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Posted by: coffeeman Dec 11 2007, 09:56 PM

Dear Friends,


Im a believer that one should have clear goals in any aspect of live, so I invite you to write down your guitar goals for 2008. Lets split the goals in 5 items: Gear, technic, theory(scales, apregios, etc..), own style(compositions), band goals(gigs, cds, demos). The goals should be very clear , you should write a date to acomplish them , and be very specific in what you want to achieve. And it would be awesome if you write your goals in a piece of paper and you read it every day as soon as you wake up and at night before going to sleep. It would be awesome if we keep this post updated next year with the goal everyone has achieved. Try to write them in the present tense.

So its my turn here it goes:

[Gear
In june 2008 Im buying my Fender American Stratocaster Candy cola Colorwith rosewood fretboard and floyd rose and a new peavy bandit 112 amp as well as a line 6 pod.
Technic:
in march 2008 im playing 4 notes per beat at 120 bpm, sweeping at 120 bmp, playing Muris alternate lesson at full temp, playing in the style of EVH style lesson at full tempo and pavel sweeping and alternate lesson at full tempo.
In June 2008 im playing 4 notes per beat at 140 bpm, sweeping at 140 bpm, playing Muris Bb minor intermediate lesson at full tempo.
In december 2008 im playing at 160 bpm, sweeping at 160 bpm, playing Markus Lavendell neoclasical three level solo advanced at full tempo.
Theory
In June 2008 i know every position of the major scale , every position of the harmonic minor scale and every position of the blues pentatonic scale, also every shape of major and minor arpegios and chords as well as the extended apregios and chords.
Own Style
In march 2008 I have writen and record 3 complete songs including lyrics. In december 2008 I have recorded 10 full songs and recorded in a CD.
Band
In december 2008 I have my band to perform my songs.

So if you have more items , please write them. Also if you have more ideas it will be awesome to have them here.

Enjoy planning what you want for next year!

Posted by: Xranthoius Dec 11 2007, 09:59 PM

GEAR: New pedals. Distortion, wah, and delay.

TECHNIC: I am goin to try to sweep by next December.

THEORY: Learn it.

OWN STYLE: Record an actual song w. backing track sometime by the end of summer.

BAND: Join one!!!

Posted by: coffeeman Dec 11 2007, 10:08 PM

Thanks for sharing man.

Posted by: Xranthoius Dec 11 2007, 10:12 PM

Doesn't anybody else on GMC have goalst they'd like to discuss?

Posted by: Smells Dec 11 2007, 10:15 PM

ok I`ll give it a go

Gear
Nearly reached the goals here already ordered and approx delivery may/june for my custom guitar

Technic
Alternate pick a lot cleaner than I am at the moment, improve sweeping, something I want to sort out quickly another couple of months maybe? , I`d like to be able to play Muris`s AP etude lesson lesson at full speed by the end of next year but I`m realistic so thats a goal for me to reach by the time I`m fifty

Theory
hmm toughy, I think to really get stuck into David Wallimans lessons a bit more, they are great theory lessons!! and do my brain in

Own Style
By mid of next year also a bit of a 3 or 4 track demo, mixed real nice

Band
well my current band isnt overly active so by mid next year a few more gigs under the belt would be nice

Personally?
Maybe try a shot at quitting smoking

Posted by: golfrocker Dec 11 2007, 10:20 PM

Gear: Marshall half stack by August '08
Technique: Become adept with speedpicking by April '08
Theory: Learn when to apply certain scales such as myxolidian, dorian, or pentatonic scales to a particular rhythm progression by February '08
Own Style: Record a 3 song demo in January to use to try to book some performances.
Band: Collaborating with a co-worker and another friend preparing material for '08 small venue performances.

Posted by: Hemlok Dec 11 2007, 10:21 PM

Cold turkey sir..

I am still working on this years goals which look like they will carry into next year.

But gear wise I will be getting a Fender Strat.

Playing wise? Well I want to find what style I really want to play and focus hard on that instead of doing bits of everything all the time. I also want to write and then record some songs of my own.

Posted by: Robin Dec 11 2007, 10:35 PM

In 2008 I will record a full length demo. I have recorded several times with my band, but this time my solo project(12string acoustic, stomp box, vocals, and maybe harmonica). I'm gonna send my demo everywhere and hope for a record deal, I know I got what it takes.

Thats pretty much it, I dont care about gear, and technique improves a little all the time

Posted by: JVM Dec 11 2007, 10:36 PM

Gear:
Sometime within the next year I want to have saved up enough for a laney GH50L amp and some cab to go with it.

