Thanks for visiting. This site is currently getting redesigned and things are a little messy. If you are looking for something and can’t find it, please email Jason at jason@knowingtrees.com . He’ll do his best to be helpful!
p.s. 2011!?!?!?!? Wow, I have been at this for a long time.
Recently, I was passing along some approaches toward, and conventions within, a sing-along-style jam. I was reminded of this article from Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
I was interviewed for the article, and I’m proud to say that a lot of my thoughts were included!
❞ Yet, it’s not a performance. Those people are your allies, not your audience. “It’s more like basketball than theater,” says Jason McInnes, a guitar teacher who leads several regular jams at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. “Everybody wants the game to keep going, so they’re going to do everything they can to keep it going.”
The other day I was noodling around with some “mini shape” transitions and stumbled upon the intro to End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys.
The last phrase of the intro has the chords G > A > D > A > D.
I’m playing it using a combination of mini shapes with the
root on the 3rd string
root on the 2nd string
or root on the first string
The phrase sounds like this.
Thre major “mini” chord shapes. R = the root note.
Playing it before I really dig in. Click to enlarge the video window.
Maybe you can hear that there are some small gaps in the moves between chords. I can hear that, and it’s NOT how I want to sound! I’d better dig in.
My understanding of what to play is clear, so that means my playing habits are creating some hesitations between the chords.
Time to remove those hesitations.
How does one go about that?
Here is the process I use to find, and begin to correct, habits that are holding me back.
It’s not just a matter of practice. I need to figure out exactly what my fingers are already doing, and work one changing THOSE habit. What I don’t want to do is just keep practicing over and over and over, and there by continuing to engrain the stuff I’m trying to remove.
Here is a video where I’m not looking for the sound. I’m looking for where I see moments, of hesitation, or confusion on the part of my fingers.
Looking for issues in my left hand fingers. Click to enlarge the video window.
Now it’s just a matter of putting in the time and effort to build a set of new habits. I’m going ot have to spend A LONG TIME practicing like this.
Part of the problem is that I’ve been playing for a long time and these habits are well engrained. I’m going to have to be mindful of this work throughout all of my playing time for week? months? Years?
Beginning the Process of Cleaning Up My Playing
Yep. Now that I’m aware of the issue, it’s getting a little bit better.
But, this is far from a new habit. It’s going to take A LOT longer, and a ton of patience, to be able to do this with less tension.
I know that, once the tension is relieved, I’ll be able to bring it up to tempo.
It I try to play it at a faster tempo now, I will unconsciously revert to the ingrained habit of playing with tension.
I hope this was interesting for you.
Do you have known, or unknown habits, that you’d like to work on? I’m available for private and small group lesson, in person in Albuquerque, NM or virtually on Zoom.
In my experience, it is doing this kind of work that is PERFECT for virtual work. We’d be able to identify problem areas, and create a practice plan for you to bust through those limitations!
Journey back to the era of flannel, grunge, and iconic acoustic performances in this unique music class for adults! “MTV Unplugged: The Acoustic ’90s” offers a deep dive into the legendary live sessions that epitomized the decade.
Whether you’re an experienced musician or just picking up an instrument, this class provides a fun and engaging environment to learn and play some of the most beloved songs from the 1990s.
The Music Crew Unplugged classes run on Wednesdays, 6:00 to 8:00 for eight weeks, beginning July 9.
We’ll meet at the Saavedra Filing Station, 225 Saavedra RD SW.
Get on the bus this summer as you, your intrepid teacher Jason McInnes, and your fellow Deadheads gather for this eight-week adult education music class dedicated to exploring and performing the music of the Grateful Dead.
Designed by considering the needs of beginning, intermediate and advanced musicians, this course offers a deep dive into the band’s rich catalog, from beloved classics like “Truckin’” and “Friend of the Devil” to deeper cuts and extended jams.
The class includes hands-on instruction, group rehearsals, and opportunities to jam in a relaxed, collaborative setting. Whether you’re a guitarist, bassist, vocalist, keyboardist, drummer, or other instrumentalist, you’ll gain new insight into the Dead’s music through playing it among a generous, encouraging community.
