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Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 12 2015, 08:07 PM

Welcome to your thread for Gab's Army as we arranged via PM.

At first, I'd like to know more from you:

- How many time have you been playing guitar?
- Favorite guitarists, bands and musicians.
- What are your guitar goals?
- How would you like to you see yourself in 5 years (related to music and guitar)?
- How many time can you play guitar each day?
- Do you have playing live experience?
- Which are your strong and weak points with guitar?
- What do you know about music theory?
- Can you record videos of you playing?
- Share here audios and videos that reflect your current playing.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 12 2015, 09:40 PM

- How many time have you been playing guitar?
About 3 years. Anyway, I'm always in and out. I mean, I always start playing with a lot of energy and hope of getting better than last time I left but ussually, I don't get much further and again I leave for about 2 or 3 months and I try again.

This, does not mean I don't put all I have trying to get better. The problem is that I think I'm not good enough creating a good practice workflow.

- Favorite guitarists, bands and musicians?
This is not easy to answer. I like from electronic to Brutal Death Metal. Anyway, Related to music my favourite bands/artists are The Ramones, Eric Johnson, Vinnie Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Craddle of Filth, In Flames (early lps), Children of bodom (early lps), and all kind of hair metal

- What are your guitar goals?
This answer may seem naive but, my goal is to play Far beyond the sun from yngwie malmsteen . If I get there I think I could be really proud of me. I think I'm not really good creating music so, interpreting music from others could be enough for me. Does it sound sad? Well, we have to know our limitations .

- How would you like to you see yourself in 5 years (related to music and guitar)?
I would like to be much better musically speaking. It would be awesome if I could play my own solos/riffs in a natural way. I mean without forcing it just expressing. Ouch! I forgot about the "Far beyond the sun" objetive. I want to get there too

- How many time can you play guitar each day?
I always try to play between 1:30 and 2 hours per day.

- Do you have playing live experience?
No. And I ussually get pretty nervious when I play fro friends and family. I think it is a matter of confidence

- Which are your strong and weak points with guitar?
->Strong points (may be lying)
-- Alternate picking
-- One string fast picking
->Weakest points
-- Legato techique
-- Sweep picking technique
-- Going from slow to fast (This is something that really annoys me. I can play slow and sometimes fast but it is pretty difficlut to play in-between

- What do you know about music theory?
I had 2 years at the School of music in town. I have basic harmony knoledge, I can read scores, I can build basic scales, etc... I need lota more confidence on scales & modes.

- Can you record videos of you playing?
I think so. I would just need some recomendations on how to do it. As I told you by PM I could use my mobile or webcam. Don't really know what soft you use for this matter. I'm all ears.

- Share here audios and videos that reflect your current playing.
Right now I'm playing Power Slave by Iron maiden and vortex from megadeath. I can't play the full songs but I thing I can play around 2 or 3 minutes of each one. Would this be what you are looking from?. Could you give a bit of insight on how you do it? I'm staring to use Reaper as my main DAW is it ok? On the other hand, what do you use to keep your camera/phones, etc... at a certain position when recording? Are you using any special metal arm or something?

Cheers!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 13 2015, 01:20 PM

Hi John! Thanks a lot for all this info. It really makes me know you a lot more. The next step is to hear you playing. This video will give you all the tips you need to know to create guitar videos:

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 13 2015, 01:21 PM

Thanks a lot!

Gonna try this now.

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 13 2015, 01:45 PM

Great. You'll also find this thread helpful: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=52512

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 13 2015, 07:33 PM

Hi,

I have spent all evening trying to record something. I finally did it! At last . It is my first time doing all this mess so, be patient. I have added just audio. I will be adding videos in the next days. Just getting used to all this. I have recorded a section of the Powerslave song. First rythm part and a bit of the solo (there are some errors in there though). I will try to upload a chunk of vortex from megadeth tomorrow.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 14 2015, 02:12 PM

Hi John! Great job putting this together!

I think that I can suggest a first plan for this week:


30 minutes - Guitar Gym: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=54900&view=findpost&p=718397

30 minutes - Working on a solo lesson: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/neoclassical_solo_for_beginners/

30 minutes - Working on a rhythm lesson - http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Anvil-Style/


Let me know what you think!

