Tag: 1234

Day 47. Scales, baby!

Finally I got to some theory. I watched through Module 14 and started practicing some scales. Also I got 2134, 2143, 2314 combinations to the point where I played them as 8th notes at 150 bpm, so basically reached one of my goals for this week.

1234 exercise

2134 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm.

2143 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm.

2314 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm.

34 on the 5th fret

Quarter notes @ 80 bpm. Finally got to practice this combination separately. Thought it would be harder than it appeared to be. Will increase the speed and implement this muscle memory into 12-13-14-23-24-34 exercise.

Scales

I decided to practice scales in two ways:

  • Dexterity and consistency – playing them a lot with the metronome, increasing the speed every day.
  • Fretboard knowledge – playing them pronouncing all the notes out loud to remember all of them.

Major scales

Starting on the E string. 8th notes @ 100 bpm.

Starting on the A string. 8th notes @ 100 bpm.

Starting on the D string. 8th notes @ 100 bpm.

Starting on the G string. 8th notes @ 100 bpm.

Starting on the E string. Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge].

Minor scales

Starting on the E string. 8th notes @ 100 bpm.

Starting on the A string. 8th notes @ 100 bpm.

Starting on the E string. Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge].

Summary

Module 14 was quite heavy on theory. I didn’t implement all the routines and haven’t understood and remembered everything. I need to have a closer look on the circle of 5ths in order to have a better understanding which scales have which notes. Today I just figured them all out through brute force while playing.

Day 46. Do I Wanna Know?

Today I recorded Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys which I figured out yesterday, increased the speed for 1234 exercises and reached my fretboard knowledge goal!

1234 exercise

2134 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 140 bpm.

2143 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 140 bpm.

2314 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 140 bpm.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 140 bpm.

Fretboard knowledge

Today I finally reached my goal – finished this exercise in 1:30!

Ear training

Besides all riffs I figure out yesterday there was another one which I haven’t recorded. It’s the riff from Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys.

Summary

I yet again had not much time to practice today, but the results are still pretty decent. Tomorrow will try to spend more time practicing.

Day 45. Picking up some riffs

Today I finally got time to practice something from Module 13 and continued increasing the speed of 1234s.

Also the main goal for today was to start playing without looking at the fretboard all the time. So I played everything looking away from it.

1234 exercise

2134 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 130 bpm.

2143 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 130 bpm.

2314 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 130 bpm.

1234, 1243, 1324, 1342, 1423, 1432 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 150 bpm. I wanted to see if I’m able to play all these without watching.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 130 bpm.

Fretboard knowledge

It’s funny how even sloppy attempts manage to end in 1:40. There was no try above that mark. And I’m really close to the goal – my best time is 1:32. Not sure if I got it before but it’s surely the best one.

Ear training

I managed to pick up notes for Crazy Train, Sunshine of Your Love, The Final Countdown riffs. The notes were pretty much perfect but my positioning and choosing the fret and strings to play them were not always the best ones possible. So I looked up all of them to make sure I was playing them right.

I also picked up Do I Wanna Know riff by ear but haven’t recorded it.

Summary

Tomorrow I’ll start Module 14. It’s time to finally move on and add some routines to my practice. Also I’m really glad there was this picking up by ear thing. Finally some songs, which is so much fun 🙂

Day 44. Bit by bit

Today I just played 1234s at slightly higher speed.

1234 exercise

The main attention was given to looking away from the fretboard in order to play using the muscle memory. It led to some mistakes, but I’m getting used to it.

2134 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm.

2143 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm.

2314 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm.

Summary

Not much time playing today. Tomorrow I’ll finally get through Module 13.

Day 43. Adding 1234 combinations

Today I started practicing three new combinations: 2134, 2143, 2314 and tried to set the new record for fretboard knowledge. Also I replayed Demons by Imagine Dragons and got interrupted twice during 12-13-14-23-24-34 exercise.

1234 exercise

I wanted to start from 8th notes at 150 bpm but then realized that starting the pattern from the middle finger really makes everything much harder. So I dropped the speed to 110 bpm and played all of them, decent-ish.

2134 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 110 bpm.

2143 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 110 bpm.

2314 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 110 bpm.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm. Got interrupted twice…

Fretboard knowledge

From now on I’ll record every attempt to 100% film the attempt that will be the new record.

Imagine Dragons – Demons

I played this song again in order to relax my right hand more and play loudly. When playing like this another issue occurs – I just miss the E string while doing snares.

Summary

Not much practice today, but it’s a start of the week, so there are more days ahead to implement something new.

Week 6. Summary

What a great week it was! I reached all my goals for it and more importantly – uploaded my first cover in a very long time.

It was much fun to practice and record it, but the downside of cover making is that it took almost all my practicing time. So in order to progress through the course faster I’ll try do do one every month or so. Just to practice something else useful in between.

