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Posted by: Alex Feather May 20 2012, 05:35 AM

Hello! And welcome to my mentoring program! I am very happy that you have decided to join!
I have a few questions before we will start!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?
Looking forward to start working with you!

Posted by: TuckerG May 20 2012, 06:12 AM

My goals are relatively open at the moment, I have more of a desire to actualize a few general ambitions I possess, and I think I have the motivation and ability to do this now! I have much ambition to be a technical master, good sir. I have always had a strong respect for musicians that have an impressive mastery of their instrument. That will take a while, so I guess I would like to set some sort of formal speed and accuracy goal, perhaps with a good scale exercise or something. I don't really know where I am on my alternate picking/fret fingering ability.

Goal 1: Learn accurate fingering skills, followed by increasing my speed ( as Todd says "the by product"). I would like to be able to actually "shred" a scale.

Goal 2: Build up a library in my head of blues licks, and have the ability to listen to a good blues backing, and just get to playing away!

Goal 3: Increase my understanding of music theory, so as my playing skills increase, there is a proportional increase in my knowledge of theory, hopefully creating a nice synergy for my growth potential in uniform translation! That's my hope, but I'll be happy just learning the best I can

Thank you again Alex,

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather May 21 2012, 04:50 AM

Awesome! I have a perfect exercise that will help you develop alternative picking!
Make sure to practice at a slow tempo using a metronome!
The trick is slower you practice it better results you will get!
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 ) : 106

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: TuckerG May 22 2012, 11:11 PM

Absolutely perfect Alex. Really, this is perfect! Il get to work, then post up a progress video sir.

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather May 23 2012, 12:59 AM

Sounds good! Let me know if you need any help or have questions!

Posted by: TuckerG May 27 2012, 03:16 AM

Past two days I've been tweaking on a new amp, but tonight I am back on the fretboard good sir! I'm looking to get a recording up by tomorrow evening, so you can really get me going in the right direction. BTW New lesson is AAAAAAAAwesome my friend!

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather May 27 2012, 07:53 AM

I am glad you like it! Let me know if you have any questions!

Posted by: TuckerG Jun 9 2012, 09:41 AM

Hi Alex! We just returned home from the Dominican Republic. It was a good trip, but left me not playing a guitar for a few weeks. Hope I didn't lose too much of what progress I am making. I sir, am back to practicing and getting my exercise down! Glad to be back good sir

I may have a question or two about a few areas of my practice exercise, but going to see if I can work through it

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 9 2012, 06:04 PM

Sounds awesome! Welcome back!
How was your trip?
Don;t worry about missing two weeks it happens! You have a muscle memory and will be back to your progress in a few days!
Let me know if you have any questions and when you are ready for a new assignment!

Posted by: TuckerG Jun 9 2012, 10:26 PM

I am so, so happy to hear that, I worried the whole trip about getting out of practice! So far, its going pretty well Trip was good, except the traffic/ taxi cab dynamic thing was pretty chaotic, lol! Seriously, not a guitar subject man, how is the traffic in Moscow?? Seems there are two different traffic paradigms in the world depending on the country; USA style (stopped at red light for 5 minutes with no cars in sight on a desert highway), and what would seem to be the naturalistic Style (go when you freakin' can!!) like in the dominican republic. Which way does Moscow/Russia lean? Just Curious!! lo0l. I have a few more days on the exercise, then I'll be ready to tackle another lesson sir!

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 10 2012, 05:58 PM

I am glad your trip went good!
I live in Los Angeles now and the traffic here is not as bad as Moscow
In Moscow people are wild and you can drive 5 miles for 2 hours!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 22 2012, 07:19 AM

Hi! I would like to start getting into improvisation a little bit more! I have a new assignment ready for you! Let me know!

Posted by: TuckerG Jun 22 2012, 09:10 AM

That sounds awesome Alex!! Please bare with me, my internet is off for a few more days until I get my financial aid money! Haha, my accounting scholarships are doubling as guitar scholarships lol ( I don't feel bad) Anyway, I have been practicing like crazy!! As soon as internet is back up I'll post my progress and get running with the new assignment sir.

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 24 2012, 05:16 PM

Sounds perfect! Just let me know when you are ready! I have a new assignment waiting for you!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 14 2012, 05:57 PM

Hello! I just wanted to see how are you doing?

Posted by: TuckerG Jul 27 2012, 08:48 PM

Doing pretty good Alex, but desperate for new lesson now, haha! I'm going to go crazy if I don't get internet soon man I don't have anyway to post up my progress currently, but If you could sir, assign me the next lesson you think would be fitting, and I can see it on my phone or at the school, and get going on it! I would appreciate some new material so much my friend, lol!

