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GMC Forum _ Cosmin Lupu _ Spasemoonkey's Preparation Frenzy

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 21 2012, 10:53 AM

Welcome to your thread mate!

Let's make this a place where we can discuss on your personal routine and create it so that you may achieve progress wink.gif

Since you showed me that vid, I guess technique is a relevant subject for ya so we should tackle the most important aspects:

- Alternate Picking
- Riffing/ rhythm playing
- Articulation
- Legato

On the other hand there's theory, which is fairly important.

Would you like sharing some thoughts with me, regarding the level you are having on these here and which one would you like to focus on?

all the best

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 21 2012, 01:25 PM

Hellos Cosmin!

Lets see a little bit about each of my areas. Strongest to weakest Riffing, Alternate Picking, Articulation, Legato.

1. Riffing, this is my all time highest for the simple fact growing up not having teachers it was easy to pick up on, just simple power chords and chugging. I can play most riffs that Metallica throws out at me as a staple for where I'm at. Getting into more modern metal, forget it. Symphony X I just drool and my brain fizzes. laugh.gif

2. Alternate Picking, I'm fine when it comes to riffing, but you want to turn it into a lead passage I'm done. I try to do it and I've gotten better but it's still out of my reach.

3. Articulation, I'm thinking this is what is stopping me from the faster passages of single notes and clarity in my playing.

E--------9----------
B-9-10-12--12-10-9--

Example when I play that I can do it slow and it is clean, but when I hit higher up I'm thinking around 100bpm on the up stroke hitting the E string I'm slightly taping the B string as well with the pick and causing extra sound.

4. Legato, I honestly don't think I've ever really worked on this what so ever. I pick practically everything I've ever played. Maybe a few hammer-ons but nothing extended more than a few notes.


I was going to say Articulation for the fact it sounds like everything coincides with it as far as clean playing and precision. But seeing that Legato is my weakest I must say... I Choose You Legato! This way I can finger dexterity so they don't get tired, some better finger independence to not have to think as much when I have to play, and to help make them more precise so I don't have flying finger syndrome.


I hope this helps give a better idea as to where everything is placed as to what I am currently able to do. Also gives me a chance to see myself make progress to see where I've started and where I am heading. smile.gif

- Travis S.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 22 2012, 10:13 PM

Ahoy Travis! Well well biggrin.gif for Legato we can work with good comrade Ben's series:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/search/land%20of%20legato/n/5/10/n/n/n/t/f/

and regarding articulation - I was referring at banding and vibrato smile.gif how are you faring with those? biggrin.gif

So legato it is smile.gif let's pick the 1st lesson in the series, take a look over it and tell me if everything is cool and doable, k?

nighty night

Cosmin

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 21 2012, 12:25 PM) *
Hellos Cosmin!

Lets see a little bit about each of my areas. Strongest to weakest Riffing, Alternate Picking, Articulation, Legato.

1. Riffing, this is my all time highest for the simple fact growing up not having teachers it was easy to pick up on, just simple power chords and chugging. I can play most riffs that Metallica throws out at me as a staple for where I'm at. Getting into more modern metal, forget it. Symphony X I just drool and my brain fizzes. laugh.gif

2. Alternate Picking, I'm fine when it comes to riffing, but you want to turn it into a lead passage I'm done. I try to do it and I've gotten better but it's still out of my reach.

3. Articulation, I'm thinking this is what is stopping me from the faster passages of single notes and clarity in my playing.

E--------9----------
B-9-10-12--12-10-9--

Example when I play that I can do it slow and it is clean, but when I hit higher up I'm thinking around 100bpm on the up stroke hitting the E string I'm slightly taping the B string as well with the pick and causing extra sound.

4. Legato, I honestly don't think I've ever really worked on this what so ever. I pick practically everything I've ever played. Maybe a few hammer-ons but nothing extended more than a few notes.


I was going to say Articulation for the fact it sounds like everything coincides with it as far as clean playing and precision. But seeing that Legato is my weakest I must say... I Choose You Legato! This way I can finger dexterity so they don't get tired, some better finger independence to not have to think as much when I have to play, and to help make them more precise so I don't have flying finger syndrome.


I hope this helps give a better idea as to where everything is placed as to what I am currently able to do. Also gives me a chance to see myself make progress to see where I've started and where I am heading. smile.gif

- Travis S.


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 22 2012, 11:00 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Mar 22 2012, 05:13 PM) *
Ahoy Travis! Well well biggrin.gif for Legato we can work with good comrade Ben's series:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/search/land%20of%20legato/n/5/10/n/n/n/t/f/

and regarding articulation - I was referring at banding and vibrato smile.gif how are you faring with those? biggrin.gif

So legato it is smile.gif let's pick the 1st lesson in the series, take a look over it and tell me if everything is cool and doable, k?

nighty night

Cosmin


Checking the link, looks like a great starting point. Going to get some grub and get started on it!

Bending and vibrato I can do it, just get yelled at that I do it with the fingers not the wrist. laugh.gif

Night Cosmin!

- Travis S.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 24 2012, 10:42 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 22 2012, 10:00 PM) *
Checking the link, looks like a great starting point. Going to get some grub and get started on it!

Bending and vibrato I can do it, just get yelled at that I do it with the fingers not the wrist. laugh.gif

Night Cosmin!

- Travis S.


Alright mate! I am here and waiting for your questions - and we have to see about the wrist motion wink.gif you won't get away tongue.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 24 2012, 11:22 AM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Mar 24 2012, 05:42 AM) *
Alright mate! I am here and waiting for your questions - and we have to see about the wrist motion wink.gif you won't get away tongue.gif

Cosmin


Will do I'll have to record something here one day to get a better look on what I am doing for ya.

I shall give a quick update as well before I head out to work.

I am working on Ben's Land Of Legato 1! WOOOO GO BEN!!!

- Day 1: I learned that my DAW has this weird triangle button that makes a constant beeping that I set for how close it beeps!
I also learned the full lesson and worked on it at around 50bpm to get use to the passages in sections.
Ending rate was about 80bpm that was clean enough for me to call it a good ending of the sesson.

- Day 2: Yesterday, I learned playing it around 90bpm that my fingers started to hate life after a few good runs. So I just shook
it off and kept pushing a little bit. I can play it at the targeted 110bpm now minus the very last section of it. The finger
movement throws me off every few runs.

- Day 3: Today, I'm updating you on my progress and future goal for after work. laugh.gif I'm hoping I can hit the 115-120bpm mark
then get it worked out to feeling like second nature. Then I hope for tomorrow I can do a few passes at 120-125bpm.
If it comes out well there shall be a recording at the target rate of 110bpm!

- Travis S.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 24 2012, 11:02 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 24 2012, 10:22 AM) *
Will do I'll have to record something here one day to get a better look on what I am doing for ya.

I shall give a quick update as well before I head out to work.

I am working on Ben's Land Of Legato 1! WOOOO GO BEN!!!

- Day 1: I learned that my DAW has this weird triangle button that makes a constant beeping that I set for how close it beeps!
I also learned the full lesson and worked on it at around 50bpm to get use to the passages in sections.
Ending rate was about 80bpm that was clean enough for me to call it a good ending of the sesson.

- Day 2: Yesterday, I learned playing it around 90bpm that my fingers started to hate life after a few good runs. So I just shook
it off and kept pushing a little bit. I can play it at the targeted 110bpm now minus the very last section of it. The finger
movement throws me off every few runs.

- Day 3: Today, I'm updating you on my progress and future goal for after work. laugh.gif I'm hoping I can hit the 115-120bpm mark
then get it worked out to feeling like second nature. Then I hope for tomorrow I can do a few passes at 120-125bpm.
If it comes out well there shall be a recording at the target rate of 110bpm!

- Travis S.


