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GMC Forum _ Alex Feather _ K1r Guitar Mentoring

Posted by: Alex Feather Mar 22 2012, 06:11 PM

Hi K1R!!!! I am glad you joined! Two teachers is better! I will give you a very fun and interesting material to learn and practice!
And you will double your progress! I will tell you everything I know and will teach you tricks and secrets!
I have a few questions for you! It will give me a better idea about your goals!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?

Posted by: K1R Mar 23 2012, 12:01 AM

Hi Alex smile.gif
Recently I've started to listen to a lot of jazz and I just fell in love with it, so I want to play jazz myself. My goals are to learn jazz theory, freely improvise using modes, arpeggios, intervals and so on and to compose my own music smile.gif
Well, in my opinion my playing is good enough, but theory still needs some work. Not to say I'm bad at theory, but I'm not satisfied with my improvisation, as I can't use theory freely.
Regarding the strongest point, it is easy for me to come up with a melody smile.gif
At the moment my favorites are: George Benson, John Scofield, Guthrie Govan and Carlos Santana.

Posted by: Alex Feather Mar 23 2012, 12:16 AM

Great! I like the same players as you are!!!
Nice tasty guitarists!
Playing jazz is not as complicated as it might seem!
If you will simplify it you will end up with II-V-I chord progressions!
So as they say: "If you want to learn jazz, learn to play over II-V-I"
That's what we will be working on!
I have a cool chord progression for you
It's Emi7 - A7 -Dmaj7
Here it is!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/ii-v-i-jam
In order to play over chord changes you need to learn how to play chord tones!
Chord tones:
If you will analyze a chord you will have notes that this chord is made of
those are the chord tones!
I will give you an example:
E minor 7
E - G -B - D
The most important chord tones are III and VII because that's how you can tell the difference between major and minor chord and also know what kind of VII is there!
In our case it's G and D
So what I want you to do is first to analyze each chord and find III and VII for each of them!
Please post it here and I will show an exercise that you can do to practice your chord tones!

Posted by: K1R Mar 23 2012, 02:38 PM

E minor 7
E - G - B - D
III - G
VII - D

A 7
A - C# - E - G
III - C#
VII - G

D major 7
D - F# - A - C#
III - F#
VII - C#

Posted by: Alex Feather Mar 23 2012, 07:42 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Mar 23 2012, 01:38 PM) *
E minor 7
E - G - B - D
III - G
VII - D

A 7
A - C# - E - G
III - C#
VII - G

D major 7
D - F# - A - C#
III - F#
VII - C#

Great! You did a very good job!!! Now I have something challenging for you!
Here is the exercise to practice all the chord tones!
It includes all the chord tones all over the neck!
This exercise will help you develop your chord tones playing and will improve your picking technique!
                           Chord tones exercise                               


Track 1
E minor 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
E||--------------------10---3--------------------15-|
B||------------------8----3------------15---3-15----|
G||--------7------------------------12----0---------|
D||------5-----------------------12-----------------|
A||----5----------------------10--------------------|
E||--3----------------------------------------------|


A 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
-----15-------9----------------------------|
--14------------8-------------------2------|
---------------------12-----6-----0--------|
-----------17-----11----5------------------|
--------16----------------------4-------10-|
------------------------------3-------9----|


D major 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
----------9-----------2-9-----------14----9---|
------------7-------2-------------7----14---7-|
-------11-----6-------------------------------|
----11----------4-----------------------------|
--9---------------4---------------------------|
----------------------------------------------|


D major 7
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
--------------------------------------------|----||
----7-----------------------------2---------|----||
--6---6------11---6-----------------6-------|----||
----------11----4---------------4-----4-L-L-|----||
--------9---------------------4-------------|----||
--------------------2-----------------------|----||



Here is Guitar Pro file!
 Chord_Tones.gp5 ( 2.14K ) : 151


Make sure to practice it a slow tempo using a metronome!!!

Posted by: K1R Mar 24 2012, 12:46 AM

Great! Shall I record a video of me playing it?

Posted by: Alex Feather Mar 24 2012, 10:03 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Mar 23 2012, 11:46 PM) *
Great! Shall I record a video of me playing it?

Video would be perfect!!!! I am glad you like it!!!

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 1 2012, 11:26 AM

Hi! I just wanted to follow up and check on your progress!
So you have any questions or need help with something please let me know!

Posted by: K1R Apr 2 2012, 10:07 PM

Hi! I'm working on the exercise and I'm actually ready to record it, but this week was very busy so I didn't have tume to record the video. I will post my take as soon as I can. Sorry for the delay.

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 3 2012, 08:33 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 2 2012, 09:07 PM) *
Hi! I'm working on the exercise and I'm actually ready to record it, but this week was very busy so I didn't have tume to record the video. I will post my take as soon as I can. Sorry for the delay.

Hello! It's all good! Just take your time! I am looking forward to hear your recording!

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 7 2012, 09:16 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 2 2012, 09:07 PM) *
Hi! I'm working on the exercise and I'm actually ready to record it, but this week was very busy so I didn't have tume to record the video. I will post my take as soon as I can. Sorry for the delay.

