Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Thank you Serena for Week 2 / Day 1.

Good job on reviewing Week 1 for 10 minutes. I always start with a boring chromatic scale for 10 minites first. But I am believing that this chromatic exercise is so good! If I doubt it then that 10 minutes affect slighly less effect. Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do. Slowly and can repeat any parts.Sing lighly, no vibrato. Basic sound is good.

Thanks for watching the video. I hghly recommend to watch 3 times. If you only watch it once, most likey you undestood it then you will changing things slighly with your way. Good job! One String approach (I do this a lot!) Triad inversions on One String and 123 set strings. Inteval colors are so beautiful! Please have a good rest!

Tomo

Way to get it done, Serena! Sounds lovely, starting with the one-string approach and being mindful of intervals. You got this!

Thank you Tomo, I did get some good rest. I needed it. Great advice. I will start with the chromatic scale for 10 min warm up otherwise if not careful it will slowly start to get dismissed under the other topics and chores. I will make sure to build around this daily. I watched the video again tonight. I am grateful for this advice.

You're very welcome Serena.
Great to hear that! Good sleep is so important!

That would be great! Normally I do this 1212... on only 4th & 3rd string for 10 minutes everyday.
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/start-here/videos/ft02-chromatic-scale-exercise-1-2-1-2

Watch out any string / finger noise. Once you hear any noise, you can slow down (tempo)
No metronome needed.

Tomo

Way to stick with it Serena even with the rough patch going on. Sorry to hear that with such close friends, very difficult and exhausting hospitals. You did it tho, making the practice despite the difficulties to do it, I hope the guitar gave you peace during these times. Smiles to you, keep ringing in those peaceful triad tones. - johno

Thank you Eiji for Week 2 / Day 1.

Good job! Not looking. 2nd string / One String approach. Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do... Do Ti La So Fa Mi Re Do... slowly then Triad Inversions. Do Mi So / Mi So Do / So Do Mi... Then 123 set strings. Yes! We have worked on D for a week. C is a little simple.

Yes! Louder and brighter setting is must. Great choice! One Control BJF-S100, Beth Reverb
Ibanez AZES31. So great to hear that.

I love the TF-1250 (Eminence) Keep looking!

Tomo

Nice work, Eiji! I appreciate how you listed that out. Looks like 3 solid practice items.

Now that is appropriately Proper Eiji :) I can only imagine the sound being spot on and adding that nice glow. Thank you for sharing the details and changing it from the normal. Great idea!! - johno

Thank you Jeffrey for Week 2 / Day 1.

Good job from first week into this week. Please do sing Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.... Do Ti La So Fa Mi Re Do... and those sequencings & Triad Inversions on One String Approach / Not looking. Imagining the sound / Sing those notes then slowly play notes.

Tomo

Glad you found it! The Week 1 thread is taking longer to load...but we don't expect too fast :)
That's the way - get more familiar with the sound each time you practice

Thank you Kurt for Week 2 / Day 2.

Good job! Morning practice is good. Reviewing Week 1. Now applying to C Major.
Not Looking & Improving! Please not afraid to go slower and longer duration.
I love challenging to slow down more. Rest is very important. Thinking, Feeling... deeper!

Tomo

I love a morning practice (for yoga!), something about starting fresh and setting yourself up to have a great day.
It's great to hear you can tell you're improving. That is always motivating!
Maybe set an intention before you play to help keep the "mindfulness". Focus on one thing each time!

Yes Sammi! Thank you. I'm going to try focusing on one thing!
Yoga is a lot harder than it looks.
Kurt

Sammi, the mindfulness approach is a good idea. I do Yoga as well and setting an intention or stating a loud an affirmation can be beneficial.

Well, Kurt, yoga IS a practice! Serena, an affirmation that resonated with me recently was, "Even the little things I do make a big difference". This applies to everything! "Even the little things I do make a big difference."

