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Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 11 2012, 07:38 PM

Hello! Welcome to my mentoring program!
I am thrilled to start working with you!
I have a few questions before we will start!
-What are your goals?
-What is your weakness?
-What is your strongest point?
-Your favorite guitar players?

Posted by: JPBluestring Jun 12 2012, 01:51 AM

Hey JaxN4!
Nice to see you joined Alex' mentoring pgm.
You gonna love it man!
See you around.
On behalf of the whole class, welcome in.
JPBleustring.

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 12 2012, 11:18 AM

Hello my firend, Thankyou... I have been a bit lost lately and I think this will give me the direction and focus I need, Thanks for the welcome




Hello Alex, and thanks for your PM.

My goals as a guitarist are: (in no particular order)

To be able to express what I hear in my head, through my guitar.
To compose my own full instrumental songs
To be able to improvise over a backing.
Play my favourite artists songs (this one will take a few years! haha :-)


Weakness:
I do not have a large vocabulary of licks or ideas....
Navigating around the fretboard
In the 10 months I have picked up the guitar again, I have spent too much time doing exercises and practice routines.... Instead of learning songs
Theory

Strengths:
My bending technique
Vibrato technique is good
Lead Playing
AP is ok
Legato is ok
Finger Independence is good

Favourite Guitar Players:
Nuno Bettencourt
Andy Timmons
Jimi Hendrix
Marco Sfogli
John Petrucci
Michael Paget - (Bullet for My Valentine)
Andy James

Anything else you want to know?

Thanks for your time Alex

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 12 2012, 05:52 PM

Perfect! So let's start!
We will start getting into improvisation very very soon!
For now I have a perfect exercise to start with! It does miracles and will help you to get your hands synced very fast!

E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G ||o5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
D ||o--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|


----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||


-------------3--3----------|--------------3--3----------|
-------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4----|
o5--5----------------------|--5--5----------------------|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--------------3--3----------|--------------3--3---------|||
--------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4---|||
--5--5----------------------|--5--5--------------------o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3----------------------|--6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--6--3----------------------|--6--3---------------------|||
-----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3---------|||
--------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3----------------|
--------4-----------------4-------------|
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3----|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
-----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
--------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3---------------|||
--------4-----------------4------------|||
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3--o|||
--------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------|||


-6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
-------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
o---------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
o---------------------------6--5--3----------------|
----------------------------------------------6----|
---------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6-------------|
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6----|
-----3--5--7----------------------------------------|
--6-------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
--------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
-----------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
-----------------------------6--5--3----------------|
-----------------------------------------------6----|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6------------|||
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6---|||
-----3--5--7--------------------------------------o|||
--6-----------------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------------------|||

 Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K ) : 132


Practice it at a very slow tempo with a metronome! Slower you do it better results you will get!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 13 2012, 11:15 AM

Hi Alex, sounds good. I will start with this today and post some progress when it is coming along.

Thnaks

JD

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 13 2012, 06:19 PM

Perfect!Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 21 2012, 01:03 PM

Hi Alex, this exercise is going well. It's a good to warm up with before i play, good to focus on timing also. Just to confirm do you want me to post some progress of this or can we move on?

Thanks in advance

JD

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 22 2012, 07:57 AM

If you feel 100% sure about doing this exercise right we can move on and start getting into improvisation!
Let me know and I will post a new assignment for you right away!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 22 2012, 10:36 AM

Thanks!

Yes I feel confident to move on. I will be utilising the exercise for warm up and timing skills.

Looking forward to the next task.

Thanks for your time

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 24 2012, 07:36 AM

Perfect!
So let's start to get into improvisation a little bit more!
Here is the backing track I would like you to use to practice!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/withguitar


http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

You can use any notes from those positions !Try to combine them together and turn them into short licks!
I would like to hear what you can come up with before I will give you examples!
Let me know if you need help or have any questions!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 26 2012, 11:52 AM

Thats a nice backing track...

Ill post you a take asap

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 27 2012, 04:59 AM

Awesome! I am looking forward to hear your take!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 27 2012, 02:24 PM

Here is a little something.

http://soundcloud.com/j_davis/alex-task-2-short-solo

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 28 2012, 12:04 AM

I like what you did! Nice and very melodic playing!
I would suggest turning down the gain a little bit! You got a very nice sound but it takes away the dynamic in your playing! I will add my take today to give you ideas!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 28 2012, 06:52 AM

Hello!! Here is my take!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/jaxn4

Over D minor 7 I used D minor pentatonic
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

And over E mi7 I used E minor pentatonic
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

I would like you to continue my idea using the same shapes!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jun 28 2012, 10:59 AM

Thanks. I appreciate advice regarding tone setting... I always try and tweak my settings.


