This thread will be used for your individual assignments and discussion

Hi Lee,

Here is your first individual assignment for the MTP:

Assignment #1 - Barenaked Ninja

Lesson

I am planning to do the syllabus lessons in the same order with you, as it can't really hurt and hopefully we can quickly progress to a bit more advanced stuff. I would suggest to start the MTP with the lesson: Beginner- Strumming and Arpeggios

Technically speaking there is nothing challenging to this lesson, however timing wise it should be spot on. Try to get it perfect with downstrokes during the arpeggio's first on low tempo and gradually speed it up to full-tempo.

I don't expect that you will have lots of difficulties with this lesson, but take the time you need to record a good video of it

Deadline

I would like you to upload a video of this lesson in your own upload thread when you are able too (keeping in mind your back). Also if you have any questions, just ask them in this thread.


Good luck!

Cool deal. My back is feeling pretty good. I'm aiming to have a video up by this weekend!

Hi Lee,

Here is your second individual assignment for the MTP:

Assignment #2 - Barenaked Ninja

Lesson

We are going to continue to work a bit more on the rhythm and timing foundation, which should not be a too big problem for you, given the nice result of the first assignment.

You may choose one of the following lessons. I would like you to upload a take of the complete lesson if at all possible (in the original syllabus 1/2 lesson is mentioned, but I think that the 2nd parts of especially alternative 2 and 3 are particularly interesting for you as well given your current level of playing). You may choose the backing track speed you like (I don't mind the speed at this moment).

Alternative 1: Smoke on the water - Deep Purple

Alternative 2: Blues grooves library part 1 (tabs found on right hand side "Tab" link)

Alternative 3: Alice in Chains lesson

As you have already played the guitar for quite a while I would like to suggest to you to choose either alternative 2 or if you like to solo also a bit more, alternative 3 would be great.

Deadline

I would like you to upload a video of this lesson in your own upload thread at Wednesday 11 Mar if at all possible. Also if you have any questions, just ask them in this thread.

Let me know which lesson you choose and whether you think a take of the complete lesson would be possible within the deadline (based on that we can either decide to extend the deadline or 1/2 the lesson

Good luck!!!

Hey Roger, just wanted to give you an update. I'm working on the Alice in Chains lesson. It's coming along pretty well, but I'm having some problems getting the timing of the pulloffs/legato at the end to work out as well as having it sound clean. That part is pretty challenging and Gabriel makes it look so easy! I hope to have it this weekend sometime. Thanks.

Thanks for the update Lee, good to hear that most parts are getting fine. Try to practice those pulloffs/legato at low speed first to get them clean and smooth before getting it up to speed

Just wanted to say very good work Roger, excellent assignments !
Ninja you are in good hands

Hey Roger. Just checking in again.

Sorry about the delay in getting my stuff up. I had a buddy from college visit last weekend so I missed out on playing then. I've been working on the AIC lesson this week.

I'm going slowly through this lesson because it has made me realize I have almost no legato skills . So I'm being very deliberate as I practice it because I don't want to just struggle through it for the sake of getting a video up and moving on to the next lesson. I hope that is alright with you.

This weekend is wide open for me, so I'll have the video up soon! I'm even going to set a reminder for Sunday's chat!

Looking forward to the video Lee!

Cheers
Roger

Assignment #3 - Barenaked Ninja

With this assignment, we are going to work on some solo work (lets continue with the Syllabus until the 4th assignment and then we are going to work on specific aspects of technique etc).

This assignment contains three possible alternatives:

Alternative 1 - John Frusciante lesson

Alternative 2 - Slow Pentatonics lesson

Alternative 3 - Tarantella Rock lesson

Please choose one of these alternatives (although nr. 3 sounds maybe the coolest, if you choose nr. 1 or 2 keep in mind that all the nuances really make or break those solo's).

Try to use the same fingerings as the instructors as much as possible. As always, split up the solo's into smaller pieces and practice them at slower speeds until you get the timings right. View the instructor's version quite a bit in order to copy that as much as possible in your own take.