Technic:
I basically want to improve speed all around and optimize my pick stroke (they kind of go hand in hand) to use less of the tip. Also to improve muting, and master pinch harmonics. By the end of the year, mostly, no real set timeline.

Theory
I want to have really mastered the blues and minor pentatonic scales so that improvising in any key is real easy and smooth for me. Also I'd just generally like to work on ear training/interval recognition. Hopefully that'll allow me to get those melodies in my head through my fingers and out my amp

Own Style
I have a friend who is going to start up a gaming company and he's asked me to help write music for his first game which he mostly has laid out, which I've already done a little. It's kind of a dark future sci fi kind of theme, so the fitting music is fairly easy to play, mostly experimenting with easy arpeggios over an interesting/creative backing track and such like that, so that's kind of already in the works but I'd also like to get some good software for making better backing tracks to improve that.

Band
I'm already kind of in an unofficial band with a good drummer friend of mine, and we have a few songs in the works so I guess my goal for next year would be to write some more stuff, put together/structure the stuff we have and play a few places. That depends on if I move during the summer or not though, I guess.

Awesome robin, I'd love to hear it.

Posted by: coffeeman Dec 11 2007, 10:38 PM

Thanks for sharing evryone.

Posted by: FretDancer69 Dec 11 2007, 10:58 PM

Gear: Be able to get a new amp, a really good amp, possibly the Line 6 Spider amp.

Technique: Be able to speedpick faster and alot cleaner with good synchronisation. Get better at Sweeppicking.

Theory: Learn more about Key, Circle of Fifths and Sight Reading.

Own Style: Try to incorporate Jazz into my style and make it one of my predominant styles.

Band: Be able to finally find a Bass player and a Vocalist and perform at least once during a school show.

Personal: Be able to pass the TOEFL in february, Graduate from highschool, assist the Live Audition at Boston for a scholarship at Berklee, and hopefully, recieve a decent Scholarship.

Posted by: giuseppe Dec 11 2007, 11:03 PM

there are two riffs in GMC that i want to nail
1. acoustic blues
2. bach minuet

i want to get more familiar with the blues and learn more classical pieces

also for christmas im gonna buy a nylon acoustic, i dont which yet

Posted by: SLASH91 Dec 11 2007, 11:38 PM

Gear: Probably either an Ibanez V or a Jackson RR. Probably the Ibanez, though. I want something that's tuning can be dropped without being a pain (FR tremelo) and is a good guitar for metal. Unfortunately my strat just doesn't make it. Also, possibly a better amp. Probably Marshall.

Technique: Be able to speed pick and sweep much faster with better syncronization, get my legato to be as good as Dave Murry's, and learn to tap really well ( an area which I havn't given as much attention to as I should have)

Theory: Learn and master some scales for improvisation.

Own style: Explore neo-classical and many other genres of metal and add them to my playing.

Band: Be able to sycronize with one another much better.

Personal: Make even more time for myself to play guitar, get a car.


PS- really good thread, thanks, man

Posted by: Freebird Dec 11 2007, 11:42 PM

Gear: No money to buy it :-| Hope for money to casually fall from sky.
Technique: March 08: Pavel's AP1 and IonianSP, Muris Speed bursts, Gabriel's Malmsteen 1,2, 4 up to 140, then June up to 155, and then 170 by November! I'd like to keep AP and sweep at similar tempo!!
Theory: Learn ALL modes of major/minor scale by Feb, then tackle Harm. Minor and its modes!
Own Style: Try to get rid of those boring pentatonics in soloing!!
Band: No band yet, but if I get better my teacher says I could actually gig with him That'd be great!!

That's all for now!

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Dec 11 2007, 11:59 PM

Gear: Purchase a tube amp, not sure what kind yet
Technique: In May 08 I am able to play legato and tapping very well
Theory: Learn all 7 Modes and the Harmonic Minor Scale
Own Style: Begin studying more neoclassical and add a new flare to my solos
Band: Purchase a recording device, record a song and begin gigging by June 08

Posted by: Fsgdjv Dec 12 2007, 12:00 AM

Gear: I'll try not to spend anything on gear next year, I'm far from having my dream gear, but then again, I'm also far from having my dream technique. Oh, except the fact that I might buy a new computer and some things for recording by the end of the summer.

Technique: I will try to work on playing fast and relaxed, I'm moving really slow when it comes to speed, but I'll try to play sixteenth notes at 120 BPM in februar, it shouldn't be a problem since it's only 4 BPM more than what I do now, but I don't want to stress it. By the end of the year, I'd like to play sixteenth notes at 140 BPM, but I'm not going to rush it.

