Bruce Dumes

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Johnny's Blues Backing Track Dec 13, 2019

Hey Duke! BTW, I'm feeling great; all is going well. Anyway, here's my take on this. Hope you like it! Hope you have a wonderful holiday and happy new year. Here's to 2020. Bruce

PS Really nice playing Charlie and Slim! It was inspiring to see your videos. 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Johnny's Blues Solo, Second Chorus Dec 07, 2019

There's a story I heard about Bix where the publisher was trying to get a transcription of him playing "In a Mist", but Bix couldn't stop himself from improvising every time he got into it. "Just play it the same way", the publisher pleaded, and "I can't" was all Bix could say. Wonderful ideas,Duke! That lick you were demonstrating in many variations is in my head often. How you approach a note is so important, isn't it? It's like using a spice in cooking, how you approach and leave a note. Chicken is always chicken, but the flavors in which you envelop it make it Italian or Cuban or French.

Thanks for these great series of lessons! They have already influenced my playing.  

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Johnny's Blues Intro Breakdown Nov 20, 2019

Just a thought -- if you teach us both parts, on the jam track maybe do one part then the other, so we could try playing both parts with you? It would also be an interesting experiment in tone to see how the two guitars sound together when the registers they are playing in exchanges. 

Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard Dec 09, 2019

Maybe I'll have to call Paul in to show is his part!

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Johnny's Blues Intro Breakdown Nov 20, 2019

Wow, what a great challenge. I'm going to have fun with this! Thanks Duke! 

Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard Dec 09, 2019

Cool!

Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard Dec 09, 2019

Cool!

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Lotus Blossom Backing Track Oct 24, 2019

I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that! Thank you, Duke! 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Same Old Blues 2nd and 3rd Position Soloing Oct 24, 2019

I'm floored! Thanks Duke!! I will do my best. 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: You Don't Love Me Jam Track Oct 24, 2019

Thank you, Duke! That is inspiring to hear.  

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Lotus Blossom Backing Track Oct 16, 2019

Hey Duke. What a great tune! Here is my humble effort. Please give it a listen when you get a chance. Thanks, Bruce

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Same Old Blues 2nd and 3rd Position Soloing Sep 02, 2019

Hey Duke! Here's my updated version of "Same Old Blues". Hope to hear what you think of it! Thanks! Bruce

 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: You Don't Love Me Jam Track Jul 30, 2019

Hey Duke! I must admit, after learning the original riff, I kind of like that better, but it is really hard to get the Buddy Guy/Junior Wells version out of my head. It kept messing with my tempo too. ;-) Anyway, here it is. Would love to get your thoughts on it! Thanks, Bruce

 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea Jam Track Jul 17, 2019

Thanks so much, Duke! I truly believe that a good attitude is imperitive to so many things in life. I feel very positive and optimistic and my doctor is also very encouraged. I wouldn't recommend it for a vacation activity ;-) but so many folks have to deal with so much worse. My life is grand, really. 

I love playing this tune and I love George's version! I think this tune has really helped my phrasing, I'm feeling more confident and comfortable.  I was just reading a bit from a 1960 interview in Down Beat with John Coltrane. He was talking about the musician that he called his "first love", Johnny Hodges: "And the confidence with which Rabbit plays! I wish I could play with that confidence." Even the magnificent John Coltrane struggled with it!

Your encouragement means a whole lot, more than I know how to say; it makes me feel like I can play even better and more sincerely. Thanks again. 

Bruce

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: T-Bone Artist Study Jam Track Jul 17, 2019

Hey Duke! Thanks very much, that's really exciting and encouraging to hear! I felt pretty good about it, but it's so hard for me to judge my own playing and your feedback is the fuel I need. I don't care much about fame and fortune (not very much, anyway); I just want to play well. Thanks again! Bruce

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea Jam Track Jul 10, 2019

Hey Duke. I'm really hoping you'll comment on this one. Even though I'm not completely satisfied with it, I think it's a step forward. As I've mentioned, my goal is to be good enough by next summer to play some gigs. Would be very grateful for some honest feedback regarding that goal. This has been a tough year -- just finished 12 chemo cycles (6 months total! Diagnosed with the big C last December...) so my hair has gone white and has also gone away in some spots. But I'm still alive and rockin' as best I can. Please let me know what you think. Hope you had a great time in Belgium and Spain with the Dutchess! Best, Bruce

PS I'm *really* looking forward to "You Don't Love Me Baby". As you can see, I've already got the t-shirt! ;-) 

Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard Jul 16, 2019

Hi Bruce, First off, I'm sorry to,hear about your health issue. I have many friends that have been keeping up the fight and winning so keep the good attitude up. It's good to hear you play this tune. I like your use of double stops in the melody and solo section. Sounds like you are comfortable with the bridge also. It's a really fun song and he'll, even George Harrison liked playing it! Keep up the good playing and keep on the sunny side! Duke 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes Jul 17, 2019

Thanks so much, Duke! I truly believe that a good attitude is imperitive to so many things in life. I feel very positive and optimistic and my doctor is also very encouraged. I wouldn't recommend it for a vacation activity ;-) but so many folks have to deal with so much worse. My life is grand, really. 

