HERE IS A DIRECT LINK TO YOUR BOOTCAMP! http://bitly.com/jtaylorsbootcamp

Welcome to SHRED BOOTCAMP! I'll be your Drill Instructor! And I do mean DRILL! As in a large power tool used in slasher films and Paul Gilbert concerts. Here is were you EARN THE LIVING DEATH out of your fingers and break through any speed bumps/barriers to become a MASTER CHIEF of Shred!

MISSON #1

THE MISSION

1.)Your mission is to go all the way back to the very start. The base of the mountain.

LESSON 1. http://bitly.com/gmclesson1

Which you will play SLOWWWWWWLLY, very SLOWWWLLLLYYYY until you master it at a crawl (As You'll Do With Each Mission, and focus on left hand FORM! Make it SUPER PERFECT!). Speed it up bit by bit until you feel your ready to take it to WAR (Any speed, it's up to you) Shoot a video and post it as a reply to this post. I'll then offer a constructive and brutally honest critique.

THE AFTERMATH

Upon nailing the crap out of lesson one at a speed you didn't think possible, and playing it a clean as a freshly waxed floor, you will be given your first insignia of Rank in BOOTCAMP!

Practice!
Todd

First question sir! When doing AP, I really tend to brace my pinky on the first string or one of the pickups. It is the way I have always done it but, if it's not right, I am willing to start from scratch. Also, when starting AP on an upstroke, it is incredibly hard to keep in time at any speed . I read in your lesson where it is somewhat a matter of choice but, again, if you deem it necessary to know both ways, I will start that over also.

This is a GREAT question Soldier!!!! In terms of technique, "Bracing" is something I sometimes do myself. It's not considered "Perfect Technique", but is more of a helper on the way to working your hand and making it stronger. As you work, you will find you don't need to brace as much or as often until several hours in to your play. Everyone's hand gets tired at some point and you'll notice bracing come back in to play even once you work past it in general, when playing past the point of exhaustion.

When writing a solo for example, working with a given backing track, I often hit record and just record take after take until I'm noticing my hand is about to fall off and I usually can tell that because I'm starting to brace the pinky during the fast bits.

FIRE TEAM TIP #1

*Try to master using the "Palm Mute" as the foundation for your right hand.

Plant your right hand on the bridge and LEAVE IT THERE. Don't let it move, instead ROTATE the hand forward and back so you can still pick every string and keep them muted. This is an art in an of itself.

Todd

Got it! To put it lightly, I suck at palm muting. I have been playing around with guitars since 1988 and I have learned plenty of wrong ways. I'm going to have to go back to square one here. Seeking permission to deviate from standard operating procedure and start getting some basics down, starting with this: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-gu...r2-palm-muting/ unless there is another lesson you have in mind.
I was just playing the intro to "Wasted Years". It sounded good, but I was having to brace my third finger the whole time ! The problem I am having with palm muting is my hand tend to hit the volume knob a lot...but that's just another chance to improvise, adapt, and overcome!

Focusing on the FUNDAMENTALS is ALWAYS a great plan Soldier! Good fighting instincts there! As you go shoot little short close up vids of your right hand on the bridge so I can what's going on. I"m sure we can work through the glitches and get you over the hump!!

Todd