Breakneck Bluegrass Bootcamp Day #2

I was able to fit in a nice practice session Thursday night.

I started out with my favorite improvisation exercises from mandolin cafe @ 80 bpm.

For some reason I got bored with this pretty quick. I think that I just really wanted to attack Arkansas Traveler.

So I went on to play the Arkansas Traveler solo just straight with the metronome. I focused on precision and tone. I attacked the strings very strongly and with intention. I pushed my left hand fingers down on the fret board very strongly. When I went to Steve Kaufman’s mandolin workshop about a year ago I remember him saying that one technique to build up speed was to push down hard with the left hand fingers. That’s about all I remember him saying about this, and so I intend to ask him about it in person next week.

Here is what I did:

Arkansas Traveler with the metronome

• @ 168 bpm x 1- can get it but not so smooth
• @ 148 bpm x 3 – perfect and loud.
• @ 160 bpm x 3 – keeping up and playing with precision.
• @ 168 bpm x 3 – much better…muscle memory being programed.
• @ 176 bpm x 1 – was hanging in there but lost it in the end.

Filed under: Music & Mandolin Meditations, My Journal, Practice Session Notes

Breakneck Bluegrass Bootcamp Day #1

Well, here we go with the 10 days of my Breakneck Bluegrass Bootcamp.

I started off with some finger and scale exercises from Mike Marshall’s Bluegrass Bootcamp:

Exercises 4.1; 4.2; 4.3

• 3 times @ 80bpm: focusing on the tone
• 3 times @ 100: I love the acoustics in my dining room, but I hate these Sam Bush strings
• 1 time @ 120: easy
• 1 time @ 140: was it this easy before?
• 3 times @ 160: easy & fun
• 3 times @ 180: almost had it then lost it.

Now I consider the above to be a pretty good warmup. After this I was ready to start killing Arkansas Traveler on S. Kaufman’s CD.

WRONG!!!

Wow…I don’t know what pot I was smoking this past weekend, but Steve Kaufman’s CD is FAST. Honestly, I am not sure if I will be able to keep up with Arkansas Traveler in just 11 days. I sure wasn’t able to keep up with it last night….not any of it.

I was pretty discouraged. How in the world am I ever going to be able to play at that speed? I tinkered around a bit. I practiced on of the licks in Arkansas Traveler. Then I called it a night – the total practice session lasted about an hour.

Solution…I am going to work more fingerbuster exercises and keep on cranking up the speed. I think this should get my fingers and brain used to moving at this speed. Right now I am just too slow. We’ll try that tonight and report back.

Filed under: My Journal, Practice Session Notes

02/25/08 – Going to Inject the Speed

Saturday afternoon I was able to coordinate both of the kiddos for a nap at the same time.  I sat outside, smoked a cigar and played some muzac.  It was a beautiful day.

I started out by playing some scales on the mandolin.  Next I moved on to check out Steve Kaufman’s 4 Bluegrass Workout, which I recently purchased.

I had previously been working with the book “Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Tunes” by bluegrass books online.  These books come with practice CDs which include 1 track of the tune play slow, and one track played up to speed.  I remember when I first started with the books about a year ago I thought that there was no way that I would ever be able to play along with the full speed tracks.  Now, I can easily play with them, and I have even noticed that they are a little slow compared to the breakneck speeds people play in casual jams.

I was surprised to find out that the full speed tracks on Steve Kaufman’s CDs are very fast.  I was not able to hang with them at all at first.  But I keep on playing with the tracks, I practiced the rhythm and tried to play only the most basic parts of the melody.  After about an hour I was hanging in there pretty good, but I still need a lot of practice.

The thing is that I am very excited about finding these challenging CDs.  This is exactly the kind of practice I was looking for to build speed.  I need to get comfortable with the speed and train my fingers to move fast enough.

I have really been concerned about the Argyle Festival.  It has been my year long goal to return to Argyle from last year as a competent bluegrass mandolin jammer.   I have mad great strides in mandolin taste and licks, but when the speed gets going fast I loose control.  I think the Kaufman CD are exactly what I needed to get used to real bluegrass speeds.

Now the Argyle festival is only 11 days away, but I think that with some hard and smart work I can be ready to jam real bluegrass.

