Sweet Notes: Online Workshop

[gadlaw]

Thank goodness! I was worried about that. See you at the Sweet Notes Blog. - That Robbie Calvo is a very nice fellow I'm happy to say.

[herby]

That Robbie Calvo is a very nice fellow I'm happy to say.

Gotta agree Gad. I sent him a fairly detailed question on the Sweet Notes thread and he responded really clearly and fast. Can't help but like that.

[robbie calvo]

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for the kind thoughts. As I've said before i believe I am here for you not the other way around. I always give what I have to give 100%....If I didn't i shouldn't be teaching!

Please join us in the comments sections of the video's. Today (Sunday ) we are on the E9 Chord tones video segment. As you can imagine we have to move forward through these video s without back tracking so try and jump in today!

With Regards,

Robbie

[wvgman]

Today is the first section after the Sweet Notes Review section. It is named "A minor 9 Extensions." If you haven't yet tossed in a comment there, go to TrueFireTV and chime in.
This is a great opportunity to interact with the instructor or comment on the course.

[gadlaw]

Today is the first section after the Sweet Notes Review section. It is named "A minor 9 Extensions." If you haven't yet tossed in a comment there, go to TrueFireTV and chime in.
This is a great opportunity to interact with the instructor or comment on the course.

Okay, I did something radically different than usual. I looked at the PDF to find the shapes of those chords. This is my new note on the Am9 and Am11 from listening and noting what Robbie did say about it. And I do like my Neck Diagrams software - kudos to Chris Buono for mentioning it.

[wvgman]

Gadlaw, you do love some neck diagrams now, don't ya?
That is good! I think you may want to include the 5th sting E note in red to get the full chord in that color, but actually it can stand without that too and still be the Am9. The more you work with this stuff, the more you get from it.

[gadlaw]

That's why I put it up - I wasn't getting a clearer picture of it. Went to http://www.chordbook.com and found that shape which I put in that chart which had the chords that Robbie was talking about.

[wvgman]

I liked the post and then you added the cool link to an on-line chord finder! Great work!

[Guitar Mike]

I purchased Robbie Calvo's Sweet Notes. Evidently there is an online forum with Robbie but I cannot figure out how to participate. Does anyone know how to do this and what time the forum begins?

[mikespe]

Regarding the backing track for the Blues Progression lesson...is there a FULL version located somewhere? I got the one in the downloads labeled "Blues Progression" but it seems to only do the first 8 bars. I am looking for the full song. I haven't check the disk yet since I was just looking for a quick download...

Thanks

[Wolfboy1]

Guitar Mike WELCOME!

Here is a link to the Sweet Notes Lessons. It is part of Truefire TV with much info added in the "Comments: section for each individual lesson!

http://truefire.com/tftv/index.html?...tes&videofile=

Also in the very first post on this thread Brad Wenkos spells out the directions:

WHERE THE WORKSHOP WILL BE CONDUCTED

The Online workshop will NOT take place here in the forum. It will be conducted within the actual Sweet Notes channel on TrueFire TV, and we'll be using the "Comments" section in that channel for all communications between Robbie and participating students.

This way we can organize all of the posts by specific video, instead of running one long unwieldy series of pages and comments.

Another obvious benefit is having all of the material (video, tab, notation and rhythm track) right at your fingertips. Participants can also use the "Playlist" feature to store the lessons they'd like to come back to after the blog.

You’ll note that each video lesson has its own comments section and so all you’ll have to do is select the lesson(s) that is being discussed that day and then read Robbie’s comments or leave your own comments in that video’s comments section.

HOW TO ACCESS TRUEFIRE TV

If you’re already a Level 1 or Level 2 student, you’re good to go.

If you’re not a Level 1 or Level 2 student, but you’ve purchased the course as a download or on disk, we’ll give you free access to TrueFire TV for the duration of the workshop so that you can participate. Just follow these instructions …

1- Send an email to promo@truefire.com

2- Put “Sweet Notes” in the subject line

3- Include your TrueFire user name and email address.

4- We’ll reply within 24 hours to confirm your free access.

[kurrykid]

It looks like I may be a little too late to jump in. It looks like you guys have already gone through a number of lessons.

Where are you currently at on the video? It is Wednesday night, July 28th almost 10:00pm (EST) where I'm at.

I'd really like to join you guys and be part of the fun

[AshleySmith]

Hey kurrykid, welcome.

Next lesson "today" (Thursday) is A Minor 11th Extensions.

