Week12

Like a Rolling Stone

Tempo up to 90 bpm

Primary focus: Am pentatonic scale, Cycle of Fourths on A string for note recognition and Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan / Mike Bloomfield)

Practice with discipline, but without friction, maintaining a calm and steady approach. Take each step deliberately to enter the flow state where progress unfolds. Though progress is not the goal, it arises as a consequence of unintended outcomes. This is the ultimate state of mind, the one that brings true contentment.

Day 1 – Note Recognition & Am Pentatonic

Warm-up (5 min): Spider walk, slow muted strums with metronome.

Note Recognition (10 min)

C major pentatonic = C D E G A

A minor pentatonic = A C D E G

(same notes, different tonal centre → relative scales).

In 5th–8th fret region:

• Use pinky when visualizing/playing C major pentatonic.
• Use index when visualizing/playing A minor pentatonic.

A Minor Pentatonic (roots = A)

e|--5(A)-----8---------|
B|--5--------8---------|
G|--5------7-----------|
D|--5------7(A)--------|
A|--5------7-----------|
E|--5(A)-----8---------|

C Major Pentatonic (roots = C)

e|--5---------8(C)-----|
B|--5---------8--------|
G|--5(C)---7-----------|
D|--5------------------|
A|--5------7-----------|
E|--5---------8(C)-----|

• Cycle of Fourths on A string (60 → 80 bpm).
• Review E string at 60 bpm.

Scales (10 min)

• C major pentatonic (pinky anchor).

• Am pentatonic in same position (index anchor).

• Recognize overlap → say notes aloud.

• Frisell prompt: Space and Silence — play 2–3 notes, then pause for 2 beats.

Song (20 min): Like a Rolling Stone intro (C → Fmaj7/C). Play slowly with metronome at 50 bpm.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Blues shuffle in A and Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min) - Soft open C chord, let sustain.

Day 2 – A Section

Warm-up (5 min): Spider walk across neck.

Note Recognition (10 min)

• Cycle of Fourths on A string (up to 90 bpm).

• Quick E string cycle (60 bpm).

Circle of Fourths — Low E string (starting from C, quarter notes)

E|--8--1--6--11--4--9--2--7--0--5--10--3--8--
    C  F  Bb Eb  Ab Db F# B  E  A   D  G  C

Circle of Fourths — A string (starting from C, quarter notes)

A|--3--8--1--6---11--4--9---2--7--0--5--10--3--
    C  F  Bb Eb  Ab  Db F#  B  E  A  D   G  C

Scales (10 min) -

• One-octave Cmaj ↔︎ Am pentatonic, alternating.

• One note per click at 50 bpm.

• Frisell prompt: Broken Chords — outline small fragments (C–E–G or A–C–E), let notes ring.

Song (20 min): A Section chords: C–Dm–Em–F–G. Play with backing track, slow tempo.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Happy Birthday and Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min): Open G chord, soft strum.

Day 3 – B Section

Warm-up (5 min): Spider walk + smooth position shifts.

Note Recognition (10 min)

• Cycle of Fourths on A string → aim for 90 bpm.

• E string quick review.

Scales (10 min)

• Am pentatonic, 2 octaves, index anchor.

• Add slides into upper register.

• Frisell prompt: Double-Stops, add simple dyads (e.g., 5th fret G + B, 7th fret D + G).

Song (20 min): Focus on B Section chords. Build slowly → play with backing track.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Amazing Grace and Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min): Low C note (8th fret, E string).

Day 4 – Linking Intro + A Section

Warm-up (5 min): Spider walk + finger stretches (1–3–5).

Note Recognition (10 min): Cycle of Fourths on A string, steady 80–90 bpm.

Scales (10 min)

• Shift mid-phrase: Cmaj → Am pentatonic.

• Focus on awareness of “pinky vs index” anchor.

• Frisell prompt: Wide Intervals — skip strings while ascending, create open sound.

Song (20 min): Intro + A Section together. Backing track at 60 bpm, increase gradually.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min): Arpeggiate C chord slowly.

Day 5 – Song Skeleton (Intro + A + B)

Warm-up (5 min): Spider walk + muted strums.

Note Recognition (10 min): Cycle of Fourths: alternate A + E strings.

Scales (10 min)

• Am pentatonic phrasing: 2–3 note ideas with pauses.

• Frisell prompt: Dynamic Swells — play single notes quietly, then swell volume.

Song (20 min): Play Intro → A Section → B Section. Very slow tempo with backing track.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min): Open F chord, let ring.

Day 6 – Endings

Warm-up (5 min): Spider walk + neck slides.

Note Recognition (10 min): Cycle of Fourths, A string, up to 90 bpm.

Scales (10 min)

• Call-and-response: Cmaj pentatonic phrase → Am pentatonic phrase.

• Frisell prompt: Slides and Ghost Notes — slide between scale tones, add muted plucks.

Song (20 min): Work on Ending 1 + Ending 2 separately. Loop A + B section into endings.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min): G chord drone.

Day 7 – Integration + Simulated Performance

Pre-Performance Ritual (5 min)

1. Grounding breath (inhale 4, hold 2, exhale 6).

2. Open string meditation (C note).

3. Mental cue: “This is practice, not performance.”

Warm-up (5 min): Spider + chord strums.

Note Recognition (10 min): A + E string cycles, steady 80–100 bpm.

Scales (10 min)

• Play Cmaj → Am pentatonic in 2 positions.

• Free improv for 2–3 minutes.

• Frisell prompt: Drone + Melody or Less is More — hold low C/A drone, or restrict to 3 notes only.

Song (20 min)

• Record performance.

• Full play through: Intro + A + B + Ending 1 + Ending 2.

• First with slow backing track → normal tempo.

• Then play with original recording.

Rotating Songs (5 min): Hava Nagila.

Cooldown (5 min)

• Drone on C + G.

• Journal 1–2 lines:

  • “One sound I enjoyed today was…”

  • “Next week I’ll explore more of…”

Recorded Performance

Fender Jaguar

Pickup Position: Neck
Master Volume: 9
Master Tone: 5

Zoom G3Xn

Preset: OFF

Joyo Tremolo

Intensity: 25%
Rate: 25%

Fender Blues Jr. III

Volume: 4.0
Fat: OFF
Treble: 5.0
Bass: 7.0
Middle: 5.0
Master: 3.0
Reverb: 3.0

Blue Yeti

Gain: 10 o’clock
Mode: Cardioid mode, 18” from speaker, slightly off-axis

Lesson Video