Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Let's go, Kurt! Don't let the 341 fingering get you down. You've shown up each day, given it your best, and that will always be enough. Way to stick with it. Your positivity is contagious!

Thanks, Sammi!
You are a great coach! We really appreciate you.

Kurt
We are "positively" contagious to each other here at GW :-)

Awesome flow Kurt.

Thank you Kurt for Week 3 / Day 6.

Good job! Still not looking and keep working! I just don’t expect anything in general. I respect my cats!

Chromatic 1234 & 1212 = My favorite! So good! I go slower & softer these days. Toward end.. I cannot hear anything. Yes! Not only soft picking but also soft touch from left hand. I don’t press! I touch!

Good job! One Finger Major Scale! One finger is so good! less is more focus! C D G . Naming, intervals,singijng ans playing 4 sequencings! So good!

Good job! Triad Inversions. C D G and all! Don’t worry about fingerings! Will take more time with thumb position and natural feel. Alway slowly but you need to place 3 fingers at same time!

2 strings… do it after this challenge. Less is more!
More things at your little note book.

Tomo

Thank you Sammi & Serena for shout out!

341 is good! No need to hurry!

More Chromatic 1234 & 1212 will help!

Yes! No matter what…. shown up and do it!

Keep going!

Tomo

Fantastic update 李jiayang ! Pure hard work!

Oh my! That is such great news about the amp.
李jiayang! I am so happy for you!
Be amazing if you will win that new reverb pedal for that amp! :-)
We are getting somewhere!
Kurt

Thank you Jiayang for Week 3 / Day 4.

Thank you for your feedback! My pleasure! So happy to help! This is my nature!

Good job! On amp setting. Simple & effective! Those 3 knobs amps are so good! Thanks for explaining about your guitars. Lovely! So happy to hear that you got the Grinning Dog Pickups! His wife makes soap for dogs so that’s why that name….but funny thing… Shinji loves his cats so much! So his account looks like “cats” than “ guitar pickups! “ Shinji is the best (his ears!) in the world! I bought so many brands pickups!

Guitar setup: So good! Guitar Tone is always full 10 & guitar volume never goes to full 10, Gibson is around 6-7. Fender is 7-8 for my setting.

Good job! One String approach. G & D. 1st & 2nd string. Play soft, no finger noise. no fret noise. Reviewing is so good! Not looking. Singing #11 / b5 fun sound! Open G string. Soft picking. Softer and softer untill no sound.
Great! No stopping. Sustain longer. I love this exercise!

Thanks for sharing your posture change. Relax is good!
You are doing so ood each day.

Oh! You ordered a Musicmaster Bass Amp! The best practice amp. This amp is so honest!

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for encouragement!

I am so happy about the MMB amp from your city!

Maybe M & M bar & guitars?

Tomo

Yes- I thought of where she got it too Tomo. Maybe it was "Mike and Mike's Guitar Bar" They are good people.
I am glad 李jiayang bought it before I found out about it :-)

I bet Ken Stewart knows Mike and Mike Guitar bar too. I've been missing Ken on the forum. Maybe taking a break.
Hope he didn't need more hand repair.
Kurt

Yes Kurt, I miss Ken also.

Hi Serena ! Ha ! New purchase for gear :) Oh Yes , I will let you know what I think , maybe a video ?
Yes , We are moving in leaps and bounds . All is Tomo tell in the forums !
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/forums/general/72094-grinning-dog-pickups-custom-funkmaster-set-tips
Here !
Cheers , I think your electronic guitar is so amazing and sweet !

This video helped me better understand what you all are talking about. Thanks Jiayang. I'm excited for you. Do you know how to change pickups? I have watched b flat swing groove video but not this one that you shared. Thank you for cheering me on my friend.

Right on Leon. Way to get back into the forum. Great place to be.

Thanks for checking in with us, Leon! Good job sticking with the challenge. Week 4 and beyond!

Way to keep at it Tadashi. Getting in great practice. Yes let's keep it up the good work.

Thank you Tadashi for Week 3 / Day 7.

Good job! 15 minutes! Chromatic 1234 & 1212….
One string & one finger approch on all strings! 4 sequencigs / patterns (if you can, when you can)
Triad inversions / 123 string set / G D C Major Scales.

What a great concept!
I only practice chromatic 1212 for 10 minutes just because I want to keep good quality.

