Home › Forums › Showcase Your Playing › Deep River Blues – My Journey Down
Tagged: learning
- This topic has 49 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 3 months ago by Don D..
-
CreatorTopic
-
January 10, 2017 at 4:43 am #59265
So I’m going to put myself out there and show you the ugly process that takes place when I try to learn something new.
I found some tabs (included at the bottom if all goes well) and started by putting my fingers at the right places yesterday.
I find this one very hard to learn because of a lot of syncopation stuff that Doc Watson does with the bass. I’m also not at all used to thumping my thumb on different strings when playing bass. I’m decent at doing this on one string, but alternating is a whole new dimension honestly. Right now I don’t feel I have any advantage because I can drone on with the thumb playing in the style of Delta.So with one earbud listening to the song, plus the tabs, I started yesterday with the intro part. I’m posting a very unflattering video to show you my progress so far. It’s not much, and meant as a reference for future updates in this thread to see if I make any progress!
Let’s see what becomes of this going forward.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files. -
CreatorTopic
-
AuthorReplies
-
-
January 10, 2017 at 5:17 am #59268
Keep at it, that sounded good! I’m going to try your one earbud method instead of listening through commputer speaker.
It sounds like a song that would welcome a harp.
Don D.
-
January 10, 2017 at 6:02 am #59274
At least the guitar’s still intact, Johan. Looking forward to your progress.
John -
January 10, 2017 at 8:13 am #59280
Hey Johan I’d say you are off to a good start, keep at it, the technique is there.
Rob -
January 10, 2017 at 9:01 am #59283
I cant get sound from youtube on this here phone of mine, looking forward to hearing this when i get on a pc…
..Billy..
-
January 10, 2017 at 12:05 pm #59296
Sounding good Johan, no metronome though..how come?.
..Billy..
-
January 10, 2017 at 1:07 pm #59298
Double Post due to site issues.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 10, 2017 at 1:11 pm #59299
That’s a good question actually, about the metronome.
I really don’t know why!
In general my timing is probably what I’m most proud of regarding my musical skills. That means I’m very well aware of my shortcomings in that particular area.
I have several metronome apps on my phone, but whenever I try to use one it only lasts for a couple of minutes due to the annoying quality of sound the internal phone speaker makes. Maybe I should invest in a real metronome.In other news, I just finished a grueling practice session of about an hour. I can now almost play all the way through to the B7 part hitting the correct string with the thumb.
Do anyone else push down extra hard with your fingers when trying to learn a new piece? My fingertips feel like each one has been hit with a hammer right now. In comparison I have practiced by improvisation and by playing stuff I already know fairly well for half a day without any problems many times before.
It will probably be all right by tomorrow morning anyway, but it’s a really stupid behavior.
Cheers guys and let’s see if tomorrow’s recording brings any progress!
(if the site works by then)
?Brian I do this for a living on a much larger scale. Contact me if you are in need of technical advice!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 10, 2017 at 2:25 pm #59301
You are going well, keep on practiceing,it´s not so simple piece as it seems at first site.
-
January 10, 2017 at 4:38 pm #59304
I saw you play this Lights! You know what I’m going through! And I agree, although I never thought this was going to be easy!
Rule #1
Music played by a blind person will have a FUUBAR quality that those who can see never spots until it’s too late! 🙂Billy, you prefer the digital ones then? Do you think I would too even though I mostly use acoustic guitars for practicing and casual playing?
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
-
January 10, 2017 at 4:30 pm #59303
I have a few metronomes too, some on my phone or on my kindle but the ones on my electronic tuners are the better ones to use..I switch mine on a few mins before i start practise and that way my body is already counting time and the bleep noise fades to the background.. btw, this is me just getting access to the forum from the repairs being done..
..Billy..
-
January 10, 2017 at 4:42 pm #59305
You may well do Johan, The electronic ones are very versatile. They can be plugged in to an electric guitar to tune or set the intonation and they also have a clip on attachment for use on acoustic guitars and not to mention the built in metronome too…very versatile ..
..Billy..
-
January 10, 2017 at 5:21 pm #59311
I can relate to this because finger style is the most difficult for me. You are doing well and giving me motivation to go back and try one.
