Applied Music Theory Workout, for every level! |
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Jan 6 2016, 04:13 PM
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Hello everybody! Welcome to this new thread in which we will work on applying music theory in real music situations. The assignments will be designed to let every guitarist at every level be able to make music over the backing tracks submitted.
Who can join? Every GMCer can join, from absolute beginner to advanced. You can make all the necessary questions to understand each detail behind the assignments. When? At every moment. If you are finding this thread and the course is advanced you can join right now, the assignments are always complete by themselves to make music over the backings. What to do? Check the instructions given at each assignment, download the backing track and start jamming. You will find a Jamtrack that is for your diary practice and there is a Backing Track that is the one you can use to record yourself and share your recording here to receive feedback. About deadlines and How to work on each task? I'll give long deadlines for this assignments because I want you to take all the time needed to experiment with each task and incorporate the concepts. Please don't work on the whole assignment by once. Dedicate time, hours, days to each task if the concepts are totally new for you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSIGNMENT I: Jamming over a backing track in A major key. - Backing Track and Progression: In this first assignment you'll find a backing track in A major with the following progression: | A | A | F#m | F#m | Download and listen to the backing: 
Backing_track_in_A_Major___70_bpm.mp3 ( 1.18MB )
Number of downloads: 255Do you want to know how to play those chords? Check out this GP file: 
Backing_track_Progression.gp5 ( 2.01K )
Number of downloads: 196TASK 1: A Major Chord: Now stop the backing track and learn this position of A major. Play it strumming all strings by once and then play each note of the chord separated as it's showed in the tab:   - Once you've learn to play the chord and the isolated notes practice playing this over the backing track. - Play slowly, listen how each note sounds over the backing. - Play the notes in random order and try to create simple melodies. TASK 2: A Major Pentatonic Learn to play this scale:   Play it up and down. Practice the scale over the backing track. Play random notes and then try to create simple melodies. TASK 3: Identifying and focusing on chord tones Play A Major Pentatonic again and identify the notes that are also part of A Major chord (Marked with a red dot)  Practice creating melodies over the backing focusing on the notes from the chord and using the other notes from the scale as passing notes. Record yourself and share your recordings here. This is the jamtrack for home practice:
Jamtrack_in_A_Major___70_bpm.mp3 ( 6.82MB )
Number of downloads: 282Backing without rhythm guitar:
Backing_in_A_major_without_guitars___70_bpm.mp3 ( 2.18MB )
Number of downloads: 209DEADLINE: February 6th --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ok friends! This is all by now. This is something completely new for GMC forum so we are also testing this ideas. Feel free to send me personal message with feedback and suggestions about how the keep on improving this kind of activities. Who is in? This post has been edited by Gabriel Leopardi: Jan 6 2016, 05:31 PM -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Replies
(60 - 79)
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Jan 21 2016, 12:15 AM
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QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Jan 20 2016, 09:54 AM)  Hi and welcome to this workout!  Your take shows that you are doing an interesting search with this task. You tend to be melodic and seem to be always searching for clear phrases and the use of different elements to make them sound always unpredictable. This is definitely the right track in this work. I recommend you to continue exploring and experimenting with this, trying different rhythms and note lenghts. You can also check this suggestions: LINK And then share a new take. Deal? Awesome! I will do this! Thanks for the input!!  -------------------- Practice, you must!
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Jan 21 2016, 08:04 PM
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QUOTE (Phil66 @ Jan 20 2016, 07:30 PM) Thanks Gab It doesn't really make sense to me but it's not you, it's a language thing. I'll have a good think about it  It's very simple and should be reasonable! For example, if you jam using A major scale and then jam only with A pentatonic major scale, you will be always playing notes from A major key, however the note choices and melodic lines that you'll get will be different because in the first one you have more notes to play. If I give you three tasks: - Create a short phrase using A major scale. - Create a short phrase using A pentatonic major scale. - Create a short phrase using A major arpeggio. You'll surely get 3 different ideas and combinations of notes. This kinds of tricks can be done while improvising to keep phrasing fresh. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 21 2016, 10:02 PM
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Thanks Gab,
I think I understand what you're saying. Hopefully this is what you asked for. Cheers A major https://soundcloud.com/gmcphil-1/assignment-1-sub-task-1 A major pent https://soundcloud.com/gmcphil-1/assignment-1-sub-task-2 A major arpeggio https://soundcloud.com/gmcphil-1/assignment-1-sub-task-3 Thanks Gab -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE  “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 22 2016, 01:51 PM
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Hi Phil! That's exactly what I was meaning! This is not part of the assignment but it's cool to know that learning different approaches to scales and shapes can open our possibilities when improvising. Then, when making music, we should be able to combine everything to expand our musical limits.
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 22 2016, 08:25 PM
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Thanks Gab,
I tried to keep a similar theme just to see the outcome with the different amount of notes. Cheers -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 22 2016, 10:35 PM
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And what do you think? Have you got different ideas?
