Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Great question from Sunil about my approach on learning, preparing and reviewing songs for live shows. This one is for The Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

Little history.... The Pigeons asked me to jam with them at the Paradise Rock Club in 2018. That was 2nd night of two nights. First I didn't know who they are.... so I didnot reply their message on my Instagram DM. Then next day, I got a message from one of my former Berklee students that explained about this band (his friend!) so I replied my Instagram DM next day. I only had a few hours to preopare one song. Then I met them at the Paradise.... they told me that I need to know dance move for this song ending! I did it pretty good! More stories.... I love the PPPP so much! Amazing band!

So this time... I asked them about song choices. They tend to let me know about songs very close to the date of their show. So I texted Jeremy Schon (Guitar player) a little ahead of time(Don't wait! Just ask!) He gavee me 4 originals & two covers as choices. They are so open! One of these songs I could not find any live show video so I asked other song.... Ended up we had 4 their original songs... For covers... I also requested something bluesy... so we ended up adding minor blues section in the middle of "GODZILLA". That was so much fun! F# minor blues! Not so usual key! I would love to practice that key more!

So I did sit in 2nd night of 3 nights at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. It was so amazing! So free! I am so grateful!! Maybe you can look up those videos on YouTube. (10-25-2025)

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4)

Then cover song...

1) First I just listen 10 - 20 times just music. But sit and listen! (Dance a little!)
2) Start to learn song forms & parts
3) Creating my own parts
4) Preparing solo section
5) Imgaination sesstion with live setup (my gear)

How did I play? As a LIVE show... I brought up a few steps up! Someting only could happen at LIVE show. We really have a great Chemistry together!
Improvised parts... so good! but I hit wrong notes here and there. I am a human so it's okay!
To me rhythm part is more important than actual notes pitches.... RHYTHM!

I have a few live footage videos and I am going to review my performances.
I will review each song a little more deeper to understand each song.
I will work on my solo ideas on solo section with a few more choices.

Above all.... What do I do now?
You already know my answer! Yes!
1) Chromatic Scale Exercises 1212
2) R 3 7 Swing Groove
3) Other parts: One String Approach to Two String Approach, triad related ideas... Bending techniques etc.

In order to play well... I need to go back to founadtion skills!

Thank you for reading this.

Tomo

Still sad missed the recent show lol. The clip I saw was amazing :). Looked like the pink John Mayer strat! No overdrive on just pure blazing guitar. So much raw energy.
“To me rhythm is more important than actual notes pitches… rhythm!”

No luck involved.
Hard work, persistence and dedication got you to this point Tomo.
Thank you for sharing and showing us what is possible.
Kurt

Thank you Kurt! Actually you can change your luck... good way with your positive attitude! You can change any type bad luck to better one! But it's all about steady preparation and a lot of hardwork & persistence in many days, in many months. Passion and dedocation! You're very welcome! Glad to be helpful!

Tomo

Wisdom: "Don't wait! Just ask!"

It's also worth mentioning that the PPPP band members are wonderful people. I've had the chance to meet some of their parents and family members, who share that fun superfan energy. The band has been touring since 2009! Their performances are pure joy, and everyone in the audience is just having a grand ol' time. It is apparent that their consistency and genuine energy has garnered a big fan base over the years. So, as Kurt put it, "hard work, persistence and dedication," also got this band to this point!

That’s awesome to hear these insights Sammi. Great how it’s a family affair amazing!

Thank you Kurt! I didn't post anything yet. I have mostly short clips from iphone. I can ask the PPPP guys... My pleasure! Day 82! Amazing! Good job! No reverb!

Tomo

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1693713097965319&vanity=PigeonsPlayingPingPong

This was one I saw

Thank you Jeff for sharing!

Tomo

Just realizing how valuable it was to stand there with the guitar. This gives me two perspectives — reading about how Tomo experienced jamming with PPPP (this) post before facing the that triple black diamond run (makes it sound so much cooler but I was just sitting there holding guitar with good feelings…I couldn’t hear what I was playing on my guitar while watching and listening to the band but I had a sense of where my fingers should be) , and reading it after.

Have you ever gone on a challenging hike with friends and then the second time on the path is easier just because you now know how to pace yourself? That’s how I feel.

I’m going to go back to that jam in two months: mid-Jan.

You can play one of their songs or every individual can play their own song too.

Jams goal:
Everyone should leave with a positive experience. That’s how I decided to play or not. Organizer asked me:
do you think you will have a good experience?

I said I have an idea of major scales and triads.
He asked you know Am pentatonic, you know Ab blues shuffle…then some hesitation as I am trying to remember what to take out of Am to make it pentatonic, also remember I didn’t do blue monk shuffle…then I can do it on Am I think. Adding those to the list.

Things I realized I need to work on:
(In addition to daily practice Tomo listed)
I need to understand song structure, and music theory I will review videos on here on GW.
I need to figure out in my GW notebook how to pace myself. Maybe I will make a list of top three things I can learn to hear the progression and drop in. Starting to understand rhythm’s role with melody. It seems like the melody arises from the rhythm (from tomos videos) so I need to just do what Tomo is repeating so many times.

Also, big realization is I need to completely rethink the way I study. I like the way Tomo is teaching this:
every instant spent with the guitar is a meditation to associate focus, guitar knowledge, joy.

Just repeating so many thoughts in my head I’ve absorbed from GW, everywhere…so I can get my head around it all.

Thank you everyone.

Thank you Sunil for update on this! Glad to be helpful! Please enjoy your jam experince with your own pace! Don't worry about anything! You can prepare as much as you can!

I still practice 1) Chromatic scale 2) R 3 7 Swing Groove These are really helping my basic techniques so that my fingers are moving comfortably and my picking has a good pace!

Please review triad inversions / 3 ways in a few different keys. For blues, shuffle bassline is really helpful too. If you can, learn a few simple blues melodies from any blues vocal lines.

Tomo