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Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 2 2009, 06:02 PM

Hello Zion! This is your MTP thread for December! Please post here your CV and which are the things that you want to work! Please also post your influences and favorite music.

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 2 2009, 08:14 PM

Hello Gabriel (and fellow MTP'ers)

These last couple of months I have really been on a down slope in regards to my practice.. Not because I didn't have the interest, because I love to play with my band every tuesday, but practicing home has been really difficult.. Last year I was part of the "test" team who got mentored by Chris. This was a very rewarding and very awesome way to practice for me.. Not only did I have somebody to point out the places I needed to practice, but I also had someone to "answer" to, meaning if I didn't do my "homework" I would put myself in a bad light.

After the MTP test phase ended, Chris and I continued to work with eachother, and while it was excellent in the beginning, it became clear that Chris had too many things hawking his time. He meant well, and was always very helpful but he just didn't have the time to mentor me.. So we more or less "split" apart.

Now after being in a bit of a down period practice wise, I saw the opportunity to grab a MTP, and lucky as I apparently am, I came in the group that gets to be mentored by none other than yourself.. That is excellent.. I've always loved your lessons, and I believe the first lesson in the "test" mtp last year was one of your lessons, if i remember correctly.. I really like your style and sound that you have, and perhaps I will be able to incorporate some of that into my playing..

Who am i:
My name is David. I am Danish, but currently live in Sweden. I am 30 years old, and have been playing guitar since I joined GMC back in may 2008.. I was playing in a band when I was 17, but after the band fell apart I quit playing.. After 10 year I decided to pick up the guitar again, and after only 3 months being on GMC (and really really committing myself) I was already lightyears ahead of my playing ability when I was 17.. Thats how awesome GMC is..

Because I really committed myself and dedicated a lot of time to guitar practice, I gave myself my all time dream guitar, which was (and still is) a Gibson Les Paul. I bought my LP last year, and boy do I love it. It's true what they say though.. When you get your first LP, you just want more and more..

What I would like:
I have focused primarily on the minor and major pentatonic scale, and I think I have a pretty solid foundation on this scale. I would like to learn more scales as well, but more importantly I am having trouble incorporating new ideas into my playing.. Somehow I find it very difficult to incorporate vibrato, legato, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and i just tend to go back and plug plug plug away as usual..
I would also like to improve my picking speed.. Doesn't have to be speed shredding or anything like that.. just a wee bit faster than i am now..
Also, because I have been focussing totally on lead guitar, my rhythm guitar is lacking behind..

To sum up, these are the things I would like to work on:

• Incorporate new ideas and techniques into my soloing
• Techniques: Vibrato, HO & PO (bends)
• Improve picking speed
• Rhythm guitar

Last but not least, I would like to practice whatever you believe I am missing or "not good enough" at..

As a show for my skills I will direct you to the thread of my very first performance in front of an audience.. This is how I play when I am playing with improvised soloing. Perhaps you can already see on those what I need to work on..

You can locate the thread right here

Furthermore I have some old REC and MTP videos here..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgL6F-_U0zg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fidV-XFPtsQ

I love hard rock, rock, blues, melodic metal and have always been very inspired by Slash

Bands:
Rev Theory
Led Zeppelin
Van Halen
Guns'n'roses
All that Remains
Disturbed
Dire Straits
Jonny Lang

One last thing: I am really looking forward to working with you.. It's going to be great, i am sure.. Thanks..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 2 2009, 09:35 PM

Thanks for the CV Zion! I'm planning your assignment.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 3 2009, 12:44 AM

Well David! This is your first assignment for December. I’ve been checking your videos and I first want to say that I like your style and I also want to tell you that I love your guitar!

I noticed that we have plenty of things to work and that this will be very funny! The first two things that I note in your playing is that we must work on Bending and Vibrato. Your bends usually don’t reach the correct pitch and generally your vibrato isn’t stronger enough. In this MTP I will give you exercises to improve the different techniques based in the style that you want to play.

