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GMC Forum _ Ben Higgins _ Advanced Task 5

Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 23 2012, 03:13 PM

Task 5 : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/modal_madness_pt_3_-_extended_scales/ Record and upload your version of this lesson by next Thursday 1st March

To round off our alternate picking phase we're going to look at extending the scale positions to form high speed runs. It's very useful to be able to move horizontally around the neck. We can use a few sideways moves and connect them to our usual low to high, high to low runs for more variety !

Zsolt tunes down to D standard for this so you'll have to either transpose all the shapes down a whole tone or transpose his backing track up a whole tone... Enjoy cool.gif

Maybe this one will tempt AK Rich out of his temporary retirement. If I know him at all, it'll be hard to resist...... ph34r.gif

Posted by: maharzan Feb 23 2012, 07:40 PM

So your goal is to rupture everyone's hand and laugh at the so called "advanced" players? wink.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 24 2012, 09:55 AM

QUOTE (maharzan @ Feb 23 2012, 06:40 PM) *
So your goal is to rupture everyone's hand and laugh at the so called "advanced" players? wink.gif


Well, when you put it like that.........

... maybe some more rest might be the answer. I'm not evil.....

ph34r.gif

Posted by: dark dude Feb 24 2012, 01:39 PM

My fretting hand is still injured from the last task, but I've learned the first 2 shapes already. Will see if I heal up enough to make progress - fingers crossed.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 24 2012, 02:05 PM

QUOTE (dark dude @ Feb 24 2012, 12:39 PM) *
My fretting hand is still injured from the last task, but I've learned the first 2 shapes already. Will see if I heal up enough to make progress - fingers crossed.


Yeah I think you're wise to be tentative about it. I'd rather you didn't play and looked after your hands than hurt yourself for this but you're the best judge of where you're at with it smile.gif

Wow, I can't believe how many hand injuries we've been seeing recently.. I hope it's not going to be a trend !! tongue.gif

Posted by: maharzan Feb 24 2012, 06:09 PM

Every picking seems new to my hands now. I tried the Guthrie lick from the video that Ben posted and I can't do it. I can't do this one too. I am trying 1st position and hell thats really fast. I am still wanting to complete task 4 and been concentrating to do it at full speed. I will probably drop this one to complete Task 4. I am really learning how to pick with all these videos. My grip has improved and now learning the most efficient way to pick. smile.gif

Posted by: AK Rich Feb 24 2012, 06:26 PM

Has it been a week already? My wrist still doesnt feel quite right and I havent even picked up my standard guitars in just over a week.
I am going to today tho just to see how it feels and at least try to memorize the task, we will see how it goes.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 24 2012, 06:57 PM

QUOTE (AK Rich @ Feb 24 2012, 05:26 PM) *
Has it been a week already? My wrist still doesnt feel quite right and I havent even picked up my standard guitars in just over a week.
I am going to today tho just to see how it feels and at least try to memorize the task, we will see how it goes.


Don't feel like you have to get invovled with this one Rich, I was only kidding about tempting you out of retirement. You know best ! smile.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 29 2012, 12:18 PM

How is the Task coming along ?

I know Dinaga, AK and possibly Dark Dude are out for this one due to guitar related injury so I think it's just Chandra this time !! cool.gif

Posted by: dark dude Feb 29 2012, 03:08 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 29 2012, 11:18 AM) *
How is the Task coming along ?

I know Dinaga, AK and possibly Dark Dude are out for this one due to guitar related injury so I think it's just Chandra this time !! cool.gif

Aye, no submission from me this week, Cap'n.

Posted by: maharzan Feb 29 2012, 04:06 PM

Lol, sorry Ben. I am out too for this one. I have been doing Task 4 and nearly there. I will try to shoot it tomorrow. I just want to master one. So this ones a 'pass' for me too. sad.gif

Posted by: dark dude Feb 29 2012, 05:21 PM

Well if everybody's out, let's just do it again this week? It's too good of a lesson to miss out.

Posted by: maharzan Feb 29 2012, 05:47 PM

Yup.. Lets target one for each 2 weeks. Its very tough to complete it in a week, unless you just want slowed versions, which I think won't really improve your skills (if you are targetting speed).

Posted by: dark dude Feb 29 2012, 07:15 PM

QUOTE (maharzan @ Feb 29 2012, 04:47 PM) *
Yup.. Lets target one for each 2 weeks. Its very tough to complete it in a week, unless you just want slowed versions, which I think won't really improve your skills (if you are targetting speed).

