Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

For my last night in Kyoto, I had wanted to listen to some Kyoto jazz, so I went to "Le Club Jazz" in Kyoto. To my surprise, it was a jam night!

The owner was kind enough to lend me his guitar, so I got to play. I took the opportunity and played "All of Me."

I was very nervous to begin, and didn't remember the melody well, but I tried to listen to the others and they helped guide me and get me into the groove.

I managed to record it, and I
wanted to share it here. Only sound though, as I was also using the phone to look at the chord chart.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V3Zgtqhh9Xm1kVrML67WjLrhXNtZkzjJ/view?usp=drivesdk

Feedback would be much appreciated! pls lmk if the link is broken.

I learned a lot from this session. The players in Kyoto are so strong and generous. There was a horn player who played the piano better than I play guitar lolol. She was so humble even then..

Please give the house bass and piano a listen/ subscribe as well. I also link a local drummer I met there (he didn't play this tune, the host did, but his chops are crazy) They were so encouraging and nice.

bass- inoue ayumu

piano - kiyoshi kanamaru

drums - dotjump

https://youtube.com/@drumsko131?si=mF-yQD8bnRZopmtt

Thank you Kim Sun Ho for sharing your experience in Kyoto Japan. I am very happy to hear that!

All of me, Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, Blue Monk, Straight No Chaser… those are very popular songs for jam. I think this was a great chance to know that you can prepare to understand those chords and melodies.

Could you post any videos on your own YouTube Channel as unlisted please? I don’t use google drive for posting at Guitar Wisdom.

Tomo

Thank you Kim Sun Ho. Sounds great! Fun! Lovely! Great space and rhythm. Plus a great rhytrhm section!

Now you can listen this (solo) with chord changes. Many great parts from this solo.

1) Watch out thythm.
2) Make more space.
3) Follow chords.
4) Comp with 3rd & 7th (back beat)

I really enjoyed it! Good job!
Thanks for making this on YouTube.

Tomo

Thank you, Kim Sun Ho! Sounding like a pro!
That was so fun to hear. You did it! I admire you!
Thanks for sharing that. It makes me want to keep going and learn more than the chords.
Glad you had a fun time!
Kurt

hey sunny!

whoa awesome man!
following the thread.

(btw when i was a kid my family called me "Suni"...this stuck all the way until high school when friends called me "sunny"...a few of them still do haha! old friends are priceless -- fellow time travellers...)

i got your email last month, read promptly, then just thought about it for a few days. i am so sorry about the delay to reply -- basically i just want to add, if you are ever in pleasanton, let me know, and lets jam man! or maybe we just practice together haha.

that is true for an fellow guitar wisdom folks,
get on gravatar (free and safe internet business card) and send me a msg when you're in the bay area. let's jam-practice :)

also, i think keeping tomo's axioms in mind curb my own infinite regression into the mind, making videos too, having a daily practice is helping me a great deal now actually. making progress. so grateful. (still have to post here tho...working on it! :))

i saw some awesome ideas about listening and practicing while traveling from tomo, adding it to my list

i saw a tim pierce video some years ago recommending a strandberg guitar for travel practice once.
just light, durable and compact (?)

thoughts about travel guitars tomo?
kind of difficult to sit on plane or train to focus and play. im not sure how i would do it.

but i like your method sunny!
go to kyoto jazz club and play, awesome!!

sunil

Thank you Sunil for encouragement.

If you want to enjoy your travel, then no guitar is fine too! I think Ibanez AZES31 is good for travel. Not too big, not too expensive. When I go my family vacation, I don't bring my guitar.

Tomo

Impressive and inspiring stuff Kim Sun Ho - I really enjoyed listening to your performance. Thanks for sharing, I'm a long way from stepping up in a jam night but I'm going to practice some more now!

Jonathan

Thanks for sharing, Kim Sun Ho. Cool to hear you jamming, well done!

What a cool experience, Kim Sun Ho! I commend you for jumping into the jam night. Thank you so much for sharing and turning it into a YouTube track for easy listening.

Good thinking, getting a recording of it. Now you have material to review! Tomo's list of 4 items will be helpful to improve.
I'll repeat them here, in case people have trouble finding them.

1) Watch out rhythm.
2) Make more space.
3) Follow chords.
4) Comp with 3rd & 7th (back beat)

One experience = many lessons. You learned a lot from putting yourself out there. Thank you for the inspiration!

Thank you Sammi for encouragement and reviewing thos important points! You are a great teacher!

Four Four / Alternate Picking is so important! I love following chords! That's why I love playing solo guitar (Joe Pass style).

Tomo