 Rlemes Guitar Mentoring |
GMC Forum > Discussion Boards > VINTAGE GMC > Community Activities and Tutorials > Ask an Instructor > Alex Feather  |
 Jul 9 2012, 07:31 PM
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#1
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 Instructor  Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398  |
Hello! I am very excited to start working with you!
I have a few questions for you! It will give me a better idea about your other goals and styles you like! -What are your goals? -What is your weakness? -What is your strongest point? -Your favorite guitar players? Thank you for joining! 
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 Jul 9 2012, 08:48 PM
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#2
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GMC:er  Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 9 2012, 06:31 PM)  Hello! I am very excited to start working with you! I have a few questions for you! It will give me a better idea about your other goals and styles you like! -What are your goals? -What is your weakness? -What is your strongest point? -Your favorite guitar players? Thank you for joining! 1) My goals: to become a competent guitar player, mastering the main areas of the instrument (rhythm, melody and harmony), regarding the genres I like, to be able to compose my own songs and to perform with other musicians, to be able to play songs from other guitar players or bands 2) weakness: I am pretty much a beginner, so I have yet to develop better chops, to be able to master techniques like hybrid picking, economy picking, sweep picking, bend, vibrato, hammer on and pull of, two hands tapping, to get better at chord changing, to get better at playing barre chors, and to further my music theory and ear trainning studies; another negative factor is that I don't have a lot of time, mainly two hours a day (during week time) split in two periods of one hour each, and a little more time on weekends 3) strongest point: will to practice, persistence... techinically speaking, not much, since I am beginning to develop the chops. 4) guitar players and styles: I like a lot of musical genres, including jazz, fusion, metal, classic rock, alternative rock, blues, Christian music (because I am christian) among other things. I would like to consider myself more inclined to be a fusion guitar player of some sorts. frank gambale, john mclaughlin, allan holdsworth, luis maldonalle, brett garsed, terje rypdal, richie kotzen, eddie van halen, greg howe, andy timmons, eric johnson, alex machacek,joe pass, vinnie moore, john petrucci, mattias eklundh, steve stevens, neil zaza, paul gilbert, brad carlton... Thank you so much for taking the time and mentoring me All the best Ronaldo |
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Jul 9 2012, 11:58 PM
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#3
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 9 2012, 07:48 PM) 1) My goals: to become a competent guitar player, mastering the main areas of the instrument (rhythm, melody and harmony), regarding the genres I like, to be able to compose my own songs and to perform with other musicians, to be able to play songs from other guitar players or bands 2) weakness: I am pretty much a beginner, so I have yet to develop better chops, to be able to master techniques like hybrid picking, economy picking, sweep picking, bend, vibrato, hammer on and pull of, two hands tapping, to get better at chord changing, to get better at playing barre chors, and to further my music theory and ear trainning studies; another negative factor is that I don't have a lot of time, mainly two hours a day (during week time) split in two periods of one hour each, and a little more time on weekends 3) strongest point: will to practice, persistence... techinically speaking, not much, since I am beginning to develop the chops. 4) guitar players and styles: I like a lot of musical genres, including jazz, fusion, metal, classic rock, alternative rock, blues, Christian music (because I am christian) among other things. I would like to consider myself more inclined to be a fusion guitar player of some sorts. frank gambale, john mclaughlin, allan holdsworth, luis maldonalle, brett garsed, terje rypdal, richie kotzen, eddie van halen, greg howe, andy timmons, eric johnson, alex machacek,joe pass, vinnie moore, john petrucci, mattias eklundh, steve stevens, neil zaza, paul gilbert, brad carlton... Thank you so much for taking the time and mentoring me All the best Ronaldo Awesome! First I would like to give you some hands workout exercises those will develop your alternative picking technique very fast!!! The trick is to practice it at a very slow tempo and get full control over your hands!!! It is very important to master mechanical exercises you will get great results and will see progress very very fast! E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------| Here is GP5 file! 
Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K )
Number of downloads: 27Please let me know if you have any questions! I am looking forward to hear your thought about the exercises!!! They're really work! -------------------- |
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Jul 10 2012, 07:13 PM
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#4
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 9 2012, 10:58 PM) Awesome! First I would like to give you some hands workout exercises those will develop your alternative picking technique very fast!!! The trick is to practice it at a very slow tempo and get full control over your hands!!! It is very important to master mechanical exercises you will get great results and will see progress very very fast! E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------| Here is GP5 file!
Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K )
Number of downloads: 27Please let me know if you have any questions! I am looking forward to hear your thought about the exercises!!! They're really work! Alex, the execises are great and the surely will keep me busy for a long long time. How do you want me to give you feedback? Is there a specific way or frequency for me to keep you posted? I have never done this before. Another thing: Do you want me to start looking at ohter things here at GMC and practice lessons from the beginner level (for instance, Bear's beginners lessons) or to focus solely on your recomendations? Have a blessed week Ronaldo |
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Jul 11 2012, 01:21 AM
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#5
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 10 2012, 06:13 PM) Alex, the execises are great and the surely will keep me busy for a long long time. How do you want me to give you feedback? Is there a specific way or frequency for me to keep you posted? I have never done this before. Another thing: Do you want me to start looking at ohter things here at GMC and practice lessons from the beginner level (for instance, Bear's beginners lessons) or to focus solely on your recomendations? Have a blessed week Ronaldo Hello Ronaldo! You should learn something on GMC! We have a lot of great lessons here that you can learn anything you want! I would like you to record a video or audio of your playing so I can be sure that you are doing this exercise correctly! I would like you to get familiar with it and be able to play it through without stopping! Doesn't matter at what tempo! I actually can suggest you one of my lessons Here it is! It's very simple try working on it for a little bit http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Chord-Picking-Etude/ After you can submit your take to REC section http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...p?showforum=152 Where other teachers will grade you as well! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! I am here for you!
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Jul 12 2012, 04:24 AM
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#6
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 11 2012, 12:21 AM) Hello Ronaldo! You should learn something on GMC! We have a lot of great lessons here that you can learn anything you want! I would like you to record a video or audio of your playing so I can be sure that you are doing this exercise correctly! I would like you to get familiar with it and be able to play it through without stopping! Doesn't matter at what tempo! I actually can suggest you one of my lessons Here it is! It's very simple try working on it for a little bit http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Chord-Picking-Etude/ After you can submit your take to REC section http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...p?showforum=152 Where other teachers will grade you as well! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! I am here for you!Alright, here's an excerpt of me playing the exercise you gave me, at a very slow tempo. I recorded myself playng only the first part of the exercise so that you can give me your feedback on the way I am playing and thus I can continue doing the exercise and once it is complete I can send you another video playing the whole piece. Don't worry about what you're gonna say. I am a beginner so I need you to be completely honest. I can take it.  Lastly, I should clear a couple of things out: I look like crap and tired because I just got home from Bible College and before that, I worked the whole day, so that's why I had the bad hair and the "mean" face, lol lol  the second thing is, since here in brazil is almost midnight , I cannot turn my amp on so I have to practice using no amp or distortion whatsoever. Sorry about that. Thanx for your time Ronaldo |
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Jul 13 2012, 04:50 PM
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#7
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 12 2012, 03:24 AM) Alright, here's an excerpt of me playing the exercise you gave me, at a very slow tempo. I recorded myself playng only the first part of the exercise so that you can give me your feedback on the way I am playing and thus I can continue doing the exercise and once it is complete I can send you another video playing the whole piece. Don't worry about what you're gonna say. I am a beginner so I need you to be completely honest. I can take it. Lastly, I should clear a couple of things out: I look like crap and tired because I just got home from Bible College and before that, I worked the whole day, so that's why I had the bad hair and the "mean" face, lol lol the second thing is, since here in brazil is almost midnight , I cannot turn my amp on so I have to practice using no amp or distortion whatsoever. Sorry about that. Thanx for your time Ronaldo Hi I have an issue opening your file! It's just not loading on my mac! I was trying to figure it out yesterday but can't Would you mind maybe uploading it on YouTube and posting a link here? Or maybe use a different format? Let me know if you can do that! If not I will try to find another solution to open it! -------------------- |
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Jul 13 2012, 05:20 PM
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#8
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 13 2012, 03:50 PM) Hi I have an issue opening your file! It's just not loading on my mac! I was trying to figure it out yesterday but can't Would you mind maybe uploading it on YouTube and posting a link here? Or maybe use a different format? Let me know if you can do that! If not I will try to find another solution to open it! Oh, I think I know what may be the problem. I uploaded the video using a windows media player video codec format (wmv), because of the potencial file size. I'll try to post on vimeo or to convert the file to another format. No problem. Looking forward to read your feedback, Alex, and to keep on studying and growing. I'll let you know when I update the file again. Cheers R |
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Jul 13 2012, 06:02 PM
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#9
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 13 2012, 04:20 PM) Oh, I think I know what may be the problem. I uploaded the video using a windows media player video codec format (wmv), because of the potencial file size. I'll try to post on vimeo or to convert the file to another format. No problem. Looking forward to read your feedback, Alex, and to keep on studying and growing. I'll let you know when I update the file again. Cheers R Thank you very much!!!!
