Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Very Thank you ! Jeffrey! Valuable tips, I will put these words on my wall!
_You won’t feel results while you are playing it’s the consistency over time that’s making it all happen._
I will do like you say , break tricky parts into small part! Slow to do!
Like this pot metaphor! Yes , Don't expect too fast , really need remember in heart!

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李jiayang

5 months ago

-Personal practice journal-
Day 7-8-9
These days I'm focus on muting technique , and meet another tricky thing .

· How to switch chords motion is very small , and smooth?

In Guitar 1
1st ~ 3rd bar , these chords with D string notes ,Like E -F - E- F, this part really test 2 & 3 finger's change .And in 1st bar second chord ' F A C' need 2nd finger to play G string A note , the switch process is not easy for me .Except 2&3 fingers , In these chords , B string C note need use 1st finger to play until third beat chords ‘F G B ' , 1st finger will left ! Tricky thing is really test finger!

Then I decided to watch the lesson hopping to find something can help.

And very happy , I find the left hand thumb position is really important , thumb position can change that can better stretching finger or more relax , that's can make chords play more smooth !

Another idea is , only very slow can do it . so lucky , chromatic scale is help me again , the idea is : very quick use palm to touch string will make noise , but slow can more lightly , then no noise . This lesson teach me 'Slow' to do , unexpected things will happen .

· Muting part

New situation is , play D string E note , 1st string will ringing ( find from guitar 18th bar 1st beat note E)
So when play note & chord and they have D string E note , should use finger to muting top string while playing.

There are some different method to muting , so happy to find this!
I use pencil mark the note and chord with different symbol :

Circle : Finger lightly touch muting
In Guitar 2 :
1bar 1st beat note C ; 2 bar 3rd beat note F ; 14 bar 1st beat note B.

Triangle: can be muted when play the next note is played ( use next note finger)
In Guitar2 :
2bar 1st beat G note

Have questions ! In Guitar 2 , 8th bar ,second beat G note , about this note mute , should I use next note C 3rd finger to mute?

wave line : use thumb muting , and the palm need floating on the string .
Ps: Remember really slow to do!
In guitar 2 : the 8th bar 3rd beat note C in 5th string
In guitar 1 : the 4th bar chord 'C E G’

· Guitar1 , 16th bar's first and second beat muting technique
In this part , I think I really need slowly to do ,and remember just try a few times .

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Jiayang, Thanks so much for your post/recort.

Muting is very important on this duet.
Thank you for writing a lot of details.

Yes! Just like R 3 7, Triad inversions..
It's all about Thumb position! Very important.

I still practice my chromatic scale.
Super slow and very soft picking.

<>
= When you play G note, you can lift your 2nd finger from E note, keep touching the string & I use my right hand palm muting.

Thank you.

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Thank you , Sir!
Let me to understand the technique what you say , should take some time!

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

My pleasure!
Please take your time.

Thank you.

Tomo

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

This is really helpful. Detailed descriptions of the challenges the Method book presents. Tomo said the book is probably more about technique and muting than it is about sight reading. I can spend a few weeks on one lesson in this book. I try to go really slow so I can hear what is happening. I use a timer rook keep sessions short. 15-20 minutes at a time. It feels great when we come to a challenge and figure a way out! Tomo is teaching us to help ourselves get better!
Let's keep going and growing!
Kurtis

6 Likes

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Hello Kurtis!

This book is so good! This thread is a dynamite!

20 minutes a day is plenty!

Thank you.

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

If have help that's so great , This book brings so many real feeling with some details , every one is a challenge !
For me I need control the time , because I really easy to rush . Yes ,agree what you say Krutis! It feel great when we find a way and this way is help.
Really appreciate Tomo's teaching!
Yes , Let 's keep going and growing ,So happy that we can going together, cheers!
Jia yang

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

I love this thread! Guitar journey! One of great ways to practice guitar!

You can learn so much techniques... especially muting & picking techniques.

Thank you!

