Music Videos

Its playing like this that gets me to the practice room in the morning....

Hiromi's SonicBloom feat. Dave Fiuczynski!


James Muller (...Scofield on Steroids)


Enjoy!

-SP-

Feels Good

Good to be back...

After finishing three gigs this weekend it definitely feels good to be playing with a healthy wrist. I was surprised that it healed as quickly as it did (Splints and Biofreeze work wonders). But honestly having a nice stretch before donning my Axe did wonders for my playing. I was a bit apprehensive at first 'cause the jazz ensemble forces me to use some complex chord shapes (again... those altered chords) and I did have some tension on the inside of my forearm during the first couple of tunes, but it quickly waned as the night (and soloing... and wanking) went on.

So now I'm going to get practicing on Monday. I have some things in mind that I want to do and some things in particular that I have to do. I want to chip away at the Scofield transcription that I've been working on (slowly) since the beginning of February, I want to start going through the Bebop book that Rick gave me, and I need to start working on Greg Tardy's and Pete's tunes for later this semester. Not to mention I have to finish my songs for Senior Semenar to give to Bill sometime this week.

work, work, work....

-SP-

Dominant 7 Chords

I was watching some You Tube videos this afternoon and came across a nice lesson on the mixolydian/blues hybrid scale. You know, for all this time I've been playing guitar I never thought to put these two scales together. Its a perfect match, hell I probably already do something like it already when I solo, but now I can dig into it... when I get my wrist back in working order. All this time away from practicing allows me to find stuff like this though, it really is beneficial for my growing-as-a-musician. So anyway, after I found this I tallied the amount of scales available over a plain Dominant 7 chord, the ones I thought of at least.

• Mixolydian (1-2-3-4-5-6-b7)
• Blues (1-b3-4-b5-6-b7)
• Mixo-Blues (1-2-b3-3-4-b5-5-6-b7)
• SuperLocrian (1-b2-b3-b4-b5-b6-b7)
• H/W Diminished (1-b2-b3-3-b5-5-6-b7)

So I figure that in order to successfully (note: subjective) play over a Dominant 7 chord, just avoid the major 7, anything else is permissible... hahaha.... hell you could even play wholetone (1-2-3-b5-b6-b7)!

I'll keep this in mind when I start up again.

-SP-

edit: Forgot about Bebop Dominant scale (1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-7!) but the 7 is only a passing tone in either direction...

Wrist Problems

I thought that after resting a week and a half (plus or minus) that my wrist/forearm would be healthy again, not top shape for sure, but maybe enough so I could start practicing a little... I had jazz ensemble today and I'm sorry to say my wrist hurts again, its sad... damn altered chords. I can't stretch my fretting wrist like I can my other one, and barring agitates it too. I'm going to see an occupational therapist next Friday, I hope she can tell me whats up.

-SP-

New Blog

Earlier this year, a few days into January actually, surfing the web, I found a list of Resolutions on Lifehack.org. I used to go there when I needed some firing up - some spirited, action oriented articles to switch gears in my psyche, get more productive or something - and I think thats what I was looking for. The article had some fun and interesting things to consider for the coming year, but one resolution, "Start a Blog," caught my attention. Attached to it was something like "101 Reasons to Start a Blog." I imbibed. It mentioned improving your writing, personal knowledge, networking, etc. I know I'm almost four months late, but whatever. This is me starting a blog... "Weeeee!"

So I'm here to help myself progress with my guitar playing, music learning, to expand my (musical) horizons, and to network with the internet and anyone who's into whatever I'm into...

Hello Everyone!

-SP-