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Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 22 2014, 01:47 PM

Hi Dmitry, welcome to your thread for Gab's Army, my mentoring program. Here I will help you to design creative routines based on your musical tastes, weak and strong points. Our short and long term goals will always be make music so every concept and lesson that we work should be used to create your own melodies, improvisations and musical ideas.

At first I would like to know a bit more about you...

- How many time have you been playing guitar?
- Favorite guitarists, bands and musicians.
- What are your guitar goals?
- How would you like to you see yourself in 5 years (related to music and guitar)?
- How many time can you play each day?
- Do you have playing live experience?
- What do you know about theory and improvisation?
- Which are your strong and weak points with guitar?
- Can you record videos of you playing?
- Share here audios and videos that you've recorded.


Ok mate, I'll be waiting for your info, I hope that you enjoy this journey!

Posted by: MountainThistle Aug 26 2014, 04:47 AM

Hi Gabriel,

Technically, I've been playing a few years, but it wasn't really permanent learning process.

Bands are, first of all, Nightwish, Blind Guardian and Sonata Arctica. Then goes Metallica, Amorphis, Amon Amarth, Blackmore's Night, Falconer, Lacuna Coil, Avantasia and Poets of The Fall. The guitarists are Emppu Vuorinen, Marcus Siepen with Andre Olbrich and Kirk Hammet.

My goal in guitar sense is to become a high level guitar player in musical styles that I have passion for and then evolve into a songwriter. In other words, in five years I see myself rehearsing with my own band working on songs that I compose and learning more musical trends to make my own songwriting arsenal more rich.

Giving my past failing experience of persistent musical learning process, I'd say one and a half - two hours a day, for starters.

Yeah, I have some sort of playing live experience in front of 10-20 people. Just a little.

Theory and improvisation. I had a year of individual classes of acoustic guitar where we've gone through the basics of musical theory, so I know it a little. Still far from improvisation.

It's hard to assess my self in sense of weak and strong points, so I'd better give a link to a video with me playing electric and semi-acoustic guitars. Here you go:
1. http://vk.com/id204495925?z=video204495925_168970647%2Fvideos204495925
2. http://vk.com/id204495925?z=video204495925_165080043%2Fvideos204495925

Thanks, man. I'm definetely going to enjoy it! =))

QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Aug 22 2014, 02:47 PM)

Hi Dmitry, welcome to your thread for Gab's Army, my mentoring program. Here I will help you to design creative routines based on your musical tastes, weak and strong points. Our short and long term goals will always be make music so every concept and lesson that we work should be used to create your own melodies, improvisations and musical ideas.

At first I would like to know a bit more about you...

- How many time have you been playing guitar?
- Favorite guitarists, bands and musicians.
- What are your guitar goals?
- How would you like to you see yourself in 5 years (related to music and guitar)?
- How many time can you play each day?
- Do you have playing live experience?
- What do you know about theory and improvisation?
- Which are your strong and weak points with guitar?
- Can you record videos of you playing?
- Share here audios and videos that you've recorded.


Ok mate, I'll be waiting for your info, I hope that you enjoy this journey!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 26 2014, 07:10 PM

Hi mate! How are you? Thanks for this information. It really helps me to know you more and to be more precise regarding the tasks and routine for the next weeks. I can say that I enjoyed your videos. You have a good sense of rhythm when you play both rhythm and guitar melodies.
So it's a good background to start working on more advanced stuff.

It would be very good if you can dedicate some time to experiment with your videos guitar sound to make me hear your guitar clearer. Please check this video where you will find some cool and free ideas to do it:




On this first week, we will focus on some technique and musical lessons to start training and adjusting your guitar technique.

The routine could look like this:


Warming Up (7 minutes)


Alternate Picking (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Tersivels-Cruzat-Beer-House-Song-Part2/

Legato (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Hammer-On-Pull-Off-Etude/

Bending & vibrato (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/neoclassical_solo_for_beginners/



Rhythm (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Finnish-Power-Metal-Stratovarius/

Free creative moment/jamming/play along with songs (20 min)



Do you know some GMC lessons that you like and that fit on these categories?

