Genieinabottle Guitar Mentoring |
GMC Forum > Discussion Boards > VINTAGE GMC > Community Activities and Tutorials > Ask an Instructor > Alex Feather
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Jun 28 2012, 04:55 AM
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QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jun 27 2012, 11:12 PM)  Hello Genie! am glad you have decided to join my program! I have a few questions before we can start! -What are your goals? -What is your weakness? -What is your strongest point? -Your favorite guitar players? I am very excited to work with you!!! Hi Alex! Thanks for the quick reply! Here are my thoughts in answer to your questions: I. My goals: 1) Finish learning the lead guitar for Obsession Confession by Slash and Marta Sanchez. (I'm 75% there). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vodms6Pwf6I (acoustic version) 2) Improve playing of that lead guitar part to be fast enough to play at tempo. 3) Learn to play the rock version on electric guitar and learn what equipment I need and how to play to get the tone and sound for that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-hspdFHVTc (rock version) 4) Understand what I need to know to be able to play the rock version at an open mic with professional band musicians who are friends and willing to work with me and new music. 5) Get assistance in creating a backing track for both versions so I can play out on my own at coffee houses. II. My greatest weakness: The strength and dexterity in my fretting hand ring finger and pinky is lagging when playing fast notes or barre chords. III. My greatest strength: I have a good ear and strong rhythm and timing. IV. My favorite guitartists: Right now I am very into Carlos Santana because he has a great latin groove and plays with artistry and feeling. I love Jesse Cook whose technical playing and musicality in the new flamenco style makes me want to pick up my guitar and practice. Slash's latin/flamenco rock music is the perfect blend of both and he has inspired me to accomplish the goal of playing Obsession Confession with expertise. In moments when I am craving contemporary jazz, I love to hear George Benson and Gil Parris. I hope this is helpful! Many thanks, Genie |
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Jun 29 2012, 08:04 AM
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QUOTE (Genieinabottle @ Jun 28 2012, 03:55 AM) Hi Alex! Thanks for the quick reply! Here are my thoughts in answer to your questions: I. My goals: 1) Finish learning the lead guitar for Obsession Confession by Slash and Marta Sanchez. (I'm 75% there). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vodms6Pwf6I (acoustic version) 2) Improve playing of that lead guitar part to be fast enough to play at tempo. 3) Learn to play the rock version on electric guitar and learn what equipment I need and how to play to get the tone and sound for that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-hspdFHVTc (rock version) 4) Understand what I need to know to be able to play the rock version at an open mic with professional band musicians who are friends and willing to work with me and new music. 5) Get assistance in creating a backing track for both versions so I can play out on my own at coffee houses. II. My greatest weakness: The strength and dexterity in my fretting hand ring finger and pinky is lagging when playing fast notes or barre chords. III. My greatest strength: I have a good ear and strong rhythm and timing. IV. My favorite guitartists: Right now I am very into Carlos Santana because he has a great latin groove and plays with artistry and feeling. I love Jesse Cook whose technical playing and musicality in the new flamenco style makes me want to pick up my guitar and practice. Slash's latin/flamenco rock music is the perfect blend of both and he has inspired me to accomplish the goal of playing Obsession Confession with expertise. In moments when I am craving contemporary jazz, I love to hear George Benson and Gil Parris. I hope this is helpful! Many thanks, Genie Awesome! I am happy to have you on board! I would like to start with a miracle exercise that will help you to sync your hands and will bring your technique to the next level and will help you with the pinky! Here is the tab: E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------| Guitar Pro 
Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K )
Number of downloads: 121To get the best results practice it at a slow tempo using a metronome! You will see progress very very fast!  Let me know if you have any questions or need help! -------------------- |
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Jul 1 2012, 12:02 AM
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QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jun 29 2012, 07:04 AM) Awesome! I am happy to have you on board! I would like to start with a miracle exercise that will help you to sync your hands and will bring your technique to the next level and will help you with the pinky! Here is the tab: E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------| Guitar Pro
Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K )
Number of downloads: 121To get the best results practice it at a slow tempo using a metronome! You will see progress very very fast! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! |
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but it was totally worth it. The software is impressive and now I am completely set up with being able to practice full on.|
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Jul 25 2012, 06:25 PM
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QUOTE (Genieinabottle @ Jul 24 2012, 04:09 AM) Hi Alex, Yes, I am interested in improvisation and enjoy that kind of creative challenge, especially from a mentor such as yourself. I am feeling strongly motivated right now, though, to focus on improving my technique and speed so that I can play the Slash Obsession Confession song well (if you don't mind my obsession on this goal just a bit ). Here is what is happening: This is a very fast song and I am far from playing at tempo. I'm finding that when I play the descending scale part of the song very slowly, my technique is good. When I try and play faster, my hand and wrist and arm all tense up, and my pinky goes straight out instead of remaining curved. Additionally my finger placement is all over the fret spaces rather than nicely placed behind the fret metal. I've been practicing this piece for a long time periodically using a metronome to increase speed while I've been trying to learn it, but I don't know how to get faster while still keeping relaxed and good technique. I also have to be careful with the area of my wrist on the inside portion directly below the pinky on my fretting hand because I injured it from playing too much or too hard or something and it took months to heal. Any advice to help with all of this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Genie The reason it is hard for you to play this song is because your hands are not synced yet and your right hand is having troubles! It is a very common thing and a very easy but time consuming fix! I have a perfect exercise that will help you a lot but since you have injured yourself in the past be careful with this one! It will help you to master the neck plus work on your modes plus will bring your alternative picking to the next level! Here it is! E ||----------------------------------------------3----| Guitar Pro
Scales_workout.gp5 ( 8.99K )
Number of downloads: 111I would like you to start by getting use to those shapes and when you will be learning them try to call out notes it will help you to master the neck better! And here is a cool part of this exercise! I played a track and would like you to play along with me! This exercise will help you with picking technique! http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/modes-workout MAKE SURE BOTH OF YOUR HANDS ARE RELAXED!!!!! IF YOU FEEL ANY TENSION STOP AND TAKE A BREAK!!!! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! -------------------- |
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Aug 2 2012, 04:16 AM
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QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jul 25 2012, 05:25 PM) The reason it is hard for you to play this song is because your hands are not synced yet and your right hand is having troubles! It is a very common thing and a very easy but time consuming fix! I have a perfect exercise that will help you a lot but since you have injured yourself in the past be careful with this one! It will help you to master the neck plus work on your modes plus will bring your alternative picking to the next level! Here it is! E ||----------------------------------------------3----| Guitar Pro
Scales_workout.gp5 ( 8.99K )
Number of downloads: 111I would like you to start by getting use to those shapes and when you will be learning them try to call out notes it will help you to master the neck better! And here is a cool part of this exercise! I played a track and would like you to play along with me! This exercise will help you with picking technique! http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/modes-workout MAKE SURE BOTH OF YOUR HANDS ARE RELAXED!!!!! IF YOU FEEL ANY TENSION STOP AND TAKE A BREAK!!!! Let me know if you have any questions or need help! Thanks, Alex. I'm just back online from a week away and listened to your track which is great, and something to work towards in terms of speed. I appreciate it. I will learn the lesson and practice it this week and let you know how I make out. Genie |
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Aug 27 2012, 08:07 AM
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Hi I just wanted to follow up and se how are you doing?
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