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Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 9 2012, 07:31 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!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 9 2012, 08:48 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 9 2012, 11:58 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 ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G ||o5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
D ||o--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|


----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||


-------------3--3----------|--------------3--3----------|
-------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4----|
o5--5----------------------|--5--5----------------------|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--------------3--3----------|--------------3--3---------|||
--------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4---|||
--5--5----------------------|--5--5--------------------o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3----------------------|--6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--6--3----------------------|--6--3---------------------|||
-----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3---------|||
--------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3----------------|
--------4-----------------4-------------|
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3----|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
-----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
--------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3---------------|||
--------4-----------------4------------|||
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3--o|||
--------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------|||


-6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
-------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
o---------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
o---------------------------6--5--3----------------|
----------------------------------------------6----|
---------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6-------------|
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6----|
-----3--5--7----------------------------------------|
--6-------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
--------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
-----------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
-----------------------------6--5--3----------------|
-----------------------------------------------6----|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6------------|||
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6---|||
-----3--5--7--------------------------------------o|||
--6-----------------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------------------|||

Here is GP5 file!
 Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K ) : 175


Please let me know if you have any questions! I am looking forward to hear your thought about the exercises!!!
They're really work!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 10 2012, 07:13 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 11 2012, 01:21 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_forum/index.php?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!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 12 2012, 04:24 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 13 2012, 04:50 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!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 13 2012, 05:20 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 13 2012, 06:02 PM

Thank you very much!!!!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 13 2012, 09:53 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

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 16 2012, 05:12 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 17 2012, 08:50 PM

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!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 21 2012, 06:12 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


http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator
Questions and answer technique will work perfectly for this type of track!
Let me know if you need help or have any questions!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 21 2012, 11:31 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!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 22 2012, 05:30 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!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 22 2012, 07:37 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 23 2012, 06:39 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!

Posted by: RLEMES Jul 27 2012, 02:29 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

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 28 2012, 09:54 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!!!!

Posted by: RLEMES Aug 3 2012, 03:40 AM

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

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 4 2012, 07:43 PM

Hi! I am glad you are feeling better!
I get intimidated by great players as well! And even great players like Steve Vai or Greg Howe do as well! So you are not the only one!
You did a very good job on the solo! Very nice ideas and melodies! What you are missing is library licks that you can reuse! I actually have something I would like you to work on!
I did this lesson recently! It will help you to get more licks ideas into your playing! All licks will work over the backing track I gave you!
Here is the lesson!
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/15-Blues-Licks/
To make those licks your own just learn one by one and start using them when you are jamming! It will eventually become your own!
Let me know if you need any questions or need help!
P.S. Thank you very much for kind words about my music! I am glad you like it!
Let me know what you think!

Posted by: RLEMES Aug 6 2012, 01:31 AM

Thanx for the kind words. It really means a lot to me to hear you say those things about the little solo I did, since I put a lot of effort on it during the week;

I have checked the 15 licks lesson and those are awesome, man! thanx so much for that material, Alex.

I have two questions about the lesson:

- do you want me to record myself again doing the licks lesson and send it to you?

- in the first lick (video # 2) I noticed that, apart from the guitar setup, the sound you made when you hit the notes is a little bit different than the one I am making here (again, I am not talking about distortion, I am talking about the response you get when you solely hit a note); are you using some kind of slight palm mute there? or are you picking the notes naturally without pm? whenever you pick there is a little "toughness"to the sound you are making... sorry to ask you such a basic thing but something is different from the way I am doing the exercise than the way YOU do the exercise (of course, apart from feeling and musical genious, lol)

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 6 2012, 08:55 AM

Yeah if you can play those licks and make a little recording of yourself would be great!
I am not really using palm muting on the second lick just picking harder I tried to use dynamic and make it sound a little harder so I picked harder with my right hand!

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 27 2012, 08:17 AM

Hi! How are you? Are you ready for a new challenge? Let me know!

