Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 17 2012, 06:08 PM

You ask for it Kristofer, and here it is in all it's lengthy glory..... the introduction!

Hello guys, I'm Mark and I live in the US. I started playing around age 15 using a guitar that my dad traded and got for me as we didn't have a lot when I was growing up, but dad tried and did a good job for a first guitar. A Peavey T-25 in excellent condition with hard shell case. I played til around age 20 then life took over and I stopped playing for...... (count em)... 20 years. Wow in saying that I feel like I just said I was 80 years old, 42 actually so more than half there. Within that time frame I would pick up my guitar here and there and realize that I was still on a plateau where I left off, actually worse... and get frustrated and stop trying. I didn't do that bad learning by ear early on, but just not great and definitely wasn't able to advance my playing as all my old buddies moved on and I had no one to even jam with anymore. So in my last ditch effort for about the last year, I decided to give it one more try and I've been gathering some new gear and hoping that this old dog can learn some new tricks. I've actually had compliments on my playing, but I assume it is mostly from people who don't play as I still know that my playing isn't that good, especially when I see you guys play and make it look so effortless.

In feeling like I've reached yet the same plateau, I started watching YouTube and got some good stuff from there, but nothing structured that helped me do any serious learning. Then I considered lessons, but with being a father and holding a job it is difficult to figure out where and when I can go do any actual lessons. I saw an ad one day for online guitar schools and started researching them. Unfortunately when I did my general google search for "online guitar lessons" you guys didn't show up for some reason so I checked out three other schools that did. I wasn't totally sold on any of them and kept digging until I found a forum where someone in there posted something like "what about Kristofer Dahl, that guy is an awesome guitarist and he has his own site" so I looked for you guys since I wasn't totally sold on the top three hits thus far, I figured why not. I've only just joined, but from looking around I really think that you guys at GMC are some really talented musicians who seem to really care about the students, plus I like the fact that you guys weren't all from the states as I was looking for a different culture of guys to work with and man I am really excited to see if this tired old guitarist can learn anything from you guys. Everyone one of you guys are awesome, and the posts from the students makes me wonder if you haven't just rigged it to make me think I can be that good too...

Currently I've been told that my style reminds people of a mix of old Kirk Hammett licks with some Billy GIbbons mixed in. I don't actually try to play any type of style, it just happens that the pentatonic was the easiest to learn so that's basically what I have picked up. I really like Bucket Head, but not that I want to sound like him, but I would like to be able to play just whatever comes to mind. I guess I'd like to learn some more scales, but not just scales in terms of where are the notes, but in terms of what scales should or could be used in what type of music. I like the classical/technical licks, but like the idea of throwing in a little of that with some of my bluesy licks for a bit of a mix. I would also like to be able to play some slap guitar as I've seen Christophe Godin play. I'd also love to be able to sweep pick just to say I can do it, plus I can see me throwing that in here and there but man I suck at that. I can't get my fingers to coordinate with each other enough to pull it off.

As a side note, I was an 80's teen so most of my influences came from that era of metal which is not a bad thing, but I hope to expand my knowledge. I found the Dub-step video from Cosmin to be really interesting, and Ben took me back and brushed the dust off with the Kirk Hammett licks. Sinisa's video where he covered several styles in one sitting was really awesome too.... I would keep going but bottom line is all you guys rock and I can't wait to check out as much as I can. I feel like a kid an a candy store!

Anyhow, that's about it I guess. Hope you guys didn't fall asleep..

I currently swap between several guitars, BC Rich Gunslinger with a DiMarzio FRED pickup, Kramer Pacer Classic, Jackson DK2M and DK2S, and my Steinberger when traveling. I also upgraded the bridge pickup in that with a Dimarzio DP102W. I run those through a Digitech RP255 with my old Ibanez soundtank tubescreamer pedal that I kept for 25 years with the MOD to make it perform similar to a TS-808 and Fender Mustang 1 and Fender Super Champ x2 amps.

Thanks guys, and good luck teaching me anything.... I feel like I've been stuck in one place for 25 years.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 17 2012, 06:46 PM

Hello Mark and welcome to GMC !

I really enjoyed reading your introduction.. Steinberger, BC, Jackson and Kramer - wow, you really have got all the essential axes of the 80's !!

Next you'll tell me you got a hot rodded Marshall JCM800 and a Lamborghini Countach !

Well done for getting back into the guitar and also for investing in yourself and looking for online guitar lessons to further your playing. You've clearly made good use of the search button and found a few lessons already. There's loads of stuff here and it can boggle the mind at first but it's always good to pick a few things you want to focus on and go from there.

One of the things I've got running is Guitar Bushido, which is an ongoing set of weekly Tasks.

We've done quite a few but you can view the whole list here as well as get bit of an introduction to what it's all about

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Bushido_Tasks

You can keep up to date and find the latest Bushido Tasks on my personal board here

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showforum=215

Good to meet you !

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 17 2012, 08:14 PM

Thanks Ben, good meeting you as well...... BTW no Lamborghini.... just the DeLorean.

