Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Love the trending approaches! Keeping good posture is a challenge for us all. Keep it up and, of course, slow down :)

Jeffrey Burnwood

3 months ago

Hello everyone! Hope you all of you are doing well!

Friday practice!
I reviewed again D scale, triads (one finger approach and then triads on string set 123).
Same was applied to C scale and triads :D
All of them singing Do Re Mi ..., then Do Mi So. ...

I feel nice feeling the 'flow' of naming the notes faster while reviewing the triads, so it's so nice to see progress like that as well!

Now, I don't know if this is the place to ask if I'm pressing too hard, I try to touch the strings as mentioned in other comments, but I feel that I don't get any sound, or the notes simply get muted :c, could this be the height of my strings?

That being said, once again, thank you so much for these challenges!

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Jeffery for week 2!

Good job on Friday practice! Review on D scale. Triad inversions. One String C Scale & Triads.
Reviewing is so good! Turn up your amp, more treble so when you touch the string, you can hear it loud. Listen intonation & sustain note longer. My height of string.. is around 2.00mm

You're very welcome!

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

This is great, Jeff! Progress does feel good :) This is definitely the place to ask questions! What Tomo said^ amp setting will reveal extra noise.

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Jeffrey C & Jeffrey B!

Tomo

12 Likes

Mija

3 months ago

Day 2 & 3
Second day was very busy, and third ran swiftly toward the setting of the sun due to cleaning and chores. Managed to fit in a tiny bit of practice at the end of the days.
Today with some extra-curricular fun to memorize the sound: by doing a 80ies style hammer on-/pull off -run with the C-triad inversions on B-string. (p1--h5--h8--p1--h5...)

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Mija for Week 2 / Day 2 & 3.

Good job! Fiting practice time into your busy life. Not easy! C Triad Inversion. Did you work on One String Approach & play 123 set strings? Do more One String / One Finger approach,

Tomo

Serena Bobbi

3 months ago

Mija.. .I love the feeling of getting all the chores done. Guitar at end of the day, truly a bonus.

Mija

3 months ago

Tomo:
Yes, 123 string triads, one string inversions on B-string, plus the little tapping exercice for fun.

Have a nice weekend - Serena and other participants also!

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Mija!

So happy to hear that! I love playing One String / Inversions!
Yes! Please enjoy!

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Happy days, Mija! Always a great feeling to slow down after a busy day.

Tadashi Morita

3 months ago

Week2 Day5
http://youtube.com/post/Ugkx4zZ-q3ocI5kZqbixy6eRuuVodkrKpqfO?si=f3lOf327SOLmDaPi

Good morning, everyone!
The date changes early in Japan.
Today, Practicing one-string approach with one finger and C major triad on the 123 string.

I tried the one-string approach on all strings.
Then, while taking notes, I identified the "scales" contained in each string.This may be a little different from the purpose of this challenge...
ET series lessons are very helpful.
Thank you!

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Tadashi for Week 2 / Day 5.

Good job! Great chart! You can do start same note and you can play those scales too! (later)
One String / One Finger approach is so good! All strings! You can always add your own thing besides July Challenge. Why not?

So happy to hear that the ET series are helping you.

Tomo

Serena Bobbi

3 months ago

Tadashi, Really nice chart of the modes.

Tadashi Morita

3 months ago

Tanks Serena! Guitar is wonderful!

Linda M Tucker

3 months ago

Tadashi, brilliant chart. Have not seen it laid out that way before. Good job.

Tadashi Morita

3 months ago

Thank you Linda! I would never have understood if I hadn't watched the ET series. Music theory is fun!　

Sergio Walgood

3 months ago

Day 4, don't worry!

Today was a very long day, preparing and packing for tomorrow concert between other things, what a week! 😮‍💨

I decided to take a break and do the exercise, not thinking too much, just enjoying the sound.
And the sound of the guitar is so sweet!
I’m more and more in love with this instrument every day. 🎸❤️

We keep going! ☀️

12 Likes

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

Sounding so great Sergio! Thanks for sharing the lovely serenade on a nice warm Friday evening.
Love the Charvel and Vox combo!

I didn't know you lived on the Starship Enterprise! So many knobs!
Have a great time Saturday!
Kurt

Sergio Walgood

3 months ago

Thanks Kurt! 😄 Its my old analog soundcraft console, sounds great! Its a live mixer but I use it at my studio to record stuff. This is the place were I do some work and rehearse 🙏 its my temple

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

Wow! That is classic and an amazing tool for you!
Good thing you have friends to help you move it if you ever need to :-)
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Sergio for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job on preparing! Very importnat! Great way to enjoy the sound! I do too!
Just an idea.. first strum on C chord. How many way can you use dynamics?
Good pace on One String approach! Slow is so good! Playing 3 notes. Try to pick much softer. Easy way to think... softer 3 times than one note!