I'm also going to work on fingerpicking, by doing some excercises I've gotten from my teacher.

Theory: I'll try to get more familiar with creating chord progressions without writing the scale down on a paper so I can think before I do it Otherwise I'll try not to focus too much on the theory.

Own style: By the end of 2008 I have recorded at least one song of my own.

Band: We should have enough songs we are happy with to start thinking about recording a demo by the end of 2008. I'd love to get some gigs in aswell, but the band still isn't as important as making progress with music made by only me. Or well, another goal might be to start feeling that the band is more important than my own music.

Personal: By the end of 2008 I'll be on my way to figuring out what I'm going to do with my life.

Posted by: Muris Dec 12 2007, 12:06 AM

Mostly to finish my second album,
and to stop smoking too if possible

Posted by: Owen Dec 12 2007, 12:08 AM

I want to prioritise my playing so I'm not just doing the same stuff over and over for hours on end but making an effort to learn new things all the time.

I want to get my band Incinerated up and going with at least one or two gigs before next year is up.

I would like to develop my own totally unique way of doing things, I dont really want to be like anyone else in the way I play.

I also would like to make my playing less sloppy and more accurate/concise.

I'm hoping to get a new guitar also in about 3 weeks time

Posted by: tonymiro Dec 12 2007, 12:25 AM

Mine's perhaps different as they're more recording focused (albeit recording guitar mainly):

Gear -
Ideal - Neve Genesis.
More likely - another Neve 5032, a Neuman TLM103 and a new pc.

Basically I'd love to fully upgrade our consoles (a Yamaha 01VR and a Behringer DDX3216 plus some outboard pres including Neve) not least as my wife says she wants the 01V now for her work (can't complain much as I get the outboard and DDX in exchange).

Technique - Need to get a much better understanding of Mastering. Slowly getting there - presently getting to grips with post mix eq balancing.

Theory - room acoustics - particularly the math behind standing waves etc. OT - but for academic paid work - gone back to reading Husserl and Spinoza.

Own style - much of my remix and recording is radio and soundscape and I'd like to get more in to instrumentals.

Band - record all my stuff by myself - no band. Occassional sessions still on other people's stuff - usually when they ask me to include guitar on a mix they want me to remix/work on.

Personal - Gave up ambition a long time ago (sorry Coffeeman)

Posted by: Paul Coutts Dec 12 2007, 06:44 AM

Gear:
POD x3, maybe new amp (Mesa Rect)

Technic:
LEGATO, and SWEEPING!

Theory
Composition, I know my theory fairly well, but not applying it.

Own Style
Develop my own style!

Band
Find a band after I move
Very vague, yeah....but that's 'cause it ain't '08 yet!

Posted by: Zephyr Dec 12 2007, 06:49 AM

Learn what all those fancy knobs on this thing do.

But really, I don't have a specific goal in mind, I mostly just want to work on improvisation, I would love to able able to just play whatever I hear in my head or am feeling without really thinking about it.

Posted by: besip Dec 12 2007, 07:04 AM

Gear: will see i'm not goodd enough to have new stuff


Technic:picking,legato,,solo and rythm part of playing{be better with all posible stuff}


Theory:eeeeeee try to understand


Own Style: be able to made some own basic metal solo or rythm music rifs{easi rifs}

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Dec 12 2007, 08:27 AM

Yeah, my basic goal is to leave my job (farmacist) and be only a musician. in January I'm starting to work with an orquestra so I will have some money. Then I'll do more guitar classes and with the GMC lesson I hope I can win more that 1.000 euros a month. It's no a great salary but it's my starting in the professional live

Gear: by a cheaper acoustic guitar a Marshall or Mesa cabinet and maybe a 7 string guitar (an Ibanez Universe would be great)

Technic: I must improve all techniques, specially my favorit one: 8 fingers tapping

Theory: well, I'm writing a theory book for my classes

Own Style: release my second solo album, my Gothic project with my girlfriend, another Pop project with she (that's only for money ) and start my 3rd solo album which I'm thinking to rename "Symphonic Fantasy" or "Vastagos" with lot of colaborations and lot of orquestration. (it's about a vampire's history writed like a OST)

Band: with my metal band I don't know what to do... I wouldn't have too much time but I'd like to play live again

Posted by: Razzmatrazz Dec 12 2007, 08:33 AM

my goals are a bit different.