Great plan! I like the idea of 3 short sessions a day.
Thanks for the ideas and update Leon!
Kurt

Thank you Leon for Week 2.

Good job! Triads are so good! This week is all about C triad inversions on 123 set string and One String Aproach. But if you have a little more room then you can more trias study.

3 times a day!
Note names, inversions, singing... Slowly!

Tomo

Thanks so much for the update, Leon! Keep in mind, slow and steady wins the race... Maybe consider Tomo's advice to focus on the C triad inversions and the one-string approach. Sometimes, narrowing your focus can uncover small details that lead to big improvements. It's the little things that make a difference! :) I’m excited to hear how your week unfolds.

Thank you for the reminder on "Slow" and "One String Approach"

I love working on tiny details!

Tomo

Hi, Mija! It's hard to play accurately distant notes, and I often make mistakes. But I try to enjoy my mistakes. Keep going!

Thanks for sharing, Mija! The "no-look" approach seems to be helping many people become more familiar with the sound and distance!

Thank you Mija for Week 2 / Day 1.

Good job! Singing, Not looking, One String Triad Inversion (So important!) and 123 set strigs.

That's right! It's not easy to go far distance. Totally okay to hit wrong notes. Keep working!
You are going get more familiar about guitar. No need to be able to do this soon. It's all about journey!

Tomo

Thank you Tadashi for encouragermet and sharing your experience!

It's not easy at all to jump and keep hitting wrong motes!
Yes! I really enjoy this process a lot!

Tomo

Great job, Sergio! Great to practice even for a short time. Thank you for the good inspiration!

That's the spirit, Sergio! You may have been the Do Re Mi guy, now you are the Do Mi So guy!

Thank you Tadashi! 🙏

Sammi, the Do Mi So guy!! 😄

Btw, Sol means Sun in Portuguese!🌞

Thank you Sergio for Week 2 / Day 2.

Hard work! Thank you for practicing your valubale 10 minutes!
Good job! One string approach is so good! I do this a lot!
C Triad Inversons and D Triad Inversions.

You can practice this without guitar too!
Imagine the sound, sing them... imagine move your fingers to each inversions/positions.
Listen each string! Imagine C note on 3rd string / 5th fret. That tone!
Not C on 2nd string / 1st fret... totally different tone.

Tomo

Thank you Tadashi for feedbacking inspiration!

Even thought little time.... will count strong!

Tomo

Thanks for the update, Tadashi! I appreciate your comments to others as well. Keep going, super slow and relaxed :)

Good job Tadashi!
Slow and relaxed isn't as easy as it sounds.
I know when I want to really work on eliminating noise, I play the exercises on my acoustic guitar with the wound strings.
Kurt

Thanks for your encouraging comment, Kurt!
Wound strings are a good way to practice noise reduction. Tomo recommends "non-coated strings."

Thank you Tadashi for Week 2 / Day 3.
Japan is 13 hours ahead of USA.

Good job! One string approach, slow and relaxed! So imporrant to be relaxed!
I try to use less tention and I keep my left thumb is moving so no tention from my thumb.

If you have a little more time then you can apply One String Approch with 1st and 3rd strings.
... When people ask " Should I do 1st and 3rd string too? " That type question is alraedy you answered! Yes! (Anything you wonder... YES!) You should do One String Approach on 4th string!

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for encouragement.

Yes! Slow & relax = very hard to do!
Less noise, no noise! Less pressure, soft picking... very important!

Tomo

Thank you Richard for Week 2 / Day 2.

Good job for working more than 10 minites!
Good job! Chromartic scale, Chromatic 1212 (make sure no finger noise!)
One string approach, sequencings and Triad on 123 set strings. (Do Traid inversion with One String Approach too) Singing, not looking!

Great to hear that you are gaining your confidence. Don't worry about me! I go slower and I go much softer! Great feeling that... you want / keep playing! So happy to hear that!

