Videos: 7th chords + techniques

My playing of chords here is already quite well. I can play them and switch chords fast, because we've learned 7th chords in grade 9. The 1 year since we first learned the chords is enough to increase my skill.

Hammer-ons are an easy technique, so I can play them quite well. My hands move pretty fast, but the tone that the hammer-ons produces is still muffled. I have to press my fingers harder if I want clearer sounds.

Pull-offs are a lot harder, and I can't pull them off well yet (lol look at the pun). I need to improve my speed and precision. I tend to get confused on how to play the pull-off, so I might need to go back to the basics.

Here I used sliding along with hammer-ons and pull-offs. Sliding in guitar is an easy technique, so I could pull it off pretty easily. Chaining it with a hammer-on and pull-off is a different matter though, as I suck at pull-offs. I really have to improve on pull-offs.

Here I improvise using the various techniques. It's all pretty good I guess, but I need to learn the right time to use bending. I used bending rather recklessly here, so it affects the quality.

Videos: Original Songs

These are original songs with melodies that I have improvised based on their chord structure. I found it difficult to make the melody, and I practiced them so that I won't forget them if I need them. I'm still sloppy at playing, as I'm more of a chord person than a melody one. And yess i know I'm supposed to comment on each video one by one, but I'll start doing that on the next entry.

Videos: Pentatonic (Blues) Scale

These are my videos of the blues scale. The blues scale is usable for jazz improvisation, and I sort of used it during the assessment. I'm practicing here the pentatonic scale, and also the improvisation using the scale. I have to improve my picking and my finger placement as well, as I messed up a lot.

Videos: Fingering

These are various videos of me practicing fingering. Although I didn't actually use any fingering for the final assessment, they would've helped me play more fluidly if I had. I also suck at fingering for some reason, and I have to improve on the accuracy of my finger placement.

Videos: Jazz

This video shows my jazz improvisation. For some reason I did better on the actual test, but its probably because of the music. Maybe I have to work on my knowledge of scales and my fingering.

These are the chords for my jazz improvisation. As you can see I still need to work on them slightly, as I have difficulty switching to CM7.

This is my failed attempt at playing "When The Saints Are Marchin In". Unlike Dhanes' great version, this was horrible. I have to learn how to play songs by ear, like what Dhanes did.

Week 8-9

Week 8

Explain the role of blues in the development of early jazz

Blues music is one of the forms of jazz, and it generally has its own niche in the musical genres. Blues is characterized by its improvised and spontaneous nature, and like all jazz, is used to convey emotion. This connection with emotion helped develop the early stages of jazz, by encouraging an emotional and message-filled way of playing. Thus, blues is important to the development of jazz.

Instrument Class

Today, Cindy Ditho and I practiced with Michelle and Ivy to play our collaboration jazz pieces. It was difficult, as I haven't really practiced. This time I could actually play the music, so it was an improvement. I need to improve on my playing and sight-reading though.

Week 9

How is my understanding now about improvisation especially in blues?

My understanding is better now, as I had to improvise due to my inability to read the notes. It's not as hard as it looks, but it takes a great deal of skill to make good improvised notes. I have to learn the proper scales first in order to make better improvisations. My understanding is a lot better than it was though, due to my attempts and forced application of improvising.

Instrument Class

I had to learn more about improvisation instead of note-reading due to how effective it is. It's a difficult yet somewhat easy task, as I can improvise already. I'll try my best to learn more about the techniques as time passes. Mr. John also helped me in improvising, as he trained me in instrument class.

Term 3 Week 6-7

Week 6

My challenges working on my 12 bar blues finale task

A large challenge was obtaining the finale software. Thankfully, I saved the portable program on my USB, which simplified matters. A larger challenge was successfully transferring the notes from paper to computer, as some of the written notes were quite hard to decipher. However, I relied on my knowledge on chords and scales to make sure I wrote the right notes down.

Instrument class

Instrument class was very short this week. If I'm not mistaken, we had too much theory time, which leaves us with minimal practice opportunities. However, I did realize some key weaknesses in my guitar playing. I'm not good at using the guitar as a melody instrument, as I prefer playing chords. Thus, my blues playing suffers as a result.

Week 7

How do I practice and apply my 12 bar blues at home?

To be honest, I don't have the time or motivation to practice. I know that this is wrong and sort of stupid, but right now there's just too many assessments piling up, which leaves me little time to practice. I do have guitar and violin lessons though, so perhaps I could try to learn my composition during those lessons. I really need to practice, as I can't sight read my composition, as my rehearsal shows. Without practice, I'm bound to get a low score.

Instrument class

In instrument class, I used my time this week to try to practice my composition. I had to focus my concentration into reading the notes of the composition. I think it would be better if I changed the notation into tabs, as it is much easier that way. My picking needs a lot of work as well, as right now it isn't too good.