Send in your details to Truefire so you can view the vids and post comments.

[gadlaw]

It looks like I may be a little too late to jump in. It looks like you guys have already gone through a number of lessons.

Where are you currently at on the video? It is Wednesday night, July 28th almost 10:00pm (EST) where I'm at.

I'd really like to join you guys and be part of the fun

It's never too late. We're almost done with the first progression, the next one starting shortly and the lessons in the next few days will be about semi tone bends, Whole Tone Bends and Vibrato. And it's not like the discussions will vanish or go away, they'll still be there.

[Jestme]

I purchased Robbie Calvo's Sweet Notes. Evidently there is an online forum with Robbie but I cannot figure out how to participate. Does anyone know how to do this and what time the forum begins?

Mike

Welcome to the Forum... What do you think of the course?

The blog is actually located on TFTV in the Sweet Notes -
Comments section.
http://truefire.com/tftv/?channel=sweetnotes&videofile=

If you are not a TFU Member send off an email to ren@truefire.com and mention that you purchased Sweet Notes and would like to participate in the moderated blog. Ren will see to it that you get temporary TFTV membership in order to participate.

Post your questions in the Comments section and Rob will answer them for you.

Have fun.

[gadlaw]

Regarding the backing track for the Blues Progression lesson...is there a FULL version located somewhere? I got the one in the downloads labeled "Blues Progression" but it seems to only do the first 8 bars. I am looking for the full song. I haven't check the disk yet since I was just looking for a quick download...

Thanks

I just checked the disk version of Sweet Notes and clicked on the 'jam' button and got a audio player with a 36 second jam but there were controls for looping that. Probably the same with the Blues Progressions Course.

[mikespe]

I just checked the disk version of Sweet Notes and clicked on the 'jam' button and got a audio player with a 36 second jam but there were controls for looping that. Probably the same with the Blues Progressions Course.

I wish it was a full version. I tried looping it but I keep getting the click track. I would like to record over it but I would need a clean loop...I can edit audio a little bit but I am not that good. Maybe Robbie has a copy of it and can post it here...

Thanks gadlaw!

[Rgalvez]

Hey guys !!
Robbie starts tomorrow a lesson on R &B . I have seen it and it 's essential !!!! don't miss it. (go to Treufire TV and ask all your questions to Robbie in the comments area).
See you there !

[gadlaw]

It looks just a bit scary for me - going out my Am Pentatonic, Fifth Fret comfort zone. Will have to pay very close attention.

[AshleySmith]

Lol @ "5th fret comfort zone" I know what you mean.

I've watched the whole series now and man this is such an excellent course with a great teacher, I highly recommend it!! I'm excited to jump in on the modal section as that's my main downfall/stumbling block, though I know the theory pretty much it's just applying it and creating good licks resolving to those sweet notes outside of the relative major key.

Can't wait for Robbie to do more, more, more...

[gadlaw]

Lol @ "5th fret comfort zone" I know what you mean.

I've watched the whole series now and man this is such an excellent course with a great teacher, I highly recommend it!! I'm excited to jump in on the modal section as that's my main downfall/stumbling block, though I know the theory pretty much it's just applying it and creating good licks resolving to those sweet notes outside of the relative major key.

Can't wait for Robbie to do more, more, more...

I'm just now getting back to going through this set of videos for the course and darned if Robbie doesn't keep making it simple enough even for me to follow. I have to watch carefully and over and over but aside from the notes on the fretboard being a slightly bit farther apart - I'm following him just fine. I'm still hopping all over the PDF files to find what licks he's referencing cause it's kind of important for me to find the notes and follow along to get some of those sounds.

I did miss him putting the 9th of the G7 chord - the A Note in the Arpeggio the first time around and I'm grasping the idea of using the Chromatic tones to connect and get to those sweet notes. Going to watch this set again to see what I'm missing.

[AshleySmith]

It's definitely worth watching them again and again and referencing the pdf's.

I hope Robbie can do a vid on how to play intervallic lines for all the modes. I want to be able to play freely around the neck and know what I'm actually playing like Eric Johnson and Carl Verheyen... I recommend you check out the latter, he's awesome... I've only just come across him.

Perhaps TrueFire could get Carl to do a vid too?

[gadlaw]

Well, I'm like the cat here, a bit of wut? I'm supposed to resolve to the B but the tab takes me to the D#/Eb . A misprint or is my understanding even further from reality than I had hoped? - Couldn't get up on the Blog.

