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GMC Forum _ Gabriel Leopardi _ Slash_5's Rock Riffing Etudes

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 31 2012, 09:41 PM

Hi Slash_5!! Welcome to your http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=43110&st=40&start=40 thread!!

Could you please tell me a bit about you, your musical tastes, influences, strengths and weaknesses? I would need some videos of you playing rhythm and solo guitar, so please post your best material here. If you have some music or ideas of your own, also post them here. Also let me know how you think that I can help you and what are your expectations for our job. You can check the other Army's thread to discover the different modalities of this project.


The principles of our Army are:

+ Improve your technique
+ Make music and solos
+ Have fun
+ Destroy the enemy (hahaha not realy just kidding... )

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 1 2012, 01:46 AM

Hi Gab!

As mentioned in the tread I'd like to join your army!

I think I really need mentoring, because there's too much stuff on this site I want to learn.

I'am 26 years old and I'm living in Switzerland. Because I am working and studying part time I do not have too much time left for practicing but I try to play as often as I can.

I started to play the guitar 5 years ago. It all started because of the youtube video of Funtwo's version of Canon Rock. I want to be able to play this tune one day.
My favourite guitar player is Slash. I absolutely love his musical playing style. Other artists I like are Tom Morello, Jimmy Page, Kirk Hammett, Angus Young and Gabriel Leopardi! ;-) I really like the riffing stuff. I'm not that into shredding mainly because I'm not able to play very fast. But sweep picking and similar stuff wouldn't hurt here and there.

I'd like to be able to write my own songs, but my fretboard knowledge isn't very good yet. There is plenty of room for improvment. I tried the REC Programm once with a Level 4 lesson but failed and never tried again. damn :-) here's the link: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=39561&st=0&p=530003&#entry530003

My Gear:
Gibson SG Menace
Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-II (Alnico Pro II Slash Signature Pickups)
Epiphone EM-2 Prophecy
Line 6 POD xt live

cheers

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 2 2012, 08:49 AM

Ah, I totally forgot to mention that I am already familiar with the 5 minor pentatonic boxes and the major scale patterns. But I don't really get how to make modal music with those.

I created a simple song of my own with garageband. Unfortunately I don't have a singer right now so I had to use the computer voice : rolleyes.gif I will post it later. Maybe we can work with/on it or create something new. That would be cool!

cheers
Marco

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 2 2012, 05:09 PM

Here some examples of my own music and ideas I mentioned. It's all "work in progress" and probably not the best work. But I hope you get the idea of my musical taste and playing. :-)

Own Demo Song in Em created completely in Garageband (Garageband Voice unfortunately)
 MyDemo_Em.mp3 ( 5.01MB ) : 133


Song heavily influenced by Guns 'n Roses Don't Cry and Civil War and the Slash Style Course on this site
 GunsNRosesBalladStyle.mp3 ( 1.74MB ) : 122


And two ideas I recorded... they are a little sloppy... I'm sorry. :-)
 MyDemo_3.mp3 ( 2.35MB ) : 143

 Audioslavestyle_jamming.mp3 ( 5.29MB ) : 139

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 2 2012, 05:14 PM

Hi mate! We have lot of work to do together! smile.gif
At first I think that we should work on your left and right hand techniques and also improve your rhythm, bending and vibrato techniques. These are my suggestions on what things you should work this week.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=42825
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=42828

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/open-chords-rock-rhythm/

For this lesson I would like that you post your take here and then we can go for the REC.

Regarding your compositions.. it would be great to work on that here! Feel free to post your ideas and we can work on it too. smile.gif

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 6 2012, 08:10 PM

Hey Gabriel! Here's my attempt of playing the Open Chords Rock Lesson.

let me know what you think.



Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 6 2012, 10:06 PM

Hi mate! Great to find your take here! smile.gif
The take is good. There are some little things to improve to have a perfect take. Sometimes chord changes should be tighter, it seems that to play the chord a bit after the beat. Try to be more precise with the timing. Also it seems that you don't play the higher strings with the same intensity than the lower ones when you are strumming. This makes the higher melody movements less audible because the lower notes sound louder. Try to makes those little high changes more notorious playing those notes stronger (for example at 00:15). Finally be careful with your guitar's tuning, it seems that one of the higher strings is a bit out of tune.

