Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

My pleasure! This etude is good but contain many things so it is difficult to do all. Please watch my suggestion videos for those details.

How about this way? Use a small written music for your picking, palm muting and thumb position control. Please watch this video and learn these techniques.

Tomo

You're very welcome Scott! I really appreciate your pure efforts and your strong commitment here. This Bb Blues Solo Etude has a lot of elements. I use this piece to test my tape lesson students's level of undersatnding the fretboard, time feel, touch, and any habits. Then I create very specific lesson material for that student. That's my "Private Lesson" I would teach Chromatic scale, R 3 7 Swing Groove, Shuffle Bassline, Shuffle Riff, Triad Inversions, Blue Monk melody and more.

Tomo

Thank you Scott! I don't remember anything about deleating post here. When I see someone is putting other people's opinion down to posting any links that nothing to do with Guitar Wisdom then I may delete. But I didn't do anything. Don't worry! (I hope I didn't erase it(?) I move so fast so if I hit something very fast! (I have done that a few times)

Tomo

Thank you Tomo, for your kindness!

Thank you Scott for watching that video. First you need to use suggested position by the book. Then you can use any positions later.

Great settng!

Tomo

So happy to hear that. Good job Scott.

Tomo

Like I suggested a few parts that you can fixed it slowly so that you can make it better. In order to improve is not only practicing everyday. You need to make them better. So you need to make efforts on that part. That's why you (everyone) need to watch the original lesson video a few more times so you can remind yourself about thumb position, not to use too much pressure (left hand). You can practice chromatic scale, Major scale... anything to help getting your techniques.

Tomo

I made this video so you can understand what to do.

Thank you.

Tomo

This is very helpful to me. There is a lot here to study and practice. I get concerned about the amount of space I have to pick between the neck pickup and the neck itself. Often, I end up hitting the neck pickup with my pick on my Stratocaster. And my Telecaster has even less space to pick there. So, I can see the overall benefit of learning techniques to control my picking and thumb position so that I can get to the notes the best way. This video will help me I can tell. Thank you, Tomo. I am so grateful that you take the time to make these instructional videos for us all.

So happy to hear that Scott! Don't worry about picking position too much. Right hand palm muting is so important. Please practice simple phrasing one. Picking position is not easy to learn fast. Plesae take your time. I am glad that my video can help you! You're very welcome!

Tomo

My pleasure Scott. This etude is not too easy so you can make it simplfy so you can focus on left hand thumb position and right hand muting techniques. That's how I teach when I teach this in private lesson.

Tomo

Thank you Nalin. Once in a while, we noted a wrong name of note so the sound is correct (by performing) So if written note is different with video performance note then please follow the sound. You already know that Major 3rd of F7 is A. Thank you for letting me know.

Tomo

Thank you Scott for sharing your experience. This techniques are very difficult!

Review: Bb7.. use 234 fingers (R b7 M3)
Your thumb is around middle or a little above middle (back of your guitar neck)
Eb7 ..use 213 fingers (R M3 b7)
Your thumb can touch lightly on 6th string.

Do finger Picking (Picking hand) so no need to worry about frethand muting technique that much so you can focus on thumb position and your fingers angle.

PS, Place your thumb lower or middle of neck when you are practicing Chromatic scale or Guitar Method book. So you can work on your thumb position.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Tomo

Tomo, thank you for your feedback. I know that I am making good progress. I am learning to inch my fretting hand down as I pick the higher strings. This is difficult to manage at the moment, but I know it will come with time. I am going very slowly. I finally feel comfortable mentally doing that.

You're very welcome Scott! Keep going!

Tomo

Tomo Robert from Sweetwater said to tell you Hello!