我的結他雜記: Samson Go Mic

It's a tiny USB condenser mic. I bought one since my new guitar doesn't have a pickup. When I use it with Audacity for recording purpose, I could hear the background track from the headphone out of the mic. Nice!

我的結他雜記: 買了好結他

Even though I planned to save enough money for an expensive archtop, I couldn't resist the temptation to buy a Godin 5th Avenue when it was on sale (~$450) during Thanksgiving. It's an acoustic guitar without pickup and tone control. The guitar actually sounded ideal for acoustic blues, which I'm learning a bit. 

我的結他雜記: 要買好結他

欲望真的停不了，不過想法有點改變。那是因為一張舊照片，當中有一支是向（有錢）同學借來的結他，起碼廿年歷史，上拍賣網找找，估計值US$1000有多，相信除通脹後這支結他多少也升了值。對我的啟發是，還是多儲點錢買支好少少的結他，至低限度也保值，說不定還會升值！

目前目標是老字號中檔貨色like a Gibson ES-137:
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Custom/ES-137-Classic.aspx

$2000 for a big brand name. It's 1 pound lighter than a Les Paul too. It's comfortable to hold (I mean the body is not huge) and the neck is comfortable to press. I also like the jazzy sound from the neck pickup. And it's not heavy. Very practical. Just wish it's more "pretty" You know, those big hollow-body archtop with tail piece look classier.

The Fender Japan Telecaster Thinline is another of my target:
http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/tn72g-ftmh.html
Gold pickguard on white body with f-hole. Not cheesy but classy!

我的結他雜記: 購買結他欲望停不了

I found out my Steinberger Spirit got some buzz when I played barre chord for the Berklee assignments. I'm not sure if I'm pressing the fretboard with the right pressure. I think it has more to do with the low E and A strings. In fact, even if I play single notes on these 2 strings, I need to be careful. Cannot press too hard and pick too hard or it will buzz. Fortunately, the buzz is not that noticeable when I record my playing for homeworks using the Korg Pandora. I like the Pandora a lot BTW. 

Anyway, seems like I have an excuse to buy a new guitar. Looked at these 2:

http://jazztimes.com/articles/15300-peavey-jf-1-exp-guitar

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/guitars/electric/6-string-semi-acoustic/5th-avenue-cw-kingpin-295806/review

The former is about $350 after tax while the latter is about $1000. Basically, they model after Gibson ES-335 and ES-125.

ES-335 is played by both jazz, blues or even rock guitarist. According to that review, it's good with distortion. Feedback is not a problem.

ES-125 looks more like a jazz guitar. 

好想買支正宗jazz archtop，但人生好似又點都要買支ES335 style既結他，果支Peavey係cheap野，可以慳d錢。

About buying guitar, I think if I ever visit Japan, I'll check out those vintage (70s) Japanese copy of American guitar. Ibanez and Tokai copied quite a bit of Gibson, including ES335 and ES175 back then and they were of high quality. 聽講東京御茶之水有好多二手樂器店：
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_645e03fb0100gxxw.html

To fly the guitar back home, this might be useful:

http://paulblow.tripod.com/fly_with_guitar.html

 

我的結他雜記: Dorian and Mixolydian

These are 2 very common scales (actually modes) mentioned in jazz tutorials.

There are 7 modes from a major scale. Let's say C major:

C Ionian mode (same as C major scale): C D E F G A B

D Dorian mode: D E F G A B C

G Mixolydian mode: G A B C D E F

The most common jazz chord progression is ii-V-I. So, in C major, they are

C maj 7

D min 7

G dom 7

I was often taught to improvise by playing C major (or Ionian) notes over the Cmaj7 chord

D Dorian over Dmin7 and G Mixolydian over G7.

But I was also taught to look at ii-V-I progression and the key it belongs to as a whole. Just play notes from C major over all 3. In fact, D Dorian has the same notes as C major. G Mixolydian too.

Yet another thing I learned is that playing D Dorian doesn't require learning another fingering. Just use C major fingering but start on the 2nd note instead. To play G Mixolydian, starts on the 5th note. 