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

-Personal practice journal-
Day 10-11-12

These day still focus on muting technique and modification the notes.

About what Tomo said :
<>
= When you play G note, you can lift your 2nd finger from E note, keep touching the string & I use my right hand palm muting.

I've also tried to understand this in practice these days.
It has some interesting processes :

About my question : In Guitar 2 , 8th bar ,second beat G note , about this note mute , should I use next note C 3rd finger to mute?

Now I think I can't use next note C 3rd finger to muting . I think this is due to timing . When use this way to mute , to a large extent ,G note muting will not in time . Next note 3rd finger need to play C note , is first thing .And if this finger need to muting the last note , seems so many work for 3rd finger .

to say the least , muting and playing , it's all at same time , there's no space between notes, I think that's exactly the way to do it .
But back to muting technique , "muting" whether or not means that no notes are being played at this time?

Ps: Here it refers the muting of switching between notes and notes while the beat is advancing .

when playing , we can moving body to feel the beat , but not use metronome , this way , I can feel some breath or space about the score and my both hand to playing .

About these reason , I think I can't use 3rd finger be playing C note and muting G note.

So I guess in the sense of performance , this type muting technique almost is so brief or brevity.

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Great review Jiayang!
Thank you so much for your time.

<> Play E note while your 2nd finger mute higher notes & your right hand palm mute lower notes. When you play G note, your right hand palm mute lower notes and when you play C note, your 3rd finger mute higher notes. When you play G note , your right hand palm mute lower notes. Very tricky!

Please watch my lesson a few more times so you will notice more things.
More you practice this, you will get better with these muting techniques.

It's all about duration of notes (relaxed) and timing of muting & moving fingers for next movement. Each phrase got own things so don't analyze too much.

Practice slow and slower!
Thank you.

Tomo

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

I made a quick video for you!
Hope this will help. Very difficult to explain these in writing because it's very subtle.

Thank you.
Tomo

9 Likes

Jeffrey Croteau

5 months ago

Wow beautiful guitar. So alive! Amazing it responds to talking. Also this video really helps to better understand the details thanks for sharing to Jiayang and us

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Thank you so much!
1963 Gibson LG-1

You're very welcome!
These muting techniques and nuance ... should not understand by words.

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Very thank you ,Sir ! What you said is demonstrated in the video ,very helpful to understand !
The 1963 Gibson LG-1 so beautiful sound and can talk!

Music, you really have to listen and joy the moment .
But when practice and learning , you have to do a lot of detail.

Thanks so much for the video , Many muting detail are answered in the video , so valuable and really helpful !

So grateful!
Ps : Love this angle!

Jeffrey Croteau

5 months ago

Great notes Jiayang. Hard to explain in words am working on muting technique too. I think of muting as stopping the strings so they all don’t vibrate or ring out. The strings move and vibrate a lot when you play. You can choose to entirely mute the strings so there is no sound or partially to make a more rhythmic sound, You can choose to mute certain strings or all strings. Lot of options. Most often example I mute so other strings I’m not playing don’t voluntarily ring out. The strings you choose to mute you are making not ring out with your right palm or left hand by pressing on the string so they don’t vibrate or ring. This will get rid of unwanted sounds from strumming and creates a clearer tone. Also otherwise there can be a trail effect where the notes you already played are still sounding or smearing together while you move along. Or a string volunteers to ring from the vibration of another strings you played. Amazing how alive and sensitive the guitar is that’s why fun to learn about muting. Not sure if this makes sense

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Thanks Jeffrey for your advice!

Thank you.

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Jeffrey, that's a great notes. Your notes is so inspiration me , Thank you!
Yes ,agree with hard to explain to use word , each other's notes will help us move forward , and really thanks for Tomo's teaching!

I'm so happy we're learning this miracle technique together!

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

This is helpful Jeffrey! Thanks for summing up this challenging technique!
Kurt

RULYNA

5 months ago

After reading this thread, I'm inspired to practice this too.
I gain insight from this discussion.

