Hi maharzan

Please write a short info about your current playing abilities, prefered styles and post some recordings or a video.
I am looking forward to this and I hope that you will learn many useful things throughout this program.

All the best
Emir

Hi Emir,

I am pretty excited about this MTP so here is my info.

I have been playing ON and OFF for past 15 years but never owned an electric guitar until last 5 years. I haven't been a hardcore player but would always wanted to play fast at times. I like Joe Satriani very much. If I listen to any music, that would be him. I would love to start composing songs like his, you know a melodic line and then few fast riffs (solo). Recently, I have found Andy Timmons and liked his songs as well. I have also been following Gilbert for his cool lessons on YouTube time to time, especially playing faster riffs.

I would love to do what Dexter did (play all over the neck). I did follow his thread for quite sometime in the last MTP, was great. But before I dive into that, I would love to have this immediate problem corrected.

PLAY at FASTER SPEEDs and SYNC well.

Currently, I think I can do 130bpm (16th notes). Thanks to Muris. I did what I haven't in 15 years in my last MTP with Muris. My fingers got raped and my arms ached but I can now comfortably do 130bpm. But still not as professionally as you guys, of course. I have the Syncing and timing problem. And I really want to improve that immediately.. like the within next month.

If you see my last video (trying for my REC), you can see that the notes are quite short and have this staccato problem. I guess, I am releasing my fingers quite early, but its hard to tell at that speed. I am not sure if anybody has encountered that or there is good known solution.



For timing, this is what happens. In my mind, I usually play on time and when I practice, I feel its right. But when I record it, it is always like either some milliseconds faster, kind of lag there. I don't think its the software lag since this only happens if I am playing faster riffs. (maybe out of control). D

Here is another video to prove it (done before 3 months)



Here is a take from last MTP





So, Immediate attention to playing faster and with sync.

Future attention is definitely, play all over the neck and find melodic lines.

Then, some tapping and sweeps (arppegios). I have never tried these.

Thanks for this long info Your playing is very good. Excellent control, nice vibrato and good focus.

Regarding picking we can do a lot of different things. I will open assignment thread soon where you can post your final work every week and we'll keep this thread for practicing and discussion. Tapping and sweeps are also planed so stay tuned We'll fix that coordination between hands for sure. I noticed that you have a lot of upstrokes or at least it looks on the videos. Maybe that's the reason why you're losing that picking control. You should really start a phrase with a downstroke so your accent lands on the right beat.

If you want to practice scale boxes as Dexxter did we can also go for it. That will help you with everthing.

We'll do an assignment every week and you're supposed to post one lesson for the REC program every month. That can be any GMC lesson.

I'll be back soon with the exercises.

Very cool Emir. Lets do one thing at a time (for sure). A lesson focusing on syncing would be great to begin with.

As for upstrokes, I never knew about AP when I played guitar for like 4 years.. I always used to down down down stroke, and questioned how they could play so fast.. I didn't have much guitar players around me nor had I access to videos at that time. Now, its all on the web. Although I do always start with downstroke most of the time. This particular REC I was trying felt easier on upstroke. So, perhaps it looked like that.

Anyway, can't wait for your 1st assignment.

For REC, should I try this? http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...tring-skipping/

Hi

Let's go for these major scale boxes. Many other guys are doing it already so you can check their progress as well and see where you are I am also doing some sweep picking stuff with other guys. Check Jakub's thread and see if you like it.

For now let's start with Major scales all over the neck.

This is the chart and the video from Dexxter's MTP thread which you have already seen. Here I am explaining the first 3 positions of the chart and you can figure out the other two. Later we will make a good use of these patterns.





This is how Dexxter did it. He made a drum loop and played over it. It would be nice if you can do the same.




So this is your first assignment and I will open the new assignment thread where you can post your final work. Keep this one for disscussion and practicing.

Well done for your first assignment. Excellent work. Let's move on.

