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Posted by: g-forcelover Jan 29 2008, 10:51 PM

All right, i desided to take a challenge. im learning your winding roads solo, even though i usally play level 4 and under stuff on here. is there any tips for the solo? i might change it a bit to make it kinda my stlye, but anything i need to know?

Posted by: lavendell Jan 29 2008, 11:08 PM

Cool!! Of course, feel free to add your own style to it!!

ok, if you've mostly played "tradtional solos" before, then maybe you'll find it a bit confusing with the odd number of notes So my advise is to focus on the notes that comes on the beat (or rather; the notes that carries the melody), and let the rest of the notes "float in between".

I'd love to hear your version when you're done!


-Marcus

Posted by: g-forcelover Jan 29 2008, 11:40 PM

all right, thanks!

Posted by: g-forcelover Jan 30 2008, 03:01 AM

im gettin a bunch of recording software, so ill keep you updated so i can get more tips

Posted by: Tmas Jan 30 2008, 03:11 AM

Don't have any tips for you but the Winding Roads solo is def. my favorite on the site so I would also love to hear your version!

Posted by: g-forcelover Jan 30 2008, 03:15 AM

Same here! the first time i heard it im like, wow!

Posted by: chast Jan 30 2008, 04:47 PM

I dont' really have an advice for you, but what I really like about the solo, is the "flow"
So, keep it fluent

Posted by: Iluha Jan 30 2008, 05:26 PM

Good luck man, it's quite the tough solo

On another note Marcus, is there a full Winding Roads song? if so where can we ear it??

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Jan 30 2008, 05:35 PM

I think I'm going to attempt to learn this song once I have some techniques mastered better

Posted by: steve25 Jan 30 2008, 05:41 PM

Winding roads is also my favourite solo on here. As well as also one day being able to play it i'd like to learn how to create solos like that

Posted by: lavendell Jan 30 2008, 06:56 PM

Thanks guys!

Here's the full song:
 Winding_Roads.mp3 ( 5.48MB ) : 354

Oh, when I was browsing my computer to find that mp3, I found another song which I apparently recorded the same day. I had completely forgotten about this song!! So thank you Iluha for reminding me
Here it is. "I was there":  I_was_there.mp3 ( 8.56MB ) : 331

Some odd rhythms in there... don't know what I was thinking!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jan 30 2008, 07:23 PM

That's an awesome tune Marcus which I haven't heard before! Are there any more?

I like how it was progressive and groovy at the same time. Also - it was really cool to hear you solo with a dryer tone. Although I personally prefer your usual guitar tone - it sounded really cool in this tune!

Posted by: chast Jan 30 2008, 08:57 PM

Hey Marcus,

Cool stuff
The 2nd song reminds me a bit of Symphony X

Is that you singing in the songs ?

Posted by: lavendell Jan 30 2008, 11:41 PM

Thanks Kris!

I'll have to check if I have any more old recordings, but I think there are a few more!
The first solo part (with a dryer tone) is not me playing. It's my friend Martin, who also sings

Posted by: Iluha Jan 31 2008, 06:20 PM

Woah Marcus, Winding Roads just blew me away! I hope that someday when I'll start preforming I'll do a cover for it!
I was there is also very good, just not my style as much as Winding Roads.

Thanks for sharing Marcus, really appriciate it!

Posted by: Patrik Jezierski Jan 31 2008, 06:56 PM

Totally agree with the above-mentioned, the song but especialy the solo is mind blowing, but i thought the solo in the videolesson was by far more cooler than in the original song, but hey thats only my own opinion. Would be really nice if you could do some more lessons with a "resembled" solo
Did you mix the songs by yourself?
I'm willing to give the winding roads solo a try, but it will be a challenge to play the solo with the same amount of feeling into it

/Patrik

Posted by: lavendell Jan 31 2008, 07:21 PM

Thanks Iluha and Patrik!

Yes, I agree. The solo takes in the original song isn't very good. I was very young when I recorded it and I remember I didn't play it in one take, so the "live feel" isn't really there...

yes, I mix all the songs myself!

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Jan 31 2008, 07:22 PM

How old were you when you recorded Winding Roads!