It’s going to take at least an hour of practice everyday.  I think that I am going to start by warming up with some scales and arpeggios and then go straight into the Kaufman bluegrass workout.

I am optimistic because even yesterday, my first exposure to the CDs, I was able to start keeping up with the tempo after an hour or so.  So I really think that after a solid week of exposure I would be fairly comfortable with the speed.  I just hope that I am not putting myself on the road to burnout.

We’ll see how it goes.  If anyone has any suggestions or comments, I would love to hear it.   Otherwise, wish me luck!

Filed under: Music & Mandolin Meditations, My Journal, Practice Session Notes

Here Comes The Sun

From: Preston Landers

Here is the TAB for HERE COMES THE SUN by the Beatles.

       +-------------------------------------------------------+
       |                     HERE COMES THE SUN                |
       |                     (George Harrison)                 |
       +-------------------------------------------------------+

Tabbed by Preston Landers
planders@shadow.scs.unr.edu

                                WIDEST POINT OF FILE (75 COLUMNS) -------->
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| This is a beautiful accoustic guitar piece played by George on the      |
| Beatles album "Abbey Road."  See the chords used at the end of the      |
| file.  Have fun!                                                        |
|                                                                         |
| CAPO ON SEVENTH FRET                                                    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

INTRO

   D  Dsus2 D                  Dsus2         G             G6    G
|--2-----0--2--------|-------2--0----------------|---------0-----------0--|
|--3--3-----------3--|-----------------3-----0---|---------0-----3-----0--|
|--2--------------2--|-----------------2-----0---|---3-----0-----0-----0--|
|--0-----------0-----|-0--0---------0--------0---|---0-----0-----0-----0--|
|--------------------|-----------------------2---|------2--2--2--2--2-----|
|--------------------|--------------------0--3---|-3-------3-----3--------|

 A7 A7sus2 A7 A7sus4     A     D      Dsus2 D
|------------------0--------|------2-----0--2------|
|-2--0----2--3-----------2--|------3--3---------3--|
|-0-------0-----0--------2--|------2---------------|
|-2-------2-----2-----2--2--|--0---0---------------|
|-0-------0-----0-----------|----------------------|
|---------------------------|----------------------|

             Dsus2      G    Gmaj7    G6  G/B       A7
|--------2--0--------------|-----2-----0------------------|
|-----------------3-----0--|-----0------------3-----2-----|
|-----------------------0--|-----0------------0-----0-----| (rest)
|--0--0--------0--------0--|-----0------------0-----2-----|
|-----------------------2--|-----3---------2--2--0--0-----|
|--------------------0--3--|--3--3--3---------------------|

CHORUS

D     Dsus2 D              Dsus2   D   G    Gmaj7 G6  Gmaj7 E7
 Here comes the ...
|--2--0-----2-------|----2------0--2------|----2--0-----2---------|
|---------------3---|-------3----------0--|-----------------3-----|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|

                        D      Dsus2  D
       and I___ say_     "...
|--------------------|----2-----0---------------|
|--3--3----3-----3---|----------------3---------|
|--------------------|----------------------2---|
|--------------------|--0----0-----0-----0------|
|--------------------|--------------------------|
|--------------------|--------------------------|

|-------0--------0--------|--0--------0-------------||
|----3--------3--------3--|--------3-----3\2--------||
|-4--------2--------0-----|-----2-------------4\2---||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||

VERSE 1 and 2

D      Dsus2 D          D      Dsus2    G           G6    G
1. Little darling,     ...
2. Little darling,      ...
|--2------0--2------|-------2--0-----------|---------0------------|
|-----3----------3--|-(3)----------3----0--|------3-------3---0---|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|

A7  A7sus2 A7 A7sus4 A7    D  Dsus2   D                 Dsus2       G
  --- ter; \
  --- ces; /                  Lit-tle darling,  ...
|-------------------0------|----2--2--0--2------|-------2--0-------------|
|-2---0----2--3---------2--|-----------------3--|--(3)---------3----0----|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|

