Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Day 22 week 4

Wow! Controlling dynamics this way is a really smart way to practice. But difficult to find the volume consistently especially at first. And then that first loud note on the way back is SO loud!

I look forward to getting some control in this area. As I play softer, I’m really noticing the smallest, teensiest little noises. I’m doing this on an acoustic so the softer I get, the noisier my guitar wants to be. Posture, tempo, string noise, thumb pressure are all the things I’m having to think through as I go softer. Also, I notice as I get soft with my pick hand, my fret hand wants to get lighter at the same time. I’m trying to have a light touch without my fret fingers moving making noise.

Thank you, Tomo, for adding these different elements week by week. It makes learning very attainable.

Respectfully,
Bryon Mondok
Laconia, New Hampshire

Thanks for watching this video.
Now it's time to use dynamics! Which is my favorite technique!
I gave this deeply to John Mayer!

3 types of dynamics.
a) Loud
b) Normal
c) Soft

So you need turn up your amp until a little uncomfortable to play.
This was you can get rid of "Loud" picking accidentally because you just cannot play loud!

Then try to find your normal picking which is a little softer.
Then go from there... softer, softer and softer. You can go softer and much softer,

It's not easy at all.
More softer you play, you start to hear something else around you. Then it's working!

Now you understand why my lessons, teaching approach is really different from others!
That's why "Turefire" Kept asking me offers but I kept turning down!

Thank you.

Tomo

Wow.... harder than it sounds. I feel like when I try to concentrate on softening my picking I fumble somewhere else. My tempo begins to slow or sometimes it does not ring out like it should. I am hoping by the end of the week I will get it smooth and even, normal to soft. Good luck out there and Rock N Roll.

Yes! It is supposed be very hard to do! Because most people think this is easy physical exercise! But it's similar to meditation! Practice to be ficus deeply!

Every note has a long sustain all the way! But you need to remain so relaxed both hands.
Good job for paying a lot of attention!

Thank you.

Tomo

Hi Tomo, Mic’d up my amp this morning but didn’t play too much since it’s the middle of the night, I’m very pleased with how it sounds though.

Now you know picking technique is super important and not easy at all!

This exercise is very effective late night with your amp volume slightly loud!
So that you just cannot play loud! Your picking volume need to be softer.

Good job!
When I was a student ... I used to turn my Fender Champ 12 volume really high.
Treble 10, Bass 0, No reverb and practice at 11pm or midnight! That was one of things that I taught to John Mayer!

Thank you.

Tomo

Week 4,Days 2 & 3: Focus on controlling picking dynamics. It is interesting how the softest of the picking dynamics can reveal unwanted string noise from fretting hand while descending,very difficult to control.

Re. fretting hand,anchoring with the arm of the picking hand has taken away all the tension from the fretting hand,so thank you again for that tip. (I start from 3rd fret as of now)

I thought week 3 taught me to play slow,week 4 has taken that to the next level. With the addition of controlling picking dynamics,there is so much to think that I cannot go fast even if I wanted to. I take about 2-2.5 mins to finish each round(ascending and descending)

Also,thank you very much for sharing your story from the earlier days,glad to know we’re working towards the right direction.

Thanks for sharing!
Exactly! Softness can reveal more noise!
That's why this way... very important.
Anyone could practice something with different requirements...and get different result!
That's why practicing many hours ... is not effective!

Yes! Each week is going different level!
And we are learning simple 1234 chromatics scale with different depths!
I am so happy to hear what you say!
Thank you so much!

It's really working!
You're very welcome!
I am just directing you guys!
You guys are working!
Thank you.

Tomo

Days 4&5 gaining more control over the picking dynamics.

Limiting my practice to 10 minutes. Essentially going over 4 times. I've noticed the quality of my practice begins deteriorating beyond that point due to fatigue. Takes effort and mindfulness to be as effortless as possible.

I try to give my best in each of those 4 runs.

Thanks for sharing!

You did over two minutes session 4 times?
Good job!

Thank you.

Tomo

Yes yes!
So lovely to read all!

One at a time!
Less is more!

One suggestion.
When you make any statement or new tread.
You need to write everything fit in only ONE PAGE!

When I teach my tape lesson students (By audio cassette to my Japanese students in Japanese) After each assignment, each student needs to write each topic and comment. And overall comment only ONE PAGE. One piece of paper. No two pages! Very important!

Guitar makes us so humble and be patient. Yes, we learn to be flexible and calm.
Through guitar lesson, you are good at finding things, deeper insight!
So good!

Good job!

Little note book is so good!

Thumb position at center or slightly lower than center.
Always moving.

Don't count too much!
Feel each beat and be free for this challenge.
That's why no need to use a metronome.
Feeling big rhythm.

When you picked the wrong string or sometime.
Simply stop! Go back from beginning and start slower!
You felt something wrong so you went faster.
That's normal. So don't feel bad at all! That happens.

Once you hear any finger noise.
Stop!
Go back to beginning.
Go slower.
That's why repeating same thing for a long time... just won't work!
That's why when people ask "How long to practice" I need to explain...
How long is not so important. How to do is more important.

No rush!
Go slower!
Good job to understand the details.

