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GMC Forum _ Gabriel Leopardi _ Mtp January Thread - Zion
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 4 2010, 08:01 PM
Hello Zion! This is our MTP thread for January. It would be great if you can post here some of your objectives for this month and maybe some possible REC takes.
Gabriel.-
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/mixing_the_mixolydian/
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 4 2010, 08:22 PM
Wow.. to tell you the truth i haven't actually thought about goals for this month..
I dont really feel like i am 'there' yet with my bending, vibrato and speed, so this is a continuous goal of mine..
Other than that I am currently trying to learn the major scale, but I am finding it a bit difficult to put the scale to proper "use", so perhaps this could be an idea..
Also, more rhythm could be cool as well..
But, really, if there is anything in my playing you think need improving, then I am definately open to suggestions..
for a rec video, this could be a possibility --> http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/mixing_the_mixolydian/
It has a lot of bending, and i *really* love the overall sound and phrasing of it.. i must confess though that I have already tried it before, so it might be considered "cheating", although i think with my new and improved bending and vibrato technique will make it better than before..
edit
more possible rec takes:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/The_tasty_etude/ this is just plain beautiful.. bends and vibrato lesson
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 4 2010, 09:45 PM
Assignment 1:
Well Zion. During this week we will divide your time in technique and theory. Regarding your technique I want you to continue practicing our previous assignments (bending, vibrato & alternate picking). This should take half of the time that you have to play every day.
The other part of the assignment will be to study this lesson based on major scale (ionian) + major triads. This will help you to learn the major scale in the correct way and knowing exactly which are the most important notes and which are the different tensions. This week you'll learn the scale and play a triad inversion every time that you play a triad/chord note. You must to be extremely concentrated when you practice. I'm not interested in receiving this take at the same tempo than the lesson but you have t understand what you are playing. Pay attention to the notes that you are playing, the intervals, the different triads.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/ionian-mode-harmonized-with-triads/
PS: I added our REC LESSON for this month in the first post! 
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 4 2010, 10:10 PM
sounds good..
There will be a lot of hard work to be done.. 
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 5 2010, 02:36 AM
There will be a lot of hard work to be done..
yeah! but if you take this patiently you'll love the results! You can start playing only the triads (major triads). Then you can add the other scale notes (2nd, 4th, 6th & 7th).
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 6 2010, 09:57 PM
I have been practicing tonight and I want your opinion on how i do it..
I have only been working on the first position in the lesson, and what i have been doing is of course play it as it is in the tabs, but every time i hit a triad (or actual C-chord), i say out loud what note each string is.. so first triad is for example: G-C-E, second is C-E-G.. i go all the way down and back up again doing the same thing on the way back.. when i finish on the C note, i just pass through every C note i have been through just for fun to further imprint the root note even more..
Is this a proper way to do it, or did you have something else in mind?
ps. haven't begun practicing the rec take yet
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 7 2010, 02:38 PM
Hello Zion! This is a very interesting way to study this. It's very important to know the notes that you are playing and also its relationship to the root. So it would be very good if you also know which interval it is. This will allow transpose the scale and continue knowing this relationship.
If your know this relationship then it will be easier to form chords and also to learn the modes or other scales that contains major triads.
Gabriel.-
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 7 2010, 10:14 PM
ah... okay..
so i guess i should really be working on intervals and count instead.. like 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,1.. .. .. etc. and at every triad say what interval that are currently playing.. for example the first triad being 5,1,3 and second triad being 1,3,5?
so if i understand you correctly this will make it much simpler to create more advanced chords later on, like saying.. "okay, if i want to do a minor chord i just lower the 3rd", and since i know the intervals it will be easier and faster to do (which makes perfect sense really)
do you by chance have any "written" exercises that could help do this as well?
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 8 2010, 03:30 PM
so i guess i should really be working on intervals and count instead.. like 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,1.. .. .. etc. and at every triad say what interval that are currently playing.. for example the first triad being 5,1,3 and second triad being 1,3,5?
so if i understand you correctly this will make it much simpler to create more advanced chords later on, like saying.. "okay, if i want to do a minor chord i just lower the 3rd", and since i know the intervals it will be easier and faster to do (which makes perfect sense really)
do you by chance have any "written" exercises that could help do this as well?