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 14 2015, 04:30 PM

Hi!,

Thanks for the first suggestions. I think I'm capable of playing this perfectly (at a first glance, lets see what happens when I start ).

Gonna start it just now, will upload my progresses when I finish any part.

Edit1: I have noticed that in the "Anvil Style" lesson you use just down strokes for the second rift. My natural way of picking it is alternate picking. Is there any problem with this?

Cheers!

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 14 2015, 05:51 PM

I double posted because of a problem with my connection.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 15 2015, 02:22 PM

When playing this kind of riffs, the use of only downstrokes is not related to how easy or difficult it is for us, it's related to the accentuation and feel that you get. You won't get the same sound using alternate picking so I recommend you to practice this one with only downstrokes. This element is used for riffing and also for soloing, it's an expressing technique that gives a different approach to dynamics.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 15 2015, 03:44 PM

Understood! Back to work!

Cheers.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 15 2015, 06:30 PM

Hi!,

I have some more doubts.

It is about the gym exercises:

About BLock1- Exercise 1:

-> Show I be using fing 1 and 4?

About BLock1 -Exercise 2:
->for the 7 fret should I be using 2 or 3 finger

About Block2 - Exercise 1:
-> I have noticed I could play this lifting the first finger when moving between strings or just put first finger doing a capo on fret 8 and just moving finger 1. Which version do you think is the ocrrect one?

And finally, I get really tired doing BLock1: exercise 2 pretty soon. Can't do more than 5-7 seconds at once . Am I just a weak boy?


Thanks a lot for your effors trying to make our better guitarrists! I think I'll be posting neoclassical audio tomorrow (camera is on its way )

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 16 2015, 02:17 PM

Hi John! Here I show how to play exercises 1 and 2:




-> I have noticed I could play this lifting the first finger when moving between strings or just put first finger doing a capo on fret 8 and just moving finger 1. Which version do you think is the ocrrect one?

Both versions are possible and you should be able to play it in both ways, however, if using your finger as a bare, you need to do a small movement (inclination) to mute one string when playing the other one. If you ask me about my personal favorite, I prefer moving the fingers instead of using it as a bare. Check the slow videos of this lesson where this pattern is used: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Killer-Pentatonics-II-Zakk-Wylde-Style/


And finally, I get really tired doing BLock1: exercise 2 pretty soon. Can't do more than 5-7 seconds at once smile.gif. Am I just a weak boy?

hahaha no, you need more training. Remember to relax your body and hands while practicing, this will help to gain more endurance.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 17 2015, 03:31 PM

Hi,

Well finally I recorded my first vid. Sound is terrible :/. I need to improve my tone capabilities because I suck on this. Let's see what you think about it.

What do you think Gabriel... are we going to move a forward or stay?

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 18 2015, 10:59 PM

Hi mate, I got this one. I'll be back with feedback about the video.

About your practice, let's keep with the current routine until this Wednesday and then tell me how the first week was, ok?

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 18 2015, 11:57 PM

Yes, of course! I will uploading the other video in the next days .

Cheers!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 19 2015, 01:56 PM

Hi John,

I've just checked your video. The quality is good for this purpose. Then you can continue experimenting to improve your tone/mix but it's really good to have these kind of videos from you here.

About your playing, there are 2 first things to work on:

- Alternate Picking: You are doing some left hand fingers movement when playing alternate picking and I don't recommend it. The movement when playing alternate picking should start from your wrist and a bit from your elbow but not from your fingers.

- Vibrato: Your vibrato is not consistent and regular. I recommend you to play along with the original backing focusing on imitating the instructor's vibrato, to get used to play it more naturally and connected to the backings groove.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 19 2015, 02:34 PM

Hi,

Thanks for taking a look to the vid.

About the alternate picking issue, I don't understand the "left hand fingers movement" because later in the sentence you seem to talk about the hand that holds the pick. Anyway, do you mean that the pick is not in a steady position when doing the alternate? and instead of moving wrist I am moving the fingers holding it to accomodate to the up and down strokes?

So, from your comments it seems I should be playing it for some more days . Let's back to work!

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 19 2015, 02:38 PM

Hi John! I'm sorry! I mean your right hand!

