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Posted by: leedbreak Oct 12 2007, 02:06 PM

Instructors please consider (while creating a lesson about fast picking) make a complete video of you playing with the slowest backing track you post, as well as the fastest. Man that would help a ton.

Posted by: Jeff Curtis Oct 12 2007, 02:11 PM

you got it!!!!!!!!

Posted by: leedbreak Oct 12 2007, 02:18 PM

Dang that was easy. I know it would help me. Let me know when one is up like this, THANKS

Posted by: Jeff Curtis Oct 12 2007, 02:25 PM

hahaH i kno huh. i was very quick huh!! haha whats up man?? how are the lessons coming?? hope your doing good take care.




JC

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Oct 12 2007, 02:44 PM

hehe, in some of my lessons I put a slow video with the BT

Posted by: Pavel Oct 12 2007, 08:30 PM

May i ask how would that help? Personally i don't see the point in that so Leedbreak can you please put some light on it?

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Oct 12 2007, 08:45 PM

I supose that it would be interesting to play over the slow video, isn't it, Leedbreak?? or to studie how conect the different licks in the lesson

Posted by: Pavel Oct 12 2007, 08:53 PM

The fingering i use in small videos is the same as in the main video so connection of small videos should not be a problem at all.

Posted by: muris Oct 13 2007, 01:16 AM

I suppose that Jason needs better view regarding to timing and notes duration.
And since I usually provide few BTs,not just one,hope that slowest shall be fine,ok?

Posted by: Pavel Oct 13 2007, 02:19 AM

Yeah, i also provide multiple backing tracks so let's see what Leedbreak will tell us about the subject

Posted by: leedbreak Oct 13 2007, 03:28 AM

Well Pavel,


Because it would help a lot to see/hear the complete score slower. But, not as slow as the individual videos are. In between is what I wish for.

It would also be nice to play along with the instructor and the backing at the same time. Heck, I think the GP tabs should have a backing track as well, even if it differs from the original backing. Why not, that again would make things a little easier by showing exactly how the two are going to fit together, before you even learn the first note. I have added a bass line to a few of the lesson tabs to help with a feel for the timing. The feeling is a huge part of needing to play with the backing.

Truth be known, most students here (including me) are months away from being able to play with many of the backings, even the slowest ones. Maybe not with the sweet solos lessons but the faster stuff for sure. The Alt 4 video I posted was at about the same speed as your slowest backing, and we both know I do not need to practice that one that fast. But seeing you do it would really help.

Oh and how about the instructors playing it with the metronome at a medium speed. That would help more than any backing ever could, especially when the clicks land is very strange places as they do on Muris’s Stamina lesson.

There needs to be no other point, other than I really think it would help. I will be posting my weeks progress on alt 4 this weekend. I have played that lesson for over 20 hours since Oct 4. Dang I hope it has helped as it sure has hurt.

Pavel, you have been a lot of help and a mentor to my playing ever since I learned Alt 1. just it would be very helpful to see you guys play these lesson between the two already posted speeds, that is all I am trying to say.



As far as the fast picking goes.......

I speak for me and I am sure others when I say we need to see you play at our level. Which is not 40 BPM and not 140…

but say 60 or 70 or 80.


Thanks



Thanks

Posted by: leedbreak Oct 13 2007, 03:39 AM

Working all day, being a daddy the rest of the time and staying up way to late to get my practice time in. But by golly I am going to get it in. I even get up and play before leaving to work sometimes

Lessons are going great. I am still having more fun on guitar than I ever have. So I am doing well and hope the same for you, thanks

Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Oct 13 2007, 04:43 AM

There is a point , believe me. I can totally relate to where Jason is coming from. I personally think backing track wise that there should be around 3 speed requirements.

Begginer-around 40bpm

Intermediate-60-70bpm

Advanced or Instructor Speed- * what ever the standard bpm of the video would be*


I think that would help based upon the fact for those of us who are caught in the middle and either have to play slower then we can play or faster then we are able to play.

_____________________________________________________

About the having the instructors play the whole song out at a specific bpm, I think thats a great idea ! Its a somewhat rewarding feeling to be able to play along to something that you really enjoy, whatever that may be and this would be a perfect solution to that.