Here is the chart that I want you to play. Start from the top and read from left to right. First you play A major in position 5, then you play C major in position 4 etc... When you finish you move to the next row - A major position 1 etc... Your starting point should be between 1st and the 5th fret. You should play the whole thing with no stop. Make a backing with these chords in order: A, C, D, F, G and play along. This exercise should seriously improve your fretboard skills.

wow.. now this sounds complex..

A in position 5 means starting on the 17th fret right?

I guess I need to do a lot of homework here.

No, it starts from the 2nd fret. As the chart progresses you will move further up the neck, you will notice that as soon as you start. Black dots on the scale chart are your roots so that can help you see where you are. Good luck

ah G shape.. Completely forgot.. and I don't know why I thought it was 17th.. I just went 1 octave higher on the 1st position.. So, If we go with G-Scale we tried, Position 5 for A would start at 14th fret but since its G-shape.. instead of playing it on the 14th fret.. we play at 2nd right? As as we are starting on the 5th fret (or 4th from the charts) for position 1.

Okay I understood it. I will just keep it on Shape rather than position I guess.

Check Dexxter's video on his thread. He did it a couple of months ago. I am sure you got the point

Yep I got it now.

Btw, just a heads up that I want to try a simple lesson for REC.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/triplet_feel_riffing/

It is out of the regular (which I am stuck at) 8th / 16th note pattern and also focuses on AP. Since theres a lot going in assignments, I thought I would just try not so hard lesson for REC.

Thanks.

Triplet feel riffing is not hard leson. You can go for that if you like

Emir,

I tried the assignment and so many things to remember.

I need to think for a while and trace these out. This is my first time doing this and I understand its more of practice. But I wanted to know if there is any shortcut or tips to try remembering these positions. I think it would be easier to remember the note starting on the 6th string for all positions (at each chord) but it seems it goes on changing for a smooth flow.

Anything to make this easier would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chandra

You already know all 5 positions, don't you?

The main trick here is to know where your root is. Once you visualise that then you just throw the scale accordingly. That's how I do it. The root is the key Check on the scale chart - black dots are your roots.

Okay..

I know the scales but can't find the root instantly.. I mean (its not always starting on the root note which is why I am getting confused). I have a think for like 2 secs.

Need more practise I guess.

Thanks.

Well, no more cheating and learning songs by remembering which fret you need to press You need to know where you are on the neck and where your root is at anytime. This exercise will help you learn all the notes on the fretboard. I know that the root is not always your first note but you have to learn it all at some point if you want to become a good guitarist. This stuff is essential. For exmple you need to know at anytime of the day or night what note is on the 4th string 9th fret This exercise can help you a lot with that stuff but you should learn it yourself as well. First memorize all notes on 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th fret. Those are the ones with dots painted on the neck.

Oh for that matter, I know the notes on the fret board individually.. I am just not sure about say where it starts for D chord position 3. I have to think about that for sometime. Thats what i am curious about. I have to first find out where the position 3 for chord D is and then where it starts. My fingering is now remembering the positions but I need to cut short of this 'thinking time' so that I can play without thinking.. maybe that requires 2-3 years of practice. which ultimately qualifies of becoming a pro.

Am I too early for that? Its just day 2 I think.

On the other note, I have run down all the boxes on the chart for 10-15 times now and although its coming out slowly. I think another couple of days, I will understand the neck much better. My fingers can now play easily the positions. I only have to remember that starting note for each position now.

It doesn't take 2 years for sure It can take a month or two.

3rd position of major scale - think that your first root is the 4th finger and you don't go beyond that. Everything else in that position goes either before the 4th finger or the 4th finger itself. Everybody finds his way of thinking when moving through the positions.

Just a question about Modes Emir.

I have seen guitar gods and some instructors here to learn modes as if they were a different scales. I have also seem some people suggesting that Modes are simply major scales on different positions. I have tried both (know mixolydian / tried lydian / dorian ) and I need your suggestion.

Its easy for playing if you are recalling one mode is some position of major scale. But it takes time to figure out which. This might be a wrong way to learn.