Posted by: MountainThistle Aug 28 2014, 03:50 PM

Thanks for useful video, Gabriel! Will try it in a few days when I shoot another video

I'm working now on http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Tersivels-Cruzat-Beer-House-Song-Part2/
Must be counted as alternate picking practice)

After finishing this one, I'll pick some lessons to practise legato, bending, vibrato and rhytm. Is that how it works?

Cheers

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Aug 28 2014, 10:47 PM

Not exactly! I added suggested lessons for each topic. The idea is that you work on each topic every day. It's a diary routine. Please check out the lessons suggested and let me know if you would like to change some of them.

Posted by: MountainThistle May 15 2015, 09:55 PM

Got it!

Shall I upload the videos here or on Youtube and then post a link here?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 16 2015, 04:32 PM

Youtube and then insert them here.

Posted by: MountainThistle May 17 2015, 03:27 AM

Finally, I managed to record the guitar sound clearly.

So, here's the first lesson I upload:

1) Neoclassical Solo For Beginners (Bending&Vibrato)



It seems that vibrato is ok and bending is a bit sloppy. Is it good enough or shall I redo it?

Looking forward to you feedback, Gab!

Cheers

PS. I tried to use InsertSpecialItem-->YouTube, but it seems not to be working. How do you normally do it?

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h28oc8nMpbs

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 17 2015, 06:33 PM

Hi mate! Congrats on your first video here!

I can say that you are doing a very good job with this one. You have a very good sense of rhythm and your playing is good. There are a few things that you need to have in mind during the next days of practice:

- Vibrato: It's good that you let the note sound and then you start the vibrato gradually, it's exactly how it should be done. Your vibrato is also regular, and goes with the groove. The thing that is lacking, is to be wider and more aggressive, mostly for this style. Play along with the original lesson and try to emulate the instructors vibrato.

- Bending, your bending is not consistent. You need to work on it. Please use the youtube video exercise to train your bending 5/10 minutes every day.

- Dynamics: Your picking has always the same intensity. The use of dynamics (stronger and softer notes) will give more life to your playing.


In order to insert videos here, you just have to copy and past the link showed in this image:

Posted by: MountainThistle May 21 2015, 07:33 PM

Thanks for the feedback!

I didnt quite get it about the dynamics. Do you mean the vibrato notes that I should accent more?

PS. How does it work with videos and lessons in general? I mean, do you give As and Bs or we just work on a lesson until you say it's good?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 22 2015, 03:16 PM

Hi mate, the dynamics are the different intensities that you can use when picking notes. You can pick strong or soft and the effect and feeling that you get is different. If you play everything with the same intensity, your phrasing will sound less organic, more like electronic or robotic.

Listen to this lesson and pay attention to this concept:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Blues-Dynamics/

And let me know if you get it.


I didn't get these question:

do you give As and Bs or we just work on a lesson until you say it's good?

mostly the "As" and "Bs", what does it mean?

Posted by: MountainThistle May 23 2015, 09:35 PM

I mean like marks that you get in secondary school

Posted by: MountainThistle May 24 2015, 03:09 AM

Here's the 2nd take of Neoclassical Solo For Beginners.



I think that bending here improved a lot and this time I play vertical vibrato notes more often than horizontal (compared to the 1st take).

I got your idea about the dynamics. Although I didn't succeed this time, I hope to improve in further lessons.

Looking forward to your reply

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 24 2015, 10:38 PM

Hi mate! Congrats on our hard work! This take shows important improvements compared with the previous take! Your vibrato and bending is more consistent now and your playing is sounding smoother. I think that it would be ok if you practice 2 more days on this one focusing on making vibrato even more consistent, the last licks smoother and start experimenting with accents on some notes to give more dynamics to your playing.

It would be good if you share the next recording on REC, as here you'll have grade and comments from different instructors. It's good to have more point of views, and also a grading reference.

When should we go for new lessons? We can replace lessons from the routine as soon as you have them at a level similar to this one. In two days you'll receive your REC grading and if you have an 8 or more, we can consider passed and we can go for a new lesson.