Tomo

So amazing, Richard! I know what you mean about "not up to Tomo's standards", but Tomo is right, don't think about him!! I mean that with love, of course. I want to highlight the major word you use in that sentence, YET.

Glad you are having fun with this challenge!

Richard, momentum setting in. This is a good thing.

Way to bring in the physics Serena, momentum = mass x velocity. It makes sense momentum takes time to get speed with all that practice. Lots of valuable practice Richard!! Let's keep going!! - johno

Clay mentioned:
"(a-ha: the high root position (17-17-15) is very hard for me to fit my fingers in unless I change fingers from 3-4-1 to 2-3-1)"

Yes, I also need to change my fingering up there. When you aren't looking, it's challenging to play those upper fret triads cleanly.

A little guilt-free noodling is a good way to use new techniques and have fun! Whether playing guitars or cooking dinner :-)
Kurt

Thank you Clay for Week 2 / Day 2.

Good job! Warm up with Chromatic 1212 on 3rd & 4th string. I do this everyday. Softer and softer. R 3 7 Swing... this one is so deep! I wish I have more time! Crazy chromatic!

Reviewing One String Approach. Sequencings (4 patterns), Triad Inversions.
Good job! Triad Inversions C & D on 123 string set. Don't worry highter frets.

In thought you had a instant Ramen noodles!

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for reminder!

You can use 341 fingerings on higher frets.
All you need to bring your thumb a little down.
It will take some time so no hurry!

Yes! It's hard to reach there without looking.
You can try it.

Cooking music with guitar!
I love improvise over blues chord progression.
I love both styles too. Traditional Blues & Jazzy Blues.

Tomo

Thank so much Tomo- I'll work on my thumb position and take my time to use fingers 341!
"F" stands for "Finger" not "Fret")
Kurt

Of course, I love Traditional and Jazzy blues so much! I love all blues, including, but not limited to:
Folk Blues, Texas Blues, Modern Blues, Jump Blues, Swamp Blues, Country Blues, Honky-Tonk Blues, Zydeco Blues, Delta Blues, Chicago Blues, British Blues, Detroit Blues, Boogie-Woogie Blues, Kansas City Blues, Classic Blues, Hokum Blues, New Orleans Blues, Contemporary Blues, Gospel Blues, Piedmont Blues, Rhythm and Blues, and the Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues :-)

You're very welcome Kurt.

Good job! Thumb position really influence smoothness on performance.

Wow! A lot of blues styles! When you pracice style of blues... pick one and focus on several months. Simple traditional blues. Simple and old = So good!

Tomo

Thank you Eiji for Week 2 / Day 2.

Good job! One String / One Finger approach on 2nd string. Do Re Mi & Triad Inversions/ Not looking. Yes! Try to feel different string set / different fret to feel same notes. That's why we don't use tabs. Tabs limit those possible locations. You are learning "TONE"

Lighter touch. No noise from strings / fingers. That's why no need to use a metronome.
Slow and slower. Good job not sliding notes. Triad inversions on 123 set string.

Tomo

A lot of focus on feeling today, Eiji! This is great. Maybe you can focus on hearing tomorrow!

Thank you Sammi.
Which hearing exercise are you mentioning? I may be missing something.

Sounding like a fortune teller there Sammi, is that how it is done?? 'feeling today, hearing tomorrow'.. Pieces of wisdom there, all good vibes, smilin' bright!! - johno

Sorry for the delay...I wasn't referring to a specific exercise, just emphasizing a different sense. Since you focused so much on touch, I suggested adding hearing/listening to the notes to your practice. Don't worry!

Good job Richard!
I think 10 minutes IS real practice.

Like Tomo reminds us,

" Even though little time.... will count strong!

Enjoy your day off!
Kurt

Thank you Rich for Week 2.
Don't worry! Do as much as you can. Yes! July Challenge is moving great!