I use these tasks to highlight flaws in my playing, be it specific picking patterns, techniques, etc. I never expect to have a REC-ready recording by the end of 7 days - the tasks are difficult for sure.

Judging by past submissions, people seem to get pretty close to the target tempo in 7 days. My worry is that giving people 2 weeks would allow people to be lazy about it (as I often see in collab's). Besides, Ben usually gives us a target tempo to hit if the lesson is especially tough. Sticking to smaller goals in a shorter time period seems more beneficial rather than keeping that same intensity over twice the number of days. There's nothing stopping you from carrying on with that lesson after the deadline.

If Ben was to set a 2 week period, I'd suggest making us post on update at the halfway mark for quality control wink.gif

More thoughts are welcome smile.gif

Posted by: Cem Feb 29 2012, 09:01 PM

I've been practicing this task for a week. I can get damn close to full tempo on some parts, but overall it gets sloppy, given that I had a lot of bad habits with this type of passages. I will post a record for this one but I'm afraid its not going to be today. Being able to play this properly is more important for being on schedule. I've always overextended myself in the past, playing at tempos I could get nowhere near, I feel if I conclude this task now, I would just repeat the mistake I have done for a million times.

I have failed you, sensei sad.gif .

Posted by: dark dude Feb 29 2012, 09:04 PM

Hah, nice work on practicing it this week, Cem smile.gif Don't worry about the speed, just post something you're comfortable with.

Posted by: maharzan Mar 1 2012, 04:13 AM

If you are always playing at comfort zone, you will never progress. I have a 16 years experience on that. smile.gif I am pushing myself harder but every solo I learn, it gets me back to beginning. It sucks when you can do neoclassic at 140bpm (16 triplets) but then 16th at 140bpm seems harder. sad.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 1 2012, 10:49 AM

I've had a good, long think about this and Dark Dude has already beaten me to it with some of my thoughts wink.gif

Don't worry about attaining the same speed as the original lessons, I know that a week is not a long time to learn and improve a piece of music. You all have lives outside of GMC, with jobs, families, other commitments so it's reasonable that we can expect to submit takes at a lower speed but at least they can be takes which show that you can play the lessons and perform what it intended of it. A lot of this is designed to tidy up certain areas of playing or to encourage you to put some focus back on certain areas of your playing you may have forgotten about like hand synch or using the pinky or something else.

I think that when we organise our own practice we focus on the things that interest us most but when we add something else to the mix that is a suggestion of somebody else it usually makes us look at something we wouldn't normally have chosen which I find very useful. For example, with my own practice rotuine, I focus mainly on picking but learning a GMC lesson has required me to spread my wings a little bit ! Although I don't do it as much as the rest of my practice, I still go to it every now and then and it adds a something extra to my playing and it will be slowly getting better in the background, if you know what I mean ?

So, don't worry about the speed.. it's not a reflection of your ability, it's only a reflection of how much time you're physically able to give to it that week and if it's not that much, don't worry, just do what you can. I want this to be about the fun of tackling new pieces together with another group of players.. how far you get doesn't matter. A different challenge each week keeps it fresh !

If you want to keep practising certain pieces to get them even better then go for it and you could always submit them here at a later date or just in the REC smile.gif

What we'll do is have both of these last 2 Tasks running over to Thursday 8th March and then we will do something completely new.

That's another week.. you can either choose one of the Tasks that you feel better at and uplaod that or you can go for both if you like.. it's up to you but Thursday 8th March will be the cut off point either way !! Enjoy ! cool.gif

P.S. Don't shy away from trying an Intermediate Task sometimes, if I've given a particularly difficult Task. !

Posted by: maharzan Mar 1 2012, 11:34 AM

Cool Ben. Yea, I will try Task 5 then. I can't seem to get a perfect take with Task 4.

The only thing bugging me is I have been practicing and posting REC all the time (3 years now?) and I mostly get the feedback that says, practice a little more and you will nail it. But the problem is I never get that perfect take no matter how much I practice. I practiced neoclassical like a year or so taking breaks in between and I really pushed hard sometimes, I never got it. Even simpler lesson like level 5-6, I never get it perfect. I want to be at one point where I can record a flawless take (no missing notes) but it never gets there. So, if I just continue practicing different new lessons, I just think, I will never reach that point, you know what I mean. I don't know what I am doing wrong here. sad.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 1 2012, 01:43 PM

QUOTE (maharzan @ Mar 1 2012, 10:34 AM) *
Cool Ben. Yea, I will try Task 5 then. I can't seem to get a perfect take with Task 4.