          G6    G     A7            A7sus4
     since its  ...
|-2--------0-------------|-----------------------||
|---------------3-----2--|---2--2---3--3--3--3---||
|------------------------|-----------------------||
|------------------------|-----------------------||
|------------------------|-----------------------||
|------------------------|-----------------------||

REPEAT CHORUS

D     Dsus2 D              Dsus2   D   G    Gmaj7 G6  Gmaj7 E7
 Here comes the ...
|--2--0-----2-------|----2------0--2------|----2--0-----2---------|
|---------------3---|-------3----------0--|-----------------3-----|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|

                        D      Dsus2
       and I___ say...
|--------------------|----2-----0---------------|
|--3--3----3-----3---|-----------------3--------|
|--------------------|-----------------------2//|
|--------------------|--------------------------|
|--------------------|--------------------------|
|--------------------|--------------------------|

|-------0--------0--------|--0--------0-------------||
|----3--------3--------3--|--------3-----3\2--------||
|/4--------2--------0-----|-----2-------------4\2---||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||

SOLO

 D     Dsus2 A7sus2 A7 A7sus2 A7                       A         F
|--2----0--2-----|----------------0-----|------------|--------------------|
|-----3-------0--|--2--0---2--3------2--|--2----2----|-----------------1--|
|----------------|----------------------|------------|--------------2-----|
|----------------|----------------------|------------|--------2--3--------|
|----------------|----------------------|------------|--0--4--------------|
|----------------|----------------------|------------|--------------------|

  C           G                  D              A7       A
|-----------|-----------------|--------------|--------|------------||
|-----------|-----------------|--------------|--2--2--|------------||
|--------0--|--------0--------|-----(rest)---|--------|------------||
|-----2-----|-----0-----------|--0-----------|--------|--------2---||
|--3--------|--2-----------2--|--------------|--------|--0--4------||
|-----------|-----------3-----|--------------|--------|------------||

BRIDGE (?)
repeat twice

   F           C           G                  D
   Sun,        sun...
|-----------|-----------|------------------|--------------------------|
|--------1--|-----------|------------------|--------------------------|
|-----2-----|--------0--|--------0---------|--------------------------|
|--3--------|-----2-----|-----0------------|--0-----------------------|
|-----------|--3--------|--2------------2--|--------------------------|
|-----------|-----------|------------3-----|--------------------------|

then do this:

   A7         A7sus2 A7 A7sus4         A7 A7sus4 A7         A7sus4 A7 A
|--------------------------|---------------------0--|--0--0--0-----0--5---|
|--2----2---2--2--0--2--3--|----3--3---3--2--3------|-----------3---------|
|--------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
|--------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
|--------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
|--------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|

|--5--5--5--5----5--||----------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------||----------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------||----------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------||----------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------||----------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------||----------------------------------------------------|

VERSE 3

D      Dsus2 D                 Dsus2    G           G6    G
3. Little darling,      ...
|--2------0--2------|-------2--0-----------|---------0------------|
|-----3----------3--|--------------3----0--|--(0)-3-------3---0---|
|-------------------|----2-----------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|

A7  A7sus2 A7 A7sus4 A7    D  Dsus2   D                 Dsus2       G
  --- ing;                    ...
|-------------------0------|----2-----0--2------|-------2--0-------------|
|--2--0----2--3---------3--|-------3---------3--|--------------3----2----|
|--------------------------|--------------------|---2--------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
|--------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|

   Gmaj7  G6    G     A7            A7sus4
     since its  ...
|-2--------0-------------|-----------------------||
|---------------3-----2--|-0-2--2---3--3--3--3---||
|------------------------|-----------------------||
|------------------------|-----------------------||
|------------------------|-----------------------||
|------------------------|-----------------------||

REPEAT CHORUS

D     Dsus2 D              Dsus2   D   G    Gmaj7 G6  Gmaj7 E7
 Here comes the sun    ...
|--2--0-----2-------|----2------0--2------|----2--0-----2---------|
|---------------3---|-------3----------0--|-----------------3-----|
|-------------------|-2-------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|

