Lester - Mtp - December Options

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Hi Lester,

please write here something about yourself and your goals as guitar player

Cheers,
Jerry

[Lester]

Hi Jerry,

First I'd like to say it's an honour to be thaught by you, I'm looking forward to it.

About me:

My name is Lester,I am 20 years old and I live in Zwolle, The Netherlands.
I started to play guitar when I was 15 years old.I did private lessons for two years I think and then joined GMC after some time.

here's a pic (with my sister) to give you an idea who you are talking to:



Music:

Anything really!

I am really into hard rock, bands like Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch and Pillar.
If you have never hear d of those bands, it's not strange: they are all christian bands and thus not very well known everywhere.

But I like the heavier blues a lot as well, and fingerstyle, flamenco, jazz, funk and I'm sure I forgot some right now.

A few guitarists I like a lot: Mark Knopfler, Steve Lukather,Stevie Ray Vaughan, Andy Mckee & Don Ross, Chet Atkins, Gareth Pearson and Lee Ritenour. I'm sure I forgor some

My gear:

I currently own an Ibanez s270, a Roland cube 30 and some Suzuki acoustic guitar.

My goals:

My goals are always getting better and play in a succesfull band sometime. (or is that more like a dream? )

I think it's wise to learn to record properly first, I understood that I am supposed to do a REC take every month, but I only have a really crappy webcam right now.

I think that the thing I lack most is theory knowledge, so I'd like to catch up with that.

I also would like to be more allround in the basics, I really don't know where I am right now and I'd like to get a picture of that.

Another thing I am working on are open chords. I am trying to find new ways lately of playing a standard chord (like an Bb for example it can be substituted for an Bbadd9, or an Bb6/9)

And mostly: I'd like to learn how to play Jazz. But not only just a vid so I can imitate something. But I'd like to understand how it's made so I can compose some of it myself.

My favourite Jazz is Chet Atkins style and gypsy jazz.

So, I thinks that's all. Hope I covered all the info.

Cheers,
Lester

This post has been edited by Lester: Dec 2 2009, 09:49 AM

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Thank you for all these infos, Lester.
Before we start to do some work, could you post here (or link) some video of you, playing the guitar?
You can also use some DAW like Reaper to record your audio with a better quality and then mix the track with your video.

Thanks

[Lester]

Thank you for all these infos, Lester.
Before we start to do some work, could you post here (or link) some video of you, playing the guitar?
You can also use some DAW like Reaper to record your audio with a better quality and then mix the track with your video.

Thanks

Hi Jerry,

I think I have to buy some new gear before I can record properly.
I'll go to the store tommorow. I thought of buying a quickcam pro 9000 and a pod studio GX, that should be enough, but I'm not sure.
You need some kind of USB-interface to record sound properly right? (also with reaper)
I'm a total newbue to recording actually, I thought a webcam would do.

Do you know any other options to record? any recommandations?

[Lester]

 Video041.mp4 ( 7.26MB ) Number of downloads: 68


Hi Jerry,

Here's a vid of me playing my acoustic. I tried to play my Ibanez as well, but my phonecam couldn't handle the sound.
There are a few flaws in the vid, got a bit nervous all of a sudden

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Hi Jerry,

I think I have to buy some new gear before I can record properly.
I'll go to the store tommorow. I thought of buying a quickcam pro 9000 and a pod studio GX, that should be enough, but I'm not sure.
You need some kind of USB-interface to record sound properly right? (also with reaper)
I'm a total newbue to recording actually, I thought a webcam would do.

Do you know any other options to record? any recommandations?

Quickcam pro 9000 and Pod studio GX will work fine, I guess. I never been a Pod user but I read on the web that it's an USB interface. Usually you find also some audio software (basic editions) with those products, so you can start to record yourself quicklly.
If you like the software you get with the Pod, you don't need Reaper, of course.

 Video041.mp4 ( 7.26MB ) Number of downloads: 68


Hi Jerry,

Here's a vid of me playing my acoustic. I tried to play my Ibanez as well, but my phonecam couldn't handle the sound.
There are a few flaws in the vid, got a bit nervous all of a sudden

Ok, even I can't hear the sound here, if you agree, I suggest to you to start with my Jazz Notes 1: Building Chords lesson.

This lesson should help to understand some new concepts about the relationship between chords and scales.
So, we are moving away from open chords...

If you find this lesson too much difficult we'll move to some simple stuff.

Let me know when you have the (working) gear so we can set a deadline.

[Lester]

Hi Jerry.

I looked at the jazz lesson but i have a question: what principles/theory/scales should I know before I attempt to play this lesson?
I've seen that there are three theory lessons I should look at, but I don't know the major scale yet. So would it be wise to look at that first?

I do know how to play the minor natural scale, minor pentatonic and the blues scale.

P.S. I've bought a tascam us-144 Usb-interface plus a webcam this afternooon so I should be able to record properly soon.

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Hi Jerry.

I looked at the jazz lesson but i have a question: what principles/theory/scales should I know before I attempt to play this lesson?
I've seen that there are three theory lessons I should look at, but I don't know the major scale yet. So would it be wise to look at that first?