The first assignment will be a lesson by my own (Velvet Revolver Style) that will let me know exactly your level at different techniques to decide what type of exercises you will need in the next assignments. The lesson has these 4 elements that you must work:

* Rhythm Guitar / Riffing
* Vibrato
* Bending
* Slash’s Style

Pay attention on every item. You’ll find the theory behind in the lesson’s text.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/velvet-revolver-style-lesson/

 Velvet_Style_Lesson_backings___GP.zip ( 2.45MB ) : 118

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 3 2009, 10:07 AM

wow.. that's awesome..

I cannot tell you how excited I already am to be working and delivering assignments.. it's going to be fun..

On that note, how are we doing this? I mean, when are we supposed to deliver? Is it something like monday is new assignment day, and sunday is deliver? I am just asking because it's already thursday.. heh..

-David

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 3 2009, 02:43 PM

As we are on Thursday, we could set the deadline for this assignment the next Tuesday and you would have the second assignment on Wednesday. If you finish it before that day you can post it and I'll give you the 2nd assignment earlier.

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 4 2009, 08:46 PM

hey Gabriel..

I cannot get your backing track zip file working.. it tells me it's broken?

Can you help?

-David

Also: Tuesday deadline is not a good day for me, as i am practicing with the band all evening, and will not have time to do a video..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 5 2009, 01:41 AM

 Backing_track_140.mp3 ( 1.36MB ) : 139


 Backing_track_160.mp3 ( 1.18MB ) : 154


Wednesday would be ok?

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 8 2009, 02:14 PM

phew.. Looks like I am finally back..

Band practice was cancelled today, so i'll be able to practice the lesson again tonight.. great..

again, thanks for your earlier comments on my take.. Greatly appreciated..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 8 2009, 06:28 PM

Cool Zion! I'm glad to know that the email comments helped! I know that you can solve everything in a day but maybe this helps to note in which thing you have to focus. Can't wait!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 9 2009, 09:37 PM

So here is this weeks assignment..
There are a few mistakes but i hope you like it..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 10 2009, 06:57 PM

Well done David! You really improved yesterday's version with this new one! The timming is perfect in the rhythmic sections and the vibrato sounds much better! There are still some intonation problems in the bends so I think that we must work on it!
Maybe you could record a new version of this one at the end of the month to see the improvements and we would use it as the REC take? What do you think?
I'll give you the second assignment today.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 10 2009, 07:57 PM

Hello again Zion! This is your second assignment. I was thinking on your exercise for this week and I discovered today's Lazlo's lesson. I checked it out and I think that this lesson is exactly what we need at this point. It is something simple with a lot of different bending. This lesson will allow you to concentrate exclusively in your bends.
Pay attention in these two things:

• Reach the correct pitch in your bends
• Add vibrato in the notes that Lazlo does it

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/D-Minor-Bending/

I know that maybe the lesson is a bit long for a week, let me know what do you think. If you don't have enough time we could divide it!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 10 2009, 09:03 PM

Thank you for your comments.. That was excellent news, and I am really happy..

ya, i think i can do another take later.. It could be fun to see if there's been any improvement..

overall though, i think there have been improvements already.. Like mentioned earlier I haven't really been playing rhythm, and doing this lesson (and at that speed), was really difficult.. In the beginning I was totally tensed up in my right hand.. I still am to a certain degree, but definately not as much as in the beginning.. i also learned a bit about how your riff was made up, which was great.. maybe i'll be able to do my own at some point.. I also worked a lot on trying to make my bends "faster", and that was also a winner.. I noticed that i have no problems with the fast bends on notes where i usually hit the correct pitch, but if i mess it up one time, i tend to do it a lot slower again (like the bend in this lesson going from 15b17..

Also, I have recently changed my regular G-string to a wound G-string, and I have to get used to getting the bends a lot higher on this string.. it's a huge difference, but i love the tone of the wound string more..


