Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Scott,

Just thinking of some things I do when I can't play guitar:

* listen to albums,
(deep listening as tomo suggests)

* practice in my head (foundation practice) :
-- "closed" major triads:
note name,
intervals (root, M3, P5; ...),
i can't do solfage without the guitar (yet).
-- 1212 chromatic scale:
visualize:
in this order: left hand thumb position, right hand muting, sound note, sustain, lift lh fingers and relax right elbow.

-- R 7 3 / R 3 7 Bb swing groove blues progression:
visualize common time beat, and the triplet within. visualize how i am holding guitar, pick, the drop (downstroke), mute, upstroke.

finally, just watching tomo's gw videos on known topics, incorporate new stuff as needed.

I have to say that I feel a bit frustrated that my fretting hand pinky dexterity has weakened. I have practiced probably 3-4 times, and I cannot fret as fluidly as I did. I know it will take time to heal from this pinched nerve, but I am tempted to feel like I am not making progress. Yet I am doing my best to enjoy the process of healing and take my time, focusing on learning the degree of notes in the Bb Blues Soloing etude, and listening to the intervals. There is a time for everything. Now is the time for patience, being kind to myself, don't expect too fast, and not worrying. I wanted to be honest about my journey.

And I am making progress with the chiropractor. My body is starting to listen to the adjustments he's making. I will get there! I really do appreciate all your support.

Rest up and get well soon man

Thank you Sunil, Linda, Hugo and Jeff!! You guys are so sweet to others!

Tomo

Thank you Tomo, I love this place.
Enjoying the passage of time!
Maaan, that is the key Linda!
Agreed, Hugo and Jeff.

Community, knowledge, wisdom, physical therapy, science, prayer, visualization, meditation...human beings are amazing, resilient, and creative in how we survive, and play. It is there for medicine, guitar, and our mental state from moment to moment.

Scott, I was thinking about you.
Hope you are not in pain and able to play a little.

I was dealing with some issues and couldn't practice with guitar regularly over this last month. I think everything has been resolved so back to foundation practice schedule today. Not practicing seems to really effect my mood.

During this time I was trying to use visualization and I was wondering why I can't visualize the sound so I started looking at videos in the "Essential Music Theory" section again.

Only need one finger one string. So you can do this too, I think. Ear training, fretboard knowledge, improvisation, and good to review for the livestream on 4/16. Supports foundation practice too. Starting to understand why there are so many b3, b6, or b7's everywhere.

I watched up to Mixilodian mode. There is a cool exercise where Tomo is playing G Major with a b7 (G mixilodian) on two strings separated by M3. I think that is what is going on, I am still figuring it out. Super cool. Going to work on this today. I want to improvise, need to understand the sounds.

Sunil, I have been able to play a bit. The pain is subsiding, working through it all. Most of all, I am enjoying it.

Many years ago when I was playing on the show Blue Man Group in New York . I had sciatica and these guys sent me to a chiropractor they liked . they told me I need to strengthen my core muscles . It’s never really come back since.

Hey Scott,

Just a token of support. Shortly after I resumed playing, allergies quickly came back but I'll continue to combat it. Hope you stay strong and don't feel punished or discouraged due to your health conditions!

Here's what I do today - listening to Kyoto and Just Funky, counting 4 4 and moving my body while doing house chores. Still a lot we can do to improve - without playing!

Hugo

hey Scott id like to share this mobility routine with you, it was created by a guy called called Scott sonnon who is a movement specialist , but the exercisers are also from the yogic and Chinese healing traditions , they help to relax the mind and body and are said to help with arthritis or any kind of joint issues.

I do these most days and they have really helped me phycially and mentally and even feel they help my guitar and piano playing the routine is easy to follow and not strenuous , you simply go thought each joint complex of the body and move each joint in different planes of motion , these kinds of movements .

quite often certain areas of our body can not get used for years unless we have some kind of movement practice. It's also worth looking into some Chinese qigong or even some yoga , as these systems are very health and healing oriented.

Here's a follow along routine for daily mobility and joints and tissues - I hope this helps you

Hi Scott,

Something for our down time:

This weekend we will have Tomo's stream. Give it some imagination if you can :)

“Passion, determination, commitment, strong will" - Tomo's words. I bet they had more accurate Japanese terms; but yup, we got it.

Hugo