With two cool lessons from Jose and Ramiro we passed the 1700 mark today...
How are we doing - what do you think about the lesson updates? Are we shooting out lessons and missing the basics? Or are we perhaps covering things you already know? Are basic features in the lessons missing? Or are GMC lessons perfect? Maybe we are getting repetitive?
Let's get some discucssion going!
We are lacking new lessons by the so called *GMC Founder & Rocker* if you ask me...
Well, with 1700 lessons it can become repetetive at times, but as I discussed with David Walliman (when I met him on my road trip if I might add ) it doesn't bother me. With that many lessons theres gonna be different approaches on each technique, different genres and styles and different music! So I think you should just continue as you've done so far. The site updates that you guys do with design and such are great too, nice with a change now and then!
It might be worthwhile to inject a few more mechanics / etude lessons on specific techniques to balance out the "full song" and "in the style of" types of lessons?
Of course, before posting this I decided I'd better search a few more times just in case and I am finding at least one lesson for each of the little techniques I tried, but that is still 1-2 lessons focusing on those techniques... out of 1700.
Well anyway, to be more precise (and helpful, I hope) the least results came from a search for dynamics.
Setting all that aside, I believe there's a huge diversity already being covered by the 1700 lessons; I don't see the curriculum lacking in any serious way.
Some celtic and composition lesson would be nice, but I think the spread of lessons is very good as it is. Celtic is not so important as its not difficult to teach myself celtic songs, but some composition lessons would be cool.
There's not enough (not nearly enough) rythmguitar lessons in my opinion.
Especially beginner lessons!
I've been thinking about applying myself, to get some rythm lessons out with different difficulties..
There's been a few lately though, so hopefully there's more to come
Other than that, I'm very happy with the lessons!
High quality and very well explained most of the time
Excelent topic! Your opinions are very important for us!
I agree with most that was already said here. Sometimes it may be little repetitive but not very much, and what is more - even if few lessons are not so very different - they still provide bit different ways of playing the same thing, and it is a good thing.
What I like is when instructors make a lesson that is different from the "main style" he composes lesson in. For example every time David brings us a metal lesson, there are always few comments "yeah, make more lessons in that style please!". It gives even more diversity in my opinion, because of unique style and music interpretation of each instructor.
All in all although there are so many great lessons that I won't be able to learn them all in the upcoming years, I still check GMC main site everyday to see the new lessons - that's the kind of magic
Maybe some more "licks lessons". I'm not shore about this but sometimes I just need some licks (for instance some fusion licks using different techniques) to use in my improvisation instead of full song lessons that have a proper context of themselves.
I'm not certain if I explained myself well. But sometimes it's hard to use licks that the instructors put on their song lessons on a different context. Maybe you desegree...
But well GMC is excellent and that will never change!
This is a hard formula to improve upon, we have a lot of stuff going on in the forums as well as the regular lessons updates and such.
I think the lessons are great but maybe some other guitar related lesson topics should be paid more attention, certainly there are questions every week on recording, making backing tracks, using a DAW etc however much we tell ourselves that we are just musicians this site relies quite heavily on the ability of people to record and such.
A great addition would be a "Develop your tone" masterclass, the instructors are always getting asked how they get their "Sound" how about some tutorials on developing good tones for different genres?
My last point would be the interaction of the tutors on the forum, the ones that contribute (We all know their names!) seem to do all the running on this side of things and a bit more involvement from some of the other tutors would be great.
Thanks for this thread Kris, its nice that you take an interest in our opinions!
Very good discussion and feedback. With so many instructors and lessons, I think it would be cool to have some mini-masterclasses within the site.
For instance, The Instructor could open the class similar to a collab ( I think Pedja has mentioned doing this) with a certain area in mind, i.e legato, sweeping, tapping etc. with a lesson plan prepared.
Students could then sign up and practice until a passing grade is given to them by the instructor of the class. some will progress faster than others of course but as long as the instructor is always available to answer questions, then it should not be a problem.
If we could get a good number of Instructors involved, then there would always be plenty of classes to go around.
All in all, I think the site is awesome and the current structure works. This is just an idea to possibly add to the GMC experience.
We need more lessons from the man himself, Kris!!!
I would love to see a series of spoken theory and harmony lessons.
Classical harmony compared with Jazz/modern harmony concepts (differences, similarities). Cadences, inversions, use of instruments, etc .. maybe even composition analysis. Everything to become a more complete musician
Theory is well explained in a lot of lessons, but it is of course mainly guitar related. I guess more knowledge in harmony would be helpful to be able to compose songs and create more complex backings.
If this could be done would be awesome !!
