I can't play da blues

[mi2tom]

www.myspace.com/alfieoh

Comments needed good or bad

[bikeman]

My opinion? You need to slow down, sweep less, and think about the spaces as well as the notes. Blues is laid back, relaxed and all about the timing. What you don't play is the key.

Nice woolly tone though, neck pickup is the law for blues so you got that right

[mi2tom]

Hey there bikeman, I'll try to slow down and will try to sweep less I haven't tried to play the blues until not so recently, The problem is I haven't listen to many blues player. And yeah i use the neck pickup most of the time. Thanks again bikeman Oh yeah and I done this in one take only

[The Euphor]

I was hoping for a Bumblefoot cover...

Sound: Your sound is not bad, but it doesn't blend it with the backing too well.

Music: I would try to start off slower, and then hold back as long as you can. Teasing the listener with what's to come. Lots of notes, but from hearing this I have no idea what you had on your mind when you recorded it... I would want to "see" your soul in your music.

But you can play!

[sick-boy]

The blues aren't for everyone, just like shred or jazz.
When it comes to properly playing the blues, it's all about the soul. If your soul is in it, your fingers will follow.
I know it sounds cliche, but it's the truth.

[pawel]

Not really blues in a traditional sense, but very cool bluesy fusion. I enjoyed listening to it, there were some very cool licks there and you employ your technique well.

Some suggestions: break it down a little, make more "space". That would make your licks stand out more and get the attention of a listener - pausing for a funky rhythm break, or grooving over a chord vamp would work very well in that tune IMO. It would also be great if you could hit a "theme" in the solo from time to time. The way it is now, it keeps building up and up, but there isn't anything to tell the listener where exactly you are.

PS: If you want to get some trad blues chops, the best thing to do is to listen - and the closer to the sources you get, the better. Of course there is nothing to say that guitarists should start from the blues, but it's always cool to have some of these skills.

[TongueShredder]

Alright bro, keep rockin....keep that blues soul in ya

[newbieguitarmaker]

I played the blues for a year before i knew about Vai and all those good players, from what i learned is that the blues is all about showcasing one note really, if you listen to a lot of players they really show a note, and they keep it simple and sometimes what srv would do was he would add a little jazz in there. It makes sense to me but idk if it makes sense to others, my logic is always different than mosts... (oh and i know playing 3 yrs of guitar doesnt make me an expert but I'm a quick learner, i got in the philharmonic youth orch after 1 month of playing upright bass)

[Stevesblood]

Sorry that was painful. I'm all for encouragement but I ain't no Paula.

[newbieguitarmaker]

Originally Posted by Stevesblood

Sorry that was painful. I'm all for encouragement but I ain't no Paula.

ahhaha took me a sec to get that

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Sorry but to play the Blues you MUST FEEL THE BLUES!!! so get familiar with the music, become a good listener first then you can become a good player!
Too many guitar players think they can play the Blues because they can do the typical 12 bar thing but there is a lot more to it than that and that's why they sound mechanical and uninspired because they learn it by technique instead of learning it by FEEL!!!

[waylay00]

mi2tom (or anyone else), you need to listen to Eric Gales. He is absolutely incredible. Since he is from my hometown, I've been able to see him quite a few times, and I'll tell you, this guy knows how to play blues from the soul...He plays from his heart, and sounds like no other. "A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre." (from Shrapnel Blues site). He's just one of those guys who's "born" with it, I guess...If any of you get to see him live, you won't be disappointed. I picked up quite a few things from his playing.

BTW, for all who can't listen to anything but "shred", Mr. Gales can hang with the best of them in terms of technique. Hell, he wouldn't be on Shrapnel if he couldn't. He plays a right handed guitar completely upside down, strings and all (unlike Hendrix, who actually restrung his guitar for a leftie).

Regardless of technique though, his playing captivates me unlike many others.

Sorry for the little off topic post

Anyway, as other have said, try to slow down maybe. You just have to play from the heart. It'll come eventually.

[newbieguitarmaker]

just watch this vid like 10k times haha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGcgcOEvqE4

[mi2tom]

Originally Posted by The Euphor

I was hoping for a Bumblefoot cover...

I didn't know there's a song of his titled I can't play da blues

Originally Posted by sick-boy

The blues aren't for everyone, just like shred or jazz.
When it comes to properly playing the blues, it's all about the soul. If your soul is in it, your fingers will follow.
I know it sounds cliche, but it's the truth.

Yeah, I guess I shouldn't be trying to play blues

Originally Posted by Stevesblood

Sorry that was painful. I'm all for encouragement but I ain't no Paula.

No worries

Originally Posted by OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S

Sorry but to play the Blues you MUST FEEL THE BLUES!!! so get familiar with the music, become a good listener first then you can become a good player!
Too many guitar players think they can play the Blues because they can do the typical 12 bar thing but there is a lot more to it than that and that's why they sound mechanical and uninspired because they learn it by technique instead of learning it by FEEL!!!

Yes I hear ya Olie

Originally Posted by waylay00

mi2tom (or anyone else), you need to listen to Eric Gales. He is absolutely incredible. Since he is from my hometown, I've been able to see him quite a few times, and I'll tell you, this guy knows how to play blues from the soul...He plays from his heart, and sounds like no other. "A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre." (from Shrapnel Blues site). He's just one of those guys who's "born" with it, I guess...If any of you get to see him live, you won't be disappointed. I picked up quite a few things from his playing.

Yeah, I'll listen to eric gales and see

Thanks all for the comments, You guys are great and like a bro to me

[Darin]

My experience says..... If you ain't born with it. You'll never "have" it. You can learn the riffs, the technique, the style. But some guys were born to play the blues, and nail the darn heck out of it. The rest of us are perpetual posers. Sad to say, but true. It's easier to become a shredder that a blues player. Doesn't mean you don't have it yourself. It may just be waiting to come out. Listen to old blues players too. Go a week listening to nothing but blues. I promise you will be far better at playing blues at the end of just one week.

-Darin