Awesome lesson.. Its going to be great to be working on my bends..

In regards to the time.. I think i *might* be able to learn the lesson in time, but practicing this many bends might shorten my practice sessions.. They do put a lot of strain on my fingers..

I'll let you know how it goes in a couple of days..

EDIT: i played around with it and i think i have memorized the first 4 videos (out of 8), so i think i can manage it till next week..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 10 2009, 10:27 PM

Fantastic!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 12 2009, 08:59 PM

I have played around with the lesson for the past couple of days and here is a little taste..
I am having some difficulty with the ending, probably because I haven't practiced that bit as much as the rest..

Anyways.. have a taste and please give me pointers if i need any

edit:
i cannot upload to this forum, http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=blogentry&id=19479

let me tell you.. it feels really great to be back in the guitar practicing business again.. my fingers hurts like *ell, but this is awesome..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 12 2009, 11:07 PM

I like the take! It seems that this lesson will really help you to improve your bending. There are some bends that sound out of pitch yet. I feel that the lesson still needs some more practice but you are working this very good. I just feel that your fingers need more training and these are the right licks for it! So keep on working in this way and remember to add vibrato in the long notes!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 13 2009, 01:08 AM

Glad you like it.. i will continue working on those bends.. are there any in particular ones that stand out.. i know the last ones are a bit off but i think those in the beginning are alright? but i completely agree, that lessons like this are great for my fingers and my bending..

about the vibrato.. i did so in the beginning, but i will do it again.. i stopped because he is not adding vibrato to them in the lesson..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 14 2009, 02:03 PM

yes, the bends from the beginning are ok!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 14 2009, 08:30 PM

glad to hear it..

It is actually my daughters 1st birthday today although we held it yesterday.. I think i am getting sick now.. Today have been just awful in regards to that.. Funny thing is, after playing a while i dont feel that sick.. maybe it's just because my mind is somewhere else..

anyways, i am still planning on doing the video on wednesday.. it just all depends on how sick i am getting..

edit: wow.. i can really feel my bending getting better or my fingers getting stronger.. whatever the case.. i like it a lot..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 14 2009, 09:05 PM

Thanks for the report! I'm really glad to know that this MTP is really helping to develop your technique! I hope that you feel better soon.
Keep on working hard!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 16 2009, 07:35 PM

This weeks video

Made a couple of mistakes, but my fingers were getting numb and this was the best take.. Like mentioned earlier i can really feel my bending getting a lot better.. which is great..

hope you like it..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 17 2009, 05:16 AM

Hello Zion! I'm very proud of you! I really note that you are taking this seriously and that you are working hard on your assignments. Your bends are becoming better week by week. I note that you are improving your playing. You fingers look more relaxed when you bend now. However you still have intonation problems in some of the bends. I need to know if you note this... I mean if you can listen which ones are the correct and which ones are out of pitch. This would be the first step to work on it.
BTW you did a very good job!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 17 2009, 03:16 PM

just had a listen through the video and these are the bends i find that are out of tune.. this is just by listening and i have no way to check if it's correct at the moment..

0:28 in the beginning
0:55 is a bit out
0:57 is going a bit high
0:59 is a bit off as well
and i guess all of the bends with the double strings in the end is a bit off.. I cant hear whether or not the single-step bends are off.. the first one i think is a bit off, the other i cant hear so good because i accidently hit another string..

other than that I am glad you liked the lesson, and yes.. i am taking it very seriously.. It's really awesome to have someone to deliver some "homework" to.. it's a good way for me to keep going..

Overall, I am very pleased with my progress this week.. It's been quite a while since I have been able to notice a difference in my playing, but this week I could really really feel it in my fingers.. It's great, and although I am not quite there yet, i am getting one step closer..

I will try and keep this lesson in my practice session, although not as intense as this week.. but i guess it all depends on what you throw at me next.. Looking forward to it..

