Tag: strumming

Day 74. Chords and substitutes

Today I finally got my time to practice decently and spent a few hours playing. I’ve been working on my endurance with barre chords and substitutes and finding all chords shapes across the neck. Also I increased the speed of 1234s.

1234 exercise

Today I’ve got to the goal speed and these combinations are not very hard to play at it.

3241 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3412 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm

3421 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 150 bpm

Scales

Major scales

8th notes @ 160 bpm

Minor scales

8th notes @ 160 bpm

Strumming

Module 15 pattern

1 5 6 4 chords

120 bpm

1 5 6 4 substitutes

120 bpm

6 4 1 5 chords

120 bpm

6 4 1 5 substitutes

120 bpm

Songs

Today I remembered the song Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day and tried to relearn and play it. It went pretty well, and I recorded the first part of it.

Summary

Today I started implementing Module 16 in my practice. And the first thing I wanted to do was figuring out all the major chords shapes across the neck. It seems that there are not so much of them, and they are simply the open chords shapes. I’ll ask about it in my weekly report to clarify this but I’m pretty sure about it.

Routines

3241 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3412 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3421 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 160 bpm – 8th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 160 bpm – 8th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 1 5 6 4 chords – 120 bpm – 3 min
Strumming – Module 15 – 1 5 6 4 substitutes – 120 bpm – 3 min
Strumming – Module 15 – 6 4 1 5 chords – 120 bpm – 3 min
Strumming – Module 15 – 6 4 1 5 substitutes – 120 bpm – 3 min

Day 71. Something new

Today I added 3 new combinations of 1234s and repeated the rest of the routines.

1234 exercise

New combinations are not that hard but it’s helpful to know you are succeeded in it.

3241 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 120 bpm

3412 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 120 bpm

3421 on the 5th fret

8th notes @ 120 bpm

Scales

Major scales

8th notes @ 160 bpm

Minor scales

8th notes @ 160 bpm

Strumming

Module 15 pattern

120 bpm. Focused on substitutes today.

Summary

The new week tried to get me in something but I’m not in.

Routines

3241 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3412 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3421 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 160 bpm – 8th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 160 bpm – 8th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm [substitutes only]

Week 10. Summary

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

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 – E string – Pronouncing notes – 3:44 → 3:35
Major scales – A string – Pronouncing notes – 4:21 → 4:18
Major scales – D string – Pronouncing notes – 5:20 → 4:36
Major scales – G string – Pronouncing notes – 5:47 → 4:38

Minor scales – E string – Pronouncing notes – 4:55 → 4:33
Minor scales – A string – Pronouncing notes – 5:49 → 3:54

Strumming

Module 15 pattern – 120 bpm (increasing consistency)

Ear training

Intervals – 207 of 250 – 82.80% → 255 of 300 – 85.00%
Minor 2nd, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, Tritone, Perfect 5th, Octave

Day 70. Back in business

Today I finally practiced more that I did the previous several days. The end of the week – that’s a time to finalize things.

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

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

Ear training

Not great again… Didn’t even get to 7 intervals this time.

Summary

Got a lot to do today, just want to conclude this week.

Routines

3124 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

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

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm

Day 69. Frozen hands

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.

Routines

3124 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm

Day 68. Nothing special

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.

Routines

3124 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 5th fret – 150 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm

Day 67. Sleepy day

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.

Routines

3124 – 5th fret – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 5th fret – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 5th fret – 140 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm

Day 66. Returning to practice

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.

Routines

3124 – 5th fret – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 5th fret – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 5th fret – 130 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

Major scales – 1-12 frets – EADG strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes
Minor scales – 1-12 frets – EA strings – 150 bpm – 8th notes

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm

Day 64. Random scales

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.

Routines

3124 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3142 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min
3214 – 5th fret – 120 bpm – 8th notes – 3 min

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

Strumming – Module 15 – 120 bpm

Week 9. Summary

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%

Songs

The Phantom of the Opera
Gravity Falls Opening