Your take is great... i'll learn the shapes first and then once I am fimiliar with them i will try and get some licks happening.


Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 29 2012, 08:01 AM

Sounds good! I am very excited to hear your take! It will be a lot of fun to jam with you!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 1 2012, 01:45 AM

Just wanted to follow up and see how are you doing?
Do you have any questions or need help with anything?

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 2 2012, 10:40 AM

All good thanks. I'm just trying to put together a piece that flows on from yours, tone and feel, etc. shouldn't be too long now.

Also what is your approach to learning new licks and remembering them?

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 3 2012, 06:47 AM

Great I am looking forward to hear your take!
My approach is very simple! Take a lick you want to master, learn it, and start using it when you are jamming! Use it as much as you can, change it up if you want! You can noodle through the track but make sure to concentrate and use lick you are learning!
Do it for a couple of days and this lick will become your own!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 3 2012, 12:05 PM

That makes more sense than the way I have been doing it. :-)
I shall start doing this right away.

Here is my take

http://soundcloud.com/j_davis/alex-jax-jam


This was fun! It was a challenge at first, as your take is smooth, tasty, and professional, I had to come up with something that would suit it.
Looking forward to your feedback...

(I wish my Vibrato was alot more developed)

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 3 2012, 03:51 PM

Let me prepare some exercises to help you with vibrato! Give me a few hours!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 4 2012, 10:25 AM

Thanks alot.

Did you have any comments / suggestions from my take?

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 4 2012, 04:19 PM

I thought I did!
Your take was amazing! I was very very impressed! Very nice sound and great playing! I actually have decided to switch the track and get into something more complicated with you!
This one has chord changes!
C6, Am9, Dm9, G11, C, Am7, Bm7, D7, G6, G6, F#m7, B9, E, G7#5.
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/jazzy

Let's work on this chord progression If we will analyze the first three chords we will get this:
C6 - C - E - G - A
Ami9 - A - C - E - G - B
Dmi9 - D - F - A - C - E
You can play C major scale over it
or A minor, D minor, E minor pentatonics

I would like you to analyze the rest of the chords we are going diatonic only so no melodic or harmonic minor yet!
But we will be using this track for those as well!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 4 2012, 05:01 PM

Thanks alot! That's a great compliment coming from you.
After your suggestion of reducing the amount of gain, I spent a fair bit of time on the tone setting on the AXE FX 2 until i found something that reacted well with the dynamics of the left and right hand....

The next task will be a good process for me as i have never sat back and broke down a backing track like this.

I'll start on this tomorrow and let you know how it goes,

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 5 2012, 05:22 PM

I am glad you are learning new things!
Makes me feel happy!
It is a very good idea to analyze tracks before you play over them and know the chord progressions and what you can play over those! It is also a very fun thing to do! I remember when I started doing it I was opening a "Real Book" and just analyzing standards! This system works very well! Eventually you will see yourself seeing a chord and playing over it without thinking!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 7 2012, 12:24 PM

Hi Alex, Just wondering if you had this excercise available?

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 8 2012, 01:10 AM

When I heard your take I thought your vibrato sounded great! That's why I didn't post the exercise! If you still want me to just let me know!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 8 2012, 10:09 AM

HaHa... what a compliment

That's great to hear. No need for specific excercise... I will work off your feedback from future recordings.

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 9 2012, 06:02 PM

So how is it going with the assignment I gave you? The one with the chord changes?

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 10 2012, 07:42 AM

Slowly. I have broken down the backing into 3 key changes at this stage.

But I am finding it difficult to match licks to the backing as it's a constantly changing chord progression. I'm all good with a blues or rock sort of backing, as it is usally in the same key, but this one has got me working on it alot.

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 10 2012, 06:26 PM

It's good! If it's challenging means you are learning something new!
The reason I gave you this chord progression is because you are sounding very good over Diatonic chord progressions and this challenge will change the way you usually analyze chord! It will challenge you in a new way! Let me know if you have any questions or need helP! s

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 14 2012, 06:27 PM

Just wanted to check and see how is everything going? Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 15 2012, 01:52 AM

Yea Alex I do need some help with this one.

I havit it in the Key of Amin, and changes to B min when the Bmin7 chorde comes in. I know there needs to be another change when F#m7 comes in.... but not sure what key.