We all have 24 hours a day but some people can use their time much more effectivey than others.
That’s why I use my little book and write my ideas down. Before I do anything….I know already what to do and I have a great prepared good feeling toward that specifc thing to do.

Good job on thinking and working about “Concentration” “Focus”

Not looking the fretboard and not looking PC/ Internet!
I post things on social media but I only do entertain people and I am not entertain by social medias!

Yes! Let’s keep going & keep working toward quality work!

Tomo

Thank you Serena for encouragement!

Tomo

Thanks for sharing, Tadashi! I like your theme idea, "concentration". Our brains are so busy; it helps to have a word to come back to throughout your practice.

Tomo-san

>I post things on social media but I only do entertain people and I am not entertain by social medias!

I think your way of thinking is wonderful. I want to be on the giving side, not the receiving side. Thank you.

Yes Linda, new habits take time. You are doing awesome work .

Indeed, Serena. "Don't expect too fast"

Thank you for the reminder!

Thank you Linda for Week 3 / Day 6.

Good job! Not looking the fretboard. Great setting!

Honesty this is not easy and naturally it’s so frustating so that I have my nutual feeling that I don’t get any personal feeling toword this part.

Please practice more Major Scale with 4 patterns. One string / One finger approch.
Definitely not esay to play triad inversions on single string or 3 notes string set.
Think about this way to help your frustration.

1) In reallity, you look at the fretboard a little here and there and not looking too much!
2) Feel about how they feel… Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.

Look! Even I look up the GPS…. with a voice… I still get lost (driving!)

Great analogy!
Thank you.

Let's keep going & keep working!

Tomo

Thank you for sharing your frustration with us, Linda. That analogy is great...I like how you say, "Not gonna happen."
You've made up your mind about this!

Thank you guys!

Don't expect too fast!

I just wait!

Tomo

Hah! I never played those R/3/7 chords that way before I started this practice, and it sounded exactly the same for me. 4-5 months later, much better. Way to keep at it!

Right on Richard pushing yourself hard.. yeah the muting techniques can be a little difficult at first. I'm sure it sounds amazing over there.

Thank you Richard for Week 3 / Day 6.

So nice to hear your family gathering.

Please don’t worry about your practice time intrruption!
That happens me quite offten …. a little basement flood from laudry machine….
Cat problems and more! I drop everything what I was doing and I will catch up later.

I have been working my flexibilities and fast recovery from anything.
That’s why I work very hard but I just don’t exopect anything.
I am so gratedful that I am very healthy! Truely amazing! Then I can play guitar… That’s extra!

Don’t be worry about! I coulds be very rude attitude to my wife when I was busy!
It just took me about 30 years to understand what more importand than….

Good job! For your pure passion and beautiful work ethic. So inspiring to me and us all!
G triad inversions on 123 set strings. Singing. Intervals. Ear Training. You can sing Mi So Do, So Do Mi, Do Mi So… or just think each top note as melody. Go slow and don’t worry about tempo.

Great thinking! July Challenge is all about triad inversions on top 123 set string and learn C D G … but I includes many extra ideas around this topic so if yu want to do all then it will not fit in 5-10 minutes… So your note book is very handy for this job! Just simply write all down and do it later.

July Challenge can be apply to….
1) Do same on other set of strings.
2) Do other keys.
3) Do apply to any songs. Bb Blues is great!
I would love to make some example videos later.

I love practicing R 3 7 swing groove with blues and jazz standards.
I play same things over and over for a long period time.
Focus on quality than quantity!

Tomo

R 3 7 Swing Groove is very very deep!
This technique is the reason that I can play fast funk!

First make sure that your guitar’s string height is high enough.
I recomment to raise the sadles to 2.00mm at the 12th fret.

Tomo

Good job Clay!

R 3 7 swing groove always can take 3-6 months to settle down.

After that you will work this more years… like a great tasting wine!

Tomo

Kurt wonderful week and one more to come. I'll be sad when the challenge is over, but will challenge myself to keep up on new daily practices and forum. Exciting to start fourth week. Here we go.

Thank you Kurt for Week 3 / Day 7.

So great to hear that. Your Week 3 is doing so strong!

Good job! One string / one finger. Not looking! Best way is do this with Major Scale / 3-4 patterns in different keys (later) Keep doing until you feel super duper comfortable. Do not even think when, how long is enough!

Good job! Singing softly without vibrato. This is not easy but you can do it. Please don’t be too picky. Gaining your confidence level! So happy to hear that. Resoect your pure passion and a lot of hard work!

