Introduction
Hello all, just wanted to introduce myself to the Campy Forum...
My name is Jeff and I live on the seacoast of New Hampshire. I've been playing guitar, as an amateur, for 23 years. I'm seeing the years go by and it's time I put some real effort in the craft of playing guitar. I listen to, play and "compose" a wide array of musical styles, from the classic blues of Albert Collins, Albert King and Freddie King all the way up to modern electronic music. I always loved what John Scofield did on guitar, but then I discovered Jim and I think if there is one guitarist in the entire world that I wish I could emulate, it would be Jim. Jim's tuneful styling is right up my sonic alley. Melodic, mournful, understated and graceful. I believe in a less is more philosophy when it comes to guitar, and I mean to say that time and attention to notes and how they work within a tune are more important to me than how many licks I can embed into the space....Anyway, for me, Jim's music embodies that philosophy, so I suppose that's why it speaks to me.
So, I'm ready to take my playing to a higher level, and am looking forward to taking the lessons for a test drive. I suppose I'll start with some of the blues lessons since that is my personal comfort zone. My only concern is my personal limitations when it comes to theory. I'm self taught and while I can talk a bit about theory and understand the types of chords and scales I'm playing, and generally have a good ear for it, I lack the technical experience and understanding of my neck, if that makes sense. I'm at a plateau in my ability, and it's nit a very high plateau. I'm a really good beginner and have been for 23 years! Hoping that the lessons can be useful for someone like me, because I REALLY want to seize this opportunity to become a better musician. If anyone can share any thoughts on how someone like me can relate to the lessons, if they are appropriate (and where I should start) I'd certainly appreciate it. Otherwise, I'll take the plunge and see what happens!
I'm really impressed that there's a community here and Jim takes part in that. So few musicians of this caliber can remain connected to the fan base and music community, so I find this unpretentious forum of like-minded folks to be very refreshing. I'm really excited to be joining and can't wait to take the lessons with serious effort.
Well, thanks for your time everyone. Looking forward to being a contributing member of the group.
Best regards,
Jeff in NH
PS - How can we get Jim to play a show up in Portsmouth, NH? The "legendary" Music Hall is the perfect venue. I'll do the groundwork!
My name is Jeff and I live on the seacoast of New Hampshire. I've been playing guitar, as an amateur, for 23 years. I'm seeing the years go by and it's time I put some real effort in the craft of playing guitar. I listen to, play and "compose" a wide array of musical styles, from the classic blues of Albert Collins, Albert King and Freddie King all the way up to modern electronic music. I always loved what John Scofield did on guitar, but then I discovered Jim and I think if there is one guitarist in the entire world that I wish I could emulate, it would be Jim. Jim's tuneful styling is right up my sonic alley. Melodic, mournful, understated and graceful. I believe in a less is more philosophy when it comes to guitar, and I mean to say that time and attention to notes and how they work within a tune are more important to me than how many licks I can embed into the space....Anyway, for me, Jim's music embodies that philosophy, so I suppose that's why it speaks to me.
So, I'm ready to take my playing to a higher level, and am looking forward to taking the lessons for a test drive. I suppose I'll start with some of the blues lessons since that is my personal comfort zone. My only concern is my personal limitations when it comes to theory. I'm self taught and while I can talk a bit about theory and understand the types of chords and scales I'm playing, and generally have a good ear for it, I lack the technical experience and understanding of my neck, if that makes sense. I'm at a plateau in my ability, and it's nit a very high plateau. I'm a really good beginner and have been for 23 years! Hoping that the lessons can be useful for someone like me, because I REALLY want to seize this opportunity to become a better musician. If anyone can share any thoughts on how someone like me can relate to the lessons, if they are appropriate (and where I should start) I'd certainly appreciate it. Otherwise, I'll take the plunge and see what happens!
I'm really impressed that there's a community here and Jim takes part in that. So few musicians of this caliber can remain connected to the fan base and music community, so I find this unpretentious forum of like-minded folks to be very refreshing. I'm really excited to be joining and can't wait to take the lessons with serious effort.
Well, thanks for your time everyone. Looking forward to being a contributing member of the group.
Best regards,
Jeff in NH
PS - How can we get Jim to play a show up in Portsmouth, NH? The "legendary" Music Hall is the perfect venue. I'll do the groundwork!
Comments
Here are a few suggestions. If you want to stay with the blues there are three great lessons:
“Playing the Blues and nailing the changes”, “B flat Blues” and “ F Jazz Blues Concepts”.
The first lesson is an introduction to the blues with an explanation of what the pentatonic scale is and what the blues scale is and the difference between the two. Then a detailed discussion of what playing over the changes mean and how you internalize that concept. There are three complete blues compositions in the lesson: one that has lead lines playing over a rhythm, a second composition that illustrates string bending and a third that sounds like a vintage 60’s Jeff Beck blues instrumental.
B flat blues covers some of the same territory wile introducing a more complex rhythm and how that allows for more options with your lead lines. This lesson introduces passing chords and the all-important two five progression which prepares you for the F concepts lesson.
F Jazz blues concepts are the blues taken to a jazz level with a full explanation of chord substution. This lesson has a great chord solo you can play over the rhythm as well a two single note solos.
If you want to take a lesson out side the blues I would suggest “Country Soul”. Jim covers the chord progression that creates that soulful sound and gives you a composition in which he incorporates some of his signature licks and ideas he likes to use in his solos. Here are a few examples: some two note steel guitar sounding voicing, playing open strings, some diminished voicing and the “fire works”…. wile a note is ringing out bending up a half step, then a whole, step, them going back down in pitch wile he plays another note-listen to “Swampland in Florida” to get full effect of that move.
Since the lessons are on CD you can listen as often as you like. It’s very different from sitting in a guitar store with a teacher. I probably went back to “Crazy steel guitar lesson” on and of for years before my skill level was good enough to play it through
Thanks for your thoughtful response.
Jeff in NH
Neal