Don't Forget to Make Music-PSA

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Michael

6 months ago

Hi All!

Don't do it like me. I've been working on foundations chords, triads, theory, technique etc. and I've been spending too much time doing exercises. I don't know why I've been doing it this much. 6-7 months and counting. Then Tomo on his Applying Diatonic Chords Lesson in Applied Theory explicitly states do no just run up and down scales, eventually music is the goal.

And for some reason this never reached me. I just tuned it out for some reason. Then this week I shifted, I started working on chord progressions with triads or doing CAGED and throwing in solos etc.

Wow! What a difference it makes to make music and not just run through scales over and over.

So, PSA, don't do a MJS, when you know your intervals, notes, solfege up to a certain level of mastery, make music. It's fun! :)

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Tomo Fujita Mod

6 months ago

Thank you for sharing! I respect your work ethic and dedication, commitment.
Only 6-7 months of foundation. Don't worry! That's so great! Now you can apply what you have learned or use
ability to hear what you have learned from... intervals, triads, 7th chords... you can hear those!

My first year of guitar playing, mostly chromatic scale and a lot of intense listening from records.

What you can do is
1) Learn any songs by ears
2) You can enjoy soloing any chord progressions.
3) You can write your own tunes.

Have a fun!
Thank you.

Tomo

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Michael

6 months ago

How can I start to learn songs by ear? I started with what I thought was a simple tune Floating On A Moment by Beth Gibbons and could figure out the first intro lines as it's mainly on two strings but once it got into chords and arpeggios I got totally lost.

I also am trying to learn the harmonica solo on the song Times of Trouble by Temple of the Dog and similarly I get lost too fast and can't get close to the sound I'm looking for.

I've been doing 1 and 2 of your suggestions but what can I do to start this ear training/transcription? I feel like I don't know where to start. Should I finish learned sus triads and then start testing myself on the different chord types? Do I sing and try to find the note or chord?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Tomo Fujita Mod

6 months ago

Simply just listen and if you can recognize chord progressions (from your past experiences)
Try to choose songs that fairly popular and not so difficult and don't pick too original.

Okay, pick something a little simple and slower tempo song.
Simple chord progression and a few challenge that you need to do.
First chord progression, bassline, then melody or any riffs.

Basic Ear Training is to sing Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do again C triad,
Then try to sing 4th, 6th,
Then try to sing 2nd, 7th... you can relate to any chords too.

Then you can switch different keys.
Key of A
Key of Eb ... etc.

This way you learned one thing and appy to two other things.

I just made this new Ear Training lesson on my YouTube channel so I can post it this week.

Did you watch this video?
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/ft-learning-the-fretboard-without-memorization

Thank you.

Tomo

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Michael

6 months ago

Good evening,

Thanks for the suggestion for the video! I have been learning the fret board through some of my own trajectory through other online teachers and now with this video I think it'll add another important layer.

Recently, I started learning where all the notes of C, D, etc. on the fret board and have been learning intervals from those notes on every string. Like a doing minor second from C or major second, or a major fifth from D on one string etc.

I had also planned on learning the intervals across string sets too, like for instance, if I have my 3rd finger on the C note on the 5th string, 3rd fret and then I put the middle finger down on the 2nd fret of the 4th string that is an E or a third from C.

As well, now I'm starting to do chord progressions and making up some tunes in different keys and that really opening up the fret board and where the notes are. You are right triads are amazing!

Now with the video I can now add scales on one string in different permutations like you've shown on your video. I've consistently been doing one string scales as I learn 7th chord arpeggios these days, too.

So I guess the takeaway is always learn deeply and one string exercises with intervals/solfege are very powerful! :)

Finally, I love your suggestion about learning an easy song. I think I was trying a song that was too hard and had too many layers of instruments to really hear the guitar well. I think I need a nice I IV V progression :)

Thanks for the suggestions. I will implement them slowly into my practice. :)

Cheers teacher! Have a great evening!

4 Likes

Tomo Fujita Mod

6 months ago

Good morning! Thanks for your reply. You're very welcome! My pleasure!

Good job! I cannot comment on other teacher's approach.

For understanding intervals, learn Major scale on one string & mix strings.
Then apply that to minor scale and more.

You can find out one note over many different strings etc.
I did that when I was a student.

Learn more any popular songs so that you can get used to hear any popular chord progressions.
As if you join a band, that band send you songs to learn!

Good job! So happy to hear that! One string approach is the best for me.
This way no tabs, no pdfs! You can save more papers!

Any popular songs will help your ears.
Even Beatles... first thing they learn all popular songs!
Then started composing (their management & manager suggested!!) based on any popular songs!
That's why all songs are sounded so good!

Thank you!

Tomo

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