Nihilist1 Guitar Mentoring Options

[Alex Feather]

Hello! I am very happy you have decided to join my mentoring program!
You are right if you can play jazz you can play anything! And I will tell you all the secrets and tricks!
I have a few questions before we will start!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?

[Nihilist1]

Hello! I am very happy you have decided to join my mentoring program!
You are right if you can play jazz you can play anything! And I will tell you all the secrets and tricks!
I have a few questions before we will start!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?

My goal is to be the best guitarist that ever lived. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I have forced myself into a position where I am only working 16 hours a week and barely paying bills so I can study guitar with all of my free time.

My weaknesses are my general lack of theory and scale understanding. I am terrible at creating my own licks and using them in improvs and compositions. I would love to learn how to solo over chord progressions, key changes, etc. This includes learning turnarounds and all that Jazz.

My strongest point is probably my chord abilities. I am still learning how to construct chords, but I can play Major, Minor, Dim, and Aug on any string set. I am only using the triad, but I feel it is the best place to start. I actually have a set of Jazz books written by Jody Fisher. I think you know who he is since you went to LAMA. My next strongest point is my ability to use these chords to write really strange progressions with very intricate timing.

My favourite guitar players:

Mikael Akerfeldt
Jason Becker
Emily Remler
Wes Montgomery
Jon Haughm
Chuck Schuldiner
Ihsahn(Vegard Sverre Tveitan)

I personally play a lot of Black/Death metal. I am trying to learn Jazz so I can make both genres a bit more interesting. I personally think that the subtle use of Jazz chords can either make a song sound more folk/emotional, or a lot heavier and demented.

This post has been edited by Nihilist1: Mar 23 2012, 01:04 AM

[Alex Feather]

There is nothing ridicules about wanting to be the best!
It is a good goal and I am 100% with you!
Since you mentioned that you would like to learn how to play over changes and have a problem understanding scales
We will start working on it!
Here is the track
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/ii-v-i-jam
with II-V-I chord progression if you learn how to play over this you will learn how to play jazz
Because if we will analyze any jazz tune, everything is based on II-V-I.
The changes are:
Emi7 - A7 - Dmaj7

First lets use pentatonics to play over those changes!

You can use:

Over Emi7 chord:
E minor pentatonic, B minor pentatonic, A minor pentatonic

Over A7 chord:

A minor pentatonic , A major pentatonic, B minor pentatonic, E minor pentatonic
In order to get the changes use A major or A minor pentatonic

Over D major 7 chord:
D major pentatonic, B minor pentatonic, E minor pentatonic, A major pentatonic
To get the changes use D major/B minor pentatonic or A major pentatonic

Why did I make those choices?
The reason is if I will analyze the chords I will get:
E mi7 - E- G -B - D
A7 - A-C#-E-G
Dmaj7 - D-F#-A-C#

The most important chord tones are III and VII
For example in E mi7 - G and D
Than I analyzed pentatonics and found ones that will have desired chord tones

For example A7
Chord tones are C# and G
If I will look at the pentatonic structure I will get this:
A minor pentatonic has G and A which will give me one main and secondary which is A


If we will analyze A major pentatonic we will get this

I will have a main chord tone and secondary as well

Another thing I want you to do is analyze this chord progression using my technique

A mi7 - D7 - Gmaj7
Find the pentatonics that will create chord tones sound!
I know it might sound confusing but this technique will change the way you are thinking as soon as you will get it!
Let me know if you have any questions!

[Nihilist1]

I will start this right after Todd's Torture Chamber tomorrow!

Thanks, Alex!

-Nihil

[Alex Feather]

I will start this right after Todd's Torture Chamber tomorrow!

Thanks, Alex!

-Nihil

Sounds great!!! I am looking forward to it!!!

[Nihilist1]

I will have to play over the progression quite a bit for it to start making sense. My biggest problem is that I cannot really think of ways to connect the scales. Do you have some licks or tips for me to create my own licks?


Below, I am going to try and use your technique to analyze the chord progression that you gave me as homework:

Over Ami7 chord:
A Minor Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic,

Over D7 Chord:
D Major Pentatonic, C Major Pentatonic,

Over GMaj7 Chord:
G Major Pentatonic,

I am about to fall asleep, haha. I will update this Late tonight or early tomorrow since I am a night owl.

If any of these are incorrect so far, please let me know.

Thanks, Alex!

-Nihil

This post has been edited by Nihilist1: Mar 26 2012, 01:17 PM

[Alex Feather]

I will have to play over the progression quite a bit for it to start making sense. My biggest problem is that I cannot really think of ways to connect the scales. Do you have some licks or tips for me to create my own licks?


