Black Friday got me busy for almost 3 full days. So I’ve still been practicing daily but the amount of time and willing to do it was not the best. So I sticked to the same routines I did last week in order to increase their consistency and get the better sound.
All went as usual – three more 1234 combinations are now played as 8th notes at 150 bpm, I practiced scales dexterity and a bit of note pronunciation, also kept trying to play the barre chord progression for longer period of time without the left hand fatigue. Also I’ve been practicing ear training almost every day in the bed before sleep.
I succeeded in almost every goal, which is great, but haven’t managed to proceed further through course. So that’s what I’ll focus at the next week – Module 16 and chord construction routines.
As always, here’s the video. I think I’m getting better at editing and it takes me less time to edit these summaries. So as long as I have at least some time I’ll try to keep them like this.
The goals for this week were:
[Done] 3124, 3142, 3214 as 8th notes at 150 bpm on the 5th fret
[Done] Scales pronouncing notes using the random scale machine [under 5 min per string]
[Done] Consistently get to the level with 7 intervals on ear training at tonedear.com [4 of 6 times]
Implement Modules 15-16 routines
My goals for the next week:
3241, 3412, 3421 as 8th notes at 150 bpm on the 5th fret
Get to the level with 8 intervals on ear training at tonedear.com 3 times
Implement Modules 15-16 routines
Implement left hand fingers movement reducing routine
1234 exercise
3124 on the 5th fret – 8th notes @ 120 bpm → 8th notes @ 150 bpm 3142 on the 5th fret – 8th notes @ 120 bpm → 8th notes @ 150 bpm 3214 on the 5th fret – 8th notes @ 120 bpm → 8th notes @ 150 bpm
Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Major scales – E string – Pronouncing notes – 3:35 Major scales – A string – Pronouncing notes – 4:18 Major scales – D string – Pronouncing notes – 4:36 Major scales – G string – Pronouncing notes – 4:38
Minor scales – E string – Pronouncing notes – 4:33 Minor scales – A string – Pronouncing notes – 3:54
Today I’ve been walking for 1-2 hours straight and it seems that my hands were not warmed up enough when I started the practice. So every single routine was played worse than yesterday.
1234 exercise
3124 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
3142 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
3214 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Strumming
Module 15 routine
120 bpm
Ear training
Didn’t manage to break through the level with 6 intervals today… Maybe I was really tired that night when I practiced this one.
Summary
Nah… It didn’t go well but tomorrow I’ll finish this week and start the next one anew with new goals and new portion of enthusiasm.
After the Black Friday I decided to relax on practicing something intensive this week. So I just repeated 1234s, scales and strumming again with some progress with ear training.
1234 exercise
I finally get to the goal speed for this week. The exercises went well, so now I just need some practice to improve consistency.
3124 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
3142 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
3214 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Strumming
Module 15 routine
120 bpm. Tried playing it on acoustic this time. Still can’t play substitutes for a long time, especially on the acoustic. My left thumb just starts to burn very intensely.
Ear training
I got to the level with 8 intervals today! The tritone is pretty easy to differ, it sounds really dissonant in comparison to other intervals. It’s really cool to see daily progress in this exercise.
Summary
Can’t wait to start chord construction module routines, but will do it next week. I lost quite a half of this one of Black Friday sale so will be able to invest much more time then.
Today I slept for several hours during the day and had time to practice only in the evening. Anyway, I increased the speed for 1234s and came up with a simple chord progression.
1234 exercise
3124 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 140 bpm
3142 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 140 bpm
3214 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 140 bpm. Still the hardest one for me of these three.
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm. Today it was not my best attempt.
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm. Yesterday this was played better as well.
Strumming
Module 15 pattern
120 bpm. Still having issues with pressure applied while playing substitutes.
Ear training
Got to the level with Perfect 4th again, it’s becoming consistent. But my overall score is not the best today.
Songs
My Chord Progression Gravity Falls Opening Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams Cream – Sunshine of Your Love [Intro] Black Sabbath – Paranoid Green Day – Castaway Green Day – Welcome to Paradise The Offspring – The Kids Aren’t Alright
Summary
Finally, tomorrow I’ll have all the time I need for usual complete practice. I’m happy with speed at which I’m increasing bpm for 1234s, but scales could be played more consistently at this point.
