Take the A Train - Robert Conti Ticket to Improv. Vol I Project 4

[MikeS]

A-Train Improvisation
Bars 1-32
Conti Equity Model Guitar

I struggled with this one. It took me a while to record it. I moved measures 9-14 up an octave so I could walk down to the 5th fret for measure 15.

Mike

[andyb]

A-Train Improvisation
Bars 1-32
Conti Equity Model Guitar

I struggled with this one. It took me a while to record it. I moved measures 9-14 up an octave so I could walk down to the 5th fret for measure 15.

Mike

Nicely done Mike, I liked the alteration you made.

I am running late with my recording, we are having a heat wave here in the UK, and I am wilting with the heat.

Things should cool down over the next few days and I will get my recording done.

[MikeS]

Nicely done Mike, I liked the alteration you made.

I am running late with my recording, we are having a heat wave here in the UK, and I am wilting with the heat.

Things should cool down over the next few days and I will get my recording done.

Thanks Andy. Looking forward to hearing your version. Stay cool!!

Mike

[losaltosjoe]

A-Train Improvisation
Bars 1-32
Conti Equity Model Guitar

I struggled with this one. It took me a while to record it. I moved measures 9-14 up an octave so I could walk down to the 5th fret for measure 15.

Mike

Well done Mike! Even though we were re-using lines, I also found this solo to be pretty pesky. Congrats on completing TTI V1. I have one more recording to go before declaring victory. Cheers.

[losaltosjoe]

Nicely done Mike, I liked the alteration you made.

I am running late with my recording, we are having a heat wave here in the UK, and I am wilting with the heat.

Things should cool down over the next few days and I will get my recording done.

Hi Andy -- We're frying in California too! Too hot to play.

[MikeS]

Well done Mike! Even though we were re-using lines, I also found this solo to be pretty pesky. Congrats on completing TTI V1. I have one more recording to go before declaring victory. Cheers.

Thanks Joe. On to One Note Samba. It looks like a fun one.

Mike

[andyb]

Thanks Joe. On to One Note Samba. It looks like a fun one.

Mike

Mike, while Lawson is away, I thought we decided to have a short break before starting on TTI V2,

This is what I propose,


We each chose a tune, and then make a solo using the lines we have learnt so far.


Post up 8 bars a week.


First 8 bars due on Tuesday 4th July.


Is everyone OK with that?

[MikeS]

Mike, while Lawson is away, I thought we decided to have a short break before starting on TTI V2,

This is what I propose,


We each chose a tune, and then make a solo using the lines we have learnt so far.


Post up 8 bars a week.


First 8 bars due on Tuesday 4th July.


Is everyone OK with that?

I started working on this, but I'm having a problem with it. It's a lot harder than I thought. I will continue to work on it. I think I need some pointers.

Mike

[andyb]

I started working on this, but I'm having a problem with it. It's a lot harder than I thought. I will continue to work on it. I think I need some pointers.

Mike

Hopefully we will be able to work through it together. We will probably need to start a new thread, but for now what tune are you going to be using, and what are the chords for the first 8 bars?

[MikeS]

Hopefully we will be able to work through it together. We will probably need to start a new thread, but for now what tune are you going to be using, and what are the chords for the first 8 bars?

I was going to work on Misty. It has a lot of II-V's in it.

| Ebmaj7 | Bbm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 | Abm7 Db7 | Ebmaj7 Cm7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Gm7 C7 | Fm7 Bb7 |

It also has a Bb7 pick up before the Ebmaj7.

Here is my chord anlaysis:

Mike

[andyb]

Great, so the relative minor of Eb major is C minor. Perhaps a minor pentatonic line ( there are lots to choose from) in C minor pent, repeated over the Bbm7/Eb7, (down 2 frets) to open?

[MikeS]

Great, so the relative minor of Eb major is C minor. Perhaps a minor pentatonic line ( there are lots to choose from) in C minor pent, repeated over the Bbm7/Eb7, (down 2 frets) to open?

I can see using pentatonics, but I thought we we supposed to reuse the lines from the previous three projects similar to what Conti did with A-Train. This is what I'm having a problem with. Running the lines together that makes sense.

Mike

[losaltosjoe]

Mike, while Lawson is away, I thought we decided to have a short break before starting on TTI V2,

This is what I propose,
We each chose a tune, and then make a solo using the lines we have learnt so far.
Post up 8 bars a week.
First 8 bars due on Tuesday 4th July.
Is everyone OK with that?

Hi Andy -- I agree. Lets take a break before starting on TTI V2. I hope to wrap up A Train by June 26, and then start on the "independent study" tune. Fun stuff.

[andyb]

I can see using pentatonics, but I thought we we supposed to reuse the lines from the previous three projects similar to what Conti did with A-Train. This is what I'm having a problem with. Running the lines together that makes sense.

Mike

Sorry Mike, I was trying to suggest using one of the pentatonic or bluesy lines from the Conti solos, as you said reusing them.

I would perhaps try this SD 29 and 30 over the 1st 2 bars, moved to fit, so bar 1 starts on the C at the 9th fret D string, then repeat at the Bb, 7th fret, then move down 2 more frets for the Ab, that could set you up for a AL 3, run over bar 3 and perhaps 4. Or any Major type run he has taught us.

I will have a look later and try to record something, to explain.

