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GMC Forum _ Ben Higgins _ Advanced Bushido Task 3
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 9 2012, 11:54 AM
Morning warriors. Stop playing in the snow and throwing snow balls at each other and come and listen to me for a minute..
I am pleased to present you with
Task 3: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Modal_Madness_pt5-Pentatonic_Scale/ but with a twist ! I want you to play this lesson using strict alternate picking all the way through. Playing 2 note pentatonic shapes in a triplet rhythm is a very tricky but incredibly cool way of doing things. People like John McLaughlin are masters at this and it's something I like to do myself, even if I haven't mastered it 
You have until next Thursday 16th February to present your take or my punishment will be most severe. I will take away your internet access and you will have to resort to... books. 
Enjoy, apprentices !
Posted by: maharzan Feb 9 2012, 01:10 PM
Ah, nice!! I am discovering so many new things with these assignments otherwise would have skipped these lessons for sure. I will try my best to nail this down! Although I will have to pre inform that my baby might be coming home next week (from her grandparents/momside) so things will be really busy from now on. 
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 9 2012, 02:12 PM
This is great! 
You truly are wise, Sensei (not that any of us ever doubted that, but with every new Task you confirm that)!
This will, along with the previous Task greatly improve my pentatonic alternate picking, which was non-existent!
...
>_>
<_>
*throws snowball at Sensei when nobody's watching*
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 9 2012, 03:46 PM
Who did that ???
*shakes fist at Gitarrero*
Posted by: Gitarrero Feb 9 2012, 08:43 PM
Sensei, you know I am not an evil man...I speak german!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 10 2012, 08:04 AM
Yes, but they spoke German in Die Hard....
Just kidding.. I know who it really is...
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 10 2012, 10:58 AM
How are you guys find this Pentatonic sequence ?
I'm currently working on a new GMC lesson of mine which uses a similar sliding position shift in the Pentatonic scale and it's quite challenging. 
Posted by: maharzan Feb 10 2012, 11:17 AM
I am practicing fingering. With the last I mostly used index/pinky. I am trying the one finger per fret thing on this one. I can do it at the lowest tempo backing now.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 10 2012, 11:20 AM
Great !!
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 10 2012, 01:54 PM
I'm currently working on a new GMC lesson of mine which uses a similar sliding position shift in the Pentatonic scale and it's quite challenging.
After that Torture Machine (Bushido Lesson 2 - Killer Pentatonics), I find this one much easier. But the benefit of this lesson for me, besides mastering alternate picking the pentatonic scale is the *patterns*! Yes, I'm a noob and I only used three pentatonic patterns until now
, but now I will learn all five! The ironic thing is that I always wanted to do this but never found time. Sensei, you are a mind reader!!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 10 2012, 02:09 PM
Well.. I do keep reminding everybody at the end of each video chat that I know what they're doing at home...
Posted by: Nimrandir Feb 11 2012, 01:17 AM
Oh, that's something I can manage! I think I'll get to full speed here in a couple of days. Going from high strings to low feels a bit easier, probably because of Task 2, and position changes happen slowly, so switching is not a big issue.
By the way, note that his guitar is tuned 1 step down, so he actually plays G minor pentatonic (and the backing track is in Gm also ). Playing to backing track sounded weird before I noticed this 
Posted by: maharzan Feb 11 2012, 04:13 AM
See thats what helps when you practice.
I thought he was playing in Bm pentatonic position but since its full step down, he is just playing Am pentatonic.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 11 2012, 08:30 AM
Ah now I know about Gm. I wasn't playing on my amp so I now hear the difference.
And though this feels easy but it hurts my right arm. Sweet pain. I am being able to do 90% (is that in 100bpm?). The fingering (one note per fret) is getting confusing..
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 11 2012, 10:58 AM
Oh yeah, I forgot that Zsolt tunes down !
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 11 2012, 08:04 PM
Position 3 and 4 are giving me the most trouble so basically I have been looping the backing and focusing on those 2 boxes to get them up to speed with the other positions that I can play faster more easily.Its been a while since I have practiced straight pentas this way so this is a great refresher as was the last task. Good call Bensei! 
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 11 2012, 08:14 PM
Yeah, probably because of having to shift the shape on the B string by a semitone ! It's all good practice !
Make you sure you guys keep up your strength and eat plenty of protein and drink lots of water. The snow and ice also saps your strength here in The Temple.
