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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Suggestions Thread
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 03:35 PM
It's been a while since we had one of these - and I think now would be a good time!
* What would you want to see improved in the forum / community?
* What would you want to see improved in our lessons? (or perhaps removed for that matter, sometimes less is more)
-------
Feedback from K1R:
I think that phrasing lessons should contain some theoretical information like "You should use these intervals to make that kind of feeling" or "The 4th step of the scale sounds especially good here". For example Lian's notes from Diabolic Black Metal Lesson:
Example:
Theory Tips:
How to compose this? How to make a song sound Evil? There are many options, some easy, some require a lot of study and practice. Here are some basic concepts you can try: combine minor chords from a different scale. I combined C#m followed by Gm. I developed a melody during one chord (C#m) and when I fall to the other (Gm), I force the melody to a note of the scale of the new chord.
Posted by: Kristian Hyvarinen May 2 2011, 03:33 PM
Yeah, I agree with the theory tip, except! I think all the instructors should, whenever there might be something more to say, give tips concerning the lesson. Some instructors do this already - what I mean isn't that they should write a book concerning the lesson. Just some small, simple things - like what Adrian Figallo (for example) tells in his spoken explanations. Most important things are on the video, after all.
EDIT: oh man, Kris made it before me. Could someone move this post to the suggestion thread?
edit2: Done 
/Kris
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 03:50 PM
I think both Kristian and K1R are touching upon a very important topic here.
You can make a huge amount of progress just by learning new material. However the real power comes from understanding the underlying theory, which is actually the musical engine of creation (boy am I going to get free massage from Andrew after saying this).
So in other words we do not only need to analyse what scales/arpeggios/notes are being played over a specific chord- we should also explain why the decision to play these notes was made ("In order to sound like SRV I used a major third over this specific chord"). And maybe also what options we have depending on the direction we want the music to take.
Edit - also saying a few words about the chord progression is something I personally find really useful when learning new stuff.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 2 2011, 03:56 PM
You can make a huge amount of progress just by learning new material. However the real power comes from understanding the underlying theory, which is actually the musical engine of creation (boy am I going to get free massage from Andrew after saying this).
So in other words we do not only need to analyse what scales/arpeggios/notes are being played over a specific chord- we should also explain why the decision to play these notes was made ("To sound like SRV I used a major third here"). And maybe also what options we have depending on the direction we want the music to take.
Edit - also saying a few words about the chord progression is something I personally find really useful when learning new stuff.
Hahaha
EXCELLENT Kris! I totally agree - I was lucky enough to be able to steal the craftsmanship from some of Romania's greatest guitarists, and i was always happy to gain insight through little observations like the ones Kristian and K1R are talking about. They matter more than theory sometimes - because the details create musical personality 
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 04:01 PM
EXCELLENT Kris! I totally agree - I was lucky enough to be able to steal the craftsmanship from some of Romania's greatest guitarists, and i was always happy to gain insight through little observations like the ones Kristian and K1R are talking about. They matter more than theory sometimes - because the details create musical personality Exactly. Theory is just one of all the things.
I personally find that what helps me creating music is just my general approach which I have slowly developed over the years - it hasn't got to do very much with theory at all. Especially since what I write is really straightforward stuff (from a theory perspective). So that's what I like to share with students.
As an example I speak about how I go about writing songs at the end of this video (starting 4:40):
Posted by: Ben Higgins May 2 2011, 04:12 PM
You mean he's been charging you ALL this time ??
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 04:15 PM
Actually no massage at all so far
He needs longer arms or I need a bigger back ( I am working on the later with lots of pizzas)
Posted by: Ben Higgins May 2 2011, 04:18 PM
He needs longer arms or I need a bigger back ( I am working on the later with lots of pizzas)There's a certain other food that I would suggest. You know what that is by now don't you ?
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 04:20 PM
Yeah but that's dessert!!
...oh wait. Now I see I'll just make it my main dish, should be even quicker than pizza (+ It'll give me super guitar powers)
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 2 2011, 04:41 PM
Now come on, if anything it should be the other way around - Swedes are famous for their massages after all!
However, in recognition of your services to theory, I am prepared to help you with your back enlargement British style:
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 04:48 PM
I am still hungry and not fat enough to reach the other side of the ocean - your image didn't help Andrew
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 2 2011, 04:54 PM
That's no excuse! Try this place:
http://tastyfishnchips.blogspot.com/2010/01/half-way-inn-stockholm-swe.html
Posted by: Kristian Hyvarinen May 2 2011, 04:58 PM
I certainly find these latest suggestions more than entertaining, to say the least... 
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 05:03 PM
http://tastyfishnchips.blogspot.com/2010/01/half-way-inn-stockholm-swe.html
This is taking too long Andrew - I'll just go here instead:
http://www.sthlmphysique.se/
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 2 2011, 05:29 PM
Great thread indeed, I like it!
I specially like some of the things K1R and Kristian were talking about!
Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 05:31 PM
I specially like some of the things K1R and Kristian were talking about!
Hehe yes we strayed a little from the topic there
What would one eat in Serbia/Balkan to get really fat by the way?!
