Thank you Tobi for posting your videos. Normally one video is better at time. When you hit a wrong note then please stop completely and start it over with clean start. Your fingerings are great! You studied it well. 4th bar… last two beats… please check that rhythm. Down up (Down) up. Short long short. You hit one note on the 5th bar.. you started in the middle of song, you started…this is really BAD habit! Plesae watch this video 4-5 times for the details. Or you need to play it slower. Around 5th, 6th bar… you stopped many times and you started from nowhere… So you can practice this melody until you can play all the notes correct with correct rhythm. Chromaric run on the 6th bar..keep all your finger (1234) until you play 4th finger. Please practice more chromatic scale 1234…4321…and 1212 3212 3432 1234…4343 2343 2123 4321..these are so important. Turnaround was good! Your muting techniques are excellemt!
R 3 7 Swing Groove with finger picking. Duration of notes are not correct so please go back to listen my lesson example. Try to feel more triplet feel…. Your keeping time is good! This part is not easy. You can also lower your guitar volume slightly.
Tomo
Thank you so much, Tomo sensei, for the detailed feedback!
But I have a question about fix that bad habbit. I understand that when practicing the song as a whole, I shouldn’t start from the middle. But right now I can’t really play it on time yet, so I still need to repeat one bar many times. In that case, should I still always start from the beginning, or is it okay to isolate and repeat small sections but also with right rhythm?
Also, I want to understand what I should do if I make a mistake during performance. I guess the most important thing is to stay in time, feel the bar, and keep going instead of stopping—is that correct?
I’ll go back and carefully check the rhythm as well.
For the chromatic run, I understand what you mean about keeping all the fingers down. I’ve been practicing 1234 and 1212 every day, but I still don’t feel confident when hitting the strings. The 1st and 2nd strings are harder for me to control the picking angle and strength. Maybe I should practice the mini challenge and alternate picking exercise.
Also for the R3–7 fingerpicking, I’ve watched my record many times and noticed the duration issues and that my backbeat picking isn’t in the right place. I’ll watch your lessens more and focus on the triplet feel.
And yes , I'll truning volume down a little bit that volume it's almost impossible to play (amp tone all the way up, volume 8. guitar volume was around 9 , I'll try 8)
Also, would it be a good idea to practice the R37 swing strumming with the bridge pickup? The muting sound in bridge pickup sounds a bit strange to me.
Thank you for pointing all these out—I’ll keep working on them!
Great questions — especially, "I want to understand what I should do if I make a mistake during performance."
You’re very welcome! Yes!~ Stop and playing… then you are not following the form so it is super duper bad habit.
What to do?
1) Prepare more foundation (techniques)
2) Once you cannot play one phrase well… do not keep playing!
Go slower tempo and practice any weak parts. You need to practice more parts before you play whole thing as a performance. That's why jamming is not really effective.
You need to prepare a little bit more before you are trying to play entire part/melody.
You can practice first 4bars.,.. then another 2 bars… etc. So practice more parts before you do whole thing.
Slow down!
Chromatic scale… super slow and keep down all your fingers but not pressed down. 1234…
Only do 4th and 3rd strings now. Then other strings with super slow tempo.
R 3 7 Swing Groove is very hard! No metronome for a while and practice super slow.
God job!
Tomo
Thank you so much, Tomo sensei!
I really appreciate your advice. I now have a much clearer direction for my learning, and I’ll keep practicing more deeply based on your guidance.
My pleasure Tobi! So happy to hear that! Thank you!
Tomo
Hi Tobi!
First of all, thank you for posting your videos and for taking Tomo's feedback so thoughtfully. These two are very challenging to do well, but you are on your way. One thing I would encourage you to keep in mind is that you don't have to fix everything all at once.
Tomo pointed out several things, and while all of these are important, you can focus on one main point at a time. For example, you mentioned that you need to repeat one bar many times because you can't really play it on time yet - totally normal! You could focus on practicing that one bar separately, with the correct notes and rhythm, rather than playing it through. Once that feels more comfortable, move on to the next detail.
It's absolutely okay to isolate a bar or a small section and repeat it many times while you're learning/practicing. I believe the habit Tomo is cautioning against is repeating, stopping, and starting in the middle of what you intend to play. In a way, it changes the melody. Even when practicing a small section, give yourself a clear starting point and aim to play that section with the same attention to rhythm that you would use in the full piece. Like, which beat and which bar you start on matter.
I could also be wrong... but my understanding is that a recording of your practice is actually closer to performance than to practice. And in performance, the show must go on type deal. I think if Tomo can't hear or messes something up, he stops playing any notes and picks back up once he knows where he is in the music.
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You're noticing many specific things in your own playing now, which is part of developing awareness. Keep it simple, trust the process, and work on one thing at a time. Small improvements add up.
Keep going!
Thank you so much, Sammi!
I really appreciate your thoughtful advice. I truly admire how seriously you, Tomo, and George take this community—it means a lot.
I totally agree with what you said about keeping things simple and focusing on one thing at a time. About practicing and repeating, I understand your point now. I’ll work on isolating small sections and practicing them with the correct rhythm, and make sure I always start from a clear beginning instead of jumping in the middle.
What you said about recordings being closer to performance than practice really clicked for me. I hadn’t thought about it that way before, but it helps me understand Tomo’s advice better. I’ll keep that in mind when I record.
I’m also looking forward to hearing Tomo’s thoughts, and I’ll keep working with clear goals.
Thanks again to all of you for the encouragement and guidance!
Of course, Tobi! Whenever we hit record, we feel that bit of pressure or nervousness. Even if it's just for our own viewing, recording yourself feels closer to performing (than regular practice) because the camera's got eyes on you.
1) Listening
2) Practicing
3) Then performing
Tomo