Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Hope you had a relaxing 4th! Good idea getting your practice in early.

Will do - thanks!

I know that feeling Linda, after G my voice have to go an octave lower to be in tune, otherwise I sound like Mickey Mouse 😅

I’ve been doing the solfège part of the challenge on the A string. I can barely hit the D on the B string with my singing voice!

Thank you Linda for Day 4.

Some key, some chord is not own range!
Don't worry! Each week... different one.

I am not a great singer... but singing, imagining notes.... very important!

Tomo

Linda hang in there. I used to think I couldn't sing that high or play that chord but I was wrong. With right technique and optimism my sheer determination has proved me wrong..all is possible and I can hit notes I could never dream I could. Best of luck. You got this

Yes, Serena, I think it will come with time. But I will use lower octave(s) as a bail-out for now. It does really make me appreciate the folks who can truly sing well, it is such a talent.

Good job, Sergio!
No look is great practice!
Let's do our best together!

Thank you Sergio for showing this.

Good job! This challenge is better to hit wrong notes many many times!

Only one thing, you want to use less pressure on your left hand.
So you can go slower! Don't be afraid to go much slower!

Great!

Tomo

Hi Sergio ! I 'm follow you !
Great video , ear can fix thing & don't worry .
Yes , Let's go to keep going !

Thank you for always bringing the sunshine, Sergio!

🌞🙏

Love the increased limitations!

Thank you Jeffrey for Day 4.

Louder is better! Good job!

Only louder and brighter tone can tell left hand pressure.

Lighter touch is good! Good job!

Tomo

I love the power of limitation!

Tomo

Awesome stuff, Jeff! Keep going!

Very good Tadashi!! Let's keep going!! ☀️💪

Wow! You are really singing!
Great job not looking!
Thanks Tadashi.
Kurt

Thank you Tadashi for Day 4.

Good job!

When you sing, it's better not use any vibrato!
Try not use any vibrato!

Do Mi So / Mi So Do / So Do Mi....
Please slow down! Too fast!

Good job not looking!

Tomo

Thank you Sergio!
Triads, triads, triads!

Thanks, Kurt!
Let's have fun practicing!

Thank you Kurt for Day 4.

One String ... thinking before playing!

Not looking is not easy..but very important and it's very effectice.
Most people look at notes before play... so just keep playing correct notes.

Singing and slowing down... all good!
Many people want to play in tempo a lot! Better to play slower!

Please enjoy triad inversions!
Thank you.

Tomo

Sounds like you're having a great time, Kurt! Connecting with your guitar and the community...what could be better?

Best summer ever Sammi!
Thanks to everyone here for getting down and working hard and having fun.
You can't help but want to keep going!
Kurt

Thank you Richard for Day 4.

Yes! Many comments are so helpful and very inspiring!

About singing. You are correct.... any octave is good!
Can go lower... or higher!

Guitar practing... someday I feel awful, worse than before.
That's so normal. No need to go better and better.

Especially not looking at the fretboard.... a few days.... could feel worse...
That's a part of learning curve. Don't roo much attention!

Thank you.

Tomo

So true..it's like a bad hair day lol.

I really hate my bad hair day!

Tomo

Excellent point, Richard. I'm sure I can vocalize those notes an octave lower. That will be my focus for today. Finding not looking at the fretboard to be so helpful.

Me too. :) mine of course.

Thank you Yen for Day 5!
You are slightly ahead of us.

So great to hear that!
Singing and going slower... more doscoveries.

Good job on those points!
1) Left hand pressure.... pay a lot of attention. (I do!)
2) You can sing notes between Root ... 3rd.....5th.
So you can sing Do Re Mi.,... Do Mi...Mi Fa So ...Mi So etc.
3) Finger / String noise... Turn up amp.. more treble!

So happy to hear that you feel more things to do.

Thank you.

Tomo

Hi Yen Tien. Doing the Chromatic exercise really heightened my awareness of string/finger noise. I still struggle with it some, but it is better than it used to be.

