Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Hi everyone! In the video TF Lesson 006-1 Major Triads + Blues Demo Tomo demonstrates how to solo using triads in the A blues progression. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to practice the triads so as I can play the chord progression or I have to be able to solo using the triads (like Tomo) before moving to the next video?
And one more question: if i’m to practice basic soloing with triads, should I include or exclude the blues scale in my playing (only play the triads) so as to follow Tomo’s guide as close as possible?

my understanding is that the goal is fretboard mastery to be able to play triads without thinking - if you have to think where it is, it is too slow, the music keeps going. Also to learn with your ears all the tones and you can start to have some intuition about what a note will sound like before you play it.

so know the triads from 1st string to 6th string and from bridge to nut. root position (do mi so), first inversion (mi so do), second inversion (so do mi).

There are 4 sets of 3 strings. play all F triads on strings 1,2,3 from bridge to nut, There is root position (do mi so), first inversion (mi so do), second inversion (so do mi). repeat for string sets 2,3,4, 3,4,5, 4,5,6. repeat for other notes. Know the sounds: do mi so, notes, c e g, scale degree R M3 M5. And vertical - choose a note, play root position on 6,5,4 then 5,4,3, next 4,3,2, finally 3,2,1. And you should strive to play each triad with a clean sound, notes well fretted.

Then for the blues part he chose A Blues. which means 1/4/5 = I/IV/V = A/D/E he plays triads on strings 1,2,3 in a blues progression, 3 triads per bar
I IV I I
IV IV I I
V IV I V

To try to answer your question directly, my take on Tomo's solo is that it was more aspirational. As beginners, we can spend some portion of our daily practice working on this but we can go on to the next video. For second, stay with just triads and when it is easy then try more adding more notes.

after some practice you will know them all

I am a beginner too. I think it is rare that people can learn the whole fretboard in a weekend or month. But still it is our goal to navigate without thought. You don't want to be stuck only knowing ADE on strings 1,2,3. Also, if we just play triads for 90 minutes straight every day, it will get tedious and we will lose motivation.

NBA players are professional, but they still practice free throws and layups, maybe only 5 minutes. So I think it is just something you practice enough to always be improving, but you can't expect fast results like learning to operate a microwave oven. Spend some time doing triads in all the notes ABCDEFG (seven days seven notes) and also some time doing something that is fun for you.

I think this is the type of thing that pays off in the long run, but doesn't feel like it day to day. All the repetition really trains your ears without you realizing -- one time you make a mistake and you will react like "Oh wow, that was wrong, where am I?" and without realizing you will find the triad more quickly and effortlessly, but you won't think you are making progress with your ears and memory day to day.

Don't focus on results, focus on the process. Enjoy your practice time, do your best to play the notes cleanly and correctly. The results will come.

Here is Tomo's comment:

"Thanks so much for subscribing to my Guitar Wisdom. Now you can mix anything that sounds great around a blues chord progression. Find great phrasing ideas in old records!

"Maybe it’s time to transcribe a little and analyze each note against each chord! (Intervals!) You can watch my demo performance videos and learn how to mix things. Make sure that you can play triads over blues chord progressions very smoothly, imagining all the intervals before you touch them!

"Always prepare more than you need to. Work hard! Review more!"