The only thing bugging me is I have been practicing and posting REC all the time (3 years now?) and I mostly get the feedback that says, practice a little more and you will nail it. But the problem is I never get that perfect take no matter how much I practice. I practiced neoclassical like a year or so taking breaks in between and I really pushed hard sometimes, I never got it. Even simpler lesson like level 5-6, I never get it perfect. I want to be at one point where I can record a flawless take (no missing notes) but it never gets there. So, if I just continue practicing different new lessons, I just think, I will never reach that point, you know what I mean. I don't know what I am doing wrong here. sad.gif


I know what you mean... sometimes it's just because we're trying to get a perfect take for the camera or for a recording. I know that if I really want a good version of something because I'm recording it then I'm much more likely to mess it up.

How about when you're just playing for yourself ?

Posted by: maharzan Mar 1 2012, 01:50 PM

I haven't even recorded yet. smile.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 1 2012, 02:00 PM

QUOTE (maharzan @ Mar 1 2012, 12:50 PM) *
I haven't even recorded yet. smile.gif


Ah no.. I meant this about all the other pieces you were learning. Did you ever play them really great to yourself but when trying to record them, it was worse..? That kind of thing.

You could be right when you said that by practising so many different pieces, you will never get them 100%.. I think it's fair to say that we won't play them as perfectly as if we stuck to them and practised them exclusively.

However, as your technique gets better your ability to execute things will improve.. but each piece is unique and does require devotion to it to get it 'perfect'. In all my years of playing guitar, I don't think I've ever played anything perfect, including my own songs. Especially my own songs !! wink.gif

Posted by: maharzan Mar 1 2012, 05:15 PM

Yea, while it has been easier to play few things, I always feel I am starting all again when I try a new lesson. I know I can do 3 nps well but even this task, its so challenging. I have to start back from 0. smile.gif

Posted by: maharzan Mar 3 2012, 04:15 AM

Ok, I just went through this lesson. Its a simple C scale but the fingering is really tricky. How do you remember all those patterns? It gets so confusing. smile.gif

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 3 2012, 09:58 AM

QUOTE (maharzan @ Mar 3 2012, 03:15 AM) *
Ok, I just went through this lesson. Its a simple C scale but the fingering is really tricky. How do you remember all those patterns? It gets so confusing. smile.gif


It's mostly down to muscle memory and ear training. Once I knew how to navigate through one scale using 3 note per string patterns I could find out how to do them anywhere. The more you spend running through scalar runs with these patterns then the easier it is to know what shape is coming next etc smile.gif

Posted by: maharzan Mar 3 2012, 06:17 PM

Thanks Ben.

Posted by: Nimrandir Mar 4 2012, 04:31 AM

Now that I'm done with the exams, I can at last get back to practicing guitar, just need to awaken the hand muscles tongue.gif. Hope I won't miss this (twice-extended) deadline smile.gif.

Posted by: Cem Mar 4 2012, 08:05 PM

Little rec with 100bpm. Played at this speed for the first time.

http://soundcloud.com/cengiz-kaygusuz/bushidotaskpeek

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 4 2012, 08:11 PM

QUOTE (Cem @ Mar 4 2012, 07:05 PM) *
Little rec with 100bpm. Played at this speed for the first time.

http://soundcloud.com/cengiz-kaygusuz/bushidotaskpeek


Cool, Cem.. thanks for the update smile.gif

Try to keep the synchronisation between left and right hand a bit cleaner if you can. If you need to do it a bit slower then please do and don't worry about the final speed. Also, because you're doing an Advanced Task, try to include the string bends at the end of each run ! wink.gif

Posted by: Cem Mar 4 2012, 08:20 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Mar 4 2012, 07:11 PM) *
Cool, Cem.. thanks for the update smile.gif

Try to keep the synchronisation between left and right hand a bit cleaner if you can. If you need to do it a bit slower then please do and don't worry about the final speed. Also, because you're doing an Advanced Task, try to include the string bends at the end of each run ! wink.gif


Will definitely do. This is just a random record meant to show my progress and push myself a little beyond my limits. I promise a proper final record smile.gif .

Posted by: Dinaga Mar 7 2012, 08:32 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 29 2012, 12:18 PM) *
How is the Task coming along ?