The class will culminate with a gig during The Days Between; the week of celebration and commemoration between the anniversaries of Jerry Garcia’s birth (Aug.1) and death (Aug. 9). Gig details TBA.
Riverside, 2025
Jason McInnes
paint
24 x 36 inches
Arcs, 2025
Jason McInnes
ink
12 x 12 inches
Expression 48, 2025
Jason McInnes
paint
24 x 18 inches
Dziadek
Jason McInnes
Charcoal and chalk
36″ x 24″
2025
I’m thrilled to say that the New Works program, which I was a part of at OffCenter Community Arts, is now up at FUSION, until June 22, 2025.
These are the four pieces I have on display, among the work of 23 more artists from the program.
From OffCenter
This 12-week professional development program provides artists with educational workshops, a peer-network of artists, plus materials and support to create new, original artwork. The New Works program is a unique and welcoming opportunity for artists seeking professional development support.
Guitar players – Acoustic guitars are recommended, but not required. We’ll figure out amplification needs as the class rolls along.
Drummers – There won’t be a back line at our practice space. Hand percussion instruments are HIGHLY recommended.
Keyboardists – Jason will be providing a keyboard for the band to use. Obviously, should we have more than one keyboard player, there could potentially be some challenges. But, nothing that I think will hold us back. Please contact Jason at 773-369-8268 (phone/text) or jason@knowingtrees.com if you plan on playing keyboards.
Worried that you’re not good enough to play? Worried that you’re too good?
This will be a multi-level class. Everyone will be asked to go to the edge of their abilities. Now, that edge will be very individual, as some folks are just beginnng and some folks have a lot of experience. Jason is confident that, no matter your experience level, you’ll walk out of class with a) something to work on, musically and b) a spring in your step from sharing music with such an positive community
Grateful Deadhead Ensemble – Live at Canteen Brewhouse – Aug 10, 2025
This is just a quick taste of our gig. Here is our full setlist
What an honor to be asked to share our love for Ella Jenkins for the Children’s Hour podcast.
I think the host, Katie Stone, did a fantastic job capturing the many ways that Ella touched so many lives.
When you listen, you’ll also hear the Young Stracke All-Stars perform Ella’ This Train. What a delight to hear this song on the radio so many years after we recorded it.
Last night wrapped up the Late Winter 2025 session of Guitar Crew. The Crew was made up of five guitar players with experiences ranging from less than a year to many years.
We finished by recording our own arrangement of Bob Wills’ Faded Love. This is a recording of the five members of this sessions’ Crew. I’m accompanying on percussion.
We covered many skills and concepts this session. Some of those topics, which you can hear in this arrangement, were:
Basic chords changes
Learning songs by ear
The hows and whys of playing songs in different keys
Knowing our roots and 5ths of each chord and using that to play alternating bass strums
Working with the major scale and using that to create bass walks in between chord changes
Singing and playing at the same time.
Playing the chord changes in different locations on the guitar, either with “mini shapes” or using a capo.
Ensemble playing (play strong and also make room for the other musicians)
Playing a melody and improvising over chord changes
Here’s Guitar Crew with
Faded Love
In class, we work together to make the arrangements of the songs we play. These are the notes from our arrangement of Faded Love.
I think it sounds so good! Congratulations, Guitar Crew!
The Early Spring session of Guitar Crew begins in mid-March. We’d love to have you be part of the Crew! Send me a note if you have anyquestions.
A student has been working on this awesome song and learning to both improvise on her own, and to transcribe the improvisations of others.
I made a simple recording that she could upload to an app that we use to slow down, and repeat certain parts of a recording. If you load the recording I made into such an app, the changes of the song play over and over. That is a great way to practice your improvising!
This song is in D minor, and for this exercise we’re using just the notes of the D minor pentatonic scale.
D F G A C
The accompanying graphic shows one location of those notes on the guitar, bu those notes are all over the guitar, too. Find those notes anywhere and improvise a new melody over these very fun changes.
Enjoy!
This is my simple recording.
This is the app we use to make the track repeat over and over. I really like it, but there are a lot of different similar apps. I’m sure you’ll find one you like.