Posted by: RLEMES Aug 27 2012, 02:52 PM

I am fine, Alex, thanx so much for asking. Yeah, of course! Bring it on! Lol

I had sent you a PM with some questions. Have you received it?

Thanx again.

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 31 2012, 02:44 AM

Hello! I haven't received any messages with questions can you please send it again?
I have a new assignment ready for you but it would be great if you can do a recording of the previous one before we will move on!

Posted by: RLEMES Aug 31 2012, 02:26 PM

Ok, Alex, I'll send the PM again, no problem.


About the previous lesson, guive me a few days and I'll record it and post it here, ok?

thanx again.

R

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 3 2012, 08:46 PM

This time I got your message!
I am honored that you chose to learn my 15 licks lesson! Of course I can help you out to develop nice chops we just have to take it step by step!
What is your practice routine? I will give you some exercises to work on and will help you organize your practice!
Also looking forward to hear your take!!!!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 4 2012, 04:28 AM

Cool!!!

About the licks, Alex, sorry to make you wait, but, the days i had to spent without being able to log at GMC really has made me to interrupt me studying the licks (I have to watch you playng them yourself so that I can have a better sense of what I should do, cause my ears are not good yet to perceive the melodies and just the tab is not enough to capture de dynamics of the sound). I need the rest of this week to keep on working on them (september 5 is my father's birthday so on the 6th I'll travel to my parents' to visit him and spend some time with them, so, I'll probably wont be able to finish the lesson on the next few days.

Yesterday and today I have tried to work a lot on the bend parts of the first licks and I almost cut the tip of my left hand ring finger.. I have to perfect the technique and thicken the skin too.

the practice routine:

exercises to warm up, which will divert often. somedays I use chromatic runs, some very basic string skipping, the other day I might use the exercise you gave me

frequently I try the 15 blues licks and then I try another thing at GMC, such as a very nice solo Cosmin put ut together so that we could learn the voice of our guitar.

I then try a few basic chord progressions, and changing from chord to chord is still far from perfect
then I add a few picking exercises based on the major scale, try some patterns of the minor pentatonic and blues pentatonic you gave
and then I finish with some trills and basic legato exercises (3, 5 , 7, on the low E string, and I am working on the stretch of the second finger). maybe I throw a little exercise to develop the wrist of the right hand, a simple variation on strumming, and, later, just before I go to bed, sometimes I read a little bit of music theory or just watch another gmc (or another material I might have) video on techinque or theory or melody, etc.

and that is all I am doing right now. I was trying another things, but I decided to focus more on the 15 blues licks because I want you to give me the next assigment after that.



please, tell me what you think and I am open to your suggestions and corrections, Alex

All the best

R.

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 6 2012, 06:57 AM

Do not worry! Have fun at your dad's birthday and enjoy time with your folks! I will try to prepare a practice routine for you!
Give me a few hours!

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 7 2012, 11:51 PM

I forgot to ask you how much time do you have to practice? This way I can make sure that I will prepare a most productive routine!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 8 2012, 12:10 AM

Well, during the week usually one hour in the morning and one and a half hour at night. Saturday I usually have three hours, give or take. And sometimes I rest my fingers on Sunday (not always) and dont usually play.

Thanx so much, Alex

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 11 2012, 03:32 AM

One last thing, Alex: I have listened to the way Allan Holdsworth play legato and there is definitely something different about their approach on the technique. Regarding Allan, I have watched some youtube videos and have also listened to some songs and I saw people explain that he does some kind of "all hammers" approach to legato, and thus, the sound is smoother than the traditional hammer/pull legatto. And Brett uses hybrid picking along with legatto but he has also diminished the use of pull offs too, producing his signature sound. I think is easir to learn the hammer on/pull off legato, which is the most common way to do it, and then start learning the holdsworthian way, with no pull offs, only hammers and reverse hammers (because his technique produces a very nice and interesting sonority). What do you thing about it? Am I being foolish here or the points I have made make any sense at all?

