Kip Marchetti

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Mean Mother Blues Intro Breakdown Jun 02, 2019

 

Working on Mean Mother Blues opening and chords run through video. Been having a problem uploading to sonic junction for some reason and not sure why. Hopefully this works. The next couple of lessons are more than challenging for me (no surprise) but still trying to tackle it at much slower speeds as is this video. I think the song works a little slower than Chris plays it anyway but there you go.

 

 

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Aug 08, 2019

Hey Kip, 

Sounding really great and musical, as always. I like the tempo where you are playing this - it suits the way you play it and the vibe that you’re getting. That’s an important point I think: there can be many different “good“ tempos for a song depending on the vibe of the delivery. This tempo suits your feel and vibe really well. Now, a couple of things to point out:

-On the tag lick that occurs at 0:20 and again at 1:16 you are arriving at the end too early by dropping 3 big beats. The lick starts on the 2nd 16th note of beat 4 and the downbeat of that next measure is actually the note on the (capoed) 4th fret of the 2nd string. *From that downbeat* there’s still a whole measure of music before the start of the verse. Does that make sense? Maybe listen to my tag in that spot a bunch of times in a row using the repeat function and try to feel how the syncopation of the lick relates to the bar structure. 

-The other thing, which is minor, is that when you’re playing rhythm guitar sometimes you’re skipping the D chord that comes before the G. This happens at 0:37 and again at 0:56

Cheers,

Chris

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Under The Double Eagle Norman’s B Part Syncopations Apr 22, 2019

 

Fun cool tune to learn and play but time to move on to the next one to see what happens. 

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Jun 19, 2019

Yeah Kip, great job on this! You've come so far in terms of keeping your body loose. It's awesome and you really do look relaxed. My one piece of advice based on this video is that it looks like you may be planting or resting the heel of your right hand on the bridge or bridge pins. Is that right? Your wrist looks super loose which is great, but you might try getting your forearm a little more involved in the picking. That might be easier if you try wrapping your right arm around the guitar a bit more. Check out the screen grab of me above and notice the angle that my forearm is making relative to the strings. It's a bit more horizontal than yours. You might try experimenting with that angle. I suspect that if your right arm drops down the slightest bit around the side of the guitar and you flatten your forearm out the slightest bit you might find it easier to integrate your forearm into your pick stroke a bit more. Food for thought. 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Mean Mother Blues Chords and Rhythm Apr 05, 2019

I wish someone would drop a comment before me every once in awhile but in this case I couldn't help myself (again) because my face almost broke from the smile when I saw this lesson. When that record came out (Avalon) I literally listened to this 10 times a day ha ha. Love it dude ... I'm old but I'm not dead and this rocks and probably means Under the Double Eagle gets a little less work.

Asbjørn
Asbjørn Apr 06, 2019

Haha! I was about to comment the joy I felt when I saw that Chris had posted "Mean mother blues"! :D 
I guess I just chickened out before falling asleep with a smile on my face thinking "can't wait untill tomorrow, waking up, make a cup of coffee and watch this lesson!"   Next time I'll try to post before you, Kip! ;) 

Have a great day! :)  

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Jun 19, 2019

Haha, you guys are the best!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Under The Double Eagle Norman’s B Part Syncopations Mar 22, 2019

This has been such a great lesson and a lot of fun for the whole family as they watch me still trying to master the Norman Blake "mechanism". The going is slow but it's going better everyday. This one is another whole ball of wax but too cool.

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Apr 01, 2019

Yep, slow and steady wins the race!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Under The Double Eagle Simplified B Part Mar 10, 2019

Your lessons always bring a big smile to my face - I appreciate them so much on many levels. I'm not moving into this lesson quite yet because I'm still trying to get the Norman picking mechanism down from the 1st lesson but wanted to say that I'm pretty sure if you asked Norman to break this down he'd smile and say he plays it different everytime.  That being said, he always has that basic picking feel - mechanism -  to whatever notes he happens to play. I'll catch up someday.