Exactly! That's what I mean and that's the objetive! I'll search if I have written exercises. However it's very helpful to develope this by your own concentrated in your guitar fretboard. You can maybe check Ramiro's Fretboard recognizing lesson for some extra info!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 8 2010, 07:58 PM
i will continue to do it this way.. It's just that in my mind it seems that i am learning the "pattern" a lot slower.. this might be because i am actually learning the intervals as well.. i dont know.. the progression just seems slower than what i am usually expecting, but maybe the payoff will be that much bigger..
I am still only at the first pattern, so i can easily see myself doing this lesson the entire month (and maybe more), before i am completely confident in the major scale.. (which is okay really, if this is the correct way to learn it)
i'll check out Ramiros lesson as well.. thanks for your feedback..
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 10 2010, 05:37 PM
Here is this weeks lesson
I didn't get very far with this lesson.. Only the first part of the lesson, because i really wanted to get this right and understand it correctly.. Furthermore this is "only" 70bpm, but again, speed wasn't the aim of the lesson..
While "we" are done with this lesson in the MTP i will continue on with the lesson, so i can complete it properly..
enjoy..
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 13 2010, 08:14 PM
hey mate..
Just wanted to hear whats up? haven't heard from you a while..
Cheers,
David
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 13 2010, 10:16 PM
Hello Zion! I'm here! You did a very good job this week. There is nothing to remark in this take. You just have to continue working on the following positions. So here we go with the second assignment for this month.
Assignment 2:
As I want you to continue working on the major scale harmonized in triads we will go for an easy rocker lesson for this week to train your rhythmic abilities and also to incorporate to your playing the combination of lead + rhythm guitar in the same song.
The lesson is Cirse's most Slash Style song called "Mentiras" so I think that you'll really enjoy it. It has a cool main riff very influenced by Paradise City but also by other modern rock bands like Jane's addiction.
This is the link to the lesson: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/mentiras-cirse/
I hope that you enjoy it!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 13 2010, 11:06 PM
Awesome lesson.. You must be a great band live.. wish i could see ya perform someday..
I like how you say this is an "easy rocker".. I would never even consider this lesson as it seems way too difficult for me, but this is one of the things i like about the MTP.. i get challenged with things i might not try by myself..
We'll see how it goes.. it's my kind of style, so perhaps it'll work out just fine.. we'll see.. 
edit: oh, btw.. could you post the backing?
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 14 2010, 05:09 AM
I'm glad that you like it! Here you have the backing...
Backing_track_109.mp3 ( 1.07MB )
: 157
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 15 2010, 08:31 PM
wow.. this is really difficult.. I cant seem to get the rhythm right..
and i can already foresee that the fast "licks" will take me down as well..
I'll continue to practice really hard though..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 16 2010, 09:27 PM
and i can already foresee that the fast "licks" will take me down as well..
I'll continue to practice really hard though..
yeah! keep on the hard work!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 18 2010, 09:57 PM
hey Gabriel
I have been working really hard on this assignment, and i can now almost certainly tell you that i wont be able to make the video at "normal" speed.. I do feel like my speed have improved a little bit over the past week, but I cannot do it fast enough to do a proper video.. I already fail at the intro lick..
i am not sure i want to do a video, where i fail within the first 10 seconds.. 
-David
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 19 2010, 04:20 AM
I have been working really hard on this assignment, and i can now almost certainly tell you that i wont be able to make the video at "normal" speed.. I do feel like my speed have improved a little bit over the past week, but I cannot do it fast enough to do a proper video.. I already fail at the intro lick..
i am not sure i want to do a video, where i fail within the first 10 seconds..
-David
Hello David! It's very interesting to have this situation. Which are the parts that are giving more trouble? Is the riffing or the solo?
There is no problem is you post your entry played over metronome at a slower tempo but I need to have more details about this.
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 20 2010, 12:45 PM
There is no problem is you post your entry played over metronome at a slower tempo but I need to have more details about this.
Sorry about the time it took for me to answer you.. I've just gotten sick with fever, and haven't spent a lot of time on the computer..
Well, i think i have the octave part in the beginning down, although i am not sure about the actual strumming (are you just using down strokes?).. I cannot seem to get up to full speed on practically everything after that.. on monday i almost got the first part of the intro "solo", but i seem to be "catching up" rather than playing along.. the other part of the intro solo (up at the 16th fret) is waaay of time.. but this could be because i have mostly been practicing the first part..