I love playing this tune and I love George's version! I think this tune has really helped my phrasing, I'm feeling more confident and comfortable.  I was just reading a bit from a 1960 interview in Down Beat with John Coltrane. He was talking about the musician that he called his "first love", Johnny Hodges: "And the confidence with which Rabbit plays! I wish I could play with that confidence." Even the magnificent John Coltrane struggled with it!

Your encouragement means a whole lot, more than I know how to say; it makes me feel like I can play even better and more sincerely. Thanks again. 

Bruce

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: T-Bone Artist Study Jam Track May 29, 2019

Hey Duke! Here's my take at this. Please let me know what you think! I'm trying my best to tell a story; not sure if it's working, but I'm trying. 

Nice stuff, Charlie! You are always very musical and it's fun to hear in your playing how much this music means to you. 

Thanks Duke! 

Best, Bruce

Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard Jul 16, 2019

Hey Bruce, Sounds great, you're getting the T-Bone feel now. I can hear a more relaxed feel in your playing which is good. It's getting more in the pocket and your riffs are vert T-Bonesque. Keep up the good work! Duke

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes Jul 17, 2019

Hey Duke! Thanks very much, that's really exciting and encouraging to hear! I felt pretty good about it, but it's so hard for me to judge my own playing and your feedback is the fuel I need. I don't care much about fame and fortune (not very much, anyway); I just want to play well. Thanks again! Bruce

charlie
charlie Jul 28, 2019

Hey Bruce - thanks so much my friend (and sorry for the late 'thanks'! Only just seen your kind comment)

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: I Never Knew Soloing, B Section Apr 17, 2019

Thanks a lot, Duke!! The ending popped in my head at the last minute and I couldn't help myself. ;-)  My goal is to be good enough to do guitar gigs by summer 2020. I'll be living in Bloomington, Indiana by then, so the competition will be a lot less fierce than here in Los Angeles where I live now. Honestly -- how do you think I'm doing towards that goal? Is it realisitic? Thanks Duke! 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: I Never Knew Soloing, B Section Apr 07, 2019

Hey Duke! Great set of lessons, it's been a fun tune to work on. I feel a lot more confident. Would love to hear what you think about this one. 

 

And Charlie, nice job! That White Falcon is really beautiful. It must feel like you're driving a Lincoln Continental when you're playing that thing! 

Hope you enjoy my take on this, Duke! Best to you, the Dutchess and Miss Minnie. Bruce

charlie
charlie Apr 10, 2019

Thanks Bruce, lovely stuff yourself, really dig those chord things you’re doing.

The Falcon is a beautiful guitar. Haven’t bonded with her yet (almost feels too nice to play, which is my dumb excuse : )

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Floyd's Guitar Blues 2nd Chorus Breakdown Feb 25, 2019

One of the great things about your lessons is being introduced to players like Billy Butler and Bill Jennings. There's enough to keep a student busy for years!

But I also love it when you demystify stuff by popular greats like Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin, Guitar Slim, Freddy, Albert and of course B.B. King. Even when the song is a familiar one, it's interesting finding out how much more there is to a song when I work on learning to play it.

I'd love it if you did more Herb Ellis stuff. Herb is my hero and those recordings you did with him are a treasure. 

I'd love to learn another one of those John Lee Hooker hypnotizing rhythm songs. Or Lightnin' Hopkins! 

Anything from Nat King Cole or Charles Brown. 

I'd be very interested in seeing your take on playing slide. I worked on a couple of tunes with Corey and that was interesting, though Corey was insisting that I keep my thumb behind the neck parallel to the slide. My thumb disagreed and thought it should be at a right angle to the slide. So I was happy the other day to see a video of Al Wilson from Canned Heat playing with his thumb sticking out just like mine.  

I'd love to work on some more swing chord rhythm stuff. I know most people think it's boring just playing chords, but it sure sounds pretty when it's done well. 

Maybe some rockabilly? 

 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: T-Bone Latin Style Blues Jam Track Jan 14, 2019

Hello Duke! Some day I might get lucky, but I've tried and I've tried and it's a hard way to go. Bruce

 

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: I to IV Groove Jam Track with Duke Nov 22, 2018

Hey Duke! Happy Thanksgiving! Here's my attempt at this one. Please let me know what you think! Best, Bruce

Bruce Dumes
Bruce Dumes commented on: Robbins Nest Backing Track and Melody Practice Loop Oct 17, 2018

Thanks a lot, Duke!!! Have a great gig! 

 
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