Lesson Question

[guitar66]

Hi Jamie -

I have been wandering around SE Asia for the past 5 months. I bought a cheap acoustic while there so that I could keep up my guitar work, then donated it to a local cafe when I left. Last week I flew into Vegas for the WSOP, sans guitar, which I sorely miss. Knowing you are in Vegas, I was thinking it might be a good idea to have a lesson with you, just to get some feedback on my practice methods and technique (or lack of). I am working towards being able to play electric blues. Not having an electric in Asia, I used the acoustic to work on furthering my knowledge of the pentatonic scale. I am convinced the deeper I know it, the easier it will be to play the blues. I also used it for the walking exercises and practicing my SLOWLY developing vibrato (still have not figured it out, but getting ever closer).

Do you think one lesson with you would be worth the time and effort, or are the lessons better suited for a consistent long term approach? I have no worries about going it alone, I trust that I can deeply learn blues guitar on my own with enough time and effort. But with your book and forum having been my distant guide for the past 2 years, I thought it would be cool to connect to get your general impressions and advice on my current state of practice.

As I mentioned, I am currently without a guitar, so if I went to see you for a lesson, would it be possible for you to provide one for me to use during the lesson?

It is hot in Vegas!

James

[Jamie]

Ha ha, yes, I just got back from a 3 hour "desert practice session"..........I am learning how to find the shade in the desert.

Of course a lesson with me will be a major help. I will show you all the things you are doing wrong, and how to do them right...how could that be bad. And of course, the more lessons the better. So, 1 is better than none, and 2 is better than one, and the math keeps going on.

However, the biggest factor is what you take away, and what you make use of. That is your part and is up to you. I will do my part flawlessly.......so, you decide. If interested while you're here (yes you can use one of my guitars for the lesson) contact geraldine.

gp@guitarprinciples.com

[guitar66]

Sounds good, Jamie, when I get acclimated to Vegas and have a break in my routine I will contact Geraldine to schedule a lesson. I am a bit nervous, but I know it will be great to have you make suggestions and corrections, and like you said, I can then put them into use in my practice sessions.

Have a great week of teaching and playing!

[N E Y]

Sounds good, Jamie, when I get acclimated to Vegas and have a break in my routine I will contact Geraldine to schedule a lesson. I am a bit nervous, but I know it will be great to have you make suggestions and corrections, and like you said, I can then put them into use in my practice sessions.

Have a great week of teaching and playing!

Jamie is very nice....Don't be nervous...Be happy your troubled days are over!!!



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[guitar66]

Jamie - thanks for the great lesson, it was nice meeting you and Geraldine! I have access to my guitar again so I have been practicing what we talked about with picking. It took about a week for my fingers to toughen up after the 6 week layoff, but today was the first day I was almost at full strength, so I had a great jam session and already notice a difference in how I approach the strings. It is going to take a lot of practice, but the new direction will hopefully produce good results.

My vibrato has gotten a little better from the practice I did while in Thailand with the acoustic. I am starting to use the forearm/wrist motion more and more, but I am still very weak with it, so this is where I am going to use the BPA and see where it takes me.

Ney - Jamie was very nice, like you said, and the lesson was awesome

[Jamie]

Thanks for the report James! I really enjoyed meeting you and teaching you!

[guitar66]

Hi Jamie -

Reporting from Eugene, OR (Track City, USA). During my first week here I bought a used strat and amp, so that I could continue my practice. Things are moving along well - the pentatonic is becoming further memorized, sliding smoother and lighter, the picking insight I gained during our lesson (light/heavy, or tension/release) is helping the right hand retain less tension, also working on keeping the hand open to further reduce tension. Best of all, I have been working on the wrist turning style of vibrato everyday, slowing it down, concentrating on getting the correct feel and building strength in the hand. I am learning that particular vibrato technique is not something I can just walk into and do, it is something which requires a long build up (months, maybe years, maybe not at all) to get something which is consistent, authentic and sweet. The practice is paying off, there has been improvement. I would shoot a video to get some feedback on the vibrato, but I don't have access to a camera at the moment.

One observation - when I do vibrato on the higher frets (7-15), it is doable, but when I practice it on the lower frets, especially 1-3, it seems harder to move the wrist back and forth - is this because the elbow needs to be kept away from the body (which is not easy for me at the moment) or is it something else which makes it more difficult? (a video would show my errors on the lower frets, I know)

Just wanted to check in and say my one lesson with you has kept me inspired, and the insights I gained during that hour have been put to use.

Hope you are staying cool in Vegas!

James

[Jamie]

Hey James, thanks for the report, I am very happy you are benefiting from our lesson. That's what it's all about.

As far as the bending issue, I would look first at whether you are allowing your wrist to collapse a bit during the bend, in other words, turning up and in toward the neck instead of staying out, straight with the forearm during the stress of the vibrato. Check that. When you get a camera, post a vid and I can tell for sure.

Happy travels!