Well… Today I was busy from 9 a.m. to basically 11 p.m. answering clients. So I decided to put at least some effort in guitar practicing. So I stayed just with 1234s. And luckily I did ear training the night before so it counts as well π
Also I wasn’t plugged in and didn’t see the point of lightning setup for just a few minutes, so the quality of videos is not great as well. But there are videos today which is more important than everything else.
1234 exercise
3124 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm
3142 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm
3214 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm. The hardest one of these three. I always tend to play the wrong string with my pinky in order to get ready to play the next string with my ring finger after that.
Ear training
I got to the Perfect 4th again. Still can’t decently differ Major 2nd, Minor 3rd and Major 3rd from each other though…
Summary
Tomorrow and Sunday won’t be less busier on the client front so guess I’ll stick with 1234s for these days and see how it goes.
Today I included three 1234 variations in the routine, started practicing fretboard knowledge scales wise using the random scale machine and realized I don’t have time for anything else.
1234 exercise
All three of the new combinations are harder on the way down the strings because I need to press the next string with the ring finger while holding the pinky pressing the previous one.
3124 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm
3142 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm
3214 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
E string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
A string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
D string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
G string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
E string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
A string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Strumming
Module 15 pattern
120 bpm
Summary
These fretboard knowledge routines take so much time that after them I just didn’t want to do anything else. Not sure what result do I want with them. Maybe sub 4 minutes for all strings or so. But I need to use some theoretical knowledge as well in order to achieve that faster. So maybe that’s what I’ll be doing for the next few days.
Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG stringsΒ – 150 bpm – 8th notes Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA stringsΒ – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Major scales – E stringΒ –Β Pronouncing notesΒ – 3:44 Major scales – A stringΒ –Β Pronouncing notesΒ – 4:21 Major scales – D stringΒ –Β Pronouncing notesΒ – 5:20 Major scales – G stringΒ –Β Pronouncing notesΒ – 5:47
Minor scales – E stringΒ –Β Pronouncing notesΒ – 4:55 Minor scales – A stringΒ –Β Pronouncing notesΒ – 5:49
Today I watched through Module 16, repeated every yesterdays exercise and picked the melody from Gravity Falls Opening.
1234 exercise
2341 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
D string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
G string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Strumming
Module 15 pattern
100 bpm
Ear training
Again didn’t manage to get to the level with 7 intervals… Still struggling with Major 2nd, Minor 3rd and Major 3rd intervals – they sound pretty much the same for me. It’s easier when the played notes are close but in other situations I just can’t differ them yet.
Songs
Today I figured out the opening for Gravity Falls. Here it is.
On the random riffs front there’s not so much today, I basically just repeated something I played before.
Gravity Falls Opening Happy Birthday ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠ»Ρ ΠΈ Π¨ΡΡ – ΠΠ΅ΡΠ½ΠΈΠΊ The Phantom of the Opera Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train [Intro]
Summary
I’m eager to end this week and start some new routines. Also the chord construction module is so much fun. It’s so simple yet enjoyable. I understood that one can play chords everywhere on the fretboard just by playing the correct notes right away, but now I know everything about it – inversions, positioning and so on. Maybe tomorrow I’ll start practicing something from that module routines.
Today I finally watched Module 15 and implemented something new into my practice routine.
1234 exercise
2341 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
D string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
G string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Strumming
Module 15 pattern
80 bpm. I really have no problem with my barre chords but their substitutes are something new for me. Hence my disability to play them fast. But it’s an interesting practice, so hopefully I’ll master them by the end of this week, as they are not that hard.
Ear training
I didn’t make it to the level with 7 intervals, but managed to improve my successfully guessed ones percentage. It’s fun how I’m thinking that I’m worse that the previous day, but it turns out my result is better that the previous one. This perception of progress is quite funny π
Songs
I was interrupted and had to end the practice but managed to play some riffs anyway.
Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love Europe – The Final Countdown Green Day – ΒΏViva La Gloria? (Little Girl) [Solo] Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit Black Sabbath – Paranoid Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?
Summary
I’m happy about my fretboard knowledge and will be definitely able to switch to the next iteration of fretboard knowledge for scales exercise using the random scale machine. The new barre strumming routine is not that hard so hopefully I’ll get it to 120 bpm by the end of this week.
Today I repeated everything I’d played yesterday, tried a new way of practicing 34s without letting my middle go everywhere and accidentally came up with a simple melody based on the major scale.
1234 exercise
Still struggling with my thumb placement. Either I don’t move it at all or have to stop playing because of a mistake.
2341 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
34 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 120 bpm. My previous way of reducing middle finger movement didn’t work out so I tried something else – taped my index and middle fingers together and made an attempt of playing 34s like that. I think that the main issue is in the lack of stretching so I’ll try to something for improving it.
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
A string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]. Under 5 minutes!
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
A string – Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]. Almost under 5 minutes, but I’ll count that anyway!
Ear training
Today I finally got to the level with 7 intervals! The overall percentage of successfully guessed intervals is lower but insignificantly.
Songs
Just before recording this video I randomly played some scale parts and came up with the melody which I want to share. Also I decided to make some list of riffs to make these videos more organized.