I realy like paivas idea of giving us some more guitar licks that we could improvise with in the lessons. Maybe we could even have a contest where you give us just a few notes to play from a lesson and we see who can make the most, and coolest improvised ideas out of those notes! just a thought
I will prepare one big rhythm series if anyone is interested, from basic strumming to more advanced strumming patterns.
Some great brainstorming going on here! I agree that we are lacking quite some topics that require a bit more of a "spoken" lesson type.
To make this kind of lesson work with the GMC format - I think the http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/pentatonic-workshop-level1-caged-format-timing-exercises/or http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/first_steps_8_striking_a_chord/approach is the one to take.
Lots of "theoretical" content - but the lessons still gives any user (regardless of previous experience) an impression of what the topic is about, thanks to the main video teaser. Also I think these two instructors have managed to give theory topics a very inspiring presentation - which I think is important for the lessons to gain popularity.
Pedja maybe this kind of structure is something for you to try?
What about a GMC Theory Book or something or perhaps video theory book. I really agree with Andy that theory needs to be spoken and structurered really cleanly beacuse it gets very messy when writing names of notes, chords, intervals in a forum post.
Kristofer I will check out Ivan's and Andrew's spoken lessons and get back to you about that - sounds like a good idea right now
First things first : thank you !
The site is great already and I am really enjoying it.
I agree with the guy saying something about some rhythm lessons missing.
Perhaps we could add some more lessons about recording as well. Basic recording, like what's a sequencer, what's a microphone, what's a VSTi, what's this and that and how to make a simple record on Reaper or whatever program or perhaps every program. How to build a backing track step by step to cover a song or a lesson.
Because we are speaking about recording everywhere on the forum but nobody teach us that. And when you start as a complete newbie, you get lost. I know that because I am one.
Something I was always thinking about is a table or something like a table where we could find what effect to use to give what feeling to a sound. Not sure I am clear here. But I am not a sound engineer. I know when it sounds good or bad. But for example, if I would like to create a slow melody or a blues song, what kind of sound should I use? Should I use a compressor, chorus, flanger or rotary? Or am I going to try all of them? How the sound will be affected by a compressor? More kick, more strength? etc... What's the difference between a 4x10 and a 4x12 cab?
That's probably just a wiki page though. Not sure how that could be achieved and if it's possible.
OK, starting to work on the series right now
Very cool ideas, I'll try to think something related to those topics.
But I've already tried some ideas for beginners and many other things, sometimes theorytical, that I think the general public of GMC is not interested. Would be really cool for me that the ideas in this post turn into more lesson requests for the instructors.
I think many instructors could satisfy the interests of the students regarding specific topics. In my personal case I've never had a lesson request that was required for many students, and I think this kind of posts are really great to see those requests in one place, thanx Kris for put this in motion
I agree with your train of thought!
I had a discussion with Andrew about this - and we actually discussed doing a video series which strictly follows his theory syllabus. It has been "tested" and appreciated so it could be a very good starting point!
Awesome news Kris !!
It will be a lot work i imagine... can't wait to see this happening
Great would be if this syllabus can be even extended, normally the 2nd book for music studies. I'm dreaming a bit ...
I spoke to Andy last night about this and I will get on it very soon. Hopefully there will be interest from members to study theory and harmony via video lessons
Im going to echo the users that have highlighted the calls for more theory. At present no ideas on how to go about doing this
Ivan's rhythm series should also be very useful addition to the vaults of GMC as indeed, as Kris said, the site is a little Solo orientated.
These would be great additions to an already great site.
GMC is THE website for me for about 8 months now.
I visit it almost every day and get happy every time
I enjoy GMC very, very much. It is a great place to be!!!!
I think the 1700 lessons are great. I can 't do them a lifetime. If there is a double lesson I don't mind sometimes another way of telling the same thing can be okay.
What I am missing is:
- a scale and chord dictionary (and I mean the exotic (Jazz)chords) and
- Chord inversion lesson. how to play the sound with other sound
- How to play with two guitars: dual guitar melodies, harmonies
Also lessons in song writing or more in-depth the theory behind a lesson:
- the key of this is Am because of ....
- the chords ((with a link to the scale dictionary)) in this key are I, V iV made of ....
- these inversions make the sounds more colourful
- the basics scale (with a link to the scale dictionary) you can use are maj/min pentatonic because of.....
- also these modes can be used (with a link to the scale dictionary) beacuse of ....
- I would like a slow version in the video or backing of a lesson played by the instructor.
