Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Learning songs can be fun and keep you interested. Along with learning the you can learn a new rhythm pattern and so on, if you try to pick out the chords by ear that makes for good ear training. As a new beginner you want to have fun but keep the train rolling...
Enjoy the site..a lot of good learning material and a lot of good folks hanging out..

Yes i think it can help to keep having fun. At the moment, it feels very like practising all the time.

That´s also right! I know that from friends saying the same. I think i need a mix of both, strumming some favourite songs could help to keep up the fun.

Agreed!

I asked Tomo via email and that´s waht he said:

"Learn favorite songs is one way to learn.
Learn FUNdamental is more important for the better results."

Hey Tim,

Thanks for your reply. I really know what you mean.

My problem is not theory, scales or the right chords. I´ve been producing "digital" music since more than 10 years. I got everything to record and produce songs. But it was all electronic music with all the tools you can find in the internet. I never spent time to produce music on a real instrument.

So my problem is, i still can´t see the notes on the fretboard in my mind. I know all the notes on the fretboard, but when it comes to play, i still have to think about it. Also, i´m missing experience in how to play things like a blues or rock solo.

So i think, i´m not patient enough and need to practice more and move stepwise back. But i will get it.

Probably it´s better for the progress if someone is around you who wants and does the same. But that´s not possible in these crazy times. Perhaps i can find someone to play together via skype or zoom? What about you? :)

Best
Chris

ooh, i understand. i read that wrong at first. you're just starting out with a new instrument.

exactly - you will get it. find what works well for you.

here's an idea if you wanna give it a shot: since you've been producing, try to practice recreating the songs you've already made, but on guitar.

you could start by determining where, on the fretboard, the bass note is while the song is playing (usually we call this process "transcribing" - er... hopefully you're familiar with that term 😅).

that way, while you're learning the fundamentals, you're also applying it through exercise which will result in more use of the instrument musically and discovering the possibilities of how it's used in your songs.

so let's say you play one of your old songs...
1. you'd go from the first fret to the 12th fret until you hit the right notes to play along with the song on one string.
2. then you look up the note to find the chord associated with the note
3. take time to practice laying the fingers in the chord position.
4. get your strummin' on
5. practice playing along with your song now

one thing i remember bumping into during the beginning: your hands might not be used to the guitar yet, so you just need more time playing it. funny how i forgot about how awkward it was to play guitar at first, or using my left and right hand more strategically to mute strings.

anyway, give that a shot and see how it resonates with you.

for me, i love the process of practicing by myself, even though i know practicing with others is a sure way to get faster. i'm okay with waiting until i've got my chops confident enough to participate in a jam.

to keep myself motivated, i practice 10 minutes minimum every day. oh, and i record myself. ahh, i loved listening back to the first time i made a song. it's so horrible, yet so pleasing lol.

hey, thanks for that great advice. I will try this out! =)

christian, that's AWESOME! congrats on making that breakthrough. that's always such a magical feeling.

remember this moment/feeling as you progress - it'll keep it fun and exciting to see all the possibilities that's in your hands :D

THANK YOU SO MUCH TIM !! 😊😊