part, the sounds you get from your guitar. It also depends on what style you're trying to play. Harder picks tend to produce a brighter tone, and provide more control (especially over heavy gauge strings). Thinner picks produce a heavier, less controlled sound. Personally, when playing acoustic and strumming a lot, i prefer a medium- to light pick. This allows me to strum a little more enthusiastically and still produce only a moderate amount of sound. Some people don't like the "click" sound that you get when you strum with a light pick, but i don't mind it at all. When playing lead / solos, i prefer a heavier pick for the control.

My personal favorites are these two thicknesses from Jim Dunlop's "Gator" line:



Check these out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_pick
http://theguitarresource.com/guitar-gea ... -decision/
http://www.ringmusic.com/tips/picks.html

_________________
"Cook Free, or Die" -- Anthony Bourdain

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll alternate between picks just to get a feel for the sound thats coming out of the guitar.

Well it's officially been one week since I started playing so I figured I'll list what I've done just so I can keep track of my progress (for my own amusement):

1st String - Notes E, F, G
2nd String - Notes B, C, D

Chords - D, A, E

Songs I've been "attempting" to play - Ode to Joe, Bob Marley - Three Little Birds.

By no means have I mastered any of this in one week, but these are the areas I now understand and can play. I've been doing the chord transition practices that are listed on the site I posted earlier and trying to move between notes on the 1st and 2nd string. I will probably stick with this until I feel I can do it in my sleep and then I'll move on.

_________________

i like the .71 for acoustic and electric, the dunlops. the really hard ones are pretty shitty for acoustic unless you are soloing?

I use this one exclusively its my favorite pick, and strings I usually get anything by Elixir they're pricey but they're worth it

_________________
Serenity now, insanity later...

haha thought the bottom pic was a condom pack

are where it's at.

_________________
"Cook Free, or Die" -- Anthony Bourdain

Yeah, I usually use light picks for acoustic since when I play acoustic, it's strum heavy and I like the sound light picks make when strumming. For electric, I prefer medium to heavy for the precise control for faster heavier playing style. You can't really play metal with lights.

_________________
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. "

Are there any specific techniques to use when practicing chord changes? I seem to be getting the hang of changing between D, A, and E, but I'm having trouble when I'm adding in G and C. Just wondering if there are any other methods out there besides repetition.

_________________

Nah, you just keep doing it until you're comfortable. There's no trick.

_________________
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. "

truf.

_________________
"Cook Free, or Die" -- Anthony Bourdain

for G and C try using middle ring and pinky for G, and then index middle ring for C, it's a good habit.

Or get lazy and play the add9's or whatever.

_________________
"Cook Free, or Die" -- Anthony Bourdain

What is that

I'm not calling it by its proper name, which i can't find. it's notated G: 320033 or C: x32033. I know you know the chord.

_________________
"Cook Free, or Die" -- Anthony Bourdain

I've been practicing D, A, and E chord transitions over and over. I've decided I'm not moving on until I can do them in my sleep.

_________________

Just do it slowly and make sure you get a nice crisp sound coming out. Make sure your fingers aren't muting any of the strings that should be ringing and that they are very close to the fret.

_________________
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. "

this.

In other news, I got a Telecaster. It's seriously an amazing guitar, the strings are perfectly distanced! I'm thinking of getting a microkorg synth as well.

i know it's completely a matter of personal preference, but i've never been a big fan of telecasters, or fenders in general. I don't own an electric (anymore), but if i could, i would buy a Les Paul Custom, or a nice deep green Gretsch with a Bigsby.

_________________
"Cook Free, or Die" -- Anthony Bourdain

Hows the guitar coming along JW? Ready to rock and roll yet?

_________________
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. "

I missed this earlier, but no I'm not yet ready to Rock and / or Roll. I can play a bunch of easy songs using notes on the first five strings, but chord changes are another story. I seem to be moving between notes on the different strings easily, but chords changes are really driving me bonkers. I feel like I should have changes between D / E / A down by now, but it just isn't happening. However, the sounds of the chords have been coming out clearly. I'm practicing about 30 - 40 minutes at least four days a week.

_________________

That's pretty good. I've been trying to broaden my skill sets a bit too. I'm mainly focusing on better free styling right now. That guy's website is very helpful. I'm trying to learn all the jazz chords and jazz scales.

_________________
"If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. "

Jazz chords are hard man

Figured I'd post an update on my progress. I finally got the chord changes down from A to D and E to A, but I'm still screwing up somewhat on D to E. However, I can actually keep rhythm now instead of that awkward pause between changes. I've now added the below chords:

Am
Dm
Em

G
C

G is giving me issues. It seems that when I can get the 1st and 2nd fingers, the 3rd finger is not properly getting the 1st string. When I try to start the stretch on the first string with the third finger, the 5th string screws up because my 2nd finger can't make the stretch. Hopefully, I explained that right because it sounds confusing.

_________________