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I, for one, think that's an excellent idea. Knowing where one is coming from shapes where they are going. I've never thought of recording my bass progress in any fashion, but it applies to other things like staying in shape, working, keeping track of expenses, etc.

If keeping a log of some sort works for these things, it stands to reason that keeping records of one's musical progress will to. Therefore, I think it is vital to success.

They way I would keep track is to record my practice sessions. Windows Sound recorder would work well for this, even with its limitations. Basically, practice a line until you've got it. Then record it and play it back for evaluation. Then burn it to CD and ask your friends for input. Good idea, I think.

The best thing about recording your progress is that you can record your first attempt and your final attempt. Make a comparison and see how far you've come! That would be encouraging.

To answer your question: Yes, it is VERY important to track your progress--something I intend to start doing right away.

BoH

The good old days of a small, portable casset deck, those things still around?

Anyways, I never really kept a log to guage progrees but I did use a cassett deck to record my playing when I first started. Mainly because I would be jammin' (or trying to) along and WHAM!!! I just heard something great but can not remember it. So I recorded all my practices.

As the others have mentioned though, when learning anything new a log is a good idea even though a lot of folks do not use one.

CHeers
HAZ

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"Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

Dan,

Here's the first pattern of the minor pentatonic scale. Let's assume the root is A (fifth fret of the E string):

|---|---|---|---|
|b7-|---|-R-|---|
|-4-|---|-5-|---|
|-R-|---|---|b3-|

It's probably better to think of it in terms of the major scale. So I've written the degrees above with the major scale as a guide. Now compare it to the natural minor scale:

|---|---|---|---|
|b7-|---|-R-|---|
|-4-|---|-5-|-6-|
|-R-|---|-2-|b3-|

All the minor pentatonic does is takes the natural/pure minor scale (a.k.a. the Aeolian mode of the major scale) and omits two of the more troublesome notes: the 2nd and 6th. Since these two notes are ones that often sound out of place when soloing over changes, using the minor pentatonic makes the work a little easier. It also has a distinctive bluesy sound and an easy-to-remember boxy shape. You can add one note to get the "blues scale":

|---|---|---|---|
|b7-|---|-R-|---|
|-4-|b5-|-5-|---|
|-R-|---|---|b3-|

The "flat five" also called the "blue note" is used as a passing tone between the 4th and 5th degree of the minor pentatonic. It adds a slight bit of tension by being outside both the major and minor scale (it implies the diminished triad or the half-diminished seventh chord--both quite dissonant).

Does that help? I'll be happy to explain further,

Wheat