                        D      Dsus2
       and I___ say...
|--------------------|----2-----0---------------|
|--3--3----3-----3---|-----------------3--------|
|--------------------|-----------------------2//|
|--------------------|--------------------------|
|--------------------|--------------------------|
|--------------------|--------------------------|

|-------0--------0--------|--0--------0-------------||
|----3--------3--------3--|--------3-----3\2--------||
|/4--------2--------0-----|-----2-------------4\2---||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||
|-------------------------|-------------------------||

REPEAT CHORUS AD-LIB

OUTRO                                       F6       C        G
                                            slowly
|--------0--------0--------0-------------|--------------------------------|
|-----3--------3--------3------3\2-------|--------1-----------------------|
|--4--------2--------0--------------4\2--|-----2-----------0--------0-----|
|----------------------------------------|--0-----------2--------0--------|
|----------------------------------------|-----------3--------2-----------|
|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------|

         D/A
|--------2----------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------3----------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------2----------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------0----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----2--0----------------------------------------------------------------|
|--3----------------------------------------------------------------------|

CHORDS USED

D           xx0232
Dsus2       xx0230
G           32000x
G(type2)    320030
G6          320000
Gmaj7       3x0002
A7sus2      x0200x
A7sus4      x0203x
E7          020130
G/B         x2003x
A7          x02020
F           xx321x
A7type3     x02223
C           x320xx
A           x01114

..............................................................................
: Preston Landers              :  Not valid in all areas. Times approximate. :
:                              :  Some restrictions apply.  Not the Beatles. :
: planders@shadow.scs.unr.edu  :  [Finger for PGP public key.]  Retain stub. :

Here Comes the Sun  - Beatles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Words and music by George Harrison.

Arranged for two guitars by John Kean.
 - 1st guitar : Capo on 7th fret; fingerpicks melodic accompaniment.
 - 2nd guitar : No capo; strums chords (written above tab).

INTRO:

4/4
 (2nd guitar tacit)
|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---------|-------0---------|-----------0-----|
|-------3-------3-|-----------3---0-|-----3-----3---0-|-2-0-2-3---2-----|
|---2-------------|---2-------------|---0-------------|-0---2-4-------0-|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|

  A(xx765x)         A(xx765x)         D(xx777x)    E7(076xxx) slide down
|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---------|-----2-0---------|-----------------|
|-------3-------3-|-----------3---0-|-----------3---2-|-(2)-------------|
|---2-------------|---2-------------|---0-----------0-|-(0)-------------|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|---------------0-|-(0)-------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|

  A(577655)         A                 Dmaj7(x57675)      B7(x21202)
|-----2-0---2-----|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---2-----|-----------------|
|-----3-----3---3-|-----3-3-3-------|-----0-----0---3-|-------2---0-----|
|---2-------------|---2-----------2-|---0-----------1-|-------1---1-----|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-0---0---0---0---|
   Here comes ...

  A                D(x5423x) A/C#(x4222x) Bm7(x2423x) A/C#     E7(020100)
|---2---0---------|-------0-----------0----------|-0---------0----------|
|---3---3---3-----|----3----------3-----------3--|--------3-----3p2-----|
|---------------2-|-4---------2------------0-----|-----2------------4p2-|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---------0------------0-----|-----0----------------|
|-----------------|------------------------------|--------------0---0---|
|-----------------|------------------------------|----------------------|
  It's alright

VERSES 1 and 2:

    A                 A                 D                 E7
||------2---0-2-----|-----2-0---------|-------0---------|-----------0-----|
||--------3-------3-|-----------3---0-|---3-------3---0-|-2-0-2-3---2-----|
||*---2-------------|---2-------------|-----------------|-0---2-4-------0-|
||*-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
||------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---0---0---0---|
||------------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|
 1. Little darling...
 2. Little darling...

  A                 A                 D                 E7
|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---------|---2---0---------|-----------0-----|
|-------3-------3-|-----------3---0-|-----------3---2-|-----2-3---2-----|
|---2-------------|---2-------------|-----------------|---0-----------0-|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|
1,2. Little darling...

  A                 A                 Dmaj7             B7
|-----2-0---2-----|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---2-----|-----------------|
|-----3-----3---3-|-----3-3-3-------|-----0-----0---3-|-------2---0-----|
|---2-------------|---2-----------2-|---0-----------1-|-------1---1-----|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-0---0---0---0---|
   Here comes the ...