On the other hand, Berklee DOES teach different fingering for Dorian and Mixolydian. To play a C Dorian, you simply change 1 of the 5 C Major fingering by lowering the 3rd and 7th. And A Mixolydian is almost the same as A Major except you lower the 7th

Back to the topic of playing jazzy, there are a few things:

1) plays 7th chord. So, if you see a I chord, play maj7 instead of maj. Play min7 for a ii chord and dominant 7th for a V chord.

2) solo over the chord tones including the 7th and sometimes plays half step below or above these chord tones.

3) swing the 1/8 notes.

4) Use our old friend the minor pentatonic scale (and blues scale). It could be played over many chord types:

http://www.jazzguitar.be/major_guitar_chords.html

http://www.jazzguitar.be/minor_guitar_chords.html

This is Your Brain on Music

想讀這本書已有一段日子，當初在Ferry Building的書店看到，就覺得人腦如何處理音樂是一個複雜而有趣的題材，不過之後一直沒有去找來看，直至兩個月前到圖書館才借下來。一讀就讀了兩個月，畢竟該書性質上接近普及科學讀物多於消閒小品，不是太容易消化。作者Dan Levitin的背景也值得一提，現時他是在大學從事神經科學研究的教授，以前他卻是一位音樂人兼錄音師！
本書前半部主要介紹音樂理論及其物理性質，後半部才是「戲肉」。首先，學玩音樂究竟先天（遺傳）影響有多大？其實本書也沒有肯定的答案，簡單來說是有；但後天亦當然重要，據研究要成為專家，一萬小時的練習少不了。這個一萬小時法則不只限於音樂，其他範疇如象棋也適用。俗語有云：台上一分鐘，台下十年功；可見中國人一向就有這個看法。
作者又提到，學音樂需要腦神經作出新的連接，在廿歲左右這個過程會大幅轉緩。音樂討論區常常有人發帖問成年人能否由零開始學音樂，很少回覆會大潑冷水，不過發帖人總要有心理準備學得慢及難學得好吧。幸好這幾代受過現代教育的人，多多少少在學校上過幾年音樂科，總不至於由零開始。
最後一章是全書高潮：探討玩音樂的能力在遺傳優勢的關係，即是影響音樂玩得好的基因是否較大機會被遺傳。再換一個角度看，就是音樂玩得好會否幫助吸引異性與之交配，你說這個是不是很重要？記得友人「神醫」曾撰文介紹美女的遺傳學理論，指出男人之所以熱切追求具備某些特徵的女性（即公認的美女），全因為那些特徵（例如對稱的面孔，豐滿的臀部）顯示該女性身體健康，繁殖下一代的能力强，因此是「播種」的理想對象！這本書的作者認為女性喜歡玩音樂的男性也是類似，除了引用達爾文支持的見解，也列出多個原因：自古以來音樂和舞蹈有密切關係，同樣需要節奏感强，而古人的舞步往往反映狩獵等求存技能的動作。至於較為近代的情況，是玩音樂屬有閒（錢及時間）階級的玩意，當然亦是女性「接種」的理想對象。我想補充一點個人見解：古人玩音樂往往自製樂器，亦突顯靈活的頭腦及雙手。該書還引用以下研究：給在排卵期（易受孕）的女性選擇以下兩種男士之一：音樂能力高但由於運氣差而貧窮者，及音樂能力低但由於運氣好而富有者；她們傾向前者，和在排卵期以外明顯不同。這個夠說服力吧！

我的結他雜記: Berklee Scale/Chord 101

顧家輝伍樂誠陳輝揚係Berklee College of Music讀過。我將會成為佢地校友，sort of。Berklee's online college is offering 爵士結他證書課程，共五個courses，盛惠~US$6400。雖然超貴（五個course合共60星期教學，人地大師網上 教jazz guitar都係US$60三個月咋）但係人生苦短，仲有命都係唔好咁計較，同埋我覺得人地鼎鼎大名，編製出黎既課程同練習方法點都有番咁上下卦。It teaches by showing class materials (words, pre-recorded video/audio and some flash animation) on their website and organized their contents lesson-by-lesson, also grading weekly assignments. The only interactive part is online chat session. 最緊要係，俾左咁多錢，會有心機做佢既練習，就算幾悶都會。其實除番即係一個星期每科一百美金，揾有料結他導師單對單教一個鐘都唔平得幾多。學音樂除非自學否則都係高消費喇。 