Hey Travis! It sounds very good man wink.gif I would like to ask if at 110 BPM you can record while being TOTALLY relaxed? I experienced some difficulties when recording stuff at speed and not feeling ultra relaxed with all passages. Now, it depends from day to day (how much you slept, what amount of water you had and how tired you are can mean A LOT) but I tend to try and become as relaxed as possible with a piece when playing it wink.gif how bout you?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 25 2012, 10:54 AM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Mar 24 2012, 06:02 PM) *
Hey Travis! It sounds very good man wink.gif I would like to ask if at 110 BPM you can record while being TOTALLY relaxed? I experienced some difficulties when recording stuff at speed and not feeling ultra relaxed with all passages. Now, it depends from day to day (how much you slept, what amount of water you had and how tired you are can mean A LOT) but I tend to try and become as relaxed as possible with a piece when playing it wink.gif how bout you?

Cosmin

We shall find out later, I did a quick run while reading this and I'm rather relaxed, but once that camera is on its a total different story. I actually got a good solid 8 hours of sleep last night and I've been drink a lot of water due to it turning into the spring season here. I do notice tho with what you say. My best day for playing is Monday, typically after I go to the gym. Not sure if my body is so tired it has to stay relaxed or just because it was use to something more intense.

- Travis S.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 25 2012, 08:14 PM

biggrin.gif I usually suck at guitar playing right after coming from the gym smile.gif I feel too adrenalized somehow and I can't control my limbs. I usually need relaxation in order to get things going. Regarding the camera - start recording even though you may not get the right results from the very first take. The idea is that the more you record, the better and more relaxed you will be wink.gif give it a try bro!

Cosmin

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 25 2012, 09:54 AM) *
We shall find out later, I did a quick run while reading this and I'm rather relaxed, but once that camera is on its a total different story. I actually got a good solid 8 hours of sleep last night and I've been drink a lot of water due to it turning into the spring season here. I do notice tho with what you say. My best day for playing is Monday, typically after I go to the gym. Not sure if my body is so tired it has to stay relaxed or just because it was use to something more intense.

- Travis S.


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 26 2012, 01:14 AM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-legato-01

29 Records later this is the best I got, but I got better on every record!

How can I clean up my playing with this? Besides more practice. laugh.gif I'm taking a break right now my fingers are like whoa buddy calm down right now. But I'm thinking maybe back it down some more or maybe I need to actually raise the action of the guitar because the notes don't seem to ring out quite as well live either.

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 26 2012, 05:12 AM

Wow.. 4 hours later, I should have been in bed 2 hours ago... But! biggrin.gif



I see my hand does a weird side move with the notes, must conquer that and a few spots have a slight delay making it not sound so fluid. But I got a decent video made for progress instead of a clip.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 26 2012, 07:54 AM

Hey Travis biggrin.gif the video and take are awesome mate!

Legato is based on fluidity and good timing - you need to move your left hand less, that's why I'd suggest practicing at a slower tempo while focusing on as little movement as possible wink.gif

try this on for size and let's see what we get

Cosmin


QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 26 2012, 04:12 AM) *
Wow.. 4 hours later, I should have been in bed 2 hours ago... But! biggrin.gif



I see my hand does a weird side move with the notes, must conquer that and a few spots have a slight delay making it not sound so fluid. But I got a decent video made for progress instead of a clip.


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 27 2012, 11:48 PM



I think this is rather nice, even used software for the tone.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 28 2012, 02:35 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 27 2012, 10:48 PM) *


I think this is rather nice, even used software for the tone.

hey Travis!

it's better than the previous one but you can improve even more smile.gif what tempo did you start with?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 28 2012, 03:40 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Mar 28 2012, 09:35 AM) *
hey Travis!

it's better than the previous one but you can improve even more smile.gif what tempo did you start with?

Cosmin

I tried to go around 60bpm but I was bored after a few runs so I kicked to about 75bpm that way it was still slow and I could do it without picking randomly to watch just my fingers. From that I realized which sections I tend to sway my hand, which i watched Ben and he does it a bit but not quite as much. I think for me that I have the sway so much is because of the stretch is so great for me on the first, middle, pinky when I have to skip a fret between. I may pull out my Gibson and give it a shot since the neck is a 24.75" scale not a 27" so I won't be stressing to stretch that long of a distance.

So I'm going to throw on some new strings right after I click Add Reply and give it a whirl to see if that may actually be an issue or I'm just trying to be like well its 2" longer so.. In theory it is harder for my small hands. laugh.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 29 2012, 12:56 AM

hey man! i think practice will solve this one out and those stretches can't hurt you : ) give it a try at least : )

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Mar 30 2012, 03:40 AM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Mar 28 2012, 07:56 PM) *
hey man! i think practice will solve this one out and those stretches can't hurt you : ) give it a try at least : )

Try 3! I gave it like 15m of practice before work about all the time I had on the other guitar. Well the stretch was easier but still seem to look the same. Went to work did that fun stuff, hung out with a friend had some japanese food came home did like 30m of playing and recorded.

I see what you mean about recording also, the first time took me like forever to get it recorded, this last time I did like 3 loops of playing and I got this video! smile.gif

I also bought some new bulbs that last video was super dark not sure if it was because it was day time out or not, but this one is way cleaner.



Also I've noticed after watching my other videos then this. My entire arm was moving back and forth also, so I tried to watch my playing more because of that. I also shifted my thumb towards the bottom of the neck and had my fingers more perpendicular to the strings. That made those stretches quite a bit more relaxed. To me it sort of looks like it shows due to my arm looking nothing like my past videos.

That's crazy to see my playing change in just a week of a lesson.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 31 2012, 05:53 PM

Hey man! biggrin.gif the change is obvious and it's only for the best - the only think which I think you have to work on with this one would be the timing, by that I mean that the notes should be more even smile.gif get this done and it's just great wink.gif

Let's see the take!!

Cosmin

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Mar 30 2012, 02:40 AM) *
Try 3! I gave it like 15m of practice before work about all the time I had on the other guitar. Well the stretch was easier but still seem to look the same. Went to work did that fun stuff, hung out with a friend had some japanese food came home did like 30m of playing and recorded.

I see what you mean about recording also, the first time took me like forever to get it recorded, this last time I did like 3 loops of playing and I got this video! smile.gif

I also bought some new bulbs that last video was super dark not sure if it was because it was day time out or not, but this one is way cleaner.



Also I've noticed after watching my other videos then this. My entire arm was moving back and forth also, so I tried to watch my playing more because of that. I also shifted my thumb towards the bottom of the neck and had my fingers more perpendicular to the strings. That made those stretches quite a bit more relaxed. To me it sort of looks like it shows due to my arm looking nothing like my past videos.

That's crazy to see my playing change in just a week of a lesson.


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 2 2012, 12:50 AM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-legato-01-04

Alright here we go again, now that I hear this backing in my sleep. I think I see where you talk of my timing is off. I played with Sir Ben himself! (Ok..ok.. I just played with him playing on his video you got me! laugh.gif ) But seems after the slide 15th fret is where my timing goes off. I hope this is better timed, it sounds it to me, but your the teach!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 2 2012, 09:20 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Apr 1 2012, 11:50 PM) *
http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-legato-01-04

Alright here we go again, now that I hear this backing in my sleep. I think I see where you talk of my timing is off. I played with Sir Ben himself! (Ok..ok.. I just played with him playing on his video you got me! laugh.gif ) But seems after the slide 15th fret is where my timing goes off. I hope this is better timed, it sounds it to me, but your the teach!