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 22 2016, 10:48 PM
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Hello Gab
I have many ideas but when I start playing I go back to the things my fingers know well I meant that I kept the same idea for the three example
-------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 24 2016, 06:46 AM
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You are totally right! That's a good way to expand your guitar vocabulary in relation to improvisation. There is a recent lesson by Kris in which he shares really interesting approaches to develop phrasing and improvisation. You should check it out:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Your-First-Phrases/ And tell me what you think! -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 24 2016, 10:15 AM
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QUOTE (GuitarsANDtattoos @ Jan 23 2016, 09:49 PM) I actually can relate to this issue of playing out of habit. I'm currently trying to improve my solos and rhythm chord choices right now, which is a bit of an overhaul. The solo thing is kind of unnatural for me, I ignored it for so long that coming back and fixing it is a bit of a pain, but the rhythm issue is more related to learning new chords and expanding my choice of direction with them. Ultimately, the hardest thing is getting into new lick ideas for solos...for some reason I get a bit stuck or come up empty handed when it comes to blending solidly set licks. Maybe studying established solos and lick ideas would help? It's a pain for me, but I think that'd be the way to go. Find a good video of a simple solo and learn it, then jam around with some backing tracks or something like that. Kind of like what we're doing in this thread. I think my ultimate goal is to be as solid as I can with Stoner/Doom/Retro-Rock solos. So old-school licks are where I need to be digging. The band Mastodon provides EPIC inspiration in this field, The Sword as well. Great advice, thank you
-------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 25 2016, 02:30 PM
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Ok friends! Last two weeks. How is it going?
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 25 2016, 02:39 PM
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Hello Gab,
I've learned how the chord fits with the pentatonic scale. I'm struggling with those sequences, but that's more technique than theory. I'm going to post some more examples very soon, hopefully my imagination will give some different feelings. Thanks for this thread Gab
This post has been edited by Phil66: Jan 25 2016, 07:55 PM -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 25 2016, 09:58 PM
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Another simple little tune. I tried to keep a theme rather than noodle
https://soundcloud.com/gmcphil-1/assignment-1-take-7 -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 25 2016, 11:33 PM
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I just got started with the 3rd task, I don't really like this last task to be honest, I prefer to land on the other non-chord notes
Is there a special idea behind it btw? |
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Jan 26 2016, 12:43 AM
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I'm thinking I will have another sound clip to post here by tomorrow. I'm working on a couple lick lessons to help the process along \m/
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Jan 23 2016, 11:46 PM) You are totally right! That's a good way to expand your guitar vocabulary in relation to improvisation. There is a recent lesson by Kris in which he shares really interesting approaches to develop phrasing and improvisation. You should check it out: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Your-First-Phrases/ And tell me what you think! Hey! Just checked out the video! Great suggestion for this lesson thread \m/ This is some awesome food for thought. Sometimes an alternative suggestion such as this can change the way your brain grasps certain concepts that were otherwise troubling. Very cool. -------------------- Practice, you must!
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Jan 26 2016, 02:17 PM
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QUOTE (Tom51 @ Jan 25 2016, 11:23 AM) I must admit that I did not work on this workout the last few days. I was so engaged in my lessons that I did not realized how time goes by. But I will start this evening again. So give me a few days please I really like this and also learn a lot from other posts! Hope this will bet a permanent workout here at GMC. Tom Just one chord questions...I was playing around with barre chords and found a good sounding one I do not know how to name. Maybe its an inversion and I did not find the root. Take any fret and barre with 3rd finger D-G-B string and mute high E string and with 2nd finger fret low E string and mute A. (all on same fret) Is does not sound major to me but I could not find it out.Does anyone know what it is? Hi mate, I'm also glad about how this thread is turning! I love the energy here. Let's keep making this one great! I'm not sure about the chord that you are talking about, could you please share a tab or anything? You can use our scale generator. QUOTE (Phil66 @ Jan 25 2016, 05:58 PM) Another simple little tune. I tried to keep a theme rather than noodle https://soundcloud.com/gmcphil-1/assignment-1-take-7 Sounds good Phil! Keep on exploring the scale with this musical direction! QUOTE (GuitarsANDtattoos @ Jan 25 2016, 08:43 PM) Hey! Just checked out the video! Great suggestion for this lesson thread \m/ This is some awesome food for thought. Sometimes an alternative suggestion such as this can change the way your brain grasps certain concepts that were otherwise troubling. Very cool. QUOTE (Lester @ Jan 26 2016, 05:25 AM) I also checked that, seems useful, especially if we are going to continue down this path with this thread. nice one! Great guys! That video lesson is SO inspiring and "on spot". I also think that is a must-see for everybody who is following this path. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 26 2016, 03:17 PM
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I was thinking about this chord Gab. Could this be an Amin add7 ?
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Jan 26 2016, 05:12 PM
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It's Am7. Beautiful chord.
Some other positions for the same chord:    
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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