Posted by: derper Feb 12 2012, 04:02 AM
I just got hip to this series Ben, but I really like this exercise an intend to start working on it immediately. It may be my next REC submission.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 12 2012, 11:02 AM
Cool - go for it !
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 13 2012, 01:28 AM
Is it weird that I find this Task harder to do with legato? 
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 13 2012, 04:42 AM
Wow! It's funny you say that because today while practicing this I was thinking the same thing
What else seems weird is that I think it was the other way around when I first started practicing it. 
In the beggining I was trying it legato every once in a while to see if I could do the fingering accurately at a higher tempo than I could pick it. I figured if I could finger it accurately up to tempo or close, I could then get the picking to fall into place with more practice playing the metronome game. But today was a different story, the legato seemed harder than picking! 
Hopefully I can get this up to tempo by the dealine, the transition from position 3 to 4 is still my weak link but its getting better.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 13 2012, 05:10 AM
Probably coz we are practicing too much of AP.
Something I am understanding, you know you are perfect when you don't have to think what you are playing. I am nearly there.
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 13 2012, 05:22 AM
Something I am understanding, you know you are perfect when you don't have to think what you are playing. I am nearly there.
Right on man awesome!! Rock on!!
I need Red Bull PS: Hey by the way nice job on that last task, its a killer
Posted by: maharzan Feb 13 2012, 08:26 AM
Thanks AK. It was definitely very tough.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 13 2012, 11:03 AM
Morning gentlemen. Good to hear that you're getting on well with your Task.
Morning exercise starts in 5 mins..
20 push ups, 20 crunches, 20 push ups, 20 crunches.. 3 laps of the Temple, star jumps, then another lap of the Temple with a partner on your back. Enjoy
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 13 2012, 12:49 PM
What else seems weird is that I think it was the other way around when I first started practicing it. In the beggining I was trying it legato every once in a while to see if I could do the fingering accurately at a higher tempo than I could pick it. I figured if I could finger it accurately up to tempo or close, I could then get the picking to fall into place with more practice playing the metronome game. But today was a different story, the legato seemed harder than picking! Hopefully I can get this up to tempo by the dealine, the transition from position 3 to 4 is still my weak link but its getting better. Yeah, I guess we got used to alternate picking and legato requires more strength from the left hand.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 15 2012, 02:42 PM
Master,
Here is the take I tried today. Noise (too much gain I guess) and then my problem is staccato notes. Can't seem to hold long enough or something I am missing. I really wish to nail this lesson. Please give me some tips. I want hit all those notes loud clear long and precise!
http://soundcloud.com/nazraham/modal-madness-full-ap
Thanks,
Chandra
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 15 2012, 03:32 PM
Yo Chandra !
Thanks for the progress update..
One thing that really affects your speed and accuracy with these types of licks is your fretting hand. If you're fretting is not 100% sure where it's going or what finger to use, then even if your pick hits the string at the right time, it may not sound good if your fingers aren't in the right place when the pick hits.
The other thing to try to look at is to use the quarter note counts.. 1, 2 ,3 & 4 of each bar.. try to use those as your reference points and it should make your picking rhythm easier. Perhaps you may even want to slightly pick those notes harder as well. This works for me with pentatonic licks. Hope that helps
Posted by: maharzan Feb 15 2012, 03:42 PM
Thanks Ben. Will be trying those ideas.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 15 2012, 06:15 PM
I think the complication has come coz I am not used to one finger per fret theory when it comes to 2nps. It feels very odd and perhaps this is the first time I am trying it this way. Then I realize that my 2nd/pinky combination isn't that strong (that fast) similarly ring/pinky. I tried the lesson at slow speed just to make sure I hit the right note in time without any mistakes and I am making mistakes. I could do it well at 90% speed but since 2 days I have been doing at 100% speed which has ruined the whole thing. Its becoming worse everytime, even at 50% speed now. I have been to the point where I don't have to think which finger I have to use next. The fingers flow itself which I think is the path to perfection. The only drawback here I think is the response time of my mind and my left fingers. I am still not used to 2nps. Anyway, will practice slowly and make sure I "simulate" the fast tempo (relax right hand/lefthand) so I can easily transpose that to the 100% speed. Hopefully I can submit a better take tomorrow, if not, next week.