I have also tried taking modes for example A mixolydian as A major scales but flatted 7. I think this is a correct way of learning and you don't have to worry about which scale / position I have to play because I already know the A major scale. What do you think? Should I take this approach ? I am asking because I want to learn the modes the correct way no matter how long it will take.


Another question:

How do we figure out which scale to play over a chord? Or is it just what ever we like? I mean for Am we could play both A aelion or A dorian (i don't know other modes right no for minor).

Need to get some theory lessons.

You can determine the modal feel by ear once you get some experience. Try with aeolian and if you think it sounds better with dorian then go for it. But from this point you have to know that if you're in A aeolian and the chord moves to G then you have to play G mixolydian. The second approach is if the song has A dorian feel then your G chord would be Ionian (major).

We'll get there. I left you some comments on the assignment thread regarding learning modes. Also you can read the text from this lesson if you want.

Thanks Emir, will look at the lesson.

Ok, I will just keep discussions to this thread so we are not jumping back and forth.

I had this in mind and I probably asked you before when doing the Neoclassical collaboration too. I just wanted to confirm that after looking at the lesson you referred.

So, basically, its just terminology that is making it confusing (at least for me). I am just playing the same scale (e.g. C Major Scale) all over its relative chords but only calling it a different mode because of the root. If I think this way, there is no confusion at all. But for other chord combination (than that in the video) the story might be different. I think I got it. You basically look at the chord and if the chord has minor 3rd (as an example) you play phrygian.. but if the chord is minor with major third, you play phrygian dominant. Might not be always true but just giving an example as I am understanding.

BINGO ?!!

If you play 1, 3, 5, 7 position in the chord separately, its an arpeggio!!!!......... Did I get that right?

yes, it's a maj7 arpeggio. When you stack 3rd on top of 3rd. If you do that with major scale you will get 1, 3, 5, 7

If you have maj3rd and normal(maj)7th then you call this maj7

In order to call something dominant, you need both maj3rd and b7th

Phrygian dominant is the same as phrigyan but with maj3rd respectively. This one comes from different mode family called harmonic minor scale. that scale is the root scale (like ionian in normal major scale modes) and you count modes from there. Phrigyan dominant is the 5th mode of harmonic minor scale.



This is the list that can help you for now:

Ionian - major mode (because has maj3rd)
Dorian - minor mode (because has min3rd)
Phrygian - minor mode
Lydian - major mode
Mixolydian - major mode
Aeolian - minor mode
Locrian - minor mode (exception)

The last one is just a passing one (tends to resolve somewhere), you will never play that over any other chord apart from m7b5.
---------------------------------------------


Now other mode families

Their names are as follows: (but you might find other names as well)

HARMONIC MINOR SCALE (this is a must in neoclassical style)

1) Aeolian #7 (Harmonic Minor) - A B C D E F G# - AmMaj7 / you can also add (b6)
2) Locrian #6 - B C D E F G# A - Bm7b5
3) Ionian #5 - C D E F G# A B - Cmaj7#5
4) Dorian #4 - D E F G# A B C - Dm7 / you can also add (#11)
5) Phrygian #3 (Phrygian Dominant) - E F G# A B C D - E7 / you can also add (b9,b13)
6) Lydian #2 - F G# A B C D E - Fmaj7 / you can also add (#9)
7) Mixolydian #1 (Diminished) - G# A B C D E F - G#dim7

the last one people also call - Altered Dominant bb7

MELODIC MINOR SCALE (this one is used in jazz non-stop)

1. Ionian b3 (Melodic Minor)
2. Dorian b2
3. Phrygian "b1" (Lydian #5)
4. Lydian b7
5. Mixolydian b6
6. Aeolian b5
7. Locrian b4 (Superlocrian)

Thank for this Emir. This is a great resource. I will recall other scales later as we move on. It is too much to take at this time, you know. I will focus on the major modes first and then come back to it later.

Yes that's a good decision I have just replied about it on the other thread

Hi Emir,

I just wanted to recall what I have learnt about modes and practicing it for some days now. I am taking a short cut maybe as you also suggested this is the easiest way to learn. Correct me if I am wrong.