Actually I play all of those guitars too, I cycle through them quite a bit depending on what I'm playing. I never said I play them well, but I do play them.

I do realize that I need to focus on one thing at a time, I guess that's my problem (or at least one of them) is knowing what that one thing should be. I will definitely check out the Bushido. I saw that and thought it was some sort of hand to hand combat with my guitar and I was afraid it would actually kick my ...., so I wasn't sure about it but since you've explained then I will take a look for sure.

I think since I've never had any formal guitar training that I should maybe start as a beginner to see what I've missed, but I'm getting too old for that and may end up being 80 years old by the time I got through it all so I will try to hop on board somewhere in the middle. I have some recordings out on sound cloud that are in no way intended to be full complete anything other than recordings that I'd really just like honest feedback on to help me figure out where I'm at and what I need to do, they are just recordings of ideas that I would jam to so I could go back later and see if they were still things that I liked and how well or not well I played them.

Actually before I could finish this note to you, Sinisa had listened to them as I had sent him a note earlier as well. He basically said they sucked, but that he thought I could be whipped into shape. Just kidding, he had some good ideas of where I'm at currently with my playing so I appreciated him taking a look. If at any time you have a moment to check them out as well that would be great. I completely trust his judgement, I'm only looking to get different opinions as I would like a lot of diversity and opinions. If you do get a chance, feel free to be honest. I don't offend easy. Funny thing is, Sinisa could tell there was a lot of 80's stuck in there... lol. mroberts70 on sound cloud.

Thanks again Ben, looking forward to learning more.

Mark

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 17 2012, 09:01 PM

Hi again Mark. I found and set your playlist going whilst I had my dinner/tea (pizza !) and had 3 full tracks. The 3rd, Derty Talker, really gave me a Satriani vibe ! In fact, your recordings reminded me of the kind of thing I was doing when I first started recording my jams and riffs.

I'll start by saying there's actually nothing wrong with your playing at all. No bad out of key notes or anything so that's a very good place to be

The only thing that I would say is most apparent and needed is just a bit more direction with your phrasing. Whilst they're very much in key and fitting for the chords, they meander a lot. That's my only real criticism. However, I know they're just jams and most likely ad-libbed all the way through. When we jam it's hard to nail perfect phrases.. when we've got time to compose it's a lot easier, of course.

The Pentatonic is a great place to start and for some very famous players, they rarely need anything else. So we may as well stick with that and explore a few ideas.

Picking strong target notes. Stuff like root notes, 3rds and 5ths are always winners. Of course, as the chord underneath changes, then the note becomes a different interval over that new chord but this where you just use trial and error and your ear. Even if you're not too cool on theory it doesn't matter. I would wager that most guitar players develop their sense of melody and phrasing before they understand it all anyway

So, just to recap, certain notes will feel more satisfying than others so you'll just have to poke around and find them. Just stick with a pentatonic box and get to know the notes that seem stronger than others. After a while, you'll start automatically knowing how a phrase will sound just before playing it so you won't have to stop and think 'will this note work ?'. All the work you put in with building up phrases means that when you're in the flow, great licks come to hand without having to think.

Mixing up note values more often. Sometimes a flurry of straight 8th or 16th notes is what's needed but you may find that stretching things out more will provide more satisfying results because when the quicker phrases hit, they're even more welcome. Holding a note over more than one chord change can be very effective so mix up your note values a bit more. Basically, tempo or timing of your phrases.

Building phrases is a combo of different notes and different rhythms, just like a sentence in a conversation. A sentence contains different words of different lengths, with different stresses on different words. In this case, 'phrase' really is an applicable term !

I've gotta go but hopefully there's useful crumbs of info in there somewhere ! I'll catch up again - speak soon

Posted by: Todd Simpson Sep 17 2012, 10:46 PM

Welcome! You really have come to the right place. I really dig your collection of Vintage 80s gear! Thanks for the introduction. If you are around on Saturdays please do join me in my "Saturday Metal Meltdown" @ 5PM EST. We work on wads of shredtastic licks

Todd

Posted by: derper Sep 18 2012, 03:22 AM

Welcome Mark! I can relate to much of your story. I've loved GMC since the start, and they are certainly whipping me into the best shape I've ever been in. It can be overwhelming at first, but stay active, have fun, and make sure to keep sending in takes/videos of your playing to the forums or instructors for feedback.

Posted by: Blister Sep 18 2012, 03:27 AM

Hi Mark & welcome to GMC! Great intro. We didn't have the net back in the 80's & I did the same thing watching youtube which gave me the idea to wipe the dust off my guitar & get back into it. I'm 49 so you're not the oldest geezer here. I really here ya about the kids & job thing. Time is a major problem & that's why GMC is so great. You can post a question in the forum & one of the instructors replies within a few hours (sometimes minutes!) Video chats are at many different times so there is usually at least one that you can find time for. Due to my time constraints, Todd's chat is my regular slot & he works your butt ... or should I say pinky off!

I don't know how Kris does it or trains these instructors but they are the nicest, helpful & most encouraging group of talented guitarists on the net. The same really goes for the members, as well.