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 7 2012, 08:20 AM

Hey Gabriel!

Thank you for your feedback! I will try to improve those details and record another take soon!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 7 2012, 11:36 PM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ Apr 7 2012, 04:20 AM) *
Hey Gabriel!

Thank you for your feedback! I will try to improve those details and record another take soon!



Great! Looking forward the new take! smile.gif

What about start working on this one?

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Indie-Rock-The-Strokes/


Posted by: slash_5 Apr 9 2012, 07:47 PM

Hey Gabriel!

I recorded another take of the Open Chords Rock lesson. First I changed the strings of my guitar and checked the intonation. unfortunately the focus of my camera liked the guitars in the background more than me :-) check it out.



Now I'm learning the next lesson. I'm so excited! :-)

cheers
Marco

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 10 2012, 05:59 PM

Hi mate! This take is much better! The tuning is perfect now, so it was a strings problem. Your timing is good on this one. You strumming is better but you still have to improve it a bit more. I have said that all the strings of the chord should sound at the same volume on this one, I still can notice that the lower strings sound louder than the higher ones. Try to concentrate on that! By the way, please post this take at the REC program (if you didn't) to receive feedback from other instructors!

Looking forward the take of the next lesson! smile.gif

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 10 2012, 06:22 PM

okey, thanks Gab! I will work on that strumming. is it still the section around 00:15 that should be improved?

I posted the take at the REC Section!

cheers

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 10 2012, 07:02 PM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ Apr 10 2012, 02:22 PM) *
okey, thanks Gab! I will work on that strumming. is it still the section around 00:15 that should be improved?

I posted the take at the REC Section!

cheers



Excellent! Yes, that part for example.

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 14 2012, 03:10 PM

Hey Gab! I am practicing your Indie Rock: The Strokes Style Lesson... I think it will take a couple of more days to get it done.

I think I stumbled on an error in the video nr. 8 of the lesson. The tab provided there is the same as in video 7. In the GP6 file the tab is correct though.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 14 2012, 04:19 PM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ Apr 14 2012, 11:10 AM) *
Hey Gab! I am practicing your Indie Rock: The Strokes Style Lesson... I think it will take a couple of more days to get it done.

I think I stumbled on an error in the video nr. 8 of the lesson. The tab provided there is the same as in video 7. In the GP6 file the tab is correct though.



Hi mate! I'm checking that tabs and it seems to be ok. Both videos have the correct tabs.

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 15 2012, 02:49 AM

Hey Gab!
My bad! Video 6 and 7. not 7 and 8.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 16 2012, 05:26 AM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ Apr 14 2012, 10:49 PM) *
Hey Gab!
My bad! Video 6 and 7. not 7 and 8.


It's fixed now! Thanks mate! wink.gif

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 20 2012, 12:49 PM

Hi Gabriel!

I finally managed to record the Strokes Style Lesson. I tried to focus on the tipps you gave me in the last lesson (staccato, higher strings). But I have trouble getting the fast licks at the end right.



What do you think?

Marco

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 20 2012, 10:45 PM

Hi Slash! You are close on this one but it still needs some more work. Your only downstrokes technique needs more training, you are not reaching the timing because of a technique limitation. Work on it at slower tempos. The octaves melody has some wrong notes but the timing is ok. The rocker licks also need some practice at slower tempos because you are not reaching the speed. Finally the last idea is played using different rhythm. It's not a bad take, it's good but it needs more work. Keep on working! smile.gif

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 20 2012, 11:03 PM

Thank you for your feedback Gabriel! I am here to learn and improve. so I will continue to work hard :-)
do you have any tipps on how to improve the just downstrokes technique and getting the speed or is it just a matter of time practicing it at slower tempos?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 20 2012, 11:41 PM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ Apr 20 2012, 07:03 PM) *
Thank you for your feedback Gabriel! I am here to learn and improve. so I will continue to work hard :-)
do you have any tipps on how to improve the just downstrokes technique and getting the speed or is it just a matter of time practicing it at slower tempos?



yes, the only way to practice this is just playing over a drum loop or metronome. Start with a comfortable tempo and then increase it.

