Another reason I want to get better at both guitar playing and singing, is because I am noticing that I still have a bit of a fan following. I want to get better for them, my supporters. After all this time I haven’t been playing live shows, the fans and supporters of mine, still stuck with me and stayed loyal to me. I don’t have a huge fan following yet, but I’m honored for the few that I have. Which is pretty awesome and thankful for that. I might do a possible comeback to local music this year. There’s a possibility I might get on a few gigs this Spring. I just got a request to get on a show with a few bands, any more info, I’ll let you know.

Kev

I’ve been playing guitar for 18 years, and when I first started, I have never really learned any music theory. I mostly played basic and simple stuff, which I finally grown tired of that. So for me to get better at guitar in the future, I finally decided to start studying some music theory. I’m very surprised how very easy this stuff really is. Especially learning how the 7 modes work. Without cheating, the 7 modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeoleon, Locrian. You take the C major scale for example: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. You start the scale on C to the root note C that would be the Ionian, D to D would be the Dorian scale, E to E would be Phrygian, F to F would be Lydian, etc. That’s all it is. Very easy, piece of cake. I haven’t learned all about modes, but that’s what I know so far.

See? I’m really am learning this stuff, it’s no lie. I just give you examples for proof that I’m studying music.

I want to get better and taking it seriously again. Just want to become more experimental with chords and scales. Learning how to improvise and practicing ear training. All that stuff. If I want to be called a real musician and if I want people to give me a little more respect toward my guitar playing, I figure it’s time to step up and get better professionally. I’m really doing the best I can.

It’s why I haven’t really written any new songs yet, ’cause I’ve got caught up with practicing and learning new things. It’s one reason why I got into music theory so I can write better original songs too. It’s to help me get out of that rut, and it’s really helping.

As far as the singing goes, I have ordered Jim Gillete’s “Vocal Power” from Metal Method, it should be in my mailbox in a few weeks. I really want to get better at both vocal and guitar. Music is my passion, it’s in my blood, and it’s what I do!

Kev

For the past several months, I’ve been doing nothing but reading a lot about music theory. Scales & modes. I really want to become a better guitarist, so I became committed into learning music theory. To have a better ear and to learn to play better. Right now, I’m currently learning how the CAGED sequence works. It is a system where you learn how chords work with the major scales. Play the D chord and learn how the major scale works from there, then you find the rest of the notes in the scale patterns. You follow the patterns in order, C-A-G-E-D. That’s where the simple basic chords come from, is this. Right now, I’m just trying to get the scale patterns memorized in all six strings. See? I’m taking this seriously. I bet those who play guitar and don’t know theory, don’t even know what I’m talking about. For you music theory experts out there, would know. Theory helps and pretty useful. All this stuff is a piece of cake to learn.

I’m going to want to play my own guitar solos with my original songs that I write, and that’s why I’m getting into this so I can give what my original songs needs. Good guitar solos that stay in key. It’ll take some time to memorize all this theory stuff but I’m getting the hang of it.

Kev

The main reason why I’m taking it all seriously, is because to simply get out of that pentatonic rut. I learned that you can not play the minor pentatonic scale over every piece of music. You probably could, yes, but it won’t sound as good and you need to be more creative and musical. I’m tired of playing the same minor pentatonic scale. I want to be able to play like my guitar heroes that I’ve always looked after: Jimmy Page, Hendrix, Clapton, Neil Young, etc. but to have my own style as well. I want to be able to play scales and modes. Learn all the 7 modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian). I’m learning how the chromatic and diatonic stuff works out with chords and all that stuff. The caged sequence, everything.

This is how the great guitarists are able to come up with their own style ’cause they know the theory stuff. Yeah, I do want to be a hot guitar player, not as in looks, as in hot musically if you know what I mean. Play with FIRE!!!! It’s one reason why this blog has been slowing down. I’ve been concentrating on more guitar. I’m used to playing electric more than acoustic now and it’s feeling really good. I love being an electric player.

