Hello Mad!
I am so happy that you have decided to join my program!
A few questions before we will start!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?
I am looking forward to start working with you!
Hey Alex,
thanks for picking me up
These are my goals for this mentoring:
- get a better acoustic guitar player
- get into some jazz theory/playing
- making my own backing-tracks
my weakness: Fast chord switches, especially when using 4 fingers on the fretboard, barre-chords
strongest point: the last weeks I made good progress regarding rhythm playing and 'faster' alternate picking (thanks to Cosmin and Ben)
my favorite guitar players/musicians (in terms of the direction I want to go here) are:
- Andy McKee
- Erik Mongrain
- Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
- Buckethead
Perfect!!!
Let's start with your chords first! I have created a little exercise for you!
It has a few cool chord changes and they are switching fast!
You can start practicing this exercise very slow and than increase the tempo when you feel comfortable!
It will help you with bar chords in no time! You will see progress in a few days and it will never be an issue ever again!!!
Here is the track!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/chords-mentoring
Here is the tab
E |--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
B |--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
G |--2--------------5--------5--------4L----------4----|
D |--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
A |--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
E |--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|
--------8--------5--------6--------3--------1L------|
--------9--------5--------7--------4--------2L------|
--------10-------7--------7--------5--------3L------|
--------10-------7--------5--------5--------3L------|
--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--2--------5--------5--------4L----------4----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--------8--------8--------8--------8L-------8-------|
--------8--------8--------8--------8L-------8-------|
--------9--------9--------9--------9L-------9-------|
--------10-------10-------10-------10L------10------|
--------10-------10-------10-------10L------10------|
--------8--------8--------8--------8L-------8-------|
--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
--2--------------5--------5--------4L----------4----|
--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|
--------8--------5--------6--------3--------1L------|
--------9--------5--------7--------4--------2L------|
--------10-------7--------7--------5--------3L------|
--------10-------7--------5--------5--------3L------|
--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--2--------5--------5--------4L----------4----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--3--------3--------3--------3----------------------||
--3--------3--------3--------3----------------------||
--4--------4--------4--------4----------------------||
--5--------5--------5--------5----------------------||
--5--------5--------5--------5----------------------||
--3--------3--------3--------3----------------------||
Thanks! I'll put this into my daily practice routine.
But the GP-file is missing.. would be helpful for practicing slow!
Great! Just added a guitar pro file! Let me know how your practicing goes!
Also I would like to know your practicing routine!
Just write me your schedule and what you are working on!
Thanks! But unfortunately I'm still using GP5 - could you please export it into that format? I'm planning to get the latest version though, but for now I get everything what I need out of GP5..
My practice schedule:
First 10 minutes:
For warmup I use one of these patterns (don't know from where I got them, but I tabbed them once and since then I play along with GP or a metronome)
Warmup1.gp5 ( 6.3K )
: 120
Warmup2.gp5 ( 7.13K )
: 114
Warmup3.gp5 ( 1.96K )
: 132
I do some stretching afterwards
20-30 minutes
I'm chosing a lesson I have to work on for my mentoring (last one I did was the ramones lesson from gabriel, uploaded yesterday) next one will be the rhythm lesson by marcus siepen (Cosmin mentoring) - I already uploaded a take a few days ago, but I should work on that some more and record another take..
5 minutes
working on a different lesson: atm funk rhythm (Cosmin mentoring) need to get that down to improve faster rhythm playing..
When I have some more time (normally that's the case), I do some alternate picking excercises or work on another lesson.
Whenever I can I grab my acoustic and play something and try to sing along (->only when I know nobody is around me ) atm chords from the C major scale. Or I'm just trying to play melodies I have in my head...
Here is GP5 file!
Chords.gp5 ( 3.78K )
: 126
You have a very nice and organized practice routine!
I can suggest adding pentatonics into it
It's very simple
you have to learn every pentatonic in every position and start playing them as an exercise!
You can use alternative picking!
My idea of practicing is more things you can combine together better it is!
So you can do pentatonics and alternative picking at the same time!
