52 Week Guitar Player – Page 15

Day 87. Playing solo a bit faster

Today I increased the speed of 1234s as always, played scales much better than yesterday, learned intro to one of the Metallica songs by ear and nailed the Kids solo at 140 bpm.

1234 exercise

4123 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 140 bpm

4132 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 140 bpm

4213 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 140 bpm

Scales

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 17 pattern [All of Me]

Open chords

120 bpm

Barre chords

120 bpm

Module 18 pattern [Autumn Leaves]

70 bpm

Songs

MGMT – Kids [Solo]

8th notes @ 140 bpm. I just played it a few times at 135 bpm off-camera and then decided that I could play it at 140 bpm as well. After 10 minutes of straight attempts I finally did it. Still a long way ahead though, but I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually.

Metallica – Unforgiven II [Intro]

70 bpm. It’s just a fun riff to play, so I just learned it by ear in a few minutes. The catch is that you need to play everything very precise in order to get a good sound. My performance is not perfect, by I spent a few minutes practicing and maybe later I’ll cover the whole song. Who knows.

Ear training

8 intervals again. I’m starting to think that it’s not a coincidence 😀 The main issue is with Major 2nd and Minor 3rd. I need some way to differ them better.

Summary

Very eventful day and still I leave some time to practice. It’s good that it’s mandatory for me now to play. I mean, I’ve been practicing daily for almost three months now, it’s crazy. And I’m not willing to stop doing it. Let’s go!

Routines

4123 – 5th fret – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
4132 – 5th fret – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
4213 – 5th fret – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 120 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 120 bpm

Strumming – Autumn Leaves – 70 bpm

Day 86. Shitty scales

Today I completely messed up all the scales, but increased the speed of 1234s and the Kids solo.

1234 exercise

4123 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 130 bpm

4132 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 130 bpm

4213 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 130 bpm

Scales

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 17 pattern [All of Me]

Open chords

120 bpm

Barre chords

120 bpm

Module 18 pattern [Autumn Leaves]

80 bpm

Songs

MGMT – Kids

130 bpm. I started increasing the speed. As soon as I play solo at the current speed without pauses I increase in by 2-3 bpm and play further. After the video I managed to increase it even more – to 135 bpm. But at that final speed I still haven’t played the solo yet.

Ear training

Finally. I’m back, baby! 8 intervals. Just hoping that it’s not the only time this week at which I get to this level.

Summary

I have some ups and downs today. But I think that the problem with the scales occurred because of the pick. It was really old and I’ve been using it for years. So I get myself a new one, a thicker one. Tomorrow I’ll be getting used to it.

Routines

4123 – 5th fret – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
4132 – 5th fret – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
4213 – 5th fret – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 120 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 120 bpm

Strumming – Autumn Leaves – 80 bpm

Day 85. Autumn Leaves

Today I started practicing the next three combinations of 1234s, repeated the scales and All of Me at the same speed as yesterday and started to play Autumn Leaves.

1234 exercise

As always it’s fun to start practice new combinations, because the brain and muscles just don’t behave at the beginning and there is a way I need to go through until they get used to these new movements.

Surprisingly, for these it was harder to move up the strings, not down. But I think I managed to teach myself how to play them. Tomorrow I’ll increase the speed.

4123 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 120 bpm

4132 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 120 bpm

4213 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 120 bpm

Scales

Still trying to improve my performance at that speed. Step by step.

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 17 pattern [All of Me]

Trying to clean up the sound, especially with the barre chords. I think a few more days and it’s gonna be clean enough.

Open chords

150 bpm

Barre chords

150 bpm

Module 18 pattern [Autumn Leaves]

Just started playing this one, nothing special. The chords themselves aren’t that hard to play, but remembering the whole progression is a task and a half.

Without the metronome

70 bpm

Songs

MGMT – Kids

Well, 1-2 days ago I started learning the solo for Kids by MGMT. My friend and I want to cover this song and my part includes it. Well, now I only managed to play it at the half speed of the original, and not very consistently. So the next few days/weeks/months I’ll be practicing this solo in order to increase the speed to the speed of original.

Anyway, here’s me playing it at 123 bpm as 8th notes (in the original it’s played as 16th notes).

And here’s one of the takes in which I managed to play the whole solo at once.

Summary

Everything is slowly but surely moving forward, which is great and how it’s supposed to be. The solo thing is very interesting yet really tricky. It’s harder than everything I played before. So it will be a giant leap forward in my skill when I’m able to finally play it at the original speed.

Routines

4123 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
4132 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
4213 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 150 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 150 bpm

Strumming – Autumn Leaves – 70 bpm

Week 12. Summary

This week was quite successful. I got another six combinations of 1234 to the point of playing them as 8th notes at 150 bpm across the neck, increased my endurance in strumming with barre chords and substitutes, learned and played All of Me, watched Module 18 and started learning the solo of Kids by MGMT in order to make a cover of it with my friend.

So here is the video.

The goals for this week were:

[Done] 3124, 3142, 3214, 3241, 3412, 3421 as 8th notes at 150 bpm across the neck
Get to the level with 7 intervals on ear training at tonedear.com 5 times
[Done] All of Me consistently at 140 bpm (both open and barre chords versions)

My goals for the next week:

4123, 4132, 4213 as 8th notes at 150 bpm on the 5th fret
Get to the level with 7 intervals on ear training at tonedear.com 3 times
All of Me consistently at 150 bpm (both open and barre chords versions)
Autumn Leaves at 120 bpm

1234 exercise

3124 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
3142 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
3214 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
3241 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
3412 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
3421 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)

Scales

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 8th notes @ 170 bpm → 16th notes @ 90 bpm
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 8th notes @ 170 bpm → 16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 15 pattern – 140 bpm → 150 bpm
Module 17 pattern [All of Me] – 100 bpm → 150 bpm

Ear training

Intervals – 286 of 350 – 81.71% → 243 of 300 – 81.00%
Minor 2nd, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Octave

Day 84. 3***s complete

Today I repeated everything I had played yesterday in order to increase my ability to play it and get a better sound.

