Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Still Alive

OK, wotever, the blog isn't cared for anymore. But I'm still playing. Here's wot I can do-

Rhythm
  • Basic strumming, singing while strumming, strumming select strings.
  • Muting, left and right hand, for strumming and individual strings.
  • Arpeggiating chords. Like, Nothing Else Matters or Fade To Black, and singing over arpeggios, although not entirely, as in Stairway To Heaven.
Lead
  • Scales - all 5 pentatonic positions, although I haven't practiced them in a while. Major scale in 3 positions (Locrian, Ionian and Phrygian)
  • Subdividing beats - I can subdivide beats into up to 6th note triplets at60 bpm playing the Locrian mode. That's 360 notes per minute.
  • Solos - Nothing Else Matters complete. Beginnings of solos Fade To Black, Sweet Child O' Mine.
  • Basic improvisation. I can stay in a scale. Doesn't necessarily sound good.
  • Legato - My little finger is improving, although my thumb still plays a part when using it. I've been training my middle and ring fingers for tapping.
Theory
  • Scales and diatonics - I just recently figured out about diatonic scales. Very cool stuff.
  • Chords, of course - Making, naming, etc. chords.
Ear Training
  • I can recognize very few intervals - perfect 5th, perfect 4th, tritone, unison (duh!), minor 2nd.
  • I can transcribe simple, slow melodies. Did Silent Night, almost the whole of it.
Technique
  • I now play with my thumb in the middle of the neck.
  • Left hand fingers feel free, like, relaxed. Although not to the point where I can shred.
  • My picking technique has improved, although I can't consistently change strings doing alternate picking, and string skipping is still a problem.
  • My right hand fingers are also moving well for fingerstyle playing.
Misc
  • I've been experimenting with slide guitar and overhand playing. Not very good at either.
  • I can play for people now without messing up a lot.

I've got a lonnnnnnng way to go. Here's wot I plan to learn-
  • Shredding
  • Sweep picking
  • String skipping
  • Improvisation
  • Transcribing
  • Playing in odd time
  • Sight reading
  • Legato chops
  • Harmonizing
Next post 2 months from now, I guess.