Tomo

Jeffrey Croteau

3 months ago

Looks like a fun room there Sergio. Great calm spot to play music. Nice playing

Jeffrey C

Clay

3 months ago

W2D4- still same practice with a few tweaks. 341 fingering on high root C is getting better - also transitioning from that to the high 2nd inversion C or D and back is getting smoother. Spent some fun time doing musical C/D triad combos. Amazing how a I/II progression can have so much opportunity. Started with Rt(I-II) 1st(I-II) 2nd (I-II) Rt(I-II) progression then varied from there. I could do the math, but not on a Friday night - anyway I'm sure there are dozens of patterns with just these C/D triads. Question - I am calling C the "I" in the above, but in almost every variation I played, D always sounded like "home." Does anyone else feel that? Am I actually playing VIIb-I?
Oh yeah - one string no look C on the 4th string added!

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

Great update Clay!
When I go back and forth between D and C Triads, I feel like D is the 1 and C is the b7.
Have a nice weekend!

Kurt
4th string and beyond!

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Clay for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job! Reviewing fingering. Any techniques ... will take some time. Don't worry! Do more triad inversions on 123 set strings and use less pressure from left hand. Pick softer. You can practice diatonic triads too. Depends on song. Simplly you can think. I & bVII. Could think Lydian too. 4th string with no look.. is a trend!

Tomo

Clay

3 months ago

Thanks Kurt and Tomo. So confirmed - C/D progression is actually I-bVII in D, not I-II in C. Thanks!

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

You're very welcome. That's popular sound.

It could be possible.... if you start C... then D.... I then II (Lydian sound)

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Love to hear this kind of discovery, Clay! GW is the land of possibilities :)

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

July Challenge - Week 2 (C MAJ) and D MAJ review.
Day 4
Another good day. Watched week 2 July Challenge video again.

Chromatic Vertical exercise added to Chromatic 1234 and 1212 exercises early in the morning.

Wanted to focus on really listening today and slowing down when I make a mistake.
Still working on Not Looking. It's getting better and better.
C Major one string/ one finger in 3 variations. I didn't explore the 4th D string too much, but was able to sing the scale up the neck starting with open D.

Worked on 341 fingering of root inversion on higher frets. It's really happening without looking. So happy to be getting it.

Some reminders I made note of while practicing:
Expect Nothing
Believe
Listen
Slow Down
Don't Look
Fingers 341
Thumb
Less pressure
Softer and softer
Slow WAY down

Going to be a nice weekend to keep going!
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Kurt for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job! Reviewing is great! Chromatic 1234 & Chromatic 1212. I love those! Super slow & super soft. One String approach. Not Looking. 3 Sequencings. 4th string is very special! 341!

I do same! Expect nothing! Believe all the way! Listen deeply! Slow way down! Don't kook at all! Proper fingeings! 341. 132 for 2nd inversion! Thumb placement is super important! Always less pressure from left hand. (Very difficult to master!) Yes! Softer and softer. Insanely slow!

Have a great weekend!
I need to work on my Translation on my book!

Tomo

Serena Bobbi

3 months ago

Yay I love this laundry list.

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

I agree with Serena! So happy for you, Kurt!

John Fiers

3 months ago

Great reminders Kurt, fitting list!

3 Likes

Jeffrey Croteau

3 months ago

Really focusing on note names today. Practiced singing names of notes. Going slower. Got back from writing and rehearsing with my neighbor. Not expecting ended up with a new part. What a thrill.
Now pressed play freddy king greatest hits shelter years

Jeffrey C

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

Great job Jeffrey.
So cool you write and play with your neighbor!
Feels so great when the note names start coming easier.

My neighbor Caleb had a band. We have talked about jamming for years. It will happen someday. For now, we just wave at each other when he walks his dog. He can REALLY belt it out and play the harp!

Kurt
This is title track to an album Caleb made.

Flat Black Cadillac · C-Leb & the Kettle Black

Jeffrey Croteau

3 months ago

Thanks and thanks for sharing this Kurt that will be fun when you get to play w Caleb. The harmonica in this sounds real nice that was my first thought. you’re not kidding

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Jeffrey C for Week 2.

Note name is super important!
One finger and name note!
Super slowly! Eventually all the strings!

Singing is great too!
Super slow!
No expectation.

Good job!

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Nicely done Jeffrey C!

RICHARD R BENNETT

3 months ago

Day 4 - Set the timer at 30 minutes. Goal: Learn pattern 1212; 3212; 3432; 1234 chromatic on strings 4 and 5, including singing notes, naming notes, and eyes-closed down/up picking. I enjoyed it!
Then I switched to the top 3 strings triads. (Skipped one string exercise today, will focus on it tomorrow.) Noted that the strings are all a Perfect 4th apart except 3rd (G) to 2nd (B), which is a Major 3rd.

Noted also that the first four frets are about 1 1/4 inch wide; the next four (5,6,7,8) are about 1 inch wide; and the next 4 frets are about 3/4 inch wide. So I could roughly calibrate how far to separate my four fingers in each area. These understandings help me visualize where the next inversion is.