Hey Travis! I hear improvement of course and you're nearly there man! You tend to slouch a bit when shifting positions which is normal when you're training with legato at the beginning. Be more precise and in time when shifting the positions, k? One more? biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

We could also go for some bending and vibrato in the mean time if you'd like wink.gif so that you won't grow bored biggrin.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 2 2012, 12:31 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 2 2012, 04:20 AM) *
Hey Travis! I hear improvement of course and you're nearly there man! You tend to slouch a bit when shifting positions which is normal when you're training with legato at the beginning. Be more precise and in time when shifting the positions, k? One more? biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

We could also go for some bending and vibrato in the mean time if you'd like wink.gif so that you won't grow bored biggrin.gif


Oh I'll try and give you another recording tomorrow or later today since I will have some free time. But sure go for throwing a new task at me sir! Will help break that monotonous feeling of a single lessons since its all I play when I have my guitar in my hands.

Will the legato help other aspects of playing? Because I'm seeing/hearing in my playing that if its even the slightest bit off it seems sloppy. Where as AP you can be a bit sloppy and it gets hard to spot out. And thanks for all the pushing my timing has been horrible for as long as I can remember. Feels good being on time! laugh.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 2 2012, 05:29 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-legato-01-05

Hudokin! So I did a few runs with Ben then did it against my old recording, I see what you mean, its tiny changes on certain sections so I hammered down on them slowly then did a few more runs with Ben, set up the DAW took a few loops and here she is! Also boosted the guitar up so its easier for me to even spot some changes. I hear one towards the end but the jump from to 15 I even got it without the slide sound! I am actually happy with this progress a simple slide less sound and I'm kinda giddy! Wanted to post an update back to playing!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 2 2012, 06:07 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Apr 2 2012, 04:29 PM) *
http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-legato-01-05

I'm very curious to hear your vibrato in action smile.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 2 2012, 06:33 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 2 2012, 01:07 PM) *
Hey Travis biggrin.gif it's better and better man! Don't pump the gain up too much as I don't want you to lose focus on playing clean due to the fact that gain might cover some mistakes tongue.gif

Let's try the vibrato lesson k?

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Vibrato-Odyssey/

I'm very curious to hear your vibrato in action smile.gif

Cosmin

Ever hear a cat get its tail stepped on? Then you've heard my vibrato! tongue.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 2 2012, 07:59 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Apr 2 2012, 05:33 PM) *
Ever hear a cat get its tail stepped on? Then you've heard my vibrato! tongue.gif


C'mon man, it can't be that bad biggrin.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 3 2012, 09:32 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 2 2012, 02:59 PM) *
C'mon man, it can't be that bad biggrin.gif

Better than I thought!


But I also went out of my way and tried to watch and listen to people play the Skyrim Theme. And took a break from lessons and just jammed a bit. After that I just dabbled in reaper which isn't something I normally do.
http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/game-01

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 7 2012, 12:43 AM

Took a few days break from intense lesson working, but I feel great.

I took a vacation day tomorrow from work since I'm going to have a crazy day, but extremely fun! Hanging out with a friend for the day, can't wait to jam a bit with him. Because I feel more confident playing in front of others which I think is because of you and pushing me to play with a camera/camcorder. Going to the local guitar shop, get some lunch, show him a few tips with Reaper, then head out to the big city for the Buckethead concert! biggrin.gif

But before he gets here I hope to do some crunching down with practice to be warmed up, I hope to get a good recording of the legato for REC. And I shall work the vibrato with a video also and see where that stands.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 7 2012, 07:51 AM

Ahoy there mate! Sounds like a very good plan to me wink.gif

As you will play more and more against backing tracks and in front of people, with other people and on recordings, you will become confident and precise wink.gif keep on doing a great job! I'm here to help so let's see the new vids biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 7 2012, 05:12 PM



Lets see where this sits, cut down movement and also gain as you said.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 9 2012, 09:45 AM

Hey Travis! Getting better, but still, there are some timing issues here and there! Give it some more time for the moment and focus on the vibrato one. We will get back to this one once you manage to bring the vibrato one up to level smile.gif

what say you

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 10 2012, 09:26 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-vibrato

*cringes* So I kinda avoided this.. Lol.. Guess I really need to work majorly on here... I'm going to break them down into sections. But I see a huge problem, on the --10~p8~-- I can't get it to ring at all do I need to add gain or? I'm in the air about that because I'm pulling off quite hard.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 11 2012, 10:31 AM

Hey there mate! You're close wink.gif just a bit more practice and you'll nail it, no need for more gain though, just for more so called 'roundness' on the vibrated notes smile.gif

No need for being shy, you're n the right track hombre wink.gif I think one more will do justice and we can move on!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 13 2012, 03:21 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-vibrato-02

There we go another one finished. Sounds a bit more equal with the vibrato instead of just noise it sounds more uniform to me, but also the timing sounds a bit better also.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 14 2012, 11:53 AM

hey Travis! We are definitely making progress biggrin.gif There are some spots where you rushed and others where you were a bit slow - I would focus on evening things up by listening closely to the rhythm - so focus on working with the backing track a bit more and I think this should nail it!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 16 2012, 06:50 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 14 2012, 06:53 AM) *
hey Travis! We are definitely making progress biggrin.gif There are some spots where you rushed and others where you were a bit slow - I would focus on evening things up by listening closely to the rhythm - so focus on working with the backing track a bit more and I think this should nail it!

Cosmin

I'm super unhappy with this recording due to sound. I think my LP may end up getting racked and another guitar will come out. I can't get sustain from it for the life of me. But I shall post it anyways..

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-vibrato-03

I did listen to it a few times thats how I came up with I'm unhappy with it, but on the bright side. I see what you mean about the vibrato not being rounded, I had a friend listen to me play it and he was like hes right. Told me to just play out some riffs get nice and loose and then give it a whirl. That helped but I see what you are talking about the sine wave basically of the vibrato isn't timed right its just whatever not a nice constant motion. I do think I hit that better on this video tho.



Secondly I have a question which will be rather easy for you to answer. I've been fiddling around with my guitar with say TV themes and stuff in movies and I got some this. I believe its also E-Standard Tuning.



------------
------------
-10--08--06-
-10--08--06-
-08--06--04-
-08--06--04-


I've had it in my head and made it out checked it with a video that I got it from but that third chord isn't right is it by some chance maybe?
----
----
-08-
-XX-
-06-
-04-

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 17 2012, 06:59 PM

Wow maaan! biggrin.gif what a cool piece of music biggrin.gif the last chord is x468xx or 4468xx smile.gif never mistake the sound of an added 9th tongue.gif

Keep practicing the vibrato a bit more, but with this one now biggrin.gif I don't want you to get bored tongue.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Vibrato-Odyssey-2/

let us try this one for size smile.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 17 2012, 09:05 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 17 2012, 01:59 PM) *
Wow maaan! biggrin.gif what a cool piece of music biggrin.gif the last chord is x468xx or 4468xx smile.gif never mistake the sound of an added 9th tongue.gif

Keep practicing the vibrato a bit more, but with this one now biggrin.gif I don't want you to get bored tongue.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Vibrato-Odyssey-2/

let us try this one for size smile.gif

Cosmin

HA! I figured it out earlier by accident I missed the not and was like.. Wait a second! Lol and you stumbled upon Eric's video. Silly Cosmin

Gah not this type of vibrato... laugh.gif What is actually the best way to accomplish it, arm/wrist or the finger?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 17 2012, 09:09 PM

biggrin.gif wrist mate! That's the secret tongue.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 20 2012, 11:32 PM



I have not been ignoring this task tho it has been a few day post. It was extremely new to me this is after about 3 hours of practice time trying to get use to the circle aspect.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 21 2012, 11:50 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Apr 20 2012, 10:32 PM) *


I have not been ignoring this task tho it has been a few day post. It was extremely new to me this is after about 3 hours of practice time trying to get use to the circle aspect.


