Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Thank you Scott! So great to hear that! Yes! Great small amp for two channel / echo (each CH)
I love the Beth Reverb tone! You're very welcome!

Tomo

Love this Tomo.
I was just looking through July Challenge,
I did not realize there 4+ parts. I could not do this in July, but now I can.

Amazing when I thought about this.
Most of the time, I am finding it's best to get out of my own way and just approach each moment with guitar patiently, calmly, with child-like curiosity. All of these ideas are from you, and tour book, thank you.

I am enjoying triad foundation practice.
I have been taking time knowing each note/solfage/inversion. I can go horizontally, vertically. Now I am working on: all root triads, the. all first, then all second inversions.

I am finding also, triad, chromatic and open triad intro swing groove exercises are all helping me -- as I get better at one, it gives clues how to do the others!

One question, will people outside of TFGW be able to watch the linked FTR 09 lesson video?

I am letting go of any concerns about privacy. I like your perspective and example of just being, and using the idea of public practice and review to make myself better.

I hope you have a great day!
What are you making with all the garlic you are chopping? :)

Thank you Sunil! Triads are so deep!

Only TFGW members can see any videos!

Cooking. Yes!

Tomo

Thank you for the kind words Johno.

Exactly. I feel like I'm on a slow spiral up, like the big birds in a summer thermal.

What is weird is now, it feels like it happened so fast!
Maybe that's what we remember after learning to walk as babies. We forget how many times we fell.

I had to listen to Tomo's triads on his Electric Spanish 335. 40 years of triads.
You are right my friend, beautiful!!
Small efforts over large time.

I hope we will all be jamming over the next 40! That is the goal, in any case. :)

Thank you guys! Triads are so good!

Tomo

" something else from a different lesson sticks and it applies to another lesson" 100% Johno

Thank you Clay! It's all about cooking!

Tomo

It takes a long time to remember the entire recipe and not mess up the dish. Yet, after a while a bad recipe can be adjusted to be better taste on knowing other recipes. Have to know the cooks tools, where they are at, how to use them, how to clean and store them for next time. I need a clock in the kitchen.
-johno

Why is this video gone. I am trying to watch it.

Once I scheduled post then the video is not available until next day. This case until 8am EST (2.17.2026) Sorry about it!

Now you can see it.

Must Know Triad Application on Blues Chord Progression (For Blues Solos)

You can apply simple triad inversions 123 string set to Bb Blues Chord Progression.

Please check around...
03:04 - 04:14 C Triad review
09:15 - 09:45 Bb Blues
12:43 - 13:16 Faster Bb Blues
13:41 - 14:51 Slower Bb Blues
15:00 - 17:00 Vertical triad review
19:00 - 20:37 Wisdom on who put down others

GEAR:
Fender Juanes Stratocaster
AMP-RX Brown Box
One Control BJF-S100 amp head
String Driver 2-12s cab
One Control Beth Reverb (FX Loop)
D'Addario EXL110
Providence Cable E205
Pickboy 1.00mm Celluloid pick

Thank you

I love this video Tomo. Thank you. I love how you start the lesson slow and sped up. It very detailed. Beautifully done. I love the wise words of wisdom to not lower yourself to argue. And bonus at the end with the gear transistor amp. Great work, always great work you do. Thank you.

My pleasure Serena! Please enjoy it! I am trying go slower and slower! Yes! No need to argue! Other side is not feeling well. Do not to need yourself lower to that side!

Tomo

Hey Tomo - I really liked how your messages on mistakes are sprinkled throughout this one. Really good reinforcement.

Tomo, that sounds so in tune in all fret positions, very good quality, not easy to get that in an average guitar. Really dig that Amp set up too, very cool. The parts with the Bb Blues triads and slower sustain very nice, I like that, and the rock jam at the end. One day, I get to verticle triads for myself goal, working it. I bet many can relate to the wisdom part, I know I can, been there, it happens, and yeah, jealousy is terrible, yuck. It is easy to make down putting comments when that person is really not facing nobody, like face book, they are not face-to-face. It is like a persons dopamine to them selfish selves to cut another person down in the social media land, too much anger and meanness in that click. Anyways, way to knock it out in the rock jam original!! Yes, Talk up, not down.
2¢ents
- johno

Thank you Clay! So glad to hear that!