I also have another suggestion, I do think that at difficult or technical parts of different lessons, the instructors should maybe give or suggest a excercise to help improve on the video. Im only saying if its pretty difficult or whatever. And the instructors should give tips. Even though it may not seem like much tips on finger placement, picking and all that jazz really does help when your trying to master some really difficult licks and riffs.




Thats all I have to say - John

QUOTE (Pavel @ Oct 12 2007, 11:30 AM)

May i ask how would that help? Personally i don't see the point in that so Leedbreak can you please put some light on it?

There is a point , believe me. I can totally relate to where Jason is coming from. I personally think backing track wise that there should be around 3 speed requirements.

Begginer-around 40bpm

Intermediate-60-70bpm

Advanced or Instructor Speed- * what ever the standard bpm of the video would be*


I think that would help based upon the fact for those of us who are caught in the middle and either have to play slower then we can play or faster then we are able to play.

_____________________________________________________

About the having the instructors play the whole song out at a specific bpm, I think thats a great idea ! Its a somewhat rewarding feeling to be able to play along to something that you really enjoy, whatever that may be and this would be a perfect solution to that.


I also have another suggestion, [u] I do think that at difficult or technical parts of different lessons, the instructors should maybe give or suggest a excercise to help improve on the video. Im only saying if its pretty difficult or whatever. And the instructors should give tips. Even though it may not seem like much tips on finger placement, picking and all that jazz really does help when your trying to master some really difficult licks and riffs.




Thats all I have to say - John

Posted by: Pavel Oct 13 2007, 04:46 AM

The main tip for fingering is already in the video! If there is extra tip i always put it in the text.

Posted by: Eat-Sleep-andJam Oct 13 2007, 04:50 AM

Well I was just saying that for example. The tip could be about anything that an instructor would consider useful to his or her students.

-John

Posted by: muris Oct 13 2007, 08:14 AM

Must say few more things here.

First,adding BT to GP file is huge job,don't get me wrong guys...
Now,providing more BTs in different speed isn't problem at all.
But playing whole lesson at few speeds is something we don't have agreement for.
I'm sure this is not topic for open forum but you have to understand our position as well.
After all,each part of lesson is played slower and up the speed.
Now,if real tempo is 140,shall we play and record videos at 40,50,60,70..and 140?

Thanks for bringing this on board but I still believe
that Kris needs to decide what goes into lesson and why.

Pardon my poor english

And about tips regarding to lesson.

We all have different approach and technical abilities,
writing smaller details in lesson explanation text isn't of greatest help,believe me.

And that's why Kris and crew allowed us AWESOME sub-board "Ask Instructor".
I'm getting questions everyday and trying to answer as soon as possible.
If I ever missed to answer on somebody's question,please raise your hand.

Posted by: tonymiro Oct 13 2007, 08:39 AM

Perhaps the answer - technology permitting - is that at some future stage a facility to slow the video down without altering pitch is included? Along the lines of a standard audio riff tracker/transcriber. That way the instructors record at tempo=1 and students can slow it down to tempo=1/2 or whatever...

Having said that I have the feeling that current website (generic rather then GMC specifically) and/or video encoding might not be up to this . (Though if it carries SMPTE it should be able to )

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: leedbreak Oct 13 2007, 08:57 AM

Well, it was just a thought. Naturally, I did not mean to record that many videos. I just meant just one more, of the complete score, somewhere below the true speed. I did not feel that was asking very much, but I could be wrong.

Like if your alternate lesson had one more video of you playing it at the 90 or the 110. Please realize that we all came here to learn everything we can and the speed you guys play can be very intimidating. All you would be doing is demonstrating that it still sounds great slower.


Anyway, Thanks to all readers and replies.

I am a real nice guy and I sure do not want to fluff any feathers as I love this site, and want it to last forever.

Posted by: tonymiro Oct 13 2007, 09:04 AM

I'm positive that you haven't .

I thought it was a really positive and well intentioned idea - one that I'd like to see happen if it's possible (albeit without adding to the instructors' workloads .)

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Oct 13 2007, 09:22 AM

If nothing else, +1 for slower backing tracks ...