Hey Travis! This is looking REALLY good man! I mean, it's pretty round and defined, but please take care of the unwanted noise when you are hitting some other strings too biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 21 2012, 11:05 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 21 2012, 06:50 AM) *
Hey Travis! This is looking REALLY good man! I mean, it's pretty round and defined, but please take care of the unwanted noise when you are hitting some other strings too biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Oh I'm not close to being done with this jazz, I have been worried that when I started it felt awkward. As I did an hour of it, it felt more natural. So I had to do a take and post to make sure I was doing the correct movements so I wasn't creating a bad habit. And those other strings just didn't feel as loved so they are like Hey! What about me! laugh.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 22 2012, 03:08 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Apr 21 2012, 10:05 PM) *
Oh I'm not close to being done with this jazz, I have been worried that when I started it felt awkward. As I did an hour of it, it felt more natural. So I had to do a take and post to make sure I was doing the correct movements so I wasn't creating a bad habit. And those other strings just didn't feel as loved so they are like Hey! What about me! laugh.gif


laugh.gif alright Travis! No problem dude, shoot when ready! biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 28 2012, 12:11 AM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/bens-vibrato-02-03

Alrighty Then! Been a busy few days for me. But I didn't not skip out or forget what task was at hand. I used the technique with just random playing and notes to try and see what strings give me issues. Is it a spot on the neck or string? I do believe it payed off. But I hope to say this is a big step in cleaning it up.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 28 2012, 11:04 AM

Hey man! Sounds like improvement to me! Now the next step would be to incorporate the vibrato into actual playing, right? I was thinking we should go for a more melody based lesson and try to use the vibrato in it wink.gif

What do you think about this one? biggrin.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/The-Voice-Of-Your-Guitar/

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 28 2012, 11:17 AM

Why does work have to get in the way. laugh.gif

Lots of memorizing but that's great because I'm already on my 3rd loop just listening to this. Sounds amazing and way out of my typical playing area. I hope I can get a passage down tonight and I'll record it tomorrow.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 28 2012, 05:53 PM

Hehe wink.gif I am curious to see what you got!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 29 2012, 02:19 AM

Ha didn't even take me as long as I thought, I got kind of hooked and my mind went into creativity mode. laugh.gif

But a day early none of the less.

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-01

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 29 2012, 10:22 AM

Hey Travis! This is not bad at all - you skipped over the quirky bend release and slide at second 6 tongue.gif Caught you young man! biggrin.gif A bit more flow with this piece could work great, otherwise the bends seem pretty accurate smile.gif

The next part is a bit trickier I think - have you managed to get a grasp on it?

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 29 2012, 02:26 PM

I listened to it after I posted all I can do is laugh. Well I used a real amp this time. That at least sounds better. The beginning needs cleaned a bit but I got that fast bend better. 2nd half trickier you say? I think I literally killed it, but hey my timing with backing is getting better! laugh.gif

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-02

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 30 2012, 08:15 PM

Travis, you're slowly getting there man smile.gif This piece has a lot of nuances in it but let's get the timing flowing first, k?

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Apr 30 2012, 08:43 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 30 2012, 03:15 PM) *
Travis, you're slowly getting there man smile.gif This piece has a lot of nuances in it but let's get the timing flowing first, k?

I actually spent some time when I got off work today, just kicked back and listened to it. I started to notice the bend up, hold, pluck, bend downs in it. I just gave it a good hour practice just now starting to sound more like yours. How do you keep the string noise to a minimum? Do you pretty much use your hand to mute the rest of the strings that aren't apart of the bend?

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 1 2012, 02:38 AM

I played until my fingers hurt from pushing and bending so much but I got another recording. That 2nd part where I stopped is a pain!

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-03

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 1 2012, 07:32 AM

Hehehe biggrin.gif my friend - there are a couple of spots where you have to focus a bit more - the recurring bends such as the one at second 6 - the timing is a bit wrong - the bended notes are supposed to have a triplet feel - listen to the original recording and try to see how that bend is played. The bend at 0.31 is a bit under the tone smile.gif otherwise I think you're getting there. I know it hurts but let's try again having the above things in mind.

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 1 2012, 02:21 PM

Take 4! My attempt before heading out to the gym. How you put it as a triplet feel that really clicked in what I was doing wrong.

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-04

I'm rather amazed at seeing progress I saved all of these so far and each one does get better, minus I can't for the life of me get that nice creamy tone you have.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 2 2012, 03:00 PM

Travis, you're gettin better man biggrin.gif now the note duration is the focus when doing those quirky bends smile.gif I suggest you try and record a take over the original and try to match my exact take so that you may grasp those tricky notes wink.gif

About the tone, hmmmmm, maybe the Mesa Boogie is not the most suitable for this sort of stuff, although I think it's time for you to become conscious about what your HANDS can do to the tone wink.gif did you know that you can transform a not so great tone in a pretty good one if you know how to give it dynamics from your hands?

Try to feel the way that the tone is textured and mimic it while recording, focusing on small portions of the original take and trying to catch the subtle frequencies smile.gif

I am driving you bananas, right?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 2 2012, 03:40 PM

I have to do some grocery shopping here now, but when I return I will buckle down some practice time playing along with you, see where that gets me. Hope to have another post in a few hours.

Oh I know tone does play a part in the fingers as well. Because I have gone back and looked at some of my old videos of my playing. Tho I've gotten better equipment as far as cameras, guitars, amps, everything. I notice my playing has changed a lot in how I do things, sound wise. Even since I've done this mentoring program my playing is drastically improved on all levels.

And I've only used the Mesa once for recording your lesson. laugh.gif I actually don't care much for the speakers in my cab. Want to put (2) V-30s in the cab to give it a more dynamic range. I actually use the free software that Brett was talking about where you can use impulses and such. I need to just sit down and play with Guitar Rig and build something ground up for this lesson.

Yeah, I know I need to be more emotional. I've always just played to play kind of like a robot. In the last few years that has changed, I don't know how to explain it. it'd just that my guitar is starting to feel like it is apart of my way of life and I want her to do more than just a simple beat but to express and talk as well. I know GMC understands that passion thus this lesson in my eyes is very passionate, you have this sense of just getting on a level of playing where you look like you leave and tell a great love story with words of sound. That's why I'm actually enjoying this lesson because I'm starting to feel more with my playing seeing as it's developing.

My other song that I see a story is Aunt Suzie by Buckethead. It sounds like he had a childhood growing up with a very loving and caring person. Then when the distortion kicks in it's almost like he's angry as if something happened and there was nothing that could be done. Then at the end it calms down and feels as if he was sad.


Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 4 2012, 09:09 AM

Travis! I am glad that you are discovering yourself and your potential through the aid of this mentoring program man smile.gif I am here when you're ready! It's time to get rid if the robot, k? biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 4 2012, 11:48 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-05
Just a little fiddling, doubt I'm in time! laugh.gif But quite an improvement from years ago when I tried this sort of work.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 5 2012, 06:30 PM

Hey Travis! Well, on the first recording you are still a little bit away from nailing all the subtleties, so my best advice would be to listen to everything once again and try to get all the bends into shape! THAT makes the difference mate!

Regarding the second take - is it an improvisation over the 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' harmonies, or is it the original solo? It doesn't sound bad at all!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 6 2012, 02:34 AM


Posting a reply before I buckle down into some practice time. Yes thats an improvisation on Knockin on Heaven's Door. I take a shot every so often with it to see where my playing is, plus with my newly worked on vibrato/bending I've been doing it has cleaned up a lot.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 6 2012, 12:11 PM

If you an feel your progress, that's great! smile.gif Now that I have this version at hand, we can try and analyze the progress counting from the next ones biggrin.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 6 2012, 01:32 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-06

Here we go, new recording, on mesa, with the Ibanez!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 7 2012, 08:00 AM

biggrin.gif Travis, let's try the following - the triplet feel bend, can you make it faster? You are delaying it a bit somehow smile.gif the vibrato in some points should be wider mate biggrin.gif I'll bug you till you nail it perfectly muahahahahahahahaaaa

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 7 2012, 12:33 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ May 7 2012, 03:00 AM) *
biggrin.gif Travis, let's try the following - the triplet feel bend, can you make it faster? You are delaying it a bit somehow smile.gif the vibrato in some points should be wider mate biggrin.gif I'll bug you till you nail it perfectly muahahahahahahahaaaa

I play it faster every time I record it! It just comes out slower, I think its the.... Hmmm oh yeah, Reaper when I render it slows just that part down, yep that's it. laugh.gif How can it get wider if I'm only given a little bit of room between strings. tongue.gif Ahh todays gona be a great day. I hear the bird chirping going to get get my workout, take the long way home around the lake and practice this bad boy some more!