MikeMike
-
January 10, 2017 at 6:51 pm #59323
johann i did that one, i’ll tell you i recall Doc Watson and he had his own unorthodoxed finger styles and flat picking..Didn’t come easy for me either but one ofmy favorites too ,, So you know my fingers ache sometimes after a lot of practice..As for plucking etc. I remember listening to good instructors that it is best to play as lightly as possible,, so it all depends,, is your action high and are you using heavy gauge 12s and up? that can give your fingers a workout! you may want to use lower action and light gauge for more relaxed feel.. i sometimes use my tele with 9s to practice and learn something and than playit on the acoustic..any keep at it, sure you have what it takes.. I think I have carpal tunnel because both hands feel like they fall asleep.. i hope it isn’t because of over playing,, i actually googled what might be why my hands tingle more these days.
-
January 10, 2017 at 7:23 pm #59324
Hey Johan, you think that’s the ugly truth of you learning a new piece. I opened the tab and had a wee go. In my best Paul Hogan voice, “this is ugly!”. I went off the rails part way into the first bar. I went back and watch your version and have to say you’re doing okay.
I’m working on the lesson from a few weeks back, I thinks it’s ep183, a sort of slow Chicago Blues in G. I love that one. Trouble is, my fingers are as old as I am and they have a different definition of “slow”. Couple that with my, ahem!, level of talent, and now you have ugly. And now ep186 is published and I really really like that one. -
January 10, 2017 at 7:56 pm #59326
-
January 10, 2017 at 8:02 pm #59327
I learned this but it was long time ago and just put this on to show it is tricky..but i bet i can get it flowing within a hrs practice.. The thing you want to learn are the chords you are playing E7 Gdim7 A7 sus9 Esus9 i think with a hammer-on and the B7 ..from there you work on the fingerstyle ..Johan l. i sent you a pm to direct you to a site I learned this from.. Jim Bruce is easy to follow too.
-
January 11, 2017 at 3:32 am #59361
Thank you guys for all the encouragement!
Nicely played Sunburst!!
Although just to annoy you I’m going to say I didn’t feel the THUMP all the way through there! 😛So Day #2.. this is going to be a rough ride..
I said a few words in broken English at the end to save some typing here. And my daughter is sick of this song all ready!
I’m hoping that focusing on the beat and the thumb will pave the way for some explosive development in a couple of days. But no promises, fingers hurting because I apply unnecessary pressure when I get angry. This song is fuel for my rage mule indeed.One specific part I find annoying is the open B-string and the following hammer on to the second fret same string (C#) together with the second fret third on the D string (E).
The hard part is that the thumb bass happens at the same time as the hammer on. I’m used to do fills and in between stuff with hammer ons. Not hit the beat exactly. You can see I’m failing this every time I play in the video, and what sucks is that THIS thing is what keeps the thumping base going. You hear the silence instantly when you fail to do it right.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 11, 2017 at 4:30 pm #59418
I’ve done another hour and a half long session tonight. I feel like stabbing my guitar right now. I realize I’ve probably pushed a little too much regarding practice and that I should give the old muscles some time to establish the memory they need, but I really thought I’d make more progress by now.
I think this is the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to master. But no matter what, the Doc is going down..
I’m going to sleep on it now and see if doing nothing helps. Which is weird, because it usually does, if it’s guitar playing that’s on the table that is.
Cheers!- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 12, 2017 at 12:16 am #59442
Hi Johan, this is not easy to play. But it sounds good.
Wilfried
Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
-
January 12, 2017 at 4:58 am #59447
So Day #3
I can see by looking at the previous videos I’m making progress, but I’m also starting to realize that I’m not only learning this song, I’m actually learning Travis picking for the first time as well.
I can get about 20 minutes of decent playing out of my hands before everything falls apart. By that I mean I have to start thinking about what I’m doing because of simple mistakes creeping in. As soon as I start doing that it goes to hell.But I said I would do this so here’s a video.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 12, 2017 at 12:30 pm #59464
I dare not hope, but I just finished an hour long practice session, and suddenly the general thing just started to both feel and sound better. I managed to turn the tempo up significantly and still had flow.
I’m going to leave the guitar in the stand until tomorrow now. Suddenly there is hope again! 🙂
Maybe..
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 12, 2017 at 12:57 pm #59467
Johan,
I’m enjoying your journey, and yes, I can see great progress. This is not easy to play, but you will master it I’m sure..
