Mobile videos

Hi all,

I've finally got upgraded my phone to one that can take pictures. Bought it primarily because it's cheap. Paid a grand total of $55 (with handsfree) for it and it has proved to be worth every single penny and more. I was quite apprehensive about the lens that comes with it as I wasn't impressed with cameras on phones (i still don't actually) much less the video recording function that came with my phone. Nevertheless I toyed around with my mobile gadget and actually found the video to be of pretty decent quality. And there starts my journey to mobile videos! It got even cooler when I found out a way to post them unto my blog. Just to show what I mean, I've posted a video of me playing some tunes on my Cort electric. My student was the cameraman and it was thru him that i realised you can zoom in while videoing... heh... the video made my Cort sound like a Gibson Les Paul! Enjoy! :)

God bless.


Remember this tune? It's a very very old Janet Jackson's track called Blackcat!

Feature: Viva Flamenco! - Victor Moraito

Hi all,

I've been wanting to share with you all the world of flamenco music. It's a strange world, where people don't really speak english and they tend to deviate from the major scale. Nevertheless, with a bit of analysis, one will find that the genre's very unique and exciting, with it's pulsating rythym blended with melancholia. I tend to think that it's a music of extremes. When it's sad, it's really sad (think Bryan Adam's "Do You Really Love A Women"). When it's happy, it's really chirpy (Gypsy Kings anybody?). When it's dark, it's really dark (gypsy music).

So I shall start by letting you watch this promo of a flamencao instructional video. I think the essence of flamenco is nicely illustrated in that short 1 min clip. The flamenco player's Victor Moraito, whom I feel that he really has alot of feelings in his notes though it's not as technical as some other players. Enjoy!

God bless.


Flamenco video featuring Victor Moraito aka "The Humble King" on guitar.

Ps. More coming up! :)

Feature: John McLaughlin plays Cherokee

Someone in a forum wrote this:

Jason_Ong wrote:
It is easier to bend on steel strings then it is on a nylon string. That's why most people substitute bend notes with slide notes when using nylon stringed guitars.

Reply:
so true, 1 reason why i dislike playing classical guitars

Hmm… maybe he should check this video out. He might just change his mind…



John McLaughlin plays Cherokee!


Wow that was fast! Just how did he pick so fast on a nylon guitar? I suspect the key lies not with applying more strength but rather picking lightly at the right angle. Notice how his fingers are not clasped up? That shows he's applying minimal force on his index & thumb to hold his pick. He's using quite a small pick so that helps alot too. Try one & you'll see what I mean...

His approach to soloing is really one of improvisation. From the video we can see that he was playing in a rather scalic fashion. At that kind of speed I think it's really quite difficult to think about harmony. I think he was feeling the harmony through getting feedback from his ears as can be heard from some of the notes that he was readjusting to harmonise with the underlying chords.

Anyway John’s one of my favourite guitar hero. He can play and has played all types of contemporary guitar conceivable. Amazing! I think nowsadays he's more into guitar education. His new dvd instructional set called "This is the Way I Do It" looks real tempting until I consider the price... heh

God bless.

Lesson : Major scale - first things first

Hi all,

I've in mind a series of presentations on the major scale. Hope it will shed some light on this simple yet powerful scale for beginners to learn. First up will be a video presentation on a short introduction to the course.

Enjoy & have a blessed day! :)



Major scale - First things first part 1




Major scale - First things first part 2

Lessons : String bending

Hi all,

Here's a post in response to a forum topic at Guitar4Christ.



Click on play button to watch video


Perhaps one of the most famous string bending riffs is the melodic line in Eric Clapton's classic "Wonderful Tonight". Here's my take on the song. Enjoy! :)

God bless.




Wonderful Tonight

Lessons : Scalic improvisation

Hi all, just trying out a video response to a forum topic at http://www.guitar4christ.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6779



Click on play button to start video


Here's an example to my improvisation played over a chord progression. I try to incorporate both scalic and chordal ideas but it's predominantly scalic. :D



Noodling over key of B minor (or D major)


God bless!