Played the Velvet Club

I decided to play the Velvet Club gig today, but only practiced Unnatural Selection before going through the gig. In hindsight I should have tried each of the songs a couple of times before going for the main performance.

I played for just over an hour, excluding the wait while a song loads and I check the tuning on the guitar (Rocksmith checks the tuning every time you play a song, and also seems to remember what tuning you had the guitar at last time - especially useful for Unnatural Selection and  Outshined as they are both on Drop D tuning.

Although I thought about playing some of the technique challenges and mini-games I decided not to as there were a few other things I needed to do this morning.

I did unlock the Vintage 1952 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top guitar and the Choopah effect.

RockTrack

I'm still working on the first version of a web based application to monitor progress with the game, I have the user registration parts completed, and am busy building the song and venue parts of the system before starting to track the songs played.

Todays 'Songs'

The Velvet Club

Unnatural Selection by Muse. I did practice this one first and scored 21202, but only got 17937 on the performance, nowhere near as good as my best score to date.

Outshined by Soundgarden. Todays score was 30338, quite close to my best score of 34738.

Number Thirteen by Red Fang. I didn't have time to note the score I got for this track, but I didn't feel as though I played it that well today.

Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Todays score was 27440. I wan't too happy with how I played this one either.

Where is My Mind? by Pixies. Todays score was 48604, this was also close to my best score but I did seem to gain a new chord to play that I didn't quite manage to play properly.

I somehow managed to get an encore, and got to play In Bloom by Nirvana. Todays score was 39301 I didn't earn enough to get a double encore though. Perhaps next time.

365 Brannen

I'm rather pleased with how I performed these songs today, managing to improve on my previous scores. I've qualified with two of the songs, just Well OK Honey and Me and the Bean to go.

Well OK Honey by Jenny O. Todays score was 20222. My previous best score was 12932. I did have two tries at this song, with a dreadful 9022 the first time round. I didn't reach the qualifier, so still have a little work to do on this song (and it's one I really like, due to it's quirkiness).

Me and the Bean by Spoon. Todays score was 29365. My previous best score was 18085. Getting close to the qualifier.

Play with Fire by The Rolling Stones. Todays score was 24535. My previous best score was 15152. I managed to beat the qualifier, so reasonably happy.

Song 2 by Blur. Todays score was 69115. My previous best score was 62865. Somehow I managed to qualify on this song the first time around yesterday, mainly due to the long repeated notes - I got a streak of around 127 notes.

Third Street Lounge

Apart from When I'm with You I've managed to improve on all of my previous scores (although having only played them once before, not necessarily a strong improvement).

I Got Mine by The Black Keys. Todays score was 20418. My previous best score was 12578. More than a little happy about this

Do You Remember by The Horrors. Todays score was 36270. My previous best score was 23640.

Breed by Nirvana. Todays score was 41370. My previous best score was 25122.

Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz. Todays score was 12500. My previous best score was 7310, and I qualified for this venue with this result.

When I'm with You by Best Coast. Todays score was 22280. This is the only song I need to qualify for on this venue, with a score of better than 31100 needed.

All 'Songs' played

Song	Artist(s)	Best Score	Latest Score
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones	74097	73793
Next Girl	The Black Keys	83349	83349
Angela	Jarvis Cocker	76874	76874
Higher Ground	Red Hot Chili Peppers	58560	56756
Go With the Flow	Queens of the Stone Age	89836	89836
In Bloom	Nirvana	39301	39301
California Brain	RapScallions	9136	9196
Vasoline	Stone Temple Pilots	62001	62001
Slow Hands	Interpol	42257	42257
I Can't Hear You	The Dead Weather	30872	30872
Surf Hell	Little Barrie	24932	20759
Boys Don't Cry	The Cure	39301	39301
Unnatural Selection	Muse	25029	17937
Outshined	Soundgarden	34738	30338
Number Thirteen	Red Fang	28531
Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	34757	27440
Where is My Mind?	Pixies	50432	48604
Well OK Honey	Jenny O	12932	20222
Me and the Bean	Spoon	18085	29365
Play with Fire	The Rolling Stones	15152	24535
Song 2	Blur	62865	69115
I Got Mine	The Black Keys	12578	20418
Do You Remember	The Horrors	23640	36270
Breed	Nirvana	25122	41370
Are You Gonna Go My Way	Lenny Kravitz	7310	12500
When I'm with You	Best Coast	22280	22280

Another wasted week

Last week I was on a late shift, and intended to get up and play for at least half an hour a day. Sadly my bed lured me into snoozing until time to head out to work. I must try better next week, although it does seem like I'm more likely to play in the evening when I've been at work than before I go to work.