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Jul 13 2012, 09:53 PM
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#10
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
[attachment=28184:first_exercise.mp4][attachment=28183:first_exercise.mov]
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 13 2012, 05:02 PM) Thank you very much!!!! Ok. Try now, please. I have uploaded two more files using different formats, to help you out. Unfornately, since I am not at my home right now I cannot upload using youtube or vimeo. f you can't open those last files please let me know and I'll figure something out later, at night when I get home. Thanx for the support and for taking the time to mentor me All the best Ronaldo |
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Jul 16 2012, 05:12 AM
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#11
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 13 2012, 08:53 PM) [attachment=28184:first_exercise.mp4][attachment=28183:first_exercise.mov] Ok. Try now, please. I have uploaded two more files using different formats, to help you out. Unfornately, since I am not at my home right now I cannot upload using youtube or vimeo. f you can't open those last files please let me know and I'll figure something out later, at night when I get home. Thanx for the support and for taking the time to mentor me All the best Ronaldo Hey, Alex, have you managed to download the files now, after I converted them? Did the new format work on your computer? do you need me to do something else regarding the video or is it ok now? please,let me know and I am happy to assist if needed. Ronaldo QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 13 2012, 05:02 PM) Thank you very much!!!! Hey, Alex, have you managed to download the files now, after I converted them again? Did the new format work on your computer? do you need me to do something else regarding the video or is it ok now? please,let me know and I am happy to assist if needed. Ronaldo This post has been edited by RLEMES: Jul 16 2012, 05:10 AM |
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Jul 17 2012, 08:50 PM
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#12
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 16 2012, 04:12 AM) Hey, Alex, have you managed to download the files now, after I converted them? Did the new format work on your computer? do you need me to do something else regarding the video or is it ok now? please,let me know and I am happy to assist if needed. Ronaldo Hey, Alex, have you managed to download the files now, after I converted them again? Did the new format work on your computer? do you need me to do something else regarding the video or is it ok now? please,let me know and I am happy to assist if needed. Ronaldo Hello Ronaldo! You did a very good job with this exercise! I would suggest to use click when you are practicing itIt will help you develop better timing very fast! Also you will have more control over your hands! I would like you to continue with this exercise and learn all the patterns after we can start getting into improvisation more:) Let me know if you have any questions or need help! -------------------- |
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Jul 21 2012, 06:12 AM
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#13
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 16 2012, 04:12 AM) Hey, Alex, have you managed to download the files now, after I converted them? Did the new format work on your computer? do you need me to do something else regarding the video or is it ok now? please,let me know and I am happy to assist if needed. Ronaldo Hey, Alex, have you managed to download the files now, after I converted them again? Did the new format work on your computer? do you need me to do something else regarding the video or is it ok now? please,let me know and I am happy to assist if needed. Ronaldo Hi Ronaldo! How are you? I would like you to start adding exercises I gave you into your warm up routine and play them daily! I have a new assignment for you! Let's get into improvisation a little more! Here is the backing track I would like you to use to practice! http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/withguitar It's a minor blues The chord changes are: Ami7 - Dmi7 - Ami7 - Emi7 - Dmi7 - Ami7 To start we will use A minor blues pentatonic in 3 positions:    Questions and answer technique will work perfectly for this type of track! Let me know if you need help or have any questions! -------------------- |
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Jul 21 2012, 11:31 PM
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#14