First, There are 7 modes of which last one Locrian is rarely used. I am not caring about that really but if needed I can find it out.

Ionian (major), Dorian (minor), Phrygian (minor), Lydian(major), Mixolydian (major), Aeolian (minor), Locrian (3b7b or something)

Anyway, these are only variations of Major scale and just not to be confused by the use of terms, I am remembering it as YOU JUST PLAY THE MAJOR SCALE but remember the root note when the chord changes. If there are other chords in the song, you have to rethink which modes go in well.. such as Phrygian Dominant (That comes in later excercises I guess).

So for example, If the chord progression is A, D, E, you are simply playing A Ionian scale all over the song but when the chord changes, your root note (most of the time) should be the root of the chord and then when saying in terms of modes, you say... play A Ionian, D Lydian and E Mixolydian scale. right?

For all minor chords, I find that you are simply playing the scale of relative major (if that is what is called) of that chord. I mean if you are playing Am chord, you are simply playing C Major scale, Dm -> F scale and so on.

Hope I am getting it right here.

Yes you are right.

In your example A, D, E you are playing A major scale. However when the chord goes to D then you think of your D root and memorize that D shape. That's your D lydian and your phrasing should circulate around that note, not around A note. We'll go more into this next month when I introduce some other stuff. First we need to sort this out and learn some arpeggios.


This is m7b5. If you harmonize this mode into 4 note chord (stack 3rd on top of 3rd) you will get m7b5 chord.

Ionian - maj7
Dorian - m7
Phrygian - m7
Lydian - maj7
Mixolydian - dom7 (we only say 7)
Aeolian - m7
Locrian - m7b5

Cool.. can't wait to practice more of this.

Does that last bit mean the mode's respective chords ?

Yes. Each mode harmonized into 4 note chord will give you those chords. Try it yourself. Take Dorian for example and play first, third, fifth and seventh note in order. You will get m7 chord and that's also m7 arpeggio.

That's the same as when I say "stack 3rd on top of 3rd" but here I am talking about intervals not notes in order.

Either way you will get the same thing.

cool. Thanks Emir.

I have been doing quite some research trying to find an easy way to remember all the modes. Have watched quite many vids on youtube but this morning, I just found the best lesson so far. I have been lingering between remembering it relative to key or trying to remember by how many sharps/flats that mode has. But I think I will just follow the easy peasy way now.

I heard about Vinnie Moore not so long ago but this guy seems quite some fun. If anybody is struggling like me, perhaps this video might help.

He is my friend and one of my guitar heroes. Vinnie is awesome.

However I remember this video like 15 years ago and I tried to learn it this way. It didn't work for me. If you want to try it this way then of course you can have a go. I'd be more than happy to see you nail these modes like he does. I have a different approach for modes but in the end we all end up with the same result

Ah great.. Perhaps I will have to find my own way to remember these modes.. lets see. I will keep on experimenting. I just want to be able to play on the neck correctly on a backing track.. on the fly improvisation (no matter the melody part). But that is definitely a long way to go and a lot of practice.

Even Vinnie is still learning new stuff and that's an endless process. His every new album has different modal approach and licks. That's very noticable in his progress.

Thanks for the PM. It's all good now. Your chord notes are wrong but don't worry about that, I didn't ask for it anyway The arpeggio notes are all ok.

Kewl.. will start working on it then.

Also, just wanted to let you know that I will be off on vacation between Jan 20 - Feb 1. So, hopefully, I will lag behind by 2 assignments. Hopefully, after I am back I will finish up these 2 assignments and carry on with the MTP. Will that be okay?

Just wanted to ask you another question.. Does modes also have arpeggios ? You talked about Dorian.. so wanted to confirm if Dorian also has arpeggios like we just did ?

I have been dreaming of scales nowadays (twice now).. I was actually trying our Dorian scales and still confused between like should I say I will just play C Major with starting at (root) D (D Dorian) or play D minor scale with #4.. ? haha.

