Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Okay, Jeffrey, you've inspired me. I'm in! It's a little intimidating considering all the outstanding players that will tackle this song, but if you wanna run with the big dogs you gotta get off the porch.

Yes!
I’m glad you’re in, Linda!
I find your perspective to be so comforting for me. Very grateful!

Oh btw, I saw your reply about Pat Methany and the two garbage cans! That is exactly right! I think Pat taught at Berkeley too.
Tomo did you study with Pat too?
I think you did because Pat was all about triad approach I think. There is a cool interview with Rick beato with Pat…he talks about watching Pat’s prep hours before performance…Pat going through hours of scales and stuff. Jaw still unhinged from that video haha

Thanks Linda Kurt and Sunil!
Looking forward to learning from you and watching.
Sunil your spirit is great and to understand why. Asking the big questions. Making me think too…
To me it’s not trying to come up with own version - it’s gaining experience learning Kyoto to see what we learn. Of course we can’t sound just like Tomo and that’s ok - but to try and to study is good I think. Also listen deeply to the recordings to understand more. Improving our playing in the process by reviewing our performance video of practicing playing Kyoto. What went well? What was challenging? This can help to know what to practice more. And last but not least to enjoy and celebrate it. It’s a great song!

Thanks so much Jeff for making this thread! You made me so happy! Looking forward to this thread! Yes! Bending & Dynamics!

Tomo

Thank you Kurt for encouragement! Jeff's video is indeed inspiring!

I wanted to watch this a few more times! What a great tone! Lovely playing Jeff!

Tomo

Thank you Tomo!

What a beautiful guitar player you are Jeffery. Very good.

My pleasure Jeff!

Tomo

Wow! I love your tone. Amazing playing!

Also dynamics control with pick is much better.

Oh one last thought, how to play Kyoto without sounding like Tomo?

Or is that the goal?
But Tomo sounded like Larry Carlton and realized it was the wrong direction. Does the student need to sound like the teacher before the student can learn their own sound/path?

I have been wondering for a long time, in many creative and technical areas of study.

If the student is also the teacher, this problem collapses…into nothing, not-nothing. I hear you Kurt haha…don’t get the hare-Krishna guy started! Hahaha…but you are right. I don’t understand how people learn, I think. I don’t understand people…or I know them really well. This is my problem…

I already learned how to learn.
Now how to teach how to learn, to learn.
Every action is only made if it is on behalf of the truth, for positive generational change.
This is the boundary.
Base case is…doing what Kurt and everyone here is doing. So base case is just keep going with joy I think. Otherwise we won’t continue. That is the goal, not money, not notoriety because it can twist solid minds and damage individuals, community, universe.

I think I will just do what Linda is suggesting.

You know what happens just before that dog gets off the porch to go run with the big dogs? They’re looking so happy to go play with their friends! So I only make sure to pick up the guitar (3x/day, 30 min each, 10 min focus on each item on top three of the list, 2 weeks each min) with joy!! There is no other reason.

More!

Me too! :)
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Thank you Tomo!

I noticed I am getting better!
If I can get better then,
I can play Kyoto!

Aloha my friend!

Thank you Kurt for sharing this KYOTO relatied video from my YouTube Channel. I made many videos as unlisted in last week. There are more KYOTO related videos as unlisted. (due to old videos). I just searched "KYOTO" at my YouTube Channel. Videos (138)! I picked these for you. Hope you enjoy it. Please let me know if you need something more specific, I am so happy to make any additional video for you. You may enjoy the last video here.....

Tomo

Wow!

The Mother Lode

Thank you so much Tomo.
I appreciate you finding these for us!

Kurt

Oh my! The HARD ROCK version!
Those lights are something else too.
Thanks for sharing these great videos!
Kurt

Great catch, Kurt. Thanks for sharing.

You're very welcome Kurt! My pleasure! There are more KYOTO related videos! Please enjoy these!

Yes! The Hard Rock verision too! We did a joke but... it was so much fun!