[andyb]

Hi Andy -- I agree. Lets take a break before starting on TTI V2. I hope to wrap up A Train by June 26, and then start on the "independent study" tune. Fun stuff.

Great, it should be interesting I think. Would you like me to start a new thread, I'm not sure how its done, Lawson usually does that sort of thing.

[MikeS]

Sorry Mike, I was trying to suggest using one of the pentatonic or bluesy lines from the Conti solos, as you said reusing them.

I would perhaps try this SD 29 and 30 over the 1st 2 bars, moved to fit, so bar 1 starts on the C at the 9th fret D string, then repeat at the Bb, 7th fret, then move down 2 more frets for the Ab, that could set you up for a AL 3, run over bar 3 and perhaps 4. Or any Major type run he has taught us.

I will have a look later and try to record something, to explain.

Andy, great job on the video. Thanks for taking the time to help me out. I appreciate your input. Off to the woodshed and work this out. I'm having a mental block here that I need to get over. Thanks again!!

Mike

[lawson-stone]

I have been working on he complete tune plus solo and ending, Recording it all the way through with no mistakes is difficult, and Im not there yet.

But here is my " A Train, Wreck"

Man you have really made some serious progress. We all make mistakes,, it's getting back on track and back on the beat that counts, and you're getting there.

Plus the TONE. Gosh, that Epi Elitist just sounds like molten gold. Beautiful tone. You could just arpeggiate the chords and it would sound beautiful!

[andyb]

Man you have really made some serious progress. We all make mistakes,, it's getting back on track and back on the beat that counts, and you're getting there.

Plus the TONE. Gosh, that Epi Elitist just sounds like molten gold. Beautiful tone. You could just arpeggiate the chords and it would sound beautiful!

Thanks Lawson, I will have another try at recording it, I can play it all the way through honest, but when I press the record button ??

looks like I've got a name for the Epi, "molten gold" I like that a lot.

[MikeS]

I have been working on he complete tune plus solo and ending, Recording it all the way through with no mistakes is difficult, and Im not there yet.

But here is my " A Train, Wreck"

That wasn't a train wreck. I liked it. What tempo did you record this. I know 114 bpm is that fast, but I've been struggling to keep up with it through the whole tune.

Good job!!

Mike

[MikeS]

Thanks mike, I did a quick video with my suggestion over the chords on the looper.

Andy, thanks a lot!! It sounded pretty good. I've got a lot of work to do. Thanks again!

Mike

[MikeS]

Thanks Lawson, I will have another try at recording it, I can play it all the way through honest, but when I press the record button ??

looks like I've got a name for the Epi, "molten gold" I like that a lot.

Andy, I'm having the same problem. When I played the finished video back for my Wife she said she has heard it so many times that she could sing along with it. Right before I recorded it, I played it through five times with no mistakes to get it right. When I hit the record button, my muscle memory goes dormant.

Good name for your Epi.

Mike

[andyb]

That wasn't a train wreck. I liked it. What tempo did you record this. I know 114 bpm is that fast, but I've been struggling to keep up with it through the whole tune.

Good job!!

Mike

Thanks Mike, I slowed the tempo down to 100bpm. I find it just a bit fast at 114.

[plasticpigeon]

Hi Andy, great to see the Epiphone being played, you make it sound really good. I'm afraid I've not done too much more on the Conti stuff, but I have been trying to learn Wes Montgomery's approach and solo on this tune. He does it very fast and even just the head is hard to learn. Despite my less than satisfactory effort I posted a while back, showing that I'm not in a position to give advice really, I hope you don't mind me saying, but I hear the chords in the intro differently to you. The first chord I think is supposed to be a C maj spelled G, C, E with an octave E on top, I know I played the maj7, CGBE which is wrong but it is easier to play, but I don't think a c7 is right there, and the second chord should definitely be a D9b5 spelled Gb, C, E, Ab, see what you think. G, C, E, E octave is possible if you damp the b string.

[andyb]

Hi Andy, great to see the Epiphone being played, you make it sound really good. I'm afraid I've not done too much more on the Conti stuff, but I have been trying to learn Wes Montgomery's approach and solo on this tune. He does it very fast and even just the head is hard to learn. Despite my less than satisfactory effort I posted a while back, showing that I'm not in a position to give advice really, I hope you don't mind me saying, but I hear the chords in the intro differently to you. The first chord I think is supposed to be a C maj spelled G, C, E with an octave E on top, I know I played the maj7, CGBE which is wrong but it is easier to play, but I don't think a c7 is right there, and the second chord should definitely be a D9b5 spelled Gb, C, E, Ab, see what you think. G, C, E, E octave is possible if you damp the b string.

I don't mind your input at all, I am really enjoying the Epiphone, can you remember what strings are on it? I like them and would like to replace with the same when the time comes.
I wasn't sure about the intro chords, and had found somewhere C7-Ab7. I will defiantly give your chords a try.

[lawson-stone]

I don't mind your input at all, I am really enjoying the Epiphone, can you remember what strings are on it? I like them and would like to replace with the same when the time comes.
I wasn't sure about the intro chords, and had found somewhere C7-Ab7. I will defiantly give your chords a try.

Ab7 is already pretty close to the D9b5. I think it's basically the first two chords of the head, played with a different rhythm. I think CMaj7 or C6/9 and the D7alt with some form of the basic augmented shape. I try to emphasize between the two chords the move from G to Ab against the C note as a pedal.