Posted by: lavendell Jan 31 2008, 07:32 PM

I think I was around 19
Maybe that isn't "very young", but it's a loooong time ago for me

Posted by: jeff Jan 31 2008, 07:38 PM

Sorry I have to disagree - a little. I like the original a little better! Not that the lesson isn't incredible, I just hear the original to have a little more "edge". I actually hear a few more notes in it too. Either way, I would give anything to be able to play that lead! (ok - well almost anything )

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Jan 31 2008, 10:24 PM

Ha when you said young I thought you meant my age!

Posted by: steve25 Feb 4 2008, 12:58 AM

I deff prefer the lesson solo to the song version. Also the solo to soul to the world was better in the lesson than the song, it seems to be more clear and louder etc. But i'd love to be able to do solos like that how do you think up stuff like that?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 5 2008, 07:05 PM

It's different from time to time but often I just improvise, and when I hear something I like a lot I stop and work on that.

Posted by: steve25 Feb 7 2008, 01:02 AM

Your way of thinking seems to make sense to me and would appeal to my way of wanting to do things. However i can't do it yet, it's quite frustrating. Maybe one day

Posted by: lavendell Feb 7 2008, 08:54 AM

Great! I'll be happy to help you in any way I can!

Of course you'll be able to write cool solos one day. It just takes practice!

Posted by: steve25 Feb 7 2008, 06:05 PM

That'd be cool if you can . So you sort of construct a solo you can't just improvise and come up with stuff straight away. What do you do when someone tells you to just improvise over something?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 7 2008, 07:20 PM

Well, then I would propably play some notes that I won't be too proud of

No, but seriously. I would ask for a minute or so to think through the chords, and also some basic phrasings and licks that I could work around while improvising. In other words; I would try to be as prepared as I possibly can.

Posted by: steve25 Feb 7 2008, 07:40 PM

Haha that's like my notes all the time . Do you remember trying to learn to improvise and practicing stuff to get better at it?

By the way a sort of off topic question, in the evening blues lessons what tweaks did you do to your patch to get that sound?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 8 2008, 08:42 AM

Yeah, I used to practice these things a lot!

About the http://www2.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/evening-blues-lesson/ tone. The key is to work with the volume knob.
I can upload the PODxt patch later today if you want (I'm not in my studio right now)

Posted by: steve25 Feb 11 2008, 12:48 AM

Ah yeah cool, the patch would be good to have as well. Also i have a question about your vibrato? Instead of making a new topic i thought i'd post it here. Ok so lets say you wanted to do a vibrato between 12th and 13th fret on B string, of course when you do that you are alternating between those 2 notes, like a trill of 12(13) right? What about you wanted to do a vibrato say from 15th and 17th fret on b string would you always have to alternate between 15 and 17 so you always come back down on the vibrato or can you alternate between 16 and 17 or would that go out of tune?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 11 2008, 08:43 AM

That's right! If I want to do a vibrato on the 15th to the 17th fret on the B-string (that's the notes D and E), that would mean that I'm in a scale that use those two notes. For example; D-minor. And then it would not sound good if I did the vibrato on the 16th to the 17th fret! And the reason is that the D# (16th fret) isn't in the D-minor scale.

If you want to do a "deep" vibrato like this, you must always know what key you're in and what note (notes) you're playing.


PS. I'll upload the PODxt patch here tonight!

Posted by: steve25 Feb 11 2008, 04:16 PM

Seems to make sense, it just looks like when i watch you do wide vibratos that you're not coming all the way down so i thought maybe you were applying vibrato from 15th up to 17 and alternating from 16 and 17. Unless you do a bend from 15 up to 17 and add a shallow vibrato?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 11 2008, 04:59 PM

Yeah, I think that's what you've seen me do!
I wouldn't normally apply vibrato on the 15th fret up to 17th and alternate from 16th to 17th...

Posted by: jeff Feb 11 2008, 09:17 PM

Wait a minute... you have different patch for evening blues than your standard one! And I've been messing with it all this time ! Just kidding. I would love to have that patch too. I'm so close to being finished with it and I want to record it. (I did put it first on my progress list ) The patch would be cool!

Posted by: lavendell Feb 15 2008, 06:26 PM

Sorry for the delay!
Here's the PODxt preset for "Evening Blues" (don't know if it's exactly the same as I use in the lesson, but it's very similar).

