Hi Pedja,

I'd like to apply to be mentored .. Please let me know what is required and if you will accept my application.

From what Ive seen from other MTP's, seems to me there;s a fair bit of work involved which is fantastic but some of us have full time jobs and cant dedicate much time to practice ... does'nt mean we should be left out from this fantastic oppurtunity

Thanks

Zen

Hi Zen,

I will be able to accept you but first I will need your Guitar CV. Tell me your strong and weak points in playing as well as your short and long term goals with guitar and music in general.
I will keep the pace for you a bit less then with other guys but keep in mind that we have to pick one lesson a month that you will do for REC program

Look forward to your response,

Pedja

Thanks Pedja ..

A bit about me..

Musically, I have been into metal for years now and thats pretty much the form of music i understand best. Playingwise, I have played in a thrash band for about 2-3 years as a rhythm/ vox and we used to cover megadeth, old metallica amongst some originals..It was more about performance and i concentrated more on vox/riffwork and zero leads.. But this was 10 years ago .. After which i quit playing to get my career straightened out ... Wasnt good enough to make music my career. .. So i picked up the axe again last year and started re-learning the instrument from scratch trying to eliminate the old bad habits.

Strengths:

- Riff / Rhythm work (power chords mostly)
- Ear - beginner level skills ... I can work out of something is out of key .. (Dont have theory background to justify it but just by hearing it, i can make out if things are off)

Weaknesses:

- Solo playing (pretty much a beginner at most techniques - alt pickin, bends, just recently tried sweeps, arpegios, tapping)
-Writing Compositions - Have difficulty composing over a backing track..
- Theory - This is my weakest of weakest parts and i shamefully admit it .. coz i just never focussed on it at all.
- Use of pinky - I've started using it but still wish to develop more strength and control over it .. It stiffens up and doesnt like staying close to the fretboard.

What i somewhat do know is:

Alternate picking - basic/ early intermediate level (not shred level at all)
Some bends
Scale patterns - Minor pentatonic (5 shapes), Major scale (3 notes per string pattern - have'nt practiced in a while) (Only patterns, not much of a note knowledge as such.. sucks i know )


Music and playin the axe is my safe haven from my stressful job and my goals are:

Short term -
Improve solo techniques (focussing on arpegios, sweeps, picking, tapping) and chops - have better control and accuracy and eventually speed
Be able to improve on music theory without getting too intimidated by it :lol
Introduce myself to other forms of music other than metal ... i'm thinking blues..

Long term-
Compose an instrumental album ... much along the melodic likes/ genre's of satch, petrucci etc .. (wow, now thats SOME wishful thinkin ,,, lol)
To be able to play solo's from my favourite metal bands ..


I have 4 REC takes that you can view in my youtube channel (in my signature).

Lessons that I'm currently working on for a while now are:

Vittorio Monti - Csardas (Main theme) - almost done
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/vittor...das_main_theme/
Cannon in D (Speedy metal arrangement) - still cant play at speed .. getting there
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...al-arrangement/
Pentatonic Patterns in 5 positions (just started this one)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/pentat...five-positions/
Instrumental Rock with melody (just started this one)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Instru...ck-with-Melody/
Neoclassical Etude #1 (just started this one)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...ssical-etude-1/

Looking forward to being your student..

Cheers.
Zen

Great stuff Zen!

I will open your MTP thread today and post your first assignment very soon. Stay tuned

Awesome.. im stocked.. ... ..

Thanks

1st assignment posted Zen, check it out HERE