I do know how to play the minor natural scale, minor pentatonic and the blues scale.

P.S. I've bought a tascam us-144 Usb-interface plus a webcam this afternooon so I should be able to record properly soon.

Hi Lester,
you can find some useful info about the major scale here.
If you know already the minor natural scale, this is good.
There is a relationship between the major scale and the natural minor scale. The natural minor scale starts from the 6th degree of the major scale, thus they share the same notes.
C major scale: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
A natural minor scale: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
Let me know how things are going with your gear

This post has been edited by Jerry Arcidiacono: Dec 5 2009, 09:20 AM

[Lester]

Hi Lester,
you can find some useful info about the major scale here.
If you know already the minor natural scale, this is good.
There is a relationship between the major scale and the natural minor scale. The natural minor scale starts from the 6th degree of the major scale, thus they share the same notes.
C major scale: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
A natural minor scale: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
Let me know how things are going with your gear

Hi Jerry,

I am looking at the theory right now, It shouldn't be too hard to get it down, I'll just implement it in my daily practice schedule.
In the meanwhile I'll start with the jazznotes lesson, what would be the deadline?

About the gear: The webcam wasn't working when I got home so I brought it back to the store, they ordered a new one for me. I should be able to pick it up early next week.

And I'm trying to find out how the tascam and cubase work with the guitar. should be working soon as well.

I'll let you know if I have any questions.

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Let's try to set a deadline on december 11. Obviously we'll all be happy when you'll have your gear working
Meanwhile you can practice hard

[Lester]

Hi Jerry,

I was studying the theory about triads and seventh chords today, please allow me to summarize to see if I understood things right.
Ok, here goes:

Major triad: root, major 3rd and perfect fifth. Major scale goes as follows: T T S T T T S

Minor triad: root, minor 3rd, perfect fifth. Minor scale goes: T S T T S T T

Diminished triad: root, minor 3rd, diminished fifth.

Augmented triad: root, major 3rd, augmented fifth.


Ok, with sevenths:

Major 7th triad: root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, major 7th. chords are denoted like: Cmaj7, or DM7

Minor 7th triad: root, minor 3rd, prefect fifth, minor 7th. chords are denoted like: Dm7 or C minor 7

Dominant 7th triad: root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, minor 7th. chords are denoted like: C7 or A7

Minor major 7th triad: root, minor 3rd, perfect fifth, major 7th. chords are denoted like: Cm/ maj7 or D minor major 7

I allready know the barred shapes of these 7th triadse (except minor major shape)

I thinks that's about it. Am I on the right way?

Lester

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Hi Jerry,

I was studying the theory about triads and seventh chords today, please allow me to summarize to see if I understood things right.
Ok, here goes:

Major triad: root, major 3rd and perfect fifth. Major scale goes as follows: T T S T T T S

Minor triad: root, minor 3rd, perfect fifth. Minor scale goes: T S T T S T T

Diminished triad: root, minor 3rd, diminished fifth.

Augmented triad: root, major 3rd, augmented fifth.


Ok, with sevenths:

Major 7th triad: root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, major 7th. chords are denoted like: Cmaj7, or DM7

Minor 7th triad: root, minor 3rd, prefect fifth, minor 7th. chords are denoted like: Dm7 or C minor 7

Dominant 7th triad: root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, minor 7th. chords are denoted like: C7 or A7

Minor major 7th triad: root, minor 3rd, perfect fifth, major 7th. chords are denoted like: Cm/ maj7 or D minor major 7

I allready know the barred shapes of these 7th triadse (except minor major shape)

I thinks that's about it. Am I on the right way?

Lester

Yes, you're on the right way.
Unfortunately, there's no standard way to write chords. Cmaj7, CΔ and C7M (CM7 is not the best choice, since the confusion with Cm7) are the same thing.
Let me know if you can record something as soon as possilbe.

[Lester]

Yes, you're on the right way.
Unfortunately, there's no standard way to write chords. Cmaj7, CΔ and C7M (CM7 is not the best choice, since the confusion with Cm7) are the same thing.
Let me know if you can record something as soon as possilbe.

I am able to record audio right now, I should be able to make the deadline on friday. I am expecting my webcam tommorow.
I have another question though:

We have the major scale as follows: T T S T T T S, from wich you can construct a Major 7th triad. (root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, major 7th)

And we can construct a minor 7th triad from the minor natural scale: T S T T S T T. (root, minor 3rd, perfect fifth and minor 7th)

But if we take the dominant 7th for example (root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, minor 7th) we get a scale formula as follows:

T T S T T S T

Can we call this a major dominant scale or something like that? or do we call it a major scale anyways?