Below, I am going to try and use your technique to analyze the chord progression that you gave me as homework:

Over Ami7 chord:
A Minor Pentatonic, D Minor Pentatonic,

Over D7 Chord:
D Major Pentatonic, C Major Pentatonic,

Over GMaj7 Chord:
G Major Pentatonic,

I am about to fall asleep, haha. I will update this Late tonight or early tomorrow since I am a night owl.

If any of these are incorrect so far, please let me know.

Thanks, Alex!

-Nihil

I know it's not easy but I know you can do it!!!
Good job on analyzing chords and making pentatonic choices!
A few suggestions!
b]Over Ami7 chord:[/b]
I would not suggest D minor pentatonic because after you will have a D7 chord so you need to have F# in it
My choice will be A minor, B minor pentatonics

Over D7 Chord:
You have made a good choice I would probably do the same!

Over GMaj7 Chord:
I would use combination in between D major and G major

How to create your own licks!

It is pretty easy and you can be as creative as you want!

We have Emi7 - A7 - D maj7 chord progression for the backing track
Say I chose:

B minor and E minor pentatonic over E mi7
B minor and A minor pentatonic over A7
E minor A major pentatonic over D maj7
Now all you have to do is combine those three and create some licks!
Here is an example combing B minor and E minor pentatonics:

E |-----------------------------------------7----------|
B |-----------------------------------10-------8-------|
G |-----------------7-----------------------------9----|
D |-----------------------9-----7----------------------|
A |-----------7--8-------------------------------------|
E |--7-----10------------------------------------------|


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--10----------8-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------7-----------9-----------------------7-----------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------9-------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------10----------7-----------------------------------7L
------------------------------------------------------10----------7-------------


---------------------------------------------------------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||
----------------------7L----------------------7----------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||

Guitar Pro file:
 Licks.gp5 ( 1.7K ) Number of downloads: 37

Let me know if you have any questions!

[Nihilist1]

I know it's not easy but I know you can do it!!!
Good job on analyzing chords and making pentatonic choices!
A few suggestions!
b]Over Ami7 chord:[/b]
I would not suggest D minor pentatonic because after you will have a D7 chord so you need to have F# in it
My choice will be A minor, B minor pentatonics

Over D7 Chord:
You have made a good choice I would probably do the same!

Over GMaj7 Chord:
I would use combination in between D major and G major

How to create your own licks!

It is pretty easy and you can be as creative as you want!

We have Emi7 - A7 - D maj7 chord progression for the backing track
Say I chose:

B minor and E minor pentatonic over E mi7
B minor and A minor pentatonic over A7
E minor A major pentatonic over D maj7
Now all you have to do is combine those three and create some licks!
Here is an example combing B minor and E minor pentatonics:

E |-----------------------------------------7----------|
B |-----------------------------------10-------8-------|
G |-----------------7-----------------------------9----|
D |-----------------------9-----7----------------------|
A |-----------7--8-------------------------------------|
E |--7-----10------------------------------------------|


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--10----------8-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------7-----------9-----------------------7-----------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------9-------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------10----------7-----------------------------------7L
------------------------------------------------------10----------7-------------


---------------------------------------------------------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||
----------------------7L----------------------7----------|----||
---------------------------------------------------------|----||

Guitar Pro file:
 Licks.gp5 ( 1.7K ) Number of downloads: 37

Let me know if you have any questions!

For the Ami7 chord, I noticed that you chose the B minor Pentatonic. May I ask why? I might have formulated my scales incorrectly, but I did not notice a III or VII chord tone in that particular minor Pentatonic.

Thanks!

-Nihil

[Alex Feather]

For the Ami7 chord, I noticed that you chose the B minor Pentatonic. May I ask why? I might have formulated my scales incorrectly, but I did not notice a III or VII chord tone in that particular minor Pentatonic.

Thanks!

-Nihil

There is no Ami7 chord it's A7
A minor pentatonic ove A7 chord will give me sound of chord tones plus I will have minor third or #9 (C natural)
B minor pentatonic will give me root and V which are the chord tones as well they are not the main one but still chord tones plus I will have 9 what I was thinking is about my next chord
I have Dmaj7
D-F#-A-C#
So if I am gonna keep playing Bmi pentatonic over both A7 and Dmaj7
I will get I-III-V of Dmaj 7


That's why I chose it
I hope that make sence if not let me know and I will explain it in more details!

[Nihilist1]

There is no Ami7 chord it's A7
A minor pentatonic ove A7 chord will give me sound of chord tones plus I will have minor third or #9 (C natural)
B minor pentatonic will give me root and V which are the chord tones as well they are not the main one but still chord tones plus I will have 9 what I was thinking is about my next chord
I have Dmaj7
D-F#-A-C#
So if I am gonna keep playing Bmi pentatonic over both A7 and Dmaj7
I will get I-III-V of Dmaj 7


That's why I chose it
I hope that make sence if not let me know and I will explain it in more details!

It does, but there was an Ami7 in the chords you wanted me to analyse. I noticed that you chose a B minor Pentatonic and I thought that was strange.