Love this, Yen! "by singing along and playing super slow, every day there is something new revealed to be worked on"
You learn so much more by taking your time :)

Yes Todd
"Feel" the interval distance!
Thanks!
Kurt

This is awesome, Todd! Feeling the distance and hearing the intervals. "Hitting wrong notes is so clear now" - what an amazing feeling!

Thank you Al for Day 4.

Good job on One Finger / One String Approch!

You can practice singing & playing slowly (no looking!)
Then you can practice Major scale too.

So happy to hear that! No memorization!
You're very welcome!

Tomo

Love this, Al!

Good job Serena. Thanks for the update. Concentrating on the details and playing clearly really helps me slow down before moving on.

I'm trying to visualize and review things I'm learning when I go on my walk each day. I don't know much about visualization. I do like to imagine good things happening in the future. That is just daydreaming, I guess.

Another mind game I play sometimes:
When I am practicing and am getting a little sloppy and tired, just before I take a break,
I might try to pretend that I am showing someone how to play the exercise perfectly and cleanly. It's funny how much better I focus when I feel like I am helping someone else. It is like the opposite of how self-conscious I feel when I film myself.
Kurt

Thank you Serena for Day 4 = Happy 4th!

Singing triad inversions & Major scale around triad inversions.
Slow, soft... good job! Yes! You can visualize / imagine those notes / sounds

You can visualize notes with name of notes/intervals and all.

Thank you.

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for sharing your mind.

Helping others is very good way to focus on topics because you need to make all clear to other people. Just like someone will be visiting your house! Then you have to clean your house right? A little similar effect. If you cook something for yourself then you can do a quick job....if you want to make something to others.... you will make sure...

That's one of reasons I don't play guitar casually. I play it real. That's why I don't touch my guitar too much. When I do... I pracrtice or I perform. No middle!

Thank you.

Tomo

Kurt, your comment: "I might try to pretend that I am showing someone how to play the exercise perfectly and cleanly. It's funny how much better I focus when I feel like I am helping someone else"

I think that's because you are an excellent coach.

Thanks Linda!
I could be a professor at "Cat Litter Box Wisdom".

Highly recommend "The World's Best Cat Litter" Made out of Corn! Smells a little like the cereal "Corn Pops!"
Kurt

This is super helpful!
I find it easier to get closer to the higher pitches by thinking of raising or lifting the back of the roof of my mouth (Soft Palate) when I try to get there.
Kurt

Kurt = "I find it easier to get closer to the higher pitches by thinking of raising or lifting the back of the roof of my mouth (Soft Palate) when I try to get there".

I did not understand this but when I try to do it (maybe by airflow??) it seems to help. A little. Again, true admiration for those that can actually sing.

What I sort of remember being told about singing:
You have your "chest" voice and your "head" voice. Lifting the roof palate helps you reach higher notes with your head voice.
Also, it is important to think about opening the back of your throat a little. It helps you to not sound nasal and you have better tone and sing more in tune.
Kurt

Thank you, Tomo-san!
I appreciate your guidance in every detail.
Perhaps because I love singing and playing the guitar, I unconsciously placed more emphasis on singing.
I will continue practicing, paying more attention to the pitch of the guitar.
Thank you!

Thank you Linda, Kurt for ideas!

I think super light version of Chet Baker sing!

Main purpose is just recognize "Pitch"
So lighter sound, no vibrato and no need to worry any perfection.

Tomo

Thank you Mijia for your updates!

Ukulele is fun to play! I don't practice it but I like to play Ukulele.
All about triads! Good job!

Undo any memorization!
For this type foundation work... no need to go above 12th fret. (Case by case)

For example, when I teach E blues improvidsation.
First thiing I do is to limit area (possible positions)
Less is more!

Tomo

It is fun, really. Not my instrument though, but it has strings and frets, so it was a classic case of "the best tool is the one you have".

Good point on the limiting part -thanks!

Glad you are enjoying Mija!

Limitaion is the key to improve effectivelly.

Especially learning "Improvisation"
Only up to 12th fret or/and only top 3 strings or/ only top 2 strings.
This way you can focus on small area and you will get something.

Thank you.

Tomo

"Didn't have access to guitar, but a ukulele - and left handed at that." Awesome dedication!

Totally agree with Clay...good job Mija!