[Rgalvez]

Well, I'm like the cat here, a bit of wut? I'm supposed to resolve to the B but the tab takes me to the D#/Eb . A misprint or is my understanding even further from reality than I had hoped? - Couldn't get up on the Blog.

According to what I'm seing in the notation it's also a D# (it's notated Eb which is the same).

[gadlaw]

yah, that is true, but the Major Third of G7 is B, it's supposed to resolve to B and not Eb or D#. I think.The one before resolves to G and the tab reflects that. The one after resolves to the D and the tab reflects that. Am I missing something. I'm going to go look for my 'confused dogs' images now.

[Rgalvez]

no Gad. you're right!! I think it is a big typo indeed . you're right. that note doesn't belong to the arpeggio, and the tab doesn't show the B (there's a Bb there, but no B which is the third of G). Reeen...are u there man? !!

[robbie calvo]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your wonderful feedback on my Sweet Notes course. Gadlaw....i see what you are saying....the lick has been engraved one string higher.....here is what it should be and I apologise......pull F off to D 2nd string......play B 3rd string 4th fret....play G with 3rd finger 4th string 5th fret....then hammer from F to G 4th string and resolve on the B 4th fret 3rd string............Same phrasing as the tab and notation.

We do this to keep you on your toes No, we truly do our absolute best to make sure everything is in order for you but every now and again the human factor kicks in.....I only had to read the notation to see that lick sucks!

Regarding intervallic lines.........I am working on a new course for you guys and guess what....Intervallic lines are part of it...as well as some other really cool techniques.....we'll keep you posted! I appreciate you all!

Robbie

[AshleySmith]

Awesome Robbie, thanks for the heads up

[gadlaw]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your wonderful feedback on my Sweet Notes course. Gadlaw....i see what you are saying....the lick has been engraved one string higher.....here is what it should be and I apologise......pull F off to D 2nd string......play B 3rd string 4th fret....play G with 3rd finger 4th string 5th fret....then hammer from F to G 4th string and resolve on the B 4th fret 3rd string............Same phrasing as the tab and notation.

We do this to keep you on your toes No, we truly do our absolute best to make sure everything is in order for you but every now and again the human factor kicks in.....I only had to read the notation to see that lick sucks!

Regarding intervallic lines.........I am working on a new course for you guys and guess what....Intervallic lines are part of it...as well as some other really cool techniques.....we'll keep you posted! I appreciate you all!

Robbie

Well you definitely know I'm paying attention then! I used to think it was best to keep quiet and not let anyone know I don't something rather than risk asking a stupid question but I got over that. No wonder I couldn't figure it out. Thanks Robbie. I'm trying to catch up here and look forward to that next course.

[Rgalvez]

we're loving you're commitment with your students and of course your teaching Robbie!!

[robbie calvo]

Thank you!,

I am commited to making this the best experience you can have with an online course and I can only hope to make the next one even better for you with the feedback and support you are all giving me.

Robbie

[Jestme]

Robbie

Nice to have you around here. I'm enjoying your course ... along with everybody else



Thanks for the course and your participation

[AshleySmith]

Is there anyway to remove/edit a comment? I posted twice by mistake replying to gadlaw's post in the C7 Chord Tones section. I thought it possible to edit my post and change a spelling error as it showed up again when I hit add comment. Sorry.

Please could you remove my first post after gadlaw's (it's comment 6 counting up from the bottom) and keep my last... "the very top one" - comment 7.

I'm "dantebrown064"

Thanks,

Edit; Made a real hash of the post anyway as I meant to say Lydian not Mixolydian. Can I/you rewrite my post please and remove those posted already.

Can you change what I've posted from...

Hi gadlaw, The D could be used as a passing tone "only" like the others, it is not a sweet note. I'd only use it as a passing tone unless I were vamping a G chord and soloing in C Mixolydian which has the D note relative to the G (the 5th note) chord. Sorry if that's confusing as we're not on modes yet. Robbie am I right? I think I'm getting the hang of this and lovin' it! :o)

to

Hi gadlaw, The D could be used as a passing tone "only" like the others, it is not a sweet note. I'd only use it as a passing tone unless I were vamping a G chord and soloing in C Lydian which has the D note relative to the G chord (the 5th note in the G major scale). Sorry if that's confusing as we're not on modes yet. Robbie am I right? I think I'm getting the hang of this and lovin' it! :o)

Yikes!! Just realised I may be getting ahead of myself somewhat specifying C Lydian over a C7 chord as it's dominant... where only 7th chords are dominant relative to the 5th of the major scale. Perhaps I'm doing some funky chordal/scale substitution without knowing it. Hehe.