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 7 2012, 05:59 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/cosmin-voice-07

Here ya go 2 hours more of practicing bends.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 8 2012, 03:31 PM

biggrin.gif this one is definitely the best one so far! It's a bit shaky though, but as note duration this one is the one wink.gif

I still want wider vibrato Travis smile.gif tell, me should we variate a little? I would like to place you in front of other vibrato challenges wink.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 8 2012, 03:40 PM

If you feel that's best then go for it, anything to help improve is always a step in the right direction.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 8 2012, 04:28 PM

Great man! This one will be pretty different, due to the fact that I am thinking of taking the advantage of gain away from you smile.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/slow_blues_solo/

if you master this one, you'll be 100 steps higher on the AWESOME scale biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 8 2012, 05:47 PM

Muwahahaha! I was pretty fast on this one.. Ok so the first half had nothing to do with the lesson or did it? wink.gif

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey-practice/slow-blues-01

I was right when I said my vibrato/bends are my worst playing skill. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 9 2012, 10:24 AM

Why not man? I liked it biggrin.gif the tone you got is very good! Now focus on nailing the whole lesson wink.gif and send it over - once again, pay attention to be as round, wide and expressive as possible. Your bending and vibrato have improved without question biggrin.gif hope you are feeling it too!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 22 2012, 01:36 PM

Wow this has been a crazy month. Diablo 3 kinda killed a week off the bat! laugh.gif

I shall have to buckle down into lessons since I've been trying to learn how to get tones. Considering I just learned how much an EQ in a DAW really can do if set right. With that being said.

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/gabs-colab-02
This was a mix of listening and watching some of his movement to see where on the neck he was. Yeah this is the song that got me into really wishing to get better. But hey that was all by ear! biggrin.gif

Just want to say thank you for everything so far. Such a great feeling of accomplishment you have pushed me towards. I shall work on my lessons and see where it fairs!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 23 2012, 09:03 AM

Hey Travis! biggrin.gif

your words honor me mate smile.gif thank you!

I see that the Diablo 3 fever has got you all grounded laugh.gif

Mate, the first track is melodically good, but the timing is a bit faulty - somehow you are not in sync with the drums.. Focus on timing, ok? Try and get those ideas with the drums smile.gif

For the second one, your rhythm seems fine smile.gif it's strange how some musical pieces are driving us to maintain a steady groove and with others, we have to practice a little to get into them?

Start with a little recap and let me know how you're faring with the lessons, k?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 23 2012, 05:47 PM

Yeah Diablo 3 has taken over but I've backed down since I beat it, was nice to take a few days away from the guitar. I felt less tense when I picked it back up. Also re-arranged my room for a better work space. I can use my interface when working with plugins so its more accessible now to me. Which is great, now I just need to get it updated to something with USB 2.0 not the snail of a USB 1.1 it is.

Lessons I did yours and a bit on blues.
http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/multi-lesson

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 24 2012, 07:27 AM

Hey Travis smile.gif

I can feel you have let those lessons aside for a while - your bends are a bit inaccurate and the vibrato is not that wide. Mate, back to the drawing board and get yourself back into shape!

The best proof is the collab take which, after being treated with care (you solved the timing issues!) sounded much better than the first one.

I had a silly dream last evening - I was about to perform at 'Mozart Rocks' and I had no clue what I had to play - haven't practiced 5 minutes! It felt horrible laugh.gif that's probably because I met the organizer at one of my guitarist friend's wedding and he told us something about a concert in Russia. You have to be prepared all the time man smile.gif you never know when the opportunity strikes, but your duty is to be ready at any given time biggrin.gif

Let's see what you got! Focus on the articulation elements and timing - especially at the note lengths which are a bit faulty in the 'Voice of your guitar lesson'

let's rock mate!!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 24 2012, 10:10 PM

Was at work thinking of what you said with the wide vibrato so I was reading about it came across this article not that it explained it but a better look at why it's important.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/general_music/how_to_get_a_killer_vibrato.html

That has brought a whole new feel to why it is so important to not only improve but put it as a higher priority!

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 25 2012, 12:08 AM

So I did around 2 hours my fingers have string indented into them. Cut the lights off listened to you play it then a few times no guitar and laid this track down. This is better than that last one I sent. I'm not sure if that wider or not but it sounds like I have more "feeling" into it.

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey-practice/cosmin-voice-08

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 25 2012, 03:45 PM

Hey Travis! Glad to know you realized the potential of vibrato tongue.gif let's chisel it together, shall we? smile.gif Now, pay CLOSE attention to sec 0.27-0.29 I must congratulate you for that quirky bend - it is PERFECT just like that there. Try to make all the others before it like this one wink.gif k?

The vibrato is still a bit rushed as a general observation but you are getting there. I am not allowed to make such a comparison in a more explicit way, but imagine that you are with a girl - how would she like to be treated? Fast and superficial or tender and focused, full of passion?

Give these thoughts a try!

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 25 2012, 09:43 PM

I knew I was right! I asked my friend who has a local band about this the other day. He said that your right and he goes you need to make it wide by going the same speed as I was but more of a bend. I argued back no he wants it wider but focused to be even and not fast but a subtle feeling because its more of a emotional song. So I was right! But it helped me hear it this time. Most of my other ones I've done I second guess you can even hear the vibrato it was so faint. Which I can now hear in my playing so thats a plus. I'm going to grab me a glass of juice and a water and get to work!

Edit: Found of another way to explain it as well. To feel less robotic and more human. Make it come to life.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 26 2012, 09:04 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ May 25 2012, 08:43 PM) *
I knew I was right! I asked my friend who has a local band about this the other day. He said that your right and he goes you need to make it wide by going the same speed as I was but more of a bend. I argued back no he wants it wider but focused to be even and not fast but a subtle feeling because its more of a emotional song. So I was right! But it helped me hear it this time. Most of my other ones I've done I second guess you can even hear the vibrato it was so faint. Which I can now hear in my playing so thats a plus. I'm going to grab me a glass of juice and a water and get to work!

Edit: Found of another way to explain it as well. To feel less robotic and more human. Make it come to life.


biggrin.gif I so like it when you discover these things biggrin.gif doesn't it feel like playing Diablo and finding some secret stuff only your character can master?

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey May 28 2012, 05:37 PM

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey-practice/cosmin-voice-09

Alright this about 3 hours to lay it down. I'm pretty sure the timing is way off. I don't see why this is so hard. Something so simple and I struggle so much with it. I had a heck of a time trying to slow my vibrato down as it was way to fast last time. I took more from the lesson and started using my pointer finger for it as you do. I was impressed that I didn't need to use 2 fingers to bend it I had decent control. But it helped slowing it down big time. I think the quirky bends need to be a little faster yes?

I think that bends/vibrato is truly outside of my normal rhythm playing which I never needed it. But I shall get this down. I shall become better and make you proud!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 2 2012, 02:29 PM

Hey Travis! Sorry it took so long man smile.gif Indeed the quirky ones need a bit more speed and the vibrato is to pronounced - by this I mean that you vibrate too sudden after hitting the note wink.gif you need to let it breathe and then vibrate to sustain the sound, k?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jun 4 2012, 04:09 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jun 2 2012, 09:29 AM) *
Hey Travis! Sorry it took so long man smile.gif Indeed the quirky ones need a bit more speed and the vibrato is to pronounced - by this I mean that you vibrate too sudden after hitting the note wink.gif you need to let it breathe and then vibrate to sustain the sound, k?