Yes they have arpegios. The same ones as their related chords. Actually the chords produced by a harmonized mode are arpeggios. Arpeggio is nothing more than a chord but when you play notes separately (not at the same time).

Major scale has maj7 arpegio (if we're talking about 4 notes). If you take only 3 notes you will get pure major triad arpeggio.

Dorian has min7 arpeggio, the same as its corresponding chord - etc... You already know all of them except Locrian (m7b5).

Now there are extentions that you can use. For example if you add 9th in your maj7 you get maj9 arpeggio but when you have 5 or more notes people usually start calling it scales. 5 notes is a pentatonic scale of some kind. It can be pure major or minor, hybrid etc...

We can try to speed up things in January so you get to do the whole thing.

Okay.. great to know that. I am beginning understand all these theory terms. Thanks Emir.

Sure, I can try that as well (speeding things up) but that might be really hard to do, you know.

Hmm... I tried recording the REC take today but its not 100% right. I m also not getting that clean sound (note to note separation) and then at least timing issue in one place. I will try another session tonight and hopefully post it.

What was the distortion level on your setting in the Alternate Triplet Feeling Lesson? I have it 6-7 but its it feels like too much distortion (although I am palm muting). I will play around with the setting.

It's about 6-7 but that depends on which amp/distortion you use. I use plugin Amplitube 2. My settings won't help you. You just have to feel what sounds right and go for it.

Emir, I thought I still have another assignment left for Dec.. or is that for Jan ?

Anyway, I saw your comment on REC. I did pull off those pull offing sections. I think I missed on the last triplet where I think I picked. I am like using down down on 6th and then up up on the 5th/4th string. It sounded like I picked? couldn't really do down up down up. It was really fast tempo but I am getting that feel and definitely achieved quite a bit. Thank you too! I need to keep on breaking these barriers and speed limits. Both my hands virtually froze after an hour or so take practice and it was getting worse and worse every another take. lol.

Next month, I will do more theory related REC. I think I will try Dorian lesson by Muris this time since most of Jan should be Dorian, right?

Cheers! I am working on my next assignment.

Actually I am not sure. I have to have a look. Have you done 4 assignments? It looked to me like you did. The next one should be playing over the same backing but using those arpeggio shapes. After that we're moving to Dorian.

Yes I did 4 assignments but I thought the improvisation (arpeggios) was within december. Anyway, I am laying out the notes and should be able to record it in the weekend.

That will be the 1st one for January.

Thanks Emir for your comment. I am still struggling with 'improvisation'. I am more of laying out the notes first, remembering and playing along.. not improvising on the fly. I am not sure when I can improvise.

Any tips?

Soon you will From those things you always remember some shapes that you wanna use in your lick library. Just don't forget to know at all times where your root is.

Great. I know the roots most of the time (the dots).. I need to remember the shapes and my thinking power.

That's the main key

Hi Emir,

Just a heads up that I will be away from Friday all of Jan. If you have made anything ready, I will be glad to catch up when I am back.

Cheers!

Here we are man

This is a slow bluesy backing for you.

Am7, D9, Am7, D9
Gm7, C9, Gm7, C9
Am7, D9, Am7, D9
Am6

Over m7 play Dorian and over dominant chord play mixolydian. I need as many licks and lines as possible. Don't use linear scales just up and down. I want you to make interesting phrases and cover the neck as much as possible. Also I need to see that you're connecting positions. Don't just get stuck in one position and jump 3 positions up on the next chord. For example if you are in position 1 for dorian, the next mixolidyan is your position 4 on the same place. Then you can move it one position further and connect the next dorian from there. All I'm saying is that you have to connect shapes without too much jumping. Also for dorian licks try to target interesting notes like b7th and 6th. For mixolidyan use maj3rd and b7th as much as possible so that we can really hear the change of modes. If you don't know all the scales then try with arpeggios, that's easier but also very effective. The solo should have a bluesy vibe

good luck