Hi everyone,

I haven’t been here for quite a while actually and it feels good to be back on tracks. I have not paid a lot of attention to my guitars in the last month since I didn’t have time. I had to finish my thesis on Oil dependency for my master degree. Once it was done, I moved twice in 2 months, and I’ve looked everywhere for a job. I am now a journalist for a newspaper and it took me quite a while to get the beat of writing so articles and to be able to have a life apart from all the evening events and the time at the office.

It’s all seems to come back now and I want to start back in guitar playing. For now I want to dedicate 1 hour per day for my guitar playing. I have return to basics of Alternate picking and funk rhythm (a la Frusciante). I would really like to work on my ear too (always been terrible with that aspect). I also bough a program that is supposed to brings me to entire fretboard freedom (hope it works), I have to sit down and figure it out.

Does anyone have some tips on some things to practice or on some GMC lesson to look at since I have not followed development lately. I know the classic like Joe Kataldo series on funk rhythm and Ivan Milenkovic lesson in the style of RHCP (I’ve never been able to get the rhythm in this one ).

I would also appreciate if someone could guide me in a way to divide my practice hour.

By the way I played quite a bit with the knobs on my Stratocaster yesterday and for the first time since I have it; I realized that it sounded wayyyy better with the volume set on 8 then on 10. Everything seems clearer and more like I always want. Just a thought I wanted to share.

Glad to be back !

Hey man welcome back glad to hear that the guitar is back in your life

I've been here less than a year but have seen your name while searching the forum many times. Welcome back to GMC!

Heey Diamond, welcome back man, good to have you onboard once again. I had one minor "dust removing from the Strat" experience myself last year, fortunately it all came back after two weeks of focused practice.

I haven't done funk lesson in some time, but Adrian Figalo made some very interesting lessons based on styles you like. Be sure to check out the John meets Frusciante lesson, I hope you like it!

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

I was wondering… Do private lesson with instructor or MTP program still exist ??? That could help me tremendously in coming back in my guitar journey…. I did a MTP with Gabriel Leopardi last year or two years ago I don’t remember and it had a Huge impact on my playing.

I’v noticed yesterday that my AP skills have great potential since I’ve played nice licks yesterday at an ok speed (for me). I’ll continue practicing that and try to really focus on the rhythm aspect.

In that form MTP and private lessons don't exist any more. But you are more then welcome to visit ASK INSTRUCTORS boards and post your own thread there with any questions or guidance you might need. Great to have you back on the site!

No, there are no more MTP programs, but there are daily video chats now, and all instructors hold them. It would be great to stop in and ask all the questions you're interested - live!

It’s a good and a bad news.

I like video chat, I used to assist to a lot of them. But now with my new job it is going to be hard to assist them especially with the time difference.

The one thing I liked about MTP is that I really felt like I had a mentor supervising my work and helping me progress. It really helped my motivation. I would love to develop my groove in rhythm playing but I need some feedback and some exercise to practice other than GMC lesson. Something really adapted to me.

Anyway, I might post some video on your board Ivan (and on Adrian board) because I like your style of rhythm.

Do some instructor are willing to mentor some GMC student without being as formal as the MTP program?

I would love it.

The focus is on helping all the students who ask for help, so yes - I would like to help you with your guitar journey anyway I can my friend.

This post has been edited by Ivan Milenkovic: Nov 19 2011, 01:48 AM

Welcome back man , glad to see you again

welcome back
Lately I have been learning(memorizing ) new stuff as I warm up, that way I am killing 2 birds with one stone

Regarding your comment on guitar volume, If you turn your amp up loud and keep your guitar volume down, you will get great, full clean tone and have lots of headroom for dynamics. I always keep my guitar volume around 6 or 7 if I want to play clean.

This post has been edited by Alex Feather: Dec 20 2011, 05:00 AM

Working with the volume pot is an art in itself indeed I sometimes do volume swells but since I haven't played gigs in which I have to shift tones in a smooth yet dynamic way lately, I haven't worked with the volume knob almost at all.

Awesome news Crazy_Diamond! Glad to have another member back. This is an interesting thing about the volume knob, guys. I didn't even think of this. I should try it. yay!

Welcome back! I'm having a Video Chat Lesson this wednesday @ 11PM GMT so do stop by! I'd say jump in to as many video chats as you can to start getting ideas on stuff to play and to get in contact with other gmcers. The community here is awesome as you know and can help guide you as go.