Hope to see you in the forum & the video chats!

Gary

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 18 2012, 06:40 AM

That sounds good, I will try to check that one out for sure. Thanks Todd!!




Hey, I just realized you were from Georgia. I passed through there a couple years ago right in the middle of that huge ice and snow storm there trying to make my way to Florida. I didn't think we were going to make it that time. That was hands down the worst driving conditions I had seen for a very long time. I have some family there as well. Take care Todd, and cool thing is... if I can manage to be at home, I can actually catch your live chats since you are EST as well.

Take Care



Awesome, thanks Gary. Yea, I spent way too much time away from the fret board, but have been glad to get back into it. I just wish I hadn't gotten rid of a few of my guitars back then. I had an old Kramer Beretta (Holy Grail) oh well. Young and stupid, now just older. I hope I can get myself back into shape and not get bored with my playing again. As for having time... we'll see I guess. Hope to see you around.

Mark




Thanks Derper, it seems like this is a good place to hang out. Some of the other sites seemed ok, but I just couldn't quite commit to them for some reason. I can't really figure out what it was, but when I checked out this site it just seemed like everything was somehow better. So far I've only been in a few days, and only started participating in the forums today and have already had these guys sending me messages. Seems like the instructors really enjoy what they are doing and care about the students. I don't know how much I really care about music theory to tell you the truth, but there are a few basics that I'd like to have and some extra techniques that I'd like to work on but beyond that... I just have fun playing again. I've already picked up some stuff from Ben, it was some of his simpler things but that was one of my problems before is that I didn't have anyone to just show me even some simple things and so far this has been awesome. I'm happy to just have a few new tricks under my belt, and can't wait to see what I can actually pick up and learn. Thanks for the welcome reply.

Mark

Posted by: Ben Higgins Sep 18 2012, 09:06 AM

I can't believe the extreme weather conditions that you guys have had to endure in the US. It's been quite an eye opener for me on the other side of the Atlantic.

I'm not saying other countries and continents don't endure even more extreme conditions but from a British / European perspective you just don't really expect that of The States.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Sep 18 2012, 09:56 AM

Hello Mark! Welcome man! I see you are already knee deep into debates and chit-chats with the rest of the family so, please go on

Cosmin

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Sep 18 2012, 10:20 AM

My kind of humor hehehhe...

Regards, officially !

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 18 2012, 03:51 PM

Yea, I believe that was extreme for those guys at the time. I don't think they had weather like that for quite awhile. I vowed never to drive to Florida through Georgia ever again in January. There were car accidents all over the place, and even the next day most every thing was shutdown and we drove about 10 miles per hour on the interstate the whole way through the state. I was at the short end of my already short rope for that trip... They weren't even prepared for that weather, all they had to put on the highway was sand, which doesn't do much but make the ice.... well sandy. So good times driving that couple of days.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 19 2012, 03:34 PM

That's a great introduction! Welcome to the site mate! I think that you did a great choice by joining GMC because here you will find all you need to feel motivated to play and learn guitar. We are here to help you so please contact us every time you need it....
Enjoy GMC!

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 20 2012, 02:05 PM

Thanks Gabriel, I appreciate all the help. You guys certainly go above and beyond... way better than I ever expected! Now if I can just learn something...

Posted by: Max Sokolov Sep 20 2012, 07:07 PM

Hi, Mark! Welcome to GMC!
It's great, that you came here - it's never too late to learn new things!
I wish you good luck in you guitar path!

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 20 2012, 07:20 PM

Thanks Max, I appreciate the open responsiveness that I have gotten from everyone. This seems way more than I imagined it would be for an online class. You guys seem to stay up with the forums really well too I've noticed. Doesn't seem that too many go by with out the instructors putting some sort of feedback, even if it is a "I concur" that tells me that it has been read by more than one set of eyes and at least considered.

Thank you again,

Mark

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 21 2012, 03:49 PM

Easy mate! Take your guitar and search at GMC a lesson of your taste and close to your level and let's start working!

Posted by: gregc1 Sep 21 2012, 08:51 PM

Welcome Mark. You have definitely come to the right place brother. Your quote that I highlighted kind of caught me off guard as well when I joined. Maybe not "caught me off guard" but surprised me with how easy it is to interact with instructors on here either through the Boards or through PMs.

Reading your intro, we have a very similar story so I'm happy to tell you after several months here, you will absolutely love it. I would say on a scale of 1-10 of how hard I've worked since joining to get better I would be around 5. Being a bit older with other obligations prevents me from really dialing in like I would really like to but even with the average amount of time I've spent I have seen a very noticeable difference in my playing.

Congrats on joining and enjoy!

Posted by: mroberts70 Sep 22 2012, 02:57 AM

Thanks Greg, to bad you aren't closer North... Seems I can't find too many people up here to jam with so makes it a little frustrating at times trying to play by myself all the time. No one to bounce ideas off of or trade licks with. I hope I can pick up some new stuff, I just need to dial my playing in a bit more and get focused. What style are you into learning/playing?