Cosmin

Hey don't worry about it Cosmin, you have to what you have to do. smile.gif

Yeah I noticed playing with you that I was moving before you and actually put me ahead of the track a little bit. Been still jamming to get better with it I like how I'm progressing overall. I may not be king of copying bends but I notice it a lot in music where before I never realized it was even there.

I've also been trying to do my own little backings and adding stuff over it with a groove, that way I can use vibrato/bending for my own personal playing/touch.

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/song-1-real-amp

I've worked on that the last 2 days. The first one I was all proud of it, went to bed, gave the ears a break and listened to it this morning. Wow, you'd have killed me, my timing was so horrible on it. So I redid it this morning with the mesa, took my solo out since I'm not sure what key it is in, thanks to never really trying to write my own stuff. But I think I can use E minor pentatonic for it, but that seems like everyone's goto key, is there anything slightly similar to it but a different key and voicings that would fit it better? I want to think outside of the box... Wow pun not intended there. laugh.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jun 4 2012, 06:16 PM

So after I worked on my song, I sat back listened to some of my past Cosmin Voice lessons and seen a whole new world of errors on my playing. The entire you need to let it breathe, well I did that, I took a few breaths myself so maybe I wasn't so tense in playing it. I tend to talk myself through it in my head. This time I just said screw the helping track, playing with your lesson, and just went at it and played more of a feeling not a copy.

I think it turned out better, some bends are out of tune, I re-tracked it and corrected a few but still a few errors in there. But I don't hear the cut off notes where I hit stop, hit bend, stop. To me it feels less robotic than when I started. I like this take just because after all that hard work I hear my own change in playing thanks to your coaching.

http://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey-practice/cosmin-voice-10

Love the John Mayer lesson besides the whole backtrack is more than solo work. I enjoyed being able to sit in for one of your lessons as well. The whole classical part was fun. Seems quite out of my reach but looks to be of a great practice due to the string skipping and massive techniques used in a single passage but as you said, its more fun to use something you can see placed with music than just working down a scale.

Edit: I forgot to put the link in!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 4 2012, 06:43 PM

Hey Travis! Let me say that this is BY FAR with all the little imperfections, the best one so far. PERIOD biggrin.gif you are starting to interpret, man!!!

Well, you know what biggrin.gif why don't ya try a go on the John Mayer one as well wink.gif

Anyway, I am uber glad this is paying off for ya biggrin.gif you are very ambitious and hard working so, I shall reward you tongue.gif

Check out the Practice Room tongue.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jun 5 2012, 04:05 PM

I called it! I seen you post this was like great lead work with bends. The on my friends page, awww man I knew I was in for this treat! You really are putting me to work sir! Have to learn to finger pick and lead. My practice routine is getting bigger by the day, and I love it! Such more to my repertoire than just a chug chug chug here and there!

I think I shall pull out the grandpas guitar to try and learn the finger picking half to start! Then add in the lead. biggrin.gif Today is a great day for this, I think I shall sit near a window and learn this since there is a nice breeze to fit in with the whole feel of what needs to be done!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 5 2012, 07:54 PM

You just stole a smile man smile.gif it's the PERFECT way to learn this lesson! biggrin.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jun 8 2012, 11:22 PM

Alright, still struggling a bit on the finger picking, I don't know if more of the picking or the chord patterns because Dsus4add13 is one heck of a stretch for me right now, but its coming a long decently. But as for the lead, that nice touch in vibrato really stands out tho its just that slight hint it really comes at me. I think the backing will be more of an issue. Well enough of a report time to get back to practice.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 9 2012, 02:46 PM

No problemmo mate wink.gif thanks for filling me in on the details biggrin.gif Whenever you're ready, gimme a shout wink.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 5 2012, 12:38 AM

Giving an much needed update. Replaced every single piece of gear I owned. New guitar, new amp, now I can get way better tones. Just need to learn to mix. This was some solo's I've done over the years and went.. Hey lets clean them up get a lot of the buzzing out and try and time them up better than in the past. So I give you music... That has feeling and..... BENDS! That's right sir BENDS! laugh.gif

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/mix-testing-solos

I've taken a more extreme route in my playing as well. Many of hours watching lessons, sitting in some chats, instructors, some youtube shredders and so on. I've said screw it all and went back to the basics. Stopped planting my arm on the body of the guitar. Stopped trying to pivot my hand while it rests on a single spot on the bridge. Most of all play more relaxed, stop trying so hard to shred, I'll get there in time but I need to play relaxed.

I've come a long way, some of the solos I forgot and tried to use my ear also. Using what you taught me with my vibrato and bends. Listen to the beat and the feeling of the music. I've even worked on some little voice lines from songs like Carly Rae Japsen's "Call Me Maybe" Also figured out Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" uses A# D# G# C# as the notes to his chords. Then played around a bit with what fits in if I could solo over it and found out Eb Minor Pentatonic works with it. I've branched out a lot just to learn and grasp music more.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 5 2012, 10:35 AM

Hey maaan! Welcome back! biggrin.gif Glad to see you have developed a lot more than the last time we spoke smile.gif Congrats! I think you are walking on the right way and indeed, letting go of expectations and just enjoying the journey is always better for the soul and mind!

So, shall we take things and explore further? smile.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 5 2012, 03:37 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Dec 5 2012, 04:35 AM) *
Hey maaan! Welcome back! biggrin.gif Glad to see you have developed a lot more than the last time we spoke smile.gif Congrats! I think you are walking on the right way and indeed, letting go of expectations and just enjoying the journey is always better for the soul and mind!

So, shall we take things and explore further? smile.gif

Cosmin


My friend helped a bit he's like you, can listen to a track and just play over it, shred or soul. That made me open my eyes and I was like so what if I can toss out 100 notes a second. Yeah I go to a guitar store and do that it's impressive, but if you can't make it sit into a mix then what good is it. So I've tried to learn more stuff as I posted with bends and soul. I still want to shred but something in the middle where I can play 100 notes to where I could play classical style music but also add in bends to give it life.

That's why I was practicing the song solos that I did. They aren't crazy over the top hard but to give that life and soul it's something that just has to come from within not copying. I've even noticed that I've been doing guitar motions, like when you bend you bend the note and move the guitar and such. I didn't realize it either it just comes out. biggrin.gif

I've even adventured even more with my playing as you've always pushed me as far as learning more outside of your normal playing. I've tried to add a simple string skipping exercise, sweeping, and tapping, all into my playing.

String skipping I have watched go from not being able to do it to becoming clean which I was proud to hear it happen. As I typed this I was thinking maybe I should learn the intro to Call Of Cthulhu by Metallica since it has string skipping in it and it's random so it will be easier to add into a playing scenario.

Sweeping, it's way out of my league. I have an understanding how it is done but doing it is another thing. I've noticed playing it slow I can play it but it doesn't sound right when you speed it up a little bit it sound better but I start to lose sync and it becomes sloppy. So I slow it back down. I don't think I have many hours trying to sweep to really worry that it hasn't gotten better. Just trying to add to the book of my playing.

Tapping, I've started to just do little things with music like if I see a spot where I could move down and stretch the pinky out I may do the pinky on riff but the next time I'll toss in a tapped note. Just little things to help add it in my playing to work it to get use to playing it.