Another thing in which I need your help is that when I do the pull off on the second string and moving to the lower strings, the pull off finger seems to slightly touch the string below and even when the guitar is unppluged I can hear a very low dry sound. Is that normal or is it bad technique on my part? How can I correct or mute that noise?

Do you need more details regarding my daily practice routine? Let me know.

Blessings


R.



Well, during the week usually one hour in the morning and one and a half hour at night. Saturday I usually have three hours, give or take. And sometimes I rest my fingers on Sunday (not always) and dont usually play.

Thanx so much, Alex

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 11 2012, 05:57 AM

Let's take it step by step!
Allan Holdsworth is a very unique guitar player and his way of playing is different from anyone else however he can play regular legatos as well!
I spent a lot of time practicing his techniques! Let me see if I can find some old exercises that I use to play!

About the pull offs I will prepare a new assignment for you so you can start practicing it, just give me a few days!

I think I need a little bit more information about your practicing routine what exactly do you practice and how musch time do you spend with each exercise!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 11 2012, 08:13 AM

Oh, that would be awesome, if you could give me some exercises to work on legato. You the man, Akex!

Yeah, sure thing about Allan being unique.. he has a different voice, so to speak (Cosmin would like to hear me saying that, I think).. players like him and john mclaughlin, for example, have given as much contribution to the music as they have changed forever the way we do or perceive music (much like coltrane or miles davis, I guess). I like rock, meta, fusion, jazz, pop, and so forth, but, I thing what really really catches me is the way some people just transcend the obvious approaches in music in general and they come up with something unique, something they carved on themselves... you know what I mean? I am thinking, for example, the first time I heard frank gambale playing with his acoustic trio, for example, and how he came much closer to jazz than to his latter works more based on the fuson approach; and, although he was not playng pure and solely jazz and much of what he was doing was not new, the way he did it, his style and approach, really got me there... well, but I digress...

for the question about my practice routine, here it goes:

firstly I do some warming exercises and finger stretching exercises, for about 20 or 30 min... i use the chromatic exercises, the basic ones, like 1234 4321 1324 and so forth, then I do some hammer ons and pull offs on the high E aroung 9th or 10th fret, and then some bends and vibrato. Some days I use another things to warm, such as the exercise you gave me. Last week I added a book on alternate picking that was written by a brazillian guitar player and I started to do some basis exercises on alternate picking. And besides that, I am planning to add another book written solely on the pentatonic scales

ok, organizing the whole thing:

- first, warm up and finger development, which lasts for about 30 minutes, and during that period I do chromatic scale runs, some basic string skipping, some melodic patterns on the major scale, some bends and vibrato and i usually finish with trills or some specific exercises, such as yours

- second I practice the 15 blues licks you gave me (since I am a beginner those licks are giving me a "run for my money", so to speak, but they are forcing me to develop and to grow and I love that!) and another assignment Cosmin gave me to develop the timing feel and the mechanics of my alternate picking, and I usually do the licks first, for about 20 minutes, and then I do 15 min on the alternate picking lesson Cosmin asked me to do (the lesson was given by Ben, but Cosmin asked me to try it)

- thirdly I try to work on basic chord progressions.. i sometimes log on Bear's beginners corner, on the lessons on basic open chords, and try to play along with him for a while, for about 15 min.... I try those very basic chord progressions, such as G, D,Em, C, and so forth... by the way, at this moment, it still feels like my chords are not that good.... and they sure need a lot of work

- on tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays I usually have more time in the evening, and, thus, sometimes I add some lessons I bought from metalmethod.com, and in the current level I am at right now regarding the lessons, they consist on the basic chords, basic riffs and so forth; those lessons normally are 20 min long. I do these lessons once I have finished the first, second and third levels of practice I have described before....


- in total, i have more or less one hour and a half in the evening and about an hour in the morning, except for tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays, when I can have more time in the evening. Currently I am not practicing any repertoire of songs, since, as you can see, there is not much time left to do it.