咁今個學期我學緊Chord 101同Scale 101。前者教major/minor/sus/aug/dim/dominant 7th等等triad同chord，仲有inversion，以前我買既書都有講，不過一直無心機記同練。我一向無乜掃chord，轉chord甚慢，做功課逼住死練，都有幫助既。今次真係學到野，佢有解釋barre chord點解係咁㩒，而家識得以前彈jazz tab死練果d chord其實係乜chord(dominant 9th, min7b5等等)。

Scale 101對我黎講易dd，因為都係教5隻major scale fingering，同以前練既大同小異；major scale(5 different fingerings)同minor pentatonic(2 fingerings)彈左咁多年，總算有d底。其餘果d major pentatonic, minor blues, dorian, mixolydian, harmonic minor, melodic minor，真係記到儍，唯有當防止老人痴呆囉。以前聽人講彈jazz improvisation，要12個key既以上任何一個scale，可以在條頸任何一處開始彈（仲要識得由中間既音開始，唔係次次都root）呢個境界就係呢個班既目標。我諗都急唔黎，希望日子有功啦。

每個星期每堂要做兩份功課，即係錄音上載俾老師評核。功課多數係跟tab彈，死練都OK，我會好似得個樣既歌星咁逐段錄，剪接技巧已經純熟。而且instructor俾分幾鬆手， 過關唔成問題。so far轉chord唔夠快，彈單音唔夠legato，後者正在努力改善，基本上都係左手手指唔好咁快攞起，但變左甩少少beat(墮後)，不過d同學話墮 後少少好過d音斷下斷下喎。

睇番同班同學，自我介紹有 website有錄左佢地彈既野，彈結他既水平已經好高，真係professional，我諗佢地係想補番d theory，同埋follow下個structure，第時開班授徒可以參考添！

我的結他雜記: Korg Pandora

I've bought the Pandora Mini. The amp modelling effect on the Pandora Mini was just ok. When I listened to it through headphone directly or thru my bass amp, it sounded kinda jazzy. But when I recorded it, it sounded kinda crappy (especially on chords) I actually used that external USB soundcard for recording since the Mini doesn't do it. I'm thinking about returning it and buy the "regular" Pandora instead. The regular Pandora is a USB soundcard itself and has more backing rhythms, also the ability to "cancel" the bass track for practicing bass.

我的結他雜記: Jimmy Bruno and Robert Conti

講返練野，舊年在網上學，跟呢位大師：
http://www.jimmybruno.com/school.php
http://jbguitarworkshop.com/sampleLessons.cfm

佢已經將彈jazz guitar簡化左好多，入門教major scale同arpeggio，就可以即興solo，我都係覺得太難。即興彈得好唔似jazz。

今個月轉左軚跟呢位（DVD）：
http://www.robertconti.com/free-jazz-guitar-video-lessons
佢仲簡單，寫晒TAB出黎，拍埋DVD教你逐個bar彈，好似小學生咁教。佢既理念就係，學即興之前唔好諗太多，尤其係理論。乜都係假，不如彈下人地即興果時彈既lines，做個基礎將來有得抄。本來我好抗拒咁學，但諗下諗下我都覺得有道理，最繄要係啱我程度。好似讀熟唐詩三百首卦。其實d單音唔係太難㩒，但係夾啱拍子都唔易。聽住background
track rhythm guitar黎夾，成日都會甩到唔知去左邊。

我的結他雜記: Fender Mustang II amp

上個星期去朋友屋企，帶埋支Steinberger去玩佢個新amp，係Fender Mustang II，以前未見過，賣點係平得黎(US$200)都有40W仲有amp modelling（已內置八款，可經電腦下載更多）

果個metal同90年代(grunge) models都幾啱，不過我玩jazz，重點係試佢Fender Deluxe model，d聲又幾夠jazz味。

Mark Feldman and jazz violin

Saw John Abercrombie at Yoshi's earlier this week and was very impressed by his violinist Mark Feldman. Here is his website:
http://www.markfeldmanviolin.com/enter.htm

Too bad he didn't mention what violin he plays.

