SRL Archive - Blogs and Writing

Introduction:

Well here I am.

I am making this not to show off, nor to get people to know what I am doing.

I am doing this to test a theory.

My theory is that if I have pressure to write out what I learned every day to give to the public, then I will be motivated enough not to embarrass myself for not learning enough/not practicing.

Lately I have been extremely lacking in my guitar. I have tried many things. My goal for my life is to be a famous musician, but at the rate I'm going, I'll have a head brimming with capability by the time I'm too old for this dream to come true. I pretty much practice one day a week - my lesson day. I know I need to change this, and from hence forth I shall practice 2 hours a day. I have been playing guitar for 7 years, and though I am a capable musician who can play much and has some serious chops for picking up extremely complicated songs, my knowledge on musical theory is not sound. This is a must for song writing because though I can learn complex songs, I can only write the most basic of songs. I have even thought of quitting guitar and taking up drums, learning every Rush song so that I can fuel my career imitating Neil Peart. I don't want 7 years and a musical talent to go down the drain, so I am trying to get into a loop first to see if I can get back to where I was 5-7 years ago. In love with the guitar. Those years when I couldn't wait to get home and learn a new song.

All I ask of you guys is to give me feedback, if you are musical, feed me with your knowledge of what I am currently working on. If I miss a day, yell at me, and I mean that. Of course rep+ will be given to people who help me out, I am desperate to get on my feet. If anyone is in a similar situation as me (doesn't have to be musical), they can also use this thread to update their daily practice. In fact, I welcome this as it will not only keep the thread active, it will help others and we all can help each other.

Tomorrow I am going to update this post with day one.


Day One:

• Practiced all 7 positions of the major scale using licks to connect them focusing on the tonic notes.
• Experimented in the 7 Musical Modes by fooling with major, minor and blues pentatonic scales as roots playing different degrees of chords as the rhythm root to better my knowledge of writing and knowing how to produce feelings within music.
• Learned a new song, "Lessons" by Rush (and sang. Very loudly. My neighbors actually came to my door and told me I sounded good ._.) This song was more to study modes then for a challenge. I like the feel of the song so I tried to figure out the different modes it used. I came up with Ionian and Mixolydian. When the electric comes in, the notation moves to the fifth note of the A scale (down to E) changing it from it's previous Ionian stage where it was all chords from the A scale (G, D, A). This odd combination of using a minor mode in an upbeat song resulted in the multiple climaxes of the song. (Oh, I just killed this song for me ._.).

Day Two:

• Practiced my major scales again, I now have three out of the seven memorized.
• Did a lot of relative major/minor things today, figured out that if I changed the tonic (root note) in any position of the major scale to the 6th, it would become its relative minor. (E.g., Major C scale, 6th note is A, start the scale on that note and use it as the root, it's now a Minor A scale.)
• Fooled around with my music generator program as to expand my knowledge further on modes. Found that a good mix of modes in a MINOR scale would be Ionian and Lydian, then throwing in ONE Phrygian chord as the apex to the song.
• No songs today :( I got carried away with my mode practicing :p.

I think all I can do here is give advice and examples of what I do for learning the guitar. I've only been playing for a matter of months, so I can't play so much as a single song, just pieces and constant little tunes I like. But to keep myself reminded to practice, I always have my guitar sitting near me so it's always within reach. Usually if I get stumped on a script or I'm testing something new on the computer, I just practice what I already know on the guitar. It's nothing much but it's true what they say, practice makes perfect.

Anywho, do know that I have faith in you! I'll keep my fingers crossed. ;)

We can always talk guitar and any other music really, if you have some ideas you could run them by me and we will collaborate.

From: Flight
I think all I can do here is give advice and examples of what I do for learning the guitar. I've only been playing for a matter of months, so I can't play so much as a single song, just pieces and constant little tunes I like. But to keep myself reminded to practice, I always have my guitar sitting near me so it's always within reach. Usually if I get stumped on a script or I'm testing something new on the computer, I just practice what I already know on the guitar. It's nothing much but it's true what they say, practice makes perfect.

Anywho, do know that I have faith in you! I'll keep my fingers crossed. ;)

Well my main problem is motivation, after 7 years it get's old :p my practice today actually really felt good after though, kinda like that sense of accomplishment after you finish writing a script :p

From: JPHamlett
We can always talk guitar and any other music really, if you have some ideas you could run them by me and we will collaborate.

Haha thanks, by the way, how's that band coming along?

I've been playing basketball for atleast 7 years. So same as your problem. Sometimes I get bored of basketball, but I always play it, that's how you should feel about playing guitar. If it gets boring at a certain time, think to yourself, a lot of other things are more boring :) It helps me, hope it helps you.

From: Huthaifah
I've been playing basketball for atleast 7 years. So same as your problem. Sometimes I get bored of basketball, but I always play it, that's how you should feel about playing guitar. If it gets boring at a certain time, think to yourself, a lot of other things are more boring :) It helps me, hope it helps you.

Haha, you play on a team?

E: Day two up :)