Technique/Theory Thread (Page 3 of 8)

I also find that visualizing a chord on the fretboard, helps me to hit the "target" chord tones. Really helps to give a lead some direction and shape.

I like to listen to John Scofield for some really tasteful outside playing. You can simply just repeat a lick up a fret and your playing outside.

Wow.

So, I get an email from Carl Verheyen, the other night. He's in town, and going to be preforming. He offered to add me to the guest list. I, of course, accepted!

He's backing up a singer/songwriter/guitarist. Apparently, he played on her CD about a year ago. And she flew Carl and a pianist named Nelson Cole out to play a couple of nights at a local performance hall called Windsong Performance Center. There is also a really top notch studio in there. So nice sounding, that I'm thrilled it's here!

I have a copy of Ted Ludwig's newest CD, that was recorded there. It sounds fantastic. Ted is a New Orleans transplant, since the "Exodus" from Katrina. Really a nice guy, and a great player. Little Rock is all the better, for having Ted making music here.

Here's some info on Ted:

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/Articl … ad8b032816

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?titl … el=1922839

Back on topic, now:

Windsong is a BEAUTIFUL facility. The main performance hall seats about 300, and has a chamber of some sort below the stage. This makes the whole stage and acoustic amplifier of sorts. I don't know all of the engineering aspects of it. But, the sound is top-notch. Very inspiring place to listen and perform.

Here's a link to Carl's MySpace page: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu … D=78594442

Here's Windsong's Page: http://www.windsongcenter.com/

I couldn't find Nelson Cole's Bio, etc. But, he's an L.A. guy. Really great musician, from what I could tell. He and Carl had never met, before these shows. But, they really meshed well. A tribute to their respective professionalism, I suppose.

Anyway, I learned a lot, just watching and listening.

Most of the songs were in the same couple of keys. Just a handful of chords. So it was great to see what these guys could do with the same 3 or 4 chords, for 90+ minutes. Carl seemed so comfortable injecting his thing into the songs. Really made me feel better about what I strive to do. Because I always try to play what I want to hear. I've tried to copy other players, but it always comes off as only half-real (to me, anyway). I have done a few recording sessions for others. I have tried to give the artists' what they seemed to want. i.e. "Eric Clapton" on this track, or "Doc Watson" on that one. More standard "just like the radio" stuff. But, I am usually much more pleased with myself, when I can do what I consider "my thing". Listening to Carl do his thing over these Bluesy songs, was re-affirming to me. Since I make my living teaching, I have decided to continue with doing my thing. If I was a full-time session guy, I may have to make concessions. But, you know what? I'm not. So......I may not get many calls. But, the ones I do will be things I can really sink my teeth into.

Anyway, it was a very cool lesson for me. Also, I got to hear a great player make 2 of the studio's Twins, an XOTIC BB, BOSS Tuner, BOSS Delay and Reverb pedals, and a Mexican Strat sound incredible. He didn't have his usual rig. But he still sounded like Carl. It's all in the head and hands.

After the show, there was an Artists' Meet and Greet session. Carl came out and found me, bought me a beer (Thanks again, Carl!), and sat with me to talk.

He was so nice and personable. Just like he comes across in the different interviews and things I've read about him. Gracious, too. He sat and listened, while I rambled on. We probably talked for an hour! He shared some great stories, and we talked about different venues for him to come play. I'm hoping he'll be making regular stops in Arkansas, now. Little Rock/North Little Rock is a really nice mid-sized town. We've got a lot going on right now, and the city is really working to become a destination place, for people from all over. And I'm working towards getting some of those "West Coast" guys to come here every year. Maybe a "Guitar Festival" type of thing?

Next time Carl comes to town, maybe I can take him around to some of the local clubs and hangs. Heck, I may even buy a beer, or two!

So, a story I thought I'd share, along with the lesson I received. Sorry to be long-winded (okay, not really sorry!). But, it was a cool night.

Cool lick! Sounds kinda like something Joe Pass might play.

I like relating scales and chords to the five overlapping root shapes on the fretboard.  I teach my students the five root patterns and challenge them to use them to find all of the C's for example on the fretboard.  Once they get that down, we move on to scales, intervals and chords. 

Pattern 1 - roots on 2nd and 5th strings, two frets apart
Pattern 2 - roots on 5th and 3rd strings, two frets apart
Pattern 3 - roots on 3rd, 1st and 6th strings, three frets apart
Pattern 4 - roots on 1st, 6th and 4th strings, two frets apart
Pattern 5 - roots on 4th and 2nd strings, three frets apart

Hal Leonard publishes a great book by Musicians Institute called "Guitar Fretboard Workbook".  I would highly recommend it to anyone who is studying guitar seriously.

For the other guitar instructors who hang out here.  I just subscribed to a magazine called "Guitar Teacher".  First issue won't arrive until November.  Anyone else get this magazine?

Budda,
I haven't gotten it yet, but when I do I'll be sure to let you know what I think.  You teach too, right?

ZampraZ,
I'm sure you incorporate the techniques right into your practice without even realizing it.  You did say you had a great teacher didn't you?  I'm sure he/she is teaching you all sorts of techniques along the way.