Good job! Triad Inversions. Not looking. Very hard but it’s so worth to try this. 341 fingerings & soft thumb touch.
The GW forum… everyone is so inspiring so much!

I am so grateful to communicate with everyone!
Amazing feeling! Thank you so much guys!

I am so lucky to have this community!
Yes! Off to Week 4!

Tomo

Thank you Serena for encouragement!

This July Challenge is so meaningful to me.
I am learning something else beside Triad Inversions on 123 set strings!
So deep and it can be apply to other areas.

Please don’t be sad when the challenge is over!
I am thinking many possible mini challenges after this.

Like yourself, Kurt, Johno, Richard, Jiayang, Jeffrey, Clay and more (Sorry if I didnot mebtion your name)
What I mean those regulars can be a great teacher who can help kids or adults & any ages for teaching guitar in your town! Like my tape lesson students (many of them are teaching guitar in their own small town in Japan)

Here we go to Week 4!

Tomo

Way to be Kurt! Feeling the intervals and singing softly with confidence...HUGE!

Great way to put Sammi!

Singing softly with confidence big, huge and loud!

Tomo

Clay, some efforts go a long way. I know travelling can be hard when wanting to practice daily routines.

Thank you Clay for Week 3 / Day 6.

So glad to hear that your travel went well! When I travel, there is a few troubles along way… mosty goreat!

Good job! Visualizatio on the plane! I do that a lot! When I go to Japan, first I hear Japanese pop chart once and any songs that has a great melody or great chord progressions. I checked it there and write a name of song / artist on my phone email. Then go through more songs in 70s,80s,90s and more! Ended up listing about 10 songs. I listen those 10 songs. 20 times each so I can learn those by just listening and visualzing chords.

Thanks for watching Week 4 video. Don’t worry about a pace. You can stay on your pace.
Great to hear that! You are doing a fantastic job!

Oh! Thanks for explaning that expression!
I totally took wrong way! Too much fooling with my phone!

Tomo

Appreciate the update and definition, Clay. Nice to have your notebook handy!
Don't worry too much about how much effort you put in while you're away for work. Adjust your expectations accordingly so you can avoid feeling disappointed. Focus on what you can do and let that be enough while you're "Traveling Businessman" Clay.

Thank you Sammi for encouragement and suggestions!

I travel sometimes and I feel same way.... a little worry that I cannot catch up like I am at home.
True! Do as much as you can but don't push too much and don't worry! No need to be prefect all the times.

I am still listening Joe Pass Virtuoso... amazing playing but it's not perfect some good ways... his picking is a little noisy etc.
This album is always push me to next level and same time can comfort me a great way!

Tomo

You ears must be totally trained Tomo. I am hoping to buy a set of those ears.

Nice work Yen not looking and being aware how an object can draw your attention away from looking.

Yen, like yourself, I have been too focused on "looking at" the fretboard. But occasionally I need it just to reset. I really like your sentiment of "hearing and looking can work in harmony rather than one way or the other". Well said.

Thank you Yen for Week 3.

Good job! Not looking at the fretboard. Gettiing rid of "looking at the fretboard all the times.”

Good job for reviewing your posture. Best way is to make your video from front and from side.
Good catch! Do not staring the fretboard.You need to find a object above your eye level.

Good job focusing on your picking. Dynamics. No finger noise. No fret noise. No sliding noise.
Better to turn up your amp till slighly uncomfotrable level which means not easy to pick with normal picking volume. Focus moving less (picking)

You can look at the fretboard here and there… but not over 3 seconds! So you need to watch yourself.
You can look at the fretboard at beginning and in the middle… here and there to check your basic position.

Many guitar players got this as a bad habit. You can fix it.
Please practice One String / One Finger Appropach with 3 patterns. Do other keys later after this cahllenge.
Do this work 5-10 minutes everyday and do not think when how is enough.

Keep going!
Keep working!

Tomo

Thank you Serena & Linda for encouragement.

Yen is a great example who built this habit in many years.
So this habit is built so well!

That’s why to challenge “Not looking”
and One String / One Finger approach with 3-4 patterns and all keys.
This will take a few years to built well.

Just like … remodeling a house!
When you open …. you will see another problem!

Tomo

Yes, very well said! Sometimes, a simple adjustment in your posture can help your technique. What a great thing to notice

Well done Johno getting to the slow blues. Week 4 surprise here we come

Johno, I'm also looking forward to week 4 surprises, but I also don't want July Challenge to be over.

