Piano, Guitar and TOTO! June 27th

Today I wrote the score (only the first few bars!!! argh) of my song Say It Now on Finale NotePad. Also learned the correct fingering for scales. Left hand is tough! I can't coordinate properly together with my right. I seem to get stuck after my left hand's finished all 5 fingers. That's okay.

Went home and played some pop songs with Luqman and Siraaj for a Friday's acoustic gig at Kovan CC Cafe. One of the songs we're bringing is Green-Tinted Sixties Mind by Mr. Big. Thanks to Izaar of Fatskunks for this gig. Now it's 2 I owe him! Argh. Fingers got really cramped, tired and rough after playing for so long and not letting go. Playing chords like Bm7 really needs a strong index finger to bar the whole second fret from A string downwards. The one that hurts alot is when you go an octave higher (playing Bm7 after the 12th fret, which is the 14th) where the frets are really small and you have to use alot of energy.

Just finished watching TOTO Live in Paris 1990. I have to say, the best guitar solo I've ever heard performed was by Steve Lukather on the song Georgy Porgy. I thought the one on the CD was really gay. Well I guess I have to say Steve Lukather is one of my favourite guitar players. And he's a great singer, to add to that! Wish I could be like him. Or maybe someone like Prince, who plays everything. Dave Grohl, Nuno Bettencourt... the list goes on.

I hope to be on that list one day.

Piano June 24th

Gosh, I was really nervous today during performance. I was shaking. My first time playing piano and singing, in front of my peers! Wow, I think that's one of the most pressurising things for me.

Adam played RHCP's Mellowship Slinky! Amazing la he. I think the one's that really hit me today was Esther's, Jemie's and the girl who could play the bumblebee tune with her Chinese instrument. Gosh, she's just amazing. You have to see it to know!

I will need to improve on my pitch. I keep going flat alot of times. Keep it in check! Hit the right notes all the time! I also need to work on the sustain pedal. I don't have one at home and the keyboards at our desks dont have them either. I'll get one as soon! I have to!

I hope I did okay. I think I'll play guitar next time. Arif needs a friend. Haha, and I think the other piano players whooped my ass good, so I'll be back only when I'm better. Haha! Ok whatever, I need to practise.

Learned the chords to U2's Kite. It's amazing how The Edge comes up with his parts. He must think it's really simple. The melody to the song, especially the pre-chorus and chorus parts, are just beautiful. U2 is amazing at melody, and Bono sings like a king.

U2 is the epitome of cool. So is Brad Pitt! Ack, cher!! Dun minus points! Haha!

Mixing and Piano 22nd/23rd

Had a hard time mixing the 5 songs for my band's debut EP. During the first few times we mixed, I thought we sounded really horrible and I wouldn't want it released nor would I want to even hear it. But, the recent mix proved that Reghu's expertise in sound engineering helped us achieve a decent sound. Plus the band and I learned a whole lot from him.

I witnessed Shao Chong do a wicked jazz improv of Mary Had A Little Lamb. Mr Eric handed him a score of the piece, and Shao Chong having obtained a degree (yeah I think he did. That rocks!) in classical piano (I think). On the spot (!!), he played the song. The chords really looked evil but it sounded so beautiful! But! Mr Eric pointed out that notes is one thing, and feel is another. Yeah, agreed. I didn't really feel the swing, but Shao Chong definitely impressed me. Wicked.

Oh yeah, another thing I have to work on while playing guitar or bass; TUNE! I'm always lazy to tune it perfectly, because I'm afraid I might hold up the lesson and keep people waiting. Like Monica, I have this constant need to please people. Haha!

Intervals; minor 7th, major 3rd, perfect 4th, 5th etc. Rocks! Takes alot of practise, but hell, I'll do it!

Piano June 20th

Whew. After weeks of rehearsals for several gigs, I have finally found the time to actually sit down and write comfortably. Otherwise it’s with tired eyes and I can’t see straight.

Went jamming with a couple of old friends. The drummer was bad at keeping time and he wasn’t playing loud (because I like playing music loud, regardless of genre). I increased the volume on my guitar and tried real hard to strum properly, and in time, just so he could try and follow. Haha I am so bad.

We played a couple of radio tunes, and the pianist could only tell me the bass notes but he couldn’t tell me whether it was minor or major etc. I had to figure it out by the melody he was singing. Haha, it was really good practice!

It then got a bit boring halfway through the session, so I switched to piano. I told the drummer to play a simple 4/4 groove, much like Hoobastank’s The Reason. I told my pianist friend, who was holding the guitar to strum note by note, in 8ths, the high G and D, while I proceeded to play a song I wrote. Cmaj7, Bbmaj7 and F were the verse chords. After 2 rounds of those, I played 2 bars of G#.

My piano skills are really basic, my left hand plays only single notes, much like playing simple bass guitar. I sometimes wonder if this technique is the/a proper one. If it is, I’m really happy and can venture safely!

Anyway, my friend began singing something. Well for a ditz like me, I began with a Cmaj7 and then to a Bb/C. I kept playing these 2 chords and I thought it sounded pretty neat with the melody my friend was singing. Went down to an Fmaj7 then to an Fm7. I forgot the other chords I was playing after that, but I’ll remember them when I look at a piano. I hope! Haha!
I went home a happy man having completely improvised on the piano. It’s my first time! Whee! But I might be doing it wrong. I don’t know. I’ll have to ask the lecturers. Soon! Yeah.