I am so happy to hear these!
Thank you.

Tomo

Good job!

Keep it slow please.
Dynamics... fun!

Thank you.

Tomo

Good job!

Dynamics is very hard! But it's so much fun!
Strat with normal picking volume then go softer... and much softer...
You can hear any noise better!

Thank you.

Tomo

Good job!

I have been doing my chromatic exercises for many years!
That's why I can my chords pretty fast!
Soft picking! Softer and softer!

Thank you.

Tomo

So happy to hear that!

No loud! Normal picking volume!
Softer and more softer until you can't almost hear it.
Not easy at all! That's why this is a great challenge!

Great point!
Whether you pick harder or softer... your left hand is super light!
That's why a lot of people 's dynamics are all same!

Don't expect too fast!
Don't worry!

Thank you.

Tomo

Thank you so much Tomo! I will focus on keeping my left hand movements "light as a feather" independent of how strong or light the right hand picks. It's really hard (having acquired a bad habit) but so important to improve my technique.

My pleasure!

Yes! Good job!

Thank you.

Tomo

Good job!

Yes! Now you can use dynamics into this.
Great! That's the true effect on this technique!
Softer, more softer, even almost no sound (that softer)
All of sudden, you can hear more noise!
That's why your left fingers can be more relaxed!
Do not hit the fret hard at all. Very soft!

That you.

Tomo

Day 23-Week 4-Complete!

My observations today are: Dynamics is making it difficult to keep finger noise to a minimum. Had to restart and slow down a few times to get it better. Still moving and grooving but the groove is even slower than before. I guess that is needed to train good habits into oneself.

Amazing how many bad habits I have built up over the few years of unstructured learning without a teacher. Very happy that those are slowing becoming a thing of the past :)

Very thankful for finding GW and you, teacher Tomo Fujita!

Good job!

Softer you get, you can hear more finger noise & string noise!

I practice this super slowly so I can use less pressure from my left fingers all the times!

Very simple! Guitar learning is easy (just learn shapes) but to be a good (fun) guitar player... it's so difficult!
Because it's so natural to gain bad habits! (from so many sources like YouTube...)

Well, I needed to study with teachers! I could not come this far by myself even with millions of hours!

My pleasure! Thank you!

Tomo

Day 24-Week 3-Complete!

Observations were similar to last time. Need to focus on good posture and hand position and a light touch. The volume in the dynamics is a bit uneven but more often than not the volume is quite consistent from on section to the next :)

Hope you have had a good weekend everyone!

Good job!

Good posture!
Light touch!
Dynamics softer & softer!

Thank you.

Tomo

Yes! Good job!

I do this everyday! So good and very important!

Keep your left hand relaxed all the times.

Try to play normal twice then go softer.... and softer,,,

Thank you.

Tomo

Good job! Please watch this video 4-5 times before you do this.

Your amp should be a little louder so when you play normal, you need to feel a little uncomfortable feeling that it's difficult to play normal dynamics.

Guitar volume never go to full 10. Guitar volume around 8. Guitar tone is always full 10.

Try this. Your amp trreble 10, your amp bass 0!
Master Volume 10, Volume... up to you.

Thank you.

Tomo

Awesome advice, brightened right up :) sounds clearer, less buzz.
Thank you, that is amazing. - johno

Good job!

Brighter & louder = so honest!

Thank you.

Tomo

Great! This is a final part of this challenge. Just like this... in order to learn deeply.... it takes 2 weeks to a month or more. No hurry! Enjoy every moments.

Eventually we use a reverb as tool for controlling dynamics. More fun!
My pleasure! Thank you!

Tomo

Good job!
Yes, very last part of dynamics is almost you cannot hear anything.
This way, you know your dynamics very well and your playing will have more colors!

Try to play normal twice then use softer dynamics each times.
This way you can hear any string noise and any finger noise.

I practice this everyday! No reverb! My amp has no reverb!

Thank you.

Tomo

Good job!

Great to hear that!
First you need to find normal picking volume and get rid of loud picking volume like people do without an amp. Then try to play softer and more softer!

Thank you.

Tomo

Day 23:

I think today I'm doing a bit better than yesterday. I worked on trying to figure out what my normal picking volume is. Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm hitting the string too hard and actually playing loud first or not but I think I'm slowly getting there. I saw a comment that Tomo added about the volume levels that was helpful so I adjusted my guitar and amp volumes and it's making more sense now.

Good job!

Try to play a little hard... then normal... then softer and softer!
It will take some time to understand this.

When I teach anyone via my private lesson in person or via Skype.
First thing I teach about 3 things.
1) Proper amp setting
2) Proper guitar volume setting
3) Proper picking volume control

A lot of people don't know this at all!
They are believing something their own.... which is not correct.

First you need to work on your amp volume (a little loud and uncomfortable so that you just cannot play LOUD! (This part is hard to understand it) Then brighter, less bass, clean tone!

Thank you.

Tomo

Yes! Correct!
That's why I cannot teach this right away! Always need to have 3-4 steps back!

Now you can pay attention about your picking volume!
This way your tone will have more personality!

You're very welcome!
Thank you.

Tomo