@steviepee
Hi Steve!
So great to hear that you're working on the Banjo Rolls lesson! It's a big lesson with lots of information and the level of the examples are advanced. When it comes to the bpm, and when you can move to the next example;

For me, I've always thought of it like this: If I want to learn how to play something really fast, then I need to practice it slow for a long time first until it's in my fingers and I don't have to think about it anymore. Then increase the tempo. BUT, in a lesson like this the most important thing is to keep things interesting to yourself - in other words - staying for too long on one example can be quite boring, and to be able to learn something new, we have to stay inspired. I'd definitely move on to new examples even if you don't feel like you can play an example up to speed yet. You can always come back later! And when you practice the more difficult examples, it will "level up" your technique and the more simple examples will be even easier.

In the video, I say something like this: "play slow until you're comfortable, and then move on to the next example.."
But, you don't have to master each example up to speed before you move on. Stay inspired - cause that will make you want to practice!

I don't have a certain bpm goal that you should reach before moving on. I just suggest you to keep playing and have fun! :)
Thanks for watching the lesson Stevie, and have a wonderful day! Kind regards/E

@dpmcleod
Hi Dan!
Thank you for your question!

This is a very common thing that most of us can identify with.

It definitely takes time and lots of practice to be able to hear what you want to play, like Joe said. But it's definitely not impossible to achieve.

Overthinking is something that most of us do from time to time, and I think the more I've practiced soloing over common progression the less I have to think when I play. I try to simplify things as well, for instance, the ii V I progression that happens in (almost) all jazz standards as well as in the Jazz Blues. I often times don't think too much about the ii chord. (Dm7 in your example). Joe Pass said once that he completely disregard the ii chord in a ii V I progression in the blues. He's thinking V I.. that ii chord is just "something that comes with it"... a suspended V chord, in a way. So you could use all the "tools" shown in the "Jazz Blues" lesson, and start playing the diminished (for instance) already when the ii chord comes up.. cause it goes by so quick and we actually just hear that V chord being altered in some way, we don't think about the clashes that may happen when playing altered scale over the ii V or even the diminished scale.
But that was just a side note.

The difficult part can be to learn to resolve the line on the next chord. It's important to land on a good note and I think this is very good to practice. That's when we hear the changes, when resolved in a good way. If you add some practice time where you only focus on playing simple ideas that resolve in the right place. Maybe play a line and resolve on the 3rd of the chord, 5th of the chord or something.. that helps a lot for me. So maybe play a simple line over G7 (like an ascending G7(b9) arpeggio starting on the note B, (major third) over the G7 chord and then resolving on the major third of the C chord.. for instance note choice could be: B, D, F, Ab then down a half step to G, then F, and then D, D# to E, in a chromatic way to resolve on that E.. Difficult to explain in text, but Maybe you can try a simple lick like that and really really nail the resolution and use it in different places in the jazz blues when playing on a chord that leads a 5th up like G7 --> C or E7 --> Am.. (but then resolve on the minor third of the A chord obviously)

You'll be able to hear more of the lines the more you practice and get comfortable with the changes.

Hope this helps a little and let me know if you have more questions! The "JAZZ LINES" (vol 1) lesson about the ii V I can be a good video to watch for you I think!
Kind regards/Emil

@pehlmanr

Hi there!

I’m using two microphones, and usually it’s a couple of Neumann TLM 102.
From there I go into a simple preamp/daw which is called steinberg UR44. I use an iMac with protools.
When I record I have one mic around the 12th fret and one mic on the bridge.
In any recording software program like protools or similar, you can pan the channels right and left - and I usually pan one mic around 35 to the left and 35 to the right.
I do a simple eq mix where I usually cut a bit of bass and get rid of a couple of harsh frequencies in the upper midrange etc. maybe boost the highs a bit on the bridge mic.
And I add reverb to both channels.
Very simple recording process and I don’t do much at all really, just two mics and a bit of work with eq and then add reverb.
Kind regards /Emil

@fabs
Hi!!
Thanks so much for the feedback. I'll look into if this is possible to do!

I'm glad you look forward to the lesson! Happy practicing! :)
Kind regards/E

@dengqinghua_42
Hi!

When I make a pull off like that, I mute the e string with my left hand index finger. I do it without thinking about it, and it will become something you do without thinking about it if you’ve done it enough times.
Kind regards /Emil

@al_tennant Hi man! I asked a really good friend of mine who knows a LOT about this.. Here's his response.

Lots of changes.. before I tell you all the changes ,, I will say .this..is 90 percent in your hands.. but some things hold true about the construction
54 were usually one piece ash.. good tone wood.. and then sprayed or painted with a natural lacquer.. by late 60s they would chop down young "green" still moisture in it.. trees glue then to get her and spray polyurethane on them.. (plastic"
The pickups changed dramatically using inferior white and parts...any little difference to save money... shape of the neck.. even some of teh routes were different...

Through the 60s they basically left the design alone.. into the 70s ..just like cars here in the usa.. they started trying for a higher profit margin.. one way by making with cheaper components.. the general result was a heavy, non resonant shiney guitar....but having said that. Jimi Hendrix made so early 70 s guitars sound pretty good........

I'm happy to be part of ProGuitar! This will be fun!