Hi! How are you doing? I just wanted to follow up and see how is your practice going and if you need any help!

Posted by: K1R Apr 10 2012, 03:11 PM

Hi Alex! I'm really really sorry for such a huge delay, I've had busy weeks, but know I have more free time. Here is my video:

It is not at 100 bpm, as 100 bpm is too fast for me at the moment.

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 11 2012, 07:06 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 10 2012, 02:11 PM) *
Hi Alex! I'm really really sorry for such a huge delay, I've had busy weeks, but know I have more free time. Here is my video:

It is not at 100 bpm, as 100 bpm is too fast for me at the moment.

You did a very good job with this exercise! I would suggest to use alternative picking and there is no click, it does sound like your timing is good tho!
Let me know if you ready for a new assignment or still need more time to practice this exercise?

Posted by: K1R Apr 11 2012, 04:06 PM

Thank you smile.gif I guess I'm ready for a new assignment. This one is already a part of my practice routine.

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 11 2012, 04:51 PM

Perfect! So now when you know about the chord tones we can start applying it to your playing!
We still have the same chord progression
E mi7 - A7 - Dmaj7
So let's do that:
First time through
E minor pentatonic over E mi7
D major Pentatonic over A 7
B minor pentatonic over D maj7

Second time through:
E minor Dorian over E mi7
A minor pentatonic over A7
D major scale over Dmaj7


You are free to use any shapes you want
If you need help please let me know!

Posted by: K1R Apr 11 2012, 08:37 PM

So I have to make up a solo?

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 12 2012, 10:29 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 11 2012, 07:37 PM) *
So I have to make up a solo?

You don't have to write a solo I want you to play over the backing track using pentatonic and scales that I suggested
It's a good exercise to start playing over the changes!
I just want you to jam but also think every time the chord is changing!

Posted by: K1R Apr 17 2012, 02:21 PM

Hello, Alex! COuld you send me the backingtrack so I could record a video, please? smile.gif

Posted by: K1R Apr 17 2012, 03:37 PM

Oh, and I also would like to play A mixolydian with flat 6 instead of a minor pentatonic is that okay? smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 17 2012, 04:18 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 17 2012, 02:37 PM) *
Oh, and I also would like to play A mixolydian with flat 6 instead of a minor pentatonic is that okay? smile.gif

Hi! Here is the backing track!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/ii-v-i-jam
I posted before and for now we will stick with it in a few weeks I will give you a new one smile.gif
The chord changes are:
Emi7 - A7 - Dmaj7
You have mentioned that you would like to play A mixolydian b6 you can use it if you like!
But mainly I would like you to stick with the pentatonics!
Let me know if you have any questions!

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 25 2012, 07:42 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 17 2012, 02:37 PM) *
Oh, and I also would like to play A mixolydian with flat 6 instead of a minor pentatonic is that okay? smile.gif

Just wanted to see how are you doing and if you are ready for a new challenge! Let me know!

Posted by: K1R Apr 25 2012, 07:52 PM

Uploading my take tomorrow smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 25 2012, 11:42 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 25 2012, 06:52 PM) *
Uploading my take tomorrow smile.gif

Perfect!! Looking forward to it!

Posted by: K1R Apr 27 2012, 11:55 AM

Well, here is my take. Sorry for bad audio, I've recorded it through a pc microphone.

Posted by: Alex Feather Apr 28 2012, 01:25 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 27 2012, 10:55 AM) *
Well, here is my take. Sorry for bad audio, I've recorded it through a pc microphone.

You did a very good job! A few issues with timing and some notes were a little off! I like your phrases and some ideas were very very good!!! I think a little more practice and it will be perfect!
I have a great exercise that I would like you to start practicing and add it to your warm up routine! Practice it at a very slow tempo and you will see a huge progress in no time!
Here is the tab
E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G ||o5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
D ||o--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|


----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||


-------------3--3----------|--------------3--3----------|
-------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4----|
o5--5----------------------|--5--5----------------------|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--------------3--3----------|--------------3--3---------|||
--------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4---|||
--5--5----------------------|--5--5--------------------o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3----------------------|--6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--6--3----------------------|--6--3---------------------|||
-----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3---------|||
--------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3----------------|
--------4-----------------4-------------|
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3----|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
-----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
--------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3---------------|||
--------4-----------------4------------|||
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3--o|||
--------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------|||


-6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
-------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
o---------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
o---------------------------6--5--3----------------|
----------------------------------------------6----|
---------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6-------------|
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6----|
-----3--5--7----------------------------------------|
--6-------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
--------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
-----------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
-----------------------------6--5--3----------------|
-----------------------------------------------6----|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6------------|||
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6---|||
-----3--5--7--------------------------------------o|||
--6-----------------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


 Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K ) : 96


Let me know if you have any questions!

Posted by: Alex Feather May 12 2012, 06:02 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Apr 27 2012, 10:55 AM) *
Well, here is my take. Sorry for bad audio, I've recorded it through a pc microphone.