Posted by: MountainThistle Jun 6 2015, 05:49 AM

I've just uploaded Take 3 of Neoclassical Lesson at REC section. I improved [00:21-00:37] section here - now all the vibratos here are vertical, not horizontal. It was quite a trick to get how to do it



Now I'm working on Tersivels-Cruzat-Beer-House-Song-Part2, Hammer-On-Pull-Off-Etude and Finnish-Power-Metal-Stratovarius Lessons. In case I pass REC examination, you might add another lesson instead of Neoclassical one.

Have a good day!

Posted by: MountainThistle Jun 7 2015, 08:08 PM

QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Jun 6 2015, 08:09 PM)

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 8 2015, 03:43 PM

Hi mate!

1. It happens when you bend the note while you do the vibrato. When doing vibrato you can bend it but it must get back to the original note it's a vibration effect, if you keep bending the note a bit you have pitch issues.

2. I meant the rhythm of the vibration, it should go with the backing track's groove. You can use different time values but it fits better when it related with the overall groove.

4. Yes, you should keep working on it. You already have some good feedback there.

Posted by: MountainThistle Jul 9 2015, 08:29 PM

Hi again Gab,

Talking about dynamics in the REC Neoclassical Solo For Beginners Bogdan Radovic commented: "Also, the amp/patch you are using lacks in dynamics it seems (maybe there is some kind of compressor added to the signal chain? If so, turn it off.). You need dynamics to be able to play some notes louder and some softer and more quiet in order to make the solo sound more expressive. "

I couldn't PM Bogdan, so I thought you might have an idea

I use guitar + creative e-mu 0404 + reaper and guitar rig presets. How can I get rid of this compressor thing to have more dynamics?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 10 2015, 03:15 PM

Hi mate,

At first you should check if there is a compressor turned on in your patch. If you find one on the inserts section, turn it off. If not, the problem must be related to the quantity of drive, if you can set it with a little less of drive, your tone will have more dynamics. Finally, dynamics are totally related to your picking hand, so if you tone is not the responsible of the lack of dynamics, this means that you are picking all notes with the same intensity, so you are not using this elements as an expressing tool.

Posted by: MountainThistle Jul 10 2015, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the answer, Gab! I just got the message from Bogdan too

As for dynamics, I took a look at the lesson you recommended (http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Blues-Dynamics/) and I clearly see the difference in right hand picking strength. Here, in Neoclassical Solo, I don't see it, only may be there's a bit more strength in vibrato notes - is that what you mean?

PS. Now looking over the the lesson, 00:15-00:20 seems to sound quieter than the rest and the top strength is at 0:44, right?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 12 2015, 01:52 AM

Exactly! The dynamics in metal are less notorious but there is always room to use different intensities as an expressing tool. I shared the blues lesson because dynamics are fundamental on blues but I think that those guitarists that can manage dynamics in metal are the most interesting and expressive. Steve Vai is one of them off course...

Talking about Neoclassical and shred playing, Malmsteen, Friedman and Gilbert are good examples on how you can use dynamics in metal situations...

Posted by: MountainThistle Jul 29 2015, 08:52 AM

In the meanwhile, I made a cover of russian folk-band Melnitsa's song The Princess.

Here's the original version:



My cover song:



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Neoclassical Solo Lesson.

Last time in the REC session when I posted Neoclassical Solo lesson most of the comments were about too wide vibratos, dynamics and smoother transition between notes.

In the following take (0:06 - 0:18) I made the transition smoother and tried to play some parts (0:14-0:18) quieter than others.

The vibratos pitch must be ok now. Moreover, I learned to play one more part with vertical vibratos instead of horizontal ones (0:47-0:56).



PS. the passing grade in REC section is now 6, so there's no need to post it there again? Last time I had 6/7/8, so I pass, right? If you ask me, I'd prefer to concentrate on the next lessons

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 29 2015, 02:32 PM

Hi mate! Nice cover song. I like the original melody and also like the feel of your version with it's even more relaxing. Everything sounds on pitch and well played there. With the pass of time and the work here, you'll be able to add more expressive elements to your playing but it's just a matter of time.

The neoclassical solo sounds better regarding the aspects that we suggested. There is still room to make the vibrato more natural and some parts like the lick at 00:41 smoother and some others after that but this will happen with more days of practice. Also, the bend at 00:46 is not reaching the pitch well.