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Apr 01, 2019

Thanks Kip, that means a lot! I think you’re right: Norman would do it differently every time, but that superhuman relaxed drive that he has would always be there!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Under The Double Eagle Syncopation Detail Feb 22, 2019

Hmmm ... damn ... um ... Kip to command could you put those little loop marker things in this lesson ... thanks. 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Under The Double Eagle Finding the Rhythm Jan 25, 2019

Ever since being introduced to Norman's playing (by you) a couple of years ago, I have completely fallen in love with his style of picking. He makes the melody sound so simple all the while sounding like an entire band with all of his dipsy doodle in between. Just great. I'll be learning this one from scratch and look forward to working on it.

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Mar 03, 2019

Awesome!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Melody in Triads Across Strings Jan 19, 2019

Ha ... Allen that's funny thank you. 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Melody in Triads Across Strings Jan 17, 2019

Thanks Chris - it's good to hear that I'm on the right track and making progress. Hey to your girlfriend.

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Melody in Triads Across Strings Jan 16, 2019

Hi Chris - it's been awhile since I uploaded anything so I figured I'd show you my progress with Angeleine the Baker. It's not note for note with the way you taught us but it's close here and there.  Thanks much!

Kip

 

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Jan 17, 2019

Kip, this is just so wonderful! You’re playing with so much essence and spirit! And - no lie - I was playing this over the speakers on my iPad just now and my girlfriend (a great musician in her own right), having no idea what I was listening to, literally got teary-eyed and remarked that this was a beautiful rendition of Angeline the Baker. 

If we’re looking for areas that could use improvement, it could be cleaner and more relaxed, but I really have to commend you for playing with so much spirit, commitment, and musicality. I would much rather hear that. The best of both worlds is when you start putting the great guitar playing with the committed musicality. Keep going. 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti Jan 17, 2019

Thanks Chris - it's good to hear that I'm on the right track and making progress. Hey to your girlfriend.

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Thoughts on Improvising Nov 03, 2018

James - very cool man.

 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Recognizing Triads On One String Oct 02, 2018

I thought I'd mention that there is a wonderfully in depth, informative, and entertaining extended interview/conversation with Chris on the Everyone Love's Guitar Podcast (a very recent episodeI. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend giving it a listen. I post it here, not only because I can but because Chris mentioned something during the podcast that struck a chord with me. Actually he mentioned a ton of things, and he's mentioned it to us here on occasion, but for some reason having heard it again during the podcast it's suddenly sinking in and that is to give yourself permission to be sloppy sometimes when practicing. I think following that advice will allow me to post something on this lesson soon. I hope you give it a listen.

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Oct 29, 2018

Kip, thanks for mentioning the podcast! It was a fun interview for sure. Nothing like talking about yourself for 2 hours ;-) 

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned about playing and working on music is that it's important to extend compassion to yourself. We can really get in our own way and obstruct our own progress by being too harsh which can create blocks in the form of physical and mental tension. 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Arranging for the Guitar's Growl Sep 28, 2018

Sorry about the light not being quite up to snuff ... it was dusk and I'm not much of a videographer (either). Here is my go at the first 2 lessons on this tune and maybe a little of the 3rd by accident. Everytime I improvise a little it turns into Copperhead Road ...  sounds like an entirely different tune so we'll save that for later.

Thanks!

 

Bryan Mabe
Bryan Mabe Sep 29, 2018

Sounding awesome Kip

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Sep 30, 2018

What Bryan said! It sounds great and you changed a few things and did them in your own way, which I love. That’s the whole point of this thing. But you are playing with strength, conviction and fearlessness and those are attributes that have impact to the listener. I was totally rocking out listening to this. Great job, keep it up, and keep flirting with improvising, even if it does turn into Copperhead Road. Eventually it won’t!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Recognizing Triads On One String Sep 15, 2018

I'm still with you on this man and I keep thinking back to something you said earlier ... maybe last lesson ... play like a child . You know when a child is sitting there playing with cars or soldiers and stuff just playing ... not thinking too much ... just moving stuff around .. knocking things over ... setting them up again ... trying stuff and having mindless fun ... just playing. Good stuff and a solid message.