Posted by: muris Oct 13 2007, 10:36 AM

Yeah,slower backing are fine,will add few more for next lessons.

Plus,you can change speed in GP file and turn metronome on.

Let's see what Kris has to say about it.

Posted by: Pavel Oct 13 2007, 05:37 PM

Agreed 500%

Posted by: Understudy Oct 13 2007, 10:17 PM

I am no shredder by any means, nor am I instructor quality. But I think if a lesson is too much for us individually we need to go back and work on something more our speed. Perfect the stuff in lessons that we have ability to play and not progress to more difficult lessons until we have mastered the easier ones for us. I am restricted as to what lessons I am learning based on ability and technique, because of this moving to more advanced lessons seems silly to me. Many lessons are intimidating and if they are , it shows me that I need to focus on something within my skill level. I hope I did not offend anyone, I just think putting the cart before the horse is a recipe for learning the wrong way with poor technique. If I misunderstood any posts here, my apologies in advance.

Posted by: Pavel Oct 13 2007, 10:26 PM

Understudy: you got a good point there and i agree with you!

Posted by: FretDancer69 Oct 14 2007, 02:33 AM

1+ on that

Posted by: leedbreak Oct 14 2007, 03:05 AM

Funny how my original request of...

Got so blown ridiculously out of proportion. People are talking like I said change all the lesson formats to a totally new design. I just asked our instructors to show how cool and more so how possible playing with the slower backing tracks can be. And that was all.

The lessons are not intimidating, it is the speed that is. The worse thing that could happen to any student is for them to say I will never play it that fast so why try. I have heard many say something like this already. But if a student sees a speed that he may actually be able to shoot for in the short term they are more likely to want to learn the lesson.

Posted by: exorcyze Oct 14 2007, 05:42 AM

From my perspective, the main thing to me would be if the backing was in the GP file, since then I can use the metronome practice in there to slow it down to whatever speed I want.

Personally, the GP files have been absolutely INVALUABLE, and the main reason I joined the site. My music computer does not have internet access, so my workflow is to check out a video, say "omg that's awesome and looks fun ( yeah, pretty much all of em )", get the GP transfered over to my other system in the front room ( so the kids can watch me practice and I can help them with homework or check out their art, etc ).

A lot of the stuff is beyond my ability technically to do at full speed right now - but I still love playing it even if it has to be at my slowby, non-shredder tempos! The GP files more than anything help me do that at MY speed on MY time. I cry big salty tears everytime I see a really cool lesson and don't have GP tab for it, since I almost never have the opportunity to sit at this computer and watch the vid as I follow with the txt tab, and that means I probably won't get a chance to really play the lesson.

Anyway, I love the site, it's offerings, and the community. I've played guitar for so long and never ventured into playing lead, always figuring it was so far beyond my ability. Now because of GMC I've discovered how much fun I can have venturing into new realms of expressiveness with my little lead parts.

Posted by: muris Oct 14 2007, 06:24 AM

Ouch,still no sign of Kris here...

Posted by: Pavel Oct 14 2007, 06:30 AM

I guess he's too busy learning all the new lessons on GMC No time to read forum

Posted by: muris Oct 14 2007, 06:53 AM

Will be some spanking here

Posted by: Pavel Oct 14 2007, 06:57 AM

Yeah, well, it would be cool if Kris put his opinion here!

Posted by: FretDancer69 Oct 14 2007, 12:58 PM

dang, i think he's having alot of trouble with the 101 lessons

Posted by: fkalich Oct 14 2007, 01:26 PM

I have no problem with the backing tracks. Sorry, I consider them pretty useless at any speed. In fact less than useless. They make you sound better. Correct. Extend that. They fool you into thinking you sound better than you really do. I really believe that. All this backing is counter productive for people in the learning stages. It is just play time, but using a straight metronome is much more productive, because then you really listen to yourself, your flaws are not covered up by a bunch of backing.

The things I would like are

1) Fingering at the top. Don't know why nobody bothers with that. Now I care less than I used to, in fact, I care little now, I finger it like I want to, and the fingering of the teacher is typically predicable to me at this point. Except that i believe Muris used his pinky for a vibrato. That was unusual, and it is something I have tried to do from the beginning.