I think of the interval that the Do (tonic) has to travel in terms of frets or half steps, and then what finger to place on the Do and the other two notes. All this thinking is to get me roughly calibrated. Then, I stop thinking and try to listen deeply, sing the notes, then play them super slowly with eyes closed, naming them and the intervals between them, soft picking, amp up high, light touch left hand fingers, palm in place close enough to mute bottom strings when necessary and hope my mind and muscle memory can take me there with my eyes closed.

I think I am making progress. I know it feels good!

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

Thanks Richard! You sang the chromatic exercises? Wow!
Thanks for the great update!
Feels so good when there is no denying that we are making progress!
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Richard for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job! Chromatic Scale 1212... (I do this everyday! I only do 4th and 3rd strings)
Traid inverson on 123 set string / One string triad inversion other day. Interval recognition.

About distance / fret... I go by feeling a lot so I hit more wrong notes / many times and slowly
I could feel that sound by moving my fingers. This part will take a long time. Don't worry!

Not looking. Super slowly. Name notes. Soft left hand. Soft picking. Palm muting.
Good job!

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thanks for sharing your notes with us, Richard! I like how you think about it and then don't think about it. Sounds like it is working well for you! Onwards!

Clay

3 months ago

I second that "wow"!

李

李jiayang

3 months ago

This is so great comment , Richard , Thank you! Helpful with my practice !

3 Likes

Serena Bobbi

3 months ago

Richard drum roll. Nicely done.. keep up the great work.

Serena Bobbi

3 months ago

Day 4, week 2. Today I focused on the 4 points on my notebook that I wrote, Except today I was more focused and able to get the list completed. Hooray. I was organized and had my notes in front of me. I am very excited. this included single string both c and d only up the neck. then c and d triads up the neck. Tomorrow I will go both up and down. I was able to sing the scales up and down very softly, and go over Do re mi Do, Do Mi Re Fa, Do Re, Do Mi, Do Mi, Re Fa. I was going slow and able to all of these with ease. I picked a spot to look at which was the remote controls. but don't worry tv not on and how quiet for pure concentration. Take care all.

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

Pure concentration! Good job Serena!
We're going slowly but definitely building momentum.
So nice to be making progress without expecting.

Loving my air conditioning. Summer is definitely on!

Kurt

"Just Do It!"- Tomo Fujita

李

李jiayang

3 months ago

So peace from the words , Serena .
And wish you have a sweet day & practice :)

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Serena for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job! Note book. Organazation. I often rewrite same tonics on my note book. 4-5 items... very good! Less is better. C & D. Singing. Softly. Sequencings.

Tomo

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you for encouragement!

We are humans! We know what we should do...but our mind and body will not listen here and there! But I am trying... to use my time better... I am still working on this! Hope this July Challenge will effect postive feeling to all! Yes. Air conditon is very nice! Beth likes colder side.

Just do it! I keep writig "Things to do" I push myself!
Simple one! "Do nothing, alsolutely nothing will happen!"

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

That's the way, Serena! Good job keeping your notes with you. We can't have it all together every day, but I am glad to hear you had a calm, quiet day!

Al Provan

3 months ago

Wk2 day4 String 4 :) Starting on 4th string E Mi so do, this is good to mix it around and really test intervals.
Then back to single string intervals. Rewatched the wk2 video. Reset and go slowly...
Finished up with d and c triads 3 strings.
We keep going :)

Kurt Schubert

3 months ago

4th string still trending :-)

Great update Al! You are putting in the work.
Thanks for inspiring us!
Kurt

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Al for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job! Interval work on 4th string. Sequecings. One String / One Finger Approach. So good! Thanks so much for rewatching Week 2 video. Reviewing is so good! Slow is better!
C & D Triad inversions on 123 set string.

Keep going!
Keep working!

Tomo

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Yes! Kurt! 4th string is trending among very special people here!

Tomo

Sammi Fujita Mod

3 months ago

4th string, single string, review, and reset..music to Tomo's ears! Great update, Al!

Eiji Tatsumi

3 months ago

Day 4
Do Re Mi ,.. 123 string lower frets one finger
D triad and do re mi
C triad and do re mi
Singing do re mi and onefinger no looking
Singing do re mi do ...
Singing do mi re fa ...
I feel like I want to play everytime everything without looking now.

李

李jiayang

3 months ago

Eiji , This is so amazing , Not Looking !!
I do this have many mistaken , I ’m trying to enjoy this !

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Enji for Week 2 / Day 4.

Good job! One String / One Finger approach. Sequencings (3 patterns) Not looking. When you are practicing, you can hit wrong notes... that's good! Use your ears more and imagination too.

Tomo

Tomo Fujita Mod

3 months ago

Thank you Jiayang for encouragement.

Not looking. Good mistakes. Great way to recover.

Tomo