Mistakes are very common and should not be afraid.
Mistakes can really teach us more! Only way to be success!

Tomo

Thank you Johno! I always feel that I am not in tune! Glad to hear that you did dig that amp tone. Plesae keep working on triad inversions. Talk up! Respect!

Tomo

Love that Gibson so articulate. Thanks Tomo for sharing.

My pleasure! Thank you Cruz! That Gibson.... unreal tone! Great amp to practice my performance late night. All original except a few tubes. Funny part was I had to purchase that amp and 1963 Gibson LG-1 at same day around mid December and my credit card declined due to too many online purchases. That notification went to my wife's cell phone because she did set my credit card. She texted me " Are you buying a Christmas present to yourself?"

Tomo

Hi Tomo,

Thanks so much for the video. I love both Fenders but feel Katana may not feel that good for "amusing myself". I hope to avoid the "visually listening" pitfall and listened again to the Bronco, Gibson, Blues Jr 30th.

Bronco:
I found that I like the "bubbly"/"sound almost bursting out of a note" feeling of Bronco - perhaps because of the lower-wattage tubes being fully driven (or listening to it first, etc).

Blues Jr 30th:
It feels more "modern" (probably not a good word choice) because it's more "controlled" or tighter than Bronco (or is it the mid range is more pronounced; therefore, giving me this false feeling (?)). It almost feel like it's "between" Bronco and Katana, maybe due to circuitry, different tubes, speakers, etc. It also gives a feeling like it's more suited for recording for records, where it fits well to "wider expectation" of what single-coil guitar sounds like in music.

Gibson:
It sure packs unique character. There are distinct feels of lower 3 and higher 3 strings but they work in tandem to form that character (awh, I use a twisted analogy: gemini twins - they may feature different features but they form a coherent pair, having commonalities or supplementing each other). It feels very much a personal statement on any piece if I play on it - I imagine.

Boss Katana:
It definitely feels different and much closer to what I heard "back in my younger days" in terms of the immediate, "in-your-face boldness" for non-tube amps - ONLY BETTER (and also I feel it's much closer to what I already have with the plugins and powered speakers (? Can't place why - I could be wrong)).

In sum, I have more tendancy to go with Bronco/Vibro Champ, especially considering my ultimate purpose (practice), small room (low-wattage being a definite fit) and "future-proof" requirement for what it does (if confine to clean tone). The only slight concern may be whether my ear will get tired quicker while doing critical listening during practice (beginner skills haha). Blues Jr is great too and is probably better for gigging etc, which may be too greedy of me to have at the moment.

Can't express more gratitude!

Hugo

Unrelated: timestamp for myself and forum members:-
0:00 Quick guitar introduction and Bronco (same as Vibro Champ)
11:05 Stewmac (mild with limited control, but good sound)
16:30 Gibson GA-6 (Tomo's "late-night" amp)
26:30 Blues Junior IV 30th Anniversary Edition (versatile option)
37:40 Boss Katana 50-Watt (0.5/25/50 Watt)
45:50 Demonstration of tremolo of Bronco (same as Vibro Champ)

Thank you Hugo! I thought this topic is timely for many people!
I really appreciate for time stamps! Very useful!

My pleasure!

Tomo

Thats a funny story made me laugh. I've learned to have guitars shipped to the local GC when I buy from them. Easier to bring in this house than showing up at the front door. As long as it's not a super bright color, no one knows I bought yet another guitar! lol

Yes! It's very simple! All you need a Xotic RC Booster! Champ and Vibro Champ is cool amp... but if you only have that then you are boxed in!

Thank you.

Tomo

Deluxe Reverb is a cool amp indeed! Thank you! The Bronco/Vibro Champ fun!

Tomo

It just sounds great! Immense control, skills, feel and character!

Completely agree on views on talent, AI, etc. Recognizing our own inferiority is actually the biggest first step for greatness. To me, the hard work, dexterity and preserverance after is as if it should be followed "automatically".

