Good Morning, Guitar Wisdom Team:
I wasn’t able to watch live last night so I was up early watching the recorded version. Very practical advice you gave, Tomo, about practicing. I really appreciated that you said “spend two weeks” on each lesson. I usually focus on one lesson in the method book and one other video lesson (for example, I started over on lesson one of Theory and am working on the C scale over again… and I LOVE the detail you added!). But I usually spend a month giving about 70% of my time to the Method Book and 30% to the video lesson in theory. I spend an hour every day beginning with the Chromatic scale for ten minutes to warm up, then about 40 on the lesson in the method book, and the last 10 minutes on the theory lesson. Can you give me some feedback on that approach?
Today, while watching the live stream recording, a few other videos in Guitar Wisdom’s library were touched on so I added them to my list:
1. FB Bb Blues Soloing Etude
2. FT Root 3rd 7th Swing Groove Technique
3. JS06 Blue Monk
4. JS02 Autumn Leaves
Number 2 I see you refer to often, the swing groove. Would you say that this lesson/technique is a staple and should be a priority lesson. If so, I really want to move this one into my routine. Again, you touch on it often.
The others that I added to my list, 1, 3 & 4, what level of priority would you give to learning those?
Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond to my comments.
With utmost respect,
Bryon Mondok
Laconia, New Hampshire
Thank you for sharing, Bryon! The R 3 7 swing groove is similar to the chromatic scale exercise because it addresses multiple aspects within a single lesson. I will let Tomo explain the reasons/benefits, but from my understanding as a non-guitarist, this lesson has been particularly effective in helping students enhance their playing skills. In other words, it has broader applications than you might realize at first (much like the chromatic scale!).
Thank you for providing the list of lessons mentioned. PRO TIP: you can use the 'SEARCH' feature at the top of the page to quickly locate these lessons. George has invested a lot of time embedding search terms for all the lessons on the platform, making it easy to find what you need!
Thank you Bryon for making this thread! So happy that you watched this Live Stream this morning!
Glad to be helpful! Just like what I said... in private lesson. Normally I give 2-3 homework. So after that week, I don't give new assignment because we need to review. I would say that most people practice like a tune (comfortable tempo) Not slow enough so I review the details. So here we go! Two weeks right there on one specific topic. Then 3rd week, I can show how to apply that tonic with other pattens or other keys or with chord progressions. Then 4th week, check the details again (as in private lesson)
Great! So happy to hear that you have watched a new version of C Scale lesson from Essential theory section. Essential theory section that George & I decided to remake all videos. I decided to use different guitar on each video! That section is so important. Simple, Clear, no confusion! I cannot wait to finish that section! Your list is good! Thanks for sharing.
Method book is very important but 70% of your practice time. Maybe you can change a little.
You can practice 5 to 15 minutes on each topic.
1) Chromatic scale exercise 5-10 minutes
2) Method Book 10-15 minutes
3) R 3 7 Swing Groove (of your choice) 10-15 minutes
4) Bb Blues Etude or Triad / Arpeggio related lessons 5-10 minutes
5) Improvisation or Transcribing music or intense listening song 15-20 minutes
This way, one practice routine menu: 45 minutes to 70 minutes
And if you have more time then you can add a little bit more.
To me, chromatic scale exercise & R 3 7 Swing groove ... most important than any others.
Because learning triad inversions or triad/7th chord arpeggios... once you know how to play in 2-3 seconds...
then no need to practice those everyday... same as Major scale or any other scales. I don't practice those once mastered them.
Once again, special thanks Sammi for making my Live Stream time table!
She is so smart! George always said "Sammi is perfect!"
As learning songs/melodies. Yes! Blue Monk and Bb Blues etude is great choice.
Autumn Leaves or any Jazz Standard or Jazz Blues (R 3 7) So you will be familiar with these chords.
Thank you for summarizing our December Live Stream.
Tomo
Hey Byron, thank you for the summary of the livestream! I’ve been traveling to family for the Holidays, but looking forward to watching it soon. I completely agree with Sammi and Tomo about the swing groove! It’s very much akin to the chromatic exercise with so many benefits embedded in it! It improves so much! Good rhythm is essential and the swing groove opens that door wide! Let’s enjoy this everyday for at least 5 minutes when warming up!
Bryon, I missed to answer more to your question. You wrote this....
<<>>
Yes. Correct! I always ask all my students (in private lessons) to master this technique.
A few important good effect from R 3 7 Swing Groove.
1) Very effective to control by your left hand muting technique. This is a base for funk rhythm guitar.
2) Very effective to control your time feel! Especially with a metronome. Different tempos.
3) Very effective to understand harmony & song form. This is a base for improvisation!
Hope this ideas will help you to understand why I always strongly recommend to learn & practice
R 3 7 Swing Groove! I do this everyday! A great mediation for me.
Thank you.
Tomo
Thank you for such a thorough answer. I appreciate you breaking down your answer and look forward to beginning to practice this. The meditation component to these practice "rituals" are really helping me pause and think more deeply in other areas of my life that, quite frankly, needed repair. Thank you for speaking about this regularly. I'm also reading "Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner. Do you know it? Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Effortless-Mastery-Liberating-Master-Musician/dp/156224003X/ref=asc_df_156224003X
Have a great weekend!
Respectfully,
Bryon Mondok