 Evening_Blues.l6t ( 1.8K ) : 152

Hope it works ok!

Posted by: jeff Feb 16 2008, 12:55 AM

Worked perfectly! Awesome Marcus. Thank you, once again.

Posted by: lavendell Feb 16 2008, 10:19 AM

No problem!

Posted by: steve25 Feb 22 2008, 12:53 AM

Hey sorry i forgot all about this post. Thanks for the patch marcus sounds pretty good . One more question though if i can, in your vibrato 1 lesson on video 2 the vibrato you use which is very aggressive sounding you say goes between the 15th and 17th fret, yet it looks like you don't come all the way down how can this be? Also i remember you syaing you don't recommend practicing vibrato with a metronome so how would i go about getting a quicker vibrato?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 22 2008, 09:01 AM

Hi Steve!

I've looked at the vibrato lesson again, and I see now that I don't explain it very well. Thanks for notifying!
My intention is to alternate the pitch between E and D, but since the vibrato is so fast I simply don't have time to come back fully to the D pitch. So it looks kind of as if I stay on E, or something like E to D#. - But in my mind I actually think E to D.

I personally don't think it's a good idea to practice vibrato with a metronome, because there's a risk you'll end up with a static sounding vibrato. However, some people prefer that so this is only my personal preference

Posted by: steve25 Feb 22 2008, 11:24 AM

I see that makes sense, so you're either alternating between E and F or E and D#? Wouldn't that put the vibrato out of tune with the rest of the music? Also i practice with and without metronome on vibrato but i wonder if you have any tips for getting a quicker vibrato or is this up to finger strength?

Posted by: g-forcelover Feb 24 2008, 12:38 AM

wow. this solo has a ton of tecniques. im learning to sweep now, and speedpick just for this solo (and a bit of michael angelo batio ) any tips for the first super-fast tapping lick?

Posted by: lavendell Feb 24 2008, 10:46 AM

Thanks g-force!

I'm not sure what super-fast tapping lick you mean
but a standard tip for all licks is to - practice slow!

Posted by: g-forcelover Feb 24 2008, 09:35 PM

well, my first update. i got only some of it down though (the beginning lick is too hard. for now) so, here it is. if it dons't work, tell me

Posted by: lavendell Mar 1 2008, 09:19 PM

Sorry Erik! I missed your upload last week!!

You didn't even miss one note! Great job!
It sounds a bit sloppy though, so practice slow until it's perfect and then increase the speed with few bpm.

Oh, also I'd like to hear some vibrato in there

Posted by: g-forcelover Mar 1 2008, 09:26 PM

yeah, the sloppyness. im not that good, so video 4 was like, impossible for me at the beginning. i made some progress, so i'll post it in a bit.

Posted by: lavendell Mar 3 2008, 10:20 AM

Cool! looking forward to see your next vid!

Posted by: g-forcelover Mar 8 2008, 10:02 PM

yay!!!! i got a full tab to the song!!!!!!

Posted by: steve25 Mar 9 2008, 06:36 PM

Marcus i'm not a very fast plater so i was wondering if you would recommend starting this now and eventually working up the speed on all the licks overtime or wait until i've improved?

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Mar 9 2008, 06:39 PM

Could I see it?

Posted by: steve25 Mar 9 2008, 10:31 PM

Id like to as well . I've been listening to this track again on your myspace page Marcus, it really is a saucey track where can i download it from again?

Posted by: lavendell Mar 10 2008, 08:14 AM

Good question Steve!

Well, I actually think both ways are fine. But of course, if you wait until you have improved it will be much easier and you probably won't give up. However, I think it's perfectly ok to start now and play the licks in a speed that's comfortable for you, and increase the speed bit by bit. As long as you don't lose the motivation (for sure it's frustrating to play at half speed for 3 month and not be able to speed it up).

Also, if there's a lick you just cant play right now, then It's definitely ok to make an easier version of that lick, imo. Just improvise something, and then go back and try the original lick in a few weeks

Posted by: seagull Mar 11 2008, 02:20 PM

Hey Marcus.

