What to do next ?

terrassier

Last few weeks when I pick up the guitar I dont know what to work on ..........I have been practicing/noodling gypsy jazz for approx 3 years - coming from a non musical background and starting from near zero. I have learnt a basic "La Pompe" and its o.k (as a starting point) and several of the Gypsy chord fingerings, developed some technique/speed and mainly use rest stroke and adhere to some of the rules ie regarding downstroke on a string change, Ive learnt a couple of Djangos solos, a few arps and scales and chord progressions to two or 3 of the repertoire.

There are no local teachers I am aware of, I'm in my 40's run a business have a family and other interests and my practice time is a couple of hours a day/night. I know I know I shouldn't bother at all given my circumstances, but I have patience and perseverance and realistic goals.

There is so much material out there its a bit overwhelming, so some opinions as to how to progress,whats worked for you etc would be really appreciated ....... should it be a website/skype/book practice regime etc

Thanks
Kevin

NylonDave

It might be fun to pick up some tunes from the most basic vocal version you can find absolutely on your own making sure you can sing them OK. Then play them just as simply on the guitar just single notes and no embellishment.Then try and find the most basic chords you can find that work. Sing along with them to check nothing jars.

Then check with a real book, making sure it is in the same key, and see what you missed. Then transpose the whole thing to a different key on your on own on the guitar.

I am doing that and I am probably not far ahead of you, and if you are being modest you might be ahead. I expect that to be the basis of my practice for the foreseeable future.

D.

terrassier

Interesting, thanks.................its certainly not something I would have tried although I will.
I expect my main focus to be towards improving my technique.

Jazzaferri

Have a listen to Django's solo pieces. If you like what you hear, get the book from The store here.

There are some fairly easy tunes and it's the kind of thing you can quietly work on on your own. Moving back and forth between the changes til you can do them easily and in a relaxed manner.

NylonDave

terrassier wrote: »

Interesting, thanks.................its certainly not something I would have tried although I will.
I expect my main focus to be towards improving my technique.

Tunes are great things to hang everything else on, harmony, theory, technique. They give everything else context.

Think of it like building a house, the tune is the foundation and it is easier in the end to put it in first. Otherwise at some point you are going to have to start over. I know the truth of this from experience.

And for sure Micheals books are all great as Jazzaferri advises. And there are people here with a lot more experience in the style who can advise you how to spend your money.

When Ellington said IT don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing perhaps the most important thing that is often missed is the IT. I think he meant the tune.

And if you hit a jam and can play lots of melodies and know the changes you will always be welcome.

D.

Jazzaferri

Plus 1 to @stuart and @NylonDave said. It's gotta swing, and deep is better than broad.

I would much rather hear some play minor swing really well than hash out Chega de Saudade. (64 bar form and no repeats.)

anthon_74

Here's my magnificent 7 practice plan. check out the PDF. From the book - Manifesting Manouche

Anthony

Jojo

It's great to hear folk are in the same boat i.e late 40's, playing GJ a few years..... I found the Bergera etudes (How I Learned) very helpful as a starting point, the linking of arpeggios to tunes. As always, start slowly and remember its only a 'backbone' to the repertoire.

Jeff Moore

All good advice above. Develop your ear-hand coordination. Listen to stuff, then try to play it as others are saying. The "neural pathways" have to be built, whether you've got 1 or 50 years, your building strength and ability, on the way to imagining what you want to hear yourself play. Especially in this style, you can "invent" licks, because whatever you do, anything!, can be inserted into this stuff. Like just picking any triplet on any three strings or whatever its called for four strings. Just pick "whatever" sequence you come up with forwards for a while, then reverse the strokes, so the timing changes. It is hypnotically fun, and your on your way to a kind of technique. It's harder to just do two strings, but do it. Two beats on the A string, one on the D. The hands are learning.
There is no magic formula to learn. Pick the songs you love and do like Nylon suggests. Make them yours, tune, harmony, chords and all. Then "improve" them with whatever you come up with. Especially when your own ideas seem difficult to execute, your exactly on the right track towards technique. Practice till you play your own ideas better than anyone. Focus on the right hand most, the left will follow. The right hand has to control timing and making the right sound, and therefore is the weak link!
Of course it's likely nonsense that any "idea" is actually mine or yours, but when your making the sound. It's Yours!

terrassier

Thanks for all the great suggestions - I am going to work on developing my ear as suggested but because improv seems like such a long way away at the moment.. I think I am going to learn some more of Djangos songs - A year or so ago I stumbled on this video and enjoyed the simplicity



At the time I couldnt play the more challenging phrases at tempo - so I will revisit,maybe change the chords up, also I see he has one or two new (to me) ones out which I will work on.

Thanks again
Kevin

Double Scotch

Your situation sounds a lot like mine (middle-aged newby). So I too find the advice above useful and encouraging (as is often the case on this site).
This also reminded of something somebody said on another thread: Whistle, hum, think of the melody in your head ... when you're doing that you are improvising. Take it to your guitar.