Dream On A Tweedy Aeolian

[VikingBlues]

I'm currently wondering about some guitar lessons - face to face rather than just lessons on JamPlay. Though so far I'm having no luck with any of the possible tutors replying to my enquiries. I'm sure a lot of tutors would rather have the simpler job of pupils who want to learn songs than those like me who want to learn how to improve improvisational skills though.

So with making progress in mind I've revisited an old backing track just to check if I'm still improving at all. The BT is "Knopflers Glorious Dream" by David Wallimann - in A Aeolian. Here's my new attempt called "Dream On A Tweedy Aeolian".
https://soundcloud.com/vikingblues/drea ... dy-aeolian

Hagstrom Viking Deluxe through the Super Champ XD with a Tweedy voicing. I'm not going to use the GX3 for the more toneful melodic stuff .... the SCXD is perfect for that.

My effort from two and a half years ago, also using the Hagstrom (though with stock pickups before Chris put me on to the wonderful SH55s), is on this thread - viewtopic.php?f=6&t=908&p=7429&hilit=dr ... lian#p7429
I think I've made at least some steps forward ... more relaxed and less rigid on timing are the obvious pluses, along with a bit more tonal variety and a more confident upfront sound. I'm struck as usual when I try these as to how close the melodic ideas are, and I've not been using this BT for a long time. I'm not sure my putting bits of rhythm guitar on the old recording was a good idea. And no, I never did anything about lyrics and turning this BT into a song.

[12bar]

I think it's hard to find a good teacher for you, because you need very special high level teaching, not the usual fixed programs.

The comparison is interesting, especially because the first recording was already a great one, you felt comfortable in that key. I think "more relaxed" sums it all up, the timing has improved, tone is great, it's all close to perfection.

And that's the point I and maybe the teacher would suggest to work at: try to get a bit out of that comfort, a bit more "surprise notes", not too polished. But that's my personal taste... and you should still sound like VB after all!

[VikingBlues]

I think it's hard to find a good teacher for you, because you need very special high level teaching, not the usual fixed programs.

The comparison is interesting, especially because the first recording was already a great one, you felt comfortable in that key. I think "more relaxed" sums it all up, the timing has improved, tone is great, it's all close to perfection.

And that's the point I and maybe the teacher would suggest to work at: try to get a bit out of that comfort, a bit more "surprise notes", not too polished. But that's my personal taste... and you should still sound like VB after all!

My sincere thanks for your kind words. That's a very good suggestion about the "surprise notes" - playing out of the box is something I find doesn't come easily .... yet! I do notice I did at least manage not to finish the piece on the root note and hit the 5th (E rather than A).

There seems to be much fewer guitar teachers around than the last time I looked a few years back. There's quite a few to weed out of the list of possibles as they seem very geared towards beginners and learning songs.
Though I did encounter one teacher that specified "no hobbyists" in their advert ... I'm still not quite sure what that meant.

I still have a membership on JamPlay - the lessons there have helped a great deal in bringing me to higher levels over the last 5 years. There are two instructors there who have been way the most help to me - but one (David Wallimann) left quite some time ago and the other (Hawkeye Herman) wants to do more lessons but it appears that JamPlay powers that be are lukewarm on the idea. Maybe he isn't young and hip enough for the image of the place, and for the shredding, metal generation. Shame - this is a guy who learned at the feet of many icons of the blues, including: Son House, Brownie McGhee, Bukka White, Mance Lipscomb, Furry Lewis, Lightin' Hopkins, John Jackson, K.C. Douglas, and Sam Chatmon. His blues pedigree is so good, and his enthusiasm for the subject is very exhilarating.

[losaavedra]

I pretty much agree with what Gerd has said, particularly his last paragraph. Both new and earlier versions you've done of this piece exhibit the same 'controlled precision' that has almost become your trademark. That's not a bad thing but I feel there is nevertheless some frustration generated as a result (for you) that will be difficult for you to find a 'teacher' for to enable moving away from it sometimes. That's if indeed you personally really think such a move is necessary in order to continue to get enjoyment out of your playing. I don't think your aeolian mode preference (which I tend to consider more appropriate for jazz than the blues) will make that easier either. Keep it for the more tuneful stuff (which you do very well) but do more risky things too amigo ... the blues is no neat and tidy genre!!

[vancouverois]

As others said, it won't be easy to find a "good" teacher.
Depending on what you're aiming to, may be is it time to rehearse with other musicians.

