Any Lesson Recomendation ?

jigonzavjigonzav
edited March 2012 in General
Amigos de Mundo Campilongo,

I bought, learn, and enjoy 3 lessons:
1) Chet Song: Wonderfull Lesson. Great musical experience.
2) American Hips: Great Riff Great Song, Great Lesson.
3) F Jazz Blues: A lot of new concepts....still fighting with it...

Now i am looking for a new lesson.....any recomendation for a Chilean Campilongo fan guitar player (strat + princeton)?

Sorry for my poor English
Saludos desde Chile
«1

Comments

  • JimCampilongoJimCampilongo
    Maybe it's time for a solo piece "WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR LESSON' might be nice and "OVER THE RAINBOW" is very doable too...
    If you want to try some basic finger picking "TRAVIS AND BEYOND" is good and you'll learn the Beatles "Julia"...

    Hopefully you might get some other opinions too!

    Thanks for asking and thanks for ordering the lessons....

    and your English is fine!
  • TheRightHandManTheRightHandMan
    Hi there.

    I like "Playing The Blues - Nailing The Changes" and I also really liked "Country Lead in G". They're good for lead work.
  • JMHJMH
    I second taking a solo piece. When You Wish Upon A Star is good, but Tennessee Waltz is very fun too!
  • CJGCJG
    I am just finishing up the F Jazz lesson myself. I have now completed over 20 lessons by mail and can honestly say that F Jazz was one of the most challenging and most satisfying. I don’t think that I would be having such good results, however, if I hadn’t already completed B flat blues. I highly recommend the B flat blues lessons as pre-cursor to the F Jazz. In B flat blues Jim very clearly outlines each chord with a corresponding triad. The triad approach is the first part of the lesson and a step that should not be skipped. Once I had the triads down, learning the solo over the changes was relatively easy. If nothing else, the notes “made more sense” because I had the triads completely ingrained in my head. That brings me to the F Jazz lesson. When I first started the F Jazz lesson I felt a little overwhelmed. It is more advanced than just about anything that I have ever attempted. To ease myself into the lesson, I first started to play over the changes using the triad approach from the B flat lesson. This did the trick. Everything clicked after that. In addition to being a nice segue into the F Jazz lesson, the B flat blues lesson will really open up your blues playing and ability to create beautiful harmonic lines in general. I couldn’t recommend B flat blues one more highly.

    If you are looking for something a little easier to digest and still very applicable, I have to agree that Country Lead in G is the way to go. I am getting tons of mileage out of these tightly and cleverly constructed phrases. Country Lead in G is loaded with candy and a blast to dig into.

    If you are new to fingerpicking and want to learn, Travis basics is a home run. Less than a year ago I didn’t have the foggiest idea how to keep a decent finger picking pattern going. After spending several hours with the Travis lesson and repeatedly going over Jim’s basic patterns and exercises I have developed a good amount of speed and fluency when fingerpicking. WAY cooler than shredding if you ask me.

    Finally, Over the Rainbow is an outstanding lesson especially if you would like to learn some new chords and add some color to your musical pallet. This one kept me busy for a long time as I was brand new to anything remotely “jazzy.” Nearly a year after learning this tune, I still play it on a nearly daily basis. It is my warm up song and a tune that always forces me to concentrate. An excellent learning experience and really fantastic song to have in your repertoire.

    Best of luck deciding on your next lesson and happy playing!
  • AndyrooAndyroo
    Excellent review on the lessons CJG. Very nicely done. Myself...I'm at the "I've taken one lesson" stage. I chose Chet Song as my first and I am ready to move to something new as well. I decided to go for one Jim lesson a month. Thanks for the heads up on the lessons and the breakdown with regard to where you are individually. I found Chet Song to be something I could master in about a week. Of course the possibilioties are endless! I am looking forward to digging into my next one in April...I might do "Stardust" based on this thread from NealT...(maybe you'll find some inspiration in this thread, I know I have :)
    Andrew

    --------------------------------------------------------

    My Journey and Transformation Through Four Years of Lessons.


    There is a passage in the TAO TE CHING that reads, “Thirty spokes converge on a single hub, but it is in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the cart lies.” That is the value and joy I find in Jims’ lessons.