@Fabian-Leandro Welcome Fabian!
Just saw your jazz blues take in Bb! Happy to see you here on the site!
Kind regards /Emil

@rghammond
Hi Richard! Great to see you here on the site! I'm glad you liked the rendition of Jingle Bells! It's a fun arrangement for sure! Welcome to ProGuitar! /Emil

@FlorianFaber That's awesome!! Thank you for playing it.. more fun stuff will be available as we begin to build this website more and more!

@dengqinghua_42 Sen you an email! :)

@gretsch6120
Happy to hear that! :)

@jack-0
Hi Jack!

There are many brands that build amazing world class instruments. I've tried some guitars that are considered
some of the best guitars ever made - and some of them I didn't like at all, because they didn't fit my playing style, didn't feel
right in my hands and didn't produce a sound that I liked. But I have colleges that play that exact guitar - and it sounds amazing
and feels amazing in their hands. All about taste and feel just like strings etc.
Asking who makes the best acoustic guitars in the world is kind of like asking who makes the best music in the world.. It's up
to you what you like - and I always suggest for someone who looks for a new guitar to try as many instruments as possible.
The guitar that you just don't want to stop playing - that's the one! :)

I'd say it's not about price either, because there are certain guitars that have a sound and/or a feel that just makes you want
to keep playing it, but the guitar doesn't necessarily cost a lot at all.

But this is just my humble opinion and I'd love to hear what other people think about this subject!

Thanks for asking about this Jack!!

@wojciech
Hi!
Sorry to hear that!! It's difficult to say if you're making a mistake in terms of how you're fretting the chords/holding the guitar without seeing a picture or film of your hand when playing - but if it's a problem that keeps occurring I'd go to someone with medical background to or physiotherapy to take a look at your hand problems. I've always gotten the advice to stop playing if my hand hurts, and then rest - so that you don't get even more problems. Does this happen right away when you start playing or after a few minutes or even an hour?
Kind regards/E

@kentd145
Hi Daniel!

Thanks, I'm happy you like that arrangement! It's a fun one! :) I'm sure there are extended versions of that one but I'm not sure if they are written out. Almost all fingerstyle players (that also play some Chet repertoire) play this song so I'd check YouTube for Richard smith, Tommy etc. Actually now that I think of it, I remember John Standefer had a great version of it! See if you can find that one!
Have a wonderful day Daniel,
Kind regards/E

@paulsmyth

Hi there!
Happy to see that you've worked through those lessons! Yes, Freight Train is a good song to try out after this! On our site, I'd suggest you try either of these four lessons next:
"I'll See You In My Dreams* lesson
"Salty Dog Rag" lesson
"The Wellerman" lesson
"Folsom Prison Blues" lesson

Have fun! And let us know if you have any other questions!
Kind regards/Emil

@nuno
Yes - it was me who replied! :)
Thanks so much Olá for sharing! It's great to learn the foundation first and then move on to the next thing, so that you don't learn some patterns the "wrong" way, and then automatically practices in that way for too long.

Let me know if I can ever help you with anything else!
All the best,
/E

@manito
Hi there!
I set my guitar necks very straight, and I have as low action as I can without the strings buzzing. Sometimes this requires a fret job, to get it comfortably set up. I use daddario phosphor bronze 12-53.

Sometimes, when you feel disappointed with the sound and feel, it can simply be because of the guitar - but you might not know exactly what you're looking for in a guitar.
Did you try many different guitars yet, or do you feel like you've found the right one?
Kind regards/Emil form Sweden

@michael-adam
Hi!
Sorry but I’m not sure if I understand your question. The video lesson is at the top of the lesson page when you're logged in. ( https://www.proguitar.com/academy/lessons/banjo-rolls-for-guitar ) The tab and backing tracks are underneath. It’s an almost 2 hour video lesson. Is the video not visible to you?
Kind regards /Emil

@rojonis
Hi there!!
So glad you like the lesson "Right Hand Technique! It's a useful lesson, and it was interesting for me to study my own right hand when making the lesson, haha! I found out why I was playing in that way.

I'm always careful when it comes to give people too much advice on what NOT to do when it comes to technique - because what I've learned over the years is that there are no wrong ways... Everyone finds their own way to play things, and the best way is YOUR way, if it works for you. With that in mind, I can tell you from my personal view, that I like to mainly use my index finger and thumb, alternating between those.. but I also use my middle finger from time to time, especially when "jumping strings", playing rolls, triplets over 3 strings etc.
Brent Mason is one of the greatest players ever, and he's using thumb pick and index + middle finger. It seems like he has no limits when it comes to play something fast :) He's also using a lot of pull offs and slides. My main influence, Jim Nichols, is playing kind of like me. (Or.. I should say... I'm playing like him!! :) ) We're using thumb pick and index finger for 90% of the single lines.
For speed when it comes to single lines, I'd say a regular pick is the best choice, but speed is definitely not everything :)

I suggest you to try the different techniques for a month or so, and then choose the one that you feel most comfortable with. Don't use a certain technique because someone else does, because it doesn't necessarily mean that that specific technique works for you - we're all different.

Have a wonderful day and let me know if you have any more questions!
Kind regards/Emil