Posted by: Gitarrero May 2 2011, 05:59 PM
I suggest each student gets a free meal with each lesson he has fully learned
If only we had food in Germany to get really fat...but we've only got healthy stuff like Bratwurst...Schnitzel...Black Forest Cherry Pie (I hope it's called that in english...). To bad...
A new theme month would be great, please let it be Maiden (since it's gonna be my next concert I'm gonna see )
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 2 2011, 06:02 PM
We call it "Black Forest Gateaux" - Mmmm!
Posted by: Gitarrero May 2 2011, 06:03 PM
You americans call it gateaux? Now I'm confused!
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn May 2 2011, 06:06 PM
Well technically I am English, but yeah, it is kind of wierd when I think of it
Posted by: Kristian Hyvarinen May 2 2011, 08:07 PM
If we're talking about themes here, I wanna make sure it's going to be something actually awesome... like Pink Floyd (just saw the Wall concert, by the way), The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix...
All's good but there's more than metal out there, folks.
Posted by: Gitarrero May 2 2011, 08:25 PM
You're right Kristian!
Hm, a Pink Floyd month would be cool...or a Deep Purple one.
Maybe a certain Donut-aficionado could do a Judas Priest month?
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 2 2011, 09:13 PM
What would one eat in Serbia/Balkan to get really fat by the way?!
I have to answer this heheh
You would eat either this :
or this :
I like this thread.
Regarding suggestion, I think someone mentioned an idea of simpler/uniform background for green screen videos. I think that would look great!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi May 3 2011, 06:09 AM
hahaha I definitely need to visit that massages place in Stockholm!
Posted by: Ben Higgins May 3 2011, 09:06 AM
I have no idea who you're talking about
You would eat either this :
or this :
Thos are some very questionable looking dishes.. especially the second one. I won't say what those brown things look like..... but think of dogs.....
It's in Stockholm.. I think Kris already goes there...!! He likes those big, manly hands that you see on the main page...
*I'm now going to go and hide for a week and hope Kris forgets I said that*
Posted by: Justin Myrick May 3 2011, 10:14 AM
You would eat either this :
or this :
I like this thread.
Regarding suggestion, I think someone mentioned an idea of simpler/uniform background for green screen videos. I think that would look great!
I love Burek and cevapi!
Posted by: thefireball May 3 2011, 01:51 PM
Oh, and a country theme would be awesome too!!
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 3 2011, 04:56 PM
What would one eat in Serbia/Balkan to get really fat by the way?!
Really fat? We usually eat these on the street:
plus some french fries and coke, and I guess this could make us fat very quickly
Posted by: thefireball May 3 2011, 07:45 PM
Funny how this topic turned "food" on us.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 3 2011, 09:16 PM
Oh great
someone who loves country I'll write it in my GMC observation notebook right away
Posted by: thefireball May 3 2011, 10:53 PM
Yeah, I country is cool once and while.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 4 2011, 03:51 PM
I hope you will like my country lessons
Posted by: Brandon Earman May 4 2011, 04:44 PM
I agree with more theory behind the lessons. For example in your solo/song lessons, you have them broken down by segments: Main, 1,2,3,4,5..
Under each segment, instead of just providing the tab with some small comments, explain where you created this lick from, why it works, etc..
IMO a lesson is most effective when you can learn it, play it, then have the knowledge to create something of your OWN work with your new found understanding and know-how.
Posted by: K1R May 7 2011, 02:32 PM
When I saw Laszlo's latest lesson and Cosmin's latest lesson another suggestion came into my mind
As we have students from many different countries, how about a competition based on folk music? Every country has many folk songs so students should pick one and rearrange it in blues/metal/jazz/funk/rock or any other style they want and record it. Americans pick American songs, Germans pick German songs and so on What do you guys think?
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 7 2011, 02:41 PM
As we have students from many different countries, how about a competition based on folk music? Every country has many folk songs so students should pick one and rearrange it in blues/metal/jazz/funk/rock or any other style they want and record it. Americans pick American songs, Germans pick German songs and so on
What do you guys think?hey man!
this sounds very nice!
it is indeed a challenge
let's hear more opinions and maybe it'll be possible
cheerios!
Posted by: Sollesnes May 7 2011, 03:14 PM
As we have students from many different countries, how about a competition based on folk music? Every country has many folk songs so students should pick one and rearrange it in blues/metal/jazz/funk/rock or any other style they want and record it. Americans pick American songs, Germans pick German songs and so on
What do you guys think?Cool idea.
What is american folk music?
Posted by: K1R May 7 2011, 03:26 PM
What is american folk music?
I don't know
Perhaps country music or early blues which has no author?Edit: Or north american indian's music?
Posted by: SirJamsalot May 7 2011, 06:10 PM
This thread took an odd turn
Posted by: carminemarotta May 8 2011, 12:50 PM
I would suggest to add some tips on how physically play some part of the lesson, like where to place the fretting hand, or the strumming one or other tips, sometimes from the video is not possible to see these things.
Thanks
Carmine
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