I recorded this lesson as well, as I at last sat down and memorized the tab . Sound quality isn't great at all, but it's the best I can do untill I get a Pod XT or something.
I recorded the full speed version, and therefore the shred part in the end and the sweep-tap-lick are a bit sloppy, but let me know what you think. My muting and timing might also need some slight adjusting

Posted by: lavendell Mar 11 2008, 03:16 PM

Wohoo! Cool

I’m listening on a small PC speaker now, but from what I hear you definitely have potential to play this solo at full speed! You miss few notes on some of the licks, - but that’s ok. Few timing mistakes as well, but that’s not very disturbing to me either. Just keep on practicing and you’ll get there. You’ve come a long way already! And you nailed the blues lick pretty much perfect! Great job!

What I’m missing a lot in your playing is the vibrato, and control over the pitch on the bends.
You do have a small vibrato, but I'd like to hear it wider and more controlled. I recommend you work on the vibrato and bends lessons.

I’d love to see you develop here, so please keep me updated!


-Marcus

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Mar 11 2008, 04:14 PM

Marcus, is there anywhere we can get the tab for the entire song?

Posted by: lavendell Mar 11 2008, 05:08 PM

Yes!

But I got so many projects running now that I find it hard to keep up!
The tabs are are on my "to do list"... just bare with me!

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Mar 11 2008, 05:09 PM

I can wait

Posted by: seagull Mar 11 2008, 05:11 PM

Funny you'd mention those flaws, because thats practically the same errors I found myself while listening to the recording.
I need to work on getting enough control to use my vibrato better, cuz' I've actually practiced it quite a bit.
I need to get the timing straight and work more on my muting. But I've never had pitch problems, the problem with this recording was that my guitar is usually tuned in standard tuning, and I probably didn't get it perfectly in Eb tuning.
But thanks a bunch for the feedback, it is really encouraging!

Posted by: g-forcelover Mar 11 2008, 11:09 PM

if you would like the full tab, pm me after i ask marcus if im allowed to give it! (anyone can ask i hope)

Posted by: lavendell Mar 12 2008, 08:31 AM

Did you make tabs for the whole song g-force, and learned it by ear!? Amazing!
You definitely have my permission to share those tabs with anyone you like!

If you want you can upload it in this thread. That would have been awesome!

Posted by: Pizzoaro Mar 13 2008, 07:31 AM

I wonder, How do You make your lessons marcus?

I wanna make a lesson about Killswitch Engage style, and i got the riffss, but i dont know where to start?
Like.. How?

Thnx

Posted by: lavendell Mar 13 2008, 08:37 AM

Well, first of all you need to make a backing track. I mainly use ProTools and a sound module called JV-1010 for that.
After that it's basically just to record the videos. But start with the backing track and then I can guide you through the next steps.

Posted by: Pizzoaro Mar 20 2008, 05:07 PM

Is ProTools a free download or something?
Where can i get it?

Posted by: Erik Johnson Mar 26 2008, 09:13 PM

Sadly, Pro Tools is not free. It currently costs $199.00 for a full install version of Pro Tools 7.4, and you have to have hardware to go along with it.

Check out http://store.digidesign.com/us/index.cfm?langid=100&page=templates/product_detail&PartNumber=pt7%2E4HD&manufacturerid=3&productid=62379 and http://www.digidesign.com/ to find out more.

Posted by: lavendell Mar 30 2008, 09:01 AM

There was a free version few years ago (called "ProTools Free") but I think it's not avalible anymore. The cheapest way get ProTools now is to buy the Mbox 2 Micro which cost around $200, as Erik Johnson said.

But I must say; ProTools is just one of many great programs, and it's how you use it that matter. You can get very good quality with other programs as well, of course

Posted by: Pizzoaro Apr 3 2008, 09:08 PM

Ok, thanx:)

Im using a Zoom recorder...

BIG BOX, and it only makes .cda files.... im the only one who can play them, if i try to send them its hopeless:P
So i need a new thing:P

Posted by: tonymiro Apr 3 2008, 10:11 PM

One possibility Pizzoaro is to look into the various software converters cda. to wave/mp3 rippers etc. I don't use or have anything that rips from cda. so I don't have first hand experience but http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/cda-mp3-convert.html some.

Cheers,
Tony