Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Hello all,

I have been working on the guitar wisdom lessons for only a couple weeks and have still been solidifying my foundation with triads practice but am spending time during the work day listening to ear training with intervals to try and improve recognition of music. However, I feel that I have much more difficulty when it comes to listening to songs to try and pick out the key or chord progression even if I can work with trial and error to identify the melody. I had been trying to listen to the song "You Don't Understand Me" by the Raconteurs to work on chord recognition since the chord progression is a highlight in the song but have not had much success in working with this skill yet. Should I be working with even simpler songs or try to focus on other things while I am still improving ear training?

Thanks,
Drew

Hey,

You should check this out: https://tonedear.com

Happy learning!
Hoseok

Thank you! I will have to check that out!

Hi Drew,

Happy New Year. When in doubt, yes, you are right, start with a simple piece...not that one. It has too much going on. In YTube, there are many SLOW, very simple "backing tracks" that will show you the chord change a millisecond before the change. You can even look up some arpeggio backing tracks that have diagrams as you play- this can be very useful. I would find one of those- really slow, ideally just one other instrument like a slow piano track in E. I would also start only using one finger on the top E string for the first few minutes- just to get the feel for it- almost like playing base.

I just checked out that website and it's a great suggestion. Funny- it uses a piano- simple, slow and easy to track changes. Also, turn off all effects if you are playing electric. You are going for pure tone- not distractions whatsoever- forget that other song...for now.

TOP TIP: Print out a HUGE copy of the fretboard on legal paper. Find one that has all the notes for each fret- B&W is best. Then circle and/or color code each of the root notes for each chord change (use different colors for each e.g., I Blue IV Green V Red.) Not all the notes in the chord- just focus on the root note for now. This makes it soo much easier to see and hear what is going on. You can hunt down the other notes but as long as you find your way to the root note at or around the change, you will be playing IN HARMONY- now that is really playing (many people play scales but have no concept of harmony- it just sounds better- you can wonder off from time to time, but always come back.)

So IMO, the trick is that you really have to SEE, HEAR and FEEL what is going on. Writing it out also helps reinforce things. Once you practice one easy piece for about an hour or so, close your eyes and FEEL it- you'll know when this happens.

I would also echo the others and suggest you use that website to practice often (I will too.) Also, at least hum the chords- it you cant sing it (at least in your head), you can't play it. Pick one thing and master it before morning on to the next. I can play about 100 songs- maybe more...anything on YTube I can jump into and sound ok, but I only pay a few well. Those are the ones I am most proud of. Eventually pay attention to your strumming pattern, feel, etc. One last tip- don't forget to enjoy---this is supposed to be fun! (;

I appreciate the tips and have been working on ear training more. Oddly enough I feel I have a good sense for harmony when it comes to finding a single note to match and building the chord from that but I am still working to piece together how the chord progressions and degrees fit together in some songs. I will be working on it and know it is a learning process along with everything else so I am following the wisdom of "don't expect too fast". Happy New Year to you as well!

Anytime Drew- sounds good. Also keep in mind, many artists have a few main songs they play, in a single genre. They focus and master just a handful of tunes. As aspiring musicians, we try (at least I do), try to learn everything. One minute, I am playing blues- another minute- some Mayer tunes- the next backing tracks....you get the idea. The point is, more than just not expecting too much, too fast, maybe try focusing on one song- literally for a month. Really get it down before trying to move on to another. When I do this, something clicks after I practice it for several hours and it starts to make sense. When I first took lessons I had a great instructor- he was also a Berklee guy. I wanted to learn Van Halen tune in one lesson. He laughed- he taught me the intro (literally first 15 seconds.) He told me that HE would practice something like this for days, if not weeks (15 seconds section of 1 song) but then he would own it. It would be near perfect.. So bottom line, focus like a laser and good things will happen.

I have been focusing on building the fundamentals of triads and music theory for right now since I had recently spent a month going through to memorize a song from tablature before I had started working on improving overall. I am doing my best to apply the theory and recognition to songs I have learned from memorization in the past before looking at new songs. I think I had gotten confused from watching some of the "3 Levels" videos online rather than sticking to the basics.

Makes sense- level 1&2 until you have it down. I will still expose myself to other advanced info. I think it can be helpful for context, but I do so while mostly focusing on basics- so maybe 80/20. It's like anything- if you surround yourself with people who are better than you- you will grow much faster than if you hang around people only at a beginner level. The point is, you should not jump ahead 5 chapters in a book until you mostly understand the material that came before it.