Guess you can ignore me for the time being, I'm thinking out loud and writing things down on the forum.

I'll chat to Robbie about it, if he understands my musings.



Edit2; I was thinking of Mixolydian initially because D is the 5th of the G Major scale, and playing D Mixolydian over a C7 would perhaps be playing a mode within a mode? Some Mixolydian b6, Super Locrian, etc...???

Sorry again for confusing anyone. I confuse myself sometimes. Hehe.

[gadlaw]

The forum is for writing down your musings and letting the guitar talk flow so have no fear there is room for all of it.

Now as for the rest of it, we've got no ability to do anything with those comments on the TrueFire TV. I don't know if anyone does. But if there's one thing to know - if you misspoke or confused yourself or others - not a worry, we're guitar folks here , we're used to be confused.

Anyways, I think now I know a bit of what you're talking about. In the discussion on the TrueFire TV discussion board I ask about using the 9th as a passing tone which was discussed in previous chords of this progression but not mentioned in the C7 discussion. I know it's not a Sweet Tone, I think I know that. Since it wasn't discussed by Robbie you know I feel a bit of a disconnect with the rest of it. If everything else is equal, then the ninth of the C7 should and could be used as a passing or connecting tone as the chromatic is used. That sounds simple. And the 9th is the D? When I put the C7 Arpeggio down - the C7 with the 1, 3, 5, b7 which are the C, E, G, Bb notes without the D it looks less filled in. I think I've been heavily allergy pill drugged these last few days which is my excuse for feeling confused. Apparently I haven't even finished my notes on the C7.

[AshleySmith]

Cool, glad I didn't confuse you too much

I had a breakthrough the other day referencing the sweet notes vid's and reading a great book on the modes...

Musicians Institute - Modes For Guitar

Something just clicked!

[wvgman]

So you are dantebrown064! I wondered why I didn't see dante here and why I didn't see you there. Now I know: it is the old Clark Kent / Superman trick.

Hey Gadlaw, Thanks for more super-cool and colorful neck diagram charts!

[AshleySmith]

Lol, yeh I'm dantebrown064. An account was setup with my e-mail address when I initially purchased, so am unable to change it to Ashley Smith. Just for clarification, dante brown was a pseudonym I used for some US releases a fair while back and the e-mail addy has just stuck. I always tag stuff with my signature anyway.

[gadlaw]

Cool, glad I didn't confuse you too much

I had a breakthrough the other day referencing the sweet notes vid's and reading a great book on the modes...

Musicians Institute - Modes For Guitar

Something just clicked!

I have that book. I have all books actually, thank goodness that Amazon.com shows me the books I have already picked up or I'd buy books more than once after they get home and then go hide in boxes or something. (pulls Modes for Guitars off the Guitar book shelf which is below the computer game shelf which is above the DVD shelves)

Anyways. Now I know what you're referencing. Modes being 'scales within scales' ( I didn't get suddenly smart - it's from the book). Modes are created by shifting the tonal center away from the root. And then they go and discuss how there are seven modes for the C Major Scale or for any diatonic seven note scale. For instance starting at D instead of C and changing the intervallic formula while you're at it. I don't get it myself but that makes the words of Jeff Scheez seem more reasonable as I was working through his 'Saucy Riffs' and he starts discussing going through the dorian scale on one of the riffs. Then his fingers moved very fast, something cool came out and I was saying 'Wha?' -

[AshleySmith]

Yeh, it's a great book!!

IMHO I think there are a few main things we need to learn to become competent guitarists: -

1. Understanding the Major scale and it's formula - from which pretty much all western music is derived, and gives us the basis for working out chords and scales, etc...

^ I'd also recommend harmonising it during point 2 (below)

2. Chord construction and forms - basic 1, 3, 5 (major), the variations for minor (b3), augmented (#5) and diminished (b3, b5), extensions... 7, 9, 11, 13. For forms I'd recommend learning the CAGED and EDCAG systems.

3. Arpeggios - giving us those sweet notes

4. Scales and Modes - learn the most common... major, natural minor and the pentatonic's, then the modes (in theory playing a new scale starting from a different degree of the parent scale) and perhaps more exotic scales (at a later date). Break them down into their box shapes and see the CAGED/EDCAG chord forms and Arpeggio's within. These will fill in the gaps and allow us to add flavor and colour to our improvisations.