I will try to do a video later today depending on how my head feels. I will most likely do a slower one, but what i *can* tell you is that i definately feel that i have progressed a little on my speed.. Just not enough to nail this lesson, i'm affraid..
one last thing.. I was practicing the second part of the intro solo, i cant get the "sound" that you are getting.. maybe it's just a timing issue though (or most likely it is)..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 20 2010, 05:45 PM
Hello Zion. You are having problems with the solo parts. I'm most interested in seeing you playing the rhythm sections so if you can't play the other parts we can use this lesson as the next month's REC...
What do you think?
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 20 2010, 09:36 PM
I am sorry.. i wont be able to do a video tonight.. I am feeling very very back and cant even hold the guitar properly..
I'll do the video as soon as i am able..
let me think about it as a rec take..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 21 2010, 07:30 AM
I'll do the video as soon as i am able..
let me think about it as a rec take..
Don't worry Zion! I hope that you feel better soon!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 24 2010, 08:08 PM
Hello Gabriel
I am now back in action.. I have been sick since tuesday, and haven't been able to practice.. Now my daughter is sick as well, so i can only practice if/when she sleeps..
Anyways, i have been practicing again tonight, and the story so far is, that it almost feels like starting all over again.. I have been practicing along with the guitar pro tabs trying to get the timing right.. good news is that i can do the first 7 bars okay.. bad news is that i can only do them at 75 bpm.. This lesson need a LOT more practice before getting close to full speed..
Any ideas on what i should do? do you still want a video or should i continue practicing this one really hard???
btw.. i noticed an error in the guitar pro tabs.. 4th bar you go all the way up to 6th string 2nd fret, which you dont do on the video (and on the other tab)..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 25 2010, 06:41 AM
Hello Zion, thanks for notifying. I'm glad to know that you are feeling well now! I think that the MTP rules says that every assignment must be recorded in a video to allow the instructor to post the following one, so you can take a few more days to practice this one and then post it here. Maybe we won't be able to finish this month's mtp on time but we can use some February days to finish it.
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 25 2010, 12:55 PM
I think that the MTP rules says that every assignment must be recorded in a video to allow the instructor to post the following one, so you can take a few more days to practice this one and then post it here. Maybe we won't be able to finish this month's mtp on time but we can use some February days to finish it.Roger that.. I will try and do a video with the assignment.. will post one when it's done.. stay tuned..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 25 2010, 05:38 PM
Great!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 26 2010, 09:38 PM
hey again
Guess my sickness wasn't completely over.. I have been throwing up the last 24 hours, and I am completely dehydrated.. No time for practice today..
However, the plan is still to do a video tomorrow.. i really hope my sickness is done by then..
-David
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 26 2010, 10:26 PM
Guess my sickness wasn't completely over.. I have been throwing up the last 24 hours, and I am completely dehydrated.. No time for practice today..
However, the plan is still to do a video tomorrow.. i really hope my sickness is done by then..
-David
Ok, please take care of yourself!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 27 2010, 09:11 PM
Hi Gabe..
The reason for all my current sickness and health issues is because my daugther has just started kindergarden.. She's been going there for two weeks with 10 other kids, and apparently she has taken a whole lot of sickness and virusses home with her.. and of course we get them too.. My colleage at work told me that when his son started kindergarden it took them 4 months to finally get over the sickness.. wow.. i sincerely do not hope this will be the case for me, as i am tired and pretty beat up by now..
Anyways, I have done a video for you.. I am affraid i couldn't do your lesson justice, but I am at a loss at the moment.. I need to get this thing out of the way before i start hating my guitar (sorry.. love the lesson, but it's taking all my energy away atm)..
here it is..
Oh, and I really dont want to do this lesson as a REC next month.. i am pretty sure that an entire month of practice wont be able to get me up to speed.. I hope you understand..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 27 2010, 10:06 PM
Hello Zion! That sounds really bad! I hope that you won't get any of those viruses again!
Thank you for your efforts to work on the assignment. However I find that this situation gave me a lot of ideas of the things that we must work. Let's give up this one... I'll give this assignment as passed because of your efforts and I'll give you assignment number 3 later today of tomorrow.
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 28 2010, 12:25 AM
Hi Gabe..