And hecks yeah man! Toss out some new semi easy videos I can woodshed to, something that works the techniques but as basics. I never realized how much they truly matter till I became less stiff. Thinking maybe something for each of those. A nice alt picking exercise with some string skipping to help tame the beast of the right hand. Then something with bends to help the soul out. Something simple with sweeping that I can just give it a go to learn new patterns if the sweeping wouldn't improve at least the patterns will help the hand with new motions. Tapping single note or even multi fingers it's all good to me!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 6 2012, 09:42 AM

Wow biggrin.gif Mate, it looks like your journey into finding The Way, was fruitful and interesting! Alright, I selected the following lessons for you, based on the techniques you told me about and thus, I am more than curious to see how you fare with them smile.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Arpeggios/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Inside-Outside-Picking/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/String-Bending/ - this one is out of your comfort zone, even if it's not difficult tongue.gif
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Sweeps_Major_and_Minor/ - good melodic sweeping arrangement!
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/van-halen-tapping-style-beginner/

Once you get these down, we can move on to new ones, pushing you a bit higher up the ladder biggrin.gif What say you? smile.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 6 2012, 12:13 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Dec 6 2012, 03:42 AM) *
Wow biggrin.gif Mate, it looks like your journey into finding The Way, was fruitful and interesting! Alright, I selected the following lessons for you, based on the techniques you told me about and thus, I am more than curious to see how you fare with them smile.gif

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Arpeggios/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Inside-Outside-Picking/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/String-Bending/ - this one is out of your comfort zone, even if it's not difficult tongue.gif
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Sweeps_Major_and_Minor/ - good melodic sweeping arrangement!
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/van-halen-tapping-style-beginner/

Once you get these down, we can move on to new ones, pushing you a bit higher up the ladder biggrin.gif What say you? smile.gif

Cosmin


Mmmm hmmm good sounding list sir! I see to your cleans and will raise this up with cleans no distortion myself!

Going to go get a nice clean start by going to the gym then maybe some upbeat music, followed with something light. To get me ready to test out the anti-distortion pickup on my guitar! laugh.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 6 2012, 04:11 PM

Round 1!


I need to learn to mute my strings better I think. That's 10 fold better than I started. I even did a video! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 7 2012, 09:31 AM

Hey mate! Glad you started out strongly! Indeed, you would need to mute the strings better, but already knowing this and focusing on cleaning up your playing, you will most definitely get to build up the right technique! Let's see the others smile.gif


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 9 2012, 09:18 PM

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-01-sweeps-major-minor

That took longer than expected to get to just that, but well worth it!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 10 2012, 08:58 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Dec 9 2012, 08:18 PM) *
https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-01-sweeps-major-minor

That took longer than expected to get to just that, but well worth it!


Howdy mate biggrin.gif Well, this sounds promising smile.gif Here's what's what - why not try to record these arpeggio shapes against a metronome and with a clean tone? Find a tempo which suits you best - that means I want you to play as tight and in time as possible. Do we have a deal?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 10 2012, 07:12 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Dec 10 2012, 02:58 AM) *
Howdy mate biggrin.gif Well, this sounds promising smile.gif Here's what's what - why not try to record these arpeggio shapes against a metronome and with a clean tone? Find a tempo which suits you best - that means I want you to play as tight and in time as possible. Do we have a deal?

Cosmin


I have no issue with that now, since I get the idea of the motion. That is what has given me issues for ages. I shall toss on some tunes do a some stretching and then find a nice crunchy non gain tone to give it a few runs.

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 10 2012, 08:19 PM

As brutal and high gain as you asked for! laugh.gif

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-01-sweeps-major-minor-ec

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 11 2012, 08:55 AM

wink.gif Not bad mate, but you have to keep in mind that you need to play all the notes as evenly as possible and at the same level. There are some tempo fluctuations. Maybe you should lower the speed a little?

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 13 2012, 07:05 PM

I'm thinking of doing this randomly. Not only do my soundcloud for practice, but maybe once a week I'll try to do a noodle session like this. To see how I've improved from the week before and then I can keep track over time!



I slowed the sweeping process down as you've said. I think I set it to around 40 instead of 60. I noticed a lot of what you said. I pick down it's clean when I pick up I speed up the full sweep or just a few of the notes, very inconsistent indeed.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 14 2012, 01:18 PM

Hey Travis! It's not a bad idea smile.gif But I'd rather have you post the tackled lessons here rather than noodling smile.gif Noodling doesn't keep you focused. I think that after taking care of the lessons and posting the parts which are giving you trouble, we could talk about implementing various phrases over a backing track, where all these techniques will have a direction and an application smile.gif

What do you think?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 14 2012, 01:34 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Dec 14 2012, 07:18 AM) *
Hey Travis! It's not a bad idea smile.gif But I'd rather have you post the tackled lessons here rather than noodling smile.gif Noodling doesn't keep you focused. I think that after taking care of the lessons and posting the parts which are giving you trouble, we could talk about implementing various phrases over a backing track, where all these techniques will have a direction and an application smile.gif

What do you think?

Cosmin


Oh the lesson was not neglected at all, that was after 4 hours of sweeping with the metronome. biggrin.gif

That would be awesome to learn how to actually place those techniques in something when they are learned. That has always been a wonder for me. Because it just seems people know when to do it at what time and fits perfect.

Edit: Ha! I see what I forgot on that video I actually meant to ask you a question which is why I posted it. On the sweeping how do you get it to sounds smooth and not full of pick plucking each string?

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-02-sweeps-major-minor

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 14 2012, 06:00 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Dec 14 2012, 12:34 PM) *
Oh the lesson was not neglected at all, that was after 4 hours of sweeping with the metronome. biggrin.gif

That would be awesome to learn how to actually place those techniques in something when they are learned. That has always been a wonder for me. Because it just seems people know when to do it at what time and fits perfect.

Edit: Ha! I see what I forgot on that video I actually meant to ask you a question which is why I posted it. On the sweeping how do you get it to sounds smooth and not full of pick plucking each string?

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-02-sweeps-major-minor


Great mate biggrin.gif Let's chop chop then!

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 15 2012, 02:20 PM

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-sweeps-major-minor-50bpm

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/evh-02-tapping

Tapping is way easier with a metronome hands down.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 15 2012, 07:09 PM

Mate! The sweeping was ok - tell me what sort of tempo did you have in mind for a goal regarding this one?

About the tapping - take care about the note length - it sounds a bit shaky and uneven, in comparison with the metronome - please focus on getting all the notes even smile.gif

Now - let's see two more takes, focusing on the stuff above and after that, I'll tell ya a thing or two about implementing them over some chords biggrin.gif Deal?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 15 2012, 11:20 PM

On the tapping the last set is what throws me off, that last stretch 10T-5-1-5-10T is quite the stretch for my fingers even after a nice warm up. But that's no excuse just needs more practice and it will work itself out. I think tomorrow I will warm up with something like a Tap-6-1-6-Tap so I can work some stretching in. Then go back to practicing it with the 10T-5-1-5-10T and record it.

Not sure why but I think that sweeping is horrible, better than when I started but still horrible. I get caught up more in the sound. It bothers me when you hear that really aggressive picking sound from string to string.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/sweep-picking-lesson/

Like this, he has a nice smooth sound, does it have anything to do with tone? Or is it just the skill of the player?



Woot reward for progress! I like the sound of this. Hard work, more work that rewards and shows how to implement it! Wooo! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 17 2012, 09:32 AM

smile.gif Hey mate! It's the flow - in sweeping it's always about the flow and it comes with practice. I for one am not a sweeping guy, just because I don't have that many contexts to apply the technique. But anyway, give it time mate smile.gif And work smoother with the picking wink.gif

Looking forward to the next vids biggrin.gif



Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 20 2012, 04:31 PM

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-sweeps-major-minor-40bpm
https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/lian-sweeps-major-minor-60bpm

Double Action!

Those are starting to sound more realistic with being more fluid. I started to notice what you were speaking of with not being smooth on the 60BPM. I was hitting like the first 3 notes faster than the last 2 but with the slide up the scale I was making sure was on beat opposed to the whole segment in it entirety!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 21 2012, 04:57 PM

Hehehe biggrin.gif Smoothness in the making smile.gif Mate, I think you are on the right way! All you have to do now is clean up the sound a bit and raise the speed keeping the constant flow! How are the other lessons going?