I hope I was able to give you the precise picture of my practice routine. If you need me to clarify anything, feel free to ask. One more thing you should know is that I am not the most organized person in the world when it comes to schedules and planning, and so forth, which is why I need your help even more to start organizing things better on regards to the practice routine,

And lastly but not least, I must say that is a tremendous honour for me to be able to study and learn from you and that, although my life is so full of demands and obligations, I am trying to do everything you say to me.

All the best.

R

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 12 2012, 03:56 AM

Please, let me know if the last post I did regarding my schedule is good or if you need me to clarify anything else. I think the problem is my practice schedule is not producing everything it is supposed to produce and I did arrange it in a falty way, I guess...

By the way, I was going to send you a video of me playing some of the licks from the lesson 15 blues licks but, sadly, I broke my High E string and then I tried to adapt the licks to another places inside the scale, but the results were poor enough for me to give up for now and wait until I can buy another set of strings to play the whole piece again.

Judge by yourself, but please be merciful, lol, because it didnt go well...

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 13 2012, 06:49 AM

I will prepare something for you related to Holdsworth very soon!
About your practice routine
I like what you do and I think you have it optimized very good!
I have a suggestion to change up exercises a little bit and have three or four exercises you will rotate through out the week
say for example do 1234 exercise on Mondays, Pentatonic workouts on Tuesdays and Scales and modes on Wednesdays and than go back to 1234 and so on! This way you will be mastering different types of techniques and scales!
Also a very helpful thing would be to practice unplugged while watching TV this just play your regular 1234 exercise through the whole show and you will get results even faster!
I hope that helps!
How is it going with 15 licks by the way? DO you need any help with it?

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 13 2012, 09:05 PM

Gee, Now I see that the last video file I have uploaded for you doesn't appear here... Yesterday I tried to upload a video for you which showed me playing the first lick of the 15 blues licks. I recorded only the first because my high E string broke and then I had to addapt all of the licks to other places inside the scale... I have two questions:

the first one is, how can I improve my chord changing technique? I still seem to sruggle with some changes, such as changing from G to C, or Dm to C or from Am open to F barre form, and so forth...

The second question is, does all the bends you use in the 15 blues licks are full tone bends? I ask this because sometimes in the tablature it seems that sometimes there is no express mention of the type of band and sometimes there is only the letter indicating that the note is played with a bend.

I'll replace the broken string and will start again on the licks. I will record myself playing what I can actually play and the way I am actually doing it, so that you can correct me if needed.

Thanx a lot

R.

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 14 2012, 04:03 AM

here goes the video I have mentioned and which got my string broken, lol, etc.

I'll replace the string and will record myself again after I finish the work on the other licks.

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 15 2012, 04:17 PM

LOL! I like it! You did a very good job!
On this lick first bend was perfect the second one got a little out of pitch and also your timing was a little shaky on the second half! But you are getting there! Keep up a good work!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 15 2012, 05:13 PM

It is so good to hear that from you, man. Really. Because I am really putting up a lot of effort on it,

Oh, by the way, sorry to bother you again and that's ok if you don't have the time to address it now, but could you help me out with the two questions I made in the last post above?

Alex, that would nice.

Thanx in advance, bro.

Blessings.

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 15 2012, 05:37 PM

I have a perfect lesson that will help you with this issue!
Check it out!:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Chord-Picking-Etude/

It depends most of them full steps but some are half step
Let me know which once you are talking about and I will help you out!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 18 2012, 03:40 AM

Ok, I'll check them up again and will let you know which ones I am talking about. Anyway, in the meantime, could you take a look at two videos I made of me playing some hammer ons and pull offs? I want you to visualize the problem I was teliing you about my pull off, that when I do it my finger touches the string below.... and also, I recorded one where I am doing some hammers and a few pull offs and the second one doing only hammers (which I was told that is the way Allan does it, which I am not sure is true).

Please tell me what you think. Show no mercy on me, lol lol..

looking forward to hear from you. I'll do the chord picking etude.