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 21 2012, 05:12 AM) Hi Ronaldo! How are you? I would like you to start adding exercises I gave you into your warm up routine and play them daily! I have a new assignment for you! Let's get into improvisation a little more! Here is the backing track I would like you to use to practice! http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/withguitar It's a minor blues The chord changes are: Ami7 - Dmi7 - Ami7 - Emi7 - Dmi7 - Ami7 To start we will use A minor blues pentatonic in 3 positions: Questions and answer technique will work perfectly for this type of track! Let me know if you need help or have any questions! Ok, I'll keep on using the exercise as a warmup session, thanx so much for the tips. So, about the blues progression you gave me: If I am not mistaken that is a minor progression containing I, VI e V chords from the minor (plus the seventh) scale triads (Aminor key), is that correct? Bear with me, cause I am a beginner. So, the minor pentatonic is made of five tones and I can find most of them inside the minor scale. but, the question is: when you change the chord, do I improvise using the same notes? What about the target tones (thirds, fifths and sevenths) inside the chords (they are different from chord to chord, albeit pertaining to the same minor schale, I think). Please, help me out here, lol... Thanx. And that progression is really good! |
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Jul 22 2012, 05:30 PM
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#15
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 21 2012, 10:31 PM) Ok, I'll keep on using the exercise as a warmup session, thanx so much for the tips. So, about the blues progression you gave me: If I am not mistaken that is a minor progression containing I, VI e V chords from the minor (plus the seventh) scale triads (Aminor key), is that correct? Bear with me, cause I am a beginner. So, the minor pentatonic is made of five tones and I can find most of them inside the minor scale. but, the question is: when you change the chord, do I improvise using the same notes? What about the target tones (thirds, fifths and sevenths) inside the chords (they are different from chord to chord, albeit pertaining to the same minor schale, I think). Please, help me out here, lol... Thanx. And that progression is really good! Yes you are absolutely correct! It's I - IV - V chord progression the key of A minor You can change pentatonics to play over the changes but for this exercise I would suggest use only one! We will get the and I will show you how to do that! That would be perfect if you can resolve into chord tones! You are good in theory! It will make your studying much easier and you will get results faster! Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything! -------------------- |
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Jul 22 2012, 07:37 PM
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#16
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 22 2012, 04:30 PM) Yes you are absolutely correct! It's I - IV - V chord progression the key of A minor You can change pentatonics to play over the changes but for this exercise I would suggest use only one! We will get the and I will show you how to do that! That would be perfect if you can resolve into chord tones! You are good in theory! It will make your studying much easier and you will get results faster! Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything! Perfect then. I know a little bit of theory because I try to study it often, but then again, the distance between me knowing what to play and actually playing the notes on the fretboard is huge, lol. I am still working on memorizing the note and scale degrees inside the pentatonic patterns you gave me; I dont want to be stuck at the patterns, I wanna know the tones, the location of the roots, and so on. the key for using the chord tones in this case would be breaking the minor seventh arpeggios note by note and trying to "fit" them inside the pentatonic boxes, am I right? ok, enough theory talking.. now time to work out some fingers.... lol give me at least a week to memorize the three patterns, tbe notes and to be able to come up with some kind of phasing (this is probably the first time I am going to do a solo) Thanx again R |
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Jul 23 2012, 06:39 PM
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#17
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 22 2012, 06:37 PM) Perfect then. I know a little bit of theory because I try to study it often, but then again, the distance between me knowing what to play and actually playing the notes on the fretboard is huge, lol. I am still working on memorizing the note and scale degrees inside the pentatonic patterns you gave me; I dont want to be stuck at the patterns, I wanna know the tones, the location of the roots, and so on. the key for using the chord tones in this case would be breaking the minor seventh arpeggios note by note and trying to "fit" them inside the pentatonic boxes, am I right? ok, enough theory talking.. now time to work out some fingers.... lol give me at least a week to memorize the three patterns, tbe notes and to be able to come up with some kind of phasing (this is probably the first time I am going to do a solo) Thanx again R Well it seems to me that you have a knowledge and understanding which is really important! I think you will get a lot of progress in no time! Take your time and memorize the patterns! Let me know if you have any questions or need help!