Thank you Johno for Week 3 / Day 7.

Good job finishing your Week 3!

So many items! G Major Scale with sequencings. One String approach. Singiging soft. Intervals. Ear Training. Triad Invesions on One String Approach & 123 set strings. Listening all intervals deeply! Good job! So good!

Thinking the sound! Ear Training with Triad Inversions C D G.. Visulaization on the sounds and the fretboard. So good! Now you are ready for Week 4.

I am so thrilled!

Tomo

Thank you Serena & Linda for shout out!

Week 4 is going to be fun! Maybe bonus week will be….

We all feel that… don’t want July Challenge to be over.
Don’t worry! I have a few ideas that we can continue our mini challemge after July Challenge.
I may post more additional lessons for you guys. I want you to feel like in private lessons.

First rule is no need to be perfect but we will have a lot fun doing something together.

Tomo

Flowing into week 4!

Jeffery, great job descending. I know sometimes I have to start from the back of my list to feel like I'm getting it all done..

Thank you Jeffrey for week 3.

Good job! Working on all descending on G string. Chromatic scale 1234 & 1212 …so good! I practice these everyday. I only do 10 minutes with slow & soft. I need to hear the details. No finger noise. No fret noise. No sliding noise. Fun to work on everyday. Sometimes I want to practice more than 10 minutes but I finish when my clock “10 minutes” Stop in the middle of practicing. No 3 seconds over!

Good job. Thinking name of notes. Feeling those intervals. Major scale One String Sequencings are so good! Triad inversions. Names, intervals, Ear Training. Visualizing the sound those strings sound. More on 123 set strings.

Tomo

Nice job sticking to your word, Jeff!

Thank you for your message Tomo. I think one thing that sets you apart is your discipline and hard work. It’s one thing to know and another to do. I definitely am not timing my practice like this right now. But am starting to know more and more what to do. No expectations but keep going AND keep being open to doing things different and maybe it is a better way

Thank you for the encouragement Sammi

You are writing songs now!
R37 strumming is deep. Go slower than feels comfortable. Full arm motion and muting upstroke. So many details. Practice with Tomo.

So smart to take advantage of those videos Richard
The Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENaipLZZvuSe09K52-fo1VPMLrWfJa46

Right on Richard. Jamming some l lV V. Music to my ears.

Kurt, thanks for sharing awesome playlist.

Yes, Richard!! Common chord progressions everyone can recognize and enjoy!

Thank you Richard for Week 3 / Day 7.

Wow! Week 3 is done! Fantastic job! Thanks for watching the FT Grip video & the SR84 video for understading thumb position and other things. Good job! So happy to hear that. Best way to learn and improve is to review those lesson videos. Yes! You can comp Jazz Standard or Jazz blues with R 3 7 / finger picking. Kurt did a great job comping slow blues! That could be another fun thing to do for yourself. No rush. Anytime. Take it slow!

Thank you for working on strumming R 3 7 Swing groove. That’s my favorite technique that really helped me becoming to be a good rhythm guitar player in general. Most people would like to learn song and style. But this R 3 7 chord comping is great for both hand. Bb Blues is great one to start. Mix with F blues or Eb blues is great too.The Guitar Wisdom is … very very friendly guitar music school that no semeasters…. easily to spend 3-4 years to learn some of foundation skills.

Good job! Keep practicing these triads on 123 set strings. You will motice something… common tone!
Like you described… Play G 1st inversion then C Root position…. how about can you play D 2nd inversion?

Good job Richard! So good! A little more time with these 3 chords. Soon you can play a lot of songs!

Tomo

Nice Serena!

That's the way, Serena! Try massaging your thumb to ease a bit of that pick grip tension

Thank you Serena for Week 3 / Day 7.

So happy to hear that you practiced with your electric guitar. Great amp setting! I did my 10 minutes Chromatic scale 1212 today.

Good job! Major scale single string. 3-4 patterns. Slow, Soft. Sing softly. Triad inversions. C D and G. Top 123 set strings. No slide noise. No finger noise. No fret noise. Slow & soft.

Good job figuring out 1 4 5 1 cadence: G 1st / C Root / D 2nd / G 1st. Beautiful! Hold a pick as if almost you drop it. Very important to hold a pick softer. Good intentions and good efforts!

Tomo

Thank you Al & Sammi for shout out!

Tomo

Thanks Al.