Question for Tomo

[Terrapin Jed]

Tomo,

you are too cool to take the time to give all of us advice. I just got your DVD and am having a great time working through it. I have played guitar for 11 years and have played the lead for about 8. The first and only scale that I have learned is the pentatonic and I have used it EXCLUSIVELY all this time. BORING I KNOW. I know the names of the most widely used chords but I have no idea what notes I am playing as I solo. Luckily, I have been able to make a meager living playing with what I know but I am ready to change as a player.

My question to you is where is a good place to start to learn theory and and get better with improvising. Since you are a professor at one of the most elite musical schools, I am sure that you are familiar with many different texts. I've seen on this board that the material out there is overwhelming, and I would love to have some advice from you. What would be a good regimen for me to start in order to become a more complete player.

Thanks and you are the MAN,

Terrapin

[OOG]

Tomo,

you are too cool to take the time to give all of us advice. I just got your DVD and am having a great time working through it. I have played guitar for 11 years and have played the lead for about 8. The first and only scale that I have learned is the pentatonic and I have used it EXCLUSIVELY all this time. BORING I KNOW. I know the names of the most widely used chords but I have no idea what notes I am playing as I solo. Luckily, I have been able to make a meager living playing with what I know but I am ready to change as a player.

My question to you is where is a good place to start to learn theory and and get better with improvising. Since you are a professor at one of the most elite musical schools, I am sure that you are familiar with many different texts. I've seen on this board that the material out there is overwhelming, and I would love to have some advice from you. What would be a good regimen for me to start in order to become a more complete player.

Thanks and you are the MAN,

Terrapin

Tomo is working at Namm
he's gonna be swamped till next week

btw
there's a whole lot of good info on the net :)

[Jeff Flowerday]

Tomo,

you are too cool to take the time to give all of us advice. I just got your DVD and am having a great time working through it. I have played guitar for 11 years and have played the lead for about 8. The first and only scale that I have learned is the pentatonic and I have used it EXCLUSIVELY all this time. BORING I KNOW. I know the names of the most widely used chords but I have no idea what notes I am playing as I solo. Luckily, I have been able to make a meager living playing with what I know but I am ready to change as a player.

My question to you is where is a good place to start to learn theory and and get better with improvising. Since you are a professor at one of the most elite musical schools, I am sure that you are familiar with many different texts. I've seen on this board that the material out there is overwhelming, and I would love to have some advice from you. What would be a good regimen for me to start in order to become a more complete player.

Thanks and you are the MAN,

Terrapin

Music Theory for Dummies is a good theory book. Ignore the name and check out the reviews on Amazon.

[Tomo]

Hi Terrapin,

Thank you for asking good question. I just came back from NAMM yesterday.
I got to do my work now. So I will give you more detail later. I would like to
think deeply about this issue.

I know theory ... but theory related with real music. Music first, sound
and tone... There are many aspect and areas that you can prepare
for this. So it's not just buy this or that. You don't want to own too many
cooking book without cooking real food or not knowing real taste ?

Thanks,

Tomo

[PlexiBreath]

I have two of Tomo's DVDs and must say they are as good as it gets, especially the R 3 7 Shuffle progression exercises. I too look forward to Tomo's answer to your question.

I found a very good path to better guitar playing is the Berklee Music's online certificate program called "Guitar Skills".
http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/certificates/certificate?area_item_id=2973342&program_id=4560721
I've finished the Chords 101 and Scales 101 and am taking the rest now. This is the best money I've ever spent as a guitar player, ever! And I've spent a lot! The Chords 101 class alone is worth it. It's a motivator to learn because you have deadlines to meet and you laid some money down.

[Tomo]

Thanks for waiting my answer.

Where is the good place to start to learn theory
and get better with improvisation?

As a teacher I am interested in each person's playing
ability and one's experience. Listening experience too.
It's important to find right entrance for you. I don't
recommend FREE internet information. Too much info
with no clear direction.

There is no best place to learn theory, another word,
each person has personality and own pace, level... so
It's not easy like ... " if you buy this, you'll get this? "

But I would like to share with you my thought and
let's think about possibilities: Pros and cons.

1) You need to know better about your fretboard.
Know all C D EF G A BC as notes, as degrees.
Play each note on every strings.... say the note
then play it. It's REALLY important.

Possibly study Berklee guitar Method book 1
real all those notes. Be patient!

Many guitarists don't know the fretboard really well.
just a bunch of box shapes. That's easy to start but
that is the end too.

2) Learn triads over 123/234/345/456
Then apply them with tunes.