Kev

How serious am I getting with music theory and improvisation? Very serious. I’ve been doing some reading on music theory, scales & modes, improvisation, etc. If I want to form my own band someday or play in someone else’s band, I’m going to have to learn this stuff. It is time for me to become a real musician here. I no longer want to be looked at as a hobbyist and it’s time to start learning how to play like a “pro”. So I figure if I want to be a great guitarist, I learn as much music theory as I possibly can. Everything in detail. For proof, I’ve just learned how the “Circle of Fifths” work. That circle with the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, it’s an image that tells you how many flats and sharps there are in a key signature. Easy to learn and easy to memorize.

Taking everything seriously and slowly. I’ve been studying real hard. Once you get good with this stuff, it’ll give you a better ear and you’ll be able to improvise better. You will be able to play everything in your head and improvise better with other musicians.

If you want to be a better guitar player, go for it asap. Now that I have an electric guitar, that inspired me to get better. I won’t go through expensive courses and teachers, I’m just going to be self taught.

Kev

My vocals have been compared to Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, and Tom Petty so many times. I believe I can sing okay, but I’ll admit that I need more work to do. I know how to stay in key with the guitar when singing, at least. That part is easy. I’ll never sing like Robert Plant or Chris Cornell, I just want to improve my vocals just a little better. Give it more personality. I want to be able to get all that sound out of the voice box, have a stronger voice. I’ll need to do vibratos with vocals more and other techniques. I also want to hit the high notes. Those who think they can’t make their voice better and can’t make it strong, it can happen. It just takes a lot of practice and years of hard work.

Many local singers around here think they can sing good, but some of them need more voice coaching. There are ways to improve your singing, all the time. You can work with a professional vocal coach to get better, sure, they’re not cheap, they usually charge a lot for an hour. I find it cheaper going through vocal instruction books/DVD’s, so I’d rather learn with that.

I just want to give what my original songs needs, and that is good singing. You can have a stronger voice by singing vocal exercises. I already do have an instructional vocal DVD at home, but I plan to get better ones in the future, like Jim Gillette’s “Vocal Power” for example and, “Singing For Dummies” is another good one. I’ve always liked to sing and play guitar at the same time, it was Neil Young that inspired me to do that. If it wasn’t for him, I’ll just be playing guitar and not singing instead.

You’ll get more respect for your music and more people will listen to you, when you sing good. Don’t be afraid to say that you’re not happy with your own singing voice. I’m not afraid to say it. My goal in 2011 is to focus on learning to sing better.

Kev

I’ll admit it that I would like to sing better. Have a better vocal range with a little more emotion and power. Pretty soon I plan to start buying instructional books on singing. If you don’t sing good and want to get better, there is always a way to get better. Everybody says that Metal Method’s “Vocal Power” by Jim Gillette is the best vocal instruction out there, so I will probably start with that one. I sing ’cause I like it.

Speaking of Metal Method, it’s a great guitar course too. Probably the best out there. I will probably get some of those too. I just want to get better on both guitar and vocal. I’m trying my very best!

Kev

Yes, there is a big difference between a band/solo artist that plays music with high energy or playing with heart. High energy means performing tight, something that will give people’s heads to bounce up & down to or dance to at live music shows. Playing with heart, means performing with feeling, the music slowly comes out naturally, giving the listener goosebumps. I do like performances with high energy, but the problem with bands, that a lot of them lack heart in their playing. Not enough feeling. That’s the way I always listened to music. I will be a fan of a music artist or band if they play with enough feeling or heart, the notes they play that will make me watch the performer in awe and never get bored. Feeling the goosebumps all over. If I don’t feel that with a performer, I’m not interested. Doesn’t matter how good you think they are.

With my own music, I try to play with heart. Playing with heart, really draws people to your music. When other musicians say, when you make music and your own songs that you write, make you smile, that means you’re onto something and it’s a possibility other people will like your music too. This is why you should record all of your song ideas down and listen back to it. If you don’t like your song, it’s best that you trash it, and only play the songs that you are proud of publicly.

The fact is, you can promote yourself to death as a musician all you want. You can promote yourself to death on the internet or put up ads in town, people are not going to support you, if  your songs aren’t good enough. Bands have this problem of releasing every song they write publicly and then they get all kinds of negative feedback because of it. If you want people to enjoy your music, only release the songs you like. I’m proud of the music I did and have learned this lesson myself. Next time I put out a new batch of songs which will be coming up ahead soon, I’m only going to release the songs that I like and being more careful this time on what I put out there. If you put a song out there and if it doesn’t get a response at all, then you’re doomed.