1234 exercise

3124 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3142 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3214 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3241 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3412 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3421 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

Scales

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 17 pattern [All of Me]

Open chords

150 bpm

Barre chords

150 bpm

Summary

Yesterday I learnt the solo of Kids by MGMT and kinda played it at half the speed of the original song. Today I repeated it a few times. Still need to work on consistency at that speed before increasing it. Anyway, let’s summarize the week.

Routines

3124 – 1-12 frets – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3142 – 1-12 frets – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3214 – 1-12 frets – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3241 – 1-12 frets – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3412 – 1-12 frets – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3421 – 1-12 frets – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 150 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 150 bpm

Day 83. Getting better

Today I finally semi-decently managed to play scales at the reached speed and increased the speed and consistency of All of Me playing.

1234 exercise

3124 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3142 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3214 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3241 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3412 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3421 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

Scales

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 15 pattern

1 5 6 4 chords

150 bpm

1 5 6 4 substitutes

150 bpm

6 4 1 5 chords

150 bpm

6 4 1 5 substitutes

150 bpm

Module 17 pattern [All of Me]

Open chords

120 bpm

150 bpm

Barre chords

120 bpm

150 bpm

Ear training

Still can’t get back to the level with 7 intervals. Don’t know what to do. All is left is to practice more ??‍♂️

I accidentally stopped the practice in the beginning, but it’s a good chance to show how consistent I am in identifying simple intervals.

And here’s the full practice.

Summary

I’m not happy with ear training at all, but other stuff seem pretty decent for me, so I’ll continue the practice at the same manner.

Routines

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 1 5 6 4 chords – 150 bpm – 3 min
Strumming – Module 15 – 1 5 6 4 substitutes – 150 bpm – 3 min
Strumming – Module 15 – 6 4 1 5 chords – 150 bpm – 3 min
Strumming – Module 15 – 6 4 1 5 substitutes – 150 bpm – 3 min

Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 120 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 150 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 120 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 150 bpm

Day 82. Finally some decent practice

Today I increased the speed of 1234s to the final 150 bpm, my goal speed for this week. Also I once again tried to play scales as 16th notes at 90 bpm, which didn’t go as well. And I returned to All of Me and played it at 120 bpm today.

1234 exercise

I’m really relaxed during these, which is great. But sometimes this approach leads to some dead notes, which I’ll be working on.

3124 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3142 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3214 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3241 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3412 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3421 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 150 bpm

Scales

Woah… Too fast 🙂 I’ll try for a few more days and hopefully get used to playing at that speed, but now it’s really rough.

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Strumming

Module 15 pattern

I think I’m not gonna play these after this week ends. Maybe later or someday when I’ll confront a musical situation in which I’ll need some of those.

1 5 6 4 chords

150 bpm

1 5 6 4 substitutes

150 bpm

6 4 1 5 chords

150 bpm

6 4 1 5 substitutes

150 bpm

Module 17 pattern [All of Me]

The chord progression is pretty much memorized by now, so I just need a bit more practice to maintain cleaner transitions and play all the chords correctly.

Open chords

100 bpm

120 bpm

Barre chords

100 bpm

120 bpm

Ear training

I became worse again… This level is so hard to pass for me. Major 2nd, Minor 3rd and Major 3rd are really close to each other and it’s hard for me to differentiate them… Today I practiced twice and never passed this level 🙁

Summary

It’s great to return to the solid practice after two days of only dexterity exercises. Today I’ll decide what to learn and play with my friend so it’s gonna be fun.

Routines

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 100 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Open chords – 120 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 100 bpm
Strumming – All of Me – Barre chords – 120 bpm

Day 81. And again…

Today I increased the speed of 1234s once again and tried to play scales at the speed I got them to yesterday.

1234 exercise

3124 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 140 bpm

3142 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 140 bpm

3214 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 140 bpm

3241 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 140 bpm

3412 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 140 bpm

3421 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 140 bpm

Scales

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Summary

Still didn’t manage to play for a decent amount of time. But tomorrow there will be some time for sure.

Routines

3124 – 1-12 frets – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3142 – 1-12 frets – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3214 – 1-12 frets – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3241 – 1-12 frets – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3412 – 1-12 frets – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min
3421 – 1-12 frets – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 2 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Day 80. Repetition only

Today I had time only to repeat everything I played yesterday. So there is my practice.

1234 exercise

3124 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 130 bpm

3142 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 130 bpm

3214 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 130 bpm

3241 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 130 bpm

3412 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 130 bpm

3421 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes @ 130 bpm

Scales

Major scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Minor scales

16th notes @ 90 bpm

Summary

Nothing particularly new today. Tomorrow I’ll finally get some time to continue practicing All of Me.

Routines

3124 – 1-12 frets – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 1-12 frets – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 1-12 frets – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3241 – 1-12 frets – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3412 – 1-12 frets – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3421 – 1-12 frets – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 90 bpm – 16th notes

Day 79. Ievan Polkka

Today I practiced after midnight so I just did 1234s and scales as they are quieter than strumming. Also I learned new melody by ear – Ievan Polkka. I’m not sure if it’s 100% correct so I’ll check myself with some tabs, but still learning and playing it was fun.