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

I love this thread! So happy to hear that! Thank you!

If you buy this book, please only buy "Modern Method Book Volume One"
Not volume 1,2,3 thick book! This book can help you to be very patient and many important guitar techniques.

Thank you.

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

RULYNA , Than's really great!
Let's growing together!

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

I love this thread because it gently nudges me to go practice my Method book if I haven't already that day.
Thank you 李jiayang!

Kurt

6 Likes

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李jiayang

5 months ago

HA HA ! Kurt you are here!
The thread will also remind me to practice ! Come and growing together ,So happy for this !

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

Yes ,李jiayang!
I'm here and very thankful that I am!
It is very early in the morning now in Seattle, and I'm "Bright eyed and bushy tailed".
That old saying means that I am "energetic and ready to go".
Originally it was used to describe squirrels, but it describes me this morning :-)

Thanks again 李jiayang for sharing your notes with us.
Learning this challenging material with others is so helpful.

We're doing this!
Let's keep growing and going...slooooowly :-)

Kurt

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Kurt! It's 9:08 at night in China .
but I want to tell you , 9:00 at this morning ,I did my chromatic scales practice and method book practice !
Feel so energy in the morning ,clear mind.
Now get ready to review it! :)
Let's keep going Sloooooowly!

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Thanks Kurt!

Great book if you use it!

If you don't use it... just papers!

Thank you!

Tomo

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

So true! I eventually will get my paper copy. I do like being able to enlarge the font on my iPad version. You just you can't turn the book upside down unless you lock the screen! :-)
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

It's so nice to own a book version of this book so you can do "Upside Down" too!

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

A book version of a book.
A "novel" concept.

I'll be here all week.

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

Great news for me! My new "paper" book version of Method Vol. 1 will be here today. (It defeated Franz Metrognome in the race here to their forever home).
I'll let you know how I think the paper version compares to the iPad version.
I'm thinking of tricking the new book out and getting it spiral bound.
Years ago (when I had access to free printing)- I had a big book, "The Complete Scores of the Beatles" blown up to 11X16 and spiral bound into three big volumes. These Guitar Wisdom lessons are really helping me be a better reader. I appreciate everyone making it fun.
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

So awesome! So happy to hear that!

Please let me know. Thank you.

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

-Personal practice journal-
Day 13 - 14 -15
These day I don't write any note about hands technique in my Method note book.

Practice 1~8 bar , Guitar 1 & 2.

The process seems more slowly .

I change my practice time to the morning ,( Just before dawn) that's time my ear will be clear , room is so quite.

· About the course learning & supplement course
Before , I tend to show more care about Tomo's hand movements , But now I think listening can tell me more information.

I recoded a short clip of yesterday's practice , about 1 minute , and I want to listen that before today's practice , feel some excited .

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

Yes! I agree 李jiayang! Listening to Tomo instead of just watching his hands helps us listen to ourselves. Recording yourself is a great idea. I love early morning practice when it is dark, quiet and I am fresh.
Also, my book came with a companion! I also got a copy of the Berkley Press book "A Modern Method for Guitar- Jazz Songbook Volume 1". It is based on our Method book. 15 Jazz standard songs on 29 pages. I haven't asked Tomo what he thinks about this book yet. I want to work hard and be able to play some of this by springtime!
Kurt

"Gotta get through January. Gotta get through February". - Van "The Man" Morrison

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Good job Jiyang!

Once you get a few ideas on how to mute (muting techniques)
No need to write them down.

If you can practice in morning, that's so good! Fresh & focus well.
You are doing very well! Thanks so much for sharing!

Thank you.
Tomo

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Thank you Kurt! So happy to hear that!
A modern method for guitar volume one!
I don't know about jazz song book.
Simple real book must own.

Thank you.
Tomo

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

Hi Tomo,
I have a copy of the Real Book 6th edition- (yellow cover). My Autumn Leaves is in the key of G or Em. You teach it in the key of Bb or Gm in the lesson. JS02 Autumn Leaves. Is there a specific version of the real book you use?