    I wrote to Jim four years ago inquiring about lessons. I thought the lessons were for professional musicians only. I told Jim I was by no means an experienced player but I loved the guitar, his music and Stella (Lipton Tea) was one of my favorites compositions of his. With very few words he reassured me that I would be fine and I started my first lesson. My children are grown and I’m in my 50’s and have plenty of time to practice. I was committed – ready for serious woodshedding. I wanted to learn about music, different styles, technique and understanding how to play over changes. I did not want to just memorize finger positions.

    I mention the TOE TE CHING passage because it is in the space between the song instructions that I have learned so much. Here are some examples from Jim: “you always want to play with your fingertips, you want all your fingers close to the fret board so they don’t have far to travel, chords are just thirds stacked on top of each other, cords do not have to have a root note, the same cord can have many names, you want to use all available fingers when bending.” and the relationship between two notes: a major 3rd, 6th, diminished 5th. I never thought of two notes in the context of a chord before!

    In my opinion the “B flat blues concept lesson”, “All Blues” and the newest “Playing the Blues” are three great examples of the point I am trying to make. In my opinion those three lessons contain enough instruction and insight that your could spend several years on those three alone.

    I emailed Jim once when ordering a new lesson and wrote that I had a problem playing fast and he recommended the arpeggio lesson. Like most of what Jim does he presented a complicated concept and idea simply. He unlocked all the arpeggio doors with one sheet of paper. That lesson became one of the most profound I have ever taken. I could see the cord in single notes and hear the relationship between two notes and my speed really increased. All the instructions about “upcoming 3rds and Flat fives and sharp 9’s “ I finally understood. I followed that lesson with “Sugerfoot Rag”, “Panhandle Rag”, “Four Wheel Drive” and my fingering ability took me to a place I never imagined. I can now play “Twister”. Playing twister is so rewarding- its fun, funky, country, filled with tons of licks and you can play it as fast as you want! As some one once said “It’s like changing the fan belt with the motor running.” All the lessons I just mentioned made me want to grow more as a player.

    I tackled “Over the Rainbow” and I never thought I would get it down. Once I did it opened the floodgates to “All The Things You Are”, “ My Funny Valentine”, “Beautiful Dreamer”, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and the new “Stardust”. Jims’ explanation and example of playing over the changes in the Stardust lesson is extraordinary in its insight. Not only does he instruct on how to play the cord tones over changer he introduces another way of thinking about playing over changes.

    How could I possibly find a local teacher that could give all of this and a “Steel Guitar” lesson like Jim? - Or the fingering lessons of “Chets Song”, “Travis” and “Working Man Blues”. If you like string bending lessons my opinion “Crazy” is one of the best. A lesson that has a little of everything: different cord inversions, steel guitar voicings, double stops, big slides and string bending is “Wishful Thinking”. “To Far Gone “ has some tone knob instruction that very few lessons do. I have grown so much as a guitar player from Jims’ lessons and in these five years and I have never had to email him once with a question. All the answers are in the lessons. You may have to listen a lot but they are all there. Very Zen like…. as Jim often says in the lessons, “ keep it simple…just play the melody like Louie Armstrong.” I hope some of what I wrote is helpful to everyone taking lessons or thinking about it.

    As for me, four years of lessons have given me the ability to make my guitar sound bluesy, steel guitar, country or Jazz like. I can make it fit my mood or the New England weather I live in. I can put a rhythm track in my boomerang and play over changes. I can hear Jim Hall or Bill Frisell play a cluster cord and good old Stella (Lipton Tea) is still my favorite. Now I understand all those two note chords in Stella are minor 2nds, major 2nds, major 3rds and prefect 4ths. All of which was way beyond my comprehension four years ago. I always look forward to the new lessons and practicing every day. Over the last four years, in a very quiet way, Jim has made a great impact on my life. From a grateful student to a great teacher- thank you.



    NealT
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    Wow! Thanks for the recomendations amigos.
    My history: 15 years playing guitar and for a lot of time y feel STUCK. I didnt know how to improve my skill and lear new styles and material. Internet is a trap: a lot of informaction but most of this information is noise.
    Finally y found the signal: JCampilongo music and lessons. Theres nothing like this in Internet and the price is OK.
    Thank you amigos......and sorry for my English
    Juan Ignacio
    P.D.:
    Next lessons: TRAVIS AND BEYOND and OVER THE RAINBOW
  • JimCampilongoJimCampilongo
    edited March 2012
    you guys are beautiful... thank you so much.
  • CJGCJG
    Andrew, thanks for your post. You actually cited to my favorite posts (NealT) on the forum and one from which I have drawn a lot of inspiration. Also, I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your first lesson. Once I finished my first lesson I was instantly addicted. Each new lesson opens up a whole new world of musical creativity and freedom. And, they are a lot of fun. Let me know what lesson you end up with next and let me know how it goes. I haven’t tried Chet Song yet, but think that it will be my next download. Thanks for the head’s up on that one!