Thanks for your concern.. it's greatly appreciated.. However, i am not completely over it yet, as I have just started to get a fever again tonight.. for the moment i cannot seem to catch a break.. hopefully it's just an aftermath, but who knows..
I am really glad we can go on with a new lesson, and i am glad you have some ideas on what to do next.. i guess this one was a bit too much for me to chew on.. I have bookmarked it though as it's really cool, and i will put this on my "List of Goals"..
It also hit me with a ton of bricks about how "slow" i really am.. i will try to put your lick (intro lick @ the 16th fret) into a routine, and perhaps that way i can learn to do this one faster..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 29 2010, 12:01 AM
How are you feeling now? Are you ready for a new assignment?
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 29 2010, 11:39 AM
ya.. just bring it..
I am a lot better, and i try to grab the guitar every day.. we'll see what happens..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 30 2010, 03:32 AM
Assignment 3:
Hi again! This is your new assignment. It's a Kotzen style short legato lick that is a very cool exercise to train your left hand. It's very important to keep repeating this lick as a loop for a while until you feel that your hand is tired or starts to hurt.
MTP_Zion.gp5 ( 1.86K )
: 87
Let me know how do you feel the exercise. If you notice that you can play it easily you can play it in every string. The tempo required is the faster than you can!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 30 2010, 02:08 PM
interesting..
I do have issues with my legato techniques.. I rarely use legato in my playing.. Most likely because i dont feel i am good enough for them..
Will update you on my progress..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 30 2010, 03:53 PM
I do have issues with my legato techniques.. I rarely use legato in my playing.. Most likely because i dont feel i am good enough for them..
Will update you on my progress..
Great! This is just the beginning of our legato studies. Please keep me updated!
Posted by: -Zion- Jan 31 2010, 08:59 PM
so.. i have been practicing tonight and my fingers are now hurting..
I am having some difficulty not sounding the adjacent string (usually the one below).. what i am doing right now is palm muting the above strings, and then using my right hand fingers on the strings below.. using middle and ring finger on string 2 and 1..
is this the proper "correct" way to do it, or should i really be using the left hand to mute?
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 1 2010, 04:19 PM
I am having some difficulty not sounding the adjacent string (usually the one below).. what i am doing right now is palm muting the above strings, and then using my right hand fingers on the strings below.. using middle and ring finger on string 2 and 1..
is this the proper "correct" way to do it, or should i really be using the left hand to mute?
yes! This is the correct way to work it. The idea is to be concentrated only in your left hand.
Posted by: -Zion- Feb 2 2010, 09:11 PM
quick update... todays band practice was cancelled due to a snow blizzard, so i have been practicing my legato instead..
I have already noticed a difference.. it already seems a little easier.. even the legato part in this months REC is easier now.. it's awesome..
I have just done it at 120 bpm.. still a long way to 180bpm, but i am definately getting better and faster.. it's great..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 3 2010, 07:28 AM
I have already noticed a difference.. it already seems a little easier.. even the legato part in this months REC is easier now.. it's awesome..
I have just done it at 120 bpm.. still a long way to 180bpm, but i am definately getting better and faster.. it's great..
This is great!
thanks for the update! It usually happens that the exercises start to seem easier after some days. The first day uses to be frustrating because you find the exercise impossible!Keep on the hard work!
Posted by: -Zion- Feb 7 2010, 11:18 AM
Okay.. sorry i am late with the videos, but here they are.. finally..
First up is the legato exercise video.. First up i want to say that i have definately improved a lot.. started at 80bpm, and i pushed myself and shot the video at 125bpm.. still room for improvements though, and my stamina isn't the best yet.. this is a good start though..
Next up is this january rec take.. I hope you like it.. let me know if you think this is good enough to be posted in the REC section
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 12 2010, 03:19 AM
Hello Zion! I think that you did a very good job in both videos. In the first one I only notice that you have timing issues in some parts but this can be solved concentrating on that. The other aspects of this assignment are perfect. Now it's time to train your left hand with this exercise. You have to increase the time that you can keep playing this exercises as a loop.
Regarding the REC take I must say that I'm impressed! There are some awesome bends and vibrato there! I think that you are going in the right way and I can note your improvements. Keep on concentrating on this two techniques to continue developing the expression in your playing! I think that we can use this take as our REC for this month, please share here the link to the REC when you post it there.