Posted by: Cem Feb 15 2012, 08:50 PM
Its becoming worse everytime, even at 50% speed now. I have been to the point where I don't have to think which finger I have to use next. The fingers flow itself which I think is the path to perfection. The only drawback here I think is the response time of my mind and my left fingers. I am still not used to 2nps. Anyway, will practice slowly and make sure I "simulate" the fast tempo (relax right hand/lefthand) so I can easily transpose that to the 100% speed. Hopefully I can submit a better take tomorrow, if not, next week. When you find yourself in situations like this, just get a clean tone and play the whole thing at slowish speed, make sure your get every note right. After, say 30 mins, you will be right back on track.
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 15 2012, 10:33 PM
Its becoming worse everytime, even at 50% speed now. I have been to the point where I don't have to think which finger I have to use next. The fingers flow itself which I think is the path to perfection. The only drawback here I think is the response time of my mind and my left fingers. I am still not used to 2nps. Anyway, will practice slowly and make sure I "simulate" the fast tempo (relax right hand/lefthand) so I can easily transpose that to the 100% speed. Hopefully I can submit a better take tomorrow, if not, next week. Man I feel your pain on this Maharzan. I feel as if at times I am going backwards on this and have to start over at a very slow tempo and work it back up again.I have worked myself up to 90% tempo a few times and the first few times thru it is ok but then it just starts to fall apart after that. One thing I have been doing that seems to help get me back on track is to kick back and watch TV while slowly going thru all the patterns without looking. At this point I would be happy in getting a good take at 90% tempo before the deadline.
I have tried it at full tempo and made it thru but its pretty sloppy and nothing I would consider submitting as a take.
I like Cem's suggestion too and will give that a try to see if that helps.
Posted by: dark dude Feb 16 2012, 12:36 AM
Sometimes you simply have bad days, just keep trying to work through it, but don't get overly frustrated - there's no need.
One trick I find helps with fretting hand co-ordination is to fret the notes with as much power as you can (within reason, though). Careful with this one, only do it when warmed-up and stop if it's injuring you. In the same session, I find that it improves! The same trick works for picking - pick hard. However, always go back to practicing with a lighter touch, as efficiency is what you strive for.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 16 2012, 03:42 AM
Thanks Guys. Your suggestions are very helpful.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 16 2012, 10:02 AM
Alright I spent sometime last evening doing it really slow and trying to analyze where I was stuck. I found 3 places and still I am finding it difficult. I practiced a lot today slowly and trying to get it running but when I think I fixed one I screw up another. This is the best take I could get today. It feels a lot easier. I tried the pick harder/land harder in both hands it really helped. I am not guessing anymore, the fingers just work for themselves. It feels good.
Perhaps I could do a better take tomorrow but since today's deadline I wanted to submit what I had. Thanks.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 16 2012, 11:28 AM
Perhaps I could do a better take tomorrow but since today's deadline I wanted to submit what I had. Thanks.
Hey Chandra this is a great take, I would be very happy with it after only a week of practice !
Yes, I would agree whole heartely with this. It's like drawing a map !
The more clearly you draw the map at the beginning, the easier it is to follow. I see the role of our fretting hands as drawing the map, laying out the correct directions. The sae can also apply to the picking hand. When learning something new, sometimes you have to make the movements big and basic, over exaggerated.. just so they can rigister in your head. Once the 'map' has been learned, then you can work on making your technique more normal, light and efficient.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 16 2012, 11:44 AM
Thanks Ben. Well said about the map too. I have learnt a lot within this week. I know how to hold the pick "correctly", it has improved my stamina (remember it used to fall off). Everybody used to tell, its not about how fast you can play but how slow you can play cleanly. Its amazing how you kind of mess up at slow tempo rather than fast one. You also know where you need to improve when playing slow. I will do that from now on. With only a week of practice from virtually 0 to this is a lot as well. I started with one note per fret theory and it was no where I could do it. I was so used to 1st/3rd or 1st/4th (in task 2) for 2nps, it was becoming harder. I did have that theory for 3nps but 2nps is a totally different thing. I am happy I accomplished that.
Thank you Ben for this wonderful Task series. Looking forward to more challenges!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 16 2012, 11:55 AM
Thank you Ben for this wonderful Task series. Looking forward to more challenges!
I'm pleased to hear that you're managing to hold the pick now with no troubles
It's so true. I still get that syndrome myself, where I think I can play something but when I slow it down, I'm all over the place !!
P.S. PLease check out the little note I've posted here...