Both versions of the song sound quite good, and I agree with the "controlled precision" that is really present on the two recordings.
The differences are noticeably the ease, the warmth and the extended improvisation on the 2nd take.
I do not say the first is not good, it's a very good one though the second is indeed less rigid, more alive thus bringing warmth.
Your knowledge of scales and modes undoubtedly improved your ability to improvise.

[VikingBlues]

Thank you guys - I appreciate your thoughtful comments and help. You're bringing more clarity to the "lessons" situation and thank you for that.

I pretty much agree with what Gerd has said, particularly his last paragraph. Both new and earlier versions you've done of this piece exhibit the same 'controlled precision' that has almost become your trademark. That's not a bad thing but I feel there is nevertheless some frustration generated as a result (for you) that will be difficult for you to find a 'teacher' for to enable moving away from it sometimes. That's if indeed you personally really think such a move is necessary in order to continue to get enjoyment out of your playing. I don't think your aeolian mode preference (which I tend to consider more appropriate for jazz than the blues) will make that easier either. Keep it for the more tuneful stuff (which you do very well) but do more risky things too amigo ... the blues is no neat and tidy genre!!

I have to agree with what you've said ... I think I am looking at learning more about blues and the more jazzy/melodic cross-breed stuff as two separate exercises.

I think I am less concerned about finding material to try to continue progress on blues - lots of lessons / backing tracks etc around, albeit not with Hawkeye. Although I am finding two things to be making it tough to progress with blues - (1) the "risk taking" needed for good blues is very much at odds with my natural inclinations - on a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is someone who likes taking risks I probably rank at about minus 2!!, and (2) currently to get a semi convincing stab at blues I either need to be in a foul mood, or I have to psych myself up to be in one like some method actor - given I enjoy guitar playing for the soothing effect it has on my mind, that's a bit of an internal conflict of needs.

But for the more fusiony genre stuff - good teachers, lessons and backing tracks are harder to come by. This is the area where in the last couple of years I have progressed most I feel, thanks mainly to David Wallimann via video lessons. It is also an area of music I want to explore more and get much better at. But I feel I'm reaching the stage where a bit more is needed in the learning process than just a video - particularly as the need for chromatic playing, and out of the box notes becomes more needed.

As others said, it won't be easy to find a "good" teacher.
Depending on what you're aiming to, may be is it time to rehearse with other musicians.

Both versions of the song sound quite good, and I agree with the "controlled precision" that is really present on the two recordings.
The differences are noticeably the ease, the warmth and the extended improvisation on the 2nd take.
I do not say the first is not good, it's a very good one though the second is indeed less rigid, more alive thus bringing warmth.
Your knowledge of scales and modes undoubtedly improved your ability to improvise.

Difficult indeed to find a good teacher - most are geared up to beginners, rock music, and learning songs. The ones I have seen detail for so far that seem most likely suitable also seem to have major calls on their time from their teaching at Universities, etc., as well as their private teaching. The lack of response so far to my enquiries does not encourage me that it's going well - and I don't have many possible realistic choices of tutor for what I want to do.

I was quite shocked at how much more rigid my playing was just a couple of years or so ago in this comparison - though there were melodic strengths there that enabled it to be good enough to upload the recording and feel happy about it.

I understand where you're coming from with the rehearsing with other musicians - but I'm concerned that would most likely mean I would play even safer in my playing decisions and at best I'd be working on making what I already know and trying to do a bit better rather than expanding into new ideas. Obviously depends on what other musicians are involved, but this melodic cross genre stuff I've drifted into seems to be very much a minority sport and that would make the search very tricky.
..................................................

Finding the right teacher? Newer teaching methods?

Has anyone tried Skype for getting lessons (or for anything else that would suggest how well lessons might work)?

Just that I notice that David Wallimann does private 1 to 1 Skype lessons. Now given that it is his video teaching that has brought me this far .... seems like it could make sense to bring his personal direction into my life too?

His CV / experience certainly are impressive:-
Age 15 - started playing guitar
Age 22 - recognized by Ibanez for his promising musical achievements and received an artist endorsement.
Applied to the school of modern music Artist' in Cavaillon, France - received a full scholarship there where he graduated with honors.
Age 24 - first place for the Tal Farlow French national jazz contest leading to full paid scholarship to the CMA school of modern music in Valenciennes, France. He graduated specializing in advance guitar with honors.

Of course even more to the point I know and like both his teaching style and him as a person. He has, for me, a massive virtue in that he advocates "practical" theory - so that theory is explored using the instrument and not by learning (or in my case failing to learn) huge amounts of terminology and concepts on the written page.

