Chris, thanks for this, maybe we can all break free after learning all the notes of any tune and move on , to the cool and fluid improvising you demonstrate here, unfortunately you make it look so very easy, Roy Cotton
When it comes to improvising, there wasn’t ever any secret that I learned - I just enjoy losing myself in the sounds that come out of the guitar, whether they sound good or not.*
Of course, I’d always rather that they sound good. But, for this lesson in particular I just wanted to capture the vibe of being playful within what I know. In other words, I don’t think by any means that this intro is particularly great or musical, but it was honest and I was trying to use really simple devices to depart from the road map of the tune. And if I’m doing that, then the journey (i.e. exploring and going somewhere - that may or may not be good) becomes more important than the destination (playing something great). Which is the lesson that I want to impart. Through that practice** of improvisation, you learn to trust yourself more and more and not worry about when things didn’t go where you thought they would. From THERE you gain the ability to say more with less and you can imbue simple things with musicality. You can definitely do this too!
* I guess if there’s any secret, that may be it!
** Think of the word “practice” here more in the sese of a practice of meditation rather than, say, practicing drilling scales over and over.
Chris, Merry Christmas, thanks for all the lessons this year, I signed up for another year, so maybe some more notes will sink in throughout 2018. I have carefully noted how lightly and fluid that you work a pick up and down the strings, on all of the songs you teach. I have been working on the lighter touch with Whiskey before Breakfast and Wildwood Flower. Hope you and Julian will consider Austin again for another concert in 2018. I am requesting Ginseng Sullivan in advance. Roy Cotton
Chris thanks again for doing Jerusalem Ridge. I was wondering if you could teach Butter and Eggs from your Avalon album with Julian Lage, this is another very cool tune, thanks Roy Cotton
Chris thanks for your consideration of this tune. I look forward to it. The current penatonic video lesson of Old Grimes is my current focus on Sonic Junction (as well as several others of yours and my bi-weekly lessons in Austin ). Thanks for your excellent lessons. It just like sitting across from you at a private lesson in person. Roy Cotton
Hey Chris, this may not be the right place for this. I left a request for a new song (Jerusalem Ridge on 4/12) in that thread are but receive any response. Hope you will consider that song. I am working through this song also. Many thanks for your consideration of this new tune, Roy Cotton
Hi Roy, somehow I missed your request on the other thread so thanks for asking here. It's a great tune and one that will go onto the short list of tunes/songs to teach. We've been needing a good minor tune...
Chris , I signed up at Sonic Junction for and waited for Church Street Blues, after I saw you on the tribute play through on the Bourgeois on youtube. And about that song i just say, wow, both your play through and your lessons on Sonic. I had planned to pay only for that one song lesson month , but after several months now you just keep putting them out there. I have been taking blue grass lessons in Austin, Tx from Eddie Collins for 5 years and have come a long way with Eddie , to get to where i will even attempt something like Church Street Blues. But after working on your versions of several other songs on Sonic , I feel like I have a second instructor, and am working on Whiskey and Wildwood and others now as well.You make it look so easy, with so many cool things you add to all these numbers, keep up the great work. Roy
Chris, thanks for this, maybe we can all break free after learning all the notes of any tune and move on , to the cool and fluid improvising you demonstrate here, unfortunately you make it look so very easy, Roy Cotton
Hi Roy,
When it comes to improvising, there wasn’t ever any secret that I learned - I just enjoy losing myself in the sounds that come out of the guitar, whether they sound good or not.*
Of course, I’d always rather that they sound good. But, for this lesson in particular I just wanted to capture the vibe of being playful within what I know. In other words, I don’t think by any means that this intro is particularly great or musical, but it was honest and I was trying to use really simple devices to depart from the road map of the tune. And if I’m doing that, then the journey (i.e. exploring and going somewhere - that may or may not be good) becomes more important than the destination (playing something great). Which is the lesson that I want to impart. Through that practice** of improvisation, you learn to trust yourself more and more and not worry about when things didn’t go where you thought they would. From THERE you gain the ability to say more with less and you can imbue simple things with musicality. You can definitely do this too!
* I guess if there’s any secret, that may be it!
** Think of the word “practice” here more in the sese of a practice of meditation rather than, say, practicing drilling scales over and over.
Chris, Merry Christmas, thanks for all the lessons this year, I signed up for another year, so maybe some more notes will sink in throughout 2018. I have carefully noted how lightly and fluid that you work a pick up and down the strings, on all of the songs you teach. I have been working on the lighter touch with Whiskey before Breakfast and Wildwood Flower. Hope you and Julian will consider Austin again for another concert in 2018. I am requesting Ginseng Sullivan in advance. Roy Cotton
Chris thanks for this Butter and Eggs request, and Jeruseleum Ridge, Roy Cotton
Chris thanks again for doing Jerusalem Ridge. I was wondering if you could teach Butter and Eggs from your Avalon album with Julian Lage, this is another very cool tune, thanks Roy Cotton
Excellent suggestion! I'll put it in the hopper...
Chris , thank you for doing this tune, Roy Cotton
Thank you for suggesting it!
Chris thanks for your consideration of this tune. I look forward to it. The current penatonic video lesson of Old Grimes is my current focus on Sonic Junction (as well as several others of yours and my bi-weekly lessons in Austin ). Thanks for your excellent lessons. It just like sitting across from you at a private lesson in person. Roy Cotton
Hey Chris, this may not be the right place for this. I left a request for a new song (Jerusalem Ridge on 4/12) in that thread are but receive any response. Hope you will consider that song. I am working through this song also. Many thanks for your consideration of this new tune, Roy Cotton
Hi Roy, somehow I missed your request on the other thread so thanks for asking here. It's a great tune and one that will go onto the short list of tunes/songs to teach. We've been needing a good minor tune...
Thanks for the suggestion!
Chris
Chris , I signed up at Sonic Junction for and waited for Church Street Blues, after I saw you on the tribute play through on the Bourgeois on youtube. And about that song i just say, wow, both your play through and your lessons on Sonic. I had planned to pay only for that one song lesson month , but after several months now you just keep putting them out there. I have been taking blue grass lessons in Austin, Tx from Eddie Collins for 5 years and have come a long way with Eddie , to get to where i will even attempt something like Church Street Blues. But after working on your versions of several other songs on Sonic , I feel like I have a second instructor, and am working on Whiskey and Wildwood and others now as well.You make it look so easy, with so many cool things you add to all these numbers, keep up the great work. Roy
Thanks so much Roy! Glad you're enjoying them!