Hello Mad!
I am so happy that you have decided to join my program!
A few questions before we will start!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?
I am looking forward to start working with you!

Hey Alex,

thanks for picking me up
These are my goals for this mentoring:
- get a better acoustic guitar player
- get into some jazz theory/playing
- making my own backing-tracks
my weakness: Fast chord switches, especially when using 4 fingers on the fretboard, barre-chords
strongest point: the last weeks I made good progress regarding rhythm playing and 'faster' alternate picking (thanks to Cosmin and Ben)
my favorite guitar players/musicians (in terms of the direction I want to go here) are:
- Andy McKee
- Erik Mongrain
- Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
- Buckethead

Perfect!!!
Let's start with your chords first! I have created a little exercise for you!
It has a few cool chord changes and they are switching fast!
You can start practicing this exercise very slow and than increase the tempo when you feel comfortable!
It will help you with bar chords in no time! You will see progress in a few days and it will never be an issue ever again!!!
Here is the track!

http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/chords-mentoring
Here is the tab

E |--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
B |--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
G |--2--------------5--------5--------4L----------4----|
D |--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
A |--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
E |--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|


--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|
--------8--------5--------6--------3--------1L------|
--------9--------5--------7--------4--------2L------|
--------10-------7--------7--------5--------3L------|
--------10-------7--------5--------5--------3L------|
--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|


--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--2--------5--------5--------4L----------4----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|


--------8--------8--------8--------8L-------8-------|
--------8--------8--------8--------8L-------8-------|
--------9--------9--------9--------9L-------9-------|
--------10-------10-------10-------10L------10------|
--------10-------10-------10-------10L------10------|
--------8--------8--------8--------8L-------8-------|


--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|
--2--------------5--------5--------4L----------4----|
--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
--3--------------7--------7--------5L----------5----|
--1--------------5--------5--------3L----------3----|


--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|
--------8--------5--------6--------3--------1L------|
--------9--------5--------7--------4--------2L------|
--------10-------7--------7--------5--------3L------|
--------10-------7--------5--------5--------3L------|
--------8--------5--------5--------3--------1L------|


--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|
--2--------5--------5--------4L----------4----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--3--------7--------7--------5L----------5----------|
--1--------5--------5--------3L----------3----------|


--3--------3--------3--------3----------------------||
--3--------3--------3--------3----------------------||
--4--------4--------4--------4----------------------||
--5--------5--------5--------5----------------------||
--5--------5--------5--------5----------------------||
--3--------3--------3--------3----------------------||

Here is the GP file!
Click to view attachment
This exercise is a little tricky! Please feel free to ask me any questions!

Thanks! I'll put this into my daily practice routine.
But the GP-file is missing.. would be helpful for practicing slow!

Great! Just added a guitar pro file! Let me know how your practicing goes!
Also I would like to know your practicing routine!
Just write me your schedule and what you are working on!

Thanks! But unfortunately I'm still using GP5 - could you please export it into that format? I'm planning to get the latest version though, but for now I get everything what I need out of GP5..

My practice schedule:
First 10 minutes:
For warmup I use one of these patterns (don't know from where I got them, but I tabbed them once and since then I play along with GP or a metronome)
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

I do some stretching afterwards

20-30 minutes
I'm chosing a lesson I have to work on for my mentoring (last one I did was the ramones lesson from gabriel, uploaded yesterday) next one will be the rhythm lesson by marcus siepen (Cosmin mentoring) - I already uploaded a take a few days ago, but I should work on that some more and record another take..

5 minutes
working on a different lesson: atm funk rhythm (Cosmin mentoring) need to get that down to improve faster rhythm playing..

When I have some more time (normally that's the case), I do some alternate picking excercises or work on another lesson.

Whenever I can I grab my acoustic and play something and try to sing along (->only when I know nobody is around me ) atm chords from the C major scale. Or I'm just trying to play melodies I have in my head...