I know Dinaga, AK and possibly Dark Dude are out for this one due to guitar related injury so I think it's just Chandra this time !! cool.gif


I'm still suffering from my injury - I haven't played for a few weeks and it feels like months. I took a break from guitar and went to a trip, but when I returned and tried to play, my fretting hand hurt again. I already reserved an appointment with an orthopaedic next week. So yeah, I'm out until I recover. I hope I will...

Posted by: dark dude Mar 7 2012, 09:41 PM

QUOTE (Dinaga @ Mar 7 2012, 07:32 PM) *
I hope I will...

Don't be silly, you will smile.gif

Posted by: maharzan Mar 8 2012, 08:36 AM

Ok, heres my try. I wasn't planning to do it but since no one seems to be posting, I thought I would. This is a 3 day practice. The fingering gets very tricky? Can't remember. Luckily I got a good take to post, I guess. smile.gif


Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 8 2012, 11:15 AM

QUOTE (Dinaga @ Mar 7 2012, 07:32 PM) *
I'm still suffering from my injury - I haven't played for a few weeks and it feels like months. I took a break from guitar and went to a trip, but when I returned and tried to play, my fretting hand hurt again. I already reserved an appointment with an orthopaedic next week. So yeah, I'm out until I recover. I hope I will...


Balls, I'm really sorry to hear that D ! I'd rather have you healthy though so you're doing the right thing. You're missed at the forum though ! wink.gif

QUOTE (maharzan @ Mar 8 2012, 07:36 AM) *
Ok, heres my try. I wasn't planning to do it but since no one seems to be posting, I thought I would. This is a 3 day practice. The fingering gets very tricky? Can't remember. Luckily I got a good take to post, I guess. smile.gif



Nice one, Chandra... you're carrying the flag for the Advanced group whilst the other warriors recover smile.gif

It's very well played with good timing and synch. How did you find those patterns, do you think you could find a use for them in your playing ?

Posted by: maharzan Mar 8 2012, 11:22 AM

Thank you Ben. I hate being a leader when no one wants to take it, you know. This happens in my real life as well. smile.gif

Though I know the C scale or at least major and minor scale all around the neck, this one got me. I have never done it this way to this fast. I can like think and play around. This doesn't let me think. biggrin.gif

This is obviously little different from what most people usually do, like 3nps pattern straight or repeating as 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 2-3-4, 5-6-7 etc. It will be great to use this lick to sound different but yet shred. smile.gif

Posted by: dark dude Mar 21 2012, 02:54 PM

Right, hands are feeling better, so I'm starting on this task again. Expect a take next week, Sensei \m/

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 21 2012, 03:59 PM

QUOTE (dark dude @ Mar 21 2012, 01:54 PM) *
Right, hands are feeling better, so I'm starting on this task again. Expect a take next week, Sensei \m/


Good to hear it !

Posted by: dark dude Mar 29 2012, 08:30 PM

Had another nightmare of a recording session again, gah. The nerves really got to me today and starting stressing-out about the take, but I managed to get one okay'ish take - although, there are a few hiccups:

EDIT: Forgot to mention, only 80% speed here.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Mar 30 2012, 09:56 AM

QUOTE (dark dude @ Mar 29 2012, 07:30 PM) *
Had another nightmare of a recording session again, gah. The nerves really got to me today and starting stressing-out about the take, but I managed to get one okay'ish take - although, there are a few hiccups:

EDIT: Forgot to mention, only 80% speed here.


Shorts ???? In The Temple ???

600 push ups instantly..

laugh.gif

Hey man, that's pretty good with the hand synch and everything.. what was the most difficult part for you ? Memorising the patterns and being able to hit them out at speed ?

Do you think your hand is ready for Legato and the latest Task ?? wink.gif

Posted by: dark dude Mar 30 2012, 12:43 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Mar 30 2012, 09:56 AM) *
Shorts ???? In The Temple ???

600 push ups instantly..

laugh.gif

biggrin.gif
QUOTE
Hey man, that's pretty good with the hand synch and everything.. what was the most difficult part for you ? Memorising the patterns and being able to hit them out at speed ?

Do you think your hand is ready for Legato and the latest Task ?? wink.gif

Biggest problem was that my fingers still aren't 100% on some positions, which causes me to think for a split-second and that's enough to trip me up. Just need to drill them separately a bit more. Will continue doing this task again this week - expect an update on Thursday.

Yeah, my hand has been feeling good recently, I'm about to start learning the new legato task now - expect that on Thursday, too.

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