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=42938&view=findpost&p=569737
Posted by: maharzan Feb 16 2012, 12:04 PM
Ha! I am all set master!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 16 2012, 12:18 PM
We all know that you're ready, Chandra. You're running around The Temple laughing at everybody else ! Come and sit down now and behave..
Posted by: Cem Feb 16 2012, 03:58 PM
Here is my take
By the way Ben, you are awesome. I catched your bushido tasks bit late but I already feel my play has improved significantly.
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 16 2012, 04:18 PM
Here it is, Master Bensei!
My wrist hates you
Perhaps I could do a better take tomorrow but since today's deadline I wanted to submit what I had. Thanks.
Man, that was AWESOME! You look so relaxed playing this and it sounds so good. Great job!!
Posted by: maharzan Feb 16 2012, 04:28 PM
Thanks Dinaga. I love how clean you play. I hate you. I love your tone.
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 16 2012, 04:35 PM
I love your tone. Thanks man
By the way Ben, you are awesome. I catched your bushido tasks bit late but I already feel my play has improved significantly.
Nice take mate! Great to have you here, on this cold lonely mountain
Posted by: dark dude Feb 16 2012, 06:51 PM
First video I've done in a few years - feels good! This is how far I got, but I still see room for improvement with sync and fretting hand work for sure:
Posted by: Gitarrero Feb 16 2012, 07:00 PM
OMG now we know how dark dark dude is!!!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 16 2012, 07:59 PM
By the way Ben, you are awesome. I catched your bushido tasks bit late but I already feel my play has improved significantly.
That is an excellent take, my friend !!
You even went slightly in front a couple of times.. it obviously wasn't fast enough for you eh ??
My wrist hates you
Well I don't think your wrist is justified because that was a storming version as well - well done Salt & Diniga !
O. M. F*****g G. Dark Dude is real !! Actual video evidence of his existence !!
Now that I've got that out of the way it's great to finally see your hands move.. you've got good fretting hand positions and a nice, relaxed picking action going on. Great work
Yeah he's got a classic English Tan, which is basically white.. like me
Posted by: Dinaga Feb 17 2012, 12:25 AM
Thanks Ben Shredmeister!
WOW.
Awesome!!!
Posted by: Nimrandir Feb 17 2012, 05:28 PM
Sorry for the delay Master, my right hand was healing after I broke it last week
I've included two takes in the video, but neither one of them is perfect. I found out that the "sliding hand" approach (move pivot point along the bridge when changing strings) is not very convenient for me, so it seems I'm using a combination of it and "fix pivot" approach. So I'm fixing right hand position when playing lower 3 strings, and then slide when I switch to higher strings.
Need to find camera position to get full fretboard and right hand.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 17 2012, 07:04 PM
I've included two takes in the video, but neither one of them is perfect. I found out that the "sliding hand" approach (move pivot point along the bridge when changing strings) is not very convenient for me, so it seems I'm using a combination of it and "fix pivot" approach. So I'm fixing right hand position when playing lower 3 strings, and then slide when I switch to higher strings.
Need to find camera position to get full fretboard and right hand.
Hey Man this is really smokin' !
Yeah I often used to wonder what the right approach was for moving from lower to higher strings etc.. whether to keep your and locked in one place and just move your picking hand out in an arc from that point. I found that it compromised my pick angle too much so I kind of move the whole wrist wherever I need it
Posted by: dark dude Feb 17 2012, 07:37 PM
Heh, thank you, Dinaga It needs work, though.
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 18 2012, 12:35 AM
Sorry Ben but I dont think I am going to be able to submit a take for this task or the next one for that matter. I have become increasingly frustrated over the last few months because I seem to be going backwards not only on the tasks here but anything I have tried to tackle lately. I put in alot of overtime on this last task, probably close to 50 hours thinking that I just needed to do more repititions of the lesson and my playing would come back around but all it has done really is to burn me out to a point that what was once fun to practice now seems like alot of hard work for nothing and I have just lost the ambition to keep practicing it. It's extremely frustrating and I am not at all used to failing.
As I stated above its not just the task at hand but my playing in general seems to be degrading. Things that I could do easily a year ago seem out of reach now and I dont really know whats going on other than some wrist pains I had a while back when I was getting pretty fast practicing economy picking. I was getting sharp pains in my wrist that would stop me in my tracks while running scales but instead of taking some days off I just tried to push thru it and these days my wrist seems to be weakened.