    Juan, glad to hear that you are continuing with the lessons. I hope that you enjoy your next lessons. I had great results with the Travis lesson and am confident that you will as well. Just remember to go slowly with the patterns and gradually build up speed. It took me a few weeks to play any of it fluidly and several months to play with confidence and speed. Once you have it though, you will have it for life. Happy Picking! Just curious, how are you doing with the F Jazz lessons? F Jazz is very challenging but absolutely worth putting the time into. Best of luck on all your lessons.
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    CJG,
    I decided that F jazz lesson have to wait a few month.
    OVER THE RAINBOW was a great recomendation for the professor Campilongo. My first Chord Melody experience!
    I have great results with Travis Lesson, now I am working in the saint grial: MR. SANDMAN with very good results.
    I am very inspired, I found a new musical energy (for a lot of months I was stuck looking for guitar pro tabs thats remove my mind without results)
    There is one point: This tab notation y so much better than the "classic tab". It permits to estructure the music in a kind of geometric/intuitive way......
    SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH

    SALUDOS PARA TODO!
    JUAN IGNACIO GONZÁLEZ V.




  • CJGCJG
    Juan,Your English is fine! Congratulations on completing your first chord melody. Very very cool. How is Mr. Sandman coming along? I want to try that one myself. As a side note, don’t give up on F Jazz Blues. It is a great lesson that should be worked on in small pieces. Just go at it one note at a time and stop when you hit a wall. Don’t try to learn it all at once and don’t be afraid to slow it down. Eventually it all comes together and is a great feeling. That being said, you may want to check out B flat blues before digging back into F Jazz. I felt that the B flat blues lesson “opened up” my playing and prepared me for the F Jazz lesson. Also, the B flat lesson is initially easier to jump into. Wishing you the best of luck on any/all of the lessons. Let me know what else you pick up and how it goes. I also agree that Jim's unique notation makes more sense than "classic tab." The geometric patterns really "stick in your head" and make more sense than looking at tablature.
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    CJC, I never give up!! F jazz Blues are just waiting.......
    Mr Sandman is a intense experience. I recomend to do "Travis Lesson First".
    Mr Sandman is very challengin in a lot of ways: Alternating Bass (complex travis paterns), new chords, right hand mutting, soloing, and HAND ENLARGEMENT (you will understand). Mr. Sandman ROCKS!!!!
    Saludos
    jig
  • AndyrooAndyroo
    Mr. Sandman. Dammit. I was all set with Stardust because my wife loves that song. But my little girls love "Bring me a dream!" I guess I gots to get both tunes.
  • CJGCJG
    Juan, thanks for the review of Mr. Sandman lesson. I cannot wait to pick up this one. It sounds challenging and a lot of fun. I especially like the idea of some more advance Travis patterns. I am a big fan of the Travis basics lesson and have been looking to expand on this style of playing. I am currently working on Chet Song (which you may like as well) Thanks again to Andy for the inspiration to get this one! The lesson is proving to be a blast to play and has really opened up some cool improvisation ideas for me. I highly recommend Chet Song for anyone who wants to learn to play some great lines using the Major Scale. I think that we all learn the major scale at some point but few of us really know what to do with it in an improvisational context. The Chet Song lesson teaches some really great little tricks (like how to use 3rds and 6ths) to immediately create beautiful and catchy sounding melodies using the good ol major scale. And learning the 3rds and 6ths is a snap if you follow the lesson. Within a few minutes of “following the instructions” I was able to start jammin’ up a storm in B flat major. It was a bit cathartic to create some wonderful melodies outside of a blues context. I am looking forward to completing the rest of the lesson and will hopefully get to it this week. Maybe Mr. Sandman is next? Juan let me know your progress on that one.

    Andy, did you pick up Stardust and/or Sandman? I’d like to hear what you have to say on both of those as well. I was going to make a few more recommendations for you but think that you may have your hands full (literally!) for awhile. Happy playing
  • elreclusaelreclusa
    Dang...I too have been struggling with the question of which lesson to tackle next, and I'm not sure this thread is helping! I want to do them all!