Hey hey hey!!! How are you? Just wanted to follow up and see if you are ready for a new assignment! I have a very cool challenge for you! smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather May 22 2012, 07:44 AM

It's nice to hear from you! smile.gif
So for this week assignment I would like you to continue playing over this backing track
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/ii-v-i-jam

For A7 I want you to combine two scales
A mixolydian
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

A whole tone scale
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

For D maj7
D major scale
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator
Let me know if you have any questions!
Next week is gonna be very exciting because we will try a new approach!!!
So stay tuned smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 2 2012, 01:37 AM

I have prepared a new assignment for you! It will be the same as collab but just you and me! smile.gif
Here is the track! I have recorded 8 bars to give you some ideas now it's your turn!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/k1rmentoring
Please upload it the same way with your track mixed in and the rest of the backing track playing!

I played E dorian over E minor 7
A mixolydian over A 7
And mixed D major scale and B minor pentatonic over D maj7 chord
I would like you to continue my solo for 8 bars only! And I will add another take to it!
This is a very good exercise and it will help you to bring your playing to the next level!
Let me know if you have any questions!

Posted by: K1R Jun 4 2012, 08:57 PM

Great approach! smile.gif My take will be here on the weekend.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 4 2012, 09:24 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 4 2012, 07:57 PM) *
Great approach! smile.gif My take will be here on the weekend.

Awesome! I am looking forward to it!

Posted by: K1R Jun 10 2012, 06:53 PM

Here is my take smile.gif I'm getting reeaally exited about this biggrin.gif Looking forward to your take. Oh, and by the way, I would be very gratefull if you told me how I can reproduce your sound smile.gif
 step2_guitar_only.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 102

 step2.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 104

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 11 2012, 06:09 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 10 2012, 05:53 PM) *
Here is my take smile.gif I'm getting reeaally exited about this biggrin.gif Looking forward to your take. Oh, and by the way, I would be very gratefull if you told me how I can reproduce your sound smile.gif
 step2_guitar_only.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 102

 step2.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 104

Good take! It sounded a little out of key? What scales did you play?
I use AXE FX ULTRA 2 for recordings and for this take I played on 64 Gretsch
I am excited too! This will be a lot of fun! smile.gif

Posted by: K1R Jun 11 2012, 08:43 PM

QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Jun 11 2012, 08:09 PM) *
Good take! It sounded a little out of key? What scales did you play?
I use AXE FX ULTRA 2 for recordings and for this take I played on 64 Gretsch
I am excited too! This will be a lot of fun! smile.gif

Yeah, the beggining sounds out. I've tried to use whole tone scale, but it seems like I should redo the take smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 11 2012, 09:38 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 11 2012, 07:43 PM) *
Yeah, the beggining sounds out. I've tried to use whole tone scale, but it seems like I should redo the take smile.gif

I don't think you did the whole tone scale over A7 only?
Sounds like you have played it through the whole progression that's why it sounded out!
Use the scales I gave you and over A7 just add a few notes from the whole tone the rest keep mixolydian!
It will give it a nice outside sound but not too much!
Try it out and let me know how it goes!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 15 2012, 10:49 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 11 2012, 07:43 PM) *
Yeah, the beggining sounds out. I've tried to use whole tone scale, but it seems like I should redo the take smile.gif

Hi! How is it going? Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 22 2012, 07:34 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 11 2012, 07:43 PM) *
Yeah, the beggining sounds out. I've tried to use whole tone scale, but it seems like I should redo the take smile.gif

Hi I just wanted to follow up and see how are you doing? Do you need any help or have any questions? Let me know!

Posted by: K1R Jun 22 2012, 01:10 PM

I will upload my take tomorrow smile.gif

Posted by: K1R Jun 23 2012, 07:44 PM

Here it is.
 with.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 122

 without.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 98

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 24 2012, 05:20 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 23 2012, 06:44 PM) *
Here it is.
 with.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 122

 without.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 98

The take was very good! Try to keep this solo a little less busy because the whole point is to develop it gradually one step at the time! Have you heard about Q&A technique? it will fit perfectly into this solo! I liked your ideas a lot! Also your guitar was a little out of tune?
I will post a new recording for you tomorrow to give you more ideas! smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 14 2012, 05:58 PM

QUOTE (K1R @ Jun 23 2012, 06:44 PM) *
Here it is.
 with.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 122

 without.mp3 ( 3.17MB ) : 98

Hello I just wanted to check and see if you have any questions or need help with anything?

Posted by: K1R Dec 19 2012, 08:06 PM

Hello Alex! With the winter holidays I've got a month of absolutely free time and I was thinking about renewing our mentoring programm. What do you think? smile.gif

Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 21 2012, 06:30 AM

QUOTE (K1R @ Dec 19 2012, 07:06 PM) *
Hello Alex! With the winter holidays I've got a month of absolutely free time and I was thinking about renewing our mentoring programm. What do you think? smile.gif

It is a great idea but unfortunately I can't take any students my mentoring program will be closed form January 1st

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