  A                 D     A/C#   Bm7       A/C#    E7
|---2---0---------|-----0------0-------|-0------0----------|
|---3---3---3-----|---3------3------3--|------3----3p2-----|
|---------------2-|-4------2------0----|----2----------4p2-|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0------0------0----|----0--------------|
|-----------------|--------------------|-----------0---0---|
|-----------------|--------------------|-------------------|
  It's alright
                  ....................  ......................
                   1.                |   2. 2/4       3/8
  A                 E7               |       E7       (tacit)
|-----2---0-2-----|-----------0------||    |---------|-------|
|-------3-------0-|-2-0-2-3---2------||    |-2-------|-------|
|---2-------------|-0---2-4-------0-*||    |-0-------|-------|
|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------*||    |---------|-----2-|
|-----------------|-0---0---0---0----||    |-0-------|-0-4---|
|-----------------|------------------||    |---------|-------|

CHORUS:                                            ....................
                                                    1,2,3,4,5.        |
  3/8               5/8          4/4               2/4       3/8      |
    C        G        D            A                 E7       (tacit) |
||---------|--------|------------|-----2---0-2-----|---------|--------||
||------1--|--------|------------|-----3-3-------2-|---0-2---|--------||
||*---2----|-----0--|-----0------|---------------0-|-----0---|-------*||
||*-3------|---2----|---0--------|-0---0---0---0---|---------|-----2-*||
||---------|-3------|-2-------2--|-----------------|-0---0---|-0-4----||
||---------|--------|-------3----|-----------------|---------|--------||
1,2.     (no singing)
3,4,5,6. Sun,  sun,  ...

.....................................
 6.
4/4
  E7                E7                E7                E7
|-----------------|---------------0-|-------------0-3-|---------5---5---|
|-----------0-2-3-|-----------2-3-2-|-----------3-2-2-|---------2---2---|
|-------------0-0-|-----------0-0---|-----------0-----|---------2---2---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

VERSE 3:

    A                 A                 D                 E7
||------2---0-2-----|-----2-0---------|-------0---------|-----------0-----|
||--------3-------3-|-----------3---0-|---3-------3---0-|-2-0-2-3---2-----|
||*---2-------------|---2-------------|-----------------|-0---2-4-------0-|
||*-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
||------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---0---0---0---|
||------------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|
       Little darling...

  A                 A                 D                 E7
|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---------|---2---0---------|-----------0-----|
|-------3-------3-|-----------3---0-|-----------3---2-|-----2-3---2-----|
|---2-------------|---2-------------|-----------------|---0-----------0-|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|
   Little darling,  ...

    A                 A                 Dmaj7             B7
||------2-0---2-----|-----2---0-2-----|-----2-0---2-----|-----------------|
||------3-----3---3-|-----3-3-3-------|-----0-----0---3-|-------2---0-----|
||*---2-------------|---2-----------2-|---0-----------1-|-------1---1-----|
||*-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
||------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
||------------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-0---0---0---0---|
     Here comes the ...

  A                 D     A/C#   Bm7       A/C#    E7
|---2---0---------|-----0------0-------|-0------0-----------||
|---3---3---3-----|---3------3------3--|------3----3p2------||
|---------------2-|-4------2------0----|----2----------4p2-*||
|-0---0---0---0---|-0------0------0----|----0--------------*||
|-----------------|--------------------|-----------0---0----||
|-----------------|--------------------|--------------------||
  It's alright

  A                 D     A/C#   Bm7       A/C#    E7
|---2---0---------|-----0------0-------|-0------0----------|
|---3---3---3-----|---3------3------3--|------3----3p2-----|
|---------------2-|-4------2------0----|----2----------4p2-|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0------0------0----|----0--------------|
|-----------------|--------------------|-----------0---0---|
|-----------------|--------------------|-------------------|
  It's alright

CODA:

3/8               5/8          4/4
  C(note)  B(note)  D(note)      A(x022xx)
|--------|--------|------------|-2---------||
|-----1--|--------|------------|-3---------||
|---2----|-----0--|-----0------|-2---------|| Fine.
|-3------|---2----|---0--------|-0---------||
|--------|-3------|-2-------2--|-----------||
|--------|--------|-------3----|-----------||

Filed under: Here Comes The Sun, Show Notes & Song References

02/22/08 – Week In Review

This week went by in a blur. I am continually dismayed by the little amount of free time I have. I am hoping that this will change some when the little one moves out of our bedroom and into her own crib and room.