Happy playing!

Hugo

Thank you Hugo! I love to follow simplicity and limitation! Less is more!

I am very happy to practice guitar everyday! So great for my soul.

Tomo

Wow Tomo!
This is one of the all-time important lessons. So fun to see and hear you when you start speeding up.
Thank you for taking the time to teach everyone how to get our funk faces on! (I have the same Exotic wah pedal. I like it better than my Buddy Guy signature crybaby)
Kurt

Love it. Going to add to the "learn" portion of my practice.

Thank you Kurt! My pleasure! I think about 3 lessons related to Guitar Wisdom and I am so enjoy making these videos on Sunday afternoon. This lesson is so important and I can do more and more! For funk playing, this exercise is the most effective one. Great! What a great wah pedal!

Tomo

Hi Tomo,

When you are saying if we can play triads on 234 strings, do you mean knowing the shapes? I think I was able to do that in one week.

But to *know* everything (note name with one-finger-one-string, interval, and solfage) on all 4 string sets I think I spent at least a year on this, and I don't think I can say I know it yet.

You suggested that I practice vertical triads without looking -- C, F, Bb, Eb, last week or two weeks ago now.

I keep playing F, C, Eb, Bb all over, it is so fun and addicting! It sounds familiar somehow.

I found triads have nice symmetry on 234!
On 123 strings I was playing 1st inv F, 2nd inv C; 1st inv Eb, 2nd inv Bb near 12th fret, sounds so good especially if I use the pick closer to 12th fret for bell tones. I like playing closer to the bridge for lower strings -- seems clearer and my volume goes down, maybe it goes down easier.

Then I realized same inversions of that progression on 234 strings sound rounder! And kind of easier to finger. Haha! So amazing! Then I play it all over the neck, and it kind of becomes something like a song.

I am still working on grouping inversions together (play all root, all 1st, all 2nd).

I really like the idea of no memorization!
Just 5 or 10 minutes a 2-3 times a day, focusing on note name, interval, and solfage...especially with one-finger-one-string...I am really surprised I can play all over the fretboard now, not really guessing but I know the distance and the notes are coming easier.

It is so cool to learn without time limits (like for a test in school) and instead learning to really understand it.

It means really understand those triad inversions (sounds and intervals)

So slowly, take your time! No need to know these or finish in a few weeks. Do as long as you take or don’t think about when you are done.

I love teaching triad inversaions! Do as much as you can. This video is about 432 string set. All Major triad inversions.

So happy to hear that you are enjoying! I will make more triad inversions lesson videos.

Tomo

Ok, thank you Tomo!

Above, on 432 string set, I meant root triad and 1st inversions. On 321 string set, they will be 1st and 2nd inversions.

My pleasure! All inversions! On 123 set or 234 set.

Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion

Tomo

Thank you Johno! Good job! C and F... you can do a few others too. Great for blues rhythm guitar. Shuffle riffs. R & 5, R & 6 = I VI Triads. Thank you! Glad you liked the Fender Blues Jr.

Tomo

Super useful for me right now. Been focusing on funk last few weeks. This will definitely help expand vocab.

Thank you Clay! So happy to hear that! This pattern is very popular one. I & IV triads and drop 2 voicing / R 5 b7 M3 and only use top 3 notes and often slide from 1/2 step below.

Tomo

Thanks so much Johno! So happy to be helpful! Thank you for watching this video. I love that voicing (R) 5 b7 M3 Thank you!

Tomo

Really love the micro details and all of the "why" explanation. I am still working on pp18-19 and not satisfied yet, but I can see pg 19 becoming part of my long-term practice routine.
I had to go full screen to make sure, but you were using a lunch box MMBA?!! I've never seen that - is it custom?

Thank you Clay for your patient attention! Good job! I used to practice same page in many many days! Don't worry about numbers and pace or don't pay attention on any common sense. My friend Kanji Kawabata made that cabinet for me. That way I can plug to any cabinet. So much fun! I think you can simply customize your MMB amp with outpout speaker jack so you can plug into other cabinet.

Tomo

That's cool!