Even only 10 minutes is so good! Even 5 minutes. When you only can practice a little time, you want to feel grateful! Positive feeling really effective when you are practicing. Focus to those notes. Listen carefully "Tone" from each notes.

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for encouragement.

Yes! So true! 10 minutes is real deal practice.

Even 3 minutes. I am so grateful!

Tomo

I hear you Richard, consistency is more important than quantity. I have been known to hide away in a room for 5 mins just so I could run thru chromatic or some other exercise. I think it all counts!

Consistency is more important than quantity ... that's gold!
Thanks for putting it so concisely and beautifully, Linda.

Thank you Tyler for Week 2 / Day 2.

Good job on reviewing. Review is always so good! One String / One Finger approach. No looking. Singing and playing. Review is so good! No memorization! Be familier with things.

Good job on Do Re Mi sequencings (3-4 patterns) No looking.
Try to feel these interval distance and feel the tone of specific fret(S).

Tomo

Solid day, Tyler! We love reviewing here.

For sure Tyler!! Intervals has my ticket too :) been fun singing, pause, and then playing, challenging my vocal pitch. - johno

Thank you Yen for Week 2 / Day 2.

Thanks for your honesty. You don't want to think about C. Easy! To me same difficulty.
I highly suggest to drop your opinions when you are study or practining. Basic does not means easy or low level. Maybe you can say simple but any contents are very deep and important.

For learning triad, please don't think which way is better? Think root first etc? Just learn any inversions on One String Approach first. That's why all lessons in Essential Music Theory is based on One String Approach.

Great news! This study will help other part of your performance skills. That's why foundation is more important than learning songs. You can mix C & D triad.l Learn note location sound. C on 3nd String / 5th or 2st string / st. Taste same note in diffeent locations.

Tomo

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Tomo :D
"don't thinnk which way is better" ... I feel that's what I need at the moment, in practicing the guitar, and in many other aspects of life.
As when I submerge myself in thinking of what's better, it's actually the inner fear of wasting effort, of not being good enough in disguise. Maybe I should get a Don't Worry pick :)

Thank you for sharing, Yen! These are helpful notes. I understand the mental barrier you're experiencing...one way to shift your mindset is to imagine you are a kid again. Kids are curious, and many things are new. Rather than thinking, "I already know this," you can try approaching C triads with a question: "I wonder what else I can learn from this?"
Just an idea. Definitely, don't worry!

You're very welcome Yen.
Glad to be helpful. There are a few choices and basically no need to decide anything.
Having a choices, oftions.. good.

Having experiences... no waste time at all!
If something is really not working then... you can tell and you have learned "Why?"
Best way is never "assume" Building your basics / foundation is opening your chance to improve more!

Yes! Don't worry Pick is great one. When I am traveling... my small bag is "Don't Worry"

Tomo

Thank you Johno for Week 2 / Day 2.

Good job! C & D Triad Inversions on 123 set string. Make sure do same on One String / One Finger approach to feel distrance/interval. Thumb is always moving and very light touch. Just balancing other fingers.

You can review One Finger approach on Do Re Mi sequencings (4 paterns)

Tomo

Thanks for sharing, Johno! Your posts read like poems

Awe Sammi, that comment means so much to me. I love poetry and have many influences from poets. You made my day whole heartedly. Hope you have a wonderful day, pure joy :) - johno

Yes, good advice well taken. That is what I needed to hear Tomo, I agree since those sequences need more depth of focus. Easier to imagine the note, then difficult to sing until a good loud warm up of singing the solfeg. I think it is air support part i get loud, even more difficult to be quiet. One string, not looking, based on interval and movable Do too. On it, writ it down, thank you - johno

You're very welcome Johno!
Glad to be helpful!

Imagine the sound
Sing pitches softly
Play them (no looking) One String...
Make some mistakes (learning)
Repeat without worry about.
How long? Each person has different pace. No need to know.

Keep working!

Tomo