I am ok with blues backing as it is only a few chords, but this one has me stuck a bit :-)

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 17 2012, 01:09 AM

There are a few options:
F#m7, B9, E - F# dorian/ F#minor pentatonic/B major pentatonic/ E major pentatonic
G7#5 E harmonic minor

F#m7, B9 - F# dorian
E, G7#5 - E melodic minor

Let me know if it helps! If not I will do more detailed explanation

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 21 2012, 05:31 AM

Hi! I wanted to follow up and see how are you doing? Do you have any questions or need help with anything let me know!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 23 2012, 06:23 PM

Hi! I just wanted to check and see how are you doing? Do you need help with anything? Let me know!

Posted by: JaxN4 Jul 24 2012, 11:01 AM

Hi Alex, thanks for the message. I am still working on this one, you will have my take by Friday. Thanks again Mate

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 25 2012, 06:26 PM

Sounds good! Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: JaxN4 Aug 20 2012, 01:51 PM

Hi Alex.... No real progress here mate.... I cant click with the backing... I have a few melodies but nothing decent and it's been ages. ????

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 20 2012, 06:29 PM

How about we change the backing than? It is not a big deal I want you to have fun! not a struggle!
Let me know what style would you like and I will find something for you

Posted by: JaxN4 Aug 21 2012, 11:07 AM

Thanks, I appreciate your attitude. Well, my main goal is to be a really solid rock guitarist, and I also love how expressive the blues are.
So anything rock or blues would be great.

I just couldn't connect with the other backing. If u know what I mean.

Thanks for your time

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 22 2012, 01:05 AM

Cool! So I have a new track for you it's a rock shuffle style!
Standard Blues progression but a little heavier!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/rockshuffle

I would like to start with you finding out the chord progression!

Posted by: JaxN4 Aug 22 2012, 11:49 AM

Hi Alex, thanks, backing sounds great fun.... Sound like Amin at this stage but I only had a quick listen

I am just about to get on a plane to travel interstate for work, I will be gone for a week, so i'll get started on this then.

Thanks Mate

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 24 2012, 05:25 AM

Sounds great! I am glad you like the backing track!!! We will have a lot of fun playing over it!
Have fun at your work and let me know when you are back!

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 27 2012, 08:38 AM

Hello! I just wanted to check on you and see if you have any questions or need help with anything?

Posted by: JaxN4 Aug 31 2012, 04:45 AM

Ok Alex, I am back from a lil holiday and ready to get into this backing. So the backing is a standard 12 bar blues in A min. Which would then make the chords all min7 right?

Amin7
Dmin7
Emin7

??

And can you help me learn some rock licks? Perhaps if you can post a lick, i will work on it and post my take of the lick?

Thanks Mate

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 3 2012, 08:37 PM

Happy to have you back! You are absolutely correct about the chords!
Here is one of my lessons called 15 blues licks
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/15-Blues-Licks/
It contains 15 licks in style of blues try it out those licks can be useful in any style of music and very fun to play!
Let me know what you think!

Posted by: JaxN4 Sep 4 2012, 11:09 AM

Hey that's a Great Lesson, I like it alot. I will get working on that... and i will post some progress of it when i have it sounding good....

And I will also get working on the backing track you gave me....

Thanks again

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 4 2012, 11:39 PM

Awesome! Sounds great! I am looking forward to hear your take!
Let me know if you have any questions or ned help with anything!

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 7 2012, 11:43 PM

Hi I just wanted to check and see how are you doing? Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything!

Posted by: JaxN4 Sep 26 2012, 01:15 PM

Hey Alex, How are you Mate? Very Busy Lately, so this take is a bit overdue but here is my first solo with your Rock Shuffle backing..... It's short and sweet.... I can build on the ideas and melodies after hearing you feedback.

Thankyou

http://soundcloud.com/j_davis/task-2_alex-rock-shuffle

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 27 2012, 06:06 PM

Wow that was an awesome take!!! I absolutely loved it! Have nothing to add Great job!
I will record my take in a few hours!

Posted by: JaxN4 Sep 28 2012, 12:01 AM

Thanks alot!
. I am finally comfortable with a bit of alternate picking to be able to use it now. Any thought's on the tone? I was aiming for a Andy Timmons sounding lead.

Thanks

Posted by: Alex Feather Sep 30 2012, 04:24 PM

Oh yeah! It was awesome!!! I loved it! I thought it sounded like Timmons
Great job!
I am still working on a new assignment! Will be done soon!

Posted by: JaxN4 Oct 7 2012, 11:59 AM

Haha, Thanks alot Much Appreciated....

No worries take your time with the next task, as I am moving house, interstate, as of tomorrow so I won't be able to play guitar for a while, which is a sad thought But I have one of those finger exerciser's, That gripmaster things, i use it alot already but, I will have to step it up and Smash these fingers of mine.... while my guitars are in storage....

