Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

When you hit a few sore notes, mentally don't worry! Stop a little... listen more, focus on chord progression.

Don't forget to enjoy each moments! Be like a kid! Don't worry at all! I hit wrong notes all the times!

Let's focus on how to recover from where you hit a few sore notes!

Maybe this will help. Don't start your solo right away. Hold your guitar & don't play your guitar.
Instead, imagine as if you are playing, focus on chord progression and try to hear your melody, your own phrasing / solo in your head at least one chorus... then play your solo. If it's blues, do not play more than two or 3 chorus. The most is 3 times!
Less is so important!

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

Tomo

These are such great ideas Tomo! Really appreciate youj.

So great to hear that! I really enjoyed listening your feedback in the video.
Just like we are having a conversation so it was so easy to understanding it.

Thank you.

Tomo

Hi Tomo, I'm reviewing all your suggestions today and organizing them for myself. You mention not more than 3 choruses for a solo, and you said "Less is so important".
Can you tell me why "Less" just so I understand exactly why it's so important?
Thank you so much Tomo!

Good job!

Less is more! If two chorus solo is not good enough then no need 3rd one!

More you do seems just satisfying or feeling better?
Maybe this is very Japanese way? When I teach in private lessons... I tell my students that please don't think "why" too much! Maybe things we do without reasons!

Hope you get it.
Thank you.

Tomo

Good rhythm guitar! Simple and grooving! And you are dancing!

Okay... you had a little difficult playing those two notes from triads.
So this tempo is NO GOOD! You need to make a good decision!

Anything is not smoothing or a little difficult then your tempo is the problem!
This is WAY TOO FAST! I never practice like THIS because it's not effective for me.

My decision is if I played twice with wrong notes or this case you cannot play smoothly in the beginning using this triad inversions (Bottom & top notes) so I would not use this tempo. If I practice with this tempo for many hours... it just won't do anything! Information is right as you said! Most problem is how you do this! Because you need to make a decision when you are practicing!

Everything is so good in this video. Only problem is this fast tempo!
Basically I just don't pick tempo by how I feel.... I pick tempo by how I can play smoothly.

Thank you Ken!

Tomo

One more important suggestion.

You should think to use less pressure from your left hand in general. Your left hand pushes more than you need. It's hard but if you do, you can get better tone from any guitar!

Think your picking volume all the times. Just like a singer. 3 things you can do!
1) Play normal
2) Play soft
3) Play loud
Use normal volume to soft volume and keep your loud volume away (you keep it so you can use it later!)

These two parts, I never ever thought I can master these!
That's why I can think these constantly!
I always think "I should use less pressure from my left hand!
I always to think " I should play a little softer" That's why I need to set my amp volume a little loud so that I had to pick softer! My amp volume is always a little loud and it's not so comfortable because it's loud ( a little)

Thank you.

Tomo

Okay...Great, great, great! Thank you. Why is slowing down such a dam problem for me? Is it an ego thing? I felt lately that I'm learning to slow down (and maybe I am to some degree) but okay, slower. Do you really play slow sometimes Tomo?

You're very welcome!

No ego thing. Simply you just did not notice! I am so lucky! I have been teaching at berklee since 1993! I have been so many cases of guitar learning problems! Naturally don't notice certain things. I think you choose preferred or comfortable tempo. For me, I play a few notes or groove... if I cannot play a few notes smoothly then I decide to do two things:
1) Slow down tempo
2) Make it much more simpler

Most people play comfortable tempo or good feeling tempo.
I don't use too much feeling when I am practicing because I have to make something better!

I play many things super slow! Insanely slow! That's my secret!

Thank you.

Tomo

You're very welcome! So good to hear that. I just listen your playing and I am learning something too!

When I say slow... means really really slow.

I was teaching one of my tape lessons. Topic was to play a blues melody. Bag's groove by Milt Jackson.
1) Slow (no metronome)
2) With a metronome at 75 per beat.
3) With a metronome at 40 on 2&4.

So this solo with no metronome means a little slower than at 75 per beat,
Most people play with comfortable tempo which is a little faster than 80 per beat.

Thank you.

Tomo

What I meant is not rush into.... take your time. Make more space between your solo line.

Also don't get upset or don't feel bad because we make good mistakes and get back!

Thank you.

Tomo

Got it Tomo. Thanks!

Excellent! You're very welcome!

Tomo

Thank you so much! Yes sure! You can post them here if you like.

I cannot say too much details on what to do. But I would love to read all.

Thank you.

Tomo

Thanks for the clarifications Tomo! This a great resource for me. I’ve printed it out, highlighted the “ah-ha” moments and put it on my wall to remind myself. Many thanks for reviewing this and clarifying!

You're very welcome! So happy to hear that!
Please keep going! You are doing so good!

Thank you.

Tomo

Thanks Richard3! It’s nice to hear from another forum member! Hope you are getting a lot out Guitar Wisdom. It’s a treasure trove for us! Thanks Tomo!