The Melody I Came Up With The Phantom of the Opera The Offspring – You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠ»Ρ ΠΈ Π¨ΡΡ – ΠΠ΅ΡΠ½ΠΈΠΊ [Intro] Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Summary
What a fun day it was. I’m kinda stuck with 1234s and really need to improve the consistency of these combinations across the neck. So maybe I’ll try to start a new module and see what routines are there. Anyway I still need to practice major scales notes pronunciation on the D and G strings, so presumably I still have things to practice for now and don’t need something else.
Today I continued working on 1234s and scales and in the end kinda went over the top with picking up the whole melody and chords for The Phantom of the Opera.
1234 exercise
It’s funny how one day you have an issue and then the next day it’s gone but you’re struggling with something you’ve never noticed and had problems with before. Some combinations were harder on the way up the neck but now they are much easier on the way down some how and the other way around.
2341 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm. Muscle memory slowly but surely appears, which I’m happy about. Still struggling with D and G strings though.
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]. During the exercise I used to though of the A string as if it was E string. So I messed up a few scales and had to start them over again. Hence it took far too long.
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm. The shape is really easy, but I need to work on the tension, especially in my pinky.
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]. Surprisingly I managed to finish in less time that before although there was some mistakes as well.
Ear Training
The progress is quite unnoticeable but it is presented π
Songs
I ran out of ideas for guitar riffs, so some new ones are really necessary to implement in this section. Will chose some soon.
Green Day – When I Come Around Green Day – Welcome to Paradise Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams Green Day – Brain Stew The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army ΠΠΈ-2 – Π€Π΅Π»Π»ΠΈΠ½ΠΈ Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
The Phantom Of the Opera
It all started when I accidentally played something remotely similar to the melody of this song.
Firstly, I picked up this part, then got interested in the song’s key and chords and noticed that playing the same melody in the shape of the scale is much easier. So I re-figured it out again on the other part of the neck.
This process repeated for a few times. Finally I got some chords and progressions between the verses. It was fun but took me literally hours. Anyway, here is the result.
Today I really wanted to make something like a cover of this song, but now I’m not that sure. Anyway, figuring out a song completely by ear and understanding how to play it more comfortable for myself was really great. Need to do it more.
Summary
The Phantom of the Opera part was a complete surprise and I liked it so much. But the new camera angle is not that good. I like the previous one better. Tomorrow I’ll experiment with the lighting and camera positioning and much likely sit down again.
Today I ordered a tripod for the phone, changed the lighting a bit and practiced the same routines as yesterday. Also I continued my new idea of playing some random riffs that were in my mind right then.
1234 exercise
2341 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
I was rudely interrupted in the middle of the exercise, so here is another attempt.
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Ear training
I felt like I was failing more than yesterday but the results are getting better. Unfortunately, this process is not as fast as I want.
Songs
I really like this new tradition of mine π
Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams Black Sabbath – Paranoid Blur – Song 2 Green Day – Holiday Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) [Intro] Billie Eilish – bellyache Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train [Intro] Three Days Grace – The Good Life [Intro] Green Day – Troublemaker Green Day – American Idiot
Summary
I’m so into my random riffs idea π It’s fun. My only concern is that I won’t be able to learn something new as fast and these videos will have many songs in common. But maybe it’s not that bad at all and we’ll see about that.
Today I started practicing 1234s on the whole fretboard and tried to increase my playing scales skill. The second part didn’t work out…
1234 exercise
It was a rough start but considering it’s the first attempt I did pretty well.
2341 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 on the 1-12 frets
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
I don’t know what’s up with me and scales but I just constantly keep messing them up. Maybe I should decrease the speed a bit or practice on a single fret instead of the whole fretboard at once.
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Ear training
Gradually increasing my ears skills. The process takes much more time than I hoped it would take. There were a few moments when I though I could get to the next level but every time I failed just by the end of the progress bar when I needed 2-3 more correct answers to proceed. I’ll try practicing every day before I go to sleep in order to reach my goal this week.
Songs
I decided to start a tradition of playing random riffs that I know and want to play right now. It’s just for fun and in order not to get bored of other routines. I was so excited about the new light that I came up with that idea just to record something using it π
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit [Intro] ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠ»Ρ ΠΈ Π¨ΡΡ – ΠΠ΅ΡΠ½ΠΈΠΊ [Intro] The Offspring – The Kids Aren’t Alright [Intro] Green Day – 21 Guns [Solo] Green Day – 21 Guns [Chorus] Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know? [Intro] The All-American Rejects – Dirty Little Secret [Intro] Green Day – ΒΏViva La Gloria? (Little Girl) [Solo] Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams [Solo]
Summary
The first half of the day was not that productive, but the thing with the new lamps got myself a second breath so I became very enthusiastic about recording something else. Need to maintain this kind of mood to proceed further easier and with more fun!
Today I practiced everything again to record my results and messed around with some songs playing random riffs from them one after another.
1234 exercise
Unfortunately, today’s 1234s were not my best performance.
2341 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2413 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
2431 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
34 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 100 bpm. Still no effect on my issue. Will try something else next week.
12-13-14-23-24-34 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Pronouncing notes [Fretboard knowledge]
Ear training
Still trying to improve but unsuccessfully. For now I’m stuck at this level. But I think that I have a better understanding of differences between the intervals now.
Summary
Today the goal was to do my best at each exercise I practiced this week. Not everything went as good as it could go but in comparison with the beginning of the week it’s definitely a progress.