-Tucker

P.S. BTW Alex, the first (and so far only) assignment you have given me, has dramatically improved my agility and scope of reach on the fret board, I am not kidding. Very potent and much needed exercise man.



Just can't wait until I can post my progress so you can give me the feedback and mentoring I need!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 28 2012, 09:57 AM

Sounds good! I am looking forward to hear your progress!
I have a perfect exercise for you! It will help you to master modes plus will bring your alternative picking to the next level!
Modes being used:
F# Locrian - G major - A dorian - B phrygian - C Lydian - D mixolydian - E minor
Here it is!

E ||----------------------------------------------3----|
B ||-------------------------------------3--5--7-------|
G ||o---------------------------2--4--5----------------|
D ||o------------------2--4--5-------------------------|
A ||----------2--3--5----------------------------------|
E ||-2--3--5-------------------------------------------|


--5--7--5--3---------------------------------------|||---|---|||
--------------7--5--3------------------------------|||---|---|||
-----------------------5--4--2--------------------o|||o--|--o|||
--------------------------------5--4--2-----------o|||o--|--o|||
-----------------------------------------5--3--2---|||---|---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||---|---|||


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


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


----------------------------------------------7----|
-------------------------------------7--8--10------|
o---------------------------5--7--9----------------|
o------------------5--7--9-------------------------|
----------5--7--9----------------------------------|
-5--7--8-------------------------------------------|


--8--10-8--7---------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------10-8--7------------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------9--7--5--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------9--7--5-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------9--7--5---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------8----|
-------------------------------------8--10-12------|
o---------------------------7--9--11---------------|
o------------------7--9--10------------------------|
----------7--9--10---------------------------------|
-7--8--10------------------------------------------|


--10-12-10-8---------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------12-10-8------------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------11-9--7--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------10-9--7-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------10-9--7---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------10---|
-------------------------------------10-12-13------|
o---------------------------9--11-12---------------|
o------------------9--10-12------------------------|
----------9--10-12---------------------------------|
-8--10-12------------------------------------------|


--12-14-12-10--------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------13-12-10-----------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------12-11-9--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------12-10-9-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------12-10-9---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------12---|
-------------------------------------12-13-15------|
o---------------------------11-12-14---------------|
o------------------10-12-14------------------------|
----------10-12-14---------------------------------|
-10-12-14------------------------------------------|


--14-15-14-12--------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------15-14-12-----------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------14-12-11-------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------14-12-10----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------14-12-10--||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------14---|
-------------------------------------13-15-17------|
o---------------------------12-14-16---------------|
o------------------12-14-16------------------------|
----------12-14-15---------------------------------|
-12-14-15------------------------------------------|


--15-17-15-14--------------------------------------||----|----|
--------------17-15-13-----------------------------||----|----|
-----------------------16-14-12-------------------o||----|----|
--------------------------------16-14-12----------o||----|----|
-----------------------------------------15-14-12--||----|----|
---------------------------------------------------||----|----|


-----------------------------------------------14---|
--------------------------------------13-15-17------|
-----------------------------12-14-16---------------|
--------------------12-14-16------------------------|
-----------12-14-15---------------------------------|
--12-14-15------------------------------------------|


--15-17-15-14---------------------------------------|
--------------17-15-13------------------------------|
-----------------------16-14-12---------------------|
--------------------------------16-14-12------------|
-----------------------------------------15-14-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------12---|
--------------------------------------12-13-15------|
-----------------------------11-12-14---------------|
--------------------10-12-14------------------------|
-----------10-12-14---------------------------------|
--10-12-14------------------------------------------|


--14-15-14-12---------------------------------------|
--------------15-14-12------------------------------|
-----------------------14-12-11---------------------|
--------------------------------14-12-10------------|
-----------------------------------------14-12-10---|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------10---|
--------------------------------------10-12-13------|
-----------------------------9--11-12---------------|
--------------------9--10-12------------------------|
-----------9--10-12---------------------------------|
--8--10-12------------------------------------------|


--12-14-12-10---------------------------------------|
--------------13-12-10------------------------------|
-----------------------12-11-9----------------------|
--------------------------------12-10-9-------------|
-----------------------------------------12-10-9----|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------8----|
--------------------------------------8--10-12------|
-----------------------------7--9--11---------------|
--------------------7--9--10------------------------|
-----------7--9--10---------------------------------|
--7--8--10------------------------------------------|


--10-12-10-8----------------------------------------|
--------------12-10-8-------------------------------|
-----------------------11-9--7----------------------|
--------------------------------10-9--7-------------|
-----------------------------------------10-9--7----|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------7----|
--------------------------------------7--8--10------|
-----------------------------5--7--9----------------|
--------------------5--7--9-------------------------|
-----------5--7--9----------------------------------|
--5--7--8-------------------------------------------|