Here is GP5 file!
Click to view attachment
You have a very nice and organized practice routine!
I can suggest adding pentatonics into it
It's very simple
you have to learn every pentatonic in every position and start playing them as an exercise!
You can use alternative picking!
My idea of practicing is more things you can combine together better it is!
So you can do pentatonics and alternative picking at the same time!
I am not sure if you have all pentatonic shapes

E |----------------------------|--------3--6--3-------------|
B |----------------------------|--3--6-----------6--3-------|
G |--------------------3--5----|-----------------------5----|
D |--------------3--5----------|----------------------------|
A |--------3--5----------------|----------------------------|
E |--3--6----------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------|
--3-------------------------|----------------|--------------------5--7----|
-----5--3-------------------|----------------|--------------5--8----------|
-----------5--3-------------|----------------|--------5--8----------------|
-----------------6--3-------|----------------|--6--8----------------------|


--------6--8--6-------------|----------------------------|
--6--8-----------8--6-------|----------------------------|
-----------------------7----|--5-------------------------|
----------------------------|-----8--5--------------5L---|
----------------------------|-----------8--5-------------|
----------------------------|-----------------8--6-------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--5-------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|--------8--10-8-------------|
----------------------------|--8--11----------11-8-------|
--------------------7--10---|-----------------------10---|
--------------8--10---------|----------------------------|
--------8--10---------------|----------------------------|
--8--10---------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--7-------------------------|----------------------------|
-----10-8-------------------|----------------------------|
-----------10-8--------10L--|--10------------------------|
-----------------10-8-------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|--------------------10-12---|
----------------------------|--------------10-12---------|
----------------------------|--------10-13---------------|
----------------------------|--10-13---------------------|


--------10-13-10------------|----------------------------|
--11-13----------13-11------|----------------------------|
-----------------------12---|--10------------------------|
----------------------------|-----12-10------------------|
----------------------------|-----------13-10-------10L--|
----------------------------|-----------------13-10------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--10------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|--------13-15-13------------|
----------------------------|--13-15----------15-13------|
--------------------12-15---|-----------------------15---|
--------------12-15---------|----------------------------|
--------13-15---------------|----------------------------|
--13-15---------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
--12------------------------|----------------------------|
-----15-12------------------|----------------------------|
-----------15-13------------|----------------------------|
-----------------15-13-15L--|--15------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|
----------------------------|----------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
--3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|


----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|-------|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3L---|--3----|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--13-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|--5----|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----------|-------|
--------12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|--5----|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|


----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---|
--3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|-------|
--13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|-------|
--------12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|--5----|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|


--------3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
--3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|--3----|-------|-------|
--------13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|
----------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|


-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|----------------------------------------------------|
-------|--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
-------|--3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3----|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--13-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----------|
--------13-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---|
--3--5--------5--8--------8--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------12-15-------15-17-17-15-------15-12---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----------|
--------12-10-------10-8--------8--5--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
--------3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---|
--3--5--------5--7--------7--10-------10-12---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--12-15-------15-17-------------17-15-------15-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
--13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|
--------12-10-------10-7--------7--5--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--------3--6--------6--8--------8--10-------10-13---|
--3--6--------6--8--------8--11-------11-13---------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--------13-15-------15-18-18-15-------15-13---------|
--13-15-------15-18-------------18-15-------15-13---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--13-10-------10-8--------8--6--------6--3----------|
--------13-11-------11-8--------8--6--------6--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--3----------------------------------------------|
--------6--3--------6--3----------------------------|
--------------5--3--------5--3--------5--3----------|
--------------------------------5--3--------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
--------5L----------------------5-------------------||
--5--3----------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||

Here is GP 5 file
Click to view attachment
Let me know if you need any help!

Wow! Thanks man!
Yes, I know all the shapes - but putting these into my warmup routine is definately the best I can do!
I'm starting right now and let you know the progress!

Sounds good!
This is a mechanical routine you have to get it to the point when you don't think when you are playing! It will take some time but you will be rewarded in the end!!!

Noticed that! I just played through the patterns again without a doubt and I was able to play the part with E/D and then D/A strings in no time - but for don't think about it while playing, I'll need a few days ....
right now I'm struggling with the chords-excercise

I am glad to hear that!
Chord exercise is fun! Ha! It will help you a lot!!!

