Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Thanks for sharing your wonderful performance, Andy!
You play very carefully, I love your playing.
The colour of the tele is great!
Let's keep going!

Thanks for your encouragement, Tadashi! You also have a great-looking yellow tele — nice choice!

Nice Andy! That was really smooth with a lot of feel. Thanks for sharing.

Hey Andy ~ I’ve been away for the last 5 days so just hearing this. Sounds great! I’ve been working on the second melody too and it ain’t easy. Very nice performance.

Thanks so much for your encouragement, Clay. Means a lot to me!

Thank you so much for your quick feedback! Yes, there are so many things to think about — I forgot all about thumb position! I will work on it.

Also, yes, I can remove the accent on the metronome. I set it that way to help me fix that problem Eiji mentioned, where I was mis-counting at the end of the chorus. It was useful to check that I was counting correctly.

You're very welcome Andy! You are working so hard! I really appreciate your efforts very much!

Yes! It's all about foundation. You are repeating that melody and that's a part of performing. For me, in order to make my performance smoothly I practice more fondation.

For example, I play a lot of fast funk rhythm stuff in general. A lot of 16th notes, a lot of chords, a lot of muting etc. Do you think I pracice Just Funky over and over? No. I practice 1) Chromatic scale for dexterity and smoothness 2) I practice R 3 7 Swing Groove for dexterity and smoothness 3) Triad Inversions for my thumb position and using less pressure. So those are helping me play better!

That sound be great. No accent is good (metronome).
Good job!

Tomo

石の上にも三音

そのことわざ！

サード ストーン フロム ザ すん

Kurt

thanks for the encouragement, Kurt! Yeah, let's keep working that Blue Monk!

Thanks so much, Eiji. Yes, it's a fender telecaster. It's a version of Player II made from chambered ash, which means the body has some empty spaces inside, so it's light, around 6 pounds. The good part is that it's easy to hold, and I like the sound when I play with a band, which I did for the first time recently. The downside is that I'm not sure the weight is balanced, because the neck dives down. I love the telecaster sound but I might try some other models to see if they feel better.

Hey Andy - I alternate playing between a strat ad an SG. SG's are notorious for neck dive. I bought a 3" leather strap. That helps a lot, but doesn't eliminate.

Interesting to know that! After I read your comment, I saw on Reddit that people have so many opinions about neck dive, specifically around the SG. I have a basic strap that has enough friction to help hold it up. I guess you can't have everything in one guitar — always tradeoffs!

Thank you Aaron for your thought. Idea is not use any vibrato as habit. This one... on purposely not using any vibrato. So don't worry! You can sustain a note 2-3 beats without any vibrato.

Tomo

Wow, super impressed Rich. I would not change a thing. Sounds very nice, all around spot on!! Cheers to your efforts man. That old G&L still has life and looks great :) - johno

Thanks Johno - that guitar is over 30 years old!
I tried to adjust the intonation but two of the saddles are maxed out.
(It’s pretty close though)
If I hit the pickup selector while playing the sound cuts out but it’s my only single coil axe.
My Bassmaster is on 6 and my G&L is at 8.
Recording seems loud to me??

Sounds so good, Rich! Love your performance here. Seems effortless, so nice. Something for me to aim for!

Sounds good to me. Great work!

Thank you Johno, Andy and Clay for encouragement! Rich has been working very hard!

Tomo

Great.
Thank you so much for your advice!
I guess that’s my big takeaway from this week…
Less Left Hand Pressure!!
(But also keep left hand thumb lower)
I’ll keep working but I’ll stop posting so much 😊

By "other choices" do you mean improvising changes to the solo etude? Something else?

My pleasure Rich! That's where... you don't see.. you don't notice! Good job! I really had to work on my left hand (lighter touch) and thumb position! Practice triad inversons for foxing thumb position. Really effective! You inspired me this week! I am working on page 62! Longer duration & less presure (left hand)

Tomo

Thank you Andy! So basically 1) & 2) must have! then 3) as your choices.... Rich's case he has been practicing Method Book. Your choice one or more? Triad Inversions... Bending Technique etc.

Tomo

Richard said, "I’ll keep working but I’ll stop posting so much".

Speaking for myself and probably everyone else here Richard:

Please keep posting as much as you can and feel like.

I appreciate your examples and then reading Tomo's tips.
You are inspiring us to keep working when we see you doing it.
Thanks for leading the way!
Kurt

Thank you Jeff!

Thank you Tadashi.
You were actually the first person I saw that attempted melody 2 and I’ve been working on it since I watched your video. I just watched your performance again and you really mastered the art of softly picking the 3rd and 7th double stops. I need to put more practice in to get there. But it sure makes it more fun doing this together. Yes - let’s keep going!

Thank you Tadashi for encoragement! Great job on Melody 2! You inspired others! Amazing!

Tomo

Never forget...
We learn so much from what you contribute George Mattingly Esquire!
Thanks for all you do to make this such an amazing place!
Kurt

Thank you George!
I couldn’t be happier learning on this great platform that you Tomo and Sammi have put together.
It really feels like the first time I am making progress and hearing a difference in my playing in many years.