QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Feb 14 2012, 02:40 AM)
Hi Mike,
I hope you don't mind me jumping in here and trying to help.
I found the gallop rhthym quite tricky too. However, the time I really got better at it was when I stopped over analyzing it and just felt the groove.
One thing that helps is if you can play constant 16th notes at the speed that the gallop riff is at. You don't have to be able to do it constantly for hours and have stamina of iron, but being able to play a constant 16th note alternating motion is the foundation for being able to do the gallop pattern.
Look at the pick itself. One thing that helped me increase my speed and efficiency of motion was to visualise the pick staying as close as possible to the string when I was playing. The faster we go and the more effort we put in, the pick tends to travel in a bigger motion. It's our job to counteract this but reigning it in and keeping the motion tight and focused on the string.
As for the gallop riff itself, one thing that helps me is by focusing my mental attention and my pick energy on the (I think they're called..) quarter notes. The 1, 2, 3 & 4 that makes up a bar. If you're playing it right, then these beats should always occur during a downstroke. By concentrating your focus on these bits, you can stay in time easier and the alternating notes in between can occur with less effort. You may find that by concentrating on certain beats, you're able to sustain your picking for longer because you have a reference point. You can go beyond what you thought your speed limit was by doing this
Ben,
No way man... I never mind you jumping in. I really appreciate it. I really liked the comment:
"I found the gallop rhythm quite tricky too. However, the time I really got better at it was when I stopped over analyzing it and just felt the groove."
My wife keeps telling me this and I quess I really tried it tonight and I think it helped tremendously. I just need to practice, practice, practice to clean/tighten it up. I think that has been an issue for me all along. You know my job is very technical and with the 15 plus years of Computer Programming etc... really has trained my mind to think in logic. I do HVAC Controls now for the last 6 years and I'm programmed to analyze everything. Thanks for the tip. I will continue on and I will do a take of this lesson when I'm ready. I would be anxious to see my comments on it. I want to get it down much better before I REC it.
It's almost like I'm trashed when it comes to the Metronome. I don't know why I hate it so bad. I think it's because I don't quite understand how to use it very good. When you were talking about the quarter notes 1 and 2 and 3 and 4... I can do that and end on the down stroke on each beat however when I set the metronome to play it with it am I understanding I need to have
2 guitar picks per each beat ending up in 8 total ??? I really want to use the metronome to practice because I know from comments of some of the best players have always said that is what made them so spot on and exact. Take for example your playing. Man I've never heard spot on playing and control like you have Ben. I envy you and am so jealous. Anyway I just wanted to reply and say Thanks Mate. I will talk to you soon and in the meantime I will continue practicing. I did look at a video of Kris showing how to use a metronome. I think I need to visit that lesson again now that I'm more serious.
Thanks again !!
You are at GuitarMasterClass.net
Don't miss today's
free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with
free content!
This post has been edited by Mike RR24: Feb 15 2012, 05:28 AM