Tomo

You know, Clay, Tomo talks about learning to love limitation. My "note of caution" here would be....don't hesitate because you feel it is too advanced...rather, don't take this on if you already have enough on your plate with major and minor triads, etc. This is a lifelong journey. And maybe you are on a good path right now.

The Byrds sang:
"To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven"

Thank you Clay for asking this. How about learn all in this song! Don't worry about any chords. Just learn as you go. Or simply you can as much as you can. Just an Intro chords.... Just 4 bars... F-9, G7(b13) C-7 C-7. No pressure! You will learn 13th... 9th... from KYOTO.

Even just listening this song a few times everyday... you are improving! Don't worry anything!

Tomo

Thank you Linda for encouragement! Great suggestion.... no need to fill if you are full. No need to worry about anything! If you are hungry, curious... why not? (to do a little or more) You can learn chords! Even only 3 chords! F-9...G7(b13) C-7....

I want everyone to have fun with guitar!

Tomo

Clay, I just know…wtf do I know… probably less than you.
If I can try, you can too man.

Idk man, how can one force another to act? Personally I don’t think any force to make anyone do anything is the truth.
But I will walk with you and you walk with me ok? We can hold each other up.

I feel like Tomo and Kurt, and Linda, and Jeffery, and Lavoy too, are all there to help us back up man. Nothing to lose.

Linda, said so beautifully she can try because she is among friends. Maaan she can hear those 9ths, 11ths, 13ths man! And Jefferey is on fire, so far ahead!
And Kurt carries the Tomo Fujita One Inch Punch in. his. heart!!

Is that too much for mere mortals like us.
Maybe.

(Insert Braveheart speech here haha…ooh gotta watch that again…but the violence…gaah)

Except this is not a war, or a race, or a competition. Just a bunch of people at home focused in supreme concentration on the truth.

You got this man.
My plan is this (actually more crystallized tomorrow…) but it’s a goal. I’m going to focus on this (right after I watch Eric Gales, Matt Schofield and Tomo Fujita…I think I’m past 10 or 15 times watching this…that video man…that is the truth!! Ok, breathing breathing…the calm…everything rises from there)

What was I talking about?
We don’t got this man!!
I don’t know what I’m talking about…so what? People just want to connect man, the connection, that is the key.

We’re gonna have to practice our asses off…more than our fam above because we’re gonna break this down.
When we encounter problems we’re going back to the basics…Tomo made videos for us already!!…divide and conquer until we find the source man!
Scintillation or bust.
Then bubble results back up then boom Kyoto. Haha. Well at least you’re laughing?

For me, here’s what I’m doing/gonna do:
First don’t pick up the guitar unless it’s gonna be with joy, on behalf of the truth, for positive generational change. That’s the only reason I got left man, and it’s not going away.

Second, try. Divide and conquer over the time (two weeks?! I haven’t started yet oh sh!t oh sh!t oh sh!t…do the breathing…)

Third, deal with suck.
Thinks deeply about this, because it’s not-suck. You’re hearing or feeling something not working. Our skills have reached this state after a lot of hard work…it’s not suck, because we’re the light, man. The light and not-light. Right?

Do until suck equals good enough to make a video.

Fourth, go to “Second”

If you need anymore truth we’re gonna need to video conference and I’m just gonna babble at you for hours…definitely not the optimal path. I think Kurt loves the babbling because he’s my big bro!! Hahaha right Kurt, ok that’s a big nope.

Something that’s not changed in my top 5 guitar influences list is what I want to do:
I just wanna jam in the spirit of the best, on behalf of the truth, for positive generational change.

Also, I don’t have to worry because the maestro(s) figured out the path long before us man, like Tomo says, don’t worry!

Anyone still here?? Aaaloh? Beuller…beuller…

Not the spirit of the best.
The best of their spirit speaking through me. The best of the potential in me.
I have never found a limit, we can keep getting better, always.

I think that’s what Tomo is trying to say with the video? Doesn’t matter who is playing what, you’re gonna hear the what coming through the who. Everyone will sound like themselves…so just be ourselves, don’t work hard hate that phrase also work with joy! That’s like working hard factorial man. I think it’s a whole new level.