Thanks for all your help so far.. it's awesome..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 18 2009, 05:29 AM

Perfect! You are really hearing the wrong bends! That's a very important thing because you don't hear it you can't fix it. I'll be back with the new assignment. ;)

Well Zion! This is Assignment 3. This time we will work on another aspect that you said that you wanted to improve. I'm talking about your picking speed. I my own experience I can say that the repetitive exercises and the scale patterns are the most effective ways to improve your speed.
For this assignment I'll give you two different alternate picking exercises. The first one combines two strings and must be played in every group of string. The second one is a pattern played over three notes per string positions. It combines 2, 4 and 6 strings and can be played in every position.
The idea of this exercise is to be played at the highest speed that you can without losing clarity and synchronization between both hands.

 Assignment_3.gp5 ( 5.68K ) : 90

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 20 2009, 10:56 PM

Sorry for the lack of updates..

I have been working on the assignment, but i am finding it a bit difficult to really get startet and notice any improvements.. maybe i need some sort of goal from you like "try hitting 4 notes per beat @ 100bpm" or something like that.. maybe it's because i really dont know how fast i am now vs. where i should go.. also i have been away this weekend, so i guess it's just difficult for me to get startet.. it seems when doing lessons i have a starting point and an endpoint all laid out for me.. i dont have that here..

when am i fast.. i think i can do around 80 or 90 bpm now, but when is it considered to be slow speed, regular speed, fast speed, lightning fast and shredding into the other dimension speed?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 21 2009, 05:11 PM

Hello Zion! I understand perfectly what you mean. This kind of lessons have an endless nature and that's something that we don't find in lessons where you have a determined tempo and way to play it. The idea of this exercise is to train you for more difficult (and faster) lessons. I'm not interested in receiving a faster than light entry for this week. The idea is that you practice this every day for around 30 minutes for some time (I've played the guitar for 16 years and I still practice this stuff). For this assignment I only need a take from you the faster than you can but played perfectly. Every note must sound clear and both hands must be perfectly synchronized.
You have to take this exercise as a bridge from your current level to a new level and not as a lesson that you'll finish at any time. Does this make sense?

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 21 2009, 07:42 PM

ya.. it makes perfect sense..
its just very difficult.. i guess this is an exercise in discipline a little..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 21 2009, 09:28 PM

yeah, it's difficult but a much more effective than only playing musical ideas (However both things are very important).

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 23 2009, 10:05 PM

So here is this weeks assignment..

Like already mentioned earlier this was a bit hard, and today i was having a difficult time concentrating on the lesson..
I wanted to do a 2 notes per beat @ 150 bpm, but ended up doing 1 note per beat @ 300bpm.. And still i thought my timing was a bit off.. i wonder if i have a bit of latency?

Also for a lack of metronome, i did it with drums instead..

oh well. i hope you like..

i have to set some speed goals i think.. perhaps 4 notes per beat @ 80 bpm to begin with..

oh... Merry Christmas.. I hope you have a great day..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 26 2009, 07:14 AM

Well Zion! We definitely need to continue working on this technique! You must continue praciticng this every day as a part of your diary routine.

For the 4th assignment I'll give you a cool Bach piece called Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (arranged by Dave Celentano). This is a very good exercise for warming up and also to develop your Alternate picking technique. You have to use strictly alternate picking technique in the whole exercise!

 December_MTP_Zion.gp5 ( 2.29K ) : 90


We are in the last week of our MTP so remember to post the REC take too! You could record a new version of the lessons that you working during this week! Let me know which one you will choose.

Merry Christmas!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 28 2009, 09:55 AM

really cool bach piece.. I know the melody quite well, and now i can also play it..

I think i will do the rec with the D minor bending, but if i get the time i will try and make a video of your Velvet Revolver lesson as well..
Could be cool to have two lessons to chose from, or just post both on the rec..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 28 2009, 02:18 PM

Great!