Hi! I just wanted to follow up and check on your progress!
So you have any questions or need help with something please let me know!

Hey Alex, thanks for checking! Well, I'm always using the new horizontal pentatonic runs in my daily warmup-routines (it's getting more and more fluent - good feeling!) And trying to get the chord changes up to speed.. When I'm going to play them faster, I have difficulties to fret the entire chord (higher strings are not ringing) but I think that's just a matter of practice hours ;P
At first I played the chords with a different strumming pattern, just to get the feeling for faster changes..

I'd like to start with some jazz theory as well, if you don't mind...

I am glad you seeing the progress! It takes time but you are on the right track so look at it as a long term investment!
Let's start with some Jazz!!!
All Jazz is based on II-V-I so if you will learn how to play over those changes you will learn to play over anything!
To play over changes and sound good you have to play chords tones! Chord tones is a sequence of the notes that chord is made of!
Here is a new backing track
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/ii-v-i-jam

What I want you to do is to get use to this track and jam with it!
The chord changes Emi7-A7-Dmaj7
So let's analyze those chords and find chord tones!
Emi7 - E-G-B-D
A7- A-C#-E-G
Dmaj7-D-F#-A-C#

The most important chord tones III-VII

So when you are jamming I want you to start landing on the chords tones every time A7 comes up!
Try to land on III or VII but if you can't any of Dmaj7 chord tones will work!

Let me know if you have any questions or need some help!

Hi! I just wanted to follow up and see how everything is going and if you need any help or have questions!

Hi! How are you? I just wanted to check and see how is everything going! Do you have any questions or need help with anything?

Hi! I just wanted to see how are you doing and if you are ready for a new challenge?

Hi! I have a new assignment if you are ready!! Please let me know!!

Hey Alex!

Sorry, but I was somewhat busy in the last weeks - not able to pick up my guitar any time ..
But I'm 'restarting' right away. Surprisingly I was able to keep up the speed when warming up with the pentatonics, but I have the same problems when speeding up the chord-changes.. Can you provide me the backing without you playing the chords - or better: do you have that backing in lower bpms - if not, no problem, I continue using GP (although it's kinda boring )?
I'll try to improvise over your jazz backing ASAP!

ok - here's something I came up after a short time of jamming.. I didn't take much attention on landing on specific notes at first, but after I jammed a little bit and I got a 'nice and easy' melody going on that sounded good to me, I recognized that these are mostly the notes to head for (if I'm not wrong..)
Did a few mistakes but all in all hearable (warning: don't get asleep while listening )

http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex-ii-v-i

You did a very good job! I would love to hear more chord tones! Here is a good exercise!
It has all the chord tones from this chord progression! Also it is a very good exercise to sync hands together!

Track 1
           E minor 7                                 
     S S S S         S  S S S  S  S  S  S S S  S  S  
E||--------------------10---3--------------------15-|
B||------------------8----3------------15---3-15----|
G||--------7------------------------12----0---------|
D||------5-----------------------12-----------------|
A||----5----------------------10--------------------|
E||--3----------------------------------------------|
 
 
                        A 7                 
   S  S  S  S S S  S  S S   S S S S S S  S  
-----15-------9----------------------------|
--14------------8-------------------2------|
---------------------12-----6-----0--------|
-----------17-----11----5------------------|
--------16----------------------4-------10-|
------------------------------3-------9----|
 
 
                        D major 7              
  S  S  S S S S S S S S S         S  S  S S S  
----------9-----------2-9-----------14----9---|
------------7-------2-------------7----14---7-|
-------11-----6-------------------------------|
----11----------4-----------------------------|
--9---------------4---------------------------|
----------------------------------------------|
 
 
                    D major 7                      
  S S S S  S  S S S S         S S S S S S S        
--------------------------------------------|----||
----7-----------------------------2---------|----||
--6---6------11---6-----------------6-------|----||
----------11----4---------------4-----4-L-L-|----||
--------9---------------------4-------------|----||
--------------------2-----------------------|----||
 

Click to view attachment

Let me know if you need help or have any questions!