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 21 2012, 03:37 AM

All right, the first bends I want to ask you are the ones in the second lick (step number 3). Are those full bends or 1/2 bends?

thanx a lot, Alex

Whenever you have a little time off could you give me a hand on those two videos I have sent you? No pressure here, ok? Sorry to be asking you to do that again, but I am not sure whether you have seen my last post or not.

Thanx in advance, bro.

R

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 21 2012, 10:20 PM

Hello!
You are doing a very good job! And I can hear that you are getting better at the licks! Just sounds a little insecure and it will change with time!
I did see your videos and actually have an idea I think what will help to speed up the process if I will record let's say 5 first licks at a very slow tempo and will create a long loop so you can play along? How does that sound?
P.S. those are full step bends!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 22 2012, 03:05 AM

Thanx for the kind words, my friend. I appreciate that. When you say you would record the five first licks you are refering to your 15 blues licks, right? that would be awesome and I could practice and learn in bits of work, not the entire lesson at once, which would be so helpful, sure.

When you did whatch the videos you noticed something bad about those hammer and pull offs? Sometimes I get the impression that the pull offs are being poorly executed... Don't know if that's just me... Anyway, I remember you mentioning that you would prepare something about you preparing a task related to Allan Holdsworth's technique. Do you want me to finish the 15 blues licks first?

What do you want me to do?

Blessings

R

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 25 2012, 12:46 AM

I would suggest to finish up the licks first I will prepare a Holdsworth assignment for you very soon as well but let;s concentrate on one thing at a time!
Give me a few hours and I will post 15 licks loops!
Your pull offs are fine it will take time to get them right and build strength in your hands! Just make sure to practice with a click and at a slow tempo and you will be fine!
To be honest I haven't really seen anything wrong with your playing mostly it is a lack of experience and it will change with time and more you are practicing better it will get!
timing issues and pulloffs will be fixed when you will be playing along with a slow track!

Posted by: RLEMES Sep 25 2012, 03:26 AM

Alright, Alex, you're the boss. lol. I agree with you.

That's very good news. Looking forward two work on the loops.

One last thing: as you must remember me telling you about it, I broke a string while doing a bend practice and decided to change the whole set of stribgs, since they were getting old. But the gentleman from the store forgot to lower the tension of the strings (a few months ago I paid for someone to adjust and lower the strings for me so that it could be easier to play) and then the strings are much higher .ow and I am having a little trouble with bends and stuff. Do you think I should pay again for somebody to lower the strings for me or is it more benefitial in the long term for me if I try harder and get used with the strings as high as they are right now?

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 27 2012, 03:43 PM

I will post loops today! Bouncing them right now!
About the strings tension they have redo it for you! I am not sure how long it is been but if a week or so they should fix it with no charge!
It is very important to have your guitar set up properly it will prevent injuries and will help your progress!
I think it is better to pay a little more and get a professional to do that! After they are done try it out before you leave the store! and if you are not satisfied ask them to fix the problem!
Let me know how it goes!

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 6 2012, 09:12 AM

Hey!! So I have a new assignment ready for you!
I have created a loop of 15 blues licks lesson each lick repeats itself 10 times I would like you to start playing along everyday and you will see a lot of progress very fast! Just make sure you are in tune and sounding exactly as the main track! I also took the backing track off so you can pay a full attention to the lead part!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything!
 15_blues_licks_loop.mp3 ( 25.88MB ) : 132

Posted by: RLEMES Oct 7 2012, 06:42 AM

cool Alex. that is amazing! thanx for the help. I have downloaded the file and I'll use it along with the tablature you posted on the lesson. Then, when I am finished, with a lof of hard work I think I can be able to play together with your original recording.. (hopefully)
I will study them, practice and will keep you posted, my friend

All the best

R

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 8 2012, 12:13 AM

That sounds great! I am glad you like it!
And looking forward to hear you playing those licks!
Also if you are interested we can start getting into ear training a little bit more!

Posted by: RLEMES Oct 8 2012, 12:27 AM

Great! I must confess that ear trainning is not my best, Alex, and if you could help me with that...
Well, actually I have to start trainning my ears, quite honestly... lol

Bring it on, my friend!