That Berklee Jazz Songbook Vol 1 stresses how it is a companion to Leavitt's Vol.1 Method book. I want to learn "So What". That tune shows some third position fingerings which aren't covered in the Leavitt Method book 'til the end. I'm a long, long way from there. I REALLY want to eventually be able to read and play music in positions higher than the first 5 frets. Good thing I don't expect too fast :-)
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Thanks Kurt for your reply.

Great! That case you want to look for while cover / official real book...
Legal The New Real Book from Sher Music Co. Autumn Leaves (Gm)

I don't know about Berklee Jazz Songbook....

Method Book Volume One is so good!

Thank you.
Tomo

Jeffrey Croteau

5 months ago

“If you don’t use it… just papers!”

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李jiayang

5 months ago

It reminds me another words, Jeffrey!
" Less is more"

Andrew Jenner

5 months ago

Loving this thread, thanks to everyone especially to jiayang for all the details.
It made me return to Sea to Sea as I realized I was not playing it well enough. Especially the muting with a floating hand. I have been practicing it at 50bpm with a recording of the piece otherwise I speed up the further I get through the piece. I'll have a go without the recording and move with the beat and see if I can keep a slow pace.

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Thank you Andrew! Great thread indeed!

I love our GW forum! Very special place!

Makes me very happy!

Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Hi , Andrew! Nice to meet you!
I love this thread , too! Thanks our " November Chromatic scale challenge " , teach this way to learning .
Thank you for reminds about the speed , Sloooooow to do for me is easy to forget .
So glad that we're learning together. :)

Andrew Jenner

5 months ago

Yes slow is a problem :)
I have to remind myself not think I'm smart :)

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

Yes Andrew! The same thing happened to me.
I had to go back! That is so good for us.
I needed to slow down!

Great reminders.
Thank you so much!

Kurt

Kurt Schubert

5 months ago

Holy Smokes 李jiayang!
This thread already has almost 1100 views and 120 comments in just a couple weeks. I think you struck a nerve. This is Guitar Wisdom's version of "Going Viral"!
So happy you started this thread!
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

So lovely!

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Thank you ,Kurt!
As you say , this is so grateful , it seems that we are all interested in Sea to Sea!
1100 , Yes , last night I 'm so excited with this , Because it so happy & beautiful to bo here with everyone , to growing with everyone , I love GW family!

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李jiayang

5 months ago

-practice journal-
Day 16-17-18
·These day I 'm practice Bb Blues R 3 7 Swing Groove with 《Sea to Sea》 Feel my arm is more free , not so stiff then before .
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/ft-root-3rd-7th-swing-groove-technique
·Still focus on muting technique : No noise Both hand coordination.
Palm muting .
Thumb position & muting.
Finger muting .
Most important thing is slow .

·I need review the Chromatic scale 's video , thumb position things seems like not so clear .

·These day I find Not rushing is more important than I thought.
Really thanks for Tomo's supplement lesson, the video is so helpful , tell me how to slowly to do this 《Sea to Sea》.

Tomo Fujita Mod

5 months ago

Great job Jiayang!

R 3 7 Swing groove is my favorite practice routine everyday! (Even 3 minutes!)

Definitely these two for everyday!
1) Chromatic scale. Now you can add this.
1212 3212 3432 1234
4343 2343 2123 4321

2) Swing groove (very slow)
Bb Blues & F Blues (R 3 7)
50 per beat
40 on 2 & 4
and more!

3) Method book volume one.

4) Do whatever you like. Learn blues solo etude, walking bassline, blues phrase, blues melody (Blue Monk = Must!) , learn any songs, song's chord progression.

Good job!
Don'r rush!
Don't expect too fast!

Thank you.
Tomo

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李jiayang

5 months ago

Really thank you, Sir !
So many great routine, adding this & Looking forward to exploring Guitar Wisdom!
Don't expect too fast , do not rush .