Like Tomo says, honor your parents.
To me that means the obvious but also,
We have our own one inch punch.
Human history is about 8000 years long.
But human beings have been around for 300,000 years (current academic blah blah)…we come from 300,000 years of people just surviving and trying to bring their best every generation, hope and love.

Thank you Tadashi for stopping by! Yes! Great! Looking forward to!

Tomo

Thanks Tadashi looking forward to it!

Thank you Serena! Great feeling! Please enjoy this thread, Kyoto Challenge! Intro, Melody.... chords....

Tomo

This is so important and super-duper helpful!
I love when you break it down in small sections and phrases and repeat slowly.
Also, this is a real challenge trying not to have sore fingers by pressing lighter when you bend.
Thank you Tomo!
Kurt

Thank you Kurt! So happy to hear that. Originally I was going to play only the intro but I played that melody too! Just like when I am practicing phrase... I repeat same part over and over...slower and slower! My left hand fingers are always so relaxed! You're very welcome!

Tomo

Awesome! Picked up so many things here to work on and things I didn’t notice first or play right way first try. The bending into the controlled vibrato would like to learn more I love that sound. Thanks so much Tomo! Excited to try more. Lot of fun

Wow Tomo, this is definitely an expert piece. I am taking your advice and watched the video and didn't even pick up my guitar while watching. That being said, since I am new to electric guitar, bending etc. this is a tall order and I am not sure where to start. I have so far watched this video and 3 of the other videos you uploaded. I loved the little bits of advice in here, such as the reminder not to grip the guitar but to leave space. As I watch the videos, my thinking brain takes hold and I ponder how long to hold the bend, where is the most important beat 1 in all this. I am trying to mentally pause and not over think. I am making time for the larger video to watch on Wednesday. Keep up the good work all.

Thank you Jeff! Good job! So gald to hear that you could pick a few things from this video. I spent my quality hours with my bending & vibrato techniques. Not just playing blues phrases. Only those techniques part. You’re very welcome!

Tomo

I can't wait Eiji!
Your live performance of Just Funky with the band was amazing.
Thanks for inspiring us to keep working and smiling!
Kurt

Looking forward to it Eiji!

Thanks again Tomo - this is a perfect place for me to start.

Thank you Tomo!
I really appreciate these in-depth lessons on small parts of this great song.
This is fun!
Thank you!
Kurt

My pleasure Jeff! Thanks so much for making this thread! There are a few natural challenge! So much fun!

Tomo

Thank you Kurt! These additional lesson videos are like "Private Lesson" in same room feel! I love making these! So happy to hear that!

Tomo

I must say I have admittedly fell off this challenge. I am working on Blue Monk, Autumn Leaves and triads. I will listen to this last video Tomo. I think it is a good place to start with the three chords. I appreciate your videos. Thank you.

Very nice Eiji! Really clean bends...i'm inspired.

Thank you Eiji for sharing your Kyoto performance video! Good job! Sounds really good!

1) Tempo... you should play it a little slower so you can fix some techniques easier.

2) End of first phrase... G note can be softer touch by your left finger. My thumb is not touching the back of the neck when I sustain that G note.

3) F-9 (AbMaj7) and G7(b13)... I would strum a little bit wider.

4) That 2nd string bend... try not move your guitar neck.

5) Next note Bb... use less pressure from your left finger.

6) Those 1/2 step bend... you should practice bending up first. (F, F#,G)

7) That high note bend on 1st string, you should bend a little slower.

This song has a lot of tiny details so it is not easy. Just like my other song Just Funky... each little part came from other songs then I practiced each part with a lot of details. You are doing so good!
But this tempo.... no matter how many hours you put... fast tempo not allow you to learn those details.

Please try to slow down.

Tomo

Eiji, This kept me smiling. I really dig your movement while you play. I thought wow. you are definitely on your way to learn this song. Beautiful work.

Eiji this sounds great! I can see how playing to the metronome is polishing your sound and I can also feel the joy of playing this song when you play it. Thanks a lot for sharing this

Thank you for your advice Tomo-sensei. So much information, I need to read very carefully and understand the meaning of your advice.
Eiji