This doesn't seem to apply on a Saturday, I've spent around an hour and a half playing through the songs in my set lists and practice list.

I also had a go at the Dawn of the Chorded game, and really enjoyed it. The idea behind this game is there are zombies coming to get you, and you have to play the correct chord to destroy the zombies.

Some of the songs I hadn't played before I managed to qualify for, so I'm fairly pleased with that, not to mention surprised!

I'm thinking that I should spend some time using the practice mode and playing the parts I am finding challenging for the Velvet club songs, but the thought of having to make up to 30 attempts is putting me off a little.

I have put a youtube playlist together of the songs I have been playing to date, mostly the official video's. I did smirk at the Black Keys comments that having a dinosaur puppet lip-synching the songs is demeaning the song - this is while having girls in bikini's writhing about on set.

Todays songs:

The Velvet Club

I haven't reached the targets I have set myself before attempting this venue, so will continue practicing.

Unnatural Selection by Muse. Todays score was 21254.

Outshined by Soundgarden. Todays score was 31188. I was pleased with parts of this, and starting to get a couple of the chord shapes feeling ok.

Number Thirteen by Red Fang. Todays score was 23345.

Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Todays score was 15188. I'm getting worse at this song, and struggling to get the C5, A5 and F5 chords I was managing to get last time around. Oh well, I suppose I'd better keep practicing!

Where is My Mind? by Pixies. Todays score was 50432. My previous best score was 48142. A nice improvement, but I felt I'd messed up several times during this song.

365 Brannen

First attempt at this venue, and was quite surprised to have qualified with Song 2!

Well OK Honey by Jenny O. Todays score was 12932. First time played.

Me and the Bean by Spoon. Todays score was 18085. First time played.

Play with Fire by The Rolling Stones. Todays score was 15152. First time played.

Song 2 by Blur. Todays score was 62865. First time played. Qualified!

Third Street Lounge

This set surprised me even more, managing to qualify for three of the songs first time round.

I Got Mine by The Black Keys. Todays score was 12578. First time played. Qualified!

Do You Remember by The Horrors. Todays score was 23640. First time played. Qualified!

Breed by Nirvana. Todays score was 25122. First time played.

Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz. Todays score was 7310. First time played. Qualified!

When I'm with You by Best Coast. Todays score was 22280. First time played.

Practice List

In Bloom by Nirvana. Todays score was 39301. My previous best score was 36626. A nice improvement, especially as I didn't feel I was doing very well through the song.

I Can't Hear You by The Dead Weather. Todays score was 30872. My previous best score was 29338.

Surf Hell by Little Barrie. Todays score was 20759.

Boys Don't Cry by The Cure. Todays score was 26820. My previous best score was 26727, a slight improvement, but who cares, better is better!

Jules by Seth Chapla. Todays score was 9647. I find this song very difficult to play, but can manage the lyrics quite comfortably.

Song	Artist(s)	Best Score	Latest Score
Boys Don't Cry	The Cure	26727	26820
Surf Hell	Little Barrie	24932	20759
I Can't Hear You	The Dead Weather	29338	30872
Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	34757	15188
Where is My Mind?	Pixies	48142	50432
In Bloom	Nirvana	36626	39301
Number Thirteen	Red Fang	28531	23345
Outshined	Soundgarden	34738	31188
Jules	Seth Chapla	11068	9647
Unnatural Selection	Muse	25029	21254
Are You Gonna Go My Way	Lenny Kravitz		7310
Breed	Nirvana		25122
Do You Remember	The Horrors		23640
I Got Mine	The Black Keys		12578
Me and the Bean	Spoon		18085
Play with Fire	The Rolling Stones		15152
Song 2	Blur		62865
Well OK Honey	Jenny O		12932
When I'm with You	Best Coast		22280
Vasoline	Stone Temple Pilots	62001	62001
Higher Ground	Red Hot Chili Peppers	58560	56756
Angela	Jarvis Cocker	76874	76874
Slow Hands	Interpol	42257	42257
Go With the Flow	Queens of the Stone Age	89836	89836
Next Girl	The Black Keys	83349	83349
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones	74097	73793
California Brain	RapScallions	9136	9196

Post Pirate Blues

This weekend I was at Whitby for the Whitby International Pirate Festival, listened to some really good music and spent a day dressed as a pirate. I also got to indulge another hobby, taking photographs some of which you can see here.