--8--10-8--7----------------------------------------|
--------------10-8--7-------------------------------|
-----------------------9--7--5----------------------|
--------------------------------9--7--5-------------|
-----------------------------------------9--7--5----|
----------------------------------------------------|


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


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


----------------------------------------------3----|
-------------------------------------3--5--7-------|
o---------------------------2--4--5----------------|
o------------------2--4--5-------------------------|
----------2--3--5----------------------------------|
-2--3--5-------------------------------------------|


--5--7--5--3---------------------------------------|||
--------------7--5--3------------------------------|||
-----------------------5--4--2--------------------o|||
--------------------------------5--4--2-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------5--3--2---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------7----|
-------------------------------------7--8--10------|
o---------------------------5--7--9----------------|
o------------------5--7--9-------------------------|
----------5--7--9----------------------------------|
-5--7--8-------------------------------------------|


--8--10-8--7---------------------------------------|||
--------------10-8--7------------------------------|||
-----------------------9--7--5--------------------o|||
--------------------------------9--7--5-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------9--7--5---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------8----|
-------------------------------------8--10-12------|
o---------------------------7--9--11---------------|
o------------------7--9--10------------------------|
----------7--9--10---------------------------------|
-7--8--10------------------------------------------|


--10-12-10-8---------------------------------------|||
--------------12-10-8------------------------------|||
-----------------------11-9--7--------------------o|||
--------------------------------10-9--7-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------10-9--7---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


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


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


----------------------------------------------12---|
-------------------------------------12-13-15------|
o---------------------------11-12-14---------------|
o------------------10-12-14------------------------|
----------10-12-14---------------------------------|
-10-12-14------------------------------------------|


--14-15-14-12--------------------------------------|||
--------------15-14-12-----------------------------|||
-----------------------14-12-11-------------------o|||
--------------------------------14-12-10----------o|||
-----------------------------------------14-12-10--|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------14---|
-------------------------------------13-15-17------|
o---------------------------12-14-16---------------|
o------------------12-14-16------------------------|
----------12-14-15---------------------------------|
-12-14-15------------------------------------------|


--15-17-15-14--------------------------------------||
--------------17-15-13-----------------------------||
-----------------------16-14-12-------------------o||
--------------------------------16-14-12----------o||
-----------------------------------------15-14-12--||
---------------------------------------------------||


-----------------------------------------------3----|
--------------------------------------3--5--7-------|
-----------------------------2--4--5----------------|
--------------------2--4--5-------------------------|
-----------2--3--5----------------------------------|
--2--3--5-------------------------------------------|


--5--7--5--3----------------------------------------|-------||
--------------7--5--3-------------------------------|-------||
-----------------------5--4--2----------------------|-------||
--------------------------------5--4--2-------------|-------||
-----------------------------------------5--3--2----|-------||
----------------------------------------------------|--3----||

Guitar Pro
 Scales_workout.gp5 ( 8.99K ) : 97

I would like you to start by getting use to those shapes and when you will be learning them try to call out notes it will help you to master the neck better!
And here is a cool part of this exercise!
I played a track and would like you to play along with me! This exercise will help you with picking technique!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/modes-workout

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 8 2012, 08:47 PM

Hi I just wanted to follow up and see if you have any questions or need help with anything! Let me know!

Posted by: TuckerG Aug 10 2012, 11:17 PM

Alex sir, should I always try and pick each note before using hammer on's and pull off's? Just as a good practice tool? Of course HO and PO will be used, bu just to get fast and improve my skills, I always try and pick each note, good or bad sir what do you think?

-Tucker

P.S. Also, should I try and not stare at the fretboard? I know this sounds pretty novice man, but I want to form good habits

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 11 2012, 10:24 PM

The whole exercise is alternative picking and the movement will be up and down throughout the whole exercise
You can look at the fretboard at first until you feel comfortable and don't have to look anymore!
If you are asking about HO and PO in general I think it is a good idea not to pick notes when you are using this technique! I will need to see you playing in order to let you know if you are doing everything correct!
Maybe you can record a video of yourself playing the exercise I gave you?

Posted by: TuckerG Aug 12 2012, 08:44 AM

Alex Good Sir, I cannot wait until I get my internet connected, which God wiling will be very very soon, so I can post videos! My plan is to post a video every assignment you give me I need your visual feedback so bad. I also wrote my own little rIff, and would like you to look at that also if you would? I wish I had some of your talent for writing music sir...

QuestIon: I have found that picking with my finger sounds smoother, and gives me more control... should I continue developing this style, or break the habit and practice always with a pick?

-Tucker

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 13 2012, 11:33 PM

I am looking forward to hear your takes! I would love to see your results!
Also would be very cool to hear your riff!
I would suggest to use a pick and fingers so you can do both! When I am playing I am combining fingers and pick all the time! You can get very cool effects doing both!