Home › Forums › Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions › January’s Challenge – Advice Request
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January 11, 2020 at 5:01 pm #157406
Hi Everyone,
I was hoping to try this month’s challenge, and could use some direction. The bass notes are throwing me a bit. Is there a trick to the phrasing or note selection within the minor pent to avoid clashing with the bass notes? I was hoping to add some chord changes as well. It seems like root to flat 7th works, but I’m playing just a regular 7th – not the diminished. Initially, I tried to just play an E or E 7th during the E bars, but I would hear clashing when doing this.I feel like the timing with what’s being played by the bass is critical on this one – is that correct? If that’s the case, I could use some advice on the best way to make this work.
Regards,
Thomas
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January 11, 2020 at 7:31 pm #157414
I am not really sure how to answer you without you first showplaying something .. it is really too broad a question and I know for any beginner, the best way to understand your question is to go it super slow with the instructional videos… Brian is specific enough and the tab is important too/ you really have to study and listen gl
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January 11, 2020 at 8:54 pm #157415
That sounds good, thanks. It really is a matter of spending more time and studying – like you said. This is a good challenge for me. I tend to ramble and get lazy within the scale instead of being more creative to make it sound more musical.
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January 12, 2020 at 4:58 am #157432
Hi Everyone,
I was hoping to try this month’s challenge, and could use some direction. The bass notes are throwing me a bit. Is there a trick to the phrasing or note selection within the minor pent to avoid clashing with the bass notes? I was hoping to add some chord changes as well. It seems like root to flat 7th works, but I’m playing just a regular 7th – not the diminished. Initially, I tried to just play an E or E 7th during the E bars, but I would hear clashing when doing this.I feel like the timing with what’s being played by the bass is critical on this one – is that correct? If that’s the case, I could use some advice on the best way to make this work.
Regards,
Thomas
I’ve had this backing track playing on and off for a few days now, I’ve been hoping that I could at least form some sort of melody in my head this way.
It’s not working, I’m finding a tad uninspiring to say the least, I know that this is probably no help to you but at least you are not alone in your quest to do something with this challenge ....Billy..
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January 12, 2020 at 5:33 am #157434
That sounds good, thanks. It really is a matter of spending more time and studying – like you said. This is a good challenge for me. I tend to ramble and get lazy within the scale instead of being more creative to make it sound more musical.
All I can share here is that it really is only a matter of going it super slow when you get stuck on anything .. As I mentioned , we can ask and share with each other but, if we can’t see what you are having specific timing issue is usually the problem ..but it could also be a combination of bad habits
the only thing I can do is reiterate.. go very slow watch and listen first to the intro lesson video.. than try going really slow along with the third slow video or the soundslice tabliture
both the video can be slowed down even more percentage speed wise in the settings icon lower right you can click and set the video speed much slower speed to watch closer where you might resolve your question.. soundslice can be slowed and looped .both can be helpful
I still make timing faults lol , I’m just a student who is trying too but i came a long way with using the tools in the woodshed gl to you both!
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January 12, 2020 at 7:40 am #157441
I’ve had a quick look at it and had issues following the chord changes after a bit of head scratching I looked at the PDF and doh it’s in 12/8 time.
I started playing the chords over the soundslice as you can see the chord changes, the lead is a bit distracting though.
There is plenty of lessons on YouTube here’s an explanation if you look up 51 and 52 he’s doing stuff based off of Texas flood wrong key but its ideas
Hope this helps -
January 12, 2020 at 1:19 pm #157450
That count is a good explanation.
Mike
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January 12, 2020 at 3:57 pm #157459
Hi Everyone,
I was hoping to try this month’s challenge, and could use some direction. The bass notes are throwing me a bit. Is there a trick to the phrasing or note selection within the minor pent to avoid clashing with the bass notes? I was hoping to add some chord changes as well. It seems like root to flat 7th works, but I’m playing just a regular 7th – not the diminished. Initially, I tried to just play an E or E 7th during the E bars, but I would hear clashing when doing this.I feel like the timing with what’s being played by the bass is critical on this one – is that correct? If that’s the case, I could use some advice on the best way to make this work.
Regards,
Thomas
It is actually just a standard 12-bar blues, and the BPM is super slow. When the jamtrack starts, the first bass note is beat 1, and the bass hits again on beats 2&,3. But you count each beat as a triplet (8th notes). So it’s like one faster rhythm laid on top of a slower one. Try playing the chords (E, A7, B7) to it, and strum them as triplets like 1, 2, 3 – 2, 2, 3 – 3, 2, 3 – 4, 2, 3 (you know that trick) with the emphasis on the 1st beat of the triplet (often played by the bass). If I were you, I would record a strum track along with the backing track, so that the chord changes are more apparent.