I'd taken the day off to recover, although I didn't really need it and apart from spending the morning coding, I have had another session with the guitar today, about 46 minutes actual playing but I can't recall what time I started (the PS takes a while to switch between songs).

I've also done a bit of reading about how to get good scores, and discovered that there are six tracks that are bonus content that are earned by getting a double encore. I've already unlocked Jules by Seth Chapla, but didn't quite know how.

To get a double encore, you need to get over 90% note accuracy in an encore. I played (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction at the Low Down to gain this - I suspect this was before I had gained some additional notes, as I was nowhere near 90% the last time I played.

Forthcoming Events

The Velvet Club

Unnatural Selection

Outshined

Number Thirteen

Use Somebody

Where Is My Mind?

365 Brannen

Well, OK Honey

Me and the Bean

Play with Fire

Song 2

Third Street Lounge

I Got Mine

Do You Remember

Breed

Are You Gonna Go My Way

Today I played

Outshined by Soundgarden. Todays score was 34738. My previous best score was 24728, so I'm rather pleased with this effort.

Surf Hell by Little Barrie. Todays score was 22158. I am close to getting a more complex chord to play, but every time I get to the right point it is removed from the screen - probably because I'm distracted by the new pattern and lose focus on what I'm supposed to be playing now, not in five seconds time.

I Can't Hear You by The Dead Weather. Todays score was 25706. Not much to say about this one, I did ok, but not as good as my previous best score.

Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Todays score was 15831. Nowhere near my best of 34757, but this is because I messed up and lost the chords that give the higher scores. The three main ones I am trying to get my fingers around are A5, F5 and C5. Thankfully they are all the same shape, it's just getting them onto the correct fret to start with.

Vasoline by Stone Temple Pilots. Todays score was 62001. My previous best score was 55595. Rather pleased with this attempt too.

Where is My Mind? by Pixies. Todays score was 38490. Two attempts at this, the first towards the end I couldn't understand why I wasn't earning any score. I knew I was hitting the notes right, and I had somehow managed to drop the volume on the guitar about half way through the song...

Number Thirteen by Red Fang. Todays score was 27531. My previous best score was 20784. I'm more than a little pleased with this attempt, especially as it is for my current 'gig'.

Unnatural Selection by Muse. Todays score was 20143. Slowly trying to get my score back to my previous best, but it's taking time.

Song	Artist(s)	Best Score	Latest Score
Surf Hell	Little Barrie	24932	22158
I Can't Hear You	The Dead Weather	29338	25706
Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	34757	15831
Where is My Mind?	Pixies	48142	38490
Vasoline	Stone Temple Pilots	62001	62001
Unnatural Selection	Muse	25029	20143
In Bloom	Nirvana	36626	36626
Jules	Seth Chapla	11068	11068
Boys Don't Cry	The Cure	26727	26726
Outshined	Soundgarden	34738	34738
Angela	Jarvis Cocker	76874	76874
Go With the Flow	Queens of the Stone Age	89836	89836
Higher Ground	Red Hot Chili Peppers	58560	56756
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones	74097	73793
California Brain	RapScallions	9136	9196
Number Thirteen	Red Fang	28531	27531
Slow Hands	Interpol	42257	42257
Next Girl	The Black Keys	83349	83349
Well OK Honey	Jenny O
Me and the Bean	Spoon
Play with Fire	The Rolling Stones
Song 2	Blur
I Got Mine	The Black Keys
Do You Remember	The Horrors
Breed	Nirvana
Are You Gonna Go My Way	Lenny Kravitz
When I'm with You	Best Coast

A day off

I just had a short session today, focussing on the four songs I need to do for the next set, and a practice of the four "most needing practice" based on the scores and how long since I last played the song. Total playing time was 38:26, time using the PS was a fair bit higher.

Todays playlist was:

Unnatural Selection by Muse. Todays score was 17133.

Number Thirteen by Red Fang. Todays score was 17976.

Where is My Mind? by Pixies. Todays score was 47318.

Outshined by Soundgarden. Todays score was 24728. My previous best score was 22361.

Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Todays score was 56756, not quite reaching my previous best score of 58560.

