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This thread is installment 4 for a group working through Robert Conti's Ticket to Improv instructional video set. We are learning his solo based on the changes to "Take the A Train" at a pace of 8 measures per week. In this project we are using lines and phrases learned in the previous 3 solos in a new context, so this ought to be really easy right? I mean, we know the lines already, right? Yeah. Right.
Every Tuesday we try to post clips of our progress for the week. Naturally, some weeks, any one of us might be delayed or have to post a little later, which is totally fine. We also are focusing on accountability to work through the solo, and encouragement, to keep ourselves moving, as opposed to a lot of critique and coaching. We assume that a post is not asking for critique unless the person posting has a particular problem they ask for help on. Some will re-post a better version of the week's clip, sometimes we play around with tempos, it's really open to whatever is helping you learn and keep on pace without getting bogged down.
Some people like also to learn the chords and melody to the tune, which is fine, but not required. It's okay to post those clips, but this is not the "Practical Standards" group. We're focused on learning Conti's solo. Also, we talk a little about how the lines and language he's using apply and might be oriented to the changes, but we aren't doing theory here. Focus on theory is CONTI-rary to Conti's method!
This is a group for people who want to play these solos and want to talk about the process of playing them and learning from them, and to have encouragement and accountability.
Here's our schedule of Tuesday post goals:
May 30: Measures 1-8
June 6: Measures 1-16
June 13: Measures 1-24
June 20: Measures 1-32
June 27: Catch-Up and time for anyone to make a final, more polished post if they wish.
So, all you Conti-rarians, or Contians (which is not to be confused with the famous German philosopher who could not play crap though he wrote lots of books!), have at it!
Maybe we should have a series of replies here indicating who is "in" on this stage of the journey?
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05-26-2017 08:01 PM
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Thanks Lawson. I'm in! -- Joe
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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Does anyone know who to contact about putting a "Sticky" on this thread, since Mark Rhodes is no longer a moderator?
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
Mike
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I've sent a note to the moderators requesting a "Sticky" for this thread. I also told them they can "un-stick" the Autumn Leaves thread.
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I thought I would get us started. I'm using my mid-1980's Yamaha AE1200s through a Brunetti Singleman amp. I'm still struggling with both the Gibson and Yamaha guitars to get a balanced tone between chords and notes.
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Originally Posted by andyb
Good job on this one and the comping. Nice guitar! It has a nice tone.
Mike
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Originally Posted by andyb
I hadn't thought of laying down a comping track. That's a fun idea!
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So when I got into this project I faced a problem. I am leaving the country for 6 weeks very soon, so I need to work ahead. I hope that's not irritating to anyone! But fortunately, the lines are from the earlier solos, and these first 16 measures contain some of my favorites.
In honor of Andy's new Elitist Broadway, I've recorded mm. 1-16 on my own Elitist Broadway, then on my Gibson L5ces. I doubt anyone could find a huge difference. Yes they sound a little different, but I can't say my Gibson sounds "better" than the EEB. The Epiphone is a serious, pro-level, life-long guitar and worth hunting down.
BTW I'm using the backing track from the Aeborsold Vol. 12 "Duke Ellington" set. It has this tune at 160 bpm (OUCH!) but I've slowed it down to our tempo on this project.
And... I don't know where the blinding glare on the pickups came from, so I'm sorry about that! It is not an angelic glow or anything!
Last edited by lawson-stone; 05-29-2017 at 10:55 AM.
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[QUOTE=In honor of Andy's new Elitist Broadway, I've recorded mm. 1-16 on my own Elitist Broadway, then on my Gibson L5ces. I doubt anyone could find a huge difference. Yes they sound a little different, but I can't say my Gibson sounds "better" than the EEB. The Epiphone is a serious, pro-level, life-long guitar and worth hunting down. [/QUOTE]
Great playing Lawson, its quite understandable that you want to get this project finished before your trip.
Thanks for your help with the new guitar, I am really pleased with it, hopefully it will be with me for a long time. The seller had recently bought an L5, so that was his reason for selling the Broadway. He very kindly let me play the L5, and the biggest difference to me was the frets, and the finish. It was a beauty though.
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Originally Posted by andyb
Unless you just have the Gibson Addiction Syndrome (the real meaning of GAS) your EEB will be your ideal full-size, long-scale archtop guitar for the rest of your life. Other than the L5ces, there isn't a step up from a near-mint EEB, in my opinion. And if you factor in the cost, wow, the EEB is a nuclear bang for your pound-sterling!
I suggest you set up your amp totally flat, same EQ for Low, Mid, Treble. Then start with the guitar's volume & tone at 10. Experiment then with where you pick. These longer-scale archtops show a lot of variation as you move from near the bridge up to the end of the fingerboard. Picking right over the neck pickup can produce a truly fat, golden tone.
Then start backing off the tone. I find the tone control on the EEB to be very even in its effects. But as you turn it down, there is a spot where it will go from "softer" to "muffled." Just a tiny bit above "muffled" and you have something that is a lovely, 50's era tone to complement the clear, warm tone with the knob at 10. These are my two "baseline" settings. Tone at 10, and then tone at about 4 (just before it goes all muffled and muted).
Enjoy!
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Originally Posted by andyb
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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I have been thinking about Lawson's trip and the fact he will be missing for a few weeks.
Can I make a suggestion, when we get to the end of this last project, we have a short break from the TTI lessons.
We could pick a new tune and make our own solo over the changes, re-using the lines we have leant so far?
I think it would be interesting to see how we approached it in different ways.
Then when Lawson is back we can start TTI V2.Last edited by andyb; 05-30-2017 at 05:08 PM.
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Originally Posted by andyb
I get back in late July and will re-join the group regardless of whether you hit the pause button or keep moving forward. But it might be useful to have a pause between volumes for a variety of reasons. Maybe even to get all 4 solos up to speed, work on re-applying lines, etc.
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A-Train Improvisation
Bars 1-8
Mike
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Originally Posted by MikeS
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Originally Posted by andyb
A, Pick a tune and we all learn the same tune, and then make our own solo, preferably in C major or A minor.
B, Chose our own tune, and do our own thing.
If we go A, we will need a list of tunes perhaps we could all put 2 tunes forward?
my 2 would be
"St Thomas" Sonny Rollins" 16 bar latin swing and do the improv twice
and "Exactly Like You" 32 bar AABC med swing Jimmy McHugh/Dorothy Fields
Last edited by andyb; 05-31-2017 at 07:31 AM.
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Originally Posted by andyb
There are also some suggestions that are not in C.
I like "All the things you are"
We could also try a ballad like "Misty" or "Body and Soul"
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Originally Posted by Doublea A
Also what about the practical standards thread, perhaps we could get involved with that, does anyone know what tune is up next there?
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Originally Posted by andyb
In that case, here are my choices:
Exactly like you
Black Orpheus
Night and Day
I could write a book
Fly me to the moon
Pennies from Heaven
All of Me
Time after time
S'Wonderful
Let's Fall in Love
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Originally Posted by Doublea A
It might be good if we all choose our own tune and present it to the group. Then we could all benefit from hearing several tunes applying the same lines we've been learning.
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Originally Posted by andyb
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
I have a hard time making decisions (obviously)
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Elias Prinz -- young talent from Munich
Yesterday, 10:24 PM in The Players