4. Throughout our practice sessions work on techniques and these above in small chunks.

[wvgman]

WOW! Ashley that is a great post and filled with some wonderful advice. Good stuff!

Now can anyone tell me what Sweet Notes lesson we are studying today (Friday, August 6, 2010 Eastern Standard Time)?
Is it the last day of R&B or the first day of Funk?

[AshleySmith]

Thanks for the props.

I think we're on the last day of RnB... Visualisation Techniques.

Saturday 7th, Aug 2010 will be the start of the Funk progression.

[wvgman]

Well, I will not be home tomorrow evening due to working on the road. Guess I will need to double up tonight and go on ahead to the B7#5 chord tones.
Work is seriously beginning to get in the way of my personal life!

[gadlaw]

Well my fretting hand has finally gone far enough lame with the carpel tunnel stuff so I can't put anything else under my fingers for the moment but for instance, as I'm looking at the Funk Progression Approaches video Robbie is putting it all together, we've become familiar with the new progression and the new chords coming out at us and then the pentatonic forms that go over it and the arpeggios go with each chord and I'm thinking back to first learning one pentatonic over one whole progression and here I'm watching Robbie drop a pentatonic shape over one chord then the next pentatonic shape over the next chord being played and then smoothly putting the arpeggio in there as well. Amazing stuff. And then of course there's our Dorian fans jumping ahead to the B Dorian Mode ! Man oh man we are jumping into the Starship and heading out light years ahead of where we started. Cool!

[gadlaw]

A number of excited folks jumping all over this video before it was even time for it. Many folks seem to want some clarification about the Dorian Mode and how to use it. Having read the discussion at TrueFire TV I can say quite confidently that I'm not one of those who wants to mess with that. Glazed over eyes and all that. Robbie mentions a possible future course about applied Harmony and theory, which if it's done in the same methodical and clear way this course is done I'm putting my pre order in right now.

[robbie calvo]

Hi All,

Hope you are not totally bored with Sweet Notes and your animated instructor I wanted to answer the question above about using a D mixolydian mode against a C7 chord. You can use that scale if you'd like...be careful not to rest on the #4(F#) or the maj7th (B) as they'll most likely sound pantz!....you could however add the #4(#11) to the chord and play a C7(#11) chord. The other tones you get to play with would be a 2(9) ma3rd, 5th, maj6th and the Root. The better approach would be a C Mixolydian mode (F major scale).

Hope this helps,

Robbie

[AshleySmith]

Hey all,

Whipped up this Blues demo in E this afternnon. Hope you like it.

I tried to use all I've learnt and more in this jam... targeting those sweet notes, arpeggio's, and putting in some intervallic lines.

http://rapidshare.com/files/41296960...E.mp3.zip.html

Ash

[gadlaw]

That sounded great Ashley/ Dante! You learned all that from Robbie? Great job of it.

[gadlaw]

We're down to the last progression on the Sweet Notes Blog moderated by Robbie Calvo - the C7 F9 F#dim7 C7 A7 Dm7 G9 - Jazz Progression!

Taking everything you've already learned from the previous progressions and continuing to make it easy to understand and follow here's the last progression before it's over. And when it's over - it'll still be there with all the comment and all the insight. Can't beat that with a crooked stick.

[AshleySmith]

Thanks. Yeh, I've been experimenting a lot this past week and decided to record a tune and implement all that I've learnt.

All the drums were programmed by myself too, using the new Neil Peart (drummer from RUSH) expansion pack for FXpansion's BFD2 Drum plugin.

I've also purchased a few new books. Mel Bay Fluid soloing books 1-4 from Amazon.com, and Carl Verheyen's Forward Motion: Advancing on the Guitar DVD. He goes into detail regarding the intervallic approach.

Can't thank Robbie enough for giving me a kick up the arse and showing me the wonders of the sweet notes method, it's really opened my eyes.

[wvgman]

Hey Ashley! Good job with that Blues in E demo you did.

This has been a great course for me too. For one thing, it taught me things I had not seen and the daily pace made me practice more than usual on a predetermined set of studies that eventually all linked together. Good stuff and I am glad to know you and others benefited as well. That's the thing about moderated blogs for me; I have to keep up and I am forced to practice if I want the results. It always works to my benefit when I can catch them.