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Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 06:06 AM

This thread is to know what are the techniques that you need to work on most. Let me know it and then I will send you a PM (or a post here) with some suggestions, exercises or lessons from our archive that could help you.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 1 2011, 11:25 AM

My weakest technique ? Guitar playing !

Good idea Gabriel.

Posted by: Frederik Jun 1 2011, 11:30 AM

Alzapua

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 02:46 PM

hahaha I don't think so!




It's time for flamenco!

Posted by: playaxeman Jun 1 2011, 03:46 PM

sweep picking
Bending
Vibrato

Posted by: Qenzoz Jun 1 2011, 03:48 PM

Well my biggest weakness is probably sweep picking, but I've already found some lessons/exercises for that my self, but palm muting i pretty much suck at when it comes to fast changing (speed/thrash metal stuff), and also when I have to palm mute the high strings, especially the high E

So I'd love some lessons/exercises for palm muting

Cheers!
- Tobias

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 04:13 PM

Hi man! Thanks for your reply! I'm checking your videos covering Jonathan's lessons! Great choice since those are really cool to work on Vibrato and Bending!

One question.. I assume that you have worked on Ben's Vibrato amazing Series.




Hi Tobias! It's great to know that you are working on your Sweep Picking Technique! From my experience there is a secret about it. First you have to be sure that you are doing the correct (circular) movement with your right hand.

Check out my right hand in the first part of this video: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/neoclassical-sweeping-legato/

and then you have to practice it at a comfortable tempo and avoiding any unwanted noise from other strings. Don't worry about speed, it magically appear after some practice every day.

Regarding the palm muting, I have the idea to work on Rhythm Training lessons so I will cover it soon but I will suggest you to learn the song "Master of Puppets" (Ramiro covered it here). That song is one of the best palm muting exercise.

Let me know if you need any other help!

Posted by: Qenzoz Jun 1 2011, 04:26 PM

Thanks , I'll work on Master of Puppets for sure, a great song, and yeah there is ALOT of palm muting and it is fast

Cheers!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 04:42 PM

Great! Contact me after you learned and nailed it! I'll suggest you another one (a bit trickier).

Posted by: Gitarrero Jun 1 2011, 06:25 PM

Too many to count
my legato could be better, my hand synchronisation as well and I just started to practice sweeping.

Christian

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 07:48 PM

Hi Christian! Are you following Juan Cortes Legato Workshop series? There are many good (& musical) exercises there!
Check the first part here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Legato-Workshop-1/

When you say hand synchronization.. do you refer to alternate picking technique? or every technique?

Great to know that you are working on Sweep picking! Let me know if you haver some feedback, you can send me a video link by PM to check the progress.

Posted by: Nava Jun 1 2011, 08:12 PM

Working a lot with AP, but my sweeping sucks really bad

I will go into ur lesson you showed earlier (neoclassic sweep) and make it from there. Do you have any suggerstion on dim arpeggios? I just learn laszlos lesson on vinnie moore style and I love the dim sweepings! Sounds so great and want to learn more of the shapes of it.
Please let me know if you got some good advice on it

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Jun 1 2011, 09:04 PM

I don't know where to start ...

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 09:16 PM

Hi Nava! The diminished arpeggio or chords appears is the 7th chord when you harmonize the harmonize the harmonic minor scale. It is a symmetric arpeggio build from three minor third intervals. Every note can be considered the root and the positions can be transposed up or down a minor third.

I prepared 3 diminished arpeggios exercises for you (6 strings, Vinnie Moore style and Yngwie Style). Check it!  Diminished_Arpeggios.gp5 ( 2.44K ) : 80












hahaha you must be kidding!

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Jun 1 2011, 10:00 PM

In some way - really think so!!! why? it drives me to practice every day. How will you get better satisfaction ??!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jun 1 2011, 10:03 PM

Yes good point - they day you start thinking you're good that's when you're doomed and will stop evolving.

Personally I'd rather not play instrument if I knew I would remain at the same level all the time. Getting better is the fun part!

Also I must say - Sinisa's playing is a big inspiration to keep practicing

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Jun 1 2011, 10:07 PM

my weakest Technique is - gaining motivation to dive on theory

Posted by: quadrium Jun 1 2011, 10:14 PM

Sweep picking.. I really suck at it

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 1 2011, 10:46 PM

Definitely! Great point Sinisa! That's the best thing about music and guitar... the learning process never ends... there is always something new to learn or to work on!