The goals for this week were:

  • [Done] Play all six 1234 combinations I managed to get to 300 bpm across the whole neck at the same speed
  • [Done] Record When I Come Around and make it into a video
  • [Done] Start implementation of Modules 12-13 routines

My goals for the next week:

  • Play at least three 1234 combinations starting with 2 at 300 bpm
  • Increase my ring-pinky endurance and precision in 12-13-14-23-24-34 exercise
  • Find notes on all strings in fretboard knowledge exercise in less than 1:30
  • Watch through Module 13 again and start the ear training

As always there is a video with some details.

1234 exercise

1234 on the 1-12 frets – 8th notes at 170 bpm → 16th notes at 90 bpm
1243 on the 1-12 frets – 8th notes at 150 bpm (increasing consistency)
1324 – 8th notes at 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
1342 – 8th notes at 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
1423 – 8th notes at 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
1432 – 8th notes at 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret – 8th notes at 100 bpm → 8th notes at 120 bpm

Strumming

Module 12 pattern – 120 bpm

Songs

Green Day – When I Come Around [Cover]
Imagine Dragons – Demons [Thumb snare + Palm muting]

Day 42. Concluding 1*** combinations

Today I played 1*** finger variations for the last time for now in order to start practicing 2*** ones. Also my fretboard knowledge was checked once again. Besides I implemented palm muting and thumb snares playing Demons by Imagine Dragons.

1234 exercise

I wasn’t in great shape today so I’m gonna use yesterday’s videos for the week summary.

1234 on the 1-12 frets

16th notes at 90 bpm.

1243 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1324 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1342 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1423 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1432 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm.

Fretboard knowledge

Finally I got back to this exercise. As before – here is my first attempt. Finished in 1:55.

Off-camera I managed to do it in 1:32 and it was my best attempt yet. Unfortunately I couldn’t repeat that result on camera. So there is my 1:39 attempt.

Imagine Dragons – Demons

I implemented thumb snare in verses and palm muting in pre-choruses. It was fun. Maybe one day I’ll be able to sing along, but at this point my singing is completely awful…

Summary

Finally the cover is done so are 1*** combinations. Tomorrow there will be many new exercises which I’m really excited about.

Day 41. First cover in a while

I finally released my first cover after 7 years of silence on the YouTube channel! Also thus I completed one of the goals for this week, which is great. But I practiced other stuff as well.

1234 exercise

1234 on the 1-12 frets

16th notes at 90 bpm. Tried to increase the speed today. It went quite well. Tomorrow I’ll polish my performance and finalize the week.

1243 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm. Still trying to improve.

1324 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1342 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1423 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1432 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 120 bpm. Increased the speed. 24 and 34 are the most exhausting ones.

Strumming

Module 12

120 bpm. Final video on this exercise.

When I Come Around

Here is what I spend half day on. It’s not perfect but pretty good. And it was really time to record this cover already. I stuck at practicing this song for too long. Maybe someday I’ll revisit it and make a new version.

Summary

One milestone through there is no time to hesitate. Tomorrow I’ll set some new goals for myself.

Day 40. Nailed the bass line

Today I finally played 1432 combination across the fretboard and almost fully mastered the bass part for When I Come Around.

1234 exercise

I played the final combination across the neck today – 1432. Hopefully by the end of this week I’ll be able to consider all six of them done to start practicing new ones.

1234 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 170 bpm. Almost perfect this time. Tomorrow I’ll try 16th notes at 90 bpm.

1243 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm. I wasn’t warmed up enough so this attempt was not my best. Will try to improve it tomorrow.

1324 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm. Played it decently.

1342 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm. There were some minor issues but still pretty well played.

1423 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm. Fun to play combination.

1432 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm. Finally I tried to play it on the whole fretboard. It was much better than my similar attempt to do it a few days ago.

12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 110 bpm. The hardest combinations are 24 and 34. They really made my hand feel some muscle pain which is not completely great. Thought I would practice them separately for a few times to get my hand used to them.

Strumming

Module 12 pattern

120 bpm. Repeated this exercise at the same speed to get cleaner sound.

When I Come Around

I played full song for a several times off-camera while the videos I recorder were transferring to my computer in order to free some phone memory and record the last video for today. That’s the result. I played the song along with the original recording at the full speed. My hammer-ons and pull-offs are not perfect, definitely needed more power. But I suppose I just got tired of all the attempts that were made off-camera. Think I’m ready to record the cover.

Summary

Well, the day has come. Tomorrow I’ll start the cover recording.

Day 39. No time at all

I hadn’t spared time to play today so eventually I had to practice after midnight. So in this post there will be no comments at all. Only videos. Beside them I played the bass line from When I Come Around for a few times off-camera.

1234 exercise

1234 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 170 bpm.

1243 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm

1324 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1342 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 150 bpm.

1423 on the 1-12 frets

8th notes at 300 bpm.

1432 on the 5th fret

8th notes at 150 bpm.

Summary