Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Dear Tomo and fellow Guitar Wisdom students,

I hope you're doing well, your helpful videos and comments have been a great aid in my guitar and music theory studies.

Thank you very much!

I'm from Hungary and I have been attending a local music school studying jazz guitar. For the summer I was assigned to learn as many things by ear as possible. Currently i want to learn the chord progression to Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite", but I'm having a tough time, somehow the chords i think are being played judging by the bass notes don't sound right. I really don't want to to look up the chord sheet for this song and rather I'd learn it by ear on my own.

As i mentioned i tried paying attention to what the notes are being played by the bass on the down beat, in addition I also learned the main melody of the song, since my teacher recommended that I start with that.

Is there anything else I could do to make it easier, or should i just sit with it for days until i feel i got it right? Should I start with another song?

Thank you in advance, have a great day!

Best regards,

Tomi

Thank you Tomi for sharing this.

Before you do learn by ears. You need a little foundation. Maybe learn R 3 7 Swing Groove with Blues, Jazz Blues a few jazz standards before you do this song.

Or you can find a few versions of same song so that maybe other version has more clear sound or maybe slower tempo.
Charlie Parker original recording is old so it is not easy to hear everything clearly.

Maybe you need a few preparation before you do this.
At least you can do. Count each bar... figure out song form first.

What do you think?

Tomo

It is tough! Do not give up. Listen to it as much as possible. My advice is to avoid any and all temptation to look it up. You really have to internalize the song, learn the form and the head, which should be easier, and learn to sing it. Bebop is often whizzing by, which might not make it the easiest. A top tune, well worth all the effort you put in. Check out Jimmy Smith’s version featuring Kenny Burrell.

I made this advice video for you. Hope it is helpful. Thank you!

Tomo