I`ve just startet up playing again after a long break. These breaks keeps me from develop and improve my guitar play. So GMC clearly got me startet and will keep me going for a loooooong time!

goal 1: Is to avoid any breaks!! and keep on playing!
goal 2: play alot more live.
goal 3: improve my music theory even more (I`m on a highschool were we study music trough the piano)
goal 4: to move my piano theory knowledge into the giutar
goal 5: to acces mgk this summer ( a education were you study your instument.)
goal 6: Ofcouse to hang around here at gmc and learn alot more... Love this site.. !:D

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Dec 12 2007, 09:18 AM

Well, I would like to finaly buy a nice Strat guitar. Maybe to change the pickups on my existing guitar. I would like to become even better musician and to finish my master studies too. Get my bands first album live and become raltively famous. Make some money off course and etc...

Posted by: mattacuk Dec 12 2007, 11:14 AM

My Guitar goals for 2008 are quite simple, and that is to carry on going the way I am going now !

Posted by: coffeeman Dec 12 2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks for sharing guys! Just keep these goals in mind everyday and you'll(we'll) achieve them. Thanks again for sharing this kind of personal stuff!

Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Dec 12 2007, 01:31 PM

Hmmm..


Gear: I want the Pod Port or what ever its called that Ivan did a review on for Recording, Looks sweet !

Technique: Probably more legato runs. Continue working on speed picking and sweep picking.

Theory: This is where things are starting to get good ! I just got a new guitar teacher and hes very smart theory wise! He knows modes like the back of his hand and im finally starting my modal journey ! Right now we are doing Modes of the Major Scale in the key of A . I feel like im progressing so fast now with these new playing experiences.

Own Style: Write and possibly record some of my own music, and put it on youtube

Posted by: Pavel Dec 12 2007, 01:37 PM

Ok, funny topic:

Gear: finally get my RC7 (the goal can be considered accomplished as i already paid for the axe) and get a good tube amp - possibly even Diamond.

Technique: to get down those insane exercises i have written during this year mainly directed to legato+tapping (no - you haven't seen them yet)

Theory: don't care about theory

Own style: want to finish those orchestral/metal songs i've been working on recently, at least 4 of those.

Posted by: The Spartan Dec 12 2007, 02:10 PM

Okay mine are

Technique:Alternate pick scales effortlessly at 140bpm (16th notes triplets)
I guess that could be done in 1-2 months 3 months maximum.
Get my sweep picking in shape it's already kinda good but needs a little bit of work

Gear : get the Schecter C7FR 7

Theory: I kinda don't care,I already know scales n how they're constructed and I know modes, too.

So, that's about it.

Posted by: Iluha Dec 12 2007, 02:12 PM

Tank had a similar topic but this is more of a long term goal thread and his was a short term goals thread.

Gear: Sell my Ibanez and get a Washburn instead.

Technique: Focus mostly on speed picking, with some legato and tapping as a side dish.

And my biggest goal: Theory and Improvisation, Iv'e started taking lessons with a teacher for the purpose of those two goals alone, so far Iv'e focuse on moving between two diffrent keys using the dorian scales, and learned all the pentatonic shapes, hopefully by July 2008 I'll be more or less familiar with all the modes, won't get stuck in one shape when improvising, and will be able to move between keys smoothly.

Live action: I'm gonna start preforming with my teacher's band soon, just in some pubs improvising over blues songs, my goal is that my first preformance will be in 4 weeks, and that I won't get booed off stage

Own stuff: I'm working on a new piece(SURPRISE it's another guitar ballad) hoping to finish it during the next month, and this time even record it on my own , right now I only got a quarter of it written.

Posted by: eddiecat Dec 12 2007, 02:29 PM

My only guitar goal for 2008 is to get close to intermediate
and to get a clearer understanding of music theory.
That's it!

Once I'm there I'll start thinking about gear!
Cheers, Eddie

Posted by: rokchik Dec 12 2007, 02:43 PM

Gear - I'm really happy with the gear I have but I still want to add an Ibanez and a nylon string acoustic to the mix. Also maybe some recording gear so I can share with you guys.

Technique - Well my finger picking is coming along nicely but still needs a bit of work. My AP would also fall into this catagory. Sweeping is the one technique I plan on spending a lot of time learning in the coming months.

Theory - I have not been spending much time on theory lately due to the fact I've had no time for much of anything lately. However I have a few of Andrews lessons printed off and am slowly working through them. I at least hope to have the Intermediate lessons done by the end of 2008...ambitous I know.

Own Style - Well I don't know if I've actually found my "style" yet. It's still a work in progress. But I am working on improvising more as well as listening to different types of music.