His myspace page has some audio and video as well:
http://www.myspace.com/markfeldmanviolin

Definitely has classical background. Seems like that's the norm for jazz violinists.
On the other hand, jazz guitarist with classical background seems to be minority. My guitar teacher, Jimmy Bruno, does have classical training. He got some ideas about practicing from Wohlfahrt!

我的結他雜記: Danelectro N10 HoneyTone

結果都係忍唔住買左隻Danelectro N10 HoneyTone, a battery powered mini-amp黎玩，扭下幾個掣都可以校出多隻唔同聲，由jazz到metal都有。

我的結他雜記: Pocket Pod and amp

關於PocketPod的amp modelling，我又要呻笨，剛才睇manual，話其中一個掣上下按可以選擇不同amp及cabinet，包括著名jazz amp:
Fender Twin Reverb及Roland JC120。通利果位姐姐又無專業知識，攪到我白費減價好機會。

而家把心一橫，睇緊Digitech RP255（見Insomnia位仁兄用digitech，對呢個牌子重拾信心），呢部都有以上兩amp
model。仲有得踩wah wah及轉preset既腳掣（雖然無乜用），在美國只比pocket
pod貴少許，I'm still not sure...... one thing I really like about Pocket Pod is that I could use battery with it. The Digitech uses AC power only.

最新體會：舊年買左個 external sound card，係EMU 0404 USB，本來係用黎聽歌（好似比內置sound card好聽同推headphone好力水d）

但佢跟埋幾套software，其中兩套係Cubase LE同Amplitude。當時我裝落部舊電腦，發覺彈左一陣先有聲出，唔掂。

尋日想bid部Pocket Pod，又唔記得左落bid，結果俾人平買左，心有不甘，再裝過Cubase LE同Amplitude落部新電腦，都係彈左一陣先有聲出，原來device setup可以改用ASIO for EMU 0404 USB，就可以即彈即出聲，有十幾個amp model/preset可以玩，其中一個彈jazz好掂，其實都係clean聲，校到Bass勁多，treble勁少。

諗諗下，其實只要個amp跟住咁樣調校，根本乜model都唔重要。我個100W bass amp，試左用黎彈jazz都OK，果d amp modeller同multi effect對我可能真係無乜用。

我的結他雜記: Guitar strings

How often are we supposed to change strings on guitar? I was told every 30 hours of playing. I seldom change unless it's broken (usually the high E)

I almost stopped playing my Steinberger Spirit after I've bought that Ibanez Acoustic. Maybe I should change the string on my Spirit then I have motivation to play it again. It's common for jazz guitarist to play 013 strings! The heaviest double-ball strings I could find is 011. However, I might stick with the same gauge. Lots of people says that if you switch gauge, the neck will get different string tension and will change the intonation and need to adjust trust rod or the bridge. Sounds too troublesome for me.

我的結他雜記: Alternative instrument

I bought a Hohner. Not a guitar, but a harmonica.

Hohner is actually very famous as a harmonica manufacturer. It's a good brand for harmonica.

Man, it's not easy to play though. One basic technique is bending. Like bending in guitar. (the term is actually borrowed from guitar) On a basic 10 hole harmonica, it doesn't have all notes on it (for example, no B-flat on a C major harmonica) so you have to bend. And bending is HARD! I haven't figured that out yet. :(

The reason I'm trying harmonica is that there is some pain in my ring finger. I guess I'm too old to start playing jazz guitar because jazz uses "big" chords that requires stretching my fingers very wide. I'm really afraid that I might have to stop playing guitar and bass forever. I'm looking at alternatives but nothing is comparable to guitar!

我的結他雜記: chord-melody, practice, bass amp, nylon

Tried following this lesson. The song it taught is the most popular jazz standard called "Autumn Leaves" and Download #3 on that page is the TAB. If you don't bother to follow the lesson, just play the TAB. This style is called "chord melody", i.e., the guitar plays both the chord and the melody so other instrument is not necessary. I consider this the 最高境界 of jazz guitar.

In addition to "Autumn Leaves", I have learned a few more chord melody tunes, like "Stella by Starlight" and "Norwegian Wood." Saw a kid played "Yesterday" on YouTube. He told me his arrangement came from the same book that I got my version of "Norwegian wood!" So I started playing that. It will be quite a while until I could play as fast as he does.