[Lester]

Hi jerry,

I studied all of the theory now and started to play the progressions
First of all, I want to say: great lesson! I love the way you use 4 string sets in order to be able to play many different chords in a small area of the fretboard. Also: there's al lot of info there in one lesson, which I like

I still have a few questions though, if you don't mind

In the lesson we use this chord progression:

Imaj7, IIm7, IIIm7, IVmaj7, V7, VImin, VIIm7/5

I was wondering: is there any particular reason it's like this? I know the tonic is always major and the supertonic minor, etc.
But the subtonic is a -m7/5 chord for example, where it could be a -m7 chord as well. so, why do we use this one?
Is it a standard jazz-progression? I'm sorry if I'm asking something obvious

and about the excercices at the end of the vid:

1. Take the basic major progression you have seen, and play it in a couple of different keys, using the different string sets for each one

2. Sit down without your guitar, and write out tabs or music for the major progression for a particular key or keys

Did you mean for me to do these assignments for coming friday? or just play the chords progressions displayed in the main vid? if not, I'd like to do these 2 assignments as well thing is, I don't really understand assignment 2. do you mean write the chord progression or write out the full chords? or plain notes?

And the last question: can I have the backingtrack for this lesson so I can import it in cubase and play over it?

I'm sorry for the big amount of text and questions, hope you don't mind.

This post has been edited by Lester: Dec 9 2009, 12:16 AM

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

Hi jerry,

I studied all of the theory now and started to play the progressions
First of all, I want to say: great lesson! I love the way you use 4 string sets in order to be able to play many different chords in a small area of the fretboard. Also: there's al lot of info there in one lesson, which I like

Thanks

But if we take the dominant 7th for example (root, major 3rd, perfect fifth, minor 7th) we get a scale formula as follows:

T T S T T S T

Can we call this a major dominant scale or something like that? or do we call it a major scale anyways?

This is the mixolydian scale. Modes are explained later in the Jazz Notes series

I still have a few questions though, if you don't mind

In the lesson we use this chord progression:

Imaj7, IIm7, IIIm7, IVmaj7, V7, VImin, VIIm7/5

I was wondering: is there any particular reason it's like this? I know the tonic is always major and the supertonic minor, etc.
But the subtonic is a -m7/5 chord for example, where it could be a -m7 chord as well. so, why do we use this one?
Is it a standard jazz-progression? I'm sorry if I'm asking something obvious

Feel free to ask everything comes to your mind about my lessons.
This progression is not a particular one. These chords are the ones you get stacking thirds over each degree, using four voices.

The subtonic and the leading-tone are two different notes.
Let's see from the root C. Subtonic is Bb (minor 7th) while the leading-note is B (major 7th).
In the C major scale you have B, not Bb. So the chord generated over the 7th degree is a Bm7/5- (B-D-F-A). This is also called B half-diminished.

I hope the picture should make things clear

and about the excercices at the end of the vid:

1. Take the basic major progression you have seen, and play it in a couple of different keys, using the different string sets for each one

2. Sit down without your guitar, and write out tabs or music for the major progression for a particular key or keys

Did you mean for me to do these assignments for coming friday? or just play the chords progressions displayed in the main vid? if not, I'd like to do these 2 assignments as well thing is, I don't really understand assignment 2. do you mean write the chord progression or write out the full chords? or plain notes?

And the last question: can I have the backingtrack for this lesson so I can import it in cubase and play over it?

I'm sorry for the big amount of text and questions, hope you don't mind.

For the assignment you can just record the lesson. If you have some time, you can do also the exercises. For the point 2. you can write the chords in the same way I did in the picture above.
Obviously if you write notes over a staff, it's a very easy job if you start with the right key signature for a particular key
So, you can just write chords names

Gonna searching the backing track right now

Here's the backing track!

 BK100.MP3 ( 676.73K ) Number of downloads: 113

[Lester]

Feel free to ask everything comes to your mind about my lessons.
This progression is not a particular one. These chords are the ones you get stacking thirds over each degree, using four voices.

The subtonic and the leading-tone are two different notes.
Let's see from the root C. Subtonic is Bb (minor 7th) while the leading-note is B (major 7th).
In the C major scale you have B, not Bb. So the chord generated over the 7th degree is a Bm7/5- (B-D-F-A). This is also called B half-diminished.

I hope the picture should make things clear

Thanks for the quick reply.
Good to know about the subtonic and the leading tone, I didn't know there was a difference.

so in this case the root is a C7M because we have a major 7th in the scale? C D E F G A B C

but why is the 5th degree a G7 and not a G7M, it has a major 7th right? G A B C D E F# C

So the chord generated over the 7th degree is a Bm7/5- (B-D-F-A). This is also called B half-diminished.

I don't get this part either, I don't see how the construction goes.

This post has been edited by Lester: Dec 9 2009, 12:21 PM

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

We have G7 because we have a F note in the C major scale. We are building chords over THIS scale.
You find G7M over the first degree of the G major scale, as example. G major scale has the F# note, C major not!!
Hope things are clear now.

[Lester]

We have G7 because we have a F note in the C major scale. We are building chords over THIS scale.
You find G7M over the first degree of the G major scale, as example. G major scale has the F# note, C major not!!
Hope things are clear now.

Ok, I understand it now. Thanks a lot for the explanations

[Jerry Arcidiacon...]

That's fine

[Lester]

Hi Jerry,

I was wondering: the Bm7/5- is basicly a Bdim with an added 7th (major 3rd on top or leading tone) which makes it half diminished, right?
What will happen when we add a minor 7th or a subtonic to a diminished chord? another notation?