Given your playing level, I would like to see as much nuances (vibrato, feel etc.) as possible in your solo as well

Deadline

I would like you to upload a video of this lesson in your own upload thread at Saturday 4 Apr if at all possible. Also if you have any questions, just ask them in this thread.

Let me know which lesson you choose and whether you think a take of the complete lesson would be possible within the deadline (based on that we can either decide to extend the deadline or 1/2 the lesson

Good luck!!!

Hey Roger!

I'll give Tarantella Rock a shot. I got this weekend coming up open so, how about I shoot for having a video up on Sunday the 5th? Does that work for you?

Yeah that's fine. Am in the US until the 6th anyways

What's up Roger, just wanted to let you know I saw the Group Assignment. I plan on knocking these out soon. I've just been having trouble getting enough guitar time lately.

Don't worry, thanks for letting me know!

Assignment #4 - Barenaked Ninja

Lesson
Before moving to some etude lesson's on alternate picking, legato and such, I thought it would be good to work on the following lesson which contains a lot of vibrato/bending - in conjuction it also contains quite a bit of theory which is something I am going to focus a bit more on from now on. I would like you to work on the following lesson of Muris: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...r-melodic-solo/

This lesson contains quite a few bends, some wide vibrato as well, and I would like to see from you that these bends/vibrato are executed as perfect as possible (I know you can do it! )

In terms of theory assignment, in conjuction with this lesson, I would like you to really go a bit more in depth in the accompanying texts of the video's, which pretty much describe the note choices Muris did when composing this solo.

Also, you will notice that the solo is primarily based on E minor, but the E minor pentatonic, phrygian and harmonic minor are also used. What would be good is to memorize the 3-note per string pattern of the E minor (E Aeolian), E Phrygian and E Harmonic Minor for the 1st position: Index finger starting on the root note of the 6 string.

Finally, I would suggest you to take a close look at this excellent lesson by Can (the above 3 note per string patterns for both the Aeolian as Phrygian are discussed there): http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=23160

Let's focus as much as you can on the vibrato/bending in this lesson.

Deadline

I would like you to upload a video of this lesson in your own upload thread before next week Saturday 18 Apr if at all possible. Also if you have any questions, just ask them in this thread.

Good luck!!!

What's up Roger? Just wanted to give you an update. I've been real busy lately and playing guitar seems to be consistently losing out in the battle for my free time! I've just started learning the E minor melodic solo lesson and am super-pumped to figure it out. I wish the MTP was around about 5-7 years ago when I was a college student. I had loads of free time then!!! Ah well, I just wanted to give you an update. Take care!

I know what you mean, if this was active 10 years ago, I was miles further for sure. Thanks for the update

Hey Roger, just checking in. Slowly but surely I'm making progress on this one. I've got it figured out pretty much but am still having some trouble with Measure 9 (the Em pent lick). I trip up going from the 14 on the G string to the 15 on the high E. I'm also having trouble finding time for the prebended 14 on the G string. On top of all of that playing that measure cleanly and making it flow like Muris. Any tips would be much appreciated!

I really like this song. It reminds me something Def Leppard would play.

Measure 9 is surely not an easy bar to play cleanly and I had quite a bit of difficulty getting it more or less right. The key thing that helped me out here is (as always), play the bar really slowly to get it completely right first, without any exceptions and from that speed it up gradually. The problem I had was that I could play 95% of that measure at the right speed but the last 5% was always off until the moment that I really slowed down also the 95% I could already play OK.

Btw, the pre-bend is the most difficult thing here as you more or less need to pre-bend it in 64th note speed here or so in order to make it flow

Cheers
Roger

Hey Lee,

How are things? Any idea when you will be able to upload a take of your assignment?

Cheers
Roger

What's up Roger? I'm sorry for not keeping you posted here. I know it sounds cliche' but I've been super busy lately and like I've mentioned before, guitar usually ends up losing out on the battle for my time. This weekend is wide open for me though, so I'll try to have it up on Sunday!

Looking forward to it