Boys Don't Cry by The Cure. Todays score was 26726. My previous best score was 24432, I'm quite pleased with this one.

In Bloom by Nirvana. Todays score was 36626. My previous best score was 32407.

Jules by Seth Chapla. Todays score was 11068. My previous best score was 8070. Although I've done better today, this song is going to be on my practice list for a very long time I suspect.


And the table of all songs I have been practising since I reset the game is:

Song	Artist(s)	Best Score	Latest Score
Jules	Seth Chapla	8070	11068
In Bloom	Nirvana	32407	36626
Boys Don't Cry	The Cure	24432	26726
Angela	Jarvis Cocker	76874	76874
Go With the Flow	Queens of the Stone Age	89836	89836
Higher Ground	Red Hot Chili Peppers	58560	56756
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones	74097	73793
Outshined	Soundgarden	22361	24728
Surf Hell	Little Barrie	24932	24932
I Can't Hear You	The Dead Weather	29338	29338
Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	34757	14695
Vasoline	Stone Temple Pilots	55595	55595
Where is My Mind?	Pixies	48142	47318
Number Thirteen	Red Fang	20784	17976
Unnatural Selection	Muse	25029	17133
California Brain	RapScallions	9136	9196
Slow Hands	Interpol	42257	42257
Next Girl	The Black Keys	83349	83349

James has recently also started, his playlist and scores are:

Song	Artist(s)	Best Score	Latest Score
Higher Ground	Red Hot Chili Peppers	11390	29381
Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	13016	14377
Go With the Flow	Queens of the Stone Age	76534	76534
In Bloom	Nirvana	20589	18902
Where is My Mind?	Pixies	20885	28982
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones	6832	8900
Angela	Jarvis Cocker	40417	52090
Vasoline	Stone Temple Pilots	32169	34323
California Brain	RapScallions	5812	4687
I Can't Hear You	The Dead Weather	17861	13228
Surf Hell	Little Barrie	25609	19145
Boys Don't Cry	The Cure	14345	8376
Slow Hands	Interpol	17733	18680
Next Girl	The Black Keys	53134	56168

Played all the songs currently in my sets.

I've had a run through all of the songs on my playlist with RockSmith today, it only took just over an hour and a half of actual playing although in real terms it was pushing three hours.

Deciding what to play

I am putting a spreadsheet together that will help me keep track of which songs need the most practice, and that is one reason I played through all of the songs today.

To work out which songs need practice, I am planning on using a comparison between how long it's been that I last played a song (perhaps 'attempted' might be a better word), the score compared to the qualifier needed, and some other measures that I haven't had time to think through.

This is all in preperation for trying to work out a mobile app/website that will do a similar thing.

Todays song list

Unnatural Selection by Muse. Todays score was 18590. I had three goes at this, and haven't quite got my score back up to my previous best of 25029. I'm looking forward to being able to play this song, but it is going to be quite a while before I get there!

Outshined by Soundgarden. Todays score was 22361. I've improved on my previous high score

Number Thirteen by Red Fang. Todays score was 20609.

Where is My Mind? by Pixies. Todays score was 48142. Lynn was singing along to bits of this. Although bits of this song I'm struggling with, I do quite enjoy playing it at the moment.

Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Todays score was 14695.  A dreadful attempt, and got leveled down in a couple of places, especially as the best score to date was over 34000!

Slow Hands by Interpol. Todays score was 42257. This is another I am growing to like and also improved on my high score.

Vasoline by Stone Temple Pilots. Todays score was 55595. Another song I improved on, even though it seems like ages since I last played it.

I Can't Hear You by The Dead Weather. Todays score was 29338, improving on my previous best. I do like some of the lyrics to this.

Surf Hell by Little Barrie. Todays score was 24932. I don't know about a surf hell, but I find this quite challanging to play - even though I also improved on my previous best score.

Boys Don't Cry by The Cure. Todays score was 24432. I don't remember this song from the first time it came out, but am starting to enjoy playing it, as long as I keep focussed on where I'm putting my fingers.

Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Todays score was 58560. Another where I'd passed my previous best.

In Bloom by Nirvana. Todays score was 32407. I find the chords on this a bit of a challenge still, and got levelled down I think in parts of the score. I still managed to improve on my previous best though/

California Brain by RapScallions. Todays score was 9196 again I've improved on my previous score. This one is a real challenge for me to play, and it is all around the 12th fret.

