reference scale chart

Minor
A B C D E F G A
E F# G A B C D E F#
B C# D E F# G A B
F# G# A B C# D E F#
C# D# E F# G# A B C#
G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
D# E# F# G# A# B C# D#
A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A#

D E F G A Bb C D
G A Bb C D Eb F G
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab


Major
C D E F G A B S
G A B C D E F# G
D E F# G# A B C# D
E F# G# A B C# D# E
B C# D# E F# G# A# B
F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#
C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#

F G A Bb C D E F
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb
Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb

Blues
C Eb F F# G Bb C


Harmonic minor
A B C D E F G# A
E F# G A B C D# E
B C# D E F# G A# B
F# G# A B C# D E# F#
C# D# E F# G# A B# C#
G# A# B C# D# E Fx G#
D# E# F# G# A# B Cx D#
A# B# C# D# E# F# Gx A#

D E F G A Bb C# D
G A Bb C D Eb F# G
C D Eb F G Ab B C
F G Ab Bb C Db E F
Bb C Db Eb F Gb A Bb
Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb D Eb
Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb G Ab

I need to fill in the 6 note blues scale in and i want to do the other variations of the blues scale and then do all the modes.

Good reference, easier to memorize this way.

Im thinking im going to split my practice time into an hour of music studying and the rest of it, technical practice

mind = blown!

So i just learned a few key things to jazz.
1. The use of the harmonic minor scale and modes
2. the use of the blues scale
3. Chords are often used as support and arent the main focus in the songs
4. Drummers keep time on the hi hat or ride

I read in this book that jazz uses them, and i didnt really understand. I then learned them and started experimenting, and then i was able to hear it.

ive got a bit to work on

My technique has slipped a bit. I need to go back to practicing with a metronome, just gotta get batteries for it. My hands are VERY relaxed when im playing, which is so important. Thats something that comes with time.

I need to work on better finger dexterity, mostly with my ring and pinky. Im doing a specific exercise that goes like:


7-5-------------
----9-8-98-7---
--------------9-

Obviously im keeping my hand in the same place. The tricky part is the 9898 part. Doing that fast will take some time. The other hard part is repeating the pattern as there is no rest. Im also adding random hammerons/pulloffs where they sound cool.

Im also working on simple scale runs repeating 3 or 4 notes and moving down. Its hard to keep it smooth when shifting positions.

Im practicing my current songs a lot because they need it. While they are simple, they are rather hard to play and express the right way. I also dont like the strings i have on now. Im going to try flatwounds and see how that goes

Ive practiced a lot today. I forgot to keep track somewhere around 2-3 hours. Im gonna get about another hour in hopefully, or read. Then afterwards im watching a documentary on Charlie Parker.

Lastly, I have acquired a Big Muff pedal from Electro Harmonix. Should be sweet. Gonna mix that and my Boss Chorus Ensemble
----------------------

Oh yea, october 3rd i will be doing a very short set with Dom and another Steve. It will be quick and fun. Nothing serious though.

back on track

Ok. First off I have decided to take a break from bodybuilding. I would like to focus a little more on my own music as well as not be broke. Spending 2-300 dollars on food and supps. is no joke. I have 3 songs completed for Undermind. 2 of them are all guitar one is all bass guitar. I have 3 other songs in the making. Im working on a new setup so that i will be able to play live by myself. My songs are composed so that i can play them on guitar solo, or another instrument may join. I will have recordings shortly.

My new setup will be:
Schecter hell raiser FR6
line 6 spider II amp head
line 6 3X12 cab
Loop station (not sure which yet)
chorus pedal
Electro Harmonix Russian Muff/boss ds1 distortion

Pretty cool setup especially on a budget. I have found I like the spider II better than the spider III

Anyway, since the last time I updated, Ive had numerous noise jams with Dom. These are very liberating. Talk about improvisation. While I made "noise" on the guitar, i still kept a consistency in my playing. I did not play the guitar like a guitar, but other instruments fused in one. Its basically taking everything i know how to play, and blending it into one instrument. Ive been opened up to a lot of new music as well.

Currently, I am averaging 3-6 hours nearly everyday. I do not believe it is best to be practicing rigorously everyday. Your mind and muscles need rest. Resting is how you grow.

I just watched Nevermore's dvd, Year of the Voyager. Truely motivating and inspiring. Jeff Loomis is the best metal guitarist there is. He plays flawlessly and writes very interesting and thought provoking music.

I will start analyzing and writing down what im practicing from day to day. All I know is that i am going to teach myself how to play jazz. Ive been getting a lot of chords down and have started working with modes. Im also learning other scales such as the harmonic/melodic minor and the idminished scale (half-whole)

Anyway, I will be back to updating on a regular basis!!!

Im aching to write. Ive had a great deal of emotions and thoughts stir in me. Ive just been very tired. Im about to have an outburst of writing though and i cant wait. Im trying to figure out Back to back by the Montgomery Brothers, really cool jazz piece. Im also working on a cover of Elevation, by Blut Aus Nord. Next up, im going to learn more metallica and Dream theater


Also, im going to write down what i need to practice. Ive reaalized i have a lot of the basics either mastered, or i know it well enough that i need to finally move on from them, (not 100% of course). and yes i realize my grammar is off..

im studying the fretboard
what the hell does that mean

im looking at everything as notes instead of numbers. Next step is to start visualizing intervals and predicting how they will sound. Im also looking at the guitar from more of abird's eye view rather than focusing in on one point. It helps connect the dots when it comes to soloing and learning scales or modes.

Theres a point where a guitar player will know exactly what his fingers are doing without looking at them. That is when you can start looking elsewhere on the guitar more efficiently. Thats basically what im doing

Ok, 2 hours a day on average so far. Thats ok. Gotta take small steps before i go higher. So many things influence my mood and desire to practice, but im finally getting my motivation back. Ideally I will go through another summer averaging 6 hours a day, or at the least, 30 hours a week. Im a little mixed about practicing so many hours per day. Your body and mind need rest in order to grow.

I have 3 songs almost complete for my Undermind project. I have another one that im slowly working on as well. Those will be recorded in a few months, im working on familiarizing myself with them a lot more. Itd also help if i recorded them, but im lazy and stubborn. This will change though.