Kim De Cap - GuitarX Pt2

We’re well into the second term now (the fourth week to be precise) and half-term is in sight. I’ve had my first exams at GUITAR-X since the last time I wrote and it was by no means a sinecure! The performance based exams – like Rhythm Section Skills, Rhythm guitar, Vocabulary and Improvisation, etc – were set up in a way as to simulate a studio recording session.

Which basically means the margin for error is close to none… which in turn can cause a great deal of stress if you start to think about making errors too much. A great deal of confidence and a thorough level of preparation is imperative to come out of this successfully.

This was something I had to learn the hard way on the first day of exams with “The Fretboard”. For this particular exam we were required to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the CAGED system ( a five position system to map out the entire fretboard), major and minor scales and pentatonics, and so on. I discovered that there is quite a big difference between finding these patterns in the confines and tranquillity of your own private sanctuary, and finding these patterns on command, with a metronome in the back and a camera lens in your face! It’s all about being “zen” at moments like these! At least I know what to work on now…

The last Friday before the Christmas break started, I attended the graduation party for the April students in the Orange. Great fun! A major hangover is what I took home with me the next day on the ferry back to Belgium…

It felt weird seeing England’s shores disappear from sight, as it has become to feel like home to me. After hearing nothing but English for quite some time, it took me a while to adjust again to this strange but very familiar language I was hearing now.

Two weeks later I was back to celebrate my first New Year’s eve here in London.

Down in Piccadilly and Soho the streets were infested with people having a good time, also watching fireworks at the London Eye from the front of Buckingham Palace…
A night to remember.

Last term was focused mainly on rock and blues, while this term is more about funk and reggae. A few of the LPW and RSS songs include: I shot the sheriff, sex machine, stir it up and master blaster. Theory wise we have entered the domain of the major scale modes. There are seven modes to be derived from the major scale: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. Not only do we learn the fingering patterns for all these scales we also receive a thorough explanation on how we can actually use these. The cloak of mystery surrounding these scales is finally starting to be unveiled. A lot of my questions about these topics are getting answered.

Learning the patterns of these scales is one thing, but having the knowledge to make them sound musical is a very valuable asset, so I have still a long way to go…