Posted by: slash_5 Apr 30 2012, 01:59 PM

Hey Gabriel!

I'm still working on the Strokes Style Lesson to get the speed. In the meantime I composed another song. And I have some theory questions if it's ok for you.

The chord progression of the song.

Intro: Am - C - Em - G
Verse: Am - Em - Am - Em
Pre-Chorus: C - Em - C - G
Chorus: Am - C - Em - G

The key should be Am. I laid down some melodie lines with the A minor Pentatonic Scale or chord inversion / triplets respectively. And I tried to focus to start and end the licks on the strong notes of the chors I'm playing over. But what other options do I have to solo over the chords above? A Aeolian, C Major?

Thank you for your help.

Marco

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 30 2012, 03:52 PM

Hi Marco. You're right, the song is in A minor so the most obvious choice would be to jam using A Pentatonic minor and A minor (or A aeolian). Another mode that could work over this progression is A Dorian. You can also follow every chord playing its pentatonic scale, its arpeggio (or triad) and also playing the following modes over each chord:

Am: A aeolian / A Pentatonic minor
C: C Ionian / C Pentatonic major
Em: E Phrygian / E Pentatonic minor
G: G Mixolydian / G Pentatonic Major/ G Dominant Arpeggio

Posted by: slash_5 May 15 2012, 05:52 PM

Hey Gabriel!

Here's another take on this lesson. I spent some more time on it. I know that it's not perfect yet. But do you hear some improvements already? :-)

http://soundcloud.com/marco-wyss/indierock-the-strokes-style

Hi Gabriel!

I finally managed to record the Strokes Style Lesson. I tried to focus on the tipps you gave me in the last lesson (staccato, higher strings). But I have trouble getting the fast licks at the end right.



What do you think?

Marco


Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 16 2012, 03:44 PM

Hi Slash! Good job! Your timing is good on this take. The most important parts to fix are the solos because the notes sound a bit cut. The reasons could be two: 1. You stop pressing the fret to soon or 2. You are muting the notes with your right hand. Which do you think that is the reason?

Posted by: slash_5 May 16 2012, 04:20 PM

Thank you for your answer great mentor! wink.gif

Which part do you mean exactly?

I think it's the first option. Probably because I'm lacking in speed to get to the next fret I release to previous note too early. I have to focus and improve on that.

QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ May 16 2012, 04:44 PM) *
Hi Slash! Good job! Your timing is good on this take. The most important parts to fix are the solos because the notes sound a bit cut. The reasons could be two: 1. You stop pressing the fret to soon or 2. You are muting the notes with your right hand. Which do you think that is the reason?


Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 16 2012, 04:46 PM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ May 16 2012, 12:20 PM) *
Thank you for your answer great mentor! wink.gif

Which part do you mean exactly?

I think it's the first option. Probably because I'm lacking in speed to get to the next fret I release to previous note too early. I have to focus and improve on that.



At 00:32 and 00:50.

Posted by: slash_5 May 29 2012, 07:36 PM

QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ May 16 2012, 05:46 PM) *
At 00:32 and 00:50.


Hey Gab!

I recorded another take of this lesson. I tried not to cut the notes this time. check it out.

http://soundcloud.com/marco-wyss/indierock-thestrokes-take-2

cheers

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 30 2012, 03:43 PM

Hi man! This take is much better than the previous one! The notes are longer and the licks sound smoother. One important comment that I have is that the riff starting at 00:15 and the licks at 00:50 should sound even tighter.

Posted by: slash_5 Jul 17 2012, 08:21 PM

QUOTE (slash_5 @ Apr 20 2012, 01:49 PM) *
Hi Gabriel!

I finally managed to record the Strokes Style Lesson. I tried to focus on the tipps you gave me in the last lesson (staccato, higher strings). But I have trouble getting the fast licks at the end right.



What do you think?

Marco


Hey Gabriel!

I finally managed to record another take! I still have troubles to reach the speed of the fast licks near the end. What do you think?



Marco

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 18 2012, 10:37 PM

Hi mate, it's a good take, but it still has some things to fix to be perfect. There are two important things to improve, the first one is your timing, you are not playing tight every part, try to practice it at slower tempos until you feel comfortable with the technique. The other thing is your guitar tuning, it's a bit off.

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