Does it make sense now?

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 19 2015, 04:23 PM

Yes, of course. much more sense. Anyway the issue you saw is the one I described?

If it is, this is something I do when not playing fast but when playing a bit more fast I "lock" the pick an the fingers holding it in a fixed position. Do you think I should be doing this when playing slow too?

BTW, is there any chance getting backing track of anvil style lesson? It is not downloadable using ussual gmc means.

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 20 2015, 01:14 PM

Hi John, this is not a problem if you don't do it when playing fast. Just be careful with this bad habit to avoid doing it naturally for every speed and lick.

Anvil's backing:  170.mp3 ( 1.39MB ) : 56

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 20 2015, 05:34 PM

Thanks gabriel for the backing. And yes, I think I do not do this when playing fast .

Cheers.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 20 2015, 06:35 PM

One more question Gabriel. I have been trying to configure Legion with Reaper to use your Anvil preset but I don't know how to load your preset. I have tried with the top bar that has a "+" but just can load rpl files (Reaper preset libraries) and vst bank files. Where should I go to load your preset?

Cheers.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 20 2015, 08:51 PM

Hi,

Here is my take on Anvil style. There's a little error on 3rd riff but I wanted you to have a look .

Cheers

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 21 2015, 02:17 PM

Yeah, this can be a problem. This is where I save them to be able to find them:





Good job with Anvil lesson! It's sounding good. The only thing that I note is that sometimes your timing is not totally precise and this can be related to the fact that your right hand gets tired of so much down picking. It's just a matter of training. This also generates that some chords don't sound totally clear.

Besides this, the section starting at 00:37 has one wrong chord on each repetition, check the tabs again.


PS: Using youtube for sharing videos here will make things easier for both you and me.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 21 2015, 02:58 PM

Hi!,

I will try to copy the presets there.

I will try to improve a bit more the playing for the lesson. First I will try to improve the Neoclassic one .

On the other hand I didn't know about the youtuve videos. Sorry for this, I will upload them to youtube from now on.

Cheers!.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 21 2015, 03:25 PM

Great! Keep me updated.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 22 2015, 10:36 PM

Hi!,

New video about the neoclasical song. I have put a lot of effort into trying to make the vibrato bits more consistent. I have tried to play all of them at the same tempo. Let's see what the teacher thinks about



Cheers!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 23 2015, 04:09 PM

Hi John! Good job here!

The overall take is on the right track, there are just some details to keep on polishing your take on this lesson. The first thing that needs some focus and practice is your vibrato technique. It's not totally consistent, sometimes it's irregular, while other times it's a bit weak or doesn't go with the beat.

Besides this, there are some timing issues here and there (around 00:24/00:28 seconds), a lick to polish around 00:43 seconds and a bend that doesn't reach the correct pitch at 00:44.

As I said at first, this is a promising take, just keep working on details.

Cheers!

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 23 2015, 04:58 PM

Ok Grab, I will try to improve it. But it is hard to do things "perfect" . I did not notice it until I started to work with you. You can play something that resembles the original but make it near perfect is pretty hard. At first this seemed a very easy song but I think I overlooked it .

Let's improve it!

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 24 2015, 07:17 PM

It's not the main goal to copy other guitarists, but at this stage imitating some techniques is totally helpful to polish your own technique while developing your own style. So always have in mind that focusing on details helps to improve your technique but please also dedicate time to creativity stuff.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 26 2015, 07:02 PM

Hi there!,

New take on Anvil Style. I hope now things are a bit better . Wrongs chords on third part has been fixed.




Cheers

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 27 2015, 02:18 PM

Good job John! The lesson sounds much better now! I would just keep on playing it to make some of the faster power chord changes smoother. Also, your tone could have more presence on this video, experiment with your amp's EQ.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 29 2015, 02:59 PM

New vid on the neoclassical song. This song is killing me . So easy to play, but too dificult to put in all details. I think timing is better now but that bend is not googd enough.



By the way, how much time do we ussually spend on a set of assestments? I mean, do we must play them until we play them perfect and then you provide different ones or do you have a range of time to play every pack of exercises/songs and then you provide new ones to move on?

Cheeres.