Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Thanks Ken for a great question!

I just made a video for this. I am uploading it now.

I explained everything in that video.

My right palm/wrist is touching bottom strings but never pressed or stay... same as left thumb!

Thank you.

Tomo

Tomo's picking technique - Proper way to hold a pick

Uploading now! (25% now...)

Please watch this video and comment.

Thank you.

Tomo

So awesome Tomo. This is gold! My comment is - You should charge us more :-) I can't believe how lucky we are.
I will be back watching this multiple times. The close video and detailed explanation combine to make this technique so clear. We now know what exactly to work on! I took lots of notes but watching is the best teacher this time. We appreciate you! This is why we are here.
Thank you sincerely.
Kurt

My pleasure! Thank you! It means a lot!

So happy to hear that! I really appreciate it.

Just like this video.... here and there... I post additional video.

Thank you.

Tomo

This is amazing.
Great close up of your pick hand.
Thank you Tomo.

You are not using alternate picking!

No reverb! I can not hear the problems covered by reverb!
Do play slowly and go a little fast.

Too much wrist motion & your wrist is not free!
Holding pick too tight!

Thank you.

Tomo

You're very welcome! No rush!

Use reverb when you are enjoy your performance!
When you are practicing, no reverb is must!

Thank you.

Tomo

You're very welcome!

Thanks for showing me your picking technique!

I will explain in this video so the sound can show you more than my words.

Thank you.

Tomo

Thank you Tomo for your video. Very helpful to see and listen without too much analysis, which I believe you notice I’m prone to doing. I can see this will take some time to develop, but already excited about the possibilities!

You're very welcome! From your video, you already developed your own way. In order to do free way (floating picking style) You will not know until you do it slowly. Very dangerous to understand by words (then all subtle nuances are lost!) Please enjoy your guitar playing!

Thank you.

Tomo

Hi Tomo and friends,

I'm considering to buy "A Modern Method for Guitar" volume one.
But I wonder whether I should buy the one with DVD or not.
Because the one with DVD is three times the price.

If you have any suggestions or insights, I would greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks

Hiro

Thank you Hiro.

Please just buy that book alone.
Only Volume One. No need DVD or CD!
I teach everything here!

Thank you.

Tomo

Thank you so much, Tomo!

I just bought it!
I can't wait to check it out!

Thanks again

My pleasure!
Good job!

Thank you!
Look forward to this journey!

Tomo

Yes! Totally... Did it once is just a beginning!

Do it more and stay any duets or any musical sounding tunes.

Any duets, stay there for a long time. And record a few times.
Looper is okay. Because you cannot hear "LIVE SOUND" from your string noise or harmonics (in depths) and finger noises.

Please!

Tomo

Okay, I'll get started on it. Should I also do the picking etudes, speed picking, and reading studies? Or mainly focus on the duets and musical sounding tunes?

Thanks Tomo!

Great! Practice on your decision! Basically anything musical, anything technically challenging?

Good job Ken!

When you ask should I.... You already know it!
It's important! Don't hesitate! Just do it! Then you can think about it.

Thank you.
Tomo

Sometimes the tail wags the dog, instead of the other way around! I should, I will...Thanks!

Ken, you are way too smart so you think a little ahead all the times.

Try one thing with super slow pace & without any expectation.
Very hard isn't it?

When you ask me one suggestion.
I answered... You said thanks & ask a little! That's not great idea...
Because you are keep moving! You need to stay one place without knowing what's next.

Try it!
Good for you.

Thank you for your enthusiasm very much!

Tomo

Thanks Tomo! I’m glad to have shared this with you! Didn’t realize the way I was playing the scale is actually detrimental. So, okay the scale to Do and repeat Do again for the descending scale. Will do. Slow down (no surprise there). Hold the pick even looser.

It feels like I’m making some progress, but got a ways to go. I’m struck with the notion that when you want to play faster, holding the pick looser is a necessary! Because there’s more ‘play’ going on. But that’s me analyzing.

I will do as you recommend, and leave my analysis out of it. I will do this because you are my Teacher and I trust you.

I love the video “Straight No Chaser” you did with your student. Both of you pick so smoothly!

You're very welcome Ken!

The way you play scale is not correct way. That's one of bad habits that... no specific rhythm and phrasing with Major scale. That's how people tend to tracing patterns.

First you need to decide what & how to play. You did choose Major scale.
Should not have any picking noise problems so once you hear one noise, then that tempo is no good! Most people not notice this part and continue to practice. This point no matter how many hours you practice... unfortunately nothing will accomplish.

Yes! Much looser and looser! Definitely your picking technique is getting better.
In order to change (to this picking technique) It is important not to play things you used to play (jamming fast phrase etc) It will take about a few months. But you can do it! All you need is your patient and clear direction and paying a lot of deeper attention.

This video I cannot post in public but I decided to share with GW members.
You can see this student can play solo so well... but his R 3 7 swing was very weak.
So we spend one semester how to play super duper slow R 3 7 swing groove every weeks.
Thank you for watching this video.

Tomo

Hi Tomo, Thank you for looking at this short clip. Is this more in the direction of the effective picking technique practice you are encouraging? Even slow has problems, but I see your point (like chromatic challenge) more time to think & plan. Thanks for your suggestions!

Don't worry about any lessons on playing scale proper way.

8th notes
1& 2& 3& 4&
CD EF GA BC

Then going down
!& 2& 3& 4&
CB AG FE DC

You played
CD EF GA BC (Going up)

BA GF ED C... (Going down)

Thank you.

Tomo

Slow is better Ken!

Your guitar neck is moving a little.
You don't want to move the neck.

Your palm is stay too much on same place!
Each set of string... your right hand palm should move with your fingering.
This part is very difficult to learn. So you are keep moving and lightly palm muting.

Thank you for sharing.
For picking exercise, I would do all down picking at 40 per beat (about .. so you know how slow)

Tomo

Wow Tomo! So NO alternate picking for a while? I guess I have to go backwards to go forward. It feels weird. Thanks for your suggestions.

Definitely you can practice those 8th notes with alternate picking but you seems skipped all down picking like 1/4 notes with super duper slow tempo like 40 per beat.

Practice that 5 minutes everyday!
We always go backwards to go forward far!

You're very welcome!
Your way is too normal. Don't worry!

I made this video for you.
Please give me your feedback.

Thank you.

Tomo

Thanks for your patient coaching Tomo. Okay, slow like paint drying, palm muting, no metronome, lighter on the pick. I never realized just how difficult this could be! I'm so puzzled by this process.

I will keep trying.

Thank you.

You're very welcome! Being super duper patient and make people happy is my job! Most people take different way about " Slow " To me slow tempo that make you play clean without any noises. I made this video last night before I went to bed. So you see my pajama!

Please leave your feedback on this video. Now I know what exactly what to do for you. I need to make that video for you soon. You need something very specific thing to do so that you can get rid of bad habit.

Thank you.

Tomo

Many thanks Tomo for the late night video!

Now I have a better idea of slow.

In regards to string muting, are you using your palm for strings 2-3? I can see your palm muting on strings 654. Or do you also use your left hand as well on strings 2-3?

Super insightful demonstration, thanks for sharing your time and wisdom. Very inspiring.

You're very welcome Ken! My pleasure!

You should go very very slow... otherwise you spend a lot of time and go around same circle because of that speed! (One of bad habits or not a great decision for how to practice)

Higher strings, you mute with inside of 1st & 4th fingers. That's why your thumb should be around center of back of your guitar neck. (Slightly can move)

Thank you.

Tomo