2) Some of the instructors loose the correct rhythm when they slow it down. Not all. Some are careful to keep the correct rhythm. But not all of them. I have had to slow down the fast version on my own, which is no big deal, so I don't care so much. But sometimes the rhythm is really important. I will give an example, as I think this guy is gone now.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/misconception-riffing-picking/index.htm

The key to the lesson was the rhythm, a simple thing. But he totally missed the rhythm on the slow part, absolutely wrong.

There are others, but I will leave it there, rhythm is half of it, most of it, and even on the slow parts, the teachers need to capture that, as those who do indeed capture it will agree I am sure.

So bottom line, I have few complaints, this site is great as far as I am concerned, I am getting much more than my money's worth. But at first, the lack of fingerings was troublesome, made it difficult when I was just starting out. And if the rhythm is important, and they don't capture that on the slow part, it means I have to do a bit a work on my own.

Posted by: shredmandan Oct 14 2007, 01:39 PM

Well there's alot of different opinions here and i can understand where most are coming from .Its pretty cool that we have a site that you can discuss changes in lessons and add ons with the instructor's.I think the instructor's have went out of there way lots of times to improve there lessons for are member's.Everybody's different and we all learn different too.I can see how having a speed in the middle like Leadbreak said would help some people.Personaly for me though i agree alot with Understudy if its to difficult to learn at regular and then slow speeds it may just be too advanced for the player and they should work on some other lessons first.So for me it really wouldnt make a difference ,but im just one guy Also i never use Guitar Pro software.You do have to think about how much work the instructor's put into each lesson right now for what they get to do it.Like thats allot of work and especially all the new stuff like different camera angles ect ect.Just like to say for me i'm really impressed with how the lessons have been and i cant ask for more,execpt more lessons and maybe some thrash style rythem lessons played at fast speeds.Keep up the good work guy's

Posted by: leedbreak Oct 14 2007, 02:41 PM

Again, I did not intend to stir all this up. I had no earthly idea there would be this many opinions. And, It started so innocent, too.

I was working on Pavel's Alt 4 lesson trying to get it clean at a decent speed. I just thought to myself, "man I would love to see him play it at this speed" That is why the original post contained the word consider (means in the English language "just think about it"). I knew if he did it with his abilities, it would be so clean and so pretty that it would just motivate the stew out of me and maybe others as well.

I am learning the lessons at record pace for me personally so nothing needs changing. My playing as already past what I hope to get from joining the site, and I feel I am just getting started.
I just thought it was a good idea.

Kris, when you do get a chance to read this Thread or should we call it a novel now. Just please remember I would never post anything to start any trouble I just want to play guitar as good as I can and nothing more.

Posted by: muris Oct 14 2007, 10:51 PM

No need to be sorry at all Jason,we understand you fully,
it's just that everyone has different abilities and needs.
Perhaps feature like private webcam class shall be the hit for you

Posted by: Understudy Oct 15 2007, 12:08 AM

Jason, please don't appologize. I did not intend on ruffling any feathers with my post either. I was simply stating my opinion, and again if I misunderstood any other posts I appologized in advance. We are all in the same boat, wanting and needing to expand our skill level and abilities. And with that said, we all do it in different ways that fit our needs and styles. My methods for practice surely differ from everyone elses as do the things I practice and consider important to my progression and developement. Everyone here on this site seems to be a tight knit unit of support and information, and in no way was I trying to discredit your post or request. All the best in your learning and developement Jason.

Regards, Ronnie

Posted by: tonymiro Oct 15 2007, 06:06 AM

Maybe a bit OT - but I'd say that the last few posts from Leedbreak, Muris and Understudy really for me help encapsulate why GMC is such a good site. As people often say the forum members here are nice people who are genuinely out to help.

Personally, I don't think any apologies were/are necessary for the thread as it's all been done with good intentions...




...and in the best possible taste (very old reference to Kenny Everett there ).

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: shredmandan Oct 15 2007, 08:16 AM

Same here
All i was doing was expressing my own opinion.I have no problems and took nothing that anyone said offensive.Was just stating my side and how i felt.