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Jim Campilongo



Last Updated: 12/15/2009

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Status: Single
City: BROOKLYN
State: New York
Country: US
Signup Date: 1/26/2006
Sunday, November 16, 2008 



The amount of time given to each category depends on strengths and weaknesses. This can be done over 1 hour or 8 hours.

1.) "Breakfast"...Warm up with arpeggios and scales. Apply the arpeggios to a song ( "Up a Lazy River", "Prelude to a Kiss","Tennessee Waltz", " How High The Moon", " Sleepwalk", "Giant Steps", "Mary had a Little Lamb" etc.) The song progression will prohibit you from playing on auto-pilot. This will hopefully "test" you and "awaken' you. In this context, tempo and meter aren't crucial. Apply scales to the song ( Major, natural minor, melodic minor, and harmonic minor). Try playing the appropriate scale ascending and descending, then play scales in thirds. While connecting the scales, arpeggios and chords, always strive for small intervallic jumps. Inspiration will most likely follow, but isn't necessarily a prerequisite.

2.) "Lunch"...... Learn a song and memorize the chord progression and melody ( otherwise you don't know the song!). Transpose it.

3.)"Dinner".....Make a tape of the song progression on a boom box or a simple recording setup. Do not get caught up in production. Play the melody and solo over the changes. Sometimes, I try a different approach over every chorus. Octaves,chord melody, steel guitar, "James Burton plays Jazz" etc etc. When you memorize the song , put it on a list of songs you know. Run through that list every few days, so you don't forget them.

4.) Now for "Dessert"......Play and improvise. Try and write something. Experiment with your tone. Play Blues in E. Whatever. Sometimes I learn solo's instead of songs, but I try to keep my practice sessions song oriented. This is for a number of reasons, here are a couple of them. 1.) A musician should know a lot of songs! 2.) Songs give me a challenging musical frame work to apply scales, arpeggio's and chord voicings. 3.) It allows me to see the history, structure and formula of other artists - giving me new perspectives and choices.

5.) Optional - "Snack" - noodle mindlessly while watching Columbo re-runs!

Materials ...

a good book with scales & arpeggios -
Guitar Complete: Chords, Scales, Arpeggios, and Melodic Patterns
Jay Friedman (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Complete-Arpeggios-Melodic-Patterns/dp/B0013GEN4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226831719&sr=8-1

****
A good book with a ton of songs -
One can start with the "Real Book" but I find it over-harmonized (four altered chords in the context of tri-tone substitution that replace the composers original intent of one simple chord) and filled with many useless songs. Personally, I'd rather have access to "Stardust" then a Frank Zappa tune. Unfortunately, the best "Fake" books, are "homemade" and hard to find. This is a compromise, but I suppose it's a start.
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Book-Hal-Leonard-Corporation/dp/0634060384/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226831940&sr=8-2

***
Something that records and plays back quickly and easily -
Boomerang Phrase Sampler - The Boomerang is a great tool for instantaneous recording (3 minute limit). It also has many features like reverse-sampling, and pitch shifting.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boomerang-4MB-Phrase-Sampler-Plus?sku=151600&src=3WWRWXO1&ZYXSEM=0
Andy....

 
Thanks for the words of wisdom!!!
 
Posted by Andy.... on Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 11:02 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
I'm just trying my best -thanks -Jim....
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:53 PM
[Reply to this
m a t t

 
You spelled "Dessert" incorrectly.

 
Posted by m a t t on Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 11:02 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
Thanks Matt - Although it was intentional, sometimes I feel like I'm in a "Desert" when I'm practicing!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 11:28 AM
[Reply to this
Gene Casey & the LONE SHARKS

 
Boy I am FULL!
 
Posted by Gene Casey & the LONE SHARKS on Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 11:02 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
Ha ha ha!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:54 PM
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YO3

 
Impressive, but seems so hard to be a Pro Guitarist like a Jim....
 
Posted by YO3 on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 2:30 AM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
I don't feel "Pro" and the guitar is a tough nut to crack. Have fun YO3!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:55 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
I added "Snack" .... I do that quite a bit too!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 11:29 AM
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Gene Casey & the LONE SHARKS

 
Especially the episode starring JOHNNY CASH! Good for conjuring up Luther Perkins licks!
 
Posted by Gene Casey & the LONE SHARKS on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 4:38 PM
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Cafe Americain

 
Ha! And don't forget to sing every day!!!
 
Posted by Cafe Americain on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 4:38 PM
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Gretchen Witt

 
this is helpful and motivating.
glad i found it
 
Posted by Gretchen Witt on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 4:53 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
Thanks Gretchen - You don't need to practice! You sound so great I wouldn't mess with it!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:56 PM
[Reply to this
mistah Lee
Lee Shupp

 
Hey Jim, hope life is good in NYC! Thanks for posting this; I've been bored with my rehearsal routine and some fresh thinking along these lines is much appreciated. I particularly like the focus on songs, which reins things in from endless noodling that feels hard to apply.


Best,
Lee
 
Posted by mistah Lee on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 6:37 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
Glad it helped. Netflix has got me un- railed!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:56 PM
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Mark Shields

 
Hey Jim. Wondered what takes place in-between the great shows I've seen you play. :) Hmmm... I gotta start "eating" more healthy... too many anemic practices. I do figure out quite a few songs.. so guess I'm doing ok in that category... been known to snack too. :) Thanks for providing this post... been wondering what I could be doing differently.


Peace
Mark
 
Posted by Mark Shields on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 1:15 AM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
You bet -Thanks
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 6:01 PM
[Reply to this
Jonathan Segel

 
no wonder i never get any better. just snacking...
 
Posted by Jonathan Segel on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 9:42 AM
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Jim Campilongo

 
I don't know...Hummus and chips? Ice cream? A snickers bar and coffee?

Sounds good!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 5:53 PM
[Reply to this
Rev'd Dr Long

 
Thanks for the insight! Now off to practice...
 
Posted by Rev'd Dr Long on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 9:42 AM
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Jim Campilongo

 
Thanks Dana
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:57 PM
[Reply to this
jerichothedrifter
Jerry Renshaw

 
Now if I could just quit taking all that stuff and making a buffet out of it.

 
Posted by jerichothedrifter on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 1:10 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
Truth be told -My right hand stuff has somewhat deteriorated because I don't do the exercises anymore.
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:58 PM
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The Goldenhearts

 
Q. Where the heck do you find Columbo re-runs? - Thanks for reminding me of some of the basics, (learn a ton of songs, think of chords simply i.e. maj, min & dim, connect the arpeggios...) and the idea of running your song "list" every few days or so. Hope your well Jim! - Roger
 
Posted by The Goldenhearts on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 6:30 PM
[Reply to this
Jim Campilongo

 
Amazon....3rd Season is my fave!
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 6:00 PM
[Reply to this
Rick Danner

 
awesome !!!! i have real limited time because I care for Mom 24/7 but this helps !
 
Posted by Rick Danner on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 5:36 PM
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Jim Campilongo

 
cool
 
Posted by Jim Campilongo on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 6:00 PM
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Groovey Records
Groovey Records

 
A Little Jim for Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner helps fortify bodies and builds strong bones in 12 ways...
....Personally I can eat Waffles for Desert and Midnight snacks....
....
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..
 
Posted by Groovey Records on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:46 AM
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itchybruddah

 
That stuff's gold Jim. I'm passing it along to "slack dogs" everywhere. 
 
Posted by itchybruddah on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 7:34 PM
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