As i was practicing today, something that appealed to me as both an easy and inovative way of improving the video lessons, came to my mind.

I was looking down at my hands while practincing som alternatepicking when i realised that i'd just found the ultimate videoview for video lessons, no matter the content.

Simply adding a camera angle that would show either the freatboard/lefthand(righthandforlefthandedtechersofcourse!), the picking hand or both, shown from the eyes of the teacher!

I think students would benefit more from the videos if such an agnle was added for a couple of reasons:

1. Most naturall, and understandable view

This is the one view that all of us, naturally, are most used watching since this is the angle we are using while practincing, seeing our own hands giggeling around the freatboard, IMO this view makes the teachers playing much easier to compare with ones own playing etc. I dont think i need the explain this one any further, think most of u get the point

2 Adding an additional element of techniqual understanding

Yes, wich other view does show the movement and position of the finger most used in guitarplaying, the thumb!(if u can refer to the thumb as a finger). The position of the thumb is, as far as i know one of the most essential substances of a good technique. I think less GMC'ers would risk ending up with various bad habbits that you are in danger of adding to your play without having a correct thumb position.

3 Cause no other videosites offer this view

Wich simply equals more ppl will be interested in becoming GMC members, wich simply equals[$$$$$$$$]!!



Here are 2 samples:






Ofcourse i realise that this would make the creating of lesson videos a little harder for the teachers, but that just might would be worth the effort mounting the camera above the guitar, somehow either atached to the instructor or to something right next to him, but it am sure this matter could be worked out some how, i think it might be worth it.

Hope ya'll like my idea, sure somebody else had the idea before me, but i couldnt keep it for myself:D

Good luck with your practicing etc //Salivtomte

That would be nifty

I think thats a pretty cool idea but to be honest I think you actually get a better idea of whats going on from the front view as you can see everything but when its top down like that you cant really see everything too well. Its fine looking down like that when your playing yourself (not like you have much choice) but you can just feel and know where your hands are...

You know it may be even a good idea but there is no way i can mount my camera that way. I don't have a SHRED CAM (have to contact Troy Grady to send me one) so mounting a regular digital camera is impossible to get a crisp and clean picture.

I agree that the view would be killer..
But it I think it would require a lot more work/gear to film that way. At least for me...
Unless someone comes up with a great idea?

Our teachers just have to tape their cams onto or on the side of their heads

It's impossible to do without extra equipment so i guess we'll stick to the current format for now!

I guess its hard to do it by urselves, but if any of u staffmembers would happen to have firends (joke ) than it would be possible for him/her to film the desired camera angle, although the site is great as it is

I really don't plan on asking a friend of mine to come to my house and hold a camera STEADY for me to record another lesson!! Not a good idea!

Get one of those lamps with a long neck that you can twist around and stuff, and tape teh cam to the shade, and bend the camera over your shoulder lol.

It would be a cool view, but i myself prefer the front.

It's all cool but come on guys be real! Taping a 400$ cam?? Yeah, right!

Also if only you knew the conditions i record in - i don't have 1 meter of free space when i set all up for recording so i sure won't be able to do it in near future!

And it would be nice to have both views filmed at the same time, to see how the instructors look like with the camera like that.

The suggested view would be nice, but isn't it also our goal to learn to play without looking at our hands at all (except maybe every once in a while just because you haven't got anything better to look at)?

(To encourage us, maybe the instructors could blindfold the camera )

This post has been edited by Anomaly: Aug 6 2007, 08:06 PM

I can't do it then...nobody likes me!

No seriously this is a very good suggestion - I have tried this angle but it didn't work with my light setup. However, I am sure that if I hade been a little more persistent I could have done it. + You managed to do it with your still camera - so I can't be impossible.

If an instructor would like to try this - we could probably find some room for extra comission!

I spent 2 hours today trying to set the camera to at least 50% close view! First of all - it's not simple at all! Second thing is - you can't mount the camera on your nose! And third thing is - camera stands have 3 feet/legs so if you somehow manage to put the camera in the needed angle - you can't sit next to it and you can't capture more than first 10 frets.

Making a picture with digital camera using right hand is one thing - but setting up a camera on a stand inside you is a different thing!

And my question is - is it really that difficult to follow what we are playing in slowed down videos?

This post has been edited by Pavel: Aug 7 2007, 07:15 PM

Ok, here is my answer, seeing WHAT you are playing is not important for me since i try to pick it all out by ear, what is interesting is the position of your hands. I want to adapt my hands to have the same lush small movements as you teachers have, since that is what we are all here fighting for. And its not that big overall view that is interesting, its all the small details that atleast i am curious about, like "How does is right hand rest at the bridge to pick that fast?" "How is is left hand positioned to make that cool 1and1/2 step bend with screaming wibrato" "How does he move is thumb on the back of that neck to make his fingers move that confident?"

I'm learning ALOT way it is, ive been member for like a week and ive improved far better than i could do on my own

And if any teacher would try and make a lesson with new angels that would only be a great bonus, and it's iam forcing any one to try and do it, i respect everyone for not beeing able due to techniqual problems, but it would be cool to see whats going on from your view!

Marcus said he's gonna give it a shot so maybe he'll be more successful trying to set the camera! Let's wait and see!

Btw. i was learning to play by instructionals with angles just like these and to be honest never needed extra angle. I was just trying to imitate the movements those shredders where doing and now i got them. There are always some pros and cons in both live teacher and online video lessons - nothing can be perfect!

Keep rockin'!

This post has been edited by Pavel: Aug 7 2007, 08:47 PM

Ok, here is my new shot and i think this one is pretty successful so take a look and comment please (don't comment my clothes, cables or anything - just the angles and what you see because all the details will be fixed in the lessons videos):

 New_Angles.avi ( 3.66MB ) Number of downloads: 258


What do you say about these angles??

This post has been edited by Pavel: Aug 9 2007, 03:25 PM

Those are awesome angles pavel!

Thats exactly what i was looking for, thats such a great seeing what your thumb is doing, and how your right palm moves over the bridge, really cool you made it

It's really nice to see your playing in action from your own view, you are both creative and talented (and naked?) thc alot pavel, your work is highly apriciated cheers

how did you manage to create that view?

i am not naked but you can't see the shorts because of the guitar

Don't ask me how i pulled this off...phew...i am REALLY glad you liked it so now i will put it in my lessons! It is now really LOADS of work to prepare 1 lesson but i hope it will be worth it!