I am not sure if you have all pentatonic shapes
E |----------------------------|--------3--6--3-------------|
B |----------------------------|--3--6-----------6--3-------|
G |--------------------3--5----|-----------------------5----|
D |--------------3--5----------|----------------------------|
A |--------3--5----------------|----------------------------|
E |--3--6----------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------|
--3-------------------------|----------------|--------------------5--7----|
-----5--3-------------------|----------------|--------------5--8----------|
-----------5--3-------------|----------------|--------5--8----------------|
-----------------6--3-------|----------------|--6--8----------------------|
--------6--8--6-------------|----------------------------|
--6--8-----------8--6-------|----------------------------|
-----------------------7----|--5-------------------------|
----------------------------|-----8--5--------------5L---|
----------------------------|-----------8--5-------------|
----------------------------|-----------------8--6-------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--5-------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|--------8--10-8-------------|
----------------------------|--8--11----------11-8-------|
--------------------7--10---|-----------------------10---|
--------------8--10---------|----------------------------|
--------8--10---------------|----------------------------|
--8--10---------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--7-------------------------|----------------------------|
-----10-8-------------------|----------------------------|
-----------10-8--------10L--|--10------------------------|
-----------------10-8-------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|--------------------10-12---|
----------------------------|--------------10-12---------|
----------------------------|--------10-13---------------|
----------------------------|--10-13---------------------|
--------10-13-10------------|----------------------------|
--11-13----------13-11------|----------------------------|
-----------------------12---|--10------------------------|
----------------------------|-----12-10------------------|
----------------------------|-----------13-10-------10L--|
----------------------------|-----------------13-10------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--10------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|--------13-15-13------------|
----------------------------|--13-15----------15-13------|
--------------------12-15---|-----------------------15---|
--------------12-15---------|----------------------------|
--------13-15---------------|----------------------------|
--13-15---------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--12------------------------|----------------------------|
-----15-12------------------|----------------------------|
-----------15-13------------|----------------------------|
-----------------15-13-15L--|--15------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
--3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|-------|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3L---|--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--13-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|--5----|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----------|-------|
--------12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|--5----|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---|
--3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|-------|
--------12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|--5----|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--------3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
--3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|--3----|-------|-------|
--------13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
-------|--3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--13-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----------|
--------12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---|
--3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|
--------12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
--3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|
--------13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--6--3----------------------------------------------|
--------6--3--------6--3----------------------------|
--------------5--3--------5--3--------5--3----------|
--------------------------------5--3--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
--------5L----------------------5-------------------||
--5--3----------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
Wow! Thanks man!
Yes, I know all the shapes - but putting these into my warmup routine is definately the best I can do!
I'm starting right now and let you know the progress!
Noticed that! I just played through the patterns again without a doubt and I was able to play the part with E/D and then D/A strings in no time - but for don't think about it while playing, I'll need a few days ....
right now I'm struggling with the chords-excercise
Hi! I just wanted to follow up and check on your progress!
So you have any questions or need help with something please let me know!
Hey Alex, thanks for checking! Well, I'm always using the new horizontal pentatonic runs in my daily warmup-routines (it's getting more and more fluent - good feeling!) And trying to get the chord changes up to speed.. When I'm going to play them faster, I have difficulties to fret the entire chord (higher strings are not ringing) but I think that's just a matter of practice hours ;P
At first I played the chords with a different strumming pattern, just to get the feeling for faster changes..
I'd like to start with some jazz theory as well, if you don't mind...
Hi! I just wanted to follow up and see how everything is going and if you need any help or have questions!
Hi! I have a new assignment if you are ready!! Please let me know!!
Hey Alex!
Sorry, but I was somewhat busy in the last weeks - not able to pick up my guitar any time ..
But I'm 'restarting' right away. Surprisingly I was able to keep up the speed when warming up with the pentatonics, but I have the same problems when speeding up the chord-changes.. Can you provide me the backing without you playing the chords - or better: do you have that backing in lower bpms - if not, no problem, I continue using GP (although it's kinda boring )?
I'll try to improvise over your jazz backing ASAP!
ok - here's something I came up after a short time of jamming.. I didn't take much attention on landing on specific notes at first, but after I jammed a little bit and I got a 'nice and easy' melody going on that sounded good to me, I recognized that these are mostly the notes to head for (if I'm not wrong..)
Did a few mistakes but all in all hearable (warning: don't get asleep while listening )
http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex-ii-v-i
Track 1
E minor 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
E||--------------------10---3--------------------15-|
B||------------------8----3------------15---3-15----|
G||--------7------------------------12----0---------|
D||------5-----------------------12-----------------|
A||----5----------------------10--------------------|
E||--3----------------------------------------------|
A 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
-----15-------9----------------------------|
--14------------8-------------------2------|
---------------------12-----6-----0--------|
-----------17-----11----5------------------|
--------16----------------------4-------10-|
------------------------------3-------9----|
D major 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
----------9-----------2-9-----------14----9---|
------------7-------2-------------7----14---7-|
-------11-----6-------------------------------|
----11----------4-----------------------------|
--9---------------4---------------------------|
----------------------------------------------|
D major 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
--------------------------------------------|----||
----7-----------------------------2---------|----||
--6---6------11---6-----------------6-------|----||
----------11----4---------------4-----4-L-L-|----||
--------9---------------------4-------------|----||
--------------------2-----------------------|----||
Thanks! Will give it a try!