I have always had some free time at night. I don't spend all of it on guitar though. I'm rather lazy. Usually it's just 30-40 minutes. Half spent on theory (like playing ii-V-I in different keys and arpeggio of those chords) Half spent on songs.

Years ago we tried to figure out what blues scale and the flatted 5th were. Now I play more jazz and they don't seem to be essential to playing jazz. On the other hand, adding the 7th (and higher, e.g. 9th, 13th) to chords really make songs sound jazzy. As far as scale is concerned, major scale works very well. Even pentatonic works. And blue scale is just one of the scale that works.

I bought a cheap bass amp when I was trying to start a new rock/metal band a few years ago. I really regretted that purchase because even though it was a 120W amp, I could barely hear it when playing in a practice space roughly as big as the "big room" in President studio! I expected a 120W to sound loud enough but this one didn't. Beware of the brand Behringer. I bet a Hartke 120W sound louder. Besides, I was never able to get a band started and used it 3 times only. However, I learned that some bass amp could actually be used as guitar amp and sounds pretty good with guitar. (The most famous one is Fender Bassman) Some people used bass amp same as mine for jazz! I plugged my Spirit into it and it indeed sounds not bad. The emphasis on the bass makes the sound very warm. Good for jazz.

I listened to more and more classical guitar these days. And some classical masters also play flamenco. I'm buying a cheap classical nylon string guitar. I played my teacher's and really like the sound. Very acoustic, warm, jazzy. Also, there is more separation between strings on a classical guitar so hopefully it helps me fingering those difficult chord (right now my fingers are too close and muting the next string!) The action is usually very high though so barre chord will be more difficult. In any case, I want to try something different. Nylon string feels very different from steel too.

In the 80s and 90s, Japanese made a lot of high quality copies of American guitar (Fender, Gibson) Should be able to find some good stuff in Tokyo. On the other hand, a brand new "real" Gibson Les Paul is ~US$2500, which costs less than a trip to Japan!

我的結他雜記: Steinberger, SG, Pignose Amp, jazz scales/chords

I plugged my Steinberger Spirit into my Pignose amp. Then connect the preamp out to the computer for recording two tunes I posted on MySpace: All the things you are and Seven Come Eleven. I like the sound of this setup. I read that the amp makes the most difference in the sound for jazz. The guitar itself is not as important.
I got the TAB from books and magazines. Wasn't able to improvise. If you analyze the melody lines, there's actually a lot of major scales and mixolydian. Also there are some common licks. Finally they make some big "jumps" from high to low and back to high (高音跳去低音，低音跳去高音)
以下六線譜為例：

--------------------
-8---6---4-----3----
--------------------
---8---6---5-3------
--------------------
--------------------

仲有d常見lick:
-----------4-----
---------4-------
-------5---------
-----6-----------
-----------------
-----------------

至於chord方面，都係7th chord, 例如major 7, minor 7 同dominant 7，掃出來好jazzy
其實我在香港果支Epiphone SG比較多metal友用，好少jazz友彈SG，不過SG個pickup P-90就有經典jazz友用係其他結他。Jazz友多數彈大支厚身面拱出來果款。I'm tempted to buy an archtop jazz guitar someday. Not now of course. Maybe after the recession is over (10 years later?) Google過先知Les Paul有f-hole果支已經停左產。好少有。記得包以正好似有彈Steinberger。

Artist: Nightrage

Album: Sweet Vengeance

Just heard this band from Last.fm. What a pleasant surprise! Found out it featured an All-Star lineup with Gus G from Firewind and Tomas Lindberg from At the Gates (on this album.) I saw Firewind at Arch Enemy's concert a few months ago and Gus G's guitar playing really impressed me. This guy could shred. The most surprising thing is that he's a power metal guy but this band plays melodic death!

Show: Gigantour

Bands: High On Fire, Job for a Cowboy, Children of Bodom, In Flames, Megadeth
Venue: SJSU, SJ

No disrespect to Megadeth, the pioneer of thrash metal, but I gotta admit I would not have gone to the concert if COB is not on the bill.


In Flames is a big incentive too.

Show: Arch Enemy

Venue: Slim's, SF

Arch Enemy headlined the Tyranny and Bloodshred tour. Dark Tranquillity, Divine Heresy, and Firewind were the supporting acts.