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Posted by: Tolek Dec 16 2008, 10:09 PM

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Introduction
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Hey folks,
my name is Anatol Maximilian Konior. That´s a bit long, so just shorten it and call me Tolek.
I am 17 years old and I live in Luxembourg. I`ve been playing classical guitar for 7 years and electric guitar for 3 years now. I mainly spend my days with practising, I still can´t stop.
I hope you will like my first lesson.




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Structure:

1. About the Lesson
2. The Lesson
3. Harmonic Analysis of this Lesson
4. Last Words

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About the Lesson
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Sweeping is a very difficult technique and a lot of lessons show the use of it in an extremely fast way. Personally, I became a bit frustrated when seeing not only the instructors but also the great guys of the guitar world sweeping like crazy. That´s why I decided to do a pretty slow lesson on sweeping. When I finsished a long lick, I started to play some legato and I asked myself: 'Why not some legato in that lesson?' So, the second part consists of long legato runs in order to develop your left hand strength. In my opinion, legato is a good manner to play really cool stuff plus it makes your left hand feel really comfortable on the fretboard.
I suppose that you know the sweeping basics. If not, check out http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/sweeping-basics-lesson/.
Tempo is 75 bpm. This exercice starts in D Major and ends in C# Major.
Well, let´s start.

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The Lesson
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================================================================================

     d d d d d u     u u u u  d d d d d u       u u  u u
|-----------2-5s9p5------------------7-10s12p9-------------|
|*--------3---------7--------------8----------10----------*|
|-------2-------------6----------7---------------9---------|
|-----4-----------------7------9-------------------11------|
|*--5---------------------9-10------------------------12--*|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

These are basic 5-string-sweeps over http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/D%20Major.jpg, http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/F%23%20minor.jpg, http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/G%20Major.jpg and http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/A%20Major.jpg chords which gives us a nice intro and defines the D Major scale. Talking about rhythm, the notes are all 16th-triplets.
================================================================================

    d  d  d  d d u        u  u  u  u  d  d  d  d  d  u       u  u u  u
|--------------9-12s14p10-------------------------10-14s12p9--------------|
|-----------10------------12-------------------12------------10-----------|
|---------9------------------11-------------11------------------9---------|
|------11-----------------------12-------12-----------------------11------|
|---12-----------------------------14-14-----------------------------12---|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

Here we repeat the same shape as in the first bar. We start with an http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/A%20Major.jpg chord (V degree of D Major scale) which is followed by a http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/B%20minor.jpg chord (VI degree of D Major scale). This succession of degrees is called Deceptive Cadence because it gives a musical surprise. The listener supposes that the V degree goes back to the I, but in that case, a completely new dimension/atmosphere is created.
All notes are 16-triplets, again.
================================================================================

    d  d  d  d d u       u u u u  d  d d d d u      u u u u
|--------------9-12s10p7-------------------7-10s9p6-----------|
|-----------10-----------8---------------8----------7---------|
|---------9----------------7-----------7--------------6-------|
|------11--------------------9-------9------------------8-----|
|---12-------------------------10-10----------------------9---|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

This bar starts with an http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/A%20Major.jpg triad, too. On the 2nd beat, we have a http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/G%20Major.jpg chord followed by a F# Major chord on the 4th beat. Guess what rhythm we have.
================================================================================

    d d d d d u       u  u  u  u  d     d  d  u  u     d  u d  u  d  u
|-----------6-9s14p10----------10-17p12----------12---19-17-15------------|
|---------7-----------12----12----------14----14---------------19-17-15---|
|-------6----------------11----------------14-----------------------------|
|-----8-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---9---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

We continue with the http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/F%23%20Major.jpg Arpeggio, this time the melody goes up. After a slide to the 14th fret, we sweep only over 3 strings, first over the http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/B%20minor%20shortened.jpg chord and then over the http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/A%20Major%20shortened.jpg chord. We end this bar with a descending lick which goes stepwise from B to D as we want to reach C#. Rhythmically we stay the same.
================================================================================
(SAME VIDEO AS FOR THE PREVIOUS EXAMPLE BECAUSE I MESSED UP A BIT... I FORGOT TO DO TWO DIFFERENT VIDEOS, SORRY)

    u  u  u  d  u    d
|------------------------|
|---14-------------------|
|------13----------------|
|---------15-18----------|
|---------------16s4-4---|
|------------------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

Hurray! Another rhythms are waiting for us. The measure consists of 4 16th notes, one 8th note with a dot, a 16th note and a half note. This bar is used to modulate in a proper way (by using a simple http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/C%23%20Major.jpg triad) into C# Major which is a half step lower than D Major.
================================================================================

    d           d           d
|-------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------8p5h6h8p6p5h6---|
|---------------8p4h6h8p6p4-----------------|
|---8p4h6h8p6p4-----------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

A completely new atmosphere is created in this 2nd part due to the modulation. Also, we don´t sweep anymore - the technique used here is the well-known legato. Pick the first note on every string to accentuate the on-the-beat-notes. There are 16th-triplets again. http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/C%23%20Major%20Scale.jpg scale is used.
================================================================================

|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------
|---8p5h6h8p6p5-h10p6h8h10p8p6-h11p8h10h11p10p8-h13p10h11h13p11p10---|---h15p11h13h15p13p11-h17p13h15h17p15p13-h18---
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------

