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Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jul 13 2006, 07:36 AM

Ok - so let's have our first challenge. Basically, this is a test run for us to know what rules we need and what interest there is.

Let's try to keep it simple. The aim of this challenge will be to use the "Hot Blues Solo" licks over the provided backing. Basically I want you to strictly use the licks from the lesson - and improvise around with them. If this works out we can of course have a another challenge where the purpose is to use your own licks.

I have found a free software which looks great for recording. It's called Audacity- get it http://www.download.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10514927.html?tag=lst-0-1. It has wah-wah, reverb and lots of cool stuff. If you don't have a recording software, get started with it now.

Let's have some discussion around the idea and then I will return with a date.

/Kris

PS Didn't I mention that now is the time to really dig in to that blues lesson??

Posted by: sanders4617 Jul 13 2006, 07:57 AM

What do you mean exactly? Do we have to use only the licks in the lesson or can we venture out, as long as we include those licks?

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jul 13 2006, 09:15 AM

Yes you can - as long as you don't stray completely. The goal is obviously to include as many new licks into your playing as possible.

Posted by: redsoxfan92490 Jul 13 2006, 01:51 PM

im very intersted, but im not sure how to get my guitar sound into my computer. i downloaded audacity but i dont know what to do from there.

Posted by: fretdancer Jul 13 2006, 06:32 PM

The very easiest way, is to buy a lead that goes from guitar 1/4 inch plug to a plug the other end that fits into the sound card of your computer 1/8 inch plug, costs are minimal - just a couple of Dollars.
That will plug into the "line in" hole in the sound card or even the microphone in hole if you dont have line in - then fire up audacity and hopefully when you strum the guitar you should hear it come out of the guitar speakers...the main problem is "lag" in that what comes out the speakers is slightly slower than when you play which can be a little off putting but if you have a good spec computer and a decent sound card then that is lessened considerably.
If you use line in, you may have to ensure that the line in control in the soundcard software is not muted as they often are, other than that its fairly straight forward. If you have an amp that has a line out, you can plug the lead from the line out of the amp to the line in of the computer but make sure volume is turned down first and slowly increase it.
dont blow your computer speakers !!

Posted by: fretdancer Jul 13 2006, 06:40 PM

ALternatively the following link says it all much better and gives pictures too !!

http://www.etcetera.co.uk/Support/howto/howtoConnectGuitar.shtml

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jul 13 2006, 07:04 PM

Alternatively you can use a cheap microphone (often comes with the computer).

Posted by: DanielM Jul 13 2006, 10:30 PM

i like this idea and i want to take part but i dont have my soundcard yet

how long will this challenge be around for as i want to do it.

Posted by: Liam Jul 14 2006, 12:18 PM

lets have fun ...

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jul 14 2006, 12:26 PM

Well if it works out well we will have more challenges I hope!

Posted by: lespaulkevin Jul 14 2006, 12:37 PM

where on say a dell is a soundcard linein becuase i don't have the original paperwork with it :think

Posted by: fretdancer Jul 14 2006, 02:19 PM

Sound card inputs/outputs are usually colour coded and are thus:

Microphone = Pink - (you can plug your guitar output into this)
Line in = Blue - usually best to plug into but not always
headphone/speaker output = green

Hope that helps

Posted by: ColinMurphy Jul 23 2006, 08:00 PM

wow this is pretty cool

i'll see if i can get a recording up soon

Posted by: texasamp Jul 30 2006, 11:29 PM

Well basically, the licks Kristofer gave in the lesson can be made into 100's of possibilities. What you can do with 3 notes... well, the sky is the limit. Ghost bends, pull offs, hammerons, single/double stops. And my favorite, bottle neck. My trusty brass slide and silver finger pics if I need.

Blues is a beautiful thang, I love to bend up into the note, bend to the roots 7th, 9th, or flatted 3rd (minor). Or major and minor mixed, ala Hendrix.

All the blues notes and feel are as old as the hills. Pretty generic is what Kristofer gave in the lesson. For some players blues is a hard thing to play. It is a feel thing and not something you think of while looking at all the fine gals in the front row.

I have been playing Blues for 30+ years. (yes, I am that old). I did not master the blues, the blues slayed me. Like one of my old sayings, "I live my life feelin rotten, but I feel good while I play blues".

Enough rambling... and good luck!

Regards,
Darrell-

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jul 30 2006, 11:39 PM

Explain what you mean with

PS Just by reading your post I feel like pickin up the guitar in the middle of the night and start phrasing away!

Posted by: texasamp Jul 31 2006, 12:23 AM

Okay, lets say you are gonna play a blues tune in the key of A. 12 bar blues..., Root = A. Drop a full step to G, that is your 7th and is one of the mostly used notes in the pent. box. We can plant our ring finger on the B string on the 8th fret and bend up to A with nice vibrato, or bend from the B string at the 6th fret to the 7th.

The 3rd is our C note, G string on the 5th fret. One of SRV's favorites for heavy dual string pull down vibrato (eg: Crossfire). Remember, we are in a blues scale. The 3rd is Major, this is where the 3rd is flatted. And a true minor pentatonic scale the 3rd will be flatted a full step down.

And then the raised 9th. Hendrix mojo here. Used on Foxy Lady, Come On, and many more. You can see SRV using this cord or use the raised 9th in a passive way. Can't stay long though, as with the 3rd, you can actually bend a half step up to the 3rd but you need to get off that note quickly. I would rather play it all than try to explain it
Hope this makes any kind of sense to you Kris..

Best-
Darrell