Thank you Kurt and Rich! I am so grateful to have you all here! I can't thank enough for George and Sammi! They are smartest people in every ways! I was thinking about our Guitar Wisdom. We have good harmony together!
Tomo
That's a great way to put it - harmony!
Thanks Eiji for setting this up. This is my blue monk practice so far.
Nice Jeff!
You've got the groove.
I've been practicing this and not looking- like the triad challenge.
I'm circling Blue Monk melody two and am distracted by Kyoto :-)
Kurt
Thank you Jeff for sharing your video! Blue Monk is so good!
Good job! Time feel is good! Your 3rd note is slighly short. (first 2 bars)
5th bar... please check "Rhythm" Fingerings are good! Next time you should repeat one more time.,
When you practice melody, repeat 5-6 times or more!
Tomo
Thank you Kurt for encouragement! Blue Monk and Kyoto... Triads are so important too! Maybe I can give you some pointers....
Tomo
Will do thanks Tomo! Got it - this really helps will review to make sure I hear and zero in on 3rd note and 5th bar and check Rhythm. Thanks again!
Jeff
I hear it now Tomo- thanks!
Thanks Kurt! And good call I need to remember about not looking. Thanks!
What a work of art Blue monk is melody is not like any song can think of pretty unique
It’s kind of an earworm. I’m hearing you play in my head Jeff. I stopped the video a while ago.
Thelonius, man.
Thank you everyone! Blue Monk melody is super important for phrasing, muting and dynamics. Melody 2 is not easy to play. I made this video so you can check all the details.
Tomo
Thank you so much for this one. I learned 3 big things from it:
- Thumb pressure is almost not needed during a lot of it. I am practicing that now.
- At the end of Melody 2, when you play the triplets, your 3 fingers are (a) very close to the frets and (b) in position as if you are going to play the augmented triad as a chord, but then you play the arpeggio (down) instead. That really helped me get that part cleaner.
- I was trying to play everything very quietly. I like how you make the contrast, where the melody is more like regular volume but the "chords" in the middle are quieter.
My wife: "Why are you always listening to videos of that song?"
My pleasure! I would love to do this! Thank you Andy! This thread is so good! Blue Monk melody can teach us a few things!
Thanks for noticing those points! Normally most people will not notice these points because... looking at front too much! (What to play) We all tune in HOW TO PLAY! It's hidden unless you go very slow and you may notice it.
Good question from your wife! Answer is "Andy is improving!"
Tomo
Andy, you have an honest and wonderful wife! :)
Nice video Tomo. I must say I am still re watching stages, but I am about 3 times in. On the melody 2 it is hard for me to follow what the count is on the chords or all of it maybe. You then speed up at the end. Is this part of melody 2 or improv. How many times did you loop melody 2 on this video? I appreciate you.
Thank you Serena. The melody 1 is very important and you can do it! The melody 2 is just about a little more topping on.... You can count while you watch these demo videos so you can feel it deeoper. A lot of deep lsitening is very important. Do more deep listening before you play it. So music can stay inside of you. I don't remember .... maybe 2 times. When you practice you can repest as many as you want. Let me know anything I can help you?
Tomo
This is wee bit better from the last time but I’m questioning the middle part of the melody if it’s all in time per measure. I am looking forward to critique. Thank you
Wow, Serena, you've improved so much since your last post! Amazing! I love how cool you look with your guitar!
This is so awesome to see!!! Great work, Serena! She's moving and grooving :) Thank you for sharing your settings as well. Anything you're questioning didn't come across in your playing. Listen to Tomo's example many more times so you KNOW what it sounds and feels like. Maybe focus on a few bars at a time? Any part that gives you a little trouble, make it simple, focus on less. The simple, less-is-more approach is always helpful.
Awesome progress Serena! Thanks for sharing. You got the pick stash down! I still have to wait a measure while I try to tuck it when I transition from the melody to the comping.
Thank you, Serena! This is inspiring us all to keep going.
The work you have been putting in is really showing!
It is fun to see your updates! You look so natural and are just groovin'!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Kurt
Way to go Serena!!
Love the Alice In Chains ‘Jar of Flies’ shirt too. One of my favorite bands!