It's ok to go for another lesson now but I recommend you to play this one once or twice every day to keep on polishing it. Ok?

Posted by: MountainThistle Aug 30 2015, 08:19 AM

I'm sorry for offtopic, Gab, but will you help me here please.

I made a cover video on one of my favourite Metallica songs and it seems that I have bend pitchs issues in solo part. Check it out:



Starting at 2:37.

When I recorded I tried to make sure it sounds at the right pitch, but now it doesnt seem to. How can I be sure? Is there any pitch measurer you can recommend or it's just a matter of practice practice practice?

Cheers

Posted by: MountainThistle Sep 23 2015, 02:05 AM

Oh, I found a solution!

Sorry for this offtopic

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 23 2015, 03:01 PM

This is the best exercise I know for bending:

Posted by: MountainThistle Jan 19 2016, 09:36 PM

I practise some lessons at the moment and in the meanwhile I'd love to start with music theory to understand what I'm actually playing. Gab, what will you recommend? Just hit THEORY at GMC forum or something more specific?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 20 2016, 04:33 PM

I recommend you to start here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=47852

and ask me every time you have a question. You should also check this thread:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=56472

Posted by: MountainThistle Feb 3 2016, 05:03 AM

Thanks Gabriel!

Here's my second lesson. It is not among the task you mentioned but hope it is ok that once in a while I post lessons that are off our study programme.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Irish-Picking/



How is it?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 3 2016, 03:09 PM

Sure mate! Everything is welcome here!

Your take on this lesson is really good. Your playing is precise in most of the lesson. There are little sections where you have some hands sync issues but nothing really serious. Good job!

Posted by: MountainThistle Feb 4 2016, 10:54 PM

Great!

Shall I necessarily procced to REC section with the lesson or it's fine?

Posted by: MountainThistle Feb 6 2016, 10:13 PM

If we're done with the previous lesson, then I post here another lesson:

Cruzat Beer House Song Part2:



Looking forward to your feedback!

-----------------------------------------

PS. Gab, you gave me four lessons to work through in the first hand:
1) Alternate Picking (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Tersivel-Cruzat-Beer-House-Song-Part2/
2) Legato (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Hammer-On-Pull-Off-Etude/
3) Bending & vibrato (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/neoclassical_solo_for_beginners/
4)Rhythm (20 min)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Finnish-Power-Metal-Stratovarius/

I've done first and third.

I cannot really practise the others at the moment, cause I'm in provincial small city in India for the next two months and they have no electric guitar here at all.

Would you give me a few more acoustic guitar lessons to work on?


Cheers!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 10 2016, 05:41 PM

Hi mate, the new lesson is sounding good. The only detail that I've noted is that your playing sounds with staccato effect. Try to make the notes be a bit longer to make your playing sound smoother. Other than that this sounds good!

Some ideas to continue:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/William-Tell-Overture/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/harvest-of-sorrow-part-1/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/viking-folk-metal-concepts-part-4/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/viking-folk-metal-concepts-part-5/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Slap-Pop-Dreamy-Acoustic-Workshop/

Posted by: MountainThistle Feb 11 2016, 11:36 AM

Thanks, Gab!

If you don't mind I'd stick only to
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-gu...-sorrow-part-1/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/viking...oncepts-part-4/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Slap-P...ustic-Workshop/
and skip the other two. See, I'm working on my motivation now and I noticed that I can prctice songs/licks/lessons only if they grab my sympathy from the beginning.

By the way, do you have any approximate strategic plan in your ming for the future lessons? Can you share it to discuss? For example, I'd love to work on In Style Of lessons when I'm back to my el. guitar.

ps. I'd share a video I recorded a few days ago. It was supposed to be with el. guitar but I couldn't find one, so I thought I'd do it anyways

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 11 2016, 01:22 PM

Hi mate, yeah, let's discuss about the future.

My objective for the first weeks was to polish your technique and adjust details regarding vibrato, bending, posture, picking and left hand (legato and muting). That's why I've shared some technique lessons in the first routine.

Focusing on musical lessons (in the style of) sounds good for me and it's a good way to keep motivation and track of your progress. Our way to monitor status is the level of lessons and the grade you get at REC. I'd like to see a list here of "in the style of" lessons that you'd like to work to have it as reference.