Mark
-
January 12, 2017 at 1:02 pm #59468
Tried it this morning, Johan, and it’s definitely tricky. Glad to hear it’s coming along.
John -
January 12, 2017 at 1:24 pm #59470
I dare not hope, but I just finished an hour long practice session, and suddenly the general thing just started to both feel and sound better. I managed to turn the tempo up significantly and still had flow.
I’m going to leave the guitar in the stand until tomorrow now. Suddenly there is hope again!
Maybe..
The wall of frustration I think Johan, Don’t we all get to that stage where we know it should be sounding better/playing easier and it just doesn’t happen..Good idea to leave the guitar for a day or two and then go back to it with a fresh head and a relaxed mind..
Good luck man.Billy
..Billy..
-
January 13, 2017 at 11:24 am #59527
Quick update you don’t think I’ve given up!
I haven’t touched the guitar all day. It’s on purpose, and I’m having a hard time not picking the old girl up.I think the best thing right now is about 24h of rest.
So Day #4 is meant for letting the intense practice I’ve had the last couple of days sink in into my fingers and thumb.
Tomorrow we ride at dawn! 🙂
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 13, 2017 at 1:24 pm #59545
I lost to temptation just after writing the last post.. so I owe it to myself to share the result of what happened.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 13, 2017 at 2:25 pm #59548
Bravo!!!
-
January 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm #59549
Thank you Havasumark!
I’m starting to think this might actually turn out pretty awesome in the end.
It’s also what I want to illustrate by sharing this “journey”. Practice and you shall succeed! Some players learn quickly, others need more time, but if you put in the work the result will always be spectacular.
So now I’ve set the bar for myself I guess! Spectacular or GTFO! 🙂
I’ll do my best to try and drive my point home about learning how to play new stuff on the guitar. If I can do it, anybody can!
A man once said:
“What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.”And that’s the whole point of this thread!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
-
January 13, 2017 at 3:40 pm #59551
Johan, you got it ,just takes time to get the thumb alteration, i did recommend excellent tab i pm’d you so there you go, anyway it is yours if you want it, just came home and have my mind set practicing last few lessons and Brian’s latest lesson I just watched a minute ago! Good luck with the doc Watson you shared, no doubt great tune to get under your thumping! lol.. I;m going to practice hrs tonight from here on, won’t be posting much tonight on forums, cheers and hope your daughter feels better soon!
-
January 13, 2017 at 4:30 pm #59558
Yes man…loved every head bobbing second of that..nailed it Johan…superb.
..Billy..
-
January 14, 2017 at 10:08 am #59603
Your getting there and sounding good, looks like quite a difficult piece to play, might have been better with something easier to start with until your thumb got used to alternating. I found it hard going from alternating to keeping the thumb on one string for some of Brian’s lessons now I sometimes get mixed up and start hitting the six string repeatedly when I should doing 6 -4 :))
-
January 14, 2017 at 11:32 am #59613
Donald you are spot on regarding droning delta thumb on one string!!
I switched song today to practice something completely different for a day and oh boy.. now the thumb is waving all over the place suddenly! ?I agree that I probably should have started with a simpler tune. But one of my many problems in life is that I’m “quite” stubborn once I decide something. I try to turn this into an advantage though! Because luckily enough, one of my other usually less favorable personal traits is that if I’m told something is hard, I’m gonna prove it’s not! 🙂
I think I’m going to be able to play this really well in the end. Although as you mentioned it might cost me both my delta thumb as well as the ability to use a pick before this is over!
But today I’ve just chilled with the practicing and mostly played other stuff! I’ll record something for tomorrow to see if any progress has been made!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 15, 2017 at 9:02 am #59681
So Day #6 since I started. Today felt like a disappointment. I was hoping for more. My fingers on both hands feel sluggish and I tend to make simple mistakes!
The recording shows the best run after having tried to capture something for about ten minutes. Taken together the result would have been mediocre anyway.
Let’s see what happens later on.
The journey swings back towards slight worry once again.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 16, 2017 at 10:10 am #59751
Day #7
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 17, 2017 at 2:21 pm #59851
Thanks for sharing the process with us Johan and showing that hard work truly pays off, well done.
scott
-
January 17, 2017 at 6:41 pm #59868
Thank you Scott!
I’ll do a video update tomorrow Swedish time!
