Mike Caren

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Backstroke Head Jan 25, 2013

Hi Duke ... love the V chord riff!! Pure beauty.  

The head reminds me a bit of Lightnin Hopkins All Night Long.  I like the position on the I chord.  I don't play there much and it's fun to explore.  Thanks Duke!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Boats Up the River First Section Jan 19, 2013

Hi Corey .. thanks for the feedback and encouragement.  Yes, I agree that more staccato sounds better.  I'm trying to relearn it that way.  Yeah, I love that turnaround.  It's beautiful.  I will post again this week trying to bring the whole song together.

Hi Alex .. thanks!  Yes, it is amazing how much I've improved this year ... you too!!  A step forward each week and month really makes a difference.  For this tune, the slow practice to get it right .. then sleep on it ... and come back the next day and my mind has "chunked it" is really working.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Boats Up the River Review & Endings Jan 19, 2013

Hi Corey ... again, love this tune!  I was just playing it with the sun coming through the window this AM.  What a beautiful experience.  I'm now working on the middle section and going between the first and middle section.  Will work on endings next.  Thanks for the feedback on the first section .. I'm picking it more stacato (no slides) and it does sound better.  It's amazing how taking it slow as you suggest works.  Thanks again!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: High Heel Sneakers Solo Lesson 2 Jan 17, 2013

Hi Peter ... this is a hard one.  An idea for you that I see Jerry doing with his harp students 

Step 1 ... Before you try and play it, listen to the section 10 times in a row (until it is stuck in your head ... like "Happy Birthday" or "Jingle Bells" likely is).  Duke and Corey also mention this on and off through their lessons and comments (i.e. the important of getting the music in your mind).

Step 2 ... Sing the guitar part over and over again with Duke's example and then without.  The idea here is to separate your internalizing the riff / melody from your ability to play it on the guitar.  I notice Corey often suggests this at times too. Note: you don't have to be a good singer in terms of tone.  The two important parts are timing and hearing the pitches in your head.

Step 3 ... Pick up the guitar and try to play it now that the music is in your mind AND you can sing the phrasing.

Hope that help! 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Boats Up the River First Section Jan 05, 2013

Hi Corey .. this is a great song.  It's so beautiful and relaxing to play.  I'm looking forward to playing this one out in the backyard as the weather warms up.  Here's where I am with the song so far.  I'll be working on trying to brush the bass more this week.  Thoughts and feedback apprecaited.  Thanks!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: High Heel Sneakers Solo Lesson 1 Jan 04, 2013

Hi Duke .. love those slide in riffs!  That last IV chord riff is awesome.  

I'm still working on getting the head and rhythm smooth and at tempo.  Practice, practice, practice ... right?  

One thing I've always struggled with is speed.  If you have any tips on how to improve speed it would be great to hear them in an upcoming lesson.  Thanks!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Boats Up the River Bass and First Riff Dec 29, 2012

Love the tune Corey!  I've got your run-through in my head.  I'm going to learn the bass and first riff (real slow) this weekend.  Going into the G after the first riff is tricky for me ... but I think I will get it with some practice.  I'm looking forward to learning this whole tune as I think it's within my reach and I love the melody / feel of the song.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Big Boss Man Performance Dec 21, 2012

Hi Jerry ... absolutely love those bends at the beginning of the solo!  You kind of hang it out there and then give it a snap at the end.  Beautiful!  If there is one thing I want to learn how to do on the harp ... it's exactly that!!  I'm still working on bending.  I have the high holes bending pretty good ... and am now working my way down to the lower holes.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Swingin' the Blues Chord Comping Dec 19, 2012

Hi Duke,

I love these chords!  Thanks for the great lesson.

Mike

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Running and Hiding Ending Dec 17, 2012

Hi JDY ... that was AWESOME !!  Love the solo and the ending.  You made my day!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Route 66 Solo Dec 14, 2012

Hello Bop!  This is a fun one Duke, I'm enjoying trying to wrap my head around the bop lines.  They're quite infectious.  I also like that little riff on the V and VI just before the turnaround.  It's going to take me a bit to get it under my fingers (especially the arpeggio) ... and will post a video later in the week.  Thanks !!

 

Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard Jul 03, 2016

 

Glad you're digging it Mike. Fun stuff indeed!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Mother-in-Law Blues Lesson 1 Dec 10, 2012

Hi Floyd,

Great to have you a part of Sonic Junction!  We don't offer the lessons in mp3 or midi format.  That said, it would be great to understand how you used your MP3 slow downer.  It would be a pretty easy change to have our video slow downer get even slow (such as 33% or 25% speed).  How slow do you go?

Finally, we will likely be developing an iPod / iPhone / iPad application in the coming year to allow people to listen and learn anywhere ... and also when they don't have an internet connection.

Thoughts appreciated and again, great to have you a part of Sonic Junction.

Mike

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Route 66 Chord Comping Dec 10, 2012

Hi Peter ... You're right!  

I've updated the lesson.  Thanks!

Mike

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: That Will Never Happen No More First Section Dec 04, 2012

Hi Corey ... Love the tune!  I'm still getting the first section under my fingers.  I messed up on the D the first time around ... will pratice that more slowly.   Each day it comes more naturally.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: That Will Never Happen No More First Section Dec 03, 2012

Hi Corey .. love the tune!  I'm working at the first section REAL SLOW.  I'll post a video in a couple days.

@ Alex ... love the singin' !!  You fall into a nice groove too, each round you seem to let go a little more and let the music take you. Love it!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Route 66 Chords Dec 03, 2012

Hi Mike,

Great to have you a part of Sonic Junction.  Yes, the older lessons do have printable material.  We've moved away from that as we're focusing the learning experience on getting the music in your mind (via slow down and loop points) and then learning to push it out via muscle memory (very similar to how we all learned to speak).  I realize this is different to many, but it's the way most successful blues, jazz, rock and folk musicians learned.  It's also interesting to note that most people that don't become musicians learn the other way.  At first people think it's hard, but when they reflect on how they learned to speak ... you realize it's via repetition of sounds (looping) spoken slowly (slow downer) with extra emphasis on tone / phrasing (something that tab / sheet music misses ... and you get by learning from the best musicians in the world like Duke, Corey and Jerry).  

I hope that helps you to understand our decision.  Great to have you a part of Sonic Junction and let me know if you have any questions / thoughts on my answer.

Thanks!

Mike

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Route 66 Intro & First Chorus Nov 28, 2012

Hi Duke ... thanks.  Looking forward to the comping !!!!!!  I can't tell you how much I love those chords.

I'm starting to get the intro under my fingers.  Here's where I'm at.  Thanks again for the great lesson.

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Take Me Back Endings Nov 28, 2012

@Alex .. you sound great as usual!!  Love that ending!!

@Corey .. here's where I am.  I still got some work to do to make it smooth ... and add in the B section.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Route 66 Intro & First Chorus Nov 26, 2012

Hi Peter and Duke .. I've updated the tab to have the riff on the IV chord start on the 3rd beat.  Thanks for the correction.  I agree Peter with your comment about "going with your ears instead of your eyes" ... after working with Duke, Corey and Jerry over the past year I'm totally convinced that using your ears as the primary means for learning is your best best ... and use tab / chord diagrams as quick reference / help on the finger / notes.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Route 66 Intro & First Chorus Nov 25, 2012

Hi Peter ... thanks for the feedback.  I will double check this tomorrow (Mon) and correct if necessary.

Thanks!

 
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