Oh, and one more thing:

I know a few pentatonic boxes and I know the theory behing the major scale, harmonization of the major scale, intervals, and so forth, as I have told you before. but, to be a good improviser, I need to know the pentatonic (both major and minor), arpeggios, triads, major scale (both the 5 positions system and the 7 position system, I think), natural minor, modes, altered minor scales (harmonic, melodic, any other?), (diminished scale too?)

My question is, and I know that is a lot to ask, but, could you give a help on making sense on how to learn all those things, the order for me to study them and a plan to do it? or is it not the time for me to focus on those?

Let me know what you think

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 9 2012, 06:15 PM

I will start posting ear training exercises let me prepare something and it will be up in a few hours!

Yes you have to know all those things in order to improvise but you also don't want to learn everything at once just one step at a time!!! And you will get there!
How about I will suggest you another lesson to work on while you are doing licks and than we will be adding one by one this way you will get a lot of progress and still won't be too confused!
Let me know!

Posted by: RLEMES Oct 9 2012, 07:47 PM

Well, you could give me anothet lessons, because, as much as I enjoy practicing those licks you gave me, of course I know that my musical knowledge has to be extended if I want to be the guitar player I want to be...

Side note for you: I have a very very dear friend who is an amazing guitar player (sadly we don't live in the same city anymore) and I have told him about GMC and about you, and also have showed him some of your videos, alogn with the ones you played with Gambale and Howe. My friend is a extreme metal/rock/blues/fusion player, and he liked your songs and said good things about you. His name is Luis Maldonalle and there are some videos from him on youtube, if you're interested in watching, of course.

Ok, goinb back to the main topic here, , it would be really nice if we could work together on more things. You can add whatever you want to my assignments

Can abuse of your generosity a little bit more? sorry for that, but, when you were studying and learning guitar in the beginning, how would you combine the main areas of study, Alex? I mean, how can I combine studying chords, with studying harmony, theory, scales and arpeggios? is there a correct order of some sorts?

Thanx again, my friend

Peace

R

Let me

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 11 2012, 06:29 AM

I have a new assignment for you! I think it will be really nice if you will learn this chord picking etude it is beginner friendly and you will have a lot of fun playing it!
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Chord-Picking-Etude/

I will also suggest to post it to REC thread when we will work on it for a little bit!

About studying it takes time and everything will come with practice! You will get better everyday! I will be adding new assignments that I think will fit your needs we have a lot of cool lessons on GMC!
You are in good hands and I will make sure that you are getting the best treatment possible!

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 19 2012, 08:09 AM

Hi I just wanted to check and see how are you doing?
I was looking into Allan Holdsworth assignment and here is my idea! After you will finish picking etude lesson I will suggest you a few lessons from GMC you can work on plus will prepare a backing track and licks in his style so you can work on that as well! How does it sound?
Let me know!

Posted by: RLEMES Oct 19 2012, 09:04 AM

Well, that would be great Alex. thank you. I really need to improve my pull offs.. when I do them from the second string down to the sixth, sometimes my finger still touches the sting just below (below on placement, not on pitch), and it produces a little buzz... And Allan is amazing. I have a natural curiosity for learning new things and developing myself, so, that would be awesome

Hey, and what about the ear training? Should we skip it for now or do I have to work on that at the same time, in parallalel to the other things? I am asking this because you told me that you would give an assignment to work on ear training, but, if you think I need to put it on the shelf for now, you the boss, Alex.

I am working on the blues licks and in the scales workout.. it is an amazing workout program, Alex, thanx again for what you did. I appreciate that a lot.

Do you want me to record the chord picking and post it on the REC session? The REC is the place in which everyone get to give me feedabck, right? I think I can overcome a litte shyness and post the vid for everyone to see, if you want me too...



Ok, let me know what you think

Finally have the money to take the guitar for a luthier... the sad part now is having to take it and having to spend some days without the guitar and without playing... that is bad, my friend... but, eventually I'll have to take it to repair, the string buzzing is terrible and the last guy to whom I took the guitar seemed to have done a poor job fixing it..