Posted by: -Zion- Dec 30 2009, 10:38 PM

Okay.. so here are the videos for this week.. It's been a looooong evening of recording and editing..

First the Bach lesson.. I think I took around 2 million takes before getting to the end, so i decided to keep this one, even though there's a mistake at the end.. I was very pleased with it, until i saw that there are 3 or 4 places where i am "cheating" and not using alternate picking.. I didn't even notice it before..

Second video is the D Minor Bending video.. I decided to do this standing up, as there is a big difference between sitting down and standing up.. I could definately feel the difference, but overall i think my bending has improved a lot, although I make a mistake on the second double bend in the end (did that make sense?? oh well, you'll hear it)


Last, but not least, is your Velvet Revolver Style Lesson.. Also did this standing up.. man it was difficult.. but i think it was a pretty decent job.. I accidentally made some changes to your original lesson (the chords part) where I am strumming a bit instead of holding it.. I thought it sounded pretty okay, but I dont know if you "approve" of it or not..


Overall though, i definately feel that I have improved over the last month, and I want to thank you for guiding me in the right direction.. Thanks Champ.. It means a lot..

There is still some way to go, but I can definately feel and notice the differences that has happened the past month.. its great..
Please let me know if any of the REC can be used in the REC or if i should do some new takes..

If i dont hear from you before, then Happy New Year.. May you come safely into the new year and lets keep on rocking into the next decade..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 31 2009, 06:02 PM

Hi Zion! Thanks for your takes! Let's start with the comments!

4th Assignment:
I like this take! I also notice that you used sweep picking in some arpeggios. This is not a problem in a REAL music situation. There are different points of view about this. There are players (Steve Morse, John Petrucci) that prefer to play everything (or most of the times) with Alternate Picking while there are other players (Like Frank Gambale) that always cross strings with Sweep Picking. This last technique is also called Economy Picking (We'll work this later in our MTP).
However if you want to use this lesson as an AP training you should try to play everything with this technique. About your playing I will also like to add that you should try to move your right hand a bit less. This will allow you to play faster AP licks and ideas. I also think that you should try to play stronger with your pick.

Rec Takes:
It's very interesting to check these two takes and compare them to the previous takes. The main difference is in the Velvet Revolver take 2. There I can note that learning the Bending lesson has been very productive for your playing! The bending lesson is more like an etude and I think that you still need to work on it but it's amazing how your playing, mainly your bending and vibrato, has improved this month! I would post the Velvet Revolver take for the REC program and when you do it we can finish our December MTP Program.

So thank you very much for taking this with compromise and for working hard on every assignment.

Happy New Year!

Posted by: -Zion- Jan 1 2010, 03:33 PM

I will continue to work on this one as a warm-up exercise, and try to focus on my right hand.. Have any ideas on how to do it?


I am glad that you have noticed a difference just as i have.. it's really great.. I still feel i need some work, but it has definately improved.. I must say that I had my focus primarily on the bending lesson, so I hadn't really practiced the Velvet lesson that much.. Glad it turned out alright in this take..

I must also say that the velvet style has improved my playing as well.. You may not notice it, but i can definately feel the fast picking is getting easier and not so hard anymore.. I am not so tense anymore doing really fast down-picking.. which is great..


No, Thank YOU very much.. It's been a REALLY great and productive month for me, and it's been quite a while since I noticed any improvements in my own playing.. This month I did, and it sure feels great.. Thanks for taking the time to guide me in the right direction..
it's awesome, and much appreciated..

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 1 2010, 06:07 PM

I'm really glad to read this and very proud of you!

Regarding you right hand... Try to mode it the less possible when you are picking.

Check this video to see what I mean. However I don't mean that you have to play like him. All his technique is based on playing faster than light. But I think that this will let you visualize the idea. Pay attention to the faster licks.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 1 2010, 11:53 PM

MTP DECEMBER FINISHED

4 weekly assinments complete
REC PROGRAM TAKE: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=32939