I've improved by leaps and bounds since joining GMC and basically for 2008 I just want to continue that trend. There is so much I still need to learn.

Posted by: Wallimann Dec 12 2007, 02:49 PM

Excellent thread!
Here are mine:

Gear
By July 2008 I'll have a Mesa amp. Not sure which one, but it will be a killer rig. I'm giving myself until then to try them all out and save up enough money...

Technic
I really want to improve my left hand movements. By the end of 2008 my left fingers won't go further than 10 milimeters from the strings. Micromovements to improve speed.

Theory
In 2008 I'll be as comfortable with all the exotic scales as I am with the church modes.

Own Style
By August 2008, my second album Evolving Seeds of Glory will be finally released.

Band
By the end of the year, I'll be touring with Dream Theater.

Posted by: Iluha Dec 12 2007, 02:55 PM

Wait,hold it, WHAT, you'll be touring with Dream Theater, amazing, how did you manage that?

Posted by: ZakkWylde Dec 12 2007, 03:04 PM

Gear: Buy a new guitar in January or buy a tube halfstack in march, pedalboard building, new overdrive, tuner, eq, and delay; maybe a small bass amp

technic: getting better in rythm guitar and much better in lead guitar terms:
ap, legato, sweeping and tapping

Theory: learn some scales

Own style: record some ideas of my own on guitar and bass

band: Having my first big gig and form a new, harder band

Posted by: chast Dec 12 2007, 03:11 PM

Gear: Nothing special planned yet, maybe a new practice amp
Technique: Vibrato and faster fingers
Theory: Oh, I dont like theory that much, but maybe finally learning the pentatonic completely and connecting them fluent
Own Style: Maybe finish a song once

Posted by: Rodnator Dec 22 2007, 03:57 PM

Hello Muris, To quit smoking is probably the best goal with the biggest return. I am 43 had smoked for 25 years tried to quit many times and failed. I found, as easy as it is for me to say, That If you really want to quit, "you" absolutely have to want to, not to quit because you are tring to please anyone like a parent or girlfriend but you, it is the highest priority. I look at a picture of my kids and figured it is more important to get the why then the how.. So with that being said, I used the Nicoderm CQ patch to great success. I didn't cut corners. I used 2 weeks of step 1 then 2 weeks of step 2 and so on. It is harder if you are in an enviroment where everybody smokes like a club or bar. But the patch helped me even in those situations. If you are wearing the patch you must not smoke. Well that is my rant and I'm done now. Good luck and best wishes.
Regards,
Rod

Posted by: Muris Dec 22 2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the input Rod,guess it's all up to me

Posted by: Rodnator Dec 22 2007, 04:23 PM

Oh yea my goals.. I would like to strive for constant inprovement, through hard work, patience, honest self evaluation and with the help of others.

Gear goals: Well at this point in my life, if I want something bad enough, I just buy it.

Technique: There is not enough room in the forum to list all of the issues I need to improve on. I think I would like to find a skilled, level headed, live teacher to help me improve my technique. I have heard countless times that tone is mostly in your fingers, but I haven't heard it yet.

Theory: I am a reader, I never stop learning and have had many AhHaa moments. You all know what I mean by that. I feel that I am making good progress, and if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Overall: I have bits and pieces (those identifing Riffs) of a hundred or so songs that I can play well. I would like to discipline myself to learn the rest of the songs. I think there is a total need for myself to have a working repetrois of many songs. I have felt so wrapped up in scales, and picking, and techniques that I have not paid enough attention to the end goal of MUSIC.

Well there are a lot of goals here for me to work on. time to go to work..

Peace and Good Will to all for the Holidays

Rod

Posted by: Paul Coutts Dec 24 2007, 11:55 AM

I just want to write songs next year, and continue the way I'm practicing I guess....but I'm realizing, I'm having way too many chops etc...and no songs to use them on

Posted by: sam47 Dec 25 2007, 02:20 AM

Actually ,I was thinking of this today.
Gear: Well I think I got that this year. A Mex strat and a Fender Deluxe 112 plus amp all for $300. My son got me a Cry Baby ,I'll say learn to use that
Technic: Timing, That's for sure
Theory: To be honest. Just what that means.
My own style: Just start developing it.
Band: No not for awhile but I do want to do at least one Open Mic night somewhere.

Posted by: Spiderusalem Dec 25 2007, 02:41 AM

Spiderusalems Goal Checklist 2008

() learn how to sing

() actually perform in front of people

() learn jazz theory

() get my hands on a rockin classical guitar

() avoid death due to alcohol poisoning when 21 rolls by...