I didn’t really have the opportunity to have any formal practice sessions this week, but I did get in some playing and tinkering here and there. On the mandolin I feel that I made some progress in nailing down the fingering and positioning that goes into the Monroe style sound. In this regard, I feel that I have been giving too much attention to playing in an open/first position. I am finding that the Monroe sound comes quite naturally when you play in a closed position. This is easy to do and sounds great when playing in the key of A. In this key, I keep the first finger on the A note located on the 3rd string, 7th fret, and go from there. However, I have found that playing in the same manner in G, with the first finger rooted on the G at the 3rd string, 5th fret, I don’t get the sound I want. This is probably why Monroe play in the key of A so much of the time.

I put some new strings on the mandolin last night while watching the debate – Sam Bush Gibson strings. I have been VERY happy with the J75’s – they turn my mandolin into a monster. Several people have commented on how loud the mandolin is and how great it sounds. But, I have not tried the Sam Bush strings yet, and I got them in a trade, so on they went.

On the guitar I have been progressing really well. I’ve got John Hurt’s “Spike Driver Blues” down pretty well and I am ready to move on the “Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”

I am really itching to get into some 12-string guitar tunes. A great 12-string blog is The 12 String Guitarist – playing the 12 string looks like a lot of fun. I think I am going to try tackling some Beatles songs, like “Here Comes the Sun”…there is a good video of that being played on the blog.

On that same note, I really want to get my new Stella 12 string ready to go. I have been putting this off because I want to buy some special very heavy strings and they are hard to find.

Filed under: Music & Mandolin Meditations, My Journal, Practice Session Notes , 12 string, Monroe, new strings, progress

Stella 12 String Guitar

This is the guitar I recently won off ebay.  I got it for $200.  I think people were scared off by the wave in the soundboard, but that should not effect the sound at all.  It is ladder braced.  

Here is the description from the seller…

THIS AUCTION IS FOR A USED STELLA 12 STRING GUITAR. SEEMS TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION, NECK HAS A LITTLE BOW, NOT TOO BAD. STRINGS ARE OLD. STRINGS LOOK YO BE ABOUT 1/4″ OFF THE FRET BOARD AT THE 12TH FRET. COMES WITH A SOFT SHELL CASE, LOOKS TO BE NEW.  SHIPPING TO CONT. USA  IS 30.00. PLEASE CHECK MY OTHER AUCTIONS, AND THANKS FOR LOOKING.

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On Jan-20-08 at 13:27:50 PST, seller added the following information:I’VE NEVER LISTED AN ITEM THAT HAS GENERATED THIS MUCH INTEREST, SO I AM ADDING MORE PICTURES, AND DISCRIPTION. I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER “WALL HANGER” GUITAR THAT DIDN’T HAVE A LOT OF VALUE, BUT?–I DON’T SEE ANY NAME OR WRITING ON IT OTHER THAN THE NAME ON THE HEAD.THE NECK HAS A LITTLE BOW IN IT. I DON’T SEE ANY WAY TO ADJUST IT, BUT IT APPEARS PLAYABLE TO ME. THE STRINGS ARE A LITTLE HIGH AT THE 12TH FRET APP. 1/4″. I DIDN’T THINK THAT IS BAD, I’VE SEEN BRAND NEW 12 STRINGS THAT WAS LIKE THAT.  ONE THING I’LL MENTION IS THAT ON EA. SIDE OF THE SOUND HOLE, THE WOOD[TOP] SORT OF “BUCKLES” UP A LITTLE. I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS MADE THAT WAY, AND I DON’T KNOW FOR SURE IF IT WAS OR NOT. ON THE TOP TREBLE SIDE AT THE LOWER END OF THE TOP IS A COUPLE OF CRACKS THAT APPEAR TO ME TO BE JUST IN THE FINISH. OTHER THAN THAT ALL THE WOOD LOOKS VERY GOOD TO ME. THE TUNING KEYS LOOK ORIGINAL AND ALL TURN EASILY AND SEEM TO BE IN EXELENT SHAPE. ———I HOPE THIS HELPS ALL THE PEOPLE INTERESTED.