Great job Serena! Form and size of song is good! Watch out "Feel" First two melody (first 2 bars) Your 3rd note to 4th note (straight 8th note feel) but your 1st and 2nd part was fine. Please check "feel"
Please watch your own melody a few times and go back to my melody demo videos for reviewing.
Tomo
Yes Tomo will do. I am trying to "say it then play it". Thank you.
Good job Serena! Feel that triplet feel!
Tomo
Hi Everyone,
Here is my Blue Monk Challenge. My dynamics are inconsistent and btw Tomo my head is definitely bobbing out of picture. And I think I missed one note and not sure if my timing was correct. Anyhow any feedback would be appreciated.
Thank you Michael for posting your Blue Monk melody. Nice and soft tone. Good job play it in time with a metronome.
1) 1st phrase, 2nd note, you can hear other lower strings are ringing. So you can play this phrase and find out those unwanted lower open strings ringing. Great song to fix your right hand palm muting.
2) Beginning… you can breath in before your first note so your body can conduct your phrasing. It is very important for performing so you can feel “music” deeper and anyone can feel your down beat very strong.
3) 2nd phrase, fingering should be 3,4 then 1,1.
4) Low note on the 5th string is F (5th string / 8th fret) and you can play softer. Even written music is wrong, you can fix it by listening a correct melody performance which I made more than once.
5) D…Db…C… on 3rd string. That phrase, you want to play down, up and up stroke.
6) Last part…. melody repeat again on 2nd beat so you can count while you are playing so you can fix that part.
7) R 3 7 / R 7 3 … you can pick a little softer. (Before this part… you waited too much! You want to practice melody in right size / right form. Basically you just repeat correctly 12 bars.
So simple way to review your performance, please count each bar and think about 12 bar blues as one unit. You can listen this first melody part over and over to find out these problems. Once you notice them, you can fix it. This song is so good!
You can review this so you can hear what is supposed to sound like.
Tomo
Nice Michael! Thanks for sharing your progress.
Great hearing you playing Michael. I love that everyone is sharing. Great even feel. I know one thing that has helped me is moving while I play. I hope this tip helps. Have a great day and keep rocking.
Thanks for sharing, Michael! Sounding good :) Great tempo too
Seems like you have it down Hugh Hefner style there Michael :) solid rhythm for sure, good to hear. Nice tone on the acoustic too. Thank you for sharing. - johno
Wow! Super inspiring to see so many people sharing their videos of all their hard work and practice. I tried to have a go recording the head melody 1 on a very loud amp playing as quietly as possible and getting quieter. My phone was on the amp. Very challenging to try to focus on keeping such a light touch and an even tone throughout; a fun thing to practice late at night and almost a form of meditation🪷
Hi, jh! Thank you for the wonderful performance! Your touch is so clean and soft, it's amazing, and very inspiring. The camera angle is also cool! Thanks!
Thank you, Tadashi! Your video was one of those which inspired me to try this, thank you. I am not sure about the camera angle - I am experimenting and learning all about that too!
Thank you jh for posting your video! Nice tone and your time ... very smooth! Good job! I think you can work on your thumb position a little bit. And your body movement too.
Tomo
Nice jh! Thanks for sharing. Love the soft dynamics work.
so smooth, and such great volume control. Very inspiring!
Nice Jh great job with your blue monk practice!
Last few days I've been practicing Blue Monk Melody 1 + Melody 2 + solo etude. Interestingly, Melody 1 is the hardest for me to get right (no adjacent string ringing, etc.). It seems slow and simple, but I feel so exposed!
A big thing I'm working on is breathing while playing. In the videos I look so tense, especially in my face/mouth. It's not something I noticed until I started recording myself. Hard to change, but I'm trying.
Right on Andy.
I have not tried this yet, but I'm finding all the notes so helpful. Thank you so much.
Good advice Andy.
Blue Monk Melody 2 Review!
Tomo
Wow! So much new stuff in just the last minute!
Thanks so much!
Kurt
Yah - last minute was a treat
Thank you Tomo-sensei for this review. Could you tell us the Blues jr's amp setting of this video.
Eiji
This is just what I need Tomo. I am really noticing the details in this. The picking is a lot different from the first melody. It won't be long until I get this part. Thank you.