OK- that's some weird fretboard work and way too fast for me atm
But I know where you want me to go.. I'll try to come up with a different melody and more chord tones - OK?
I have a very cool mechanical exercise that will help you to continue mastering pentatonic scales!
The same idea! Practice it slow using a metronome! It will help you to learn all shapes in no time!
Here is the tab:
E |-----------------------------------------3--5-------|
B |--------------------------------------3--------3----|
G |-----------------------4--------2--4----------------|
D |--------2-----------2-----5--2----------------------|
A |-----------5--2-------------------------------------|
E |--3--5-----------5----------------------------------|
-----3-----------------------5--7-------------------|
--5--------3-----------5--8--------5----------------|
--------4--------4--7-----------------7-------------|
--------------5--------------------------5----------|
--------------------------------------------7-------|
-----------------------------------------------5----|
-----------------7--10----10----------7-----10------|
--------------8--------------------8-----10----8----|
-----------4-----------------7----------------------|
--------7--------------9----------------------------|
-----5--------------------------10------------------|
--7-------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------------10---------------------|
--------------------------------12------------------|
--9--7--------------------12------------------------|
--------9--7-----------9--------------12------------|
--------------10-------------------10----------14---|
-----------------10-12-------------------12-15------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------------------15-12----15-12----15-12----15---|
--------15-------14-------15-------14-------12------|
-----14-------12------------------------------------|
-----------14---------------------------------------|
--12------------------------------------------------|
--12-15---------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
--------0L----------------------0L----0-------------||
Getting right into it.. do I have to use AP all the way for this excercise?
Oh hell - I'm at the first bar@30bpm and when I just think I got the pattern down, I mess it up
this needs some work, too
Morning! Here is a little 'progress report' for these insane patterns (first two bars@30bpm)
I'm excited about upcoming miracles
http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex
Now got the first 3 bars down - some serious string skipping in the 3rd one... How fast do you expect me to play this exercise?
You did a very good job! On the second one you lost timing a little bit I think because of the drum beat, but got back into it!
You don't have to play it fast! It's a mechanical exercise and will develop your coordination just keep the same tempo or even slower! Let me know if you have any questions!
This is the weirdest stuff I've ever played ...
Hope that's OK for you so far:
http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex-1
Thanks! I'll upload another take@40bpm soon - I even managed to play this excercise at 50bpm.. afterwards I go back to a slower speed and I can play without any problems! I'm just playing using GP behind, that works great. When I play to a drum track I tend to loose timing in the 3rd bar.. maybe because of string skipping. I think next step would be playing to a metronome and then I'll see if it's getting better to a drum track..
Hi Alex!
Just a short update on the pentatonic insanity excercise:
http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex-2
Please let me know what you think and maybe let's try the next task?
Hi Alex!
Just wanted to let you know I'm still working on the improvisation.. but it's difficult for me to keep in time with the chord changes while playing over them.. maybe you can help out a little, or record a short example on how to play over it.. maybe I'm just short of licks I could use - the licks from the pentatonic insanity excercise sound weird over this backing (or not melodic).
Thanks!
Thanks! That's what I needed, now I have the Ideas.. I'll record them asap.
AND - I'd like to be in your "fretboard knowledge mentoring" - I really need to get into this!
Hi Alex!
Ready for fretboard challenge!
And here is another pentatonic insanity take:
http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/pentatonicinsanity-take4
I'm still struggling with the improvisation. Maybe we could do a step back (if there is one )
I have problems to connect licks in a certain amount of time between the chord changes..
OK, I just did some improvising yesterday and used Q&A technique.. I remembered you showing this in one of your videochats
So I started just using two or three notes to get the timing for the chord changes, then I added more notes or varied with hammer-ons, slides or bends. I think I'll get to the point where I don't need to think about and just add Q&A licks as needed to improvise. Will record a take later today.
And yes, I'd like to start learning the fretboard!
OK, that's all I got for this.. sounds awful sometimes because of wrong notes/bends and lost of ideas.. loads of work to do for this to get better...
http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/alex_improvisation_take
I have! And got it down, so we can continue with the fretboard!
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