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Filed under: My Journal

02/16/08 – Southwest Bluegrass Club Meeting

This weekend I was able to attend the February meeting of the Southwest Bluegrass club. I tried something a little different this time by showing up a good two hours early. This worked out really well for me. I was able to jam for a good hour and a half, talk to people as they showed up, and then leave a little early at the end, which put me home in time for mass. Ellis County Bluegrass band played, and they were actually half way decent. I decided to sit outside and smoke a cigar while they played, and that was a pleasant and relaxing experience.

I was excited about jamming at the club meeting because they play much faster there. I am happy to say that I have definitely made good improvements. I was able hang on pretty much every song. Of coarse, not all of my breaks sounded so great, but the point is that I was able to hang in there and get something melodic out. 6 months ago I was not able to do this – I was completely non-functional in the faster songs. Now, I have a good foundation to work with and I can see a clear road to improvement.

One thing that I have really been working on and experimenting with is my chop. I have been trying to make it more cutting, precise, and percussive. I got a great chop going during the jam, and someone even came up and complimented me on it. In the jam my chop was very percussive, but with a hint of melody in it. By this I mean it was a middle ground between just deadening the strings with your hands, and letting the full chord ring. I concentrated on keeping my wrist loose, and flinging it across the strings. I have found that it is quite difficult to produce a consistent chop in this fashion.

I like the clip below because it has some examples of the chop. Actually, the recording makes the chop sound more melodic and full than what I perceived it actually was. But you can hear me experimenting a little bit – hitting a good chop here and missing one there.

I also like the break that I took in this song. At the time I didn’t know the name of the song and I still don’t. But I think that my break had a great Monroe flavor. The break was not perfect, and I missed a couple of notes and strings, but I am really happy with the flavor I got in the solo. The solo is made up of the Monroe formula that is simple and sounds great. I am pleased that I was able to translate this on the fly into a song that I was completely unfamiliar with.

Unknown song 02/17/08

Filed under: Jam Reflections, My Journal

02/11/08 – Charley’s Slow Jam

I had really been looking forward to making the slow jam at Charley’s this month. I missed it last month, and I really have been itching to jam. I was also curious, and cautiously optimistic, about seeing how much my playing had improved.

I have to say that this jam must have been one of my best in terms of playing. There were at least 6 or 7 songs where I think I sounded pretty good. I was pleased with myself. I think the difference was just playing with confidence and practicing on staying loose. I didn’t really employ any new licks or techniques…I was just loose and raw. It was a lot of fun. It also goes to show that sometimes it is beneficial to take a step back from an instrument or routine for a while.

I have attached three clips that for me were the highlights of the night.

I liked my solo on Tennessee Waltz because I felt like it was very tasteful. The tempo is not killer, but there are a couple of tricky chord changes. This was an example of the benefits of practicing playing by ear and playing the melody.

Tennessee Waltz solo 02/11/08

Listening to the clip, I can say that my solo was not perfect. There were some missed notes, and I didn’t stick that close to the melody. But for me this is a great solo because I was able to verbalize on the mandolin what I was thinking and feeling. It was raw, and that is always good.

The next clip is from my break during Soldiers Joy. I like this clip not because it was raw, but because it shows how far I have come technically on the mandolin. It is a testament to the benefit of playing scales, arpeggio, and my favorite improv exercise.

Soldier’s Joy solo 02/11/08

This was one of the faster songs of the night, and for the most part I stuck with it. I stayed pretty close to the melody, but I was also able to fluidly and freely dance over many notes. I would not have been able to pull out a solo like this 6 months ago.

Finally, I also really liked my solo for “I Am A Pilgrim.” I like this solo because it shows how much it pays off to study the licks of the masters note by note – especially Bill Monroe. I have not studied his solo for this song, but I think that I was able to express a true Bill Monroe style in this break. That knowledge and feel only comes from tabbing out other solos and listening to a song note for note a hundred times.

