I noticed, when Tomo plays Sunny, he strums all 16ths notes. But I tend to skip last two muted strums on some chords changes (C9 to Bb/C, Fmaj9 to Bb13). I just don't understand how I can mute strings simultaneously with fingers change its shapes, some strings just ringing (when fingers leave off the fretboard and nothing mute them). Any advice on that?
Also. How Tomo plays those Gmin9 on 3th fret, is he has relatively big hands with long fingers?
Thanks!
Last two 16th before switching the chord (Sunny).
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I cannot really see what Tomo is doing from the demo video, but I would guess that he is not lifting all the way off, but just releasing tension, so the pick is going over dead strings, before he presses down the notes of the next chord. Although it is possible he's using the picking hand also to make sure nothing rings out by damping the strings at the same time, with the same motion that he is picking them. That is harder to do and takes practice. I'm not very good at that method at all yet.
I believe in earlier lessons he explains both the left and right hand muting so that it makes a nice percussive sound. I would try to "get in the funky mood" of it, using 16th notes over a simple two chord vamp and see if you can find a combination of left and right hand mute that gives the sound you want and a clean transition. Then work into the larger chord progression after you have figured out the mechanics of it. It's ok to slow the video down, too, and make sure you're counting all the 16th notes in sync with the right-hand strokes so you're right in the groove.
The trick for Gm9, at least for me, is the thumb position. First, work on getting a clean Gm7 with the 2nd and 3rd fingers across the third fret: ( 2nd finger 6th string) 3x3333 (bar 4,3,2,1 strings with ring finger) .
Then move your thumb almost directly behind the neck and stretch to the 5th fret with the pinky. It will be easier when you find the sweet spot for your thumb. If you can't maintain the whole grip on the chord at first, then break it into pieces. Play the front half (3x33) and the back half (xx3335) until your fingers get familiar with that awkward feeling and eventually they'll get strong enough to hold everything.
Thanks for your valuable thoughts, it's really helpful. I think, one piece of a puzzle is the ability to change finger shape instantly and with all fingers at once before you even press the strings (but while some of your fingers still lightly touch the strings). Then, when the shape is ready, perform pressure right with hitting with right hand. It's very important to keep thumb as loose as possible (Tomo said about it in 3 lvl funk video), becouse it allows change finger shape and mute strings at the same time, I think.
Sam Mann