Another thing I want you to do is analyze this chord progression using my technique

A mi7 - D7 - Gmaj7
Find the pentatonics that will create chord tones sound!
I know it might sound confusing but this technique will change the way you are thinking as soon as you will get it!
Let me know if you have any questions!

[Alex Feather]

It does, but there was an Ami7 in the chords you wanted me to analyse. I noticed that you chose a B minor Pentatonic and I thought that was strange.

Well in this case when you are analyzing this chord progression
Ami7
A-C-E-G
D7
D-F#-A-C
Gmaj7
G-B-D-F#

Now let's look at B minor pentatonic:


In A minor 7 we have
A and E
In D7 we have
D-F#-A
In G major 7 we have
B-D-F#

That's why I made this choice because if you will stay in Bmi through the whole progression you will get almost all the chord tones
When I am looking at a chord progression I am analyzing all the chords and trying to see what will come next that's why B minor pentatonic was one of my choices!
I hope that helps

[Nihilist1]

Well in this case when you are analyzing this chord progression
Ami7
A-C-E-G
D7
D-F#-A-C
Gmaj7
G-B-D-F#

Now let's look at B minor pentatonic:


In A minor 7 we have
A and E
In D7 we have
D-F#-A
In G major 7 we have
B-D-F#

That's why I made this choice because if you will stay in Bmi through the whole progression you will get almost all the chord tones
When I am looking at a chord progression I am analyzing all the chords and trying to see what will come next that's why B minor pentatonic was one of my choices!
I hope that helps

That is definitely the answer I was looking for! I will work on improvising both progressions this week, and then I will get back to this thread.

Thanks, Alex!

-Nihil

[Alex Feather]

That is definitely the answer I was looking for! I will work on improvising both progressions this week, and then I will get back to this thread.

Thanks, Alex!

-Nihil

Perfect! I am glad I could help!
I know sometimes it might be a little confusing at first but very soon you will understand this conception and it will change the way you think when improvising!!!
Let me know if I can help with anything else!
Looking forward to hear your recording!!!

[Alex Feather]

Hey! I just wanted to follow up with you and find out if you are ready for a new assignment?
Please let me know how is it going and if you need any help!

[Nihilist1]

Hey! I just wanted to follow up with you and find out if you are ready for a new assignment?
Please let me know how is it going and if you need any help!

I am still working on jamming over the rhythm track. I don't feel comfortable enough to move on. I understand the theory, I just cannot seem to apply it to my playing. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks Alex,

-Nihil

PS. I could be over thinking the situation. Most of my academic and musical hindrances stem from trying to think too hard.

[Alex Feather]

I am still working on jamming over the rhythm track. I don't feel comfortable enough to move on. I understand the theory, I just cannot seem to apply it to my playing. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks Alex,

-Nihil

PS. I could be over thinking the situation. Most of my academic and musical hindrances stem from trying to think too hard.

I would suggest creating licks combining two or three pentatonics even if it's a short phrase! And don't over think just make sure you understand what you are doing! More you do it better it will get!
I gave you a lot of material don't try to swallow it all right away one step at a time!
Try combining Bmi and E mi pentatonics to start!
Those are positions I want you to use:
For Bmi

For Emi


You can play those through out the whole backing track!
Try it out and let me know how it goes!
After you will get comfortable we will add more but for now do only those!

[Nihilist1]

I would suggest creating licks combining two or three pentatonics even if it's a short phrase! And don't over think just make sure you understand what you are doing! More you do it better it will get!
I gave you a lot of material don't try to swallow it all right away one step at a time!
Try combining Bmi and E mi pentatonics to start!
Those are positions I want you to use:
For Bmi

For Emi


You can play those through out the whole backing track!
Try it out and let me know how it goes!
After you will get comfortable we will add more but for now do only those!

Here I thought I would be the only person in the LA area on GMC this early in the day. I will give this a try right after I finish listening to the rerelease of Human by Death.

Thanks Alex,

-Nihil

[Alex Feather]

Here I thought I would be the only person in the LA area on GMC this early in the day. I will give this a try right after I finish listening to the rerelease of Human by Death.

Thanks Alex,

-Nihil

I am getting up every day at 7 am so you are not the only one!
I am looking forward to hear your take!

[Alex Feather]

Here I thought I would be the only person in the LA area on GMC this early in the day. I will give this a try right after I finish listening to the rerelease of Human by Death.

Thanks Alex,

-Nihil

Hi! How are you doing? I wanted to follow up and see if you have any questions!

[Nihilist1]

Hi! How are you doing? I wanted to follow up and see if you have any questions!

I am doing well, thank you! I have a solo completed, I just haven't had the time to record it. I have been in the studio rehearsing with a new band I am most likely going to be working with as well. I should have time to record my take some time tomorrow after I get home.