Adding a little ever so slight thought to the process ... or maybe awareness ... or knowledge and I see things sort of conceptually coming together where I didn't think it would ever be possible in regards to "letting go" or 'improvising" ...

When I hear the word "IMPROVISE" in a sentence such as, How in the world does he improvise like that? It sends me the message that there is a formal procedural process that can be taught, memorized, and learned, and maybe after years and years of practice you'll get it right.  Maybe that's why it's such a tough thing to teach  ... when you say ... just play mindlessly ...  eyes can glaze over.

I guess all I'm saying is you're doing a really great job teaching me this concept 

None of which has anything to do with my fingers going where I want them too dang it.

Great lessons

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Sep 20, 2018

Kip, thanks so much for this thoughtful comment! I think you hit the nail on the head when you wrote,"when I hear the word 'IMPROVISE' in a sentence such as, 'How in the world does he improvise like that?' it sends me the message that there is a formal procedural process that can be taught, memorized, and learned, and maybe after years and years of practice you'll get it right. Maybe that's why it's such a tough thing to teach...." 

I think that's the thing - people tend to have a fundamental misunderstanding of what the essence of improvising is. And therefore that essence gets neglected because there is a lot of learnable information that, of course, can be applied: scales, notes, chords, etc. But the misconception is that if you know all of that stuff then you will be able to improvise. One needn't look beyond most trained classical musicians - who know their scales, notes and chords inside and out, but can't improvise at all because there was no room in their training for them to exist in that pure state of play - to see this borne out in real life. 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Playing on One String Aug 31, 2018

unteachable yet learnable ... improvising over a vibe ... now you're talking my language ...

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Sep 20, 2018

I know it sounds crazy, but it's true! Some of this stuff, especially the part where you can make the leap into real improvising, has to be learned by intuition. The fun starts when you begin putting the intellectual, teachable knowledge together with the intuitive knowledge.

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Arranging for the Guitar's Growl Aug 22, 2018

Chris and Julian Lage have 2 tremendous records that I never put away. I'm hoping for a 3rd. Fngers crossed.

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Angeline the Baker Arranging for the Guitar's Growl Aug 17, 2018

Chris - although growly and very cool .. your arrangement is elegant and beautiful. Great tune and I'll be having much fun with this.

Thank you!

Kip

 

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Mississippi Valley Counting A Crooked Tune Jul 08, 2018

If you're here I figure you like cool guitars and Chris .... a lot. So, I ran across this today on the Fretbnoard Journal Web Site. The restoration of an old Stella guitar and Chris plays it. I hope you enjoy ... and I don't know where to post this stuff so sorry.

https://www.fretboardjournal.com/video/saving-stella-behind-the-scenes-with-tr-crandall/

 

 

Chris Eldridge
Chris Eldridge Jul 08, 2018

This seems like as good a place as any!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Whiskey Before Breakfast Basic Version Jul 07, 2018

Mike and Chris -

I think this single note picking advice on a G string is one of the most important lessons I have ever recieved during this journey. I spend at least 5 to 10 minutes everyday during the course of my practice to warm up in the beginning and cool down at the end. Although I won't be playing as fast as you are anytime soon ... I play tempos at interval of 5 bpm ranging from 75 to 95 spending about a minute or so at each. I've found some days are better than others but the mindfulness aspect is always helpful to stay loose and relaxed. Accuracy is also a by product but secondary to form and technique. Thank you!

Kip Marchetti
Kip Marchetti commented on: Mississippi Valley Dotting i’s and Crossing t’s on Rhythm Guitar Jul 07, 2018

Thanks Chris ... challenging crooked song to play and so far impossible for me to sing. As with most things I'm hoping to solve with time and practice. Great lyric. I had dismissed John Hartford for years based soley on appearance and banjo ... what a mistake that was. Thanks again!

 
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