This is a very common thing! Most of the rock/metal guitar players enjoy more jamming and learning techniques and licks than studying theory while Fusion & Jazz players enjoy learning harmony & theory a bit more. What aspects of theory do you already know?

Posted by: playaxeman Jun 1 2011, 10:48 PM

[quote name='Gabriel Leopardi' date='Jun 1 2011, 05:13 PM' post='525337']
Hi man! Thanks for your reply! I'm checking your videos covering Jonathan's lessons! Great choice since those are really cool to work on Vibrato and Bending!

One question.. I assume that you have worked on Ben's Vibrato amazing Series.

Hello Gabriel,

Ben lesson are on my to do list

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Jun 1 2011, 10:58 PM

well i know pentatonic stuff, how to build major chords progressions, minor chords progressions, how to build major/minor chords, Major/Minor Scale.....basic stuff.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 1 2011, 11:14 PM

I"d say my Sweep Picking is probably my weakest technique. I can do it, but nowhere close to where I'd like to be. It's something I'm still trying to work on. Also, compared to someone like Ivan or Daniel, my theory is in need of much improvement. I can Alternate Pick/Economic Pick, pretty well but there is always room for growth

Todd

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 2 2011, 12:39 AM

Have you been working on any Sweeping lesson from the GMC archive?




Hey! There are many musicians that composed lots of music using only Major & Minor tonalities. It's not basic stuff!
Try to dedicate at least 20 minutes every day to learn a new scale or mode, a new chord and maybe a new harmony concept (modes theory, modulation, chords functions, substitution, symmetrical scales, etc). The next step for you should be to learn the major, minor and dominant arpeggios and use them to jam over chord progressions following the chords. The best way to apply and practice dominant arpeggios is over a blues progression. You can contact me if you need more guidelines or suggestions about how to continue exploring this concepts.

Posted by: jstcrsn Jun 2 2011, 01:03 AM

alternate picking
and even worse is ,muted alternat picking,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,no,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 2 2011, 02:56 AM

hahha I'll contact you!

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jun 2 2011, 04:53 AM

I'd have to say string skipping, its something I never practiced. I've been working on String Skipping Etude by Lian's and Shredding the Canon in D by Santiago, both are getting a bit on the easier side even decent speed.

Sweeping as everyone else has said I must include myself here. I was wondering you said circular motions earlier. I always wondered do you sweep as in angle the pick to graze it or do you keep it as standard playing and more or less cut through?

- Travis S.

Posted by: Piotr Kaczor Jun 2 2011, 07:38 AM

sweeping, hybrid picking, legato, taping...etc. a lot of work

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 2 2011, 08:05 AM

Good to hear.. we'll have you bending like Michael Schenker in no time !

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 2 2011, 08:57 AM

As Ben said there are days when my weakest technique is picking up the guitar

Posted by: Nava Jun 2 2011, 06:50 PM

[quote name='Gabriel Leopardi' post='525406' date='Jun 1 2011, 08:16 PM']Hi Nava! The diminished arpeggio or chords appears is the 7th chord when you harmonize the harmonize the harmonic minor scale. It is a symmetric arpeggio build from three minor third intervals. Every note can be considered the root and the positions can be transposed up or down a minor third.

I prepared 3 diminished arpeggios exercises for you (6 strings, Vinnie Moore style and Yngwie Style). Check it!  Diminished_Arpeggios.gp5 ( 2.44K ) : 80




Thx Gabriel!
I will check it out right away! And thanks for taking the time to post these exercises

Checked it out and its exactly was I was looking for If you have more of these pls post I like it a lot
The dim arpeggios is the most fantastic ones IMO.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jun 2 2011, 09:07 PM

I gotta say - tapping. I never was that good at tapping - but I'm starting to practice it

Posted by: playaxeman Jun 2 2011, 09:15 PM

Great to hear

Makes it even more challenging to go for your lessen.

After that I can start your in the style of Schenker lesson

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 2 2011, 09:51 PM

I'm sure of it! and I'm also sure that I will have to work on your series too!




This is also a technique that I have to work more.. even more the 8th fingers tapping.. there is a cool series by Aleksander that I started to practice some time ago and I have to continue...