While you learn these lessons, the idea is to do some complementary work that covers technique (that helps you master the in the style lessons) and some theory behind improvisation / composition (analyzing the lessons worked and learning the concepts behind the progression and scales is always helpful).

Posted by: MountainThistle Feb 12 2016, 08:02 PM

"Favourite lessons + theory behind" sounds like a great mix. Let's see how it works!

I will make a list of "in style of" lessons right away when I come back, because Indian internet here is both slow and expensive, while I need to go through all GMC lessons related.

PS. I couldn't find any Guitar Pro tab in http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/harvest-of-sorrow-part-1/ lesson, neither could I make part N1 work. Could you help me out?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Feb 13 2016, 05:00 PM

mmm I think that the reason why is that we cannot have guitar pro or tabs of copyrighted songs. You have to learn it from the videos.

Posted by: MountainThistle Mar 16 2016, 06:32 PM

5) Viking Folk Metal Concepts PT4
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/viking-folk-metal-concepts-part-4/



How is it?

There's lots of noise, yes, but I couldn't cope with it here. Anyways, it's the last lesson I have done with local indian guitar, so hopefully next Harvest of Sorrow lesson will have a lot better sound.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 18 2016, 07:39 PM

Hi mate, this sounds good. I think that you only need to play the arpeggio section a bit more to make it sound more consistent. There are parts like at 00:22 that sound a bit weak. Then, when the strumming rhythm starts I feel that your strumming is not strong enough, you need to pick harder the strings to avoid that weird sound that can be hear in the video and make the string sound louder.

Posted by: MountainThistle Jun 29 2016, 11:44 AM

Got it, Gab!

Here's a new one.
Blind Guardian: Harvest of Sorrow
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/misc-lessons/harvest-of-sorrow-part-2/

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jun 30 2016, 10:53 PM

Fantastic video mate! Everything sounds great and the video looks very cool! You should share it at facebook and everywhere!

Well done!

Posted by: MountainThistle Jul 27 2016, 04:34 PM

Thanks, Gab! Three more are coming soon.

I'm working with https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bullet-For-My-Valentine-Style-Lesson/ at the moment. How do you play the chord progression with your left hand? Is it like pinky and ring fingers hold a fret at the 3rd string, index fingers holds a fret at the 5th string and mutes the 4th open string, middle finger mutes the 6th open string?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 28 2016, 06:29 PM

Hi mate, great choice! What part are you talking about?

Posted by: MountainThistle Jul 28 2016, 06:58 PM

This one - 0:12-0:21.

Yes, it's very catchy and dynamic!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 30 2016, 05:01 PM

Ah! The octave chords. Yes, I'm only letting strings 5 and 3 sound, the others are muted with my left hand. My index finger is pressing string 5 but also muting all other stings. AS my major finger is not working, I let it rest over the 6th string to be even safer of unwanted noises.

Posted by: MountainThistle Oct 18 2016, 12:49 AM

Hi Gab!

Here's another video of mine:



PS. good news is that I made up my mind and now am applying for 1.5 year guitar performance program in Los Angeles Musicians Institute! I hope to start it already by Jan 2017!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 18 2016, 07:18 PM

That's a very nice video and interpretation of the song! Very cool! Congrats.

All the best with the program! It sounds very interesting.

Posted by: MountainThistle Apr 27 2017, 12:52 AM

Hi Gab!

I am superhappy, 'cause I moved to Los Angeles in January and study now in Musicians Institute!

I like GMC community and lessons, so I will try to stay tuned one way or another.

Check out one of the Live Performance Workshops that we have here ofetn. I play lead guitar in this one:

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 28 2017, 01:41 PM

Hey mate! I'm so happy for you! Those are really great news!

That video also sounds very good, nice to see you rocking at MI stage. Congrats friend!!

What can you tell me about the things that you've learnt and worked there? It would be so cool if you can share your experience with GMC community creating a thread at the Practice Room.

Posted by: MountainThistle Apr 29 2017, 12:18 AM

Yeah, I can do that. I'll write an article to start the thread, so it'll take some time

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 29 2017, 06:41 PM

QUOTE (MountainThistle @ Apr 28 2017, 08:18 PM)