Mike Caren

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Romance in the Dark Intro & Fills Mar 29, 2013

Thanks Duke. Pure beauty. Both the intro and the fills.  I just love those chord fragments, horn riffs and little hammer on for the rhythm.  It's those little nuggets ... and seeing them fit together that's so nice.  This is a great tune and series.  Thanks so much.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Romance in the Dark Chords Mar 29, 2013

@MeanMojo ... Thanks for the suggestion.  GuitarPro is a great program, Sibelius too.  We're likely going to stick with a version of our current system.  Although it's minimalist at the moment, the underlying design is very powerful as you will see over the next couple years.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Romance in the Dark Chords Mar 28, 2013

Hi Mike H ... good suggestion on being able to print the chord charts.  We will look into this along with our update on making the chord charts clearer.  I agree this can be done better.  I've started a thread in the Forum to get input on the upcoming lesson page re-design:

http://sonic-junction.com/forums/9-general-discussion/topics/250-new-lesson-page-design

Hi Alex ... thanks for the suggestion on how to print out the page.  Love that bossa nova too!!  I agree the chords are beautiful.  I especially like the D6 to Dm6.  I could play that all day!

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Romance in the Dark Chords Mar 27, 2013

Hi Duke ... I love this song!  Especially the bridge.  Here's where I am.  The hardest part for me was the transition to the bridge.  It's great to have the track with Sonny to play along with.  I'll keep practicing to get a better flow / groove.

I'm really looking forward to learning some of those chord fragments you use on the album.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Romance in the Dark Chords Mar 24, 2013

Hi All ... I've posted the backing track to help people hear the whole tune and practice the chords.  A big thank you to Duke and Sunny Crownover for sharing the track with us.  Enjoy!!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Romance in the Dark Chords Mar 24, 2013

Hi DaddyRay ... thanks for the thoughts and sharing your frustrations.  To make sure we understand, what would help you is

1. a run through of the song at the beginning of the lesson that covers two choruses or more ... so ... AABA AABA.  This would help you get a mental picture of the song and for / chord progression

2. a clearer chord chart that captures the A and B section in a cleaner way

For #2, we're going to be updating the lesson design in the next month or two that will allow me to create a cleaner chart. I agree this can be done better for more complex songs.

If there are other thoughts / ideas / correction on the points above, please let me know.  Thanks!

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: You Got To Move Rhythm and Melody Mar 22, 2013

Great tune Corey!  This is going to be a lot of fun to learn.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Mar 21, 2013

Hi Steve ... welcome to Sonic Junction!  Here's how you can find the other three lessons on Catfish Blues.

1. click on Corey Harris at the top menu

2. scan down all of Corey's lessons on the right side ... toward the bottom you will find

   - Catfish Blues . Lesson 2

   - Catfish Blues . Lesson 3

   - Catfish Blues . Lesson 4

To help make things easy, I've made the three lessons above links ... so you can just click on them.

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: That's Alright Final Chorus Mar 17, 2013

Hi Frank ... that was AWESOME !! Loved your singing and playing.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: That's Alright Final Chorus Mar 15, 2013

Great lesson Duke!  I especially love that last turnaround.  It has a really nice "feel" to it. Thank's for the secret!!

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Special Rider Blues B Section & Variations Mar 13, 2013

Hi Dave ... you sounds GREAT !!  Love that B variation.

Hi Alex ... playing and singing is awesome.  I agree, learning some chokes and other right hand techniques would be cool.

Seeing both of you play it is a real inspiration.  I'm still getting the a good flow on the main riff and V chord.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Mean Old World Backing Track Mar 09, 2013

Hi Tom .. you're right.  In future videos Rick is going to be framed just like Duke and Corey so you can see both hands.  

I do think seeing each other (the face) is important too. 

 

Hi Rich .. love it!   Especially the solo and ending riff.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Mar 01, 2013

Hi Bill, 

Welcome to Sonic Junction!  For a beginniner, Jerry typically recommends starting at the bottom of the list (Chord Rhythm) and working your way up.  Once you get through the Masterclass, your are ready to start learning the weekly lessons and songs.  The Masterclass is all done using an A Harmonica.

Enjoy!

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: That's Alright Intro & First Verse Feb 25, 2013

@Alex ... you sound great !!  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Good Morning Lesson 2 Feb 24, 2013

Hi Robert and Greg ... my apologies.  It's all fixed now.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Special Rider Blues Run-Through and Main Riff Feb 22, 2013

Wow.  This is going to be a great journey.  You're run through totally blew me away ... absolutely beautiful.  

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Big Boss Man Backing Track Feb 15, 2013

Hi B-K ... I apologize for missing this comment.  You're absolutely correct that listening to songs and lesson breakdowns repeatedly is a great way to internalize the music and learn.  

To address this, we're going to be making an iPod / iPad / iPhone app that will allow you to listen to all the lessons and backing tracks offline.  It will also include a slow downer so you can play everything at a slow enough speed where you can play each riff exactly right ... and build the correct muscle memory.

In the mean time, I've put a downloadable MP3 for Big Boss Man on the Performance lesson page.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Boats Up the River Review & Endings Feb 08, 2013

@JD .. you sound great!  I love the singing and playing.  Great to see.  

Hi Corey .. Here's where I am with the tune.  Would be great to get your thoughts on my playing and singing.  I know I have a long, long way to go on my singing ... but I would really like to learn how to sing ... so please let me know what I should work on.  Thanks!

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Big Boss Man Solo Breakdown Feb 05, 2013

Hi Biscuit ... sounds great!  It's fun hearing you playing this.  Thanks for posting.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Mother-in-Law Blues Lesson 1 Feb 05, 2013

Hi Greg ... great question.  It was an error on my part.  I have updated Jerry's lessons list and it now contains Jerry and Rick's performance of Mother In Law Blues with loop points and slow downer.  

Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.

 

 

 
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