Thanks! Will give it a try!

OK- that's some weird fretboard work and way too fast for me atm
But I know where you want me to go.. I'll try to come up with a different melody and more chord tones - OK?

You don't have to play it that fast! All this chord tones will works through out the track even if you will play them slow!
Just take your time and learn those at a slow tempo and jam over the track!
That will be great if you can come up with a different melody! I would say go for it! I am looking forward to hear your take and ideas!

I have a very cool mechanical exercise that will help you to continue mastering pentatonic scales!
The same idea! Practice it slow using a metronome! It will help you to learn all shapes in no time!
Here is the tab:

E |-----------------------------------------3--5-------|
B |--------------------------------------3--------3----|
G |-----------------------4--------2--4----------------|
D |--------2-----------2-----5--2----------------------|
A |-----------5--2-------------------------------------|
E |--3--5-----------5----------------------------------|


-----3-----------------------5--7-------------------|
--5--------3-----------5--8--------5----------------|
--------4--------4--7-----------------7-------------|
--------------5--------------------------5----------|
--------------------------------------------7-------|
-----------------------------------------------5----|


-----------------7--10----10----------7-----10------|
--------------8--------------------8-----10----8----|
-----------4-----------------7----------------------|
--------7--------------9----------------------------|
-----5--------------------------10------------------|
--7-------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------10---------------------|
--------------------------------12------------------|
--9--7--------------------12------------------------|
--------9--7-----------9--------------12------------|
--------------10-------------------10----------14---|
-----------------10-12-------------------12-15------|


----------------------------------------------------|
--------------------15-12----15-12----15-12----15---|
--------15-------14-------15-------14-------12------|
-----14-------12------------------------------------|
-----------14---------------------------------------|
--12------------------------------------------------|


--12-15---------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
--------0L----------------------0L----0-------------||

Click to view attachment
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!
Also next week we will switch to melodic exercises and I will start explaining how to develop a solo and make it melodic and creative!

Getting right into it.. do I have to use AP all the way for this excercise?

Yes! You don't have to bring it up to speed slower you do it better results you will get!

Oh hell - I'm at the first bar@30bpm and when I just think I got the pattern down, I mess it up
this needs some work, too

It's not an easy exercise but it will do miracles and you will master all pentatonics in no time!
The easiest way is to break it on a few sections and learn it part by part!
Let me know if you need help!

Morning! Here is a little 'progress report' for these insane patterns (first two bars@30bpm)
I'm excited about upcoming miracles

http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex

Now got the first 3 bars down - some serious string skipping in the 3rd one... How fast do you expect me to play this exercise?

You did a very good job! On the second one you lost timing a little bit I think because of the drum beat, but got back into it!
You don't have to play it fast! It's a mechanical exercise and will develop your coordination just keep the same tempo or even slower! Let me know if you have any questions!

This is the weirdest stuff I've ever played ...
Hope that's OK for you so far:

http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex-1

So far very good! A few timing issues but more you practice it better it will get!
I know this exercise is a little weird, but it will help you to learn pentatonic shapes much faster! The idea is to make your brain work differently! This exercise is meant to break typical patterns and when you do that will help you to memorize stuff much easier!
You will see! Just play it for a couple of weeks!
Also you are developing alternative picking! So two birds with one stone:)
Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks! I'll upload another take@40bpm soon - I even managed to play this excercise at 50bpm.. afterwards I go back to a slower speed and I can play without any problems! I'm just playing using GP behind, that works great. When I play to a drum track I tend to loose timing in the 3rd bar.. maybe because of string skipping. I think next step would be playing to a metronome and then I'll see if it's getting better to a drum track..

I am glad to hear that you are getting comfortable with this exercise! Here is the trick! When you will start practicing this exercise with a metronome set it up at double speed and play one note per click! It will help you a lot! For example if you are comfortable with 60 BPM set up your metronome at 120 and later when you will feel better with the timing you can switch back to 60 and even 30 BPM!
Let me know if you have any questions!