Next Girl by The Black Keys. Todays score was 83349. This is a song I do really enjoy listening to, and getting good results with - it's my second highest scoring song.

Go With The Flow by Queens of the Stone Age. Ok, this song is my highest scoring one with a 89836 score. This is probably because there are a lot of notes, and almost constant strumming needed. I'm starting to get some of the (simple) chords used in the song too.

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones. Todays score was 73793.  Not quite as good as my best score of 73793 but reasonably satisfied with it (although I messed up with some of the shifts).

Angela by Jarvis Cocker. Todays score was 76874. Another song where I improved on my high score.

Jules by Seth Chapla. Todays score was 8070. I can manage the lyrics to this song, and it's the second longest that I have to play. I did improve on the last time I played, and I do find this one a challenge.


I'm not including the song table this time, as I have commented on all of the songs plays. I'm looking forward to Jenny O's  Well Ok Honey, as I did enjoy the quirkiness of the lyrics.

Local Headline Act

Last time I played I unlocked The Local Headline act. I can't see anybody wanting to see me play, although my girlfriend has said that what I'm playing is sounding more like the songs are supposed to. I think that's progress.
I also unlocked two new venues, the 3rd Street Lounge and 363 Brannan.

I'm still targeting the songs for the new playlist, and this is the first time I've had the game on for a couple of weeks. My work schedule is getting in the way of doing anything musical (or much of anything else either for that matter), and my plans for spending a day off with the guitar didn't work at all.

Before I attempt the next challenge, I am aiming to reliably score at least twice the qualification level for each of the songs. I'm hoping that this will gain me at least one encore.

Todays songs

Unnatural Selection by Muse. I really like this song, and do hope at some point I can actually do it justice. I'm not doing as well as best for this song, scoring 20669 the third attempt today.  

Outshined by Soundgarden. Not one of my favourite songs at the moment, so only played it once today. I scored 20840 slightly lower than my highest score.

Number Thirteen by Red Fang. I improved on my previous high score, and hit 20784 points. Still some work to get to the target level I have set myself.

Use Somebody by the Kings of Leon. I'm not doing so well with this one, but there are several chords that I need to get to grips with reliably in order to beat my previous high score of 34757.

Where Is My Mind? by the Pixies. This is an apt song for me, one of my favourite phrases at the moment is "I have a memory like a colander. That's like a sieve, but the holes are much bigger". I'm fairly happy with this attempt, scoring 44665 improving on my previous high score of 38304. 

I also played a couple of other songs, and only stopped when the game stopped responding (although I was playing for over two hours today).

Angela by Jarvis Cocker I scored 67472 and Boys Don't Cry by The Cure scoring 17742. I didn't improve on either song this time, but did enjoy playing them both.

On a non-game playlist, I am starting to try to get my fingers around Love Hurts by REM. There will be a couple of others I am also going to add to my repertoire.  I can do a couple of simple tunes such as Home on the Range, but not quite reliably enough to have anyone really listen to.

I have had an attempt to put the mixing desk between the guitar and the game, without reliable results yet. This is something I intend to persevere with, and when successful might start annoying the world with either an audio only, or an (edited) video of me playing. I can't see many people willingly watching more than a few minutes of this though.

My Songlist to date

The songs I've been playing on the game (in order that I got to play them) are:

Song	Artist(s)	Qualifier	Best Score	Latest Score
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	The Rolling Stones		74097	69924
Next Girl	The Black Keys	9100		79046
Angela	Jarvis Cocker		74691	67472
Higher Ground	Red Hot Chili Peppers			52573
Go With the Flow	Queens of the Stone Age			77300
In Bloom	Nirvana			32585
California Brain	RapScallions			9196
Vasoline	Stone Temple Pilots	35000		61032
Slow Hands	Interpol	10000		35815
I Can't Hear You	The Dead Weather	18799		30821
Surf Hell	Little Barrie	16700		29916
Boys Don't Cry	The Cure		22133	17742
Unnatural Selection	Muse	13700	25029	20669
Outshined	Soundgarden	17100	21527	20840
Number Thirteen	Red Fang	11700	17807	20784
Use Somebody	Kings of Leon	21900	34757	20676
Where is My Mind?	Pixies	29300	44665	44665

The order I will display them may vary, and I am going through my notes seeing if I have all of the qualifier scores just to make the table a little more complete.