Many years ago I used to play this song which I love.. I would like to learn it again!








It's great to know that the exercises are what you were looking for! I'll prepare more of this exercises.
This old lesson includes three strings sweeps and some of them are diminished. Check it!

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/yngwie-malmsteen-lesson4/

Posted by: JamesT Jun 3 2011, 06:25 AM

I'd probably have to say Alternate Picking but anything to do with my right hand technique is pretty bad. Maybe to compensate, I can play legato more in solos. At my max AP sixteenth note speed, I can do triplets or even 32nds legato. I might have to go that route for my style ... to combine low speed picking with faster legato stuff.

Posted by: superize Jun 3 2011, 08:25 AM

Legato is my weakest technique

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 3 2011, 08:26 AM

Well if you want to swap some of my vibrato with some of your alternate and sweep picking skills then it's a deal !

Posted by: WeePee Jun 3 2011, 04:57 PM

Well I say speedy runs from high to low.

Ex.
--18----18----18-17-15-----------------------------|
-----------------------18-16-15--------------------|
--------------------------------17-15-13-----------|
-----------------------------------------17-15-13--|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|

But I'm into it

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 3 2011, 06:48 PM

Hi JamesT! It's true that our limitations and our strengths define our style. However there are lots of exercises that could help you to develop you alternate picking technique.

Here you have an example:

This is an exercise to train your alternate picking technique on one string over A minor scale. We will use a repetitive pattern very used by neoclassical players like Yngwie Malmsteen and Vinnie Moore. This is the played on string 1, then on the string 2 and finally on the string 3. Please add the remaining strings if you feel comfortable with these ones.

 AP_Exercise.gp5 ( 5.34K ) : 55









Juan Cortes Legato Series are waiting for you!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 3 2011, 07:15 PM

Done! I'm now thinking what I can offer you for one of your father's guitars...

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 3 2011, 08:47 PM

Hmmm, I'm thinking a year's supply of donuts maybe ?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 3 2011, 09:38 PM

hahaha it could be.. but I was thinking in something more "Argentinian"... what about a weekly "Asado"?

Posted by: jstcrsn Jun 3 2011, 10:31 PM

\I am not sure ben, but I think he just called you somethin---------------Asado

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 4 2011, 03:40 AM

hahaha no! I'm talking about this...




you won't believe this... but Waler Saleme (my studio's narrator) is the guy that speaks in this video...

Posted by: JamesT Jun 4 2011, 06:19 AM

Woah! Dude! Thank you. I'll give these a try. Part of me keeps thinking that if I stick with it, the AP skills will come around someday. My current theory is "learn as many AP songs & exercises as you can" and each new one will bring some small increase in skill. I'm hoping cause maybe after 1000 songs and as many weeks, it really will come around. Who knows, but I'll bet some of you guys are thinking "what? ... 150bpm? ... hard? ...It never was for me." Well, you guys have talent, and I guess I gotta work for it. Oh well, we all have to overcome our limitations eh?



Hey guys! ...Lay off the dougnuts. Those things will rot your gut, clog your arteries, stunt your growth, and make you older than your years.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 4 2011, 06:36 AM

Hi James! I like your current theory! Learning songs will keep you playing AP licks everyday and that's the only secret... This is not about talent, it's just hard practice. Check out some Paul Gilbert or Vinnie Moore stuff, they have killer AP technique so they play lots of licks using the technique.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 4 2011, 09:10 AM

I don't mind what Gabriel calls me if that lovely food is the result of it

I did have to look it up in 'google translate' and apparantly it means 'roast'. A bit more spectacular than we call a roast over here as well...

Posted by: riddler Jun 5 2011, 10:57 AM

I'm quiet problematic with my alternate picking specially on fast passages (both on single and multiple strings). I guess I need to work more synchronizing the picking with my fretting hand. Need to improve the timing.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 5 2011, 10:07 PM

This is very important because you can't play clean if don't have both hands synchronized. There is no secret about this, just hard practising and I think that it's more effective with metronome or over a drum loop. You have to start with a slow tempo that is comfortable for both hands and increase little by little the tempo. always checking that both hands are still synchronized.

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Jun 6 2011, 11:29 PM

definitely mine is Finger picking, but I feel I'm getting better at it

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 7 2011, 05:30 AM

Great to hear! What exercises or songs have you been practising to improve your finger picking?