Maybe some lessons in:
- how to stay in the beat or (how to count,play: 8, 16 notes)
- play different kinda rhythm: funk, blues, rock, ska, disco
- DAW: basics
- recording with a computer and the use of DAW
- how do use midi with DAW
- how compose a backing track yourself with DAW + VST plugin like bass and drums: i am wordering how the instructor are making there backing tracks
- more of in the style of
- maybe a full cover lesson
I was set to do some software tutorials as well, so will address these requests very soon as well.
I will do my best to do one Theory and Harmony lesson by the end of this month. If you guys like the concept and content, I will be more then happy to continue with that approach in long run.
Congrats to GMC on all the lessons, that's quite incredible!
Great topic of discussion here
I'd really like more lessons about putting scales to chords, like which ones sound good together. I know there's some material out there on that, but I would like to see more, to get practice applying it.
Hi Kris.
Needless to say that GMC is great! It already changed my life in many ways so far...
I think the content of GMC is really nice and it is really good to have diversity. For instance, I used several sweep picking lessons and it would be good to have even more from different instructors.
In fact, the problem I find now is not something being missing from GMC. On the contrary it is a little bit overwhelming. I check new lessons daily and bookmark them, but I feel frustrated cause I will never be able to complete all the ones I want (unless I lose my job ).
I also feel that it is a hard for newcomers to know what to look for. Andrew series starts filling this gap for beginner players but not all newcomers to GMC are beginners.
In other words, I think that GMC content is good and growing steadily but there is need to some more organization in innovative ways.
Some people mentioned making a "table of contents", which could be a beginning in organizing things, but I think the future lies on "table of contents" customizable for every person. For instance, I have some favorite instructors and perhaps I would like to receive a weekly e-mail telling me what is the new lessons from this favorite instructors. I love hard and pop rock, but perhaps I am not so interested in jazz lessons.
I love to find good surprises on the "Random lessons" but it would be even better to always find good surprises in a "lessons suggested for you". Some kind of data mining and user-customization could lead to develop a system like this.
The mentored training program could also be used, where the mentor helps the mentored person to customize its own "table of contents". I am not sure if I am making myself clear, but I what I am telling is that every person should have the "GMC he/she wants".
Hmm... I gues some more 101 Kris lessons would be very very cool! Also I still think more explanations would be cool, be a masterclass, not an example
Gus is also right, it can be a bit overwhelming for starters! Ofcourse GMC is the coolest site online, these are just two little tiny points!
All great ideas here.
All my lessons except a few are solos, these for some reason are more popular. I did an exercise lesson, not very musical but useful in developing good timing and it wasn't as popular as for instance phrasing and dynamics 3 lesson which was a solo.
And I guess it is important to practice interesting musical ideas that keep you interested in the instrument. Studying theory, practicing exercises is somewhat boring for most, but necessary in order to take your playing to another level.
As far as recording and software lessons, I have many times thought about doing something like this but the problem is not everyone will have the access to the same stuff I do.
For instance I use pro tools, don't know how many students here use it, but from what I have seen, they use some form of freeware.
I'd love to explain how I obtain a certain sound, how I eq the guitar in the mix, levels, effects and all that stuff, but it would be easier if we all used the same software, and tools for consistency.
I think the diversity of the lessons is the high point of GMC, the level and range of lessons can be a bit overwhelming though.
The viewpoints of the instructors are for the most part all together. But i also find that we seem to be at odds about certain aspects of playing and developing techniques like :speed, phrasing etc.
Each of us has our own viewpoint about these things.
Perhaps some kind of explanation about why each Instructor feels why they do about certain aspects of guitar could be played out.
Also, I see alot of threads concerning writing. Whether it be specific, or general. Perhaps some kind of compositional workshop. Highlighting the aspects of writing a song. How each of us approach it.
I am not sure how to proceed on that basis, but i am sure we could come up with something.
Daniel
Jose has a great Songwriting-Metal lesson, with corresponding thread in his instructor board. More stuff like that, maybe with additional spoken videos certainly will rise quite an interest:)
Wow, such a number!!!!
First of all many Congrats to all Instructors for providing such a wealth of knowledge for us to learn from!!!
I agree with some of the earlier suggestions concerning Rythym and Theory Lessons and also recording Lessons! I'll soon be wanting to get more into recording and using VST's and MIDI etc but don't really have much of a clue where to start!!!
Again, well done Kris and everyone on such a great site!!!!
I wouldn't mind a stanley jordan technique lesson. There's a short piece on his site about touch technique but there's so much depth to the technique that could be covered - harmonizing, piano style, counter melodys, 2 part bass and melody etc.
I'd like to see something that explains how to go about practicing this technique a bit further, as there's only 2 exercises on his website.
-Adam
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