Bebop heads: Donna Lee

[AllanAllen]

Good idea. I will try also. I think it might help for improving the "muscle memory" of the fingers. Lawson mentioned that "muscle memory" in one of his postings. I like this description.

Another thing I'm working on is relaxing my forehead and raising the edges of my mouth in a smile. So I might look like I'm enjoying myself and not angry at the guitar.

[mr. beaumont]

Another thing I'm working on is relaxing my forehead and raising the edges of my mouth in a smile. So I might look like I'm enjoying myself and not angry at the guitar.

Joking aside, being relaxed is crucial for this shit. Maybe not as relaxed as jazznylon practically laying down, but yeah, relaxed.

[AllanAllen]

I'm not even joking. I am working on relaxing my thinking scowl into a smile. If I don't look like I'm enjoying myself play, why should I expect anyone listening to enjoy it? I'm no Miles Davis.

[jazznylon]

When I get stressed playing the guitar I pucker up my lips like a fish Instinctively when that happens I move my head towards the guitar body to pretend I'm kissing it. Happened a couple of times when I was recording playing Villa lobos etude 7

[alpop]

I had suggested to Lawson to try to play a take without looking at the fingerboard.

I thought that I would put my money where my mouth is, and give it a try myself.

Actually not that natural for me as I usually look at what I'm playing.

[Bobby Timmons]

Another thing I'm working on is relaxing my forehead and raising the edges of my mouth in a smile. So I might look like I'm enjoying myself and not angry at the guitar.

Mad at theory, mad at JC, mad at the guitar.

[lawson-stone]

Your sound is always good. You have some great guitars and amps. Whatever set-up that you play through has a nice jazz tone to my ear.

I have another experiment that you may want to try. I've noticed that you are intently staring at the fingerboard while you play. Would you be able to do a whole take without looking?

I wonder if it might be beneficial to use your mind to guide your fingers, rather than your eyes.

Please note that I am not a teacher or an accomplished jazzer, so feel free to ignore my observation and suggestion.

I know guitarists are divided between lookers and non-lookers, and I've always been a looker but I have played this so much I imagine I could do alright without looking at the neck. I might just give it a try.

[lawson-stone]

Another thing I'm working on is relaxing my forehead and raising the edges of my mouth in a smile. So I might look like I'm enjoying myself and not angry at the guitar.

Actually when I relax my face falls into what looks like a scowl. Drives my wife crazy because she thinks I'm mad about something. So I guess I need to plaster a grin on there to satisfy the "Why aren't you smiling" crew.

[lawson-stone]

"Smile!" They said. "Don't look!" They said. "It'll be fine, even better!" They said.

[Mick-7]

they got good at sight reading, in part by practicing the sort of music they intended to sight read.

Right, so obviously they are not "diametrically opposed" but in fact interdependent.

I had suggested to Lawson to try to play a take without looking at the fingerboard.

FYI, Sight-reading is diametrically opposed to that accursed habit.

[lawson-stone]

Right, so obviously they are not "diametrically opposed" but in fact interdependent.



FYI, Sight-reading is diametrically opposed to that accursed habit.

So show us. Anything can be read from a book or repeated from a YouTube video. Show us how you do it.

[pamosmusic]

Right, so obviously they are not "diametrically opposed" but in fact interdependent.

Maybe but not in the way you’re suggesting.

Honestly, I’d say sight reading absolutely depends on being able to practice and play music well. But I would not say that being able to play music well has anything at all to do with sight reading.

and regarding the “opposition” Christian suggested … sight reading a piece requires an inattention to mistakes that really is in opposition to learning something properly.

[pamosmusic]

FYI, Sight-reading is diametrically opposed to that accursed habit.

Uh …… if you’re going to sight read, don’t you need to be looking at the music?

Rather than at the guitar?

[AllanAllen]

"Smile!" They said. "Don't look!" They said. "It'll be fine, even better!" They said.

Excellent, perfect in every way.

[Mick-7]

Uh …… if you’re going to sight read, don’t you need to be looking at the music?

Rather than at the guitar?

Yes, that is what I said, sight reading is "diametrically opposed" to the habit of looking at the guitar fretboard while playing.

The question is, are there advantages to not looking at the fretboard while playing? I can think of a few....

sight reading a piece requires an inattention to mistakes that really is in opposition to learning something properly.

You'd have a very hard time finding a studio musician who would agree with that statement.

[pamosmusic]

Yes, that is what I said, sight reading is "diametrically opposed" to the habit of looking at the guitar fretboard while playing.

Ah okay. With the quote above what you said, you actually said that sight reading was diametrically opposed to the accursed habit of trying to play without looking at the guitar.

Thats not what you meant. Noted.

You'd have a very hard time finding a studio musician who would agree with that statement.

Doubt it. Can’t stop and fix a mistake while the rest of the band keeps playing.

[mr. beaumont]

I tried not looking for kicks. I can play the first two phrases with my eyes closed.

Then things came off the rails rather quickly. This is because I've practiced those first two lines probably 1000's of times and much more than I have the rest of the tune.

So with practice, I'll eventually be able to play the whole thing without looking. I'll post here again in 2034 when that happens.

Re: Sightreading, obviously you can't be looking at the guitar. But if you can sight read Donna Lee at tempo, what the hell are you doing on an internet forum?

[Mick-7]

"But if you can sight read Donna Lee at tempo... "

I can't, but one wouldn't expect to be able to read anything well at tempo right off the bat - but let's drop the sight-reading discussion, it's become even less productive than discussing vanilla ice cream.

[Bobby Timmons]

"Smile!" They said. "Don't look!" They said. "It'll be fine, even better!" They said.

[pamosmusic]

Here’s a guide tone line thing. I practice with this a lot. Stole (and subsequently bastardized) it from the Connecting Chords w Linear Harmony outlines.

Heres this:

Dropbox - Guide Tone Lines (same note) - Score.pdf - Simplify your life

[lawson-stone]

So today nursed it up to 185 and have started working with the whole tune. Used the Bugera PS1 to link the Princeton Reverb to the recording box so as not to upset office neighbors!
Also: I have an almost irresistible urge to play something in the middle of those two rest measures, even if just as a joke. Anyone else feel this?

[AllanAllen]

Don't forget to smile.

[Christian Miller]

So today nursed it up to 185 and have started working with the whole tune. Used the Bugera PS1 to link the Princeton Reverb to the recording box so as not to upset office neighbors!
Also: I have an almost irresistible urge to play something in the middle of those two rest measures, even if just as a joke. Anyone else feel this?

I usually put a chord in


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[Christian Miller]

Except in orchestral work where you can’t look at the music either because you’re meant to be looking at the conductor….


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[Bobby Timmons]

I noticed MM filled the space with some melody.