As for improv, just try noodling around in the 1st and 2nd position minor pentatonic scale. For inspiration, Ronnie Earl is often said to be the ultimate master of slow blues improv:
Sunjamr Steve
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January 12, 2020 at 6:58 pm #157470
Thanks everyone for the great advice. I appreciate the support.
Best Regards,
Thomas
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January 13, 2020 at 2:21 am #157472
It is in 12/8 time so 4 sets of triplets to the bar. Think, tri-ple-a, tri-ple-a, tri-ple-a, tri-ple-a.
The reason you are having trouble with the base line that not all the chords are shown in the tab. Instead, the base splits each bar into two. So the first bar is E (eg: try root 5 bar chord), tri- ple-a tr-ple-a ; D (root 5 bar chord) tri-ple-a trip-le-a. The second bar is A (try root 6 bar chord) tri-ple-a trip-le -a; G (root 6 bar chord) tri-ple-a trip-le -a. Bar 3 is E , D. Bar 4 is E (try open chord E as it sounds low), A (try root 6 bar chord).
You may be wondering why the G chord is in there as the key of Emaj has a G#. The E blues scale has a b3 and G is the b3.
If you want to spice the rhythm up a bit more, one idea might be to try a single power chord on the first triple followed by tr-ple-a, tr-ple-a, tr-ple-a playing the octave, 5th, back to the octave. So on the D (root 5 bar chord) play a single strum power chord and hold for the triple count, followed by a triplet going from the octave (D string 9th fret, 5th (G string 9th fret,back to the D string octave (9th fret) and shift the the D chord and repeat. They are all chord tones and should be under your fingers. Do a similar thing with the root 6 bar chords. Hope this helps to point you in the right direction.
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January 14, 2020 at 7:11 am #157518
Days into it and still not finding any inspiration with this backing track..
..Billy..
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January 14, 2020 at 8:16 am #157520
Days into it and still not finding any inspiration with this backing track..
I haven’t bothered with it yet.. I see this thread and thinking it’s maybe time for super “SUPER SUNBURST” LOL
Sunjamr Steve, never seen that .. going to quick link that Earl.. but I honestly have to watch Brian intro videos (probably all three) sounds like everybody here is tripping on 327!
One thing I noticed right away Earl is tapping along to tempo his foot.. big advantage and the only way is keep tempo!
I honestly can’t imagine having difficulty knowing it is likely timing issues.. so my advice in advance is like always you mentioned.. keep it slow ..even slower as much slow as needed from the start through each preceding measure to end okay have to start my morning lessons! -
January 14, 2020 at 12:01 pm #157524
It is in 12/8 time so 4 sets of triplets to the bar. Think, tri-ple-a, tri-ple-a, tri-ple-a, tri-ple-a.
The reason you are having trouble with the base line that not all the chords are shown in the tab. Instead, the base splits each bar into two. So the first bar is E (eg: try root 5 bar chord), tri- ple-a tr-ple-a ; D (root 5 bar chord) tri-ple-a trip-le-a. The second bar is A (try root 6 bar chord) tri-ple-a trip-le -a; G (root 6 bar chord) tri-ple-a trip-le -a. Bar 3 is E , D. Bar 4 is E (try open chord E as it sounds low), A (try root 6 bar chord).
You may be wondering why the G chord is in there as the key of Emaj has a G#. The E blues scale has a b3 and G is the b3.
If you want to spice the rhythm up a bit more, one idea might be to try a single power chord on the first triple followed by tr-ple-a, tr-ple-a, tr-ple-a playing the octave, 5th, back to the octave. So on the D (root 5 bar chord) play a single strum power chord and hold for the triple count, followed by a triplet going from the octave (D string 9th fret, 5th (G string 9th fret,back to the D string octave (9th fret) and shift the the D chord and repeat. They are all chord tones and should be under your fingers. Do a similar thing with the root 6 bar chords. Hope this helps to point you in the right direction.
Al,
I believe you’re complicating this. I think there are only the E, A and B chords. There is often a walk up from the flat 7, major 7 to the root of the chord during the 4th set of triplets. That would still be considered as the same chord as earlier in the bar. At other times, the 4th beat walkdown is from the 5th, flat 7 to the root, but again implying the same chord as earlier in the bar.
John -
January 14, 2020 at 5:16 pm #157538
John I agree with you too Al is probably right but it’s not going to sink with most here learning.. this I started about 5 minutes ago.. it’s not easy but as I mentioned,, it starts with going super slow for beginners.. I’m not bragging but ,, i don’t need it slow.. because I just have the mechanics in both right and left to do this without slowing it down..
think the challenge for most here is going to be syncing the licks in each measure with the slow tempo.. fast licks with slow tempo is what I am finding here..