I Am A Pilgrim solo 02/11/08

So that’s that. I do need to work on my speed. I got lost during Arkansas Traveler because of the speed. I am looking forward to jamming again at the Southwest Bluegrass Club meeting on Sunday. This will be more of test because the jams there are typically much faster. I also want to be ready for the Argyle Bluegrass Festival, where the bluegrass jams are definitely “fast and low to the ground”.

Here is the list of songs we played at Charley’s:

1. Head Over Heels In Love With You
2. Dark Hollow (G)
3. John Henry
4. Wildwood Flower (C)
5. Arkansas Traveler (D)
6. Tennessee Waltz
7. Shady Grove (Dm)
8. Soldier’s Joy (D)
9. Fireball Mail (G)
10. Amazing Grace
11. Nine Pound Hammer (G)
12. Old Joe Clark (A)
13. Red Haired Boy
14. You Are My Sunshine
15. I Am A Pilgrim (G)
16. Worried Man Blues
17. Dear Old Dixie

Filed under: Jam Reflections, Jam Setlist, My Journal , Charley's Jam

I Saw The Light

A
I WANDERED SO AIMLESS, LIFE FILLED WITH SIN,
D                             A
I WOULDN'T LET MY DEAR SAVIOR IN

THEN JESUS CAME LIKE A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT
                   E       A
PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT

A
I SAW THE LIGHT, I SAW THE LIGHT
D                        A
NO MORE DARKNESS NO MORE NIGHT.

NOW I'M SO HAPPY, NO SORROW IN SIGHT
                   E       A
PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT

JUST LIKE A BLIND MAN I WANDERED ALONE
WORRIES AND FEARS I CLAIMED FOR MY OWN
THEN LIKE THE BLIND MAN GOD GAVE BACK HIS SIGHT
PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT

I SAW THE LIGHT, I SAW THE LIGHT
NO MORE DARKNESS NO MORE NIGHT.
NOW I'M SO HAPPY, NO SORROW IN SIGHT
PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT

I WAS A FOOL TO WANDER AND STRAY STRAIGHT IS THE GATE AND NARROW THE WAY
NOW I HAVE TRADED THE WRONG FOR THE RIGHT
PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT.

I SAW THE LIGHT, I SAW THE  NO MORE DARKNESS NO MORE NIGHT.
NOW I'M SO HAPPY, NO SORROW IN SIGHT
PRAISE THE LORD, I SAW THE LIGHT

Filed under: I Saw The Light, Show Notes & Song References

Shady Grove

Shady Grove
Traditional

the chords in () are optional to "spice up" the melody if the continual Dm gets boring to you
play in a 2/4 upbeat rhythm, remember this is a dancin' tune

Intro: Dm

Dm             (C)
Peaches in the summertime,
Dm     (C)    Dm
Apples in the fall,
                   C
If I can't get the girl I love,
Am                 Dm
Won't have none at all.

Chorus:

Dm           (C)
Shady grove, my true love,
Dm    (C)      Dm
Shady grove, I know,
             C
Shady grove, my true love,
    Am                  Dm
I'm bound for the shady grove.

Once I was a little boy,
Playin' in the sand,
Now I am a great big boy,
I think myself a man,

Chorus

When I was a little boy,
I wanted a whittlin' knife;
Now I am a great big boy
And I want a little wife.

Chorus

Wish I had a banjo string,
Made of golden twine,
And every tune I'd pick on it
Is "I wish that girl were mine."

Chorus

Some come here to fiddle and dance,
Some come here to tarry,
Some come here to fiddle and dance,
I come here to marry.

Chorus

Every night when I go home,
My wife, I try to please her,
The more I try, the worse she gets,
Damned if I don't leave her.

Chorus 2:
Shady grove, my little love,
Shady grove, my darlin',
Shady grove, my little love,
I'm going back to Harlan.

Fly around, my blue-eyed girl,
Fly around, my daisy,
Fly around, my blue-eyed girl,
Nearly drive me crazy.

Chorus 2

The very next time I go that road
And it don't look so dark and grazy,
The very next time I come that road
I'll stop and see my daisy.

Chorus 2

Filed under: Shady Grove, Show Notes & Song References