Hi Alex!

Just a short update on the pentatonic insanity excercise:

http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/mentoring-alex-2
Please let me know what you think and maybe let's try the next task?

You did a very good job! A few notes here and there but more you will practice it better it will get! Add this exercise to your practice routine!
Ok here is new assignment!
We will start to get into improvisation a little bit more!
Remember the backing track I assigned you?
It's a II - V - I backing track in E minor
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/ii-v-i-jam
This is the track that we will be using for a while and I will give you assignments based on it!
The chords are:
Emi7 - A7 - Dmaj7

Over E mi7 chord I want you to play E dorian mode

Over A7
A minor blues pentatonic

Over D major 7 F# minor pentatonic


Try to be as melodic as possible!!!
I will also record a track to give you more ideas based on the assignment I gave you!
You also can use licks from "Pentatonic Insanity" exercise!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Hi Alex!
Just wanted to let you know I'm still working on the improvisation.. but it's difficult for me to keep in time with the chord changes while playing over them.. maybe you can help out a little, or record a short example on how to play over it.. maybe I'm just short of licks I could use - the licks from the pentatonic insanity excercise sound weird over this backing (or not melodic).

Thanks!

Cool! So that's what we will start doing from now on!
Here is my take
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/mad
I used exactly the same shapes as I gave you
Over E mi7 chord I played E dorian mode, Over A7
A minor blues pentatonic, Over D major 7 F# minor pentatonic

What I would like you to do is to continue my ideas and ad another solo after mine!
Try to be as melodic as possible and use the same scales and shapes I gave you!
Please leave the rest of the track playing so I can add the next part to it!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Thanks! That's what I needed, now I have the Ideas.. I'll record them asap.
AND - I'd like to be in your "fretboard knowledge mentoring" - I really need to get into this!

Perfect! I am looking forward to your take!
We will start getting into the fretboard asap!

Hi I haven't heard from you for a while! Just wanted to see if you are ready for a fretboard challenge! Let me know!

Hi Alex!

Ready for fretboard challenge!

And here is another pentatonic insanity take:

http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/pentatonicinsanity-take4

I'm still struggling with the improvisation. Maybe we could do a step back (if there is one )
I have problems to connect licks in a certain amount of time between the chord changes..

You did a great job with the pentatonics insanity!
Sounds very good! Add this exercise to your warm up routine!
For the solo I would like you to continue my solo and use ideas that I have played!
Try to creating your own licks just give it a try and I know you will do great! What will work perfect for this track is Q&A technique! Let me know if you need help with it!

Do you want to start getting into fretboard learning?

OK, I just did some improvising yesterday and used Q&A technique.. I remembered you showing this in one of your videochats
So I started just using two or three notes to get the timing for the chord changes, then I added more notes or varied with hammer-ons, slides or bends. I think I'll get to the point where I don't need to think about and just add Q&A licks as needed to improvise. Will record a take later today.

And yes, I'd like to start learning the fretboard!

OK, that's all I got for this.. sounds awful sometimes because of wrong notes/bends and lost of ideas.. loads of work to do for this to get better...

http://soundcloud.com/mad-gmc/alex_improvisation_take

You did a great job! I would like you to use less distortion and try to play with more dynamic! It will bring your improvisation to the next level in no time! You did very well on Q&A technique! I think if you will add some dynamic and cleaner tone it will sound amazing!
So to learn the neck might seem very complicated, but it's not as hard as it seems!
Let's simplify it!
First and sixth strings are the same and after 12 fret everything is starting over!
So all you need to learn is 5 strings up to 12 frets!
Here is the trick!
First I want you to learn all the dots and open strings!
Open strings are easy to remember if we will use a little rhyme starting with a low E
Eat
All
Day
Get
Big
Eeasy

So for now I want you to memorize this:


To speed up the process play a note and call it out loud and than check if you are correct!
Don't go any farther just yet! Let me know when you feel comfortable and I will show you what to do next!

Just wanted to check and see if you have seen the assignment I have posted!

I have! And got it down, so we can continue with the fretboard!