Assignment 4:
The last assignment will be a continuation of the previous one. I think that we must continue with the previous pattern but this time the idea is to play it in every string. You must start doing 4 repetitions in the first string (high E) and then play the same repetitions in B string, G string, D string, A string and Low E. You have to play all this together over metronome as you did in the previous assignment. It would be great if you can increase a bit the tempo. You have to use your right hand to mute the strings that aren't played at every moment.
Posted by: -Zion- Feb 15 2010, 12:09 PM
Regarding the REC take I must say that I'm impressed! There are some awesome bends and vibrato there! I think that you are going in the right way and I can note your improvements. Keep on concentrating on this two techniques to continue developing the expression in your playing! I think that we can use this take as our REC for this month, please share here the link to the REC when you post it there.
Assignment 4:
The last assignment will be a continuation of the previous one. I think that we must continue with the previous pattern but this time the idea is to play it in every string. You must start doing 4 repetitions in the first string (high E) and then play the same repetitions in B string, G string, D string, A string and Low E. You have to play all this together over metronome as you did in the previous assignment. It would be great if you can increase a bit the tempo. You have to use your right hand to mute the strings that aren't played at every moment.
First off, i have been sick yet again (will this never end?), so i haven't been here a couple of days, but i hope i can move forward again this week..
I am glad that you like the assignment video.. yes, there are some timing issues, and i believe it's because of stamina issues.. after i do this kind of exercise for 5-10 minutes my hand and fingers gets so sore and i start to loose focus on what i am doing.. i think more practice will help my stamina greatly in this regard..
It was really awesome to read your impressions about the REC take.. after our first couple of assignments with bending and vibrato i could really notice a difference in my playing.. now it's not that obvious anymore, although there are minor improvements.. however, hearing that there actually are improvements is great and even you calling some of it "awesome" really helps my spirit.. Thank you for that..
i'll do the rec topic, and post it here..
edit:
it's right here
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 15 2010, 04:20 PM
Sickness again?? That sounds really bad! I hope that this has been the last time!
I'm glad to read that my comments helped as well as the assignments. The assignment 3 is definitely very useful to train your stamina so keep on practicing it!
thanks for the REC link,
Gab.-
Posted by: -Zion- Feb 21 2010, 08:34 PM
I'm glad to read that my comments helped as well as the assignments. The assignment 3 is definitely very useful to train your stamina so keep on practicing it!
thanks for the REC link,
Gab.-
Well.. what do you know.. sickness again.. i cant believe how much i have been sick lately.. i usually never get sick.. or very rarely.. but i have been sick every week since my daughter started in her kindergarten.. i cannot believe it.. crazy..
That said, it goes without saying that i have not practiced much this week, so i wont be able to do a "proper" video yet.. i can say that it's going better now, although i still have stamina issues.. also, i find it pretty difficult to do it on the 5th and 6th string.. those strings need a lot of practice..
i hope you can bear with me until i can do a proper video for you..
Posted by: -Zion- Feb 28 2010, 08:49 PM
hey gabe.
first of, i want to apologize for not giving you the video for the assignment.. there are no excuses other than i just went through a period of guitar hatred.. Its kinda weird that you know you really should be practicing, but you just hate the fact that you have to do it on the guitar.. it's weird.. i think it happened because of the 3 week break in the band.. i guess when i dont have anything the look forward to and show my newly aquired skills i kinda loose focus and dont like playing guitar..
i dont know.. it's weird.. i am not quite back with the guitar practice yet, but i am not really sure what to do next..
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 1 2010, 08:48 AM
Hi Zion, I think that it is normal to have periods where you lose your motivation for an intensive practice. Having a band is a very important incentive to practice and to compose. BTW there are many other things that can incentivate yourself like watching music dvds, clinics, going to concerts, reading books, talking with friends who are musicians too, buying cds or music magazines... those things always incentivate me. Try to do some of the previous things and notice how your feel...
Posted by: -Zion- Mar 1 2010, 10:07 PM
thanks for your understanding..
I know what you mean about getting inspiration from other places.. unfortunately i dont have that many friends who are musicians.. i try to listen to as much music as possible, but i actually think the best thing for me would be concerts or live performances.. i think i'll try to find some of those..
band practice starts again tomorrow.. i hope this period will end so i can continue my practice..
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