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 21 2012, 06:28 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Dec 21 2012, 10:57 AM) *
Hehehe biggrin.gif Smoothness in the making smile.gif Mate, I think you are on the right way! All you have to do now is clean up the sound a bit and raise the speed keeping the constant flow! How are the other lessons going?


http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Arpeggios/
I've started this one about a week ago, trying to work on the transitions from chord to chord. Working outside the typical chug chug chug and helping myself learn to play more relaxed and loose.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Inside-Outside-Picking/
This is next up in the works as well. I think will help round out picking making alt picking more versatile no matter where it stops I'd be able to go in or out. So it will help with getting my picking a lot stronger.



I also took time and did the Arnold Collab, I tossed in a take. Overall I think my timing is ok, could be better. But as I stated in the post for Ben. I am so happy that I created something like that. It's starting to make me feel accomplished with all the hard work I've done and how your pushing has helped me see that there is always more. That a point can be good enough, but why stop there, work outside your comfort zone and it will pay off in the end.


Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 23 2012, 03:09 PM

Hey bro smile.gif Always glad to know I can help out! Indeed, those two lessons are very good on the long run and this should be a good approach - to always try and figure out how knowledge will apply in your playing in the long run biggrin.gif

I like the take, as it has a lot of chunk to it!! Be careful though when you get into the lead zone, your spirit falls a bit - by that, I mean that you created awe with the first part and you need to keep the same spirit with the second part where you get into the lead playing. It's more of an attitude and 'I mean what I play!!' kind of thing rather than timing or correct execution here smile.gif

I hope I was able to transmit the idea and I would be curious to see what happens if you treat your recordings in this manner biggrin.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 28 2012, 12:23 PM

In and Out and a Round About!
https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/ben-in-out-picking-120bpm

That was a bit awkward feeling to start, but after an hour it started to feel way better.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 28 2012, 01:40 PM

Hehe smile.gif Not bad mate! Please take care of the dynamics wink.gif Even if the timing is good, there are some notes which sound weaker than the others. Think of yourself as you would be a piano - does this make any sense?

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 28 2012, 01:44 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Dec 28 2012, 07:40 AM) *
Hehe smile.gif Not bad mate! Please take care of the dynamics wink.gif Even if the timing is good, there are some notes which sound weaker than the others. Think of yourself as you would be a piano - does this make any sense?

Cosmin


Ah the velocity I hear that now. Shall warm my hands up since I was outside in the snow and get back to practicing! smile.gif

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 28 2012, 09:56 PM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Dec 28 2012, 12:44 PM) *
Ah the velocity I hear that now. Shall warm my hands up since I was outside in the snow and get back to practicing! smile.gif



Great that you mentioned this smile.gif I have something for you, when coming out of the cold:


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Dec 30 2012, 10:34 PM

That's a really neat way to get the blood flowing in your hand! Watching the hand kinda reflex I was thinking of Frankenstein "It's Alive"! laugh.gif

Also did some work on the in/out. Tried to get same hard slapping pick on all notes, sounds more as your looking for than the last one.

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/ben-in-out-picking-120bpm

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 31 2012, 08:40 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Dec 30 2012, 09:34 PM) *
That's a really neat way to get the blood flowing in your hand! Watching the hand kinda reflex I was thinking of Frankenstein "It's Alive"! laugh.gif

Also did some work on the in/out. Tried to get same hard slapping pick on all notes, sounds more as your looking for than the last one.

https://soundcloud.com/spasemoonkey/ben-in-out-picking-120bpm


laugh.gif Frankenstein Kiko - it was my friend that helped me demonstrate the technique biggrin.gif

This is WAY better! Good work mate - now, when can I see the full version, good sir? tongue.gif

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jan 2 2013, 01:22 PM



Had an hour before work so I figured why not. Also did different angles, with an awesome effect between each set! laugh.gif

That way you can see my picking if there is anything that needs worked on in that area as well!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 2 2013, 02:46 PM

Howdy man! Happy new year! I think you did a great job - there are slight slips, but overall it is obvious that you have practiced smile.gif You know what I'd do to become even better? I'd reduce the gain in the tone so that my technique would become deadlier biggrin.gif How does that sound?


Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jan 3 2013, 12:18 AM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jan 2 2013, 08:46 AM) *
Howdy man! Happy new year! I think you did a great job - there are slight slips, but overall it is obvious that you have practiced smile.gif You know what I'd do to become even better? I'd reduce the gain in the tone so that my technique would become deadlier biggrin.gif How does that sound?


Oh trust me I dislike the tone and sound more than you do. I felt like playing the Ibanez but the pickups are far from organic and clean. Also the Kemper I'm finding more and more options to change daily so it was all rushed. But I do want to get a nice thick rhythm sound and a warmer lead tone so I don't have gain all the way up maybe somewhere in the line of a 10'oclock and no more than 1'oclock. Also need to stop scooping all my mids out, which may help on thickening my tone.

Other than that I was ok with the playing since it was a "cold" run not as much warming up as I normally do. Just woke up after a great night of rest and felt the need to play an hour and tossed it up. See now comes the opposite normally I'm like hey but I and then but I! laugh.gif I feel the timing which I've gotten way better at in all honesty since I started getting mentored it's really sticking with showing progress. Even some normal songs I've started tossing a click track on for normal playing and practice. But now the bad, I want to clean that picking up a lot. It has some good time sunk in but I think it can be way better. I don't like my motions used I feel I use to much for what it is. I watch Ben or even John Petrucci both do it that way. I feel I can do better and should some how learn to not only relax more but... Whats the thinking... Oh! Less motion and movement so it is tighter, cleaner, and more relaxed. I know that more of a long term goal if you ask me but just something that I need to pay more attention to.

Still trying to do the Arpeggio Alt picking of Ben's I can do the right hand but the left hand the changes are still odd feeling. I can play stop move play, but it needs to be more fluid before I feel it's good enough to post.

I think I just wrote a memoir to myself of goals! biggrin.gif


Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 3 2013, 09:21 AM

Hehe! No man, you seem to observe yourself which is crucial for progress - you can't steer left or right if you got no clue where you're heading biggrin.gif

Well then, do you feel like we should bring up something new to the mix to keep things fresh, or should you take some more time to finish what you started first? smile.gif

Cosmin

Posted by: SpaseMoonkey Jan 3 2013, 11:06 AM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jan 3 2013, 03:21 AM) *
Hehe! No man, you seem to observe yourself which is crucial for progress - you can't steer left or right if you got no clue where you're heading biggrin.gif

Well then, do you feel like we should bring up something new to the mix to keep things fresh, or should you take some more time to finish what you started first? smile.gif

Cosmin


Ain't no rest for the wicked! Bring on some more! If it's things such as my picking, it's not something that happens over night. I swear I almost pick different every time I play the guitar. I notice this after I practice a few hours in a day, it feels like I just let myself free. I play way better and I notice it has stayed with me longer and longer before it dies back down. Very weird feeling but I believe thats my body and soul telling me I'm on the right path.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 3 2013, 11:52 AM

QUOTE (SpaseMoonkey @ Jan 3 2013, 10:06 AM) *
Ain't no rest for the wicked! Bring on some more! If it's things such as my picking, it's not something that happens over night. I swear I almost pick different every time I play the guitar. I notice this after I practice a few hours in a day, it feels like I just let myself free. I play way better and I notice it has stayed with me longer and longer before it dies back down. Very weird feeling but I believe thats my body and soul telling me I'm on the right path.


It is indeed! smile.gif True words you speak here! I want to recommend a personal favorite!

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/legato_and_picking_intermediate/

Don't get scared! It's not difficult at all! What say you? biggrin.gif

Cosmin

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