Latest Practicing: Sultans of Swing

[marnold]

Well as noted in the other thread, my motivation to play is definitely back. I started learning the final lead from the Metal Method course which I had begun but never finished. Unfortunately, there's an legato lick that I jumped into a bit too enthusiastically for someone who hadn't played in a while. I ended up giving myself the guitarist equivalent of tennis elbow. Rather than quit, I moved to something else. I plan on coming back to that later.

So I'm trying to pick up Sultans of Swing. I've been using this lesson (https://guitarlessons365.com/sultans-of-swing-guitar-lesson-videos-dire-straits/) I found online [as an aside, he has lessons for a LOT of songs]. The song itself is not violently hard, there's just a lot of fills to memorize. It's about the perfect skill level for me--challenging without being overwhelming. Right now I can play through the introduction and the first verse. Once I smooth it out and find a backing track, I'll record some clips.

The challenge for me is playing this with my fingers. As most of you know, I'm missing my first three fingertips on my right hand. I've gotten used to using my pinkie for hybrid picking. So if a double-stop needs to be plucked, I can use my thumb and pinkie. On some things, I just have to figure out how to make it work. Strumming with my thumb works nicely. I'm liking it way more than I would have thought.

One cool thing: I noticed already that I'm able to figure out somethings later in the song by ear, based on what I learned already. Progress!

[tjcurtin1]

Go, Rev, go! That's a pretty good undertaking -

[marnold]

I'm progressing slowly but surely. I'm working on the second verse. It's got a fill that isn't fast or anything, but has a number of bends that require precision to make it sound decent. Good thing I've got some callouses built up now, but it's becoming clear that I could use a bit more. Still having fun, playing daily, so that's a good thing! :rockya

[Jipes]

Keep going Marnold :thumbsup

[Robert]

That's awesome, hope to hear you play it! It's a fun one to play.

[marnold]

That's awesome, hope to hear you play it! It's a fun one to play.

Yeah, I want to get some things recorded. One thing I'm working on is keeping the volume even. I'm not used to playing without a pick. Normally the natural compression that comes with distortion with even things out too. Not so much when you're playing clean. The hardest part I'm having is just remembering which fill comes where since there's so many of them. I think I've finally got the "pick" rake at the beginning so that it sounds good. I can do it with a pick easily, but I had to work on the timing with my thumb. I'm also having to invent new muting techniques.