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 22 2012, 04:38 PM

Hi! It's cool that you are working on those exercises and enjoying it!
I am very glad! About the etude if you can post it here before the REC I want you to get the highest rating possible so I would like to maybe give you some advices before submission
We will continue doing ear training let's just do one step at a time! I don't want to confuse you and get confused myself!
I am sorry to hear that the repair guy didn't do a good job! Juke sure to sit down and play for a little while before you take it back and even than they have to fix any issues I think within a month!

Posted by: RLEMES Oct 31 2012, 02:42 AM

Hey, Alex the great!

I'd like you to know that thanx to you and to Cosmin I am starting to see some progress. It is slowly happening and the progress is little but, as I said do Cosmin, it is fun to be growing. Anyway. I am working on the licks and also on your workout program (which you already know since you are following my progress over there, right? ) and it is so much fun to do it, Alex.
Anyway, I did a little video of myself last sunday playing some things just for fun, just playing with no thoughts on doing things right or being precise, so that I could show my current level to Gabe (he asked me if he could give me some advice and tips and I said why not. the more the merrier, right? and he is also a great guy and happens to be my neighbor, me being from Brazil and him from Argentina)

so, anyway, it is not your video yet but it is something else so that you guys can see and know that I am taking my guitar playing studying very serious and I am in fact studying those things that you are giving me to work on and that you are not losing your time mentoring me.

I posted the video at Gabe's forum, but here is the link:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=46430


have a great week, Alex, and wait to hear more from me in the near future...

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 31 2012, 08:25 AM

You did a very good job! It is a good thing just to jam and have fun! That's how you will see your progress and will be able to experiment! I am glad you are growing and I am here to help! As soon as you are ready let me know and I will give you more stuff to work on!!!!
I am looking forward to continue mentoring you!

Posted by: Alex Feather Nov 17 2012, 11:12 AM

Hi I just wanted to follow up and see how is everything going? I have a new challenge for you if you are ready!
Let me know!

Posted by: RLEMES Nov 17 2012, 05:05 PM

Hello, my friend.

Everything is fine. Lot's of things going on, lol, with relationship, music, my job, serving God and practicing the guitar. Guitar wise, I am doing a lot of things: developing chops (man, that warmup from eatmystrings is really starting to show some benefits.. Thanx!), memorizing all the pentatonic boxes, major scale and modes shapes (I am working on that), developing my rhythm perception, working on chords and those licks you have given me. Bring it on! Lol

Always nice to learn new things.

Best,

R

Posted by: Alex Feather Nov 18 2012, 06:26 PM

Awesome! Give me a few days and I will create a new assignment for you! It will be based on jamming back and forth!
I am very excited to continue mentoring you!

Posted by: RLEMES Dec 10 2012, 01:26 AM

Nice. Looking forward to it.

By the way, I was thinking about having some fun and losing the fear to make mitakes (and the fear of exposing myself, since my playing is still very primitive) and then I come up with a litlte riff (I don't remember hearing someone play that line; if someone got there first, sorry my bad) and a little lick, both over the Aminor pentatonic scale.

As always, your feedback is appreciated.

All the best.

Looking forward to hear from you.

R

Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 11 2012, 11:03 AM

Very nicely dine! I can hear a lot of improvements! Keep it up!
So I have created a backing track for you
The chord progression is:
Ami - F - Dmi - G
Let's try to play over it we will be doing a jam back and forth
you will do a take and I will do a take!
Here is what I would like you to use over it
A minor pentatonic
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

D minor pentatonic
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

Here is the track
 A_minor_jam.mp3 ( 2.72MB ) : 112

Let me know what do you think

Posted by: RLEMES Dec 11 2012, 03:14 PM

I think is awesome! and that I'm gonna have lots of fun doing it. Listen, how can I record the audio and send it to you?

Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 13 2012, 05:56 AM

You can use Reaper or just any DAW also you can just do a video on your cell or computer! Anything will work