    Thanks for the insight you guys have all shared here, and thanks to Jim for sharing the wealth of insight and inspiration in the lessons!
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    CJG,
    In the world of the Campy Lessons I am a Poligam.
    Today I am working on:
    1.- Mr. Sandman: very very very challengin: the big difficult of this lesson is to mentally divide the work of the right hand in alternating bass and melody. This issue is especially complicated for guitarist. Then comes chords, right hand mutting, the solos, etc. After you aproove this lesson you are a different kinf of guitarist.
    2.- All Blues: I am not really interesting in the Berkley obsesive integrist and egomaniac aproach of the jazz. I am interesting in a intuitive, open mind and "heart touching" aproach. Miles too. Jim too (I think). If you agree with me, PLEASE TRY ALL BLUES.
    SALUDOS DESDE CHILE, SORRY FOR THE ENGLISH.
    JUAN IGNACIO
  • CJGCJG
    Juan,
    How is Mr. Sandman coming along? Thanks to YOU, I picked up Mr. Sandman last week and have been busy learning some new chords, new fingerpicking patterns, and stretching out my hands…and my brain. You are RIGHT, this lesson takes you to a new level of playing! I am going to learn this song one small section at a time and just keep adding to it week by week. So far I am really pleased at the way the song is presented. And, very glad that Jim slows down these complex passages in a way that make them immediately understandable and easily digestible. It may be awhile before I get the whole song down, but I think this one is really going to be worth the effort. Thanks again for turning me on to this great lesson!

    Elreclusa, did you pick a new lesson to work on? Just curious, which lessons have you taken and what did you have in mind? Maybe I can offer some insight into what to look for next.
  • elreclusaelreclusa
    CJG- So far, I've done "Pepper" and "Cat Under A Car", both were great! I've also done every lesson I've found of Jim's in guitar mags, including the "Orange Guitar" currently running in Premier Guitar. As for what I have in mind next...that's the hard part! I've been enjoying learning tunes, and I was kinda thinking about tackling something a little "hotter" than I usually do, like "Twister". Then again, I love Jim's "noir"ish stuff, so maybe "Mr & Ms Mouse"- in terms of feel, it's a little closer to what I do on my own, but so far I really like how the lessons I've done so far take a more familiarish starting point, but open up new ways of thinking about where to go from there. Of course, more conceptual stuff may be good too, as opposed to straight ahead tunes- I have a fair bit of theory knowledge, but it's rusty, so maybe some insight into playing over changes or voice leading would be good?

    Eventually, I hope to work my way through all of them! Sadly, my available free time and budget at present mean choosing lessons I'll get the most mileage out of would be wise...
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    I think Mr. Sandman is no a "one day lesson". Mr. Sandman is a lesson that you have to work day by day. All days you have to make a goal......

    After finish Mr. Sandman I am thinking to try Awful Pretty, Pretty Awful............ too ambitious???? please your opinions...

    SALUDOS desde Valdivia, Chile

    P.D.: a photo of Valdvia
    http://www.ablturismo.com/media/users/2/108858/images/public/14089/normal_chile_valdivia_2523_0.jpg?v=1298055648541

  • CJGCJG
    Juan, I have not yet tried Awful Pretty, Pretty Awful, but I love that song and its on my list of lessons that I want to try! Juan, I admire your passion regarding these lessons. It is going to take me awhile to finish Mr. Sandman. After that I will probably go for a “quicker lesson” and then probably something more complicated. I like to mix it up so that I always have something very challenging to work on long term AND something easier and quicker to digest. If you are looking for a technical lesson and something that will improve speed and your ear, I recommend Arpeggios as Exercises. This is a lesson that you may work on for months at a time and keep going back to over and over. If you are looking for a really cool and relatively easy tune to work on, however, you may like Panhandle Rag. You can learn the “basic” version of Panhandle Rag in one evening. Then, you can spend weeks and months learning all of the intermediate and advanced concepts. I highly recommend Panhandle Rag because it is easy to jump into and then provides countless hours of advanced improvisation ideas. It’s a lesson that works for players of all levels and a lesson that you can keep going back to for inspiration and additional challenges. Let me know what you go with and if you pick up Awful Pretty, Pretty Awful. I would like to hear a review of that one myself. Happy playing!
  • CJGCJG
    Elreclusa,
    I think that you would really benefit from the voice leading lesson! It was one of my first and a lesson that really helped me start "getting into Jazz." The voice leading lesson focuses on essential chord forms that everyone should have under their belt and enough basic theory to inspire countless hours of playing. None of it is overwhelming either. I am still very shaky when it comes to music theory but getting better in small increments. The voice leading lesson really opened me up and I could not reccommend it more highly. Of course all of the tunes that I have tried have been great as well. And Twister is one of my favorite lessons. I wrote a review of it on another post and will re-post if you like. Let me know what you pick up and if you have any further questions. I will be happy to share any/all of my lesson by mail experiences with you and anyone else on the forum.
  • JimCampilongoJimCampilongo
    Thanks CJ - I really appreciate you for all you write and contribute here on the forum. You say it better then I can and I hope you continue to be "left hand man" ... but I might add that "Awful Pretty... " is, in my opinion - a bit "easier" then "Sandman".
  • CJGCJG
    Thanks for the clarification on that one Jim! I haven't picked up Awful Pretty yet but am hoping to get to that one in a few weeks. Mr. Sandman is still keeping me very busy! Perhaps Awful Pretty will be a good follow up piece for me as well.