I highlighted for looping the first full screen soundslice sections one through four.. All I do is repeat until I’m comfortable with what I see and hear Brian doing use both the video and soundslice simultaneously until it’s done before scrolling to the next full screen set of measures to loop and practice
very cool features here and plenty of slow speed functions for both video and soundslice
the only thing that may take more time is the physical aspects..the mechanics within both fret hand and picking hand is going to be demanded here.. anotherwords , back to square one hands on practice and developing the required coordination of both hands on the guitar is going to be more for beginner level than advanced naturally but it’s a doable number. btw theory is irrelevant here , it’s about coordination feel rhythm jmho
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January 14, 2020 at 6:25 pm #157543
Days into it and still not finding any inspiration with this backing track..
Billy, I’m not even thinking of going to the backing track without first watching and listening to every video instructional for this lesson.
otherwise it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack..
I just went through the first intro video..( the hardest section is done) now I know what and how to practice but still going to watch the entire 2nd part 2 of the video tutorial before going to the soundslice to practice until memorized to tempo..
than I’ll finally go the the jam track.., I’ll have more IMPROVISATION too for the jam Track but want to make sure I cover every lick in this lesson first.. good luck!
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January 14, 2020 at 8:53 pm #157550
That sounds good, thanks. It really is a matter of spending more time and studying – like you said. This is a good challenge for me. I tend to ramble and get lazy within the scale instead of being more creative to make it sound more musical.
Yes, I start this tonight (like a revisit actually) when 327 was released , i never took much the time to dig into the video tutorials and know I did improvisation way back when.. the problem with improvisation is nothing really new is learned unless we really study the purpose behind these instructionals.. to really get it right watch and study Brian before tabs or jamtrack especially this lesson. (i actually finished this tonight) I only have to make something tight short to add for the challenge three weeks from now .. there are so many fun lessons here too so likely can find a few similar to use too!
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January 16, 2020 at 7:50 am #157614
This lesson is not easy, I think because of the slowness of the tempo and the natural tendency for guitarists to fill the space with “blistering quick licks.” It requires tremendous patience and control. My first impression of this lesson is that it is reminiscent of SRV’s Tin Pan Alley. While simple, these arrangements are easy to screw up. Don’t be afraid to welcome “space” between the notes you play. Keep it simple. Use chords to compliment what you are trying to say. Also, Listen to the backing track (and Brian’s solo) many many times. Only after it becomes muscle memory in your head, will you be able to make sense of when “to and not to play certain notes.” Then, I think you will answer your own question(s). Try playing just chords with the backing track so you can see where you are in the arrangement. Also, I would recommend learning what Brian does before you venture off into your own creation. His solo while simple, is as good as anything out there on line or already recorded by an established performer. You are not alone here. This lesson is very challenging. Don’t be too proud to go online and “steal” licks from other players. Then you can morph all that into what Brian does and then come up with something you can call your own. Rock on!!
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January 16, 2020 at 7:37 pm #157641
It’s really somewhere from 1 to 5 ..1 being easy ..5 being most difficult.. i’d give this a 3 only because it requires proper picking techniques ..there is basically one slight difficult riff.. if you listen to Brian explain this section /riff /lick .. it’s a short lesson and these are classic licks .. I ran through this no problem also looking for more ideas.. EP288 goes great with EP327 .. I have been practicing them both this evening
I like hybrid picking ( using both pick and plucking with fingers is much more dynamic tone for playing the blues
Anyone care to share what else fits perfect with 327 besides 288 it would be cool to check it out.. I know there are many here to find before the challenge dateline..
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January 17, 2020 at 6:08 am #157652
Have I read the challenge wrong, I was sure the challenge was to create something using the drum and bass track and not re-creating the lesson?..
Anyway, I’m now needing to do a fret job on my electro/acoustic which I was going to use for rhythm chords, no idea if I’ll get that done in time for the due date...Billy..
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January 17, 2020 at 11:11 am #157655
You’re absolutely right, Billy! Brian very clearly said, “do not play what I play … come up with your own creation on top of the jam track. …. If you absolutely can’t come up with anything, then it’s ok to play the lesson but try and push yourself…”
Hope you can make it, Billy! You’re good with improvising 🙂
🎸JoLa
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January 17, 2020 at 5:59 pm #157683
Have I read the challenge wrong, I was sure the challenge was to create something using the drum and bass track and not re-creating the lesson?..
Anyway, I’m now needing to do a fret job on my electro/acoustic which I was going to use for rhythm chords, no idea if I’ll get that done in time for the due date.Well reading you and the absolute ,, you be best I guess from the time I’ve known you and where you are now..haha probably is the way to go .. just try try try think positive .. i know it seens a stretch but it really is doable gl
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January 17, 2020 at 6:02 pm #157684
Have I read the challenge wrong, I was sure the challenge was to create something using the drum and bass track and not re-creating the lesson?..
Anyway, I’m now needing to do a fret job on my electro/acoustic which I was going to use for rhythm chords, no idea if I’ll get that done in time for the due date.yes Listen to you gut feeling Billy you are more than well rehearsed and educated
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