[ratfinkdan]

VB, I have taken private lessons many times through the years and all have been very helpful. Its been quite some time though since I've taken lessons and have thought some of trying it again but much like you I find myself at a point where its very hard to find someone that really teaches blues guitar, most are into the rock or blues/rock stuff which is fine but not the direction I want to go. If your comfortable with the Skype lessons and your familiar with the teacher maybe give it a try for a month and see how that works for you. Also I think its important to try and get out to play some with other people, I know I always learn something new or come away with some new ideas when I play with someone else. Maybe just a guitar buddy that you can get togeather with once or twice a month. Dan

[HalfBlindLefty]

Well, a lot has been said, so I can cut things short As I already stated on Soundcloud :
Lovely piece Mark, love the sound and your playing is stunning !
You've improved your playing quite a bit

[VikingBlues]

Thanks Dan, thanks Hans.

Glad to get a bit of confirmation that I'm not kidding myself about improvements - a recording should tell me I know, but it's very easy to persuade myself that black is white if I really want to think that. The better it gets though the more I keep wanting - still at least that makes guitar a good long term hobby.

VB, I have taken private lessons many times through the years and all have been very helpful. Its been quite some time though since I've taken lessons and have thought some of trying it again but much like you I find myself at a point where its very hard to find someone that really teaches blues guitar, most are into the rock or blues/rock stuff which is fine but not the direction I want to go. If your comfortable with the Skype lessons and your familiar with the teacher maybe give it a try for a month and see how that works for you.

I'm a believer that private lessons can be of great help ... but lessons with the wrong teacher can be a bit of a disaster. I have the same thoughts as yourself about how most guitar tutors available locally are not geared up to doing the sort of lessons in the sort of genre areas we might be interested in.

Also the thing I've become accustomed to with on line JamPlay lessons has been being able to have a lesson when I feel up for it. I recall days when I had private classical guitar lessons quite a few years ago that there were days I was not in the right frame of mind at all, or too mentally tired - the lessons on those days were worthless.

Never having used Skype or tried this sort of Skype lesson it's a big unknown whether I'll be comfortable with it. Has a big advantage of no hour and a half of travelling time and none of the extra cost of the travel. Still has the disadvantage of being on an inflexible timetable though.

In the interim I have bought a video + teaching materials from one of David Wallimanns 90 minute live stream master classes (on melodic arpeggios). I see too that as an alternative to Skype (and to help out those that find scheduling a lesson difficult) he will do for the same cost as a Skype lesson an individual video lesson tailored for your needs - trouble is there's no immediate feedback when doing the lesson - but then it has the advantage of being able to review the lesson video at a later time. Maybe try one of those too before I think of trying the Skype.

[12bar]

Don't forget an old-fashioned way: listen and play to Blues classics. Most of the still popular guitar players from the 60's/70's (EC, Page, Beck, Hendrix, SRV, ...) had no or only a few lessons. They learned from listening and playing to records. Today with mp3's it's much easier to loop interesting parts or record something to an old song.

[VikingBlues]

Don't forget an old-fashioned way: listen and play to Blues classics. Most of the still popular guitar players from the 60's/70's (EC, Page, Beck, Hendrix, SRV, ...) had no or only a few lessons. They learned from listening and playing to records. Today with mp3's it's much easier to loop interesting parts or record something to an old song.

What I liked so much about Hawkeye Herman's teaching on JamPlay was that he would demo bits and pieces of styles or from particular songs or artists and encourage you to play around with the ideas and make them your own. It was very much like sitting down with someone in your front room and musical ideas being discussed. I'm a bit peeved with JamPlay that they're not moving on new lessons from him.

But anyway - I do feel on the blues side of things there is a good wealth of material out there that I can utilise like you say and continue making progress without the need for private lessons.

Where I do think I'm needing help now is in the more Jazzy side of things - the melodic/modal improv stuff. There is very little material out there on that - difficult enough to even find backing tracks. But I'm really not looking for teaching by way of loads of theory - hopefully it can be taught in relation to shapes and patterns on the fretboard and to playing - that's the only way I have made progress so far and that has been the sort of method David Wallimann mainly uses. But maybe I'm looking for something that doesn't exist!

However I've had a contact back from a (fairly) local tutor. He is a tutor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and specialised in performance, composition and jazz studies at University. He has heard some of my recordings and seems enthusiastic to help and is fine with not just trying to teach songs. I think I'll need to give it a trial run! Eeek.