Take your time on songwriting, there’s no rush. You can take over a year to keep your songs to yourself and when you’re ready to make songs public, go ahead only if you’re proud of the work. You want to put out songs that people can respond to. You don’t have to be a classically trained guitarist or a virtuoso, all you need is just a few chords and you can still play your songs with heart. Neil Young did it. Neil inspired me that anybody can write great songs, no matter how good or bad you play guitar or sing.

I’ve been concentrating on more guitar and getting deep in music theory, I need to learn it all. If you want to be a better songwriter, theory will help improve yourself. Yes, I am also writing new songs again and hoping to get a new batch of songs out in 2011.

Kev

As you all know, soon I hope to have a new demo CD out. A full band disc next time. Like I said before a long time ago, I’m not going to put the next demo CD under my name. I will come up with a band name for it. It won’t have my name in the band name at all, like, it’s not going to be, “The Kev Brock Band” or it won’t be called, “K’Brocking’ & Friends”, none of that shit. I will come up with a creative band name, and when I do, I will have the name trademarked before I put it out there publicly.

The reason I want to make a full band demo CD so badly is not only to have some full band songs, but to prove that I know how to do the rock n’ roll band thing that not many people think I can do. I’ve been accused of not knowing shit about being a musician, and I got something to prove. Yeah, I do know chords. I have an idea of how chords work and what notes are in them. I know every note on the fretboard of the guitar. I know a few other scales then just the basic minor pentatonic scale. I’m familiar with chord progressions and the chromatic scale. I also know alternate tunings and have an okay ear when soloing over rhythym and what keys to play songs in. I know all that techniques like hammer ons, pull offs, slides, vibratos, string bending, harmonics, I’m familiar with augmented chords, intervals, tones, and that theory stuff. So yeah, I do know some shit as you can tell.

I’ll admit that I’m not the best singer in the world. I don’t sing like those kids on American Idol and don’t sing like Clay Aiken or Barry Manilow, but I learned that you don’t need to sing good if that’s what you want to do is sing your own songs that you write. Many famous musicians today aren’t professionally trained with their singing voices and they admit it. They sing anyway because they can. Singers like Neil Young, Billy Corgan and Ozzy Osbourne are perfect examples. You can tell Neil, Billy and Ozzy weren’t professionally trained with their singing. Yet, they are still able to write amazing songs even if they don’t sing as good. Bob Dylan is another one. Kurt Cobain from Nirvana and also Jimi Hendrix. If that’s what you want to do is sing, just do it. You don’t need to go through all them strict, instructional voice lessons. You could if you want to if you want to improve your vocals, but sometimes that’s the way your voice is, and you can’t get any better. I sing anyway ’cause it’s a way to express myself. I would like to sing like Robert Plant or Chris Cornell, you know, sing with a strong voice and powerful range, but I’ll never get there because this is how my throat is. I’m always practicing singing and try to get a little better, I just sing ’cause I enjoy it.

I want to get the full band thing going ’cause it’s something I’ve always dreamed of. I hope to get the full band demo CD out in 2011 and maybe do some shows with a band in the summer, if the band thing goes well and if they want to play shows with me. I’ll work something out. I’ve got other musicians in the Albany area that are fans of my music, so I’m pretty sure they’ll be willing to play with me. Count on it.

Kev

Finished a new version of “Be Home Safe” in Pro Tools. Made it way better I think, I’m proud of the work. Added guitar solos and back up vocals. During the song I threw in muted guitar parts in between things, I did it on purpose as a way to leave room for drum fills. I played along with a click track and as you can hear, the song is in better timing, I think. I think the guitar solos are in key, I’m pretty sure they are. This tune still needs a little bit more work, but I’ll continue to improve it as I go along.

I hope to add drums and bass to this track sometime in the future. I won’t use MIDI drums and bass. I want real instruments. So soon I’ll be looking for drummers and bass players online who have ProTools, many of them do. It’s great to finally start writing and recording again. I will continue to write more new songs too. This one here is a bit of a slow ballad, but I’ll write more upbeat rock n’ roll tunes soon, hopefully.

Enjoy.

Kev

BeHomeSafe2