Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Thank you Charles for sharing this.
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/js06-blue-monk

Have you ever seen this video?
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/fb-bb-jazz-blues-soloing-with-simple-phrasing

Thank you.

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for sharing these videso.

You are an expert on my lesson videos!

Thank you.

Tomo

Thank you Johno! Blue Monk lesson is so important!

1) Melody, Solo Etude....and your own solo (you can build it)
2) R 3 7 comping / finger picking
3) Tempo choices / 60-70 per beat or 40 on 2 & 4.
4) R 3 7 swing groove (strumming) / 48-52 per beat.

Tomo

Thank you so much!

This Blue Monk melody is super important!

Great melody!

I teach this song to all my Berklee students!
This melody & solo etude & R 3 7 finger picking.
With a metrome too!

Tomo

Hi Johno ! These day still practice R 37 with picking ,I stop the finger pinking practice , that way I 'm so busy, so I make thing more simple to me . Guess what ? I practice R 37 have the significant gains , That my pick is be " relax " , Very a few times , the pick is drop , and I feel the tone of my R 37 is become soft . Before I feel this " Relax " , The tone is so hard .
Someway is like , my finger not pressing with pick , but the pick itself can make R 37 swing groove sound .

I try to learn Blue Monk , now is searching and watching lesson first , sometimes I just think the melody of this song .

About Chromatic , thank you Johno , is have inspiration for me .

Good job Johno!

R 3 7 finger picking.
Srumming too. So good!
Super important skill to own!

Tomo

Hi Jiayang, I am in the boat of R37 too. This technique I listen to every sound from the guitar while strumming, muting, moving all around - thumb, elbow, drop my shoulder, use two fingers with mute 2nd 3rd finger. Lots of fluid motion everywhere. I now listen for this technique in music, and yeah that is R37. I build up to the song melody from foundation chromatic Bb, then Bb triads, Eb, F. then Bb R37 blues, then Bb R37 jazz blues, then Blue Monk. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to get to the song melody. It all sort of blends in tone and warm up. Keep challenging yourself in small pieces with big rewards. Enjoy the groove alone the way!! *smiles* - johno

Well say Johno , really cheer me up . There so many detail and guidance , I'm so appreciate for this .
All foundation is so worth , So steady .
·Chromatic Bb
·Bb , Eb , F triads
·Bb R37 blues
·Bb R 37 jazz blues
——Then Blue Monk !

WOW , Thank you Johno , a lot help in here , someway I will prepare like you , No rush , take slow down .

But most important thing is challenging ourself , R 3 7 Groove !!

This is a good video to reflect on Tomo, I really appreciate it. :) the solo etude is when I have been improvising around the triads and a chromatic steps. I like this structured etude over the improvisation. My troubles are I try to learn the etude then forget because I do.. I think I am at the place where I need to note for note transcribe to staff paper to try and practice from those charts. In those same efforts really focus on note names, phrases, and intervals. Otherwise I think am messing around to much and thinking to much with no longevity in the second non-melody section not fitting the R37 back to the one. The etude transcends nicely back to the melody over those 12 bars. Maybe do a transcribe like how the Rose room was presented in the April or May Live stream. Those are my thoughts for improving this one, transcribe to staff paper to remember better and make some more connections with the piece to understand it better. This additional video helps me out very clearly. I feel i have a path forward now. This has been on my mind with next steps. Thank you Tomo, greatly appreciated. Etude practice for me:) - johno

Thank you Johno for sharing this!

I use this song for performance practice.... first melody (note for note) to repeat 2 times. Then learn & practice comping ...R 3 7 finger picking for Bb Blues.

You can learn this solo etude slowly. Each phrase.... then put all together.
Once you can play this... keep repeating it everyday for a while.

If you wish, you can write all notes on paper... but you can learn them by sound but you can analize all the details. First phrase... pickup phrase 5th M6 R... CH M3 5 M6 b7...

Good job!
Keep going!

Tomo

Hey Tomo - so much great info about soloing. That is not my strength, and I want to improve - I love your process for building up to a solo. I'm excited now. Going to set "All of Me" aside for a while and get on Blue Monk.

Thank you Clay! This is how I teach "How to play solo!"
It's all about good preparation! No magic!

This song is "Must have" Great song form and beautiful melody & rhythm too.
Best not make your own solo from scales & arpeggios!

Tomo

This is new & fresh thing for me , and is so great .
The last part , bad example about the pattern , show me how to learn the song or do you own solo is real music way .
Thank you Tomo , am really appreciate can learn all this beautiful thing .

So happy to hear that! This concept... I teach all the times.
You're very welcome!

Simple!
1) R 3 7 Swing rhythm guitar
2) Blue Monk Melody (with details)
3) Solo etude
4) Building your own solo based on your favorite solos!

Tomo

I like this break down and explanation of the parts Tomo :). I see a path now with this growing experience. This is the explanation I was looking for, the good stuff. It makes sense to me picking in so many ways, etude. Guitar sounds really good, will work to keep it clean and in pace. Gotsa check out the next video in a minute. . Journey milestone with this video. Excellent. *smiles* - johno

Just fyi - this video says 60-70bpm, but I think it is 85.

Thank you Johno! My pleasure! Now you you know how to learn these and how to practice.

This video is focused on 60-70 every beat. Simple and slow. Once you can play this... then you can use a metronome at 40 on 2 & 4. You can hear those clicks on beat 2 & 4.

Have a great day!

Tomo

So appreciate Tomo ,is very detail teaching , I will take some time to learn.
Today I do R 3 7 groove finger picking practice , Blue Monk is so amazing , Thank you for all things you teaching me !

Thank you Sammi! You know about me so well!

Each person has own unique way to think, understand things so I just need to adjust, find a way to explain thing slighly different ways.

I will do more!

Tomo

Yes! I love using my 1st finger & 4th finger so I can use 2nd & 3rd fingers for muting.

Tomo

Thank you Tomo, for the very easy to understand explanation!
You often use your left hand to mute when comping.
One question: Do you not use right hand palm muting at all when comping?
Thank you.

You're very welcome Tadashi! Thanks for your comment on my X too!
So happy to hear that! This comping (Finger Picking) I use both hands for muting.

Tomo

Thank you Johno! So happy to hear that! This video is presenting how to practice. Best to start only using two secions first. After this you can add Solo Etude part. This time you can play along this or play an opposit part.

You're very welcome!

Tomo

Hi Serena! This video is not in direct response to your question, but it will give you many ideas:

around ~2 minutes in, Tomo talks about feeling 2&4.
Yes, go back to step one. Maybe just let the metronome play and practice moving your body. Then add counting out loud. The next step would be tapping. Practice timing/rhythm without your guitar first, so you can internalize it.

Thank you Sammi for shariing this video!

Tomo

Thank you Serena for checking in. Yes playing with 2 & 4 is not easy first at all.

1) First play something simple with a metronome at 80

2) Then play same thing with a metronome at 40 (2&4)
Now it's tricky because you are hearing those clicks on 2nd and 4th beats.

Thank you.

Tomo

Hey Serena - when I first started doing this, I would actually count "4" on a click, then "1" on the following space, "2" on the next click and so on. Then I would allow one more measure where I fully count "1,2,3,4" making sure that "2" and "4" are on the click. Then I would start on the next "1," which is silent. Hope that helps.

Perfect video - thanks Sammi!