In comparison to yesterday today was a pretty relaxed day, so I had much more time to practice. I still didn’t want to do the note pronunciation exercise so skipped it but my routines list is fuller than yesterday.
1234 exercise
3124 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 130 bpm
3142 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 130 bpm
3214 on the 5th fret
8th notes @ 130 bpm
Scales
Major scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Minor scales
8th notes @ 150 bpm
Strumming
Module 15 pattern
120 bpm. My substitutes are still too tense. Maybe I’m doing something wrong… Anyway, I’ll just continue practicing and hopefully this issue will be fixed itself.
Ear training
I got to the level with Perfect 4th again! Have it started happening more consistently? I hope so. And I can’t help but notice the increased percentage of correct answers, which is exciting. Will practice ear training more.
Songs
Today I finally got a chance to play some random riffs again 🙂
Green Day – Castaway The Offspring – The Kids Aren’t Alright [Intro] Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit Green Day – Troublemaker Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams Король и Шут – Лесник [Intro] Green Day – Holiday Gravity Falls Opening Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams [Solo] Green Day – When I Come Around Green Day – Oh Love The Phantom of the Opera
Summary
Black Friday has almost passed so hopefully tomorrow I’ll have some decent practice and work on my goals for this week.
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 strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Major scales – E string – Pronouncing notes – 3:44 Major scales – A string – Pronouncing notes – 4:21 Major scales – D string – Pronouncing notes – 5:20 Major scales – G string – Pronouncing notes – 5:47
Minor scales – E string – Pronouncing notes – 4:55 Minor scales – A string – Pronouncing notes – 5:49
This week I concentrated myself mostly on consistency. I played 2341, 2413, 2431 combinations across the neck the whole week and became much better at it.
The scales are much more reliable and precise right now too, which I’m also happy about.
I watched Modules 15-16 and now I’m really excited about implementing routines from them. Chord construction is so much fun! But I’ll be working on this topic the next week.
Anyway, the most major update is the video summary format. I decided to put everything in a single video so that it became more watchable and even more organized. There are time codes in order to separate the chapters and cards with links to the full routine videos as well.
UPD. There are no cards cause there’s a limit – 5 per video. I added all links in the description instead.
The goals for this week were:
[Done] 2134, 2143, 2314, 2341, 2413, 2431 as 8th notes at 150 bpm across the neck
[Done] 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 as 8th notes at 150 bpm across the neck
[Done] Improved consistency of the scales as 8th notes at 150 bpm across the neck
[Done] All the scales pronouncing notes in less than 5 min starting on ADG strings
[Done] Get to the level with 7 intervals on ear training at tonedear.com
My goals for the next week:
3124, 3142, 3214 as 8th notes at 150 bpm on the 5th fret
Scales pronouncing notes using the random scale machine
Consistently get to the level with 7 intervals on ear training at tonedear.com
Implement Modules 15-16 routines
1234 exercise
2341 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets) 2413 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets) 2431 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets) 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 34 – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (on the 5th fret → on the 1-12 frets)
Scales
Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (increasing consistency) Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 8th notes @ 150 bpm (increasing consistency) Major scales – 1-12 frets – A string – Pronouncing notes – 7:42 → 4:55 Major scales – 1-12 frets – D string – Pronouncing notes – 6:50 → 4:38 Major scales – 1-12 frets – G string – Pronouncing notes – 7:00 → 4:50 Minor scales – 1-12 frets – A string – Pronouncing notes – 6:54 → 5:02
Strumming
Module 15 pattern – 80 bpm → 120 bpm
Ear training
Intervals – 314 of 400 – 78.50% → 207 of 250 – 82.80% Minor 2nd – 34 of 36 – 94.44% Major 2nd – 21 of 28 – 67.86% Minor 3rd – 11 of 25 – 44% Major 3rd – 38 of 49 – 77.55% Perfect 4th– 9 of 14 – 64.29% Perfect 5th – 48 of 49 – 97.96% Octave – 48 of 49 – 97.96%