At any rate I think I am just going to try and not pick up my guitar for a good week and see if that helps,as hard as that is going to be I think I need to just step away for a bit if I can and redirect my attention to other things I need to work on such as music theory.
This is really bumming me out but I am thinking I have just overdone it on the woodshedding this winter. I dont think there has been many days that I havent played for at least 4 hrs a day and many days with as much as 8 hours a day or more without taking a day off unless I was forced to because I was busy doing other things, mainly work.
I want to congradulate everyone on their takes for this last task, everyone really did a great job on it so pat yourselves on the back cause you rock!! High Fives all around!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 18 2012, 10:39 AM
I have become increasingly frustrated over the last few months because I seem to be going backwards not only on the tasks here but anything I have tried to tackle lately. I put in alot of overtime on this last task, probably close to 50 hours thinking that I just needed to do more repititions of the lesson and my playing would come back around but all it has done really is to burn me out to a point that what was once fun to practice now seems like alot of hard work for nothing and I have just lost the ambition to keep practicing it. It's extremely frustrating and I am not at all used to failing.As I stated above its not just the task at hand but my playing in general seems to be degrading. Things that I could do easily a year ago seem out of reach now and I dont really know whats going on other than some wrist pains I had a while back when I was getting pretty fast practicing economy picking. I was getting sharp pains in my wrist that would stop me in my tracks while running scales but instead of taking some days off I just tried to push thru it and these days my wrist seems to be weakened.
At any rate I think I am just going to try and not pick up my guitar for a good week and see if that helps,as hard as that is going to be I think I need to just step away for a bit if I can and redirect my attention to other things I need to work on such as music theory.
This is really bumming me out but I am thinking I have just overdone it on the woodshedding this winter. I dont think there has been many days that I havent played for at least 4 hrs a day and many days with as much as 8 hours a day or more without taking a day off unless I was forced to because I was busy doing other things, mainly work.
I want to congradulate everyone on their takes for this last task, everyone really did a great job on it so pat yourselves on the back cause you rock!! High Fives all around!
Rich, it's a bummer to hear that man.. but now you mention it, you have been very active with the guitar.. with collabs, participating in video chats and just the general description of your guitar practice habits shows that. Annoying as it is, when you push really hard non stop for a period of time, hitting a brick wall is just inevitable.
It's probably mental fatigue just as much as physical. A week off will do you good. Many times I've come back after a week of non guitar and I swear my technique is even better. In reality, it probably already was that good from all the practice but the mental and physical burnout was stopping me from accessing it. After a break, a refreshed mind and body can perform the tasks already learned a lot better so don't go worrying about losing technique. It takes a lot longer than a matter of weeks to lose it !
When you come back to it, focus on some basic stuff first. Give yourself a chance to do something good and correct.
Posted by: maharzan Feb 18 2012, 05:50 PM
I look at this video all the time. Just landed on it once again and probably you guys have already seen it too. I just want to post it here just as an inspiration.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 18 2012, 06:45 PM
Yeah he does have a great point. When you're following the music you're helped along by a sort of divine inspiration but when you're just working on exercises and technique you've only got your own determination to keep you going. I dunno, I'm probably not explaining it very well but you guys might know what I mean.
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 18 2012, 07:18 PM
It's probably mental fatigue just as much as physical. A week off will do you good. Many times I've come back after a week of non guitar and I swear my technique is even better. In reality, it probably already was that good from all the practice but the mental and physical burnout was stopping me from accessing it. After a break, a refreshed mind and body can perform the tasks already learned a lot better so don't go worrying about losing technique. It takes a lot longer than a matter of weeks to lose it !
When you come back to it, focus on some basic stuff first. Give yourself a chance to do something good and correct.
Thanks Ben , hopefully a little time off from fretting the instrument is all I need , I am thinking today I will run over to my buddy Chuck's house and pick up my pedal steel. maybe playing with a slide for a while will ease the withdrawals from not playing my standard guitars.
Posted by: Ben Higgins Feb 18 2012, 08:36 PM
Are you sure a pedal steel is a good idea ? Country & Western goes hand in hand with depression
Posted by: AK Rich Feb 18 2012, 09:43 PM
nice one! Yeah I dont even use the pedals on the thing, and I dont play it country style really , more of a dirty blues thang for me , thinking about re-visiting some Allman Bros stuff like Statesboro Blues.Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
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