Cheers

JD

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 8 2012, 12:16 AM

Hello!
So I came up with an idea I think what we can work on is to add more licks into your library! It will give you more ideas and you will be able to get new phrasings into your playing!

Here is the tab:

E |--10-7----------------------|----------------------------|
B |-----------8--10------------|--8-------------------------|
G |--------9--------7--8--9----|-----7--6--7L-7-------------|
D |----------------------------|----------------------------|
A |----------------------------|----------------------------|
E |----------------------------|----------------------------|


--------5--------7----------|-----9--12-9----------------|
----------------------------|--10----------10------------|
--6--7-----6--7-----6s-9----|-----------------11-9L-9----|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


--10-7-----10-9--5----------|-----------------9--10------|
--------8-----------7-------|--------7--8--10------------|
-----------------------6----|--7--9----------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
-----------7--6-------------|----------------------------|
--7--8--9--------7----------|----------------------------|
--------------------9--7----|--5--4--5--7----------------|
----------------------------|--------------5-------------|


--------------5--9--5-------|--------------3--2----------|
-----------------------7----|-----------5--------3-------|
-----6--7--8----------------|--6--4--6--------------2----|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|----------------------------|
--------------------10L10b--|--10-8--7L-7b-7-------------|
-----------7--9--11---------|----------------------------|
--------9-------------------|----------------------------|
--7--10---------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


----------------------------|-----7-----9--7--10-12-9----|-------|
-----------7-----8--7--10---|--8-----10------------------|--10---|
--6--9--7-----9-------------|----------------------------|-------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|-------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|-------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|-------|


----------------------------|--5--9--5--2----------------|-------|
-----------------------7----|--------------3-------------|-------|
-----------7--9--7--6-------|-----------------2----------|-------|
--------9-------------------|--------------------4-------|-------|
--7--10---------------------|-----------------------5L---|--5----|
----------------------------|----------------------------|-------|


----------------------------|-----7--10-9----------------|-------|
----------------------------|--8-----------10-------8----|--7----|
--------------------6--9----|-----------------9--7-------|-------|
-----4--7--4--5--7----------|----------------------------|-------|
--5-------------------------|----------------------------|-------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|-------|


----------------------------|-----------7--10-9L-9-------|
--------------7--10-8-------|----------------------------|
-----------------------9----|--7--8--9-------------------|
--9--7--8--9----------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|


--9--10-9-------------------------------------------|
-----------10----------10-12-10-8--7--8--7----------|
--------------9--10-11----------------------9--7----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------5--9--5--7-------------------------|
-----6--7--8--9--------------7----------------------|
--6-----------------------------7--6--7-------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--------------------5--7-----5-----3-----2----------|
--------5--6--7--8--------------------------3-------|
--6--7-----------------------------------------2----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------2--3--2----------------------------------|
--------3-----------5--3--2--------5--3-------------|
--3--4-----------------------2--2-------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--------------8--------------------7--10-9----------|
-----------------7--------------8-----------10------|
--7--5--6--7--------7--6--7--9-----------------9----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--6--7----------------------------------------------|
--------9--7--5--4--2--0L----------------------0----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--------15-14-12----12------------------------------|
-----------------15----15-14-12----12---------------|
--11s12-------------------------14----14-12-11-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------15L15b15L---------15---------|
--11-------------14-16------------------------------|
-----14-12-14-16------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--10-7----------------------------------------------|
--------------10-8----------------------------------|
--------9--7--------------9--7--6--7--6-------------|
--------------------9--7-----------------7-----7----|
--------------------------------------------9-------|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------7--9--10L10------------------||
--------------7--8--10------------------------------||
-----6--7--9----------------------------------------||
--9-------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||
----------------------------------------------------||

 10_Slide_licks.gp5 ( 3.16K ) : 88


Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything!
P.S. where are you moving to? I just moved myself not so long ago and it is a pain so I feel you

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 24 2012, 01:15 AM

Hi I just wanted to follow up and see how is everything going? Do you have any questions or need help with anything?

Posted by: JaxN4 Jan 1 2013, 11:24 AM

Hi Alex, Happy New Year mate.
It has been a while since I have been around, as stated above in my last post I had to move interstate, finally set up now and ready to get into it.
Now, I haven't been able to play for about 6 weeks, so I am very rusty, and over the next few days I will just be trying to get my fingers back into shape. I will look into the last task you posted for me, about learning new licks, do you have that post in guitar pro format?

Thanks again, and I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year mate,

Cheers

Posted by: JaxN4 Jan 3 2013, 12:49 PM

GP5 is above.... D'oh!