bought the wrong strings

I bought the wrong strings. Too thick and werent flatwounds. Im a moron. Now i cant get the bridge to be level because theres too much tension

caffeine

blah, 3rd day of no practice...SO FAR. Im tired and dont want to be bothered with guitar. Im gonna drink some soda to try to get me more energized. Im feeling lethargic but i want to write about me fighting through it, it seems i get that a lot

quick update

Ok, so yesterday i got a good 3 hours in, perhaps more. Been practicing the same stuff, trying to write a little more. I focused a lot on playing my own songs, and also figured out an arrangement for Hollowed Skies for solo clean guitar.

One thing ive been working on is to use my middle finger as if it were my index finger. For instance, doing hammerons and pulloffs with my middle and ring or middle and pinky. Much to my expectations, it is rather tricky. The key is to apply as much force as possible to the fret with your middle finger, than the rest will be easier to perform. The blues scale in particular really helps with this.

Today im taking a break. This morning, my tendons on my left hand were aching, so im gonna play it safe.. Rest is good anyway

LOTS OF PRACTICE

Ok, so two days ago i was working with the blues and harmonic minor. I got a good 2.5 hours in. Yesterday i did about 3+ hours. My main focus is the harmonic minor and blues scale. Im working on getting a lot more familiar with them and being able to shift up to different octaves and parts in the scale. Ive also been taking 4-5 note patterns in the scales and working with those.

My improvisation has improved and changed greatly.

Ive been working with some new jazz chords and started a new song. Ill write out the progression later on. Today, I plan on practicing a good 3 hours at least. Perhaps ill do some reading as well.

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.