Right now it’s 01:40am here, and I just got home unexpectedly late from a casual “let’s grab a beer” night with a couple of friends! Based on my current status, there’s going to be hell to pay for me when I wake up tomorrow! 🙂But that’s like 6 hours away so it almost doesn’t feel like an actual problem… yet! 🙂
Cheers for the input and let’s hope tomorrow brings flawless playing of the intro + verse 1!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 18, 2017 at 8:44 am #59889
Oh dear mother of..
This hangover is epic.I managed to stand up and record a run. Lesson here is don’t do what I did! Not any general progress to speak of. I played it better yesterday but didn’t record that.
I managed to hook up the guitar for those following this thread. So sound quality will be better from now on.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings!
Cheers.. no not cheers..
Have a good one!- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 18, 2017 at 12:32 pm #59894
I could here the difference between day 6 and day 7, day 7 being the more fluent of the two..day 9 is very much like day 7 but it has also improved.
personally I think you are there and it is only the not playing through your mistakes which is your barrier… I am really enjoying following your journey Johan, success imho is only a brain fart away…..Billy..
-
January 18, 2017 at 1:07 pm #59896
Thank you Billy.
I did another recording just for fun. It is close but I need to step over the threshold. I need to relax a bit more as I play. Just go instinct.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 18, 2017 at 4:04 pm #59898
Thats it right there, I was toe tapping along with this, really enjoyable stuff you are playing there Johan.
..Billy..
-
January 20, 2017 at 3:33 am #60031
Day #11
Soon.. 😀
Im dreading the next part because there’s a really fast lick that just doesn’t sound good using only hammer ons and pull offs. And I refuse to put on a thumb pick. That’s not how I want to play fingerstyle, and it would probably take a month to get proficient with the damn thing anyway.
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 20, 2017 at 4:39 am #60033
Right on the money, congratulations! It’s only a matter of time and practice and you’ll nail his fast riffs. That’s a very cool way of playing.
Don D.
-
January 20, 2017 at 7:51 am #60046
Johan, I second Don’s comment, very well done lots of pratice has payed off you are now at the point where your finger style will really take off.
Your record of this will be something to look back on with pride.
Kind regards
John Strat -
January 20, 2017 at 12:29 pm #60068
You guys are awesome!
Thank you!
And you said those nice things even though I clearly screwed up the timing at the end, twice! 🙂Well before this is over, because this whole community is such a great and forgiving corner of the world, I’m going to do something I haven’t done in about 20 years.
(You brought this upon yourselves with all those encouraging words)
By damn, I’m going to sing it as well! 🙂
I’m going to cut back on the updates to when I feel significant progress has been made in the meantime. But I’ll make sure the “journey” progresses in smooth steps with a clear timeline!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 20, 2017 at 1:25 pm #60075
Well before this is over, because this whole community is such a great and forgiving corner of the world, I’m going to do something I haven’t done in about 20 years.
(You brought this upon yourselves with all those encouraging words)
By damn, I’m going to sing it as well!
hahahaha
..Billy..
Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.-
January 20, 2017 at 3:25 pm #60089
?
I’ve now procured a condenser mic!
Muhahaha!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
-
January 20, 2017 at 8:41 pm #60110
Cool subject and thanks for sharing your progress. I love to see the process of others.
paul
-
January 22, 2017 at 9:38 am #60239
Last two days I’ve felt kind of empty when picking up the guitar!
I mean shouldn’t I be all psyched about that now is the time to go forward and ace all the small parts I know I was cheating at? And also continue to focus on the last few things that would enable me to put this together as a whole song.. But instead I have had to make myself pick up the guitar and just do some regular exercises for about 40 mins. An empty feeling after having worked so hard to get this far with this particular song.I think I need to do the percussive fingerstyle lesson or something to get my spirit back! I don’t know if anyone else is this daft? It’s like I’ve finished a great book and now there’s nothing left. Except in my case there’s plenty left to work on.
Well strange anyway!
- "Pretty Fingers Parker"
-
January 22, 2017 at 9:58 am #60243
Hi Johan,
Yes, there are times like that. Usually listening to one of my many guaranteed inspirations is enough to kick me into emulation mode. Just think about something you really want to play. That doesn’t work when I’m really sleep-deprived.
Don D.
-
-
AuthorReplies
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.