    Juan, very curious to hear what you decide on next. I picked up Mr. Sandman based on your reccomendation and very happy with the lesson so far. Now you have me looking at All Blues as well:)
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    HEY CJG,
    I finally decided for Awful Pretty...... I have to say one thing: Its a great lesson of a great song, I am a kind of obsessed with that song (my wife can´t understand why a wake up at 6 AM in the last 2 days). For me the most difficult part are the first two diagrams (hand enlargment again.....Did Profesor Campilongo has XXL hands?) Highly recomended.
    SPOILER ALERT: if you buy Awful Pretty you gone learn the classical riff of the woody woodpecker theme.......
    SALUDOS
    Juan Ignacio

    P.D.: ¿Did you try "All Blues"?
  • CJGCJG
    Hi Juan,
    I haven't gotten to All Blues yet. Still working on Mr. Sandman and have been going back to some of my older lessons. Of note, I have been spending a lot of time on Prettiest Girl in New York. Prettiest Girl is one of my favorite Jim tunes and a great lesson as well. How about you? How is Awful Pretty going for you? Is your wife able to hum all of the parts yet? I too wake up an hour early when I have a new lesson to get in a quick practice before I go to work!
  • elreclusaelreclusa
    Thanks CJG! I still haven't decided, which is actually ok as I won't have time to sit down and start a lesson 'til next week, but I'm leaning toward voice leading...at least first, maybe another soon after.
  • egaleegale
    I enjoyed the Country Lead in G lesson.
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    Hey CJG, How is Prettist Girl in NY going for you?? I am really interested in your opinion becasuse Prettiest Girl in possible next lesson.

    I finally go very well with Awful Pretty, Pretty, Awful. I recommended it!! Now I have a new song in my repertory.
    I am doing now TWISTER: Yesterday I start it, and in an hour I have the first part of the song (all the song before the solo). Go gor It. Constructive critic: Would be nice that all lessons includ a backctrack track for practice........

    Sorry for my English! (monday is no my best English speak day)

    Saludos
    JIG
  • CJGCJG
    Hi Juan,
    Sounds like you are making GREAT progress with your lessons!!!! Twister is a lot of fun, right? The solo has a couple of tricky parts, but is very doable with enough practice.

    Prettiest Girl in New York is a PERFECT lesson. There is one little "trick" at the beginning of the tune that Jim goes over during the lesson. After that, its not too difficult to get through the basic ideas of the song. There is a descending riff is slightly elusive if you try to play it too fast. But once you get it, it feels absolutely heavenly to play. And the solo is a lot of fun on this tune as well. Its melodic and it jangles and very relaxing to play. This could be one of my favorite Jim songs and definitely one of my favorite lessons. AND, the lesson comes with a track of JUST the guitar parts so its really easy to practice along to it. And, this is a killer to song to be able to pull out when you are hanging out with your friends. This one turns heads and is fun to play!
  • jigonzavjigonzav
    Definitivamente Prettiest Girl is my next lesson.
    Gracias CJG!!

    JIG
  • AndyrooAndyroo
    I think I'm shooting for Country in G next....I've gotten Twister down. I've been really having fun incorporating little bits of some of the other lessons in each new one. Adding to my vocabulary, if you will.

    What has made this whole process best for me and my woodshedding has been getting into a Boomerang.

    Juan, you might think about getting into something like that as well. It not only makes it more interesting to back yourself up, but it helps with timing! :)

    Just a thought.
    Droo
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