This lick is very simple. We use a pattern over the whole C# Major scale on one single string. Pay attention to the correct switching of position. Rhythm is again the same: 16th-triplets except from the last note which a quarter note. http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/C%23%20Major%20Scale.jpg scale is used.
================================================================================

-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------
-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------
---18p15h17h18p17p15---|---h17p13h15h17p15p13-h15p11h13h15p13p11-h13p10h11h13p11p10-h11p8h10h11p10p8---|---s6---
-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------
-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------
-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------

Nearly the same lick as in the previous lick is used here, we just return to low C#. Again pay attention to the correct switching of position. Same rhythm: 16th-triplets and a last quarter note. http://tolekk.to.funpic.de/lesson/Shapes/C%23%20Major%20Scale.jpg scale is used.
================================================================================

   u u u d       u d u  d
-------------|----------------|
-------------|----------------|
---6---------|----------------|
-----6---6---|---4------------|
-------8-----|-----6-4--5p4---|
-------------|----------------|
d= downstroke
u= upstroke

I think that this very popular song ending would be perfect here. This is my little present to you all for Christmas. You can use economy picking or just alternate picking. I prefer the first. You wonder why I decided to end very anormally. I thought of reminding the listener of the previous part, so I played a D grace note before the C#. This time the rhythm is a bit complexer: 3 quarter triplets, 1 quarter, 1 16th followed by a 8th with a dot, a half and finally a quarter note that is linked with a whole note in the next bar.
================================================================================

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Analysis of this Lesson
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This lesson is divided into two big parts:

• 1st Part: Sweeping, D Major
• 2nd Part: Legato, C# Major

In the first part, we concentrate on sweep picking. I tried to use only one shape in order to get that one down. One exception is the A Major 3-strings-sweep. The first few bars are in D Major. On the last beat of measure 4, we borrow the leading note of the parallel tonality which is a A#, the augmented VII degree of B minor. Measure 6 modulates into C# Major and leads us to the second part.

The second part builds up our legato skills. Pick as little as possible, if not, your left hand will work less and develop less. Harmonically speaking, we modulate a 2nd min down to C#. There are no out-notes except from the last grace note which reminds of the previous key.

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Last Words
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I hope you enjoyed my first lesson on GMC. I worked for the last two days on it and it was pretty much work. I learnt a lot about recording, 'Exploring Guitar' and Sweeping&Legato of course.
Some hints for practising: make sure that you understood the basics of Sweep Picking and Legato; practise with a metronome; record yourself so that you can see your progress. If you want, you can show me a video of your take and I´ll comment it.
Thank you for watching my videos and reading the descriptions. If you are unsure about anything, feel free to ask me. I am keen to help you. I can´t sleep well if I know that you have troubles, so please let me really know about your progress with this lesson.

Backing track:  Sweep_Picking___Legato_Lesson.mid ( 14bytes ) : 281

GuitarProFile:  Sweep_Picking___Legato_Lesson.gp5 ( 7.41K ) : 289



Cheers,
Tolek

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Dec 17 2008, 11:33 AM

Great 1st lesson Tolek!
You choose two very important techniques and you did a good job man. I look forward to more of your lessons in the future.
I hope you can sleep well now - no problems with this one

Posted by: Tolek Dec 17 2008, 11:45 AM

Hey Pedja, I´m glad you like it.

If somebody has any questions at all, he should ask me immediately.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Dec 17 2008, 11:56 AM

Very cool SI lesson - thanks Tolek!

Posted by: Tolek Dec 17 2008, 11:57 AM

I forgot to add my prepared GP-File and the backing track.

I just did it.

@Kris
Cool that you like it. I hope my future lessons will be helpful.

Posted by: coffeeman Dec 17 2008, 04:46 PM

Very nice lesson Tolek , and perfectly presented you did an awesome work.

Posted by: Velvet Roger Dec 17 2008, 05:22 PM

Awesome lesson here Tolek, thanks!

Posted by: enforcer Dec 17 2008, 05:41 PM

Very good lesson Tolek, it actually made me think about seriously preparing a SI lesson myself

Posted by: Tolek Dec 17 2008, 05:43 PM

Thanks a lot for your kind replies, guys. It makes me feel that my work was useful.

Yes, why not. Every input is cool.
Prepare well and take your time. It´s a lot of work to do. If you need any help, just ask me.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 17 2008, 10:17 PM

wow, great lesson TOlek mate, lots of useful info here! Well done!

Posted by: Tolek Dec 17 2008, 10:21 PM

I´m glad you like my lesson, Ivan.
I hope I won´t disappoint you with my next lesson over your backing track. Thanks again for your permission.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 19 2008, 07:58 PM

No problem mate, anytime

Posted by: Jad Diab Dec 25 2008, 10:35 PM

Great lesson man, legato and sweeping are great techniques ...
Keep those lesson coming

Posted by: Tolek Dec 25 2008, 10:45 PM

Thanks, Jad. You´ll see a next lesson soon.

Posted by: Fran Feb 10 2010, 07:35 PM

Just added this one to the knowledge base
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Tolek_-_Sweeping_%26_Legato_SI_Lesson