If you would like to get better with your improvisation
you need to know where to follow it... you know?
Harmony is more important than scales....
That's why I am not into teach scales first... You don't
want to think this theory.. "If I learn all my scales and theory,
I can play great improvisation" You could play all safe sound
... but it could not be very musical?

I don't want to call "Theory" I want to say....
It's good to learn your harmony!

Berklee offers online course you may want to check
into it. Or Berklee Harmony 1 & 2 then apply them into tune.
You may need a good teacher who can teach music
theory to relate to real music. This is important investment
for you to improve as better player. Best place is maybe
you find right coach/teacher? I would do that if I were you.

I mean besides you learn your harmony.... You need to transcribe
solos (for improvisation) then you can figure out those
chord changes first then write all notes or memorize them..
analyze those notes and chords. Find out PACING too.
When the notes start? end? resolve where? Many elements.

.........You don't want to learn English grammar and
you are not able to talk with others. You must listen the conversation
(great examples of music.) Then you need find out some keys
definition, clue about music?

I am not big fan of theory. I know it. I studied a lot...
but I am really ear player who can read and know a lot
of stuff(just in case) ... I play by feel... I thought I needed to
study as much as I can so that I have more freedom. So I must
study until I die. My life is a big lesson.

I believe that everything is possible if you really believe
yourself. Good luck!

I have already taught 8 hours at Berklee. What should I do now?
Oh well, just plug in and play my guitar again. Playing with TONE!
What a fun!

Tomo

[FastGoKart]

Tomo, you are the man! I cought your show Saturday and bought both your instructional DVD's directly afterwards. I really appreicate your style on the guitar, and as an instructor. I really like what you are doing, keep it up.

Tom

[Terrapin Jed]

Tomo,
thank you so much for taking time for us, it really means a lot and keeps a lot of us trying harder. I am going to start taking more time listening to the people that whose playing inspires me. I will try to figure out what they are playing and take in the context of the chords. Harmony will be my new focus. I'll have to look into the triads you are talking about. I am not sure what that means yet. But it sounds like a good place to start. Thanks again, I know that you are very busy. Get that album out, I am eagerly anticipating.

Terrapin

[Terrapin Jed]

Oh, and my teacher search is beginning now too.

Terrapin

[gomez1856]

Tomo, you are one of the most gracious and helpful musicians I've had the pleasure to meet. Thanks for taking the time to answer this post and all others.

By the way, I caught your 2:00 show on Sat. It was great. Unfortunately, I had to leave early!

Rick

[Tomo]

Tomo,
thank you so much for taking time for us, it really means a lot and keeps a lot of us trying harder. I am going to start taking more time listening to the people that whose playing inspires me. I will try to figure out what they are playing and take in the context of the chords. Harmony will be my new focus. I'll have to look into the triads you are talking about. I am not sure what that means yet. But it sounds like a good place to start. Thanks again, I know that you are very busy. Get that album out, I am eagerly anticipating.

Terrapin


Hi Terrapin,

No Problem at all. Listening for learning is very important part of your playing. Not just listen many records.
For instance, if you like SRV then listen to SRV's toots, then that's root of style... Decide a few important listening
source and you can focus on listening. If you like Pat Metheny... then Wes Montgomery... then Charlie Christian...
the genius of electric guitar... transcribe "Rose Room" that's jazz 101 for me.

Yes, about triads... check this thread.

Triad lesson (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=87931&highlight=tomo)

Or listen to this clip (play by feel). Pick a few notes and try to speak, tell some story.

play by feel, tone, touch (http://www02.homepage.villanova.edu/david.kaplowitz/tomo/CJOD_clip__1.mp3)

I am really glad to reach you something.

Tomo

[Izy]

Hey Tomo,

I think u'll be glad to know u are teaching a lot of people to play better via your AYGP dvd,

Keep them coming.......

Isaac

[Tomo]

I have two of Tomo's DVDs and must say they are as good as it gets, especially the R 3 7 Shuffle progression exercises. I too look forward to Tomo's answer to your question.

I found a very good path to better guitar playing is the Berklee Music's online certificate program called "Guitar Skills".
http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/certificates/certificate?area_item_id=2973342&program_id=4560721
I've finished the Chords 101 and Scales 101 and am taking the rest now. This is the best money I've ever spent as a guitar player, ever! And I've spent a lot! The Chords 101 class alone is worth it. It's a motivator to learn because you have deadlines to meet and you laid some money down.



Hi Kelly,

Thanks for your kind words. I highly recommend those Rt37 groove
exercises for soloing. I don't know why people practice solo for soloing?
Comping & Harmony for soloing... That's what I prefer to teach.

Hope you like some of my answer. There is no one answer
but we all have same chance as long as we find right size
bag of music/practice goal.

Thanks,

Tomo