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Jul 27 2012, 02:29 AM
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#18
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 23 2012, 05:39 PM) Well it seems to me that you have a knowledge and understanding which is really important! I think you will get a lot of progress in no time! Take your time and memorize the patterns! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! I am working on the patterns and the arpeggios as I told you I would. In a few more days I guess I QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 23 2012, 05:39 PM) Well it seems to me that you have a knowledge and understanding which is really important! I think you will get a lot of progress in no time! Take your time and memorize the patterns! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! I am working on the patterns and the arpeggios as I told you I would. In a few more days I guess I'll be able to send you te video with me playing the stuff. Although, at this point, I have to tell you Alex, the way I am playing and improvising is not pretty at all, total opposite of that. I confess that I am little bit of ashamed to show you guys how pathetic my soloing skils are as of right now.. One last thing: you gave me three patterns, and of course I know that are at least five diferent patterns/boxes of that scale (not couting the octaves); but, if I am correct, it seems to me that you have given me patterns one, two and four of the Aminor blues scale. Am I correct? Do I keep on playing the one, two and four boxes or should I play it and memorize on the normal order, one, two and three? Thanx again and thanx for your patience. R |
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Jul 28 2012, 09:54 AM
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#19
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Instructor Group: GMC Instructor Posts: 4.332 Joined: 21-November 11 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 14.398 |
QUOTE (RLEMES @ Jul 27 2012, 01:29 AM) I am working on the patterns and the arpeggios as I told you I would. In a few more days I guess I I am working on the patterns and the arpeggios as I told you I would. In a few more days I guess I'll be able to send you te video with me playing the stuff. Although, at this point, I have to tell you Alex, the way I am playing and improvising is not pretty at all, total opposite of that. I confess that I am little bit of ashamed to show you guys how pathetic my soloing skils are as of right now.. One last thing: you gave me three patterns, and of course I know that are at least five diferent patterns/boxes of that scale (not couting the octaves); but, if I am correct, it seems to me that you have given me patterns one, two and four of the Aminor blues scale. Am I correct? Do I keep on playing the one, two and four boxes or should I play it and memorize on the normal order, one, two and three? Thanx again and thanx for your patience. R First of all never say that you are not good enough! It's not true! Everyone is starting somewhere but self confident is number one thing to success! I know you will do great and I believe in you! I am here to teach you and together we will achieve great results! There are five different shapes I gave you three the reason is that those are the closest once and good to start with! I would like you to connect them and create your own licks! Question and answer is a very good technique to use! If you are not sure what it is let me know and I will explain! Let me know if you need help with anything!!!! -------------------- |
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Aug 3 2012, 03:40 AM
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#20
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GMC:er Group: Members Posts: 58 Joined: 9-July 12 Member No.: 16.219 |
QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 28 2012, 08:54 AM) First of all never say that you are not good enough! It's not true! Everyone is starting somewhere but self confident is number one thing to success! I know you will do great and I believe in you! I am here to teach you and together we will achieve great results! There are five different shapes I gave you three the reason is that those are the closest once and good to start with! I would like you to connect them and create your own licks! Question and answer is a very good technique to use! If you are not sure what it is let me know and I will explain! Let me know if you need help with anything!!!! Hi, Alex, thanx for the kind words... you know, for a complete beginner like me, it is a bit hard not to feel a lttile intimidated watching the amazing players here at GMC do their solos and play like they do.. Anyways, I was sick for some time and had to take a health break (doctor's orders), but I am full well now, and finally have completed your assignment. Here goes the video of me playing a little solo over the progresson you gave me; Some things first: that was my very FIRST SOLO IN LIFE, so I had no experience whatsoever; secondly, some notes were a little off and the tapping did not work very well, but I am not ashamed of what I tried to do, kkkkk, lol. If you have trouble opening the videos, please let me know. By the way, I saw some of your videos at youtube. Great tunes, man! congratulations This post has been edited by RLEMES: Aug 3 2012, 04:01 AM |
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