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Posted by: [email protected] Jul 28 2009, 03:21 PM

Hey guys,

The names' Dex. I just wanted to come and drop a quick line and say hello from Ontario, Canada! I've been playing guitar for 3.5 months now, and I love every minute of of every waking day of it.

I enjoy just about all genres of music, but what really tickles my fancy and a perfect example of the type of music I want to play would be none of other than Joe Satriani with the song Searching. I just love those Wah sounds and the way they're used so smoothly with the melody.

When I can play music that makes the hair on my back stand up, I'll know I've made it where I want to be.

This is how I've pretty well mapped out my guitar journey thus far:

Basics:
[x] - Learn basic open chords (d,a,e,g,c minors, majors, suspended and 7th's)
[x] - Work on barre chords (e,a shaped)
[x] - Learn the Am pentatonic scale
[x] - Learn a few licks in the pentatonic scale
[x] - Learn the 12-bar blues
[x] - Practice getting my bends in tune (semi tone, tone, curls)
[!] - Practice technique (hammer-on, flick-off, more bends) !!!!
[ ] - Practice w/ a metronome (I need motivation to just turn it on)

Learn Say it Ain't so by Weezer IN FULL (every guitar part):
[x] - Learn the intro riff (good barre chord practice)
[x] - The bridge w/ distortion
[ ] - The second bridge w/ distortion and unison bends (hard to switch from the barre chord to the unison bend position )
[x] - Learn the intro mini-solo
[ ] - Learn the little jazz lick
[!] - Learn the solo (got all of it but the last bit - I have a hard time reaching from 16 to 21 on the b string (index + ring finger)
[ ] - Play the song w/ a backing track, in time!
[ ] - Play the song on top of my backing track recording, but with the other guitar parts.

Intermediate:
[ ] - Learn some theory about scales, phrasing
[ ] - Start adding some intermediate techniques to my practice schedule
[ ] - Transcribe videos of people playing on youtube while watching them (where tabs aren't provided)
[ ] - Transcribe songs off the record (just the rhythm)
[ ] - Transcribe songs off the record (just the solo(s))


In a nutshell, the above should get you up to speed with my playing ability. [x] means I've done it, and [!] means it's in progress, but not quite there yet.

Before I started investing time into Say it Ain't So, I used to just play intro's to songs that I liked, but that never really got me anywhere. They were mainly just ways to practice technique and blurt out things that sounded like music for the sake of accomplishment. The greatest thing that I've learned so far is definitely to play a song all the way through. There is so much to learn from doing so.

About 3 weeks ago, I made one of the best decisions and bought myself a Fast Track Pro ($150 off eBay because it was b-stock). Combined with my Mexican Stratocaster, a pair of headphones and Guitar Rig 3+Pro Tools M-Powered - I can emulate expensive amps without disturbing the neighbors (I live in an apartment).I love recording even though it's not a masterpiece - because a year or two down the road I'll be able to compare my progress, laugh at my mistakes, and have a boat load of recording experience from my own home.

Yikes this post turned out to be a bit longer then I anticipated - so I must be getting back to work . Oh the joy's of being a Web Developer!

Take care guys, and practice hard! I'm looking forward to some learning goodness and meeting some of you!

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Jul 28 2009, 03:27 PM

Welcome to GMC Dex !
Thats some great goals you got there. I am sure you will achieve them all here with us

Posted by: Emir Hot Jul 28 2009, 03:33 PM

Welcome to GMC Dex

Posted by: Chokehold Jul 28 2009, 03:56 PM

Maybe I will steal your idea that you got there, I never seem to finish things and I think this would help me. Thanks!
And welcome to GMC!

Posted by: Velvet Roger Jul 28 2009, 04:15 PM

Welcome to GMC!

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 28 2009, 05:00 PM

Nice plan you've got there Dexter,
welcome to GMC.

Posted by: Carlos Carrillo Jul 28 2009, 06:03 PM

Welcome to GMC Dex!!!

Posted by: Dexter Jul 28 2009, 06:59 PM

By all means! Thanks for the kind words from everyone. I certainly didn't expect this many replies - especially from the instructors! I'm proud to say that this site is by far the most action packed, educational, fun, creative, and inspirational - all in one!

Props to Kristopher and anybody else involved in making it happen!

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Jul 28 2009, 07:22 PM

welcome to the site. enjoy your stay man!

Posted by: Jerry Arcidiacono Jul 28 2009, 08:30 PM

Hi Dexter and welcome to GMC
Very good plan!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 28 2009, 09:40 PM

Welcome to GMC http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showuser=7448!
Its really cool that you got your goals list setup like that! I'm sure you will fulfill them very soon!

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Jul 28 2009, 10:07 PM

Welcome Dexter!

Nice mapping you have done!

Posted by: skennington Jul 29 2009, 12:37 AM

Welcome to GMC Dex, if you think your exited now, just wait til you dive in and get more involved with the forum activities. It certainly is a great place to hang your guitar!

Posted by: Santiago Diaz Garces Jul 29 2009, 07:35 AM

Welcome Dex!. Nice planning!. I'm sure you'll achieve what you're looking for. Enjoy the site. Ask whatever you want whenever you feel you need help

Posted by: Laszlo Boross Jul 29 2009, 09:56 PM

Welcome to GMC Dex! Enjoy the site!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 30 2009, 01:39 AM

Hey Dex, welcome to GMC!

Posted by: UncleSkillet Jul 30 2009, 03:44 AM

Hi Dex, I hope you learn a lot.

Welcome to the site.

Posted by: Stephane Lucarelli Jul 31 2009, 01:18 PM

Welcome to GMC!

Posted by: arctic1234 Jul 31 2009, 01:24 PM

Welcome to GMC Dexter

Posted by: Dexxter Jul 31 2009, 03:39 PM

Welcome man! Nice name

Posted by: Dexter Jul 31 2009, 07:45 PM

Haha, thanks Dex! Wow... weeeeeirddddd thing to say indeed.

Posted by: Dexxter Jul 31 2009, 08:28 PM

Haha, just call me Max, that's my real name Let's just hope noone mistake us for one another

Posted by: audiopaal Aug 1 2009, 07:47 PM

Nice intro!

Welcome to GMC