Still on Stella :)

Here's a quick improvisation for Stella By Starlight... Getting there!  Thought I might try a kind of bossa feel, just to be different.

Though, something like this is always my goal...

Johnny B. Goode

Classic intro, this; 

One everybody probably knows from either Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode, the Back to the Future soundtrack or Jimi Hendrix.  Below is the original version from Berry's record.  The intro contains a lot of very recognisable rock/blues guitar licks and techniques, and is quite a tricky piece physically - you've really got to grab the guitar!

Stella By Starlight Chord Melody.

So, I've got the head, solo transcription and...

... chords down for Stella by Starlight.  Vital as all this may be, those parts are really to be played with other musicians backing or improvising over it.  The video below is my attempt at a chord melody arranged for the Stella By Starlight tune; it's ideal for playing solo.  This is created using variants of the chord voicings with the melody played on the top note of those chords so that you can "accompany" yourself.  Nice ambient sound with a little reverb too! :)

This particular arrangement was created by Mike Brookfield.

Stray Cat Strut

Lately, I've been listening to more rockabilly...  Imelda May and Brian Setzer in particular, are two artists who I've been listening to a lot!  Below is the intro and solo from the song Stray Cat Strut, by the Stray Cats whom Brian Setzer came to fame with in the 1980's.  Ideally, this should be played hard with a Gretsch guitar - but I haven't got one (yet!).  Anyway, the strat doesn't sound too bad on a clean setting with a bit of reverb either :)

Lots of string bending, sliding, double stops and jazzy licks in this one...

Check out the tune by Setzer and the Stray Cats here:

Ride On, Intro and chords.

I spent about an hour learning Ride On this afternoon - not a bad way to spend some time on a Sunday.   I can't sing, but who cares, it's good to learn something for parties etc.  It's only three chords so nothing too heavy going on and it's one most people know so they can sing along too.  Ride On was written by Jimmy MacCarthy and made famous by Christy Moore on his album Ride On. This song has a lot of meaning for me personally, so I'm sure to get some mileage out of it in the future :)

Stella By Starlight

A study over the chord progression for Stella by Starlight.  This is difficult, so I've divided the study into four 8 bar sections and aim to post a new section each week.  This can be a good way to practice as it enables you to focus yourself on specific parts at a time - and getting to know each part very well. This method also disciplines you so you know that as soon as you have learned one part well (perhaps after a week or so) you can move on to the next part.  Your progression may also become more noticeable.

It's one thing to learn a piece like this, it's another thing to know it so well that you can play it at about 160 bpm.  The notes just won't sound as great unless they are played fast, otherwise it might sound a little mad!

Week 4... The complete piece! :) 

(Stella 24 bars, Week 3)

On week three - the wiring inside my Epiphone is broken somewhere at the moment - so had to switch to the strat for time being...

(Stella 16 bars, Week 2.)

(Stella 8 bars, Week 1.)

Smoke on the Water

It's been done a million times before... 

... But it has to be done.  There's loads of useful licks in this solo. It's really great for your blues chops and technique.  But it's not a run of the mill  blues solo either - Ritchie Blackmore has a few different interesting ideas here.  I'm playing it at about 90% (not there yet Mr. Blackmore) and I'm using gauge 10 strings, which are probably a bit too heavy for this (my poor fingers! :D )    

For a great example of how to play it, check out Mike Brookfield's example - slow and fast. 

Check out Deep Purple's Performance of this song.

Week two - a break with some Thin Lizzy

During the week, I mostly practice jazz concepts such as different chord and scale patterns, solos and lines and tunes like Stella by Starlight (which I'm practicing at the moment).  But this stuff is not easy, and sometimes, it's just great to be able to play a tune without having to think too much about it - especially during the weekend when there is some spare time :).    It's good to take a break from one kind of music and let loose and rock every now and then!  Thin Lizzy have always been one of my favourite bands and were a huge influence on me when I decided to pick up a guitar in the first place.  Dancing in the Moonlight is a great excuse to turn the amp up and make the guitar scream a bit! 

My Music Practice Blog

I thought it might be a good idea to start sharing some videos every couple of weeks as a way of documenting my progress with music.  It might be motivating for me to keep a target every couple of weeks to publish a video.  It could also be interesting to other musicians who are practising to see the kind of progress you can make through practising these kind of tunes.  

This week - Blue Bossa.  

Check out Louis Stewart's version of this tune - pretty incredible.  May be the ultimate arrangement :) (There's no youtube video of Louis' Blue Bossa yet :( )