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GMC Forum _ AJMurrell _ Koopid
Posted by: Koopid Feb 24 2009, 09:39 PM
Hi,
Here on guitarmasterclass I'm Koopid and I am 37 years old. I play in 2 bands, one that makes original music (Mundane) and as a fun project on the side I play in a coverband that plays 80's metal mostly (Logement 21). Mundane are quite serious although we have no ambitions of "making it" we are old enough to realize that it will only happen to very few people, and too old to start now if we really wanted to be one of the few 
Logement 21 mostly exist as an excuse to drink beer and play at the same time...
How long you've been playing:
I have been playing for almost 3 years.
What skills/techniques/abilities you'd like to improve
I do not have much natural talent, I guess I should be better than I am after 3 years but that don't bother me too much
I would say I am at the upper parts of beginner level skillwise.
the skills I want to improve the most are:
1. Legato
2. Theory knowledge
3. Palm muting, I make too much noise when I play
My goal is to be able to both write and play solos that are good enough for our level as a band. I do ok with slower solos that only uses the minor pentatonic scale but I would love to incorporate some runs and some other faster parts to them, I can hear them in my head but I can't make em play on the guitar.
I have no ambitions of becoming a "virtouso". The pentatonic scales and the minor and major scales plus some arpeggios are enough for me for now but I do not have enough theoretical knowledge to know how and when to use which.
How much time you have to commit to guitar practise, weekly
Depends on the week. Some weeks I can commit a couple of hours a day, other weeks a couple of hours the whole week. I have two kids, a wife and a quite demanding job, plus the time I commit to band rehearsal Mostly I can play a couple of hours in the evening though.
Posted by: Ajmurrell Feb 25 2009, 02:52 PM
Hi there Koopid
Thanks for giving me that information, really helpfull cheers.
Good to hear what you would like to work on and how much time you have to work on the guitar, it sounds like you either have very busy weeks, or fairly free!
That's ok, I won't be too pressurising, I can just give you a gentle push into the areas we want to go over.
So let's get started!
You mention you would like to be able to know when to appropriately use the minor and major penatonic patterns, and improve legato techniques and palm muting.
There is a series lesson done by Ivan called the Pentatonic Workshop. Have you seen this before?
Here's a link to the Legato slides section of the series, which would be a great start for improving some legato runs.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/pentatonic-workshop-level3-legato-slides/
This series covers the basic theory needed for the pentatonics, how to break out of each box, using intervals, some pentatonic licks and some fusion also. It would be well worth a look into.
Another great legato tune to practise is AC/DC's Thunderstruck. I'm sure you know the tune It's a fantastic legato exercise which is also very fun to play!
So those are two ways we can work towards the skills you want to develop.
Regarding palm muting, this lesson is fantastic for that in my opinion, and utilises some different major scale shapes too.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/palm-mute-workout-lesson/
This is also great for practising Alternate Picking, if you so wish to use this technique.
Now, because you've got a fairly unpredictable time schedule, I don't want to set any time limits or assignments now as I'd like you to look over the above lessons and let me know what you'd most like to work on. Whether this seems appropriate for what you want to learn etc.
Give them a look over, and let me know. Then we can set a realistic time line for completing our goals.
Here on guitarmasterclass I'm Koopid and I am 37 years old. I play in 2 bands, one that makes original music (Mundane) and as a fun project on the side I play in a coverband that plays 80's metal mostly (Logement 21). Mundane are quite serious although we have no ambitions of "making it" we are old enough to realize that it will only happen to very few people, and too old to start now if we really wanted to be one of the few
Logement 21 mostly exist as an excuse to drink beer and play at the same time...How long you've been playing:
I have been playing for almost 3 years.
What skills/techniques/abilities you'd like to improve
I do not have much natural talent, I guess I should be better than I am after 3 years but that don't bother me too much
I would say I am at the upper parts of beginner level skillwise.
the skills I want to improve the most are:
1. Legato
2. Theory knowledge
3. Palm muting, I make too much noise when I play
My goal is to be able to both write and play solos that are good enough for our level as a band. I do ok with slower solos that only uses the minor pentatonic scale but I would love to incorporate some runs and some other faster parts to them, I can hear them in my head but I can't make em play on the guitar.
I have no ambitions of becoming a "virtouso". The pentatonic scales and the minor and major scales plus some arpeggios are enough for me for now but I do not have enough theoretical knowledge to know how and when to use which.
How much time you have to commit to guitar practise, weekly
Depends on the week. Some weeks I can commit a couple of hours a day, other weeks a couple of hours the whole week. I have two kids, a wife and a quite demanding job, plus the time I commit to band rehearsal
Mostly I can play a couple of hours in the evening though.Posted by: Koopid Feb 26 2009, 07:57 AM
I have a gig friday so I'll need to practice for that so I'll get to work on that pentatonic series on saturday
Posted by: David Wallimann Feb 26 2009, 02:53 PM
Welcome!
Posted by: Ajmurrell Feb 27 2009, 06:16 PM
Awesome man, good luck for Friday Let me know how its going and what your thoughts are about the pentatonic series when you can
Posted by: Koopid Mar 1 2009, 09:18 AM
Started working on the slide legato lesson you linked. My first impression was that I wanted a bit more of a challenge but when I started to work on it it made perfect sense, I can AP the lesson no problem at the higher speeds but with hammerons, pull-offs and it feels very unnatural for me so for practicing legato its a great lesson, thanks!
I dunno if I can make videos, I have an old cam but I havent tried recording directly to the computer with it yet
I'll try as soon as I feel I have a worthy attempt at the lesson though.
And the gig went OK. Part of a competition, we wont know how it went until all gigs are played, somewhere in april I guess.
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 2 2009, 06:52 PM
Sorry for the delay man, I'm busy during weekends so won't really have the chance to communicate much during those days, but am free all week to help out here
Really glad the lesson was good for you, glad you find it appropriate Please do let me know if you find something too easy, or not challenging enough as I can easily sort you out with something more advanced. At this beginning stage its difficult to know where you're truely at as I haven't heard any of your playing, and certainly don't want to give you something too hard and end up losing your intrest in practicing.
Let me know how its going now, I forgot to ask if its possible for you to record your playing? Either via webcam or simply audio?
I dunno if I can make videos, I have an old cam but I havent tried recording directly to the computer with it yet
I'll try as soon as I feel I have a worthy attempt at the lesson though.
And the gig went OK. Part of a competition, we wont know how it went until all gigs are played, somewhere in april I guess.
Posted by: Koopid Mar 3 2009, 08:47 AM
I can record audio for now. I tried to set up a normal videocam yesterday but it seems I've misplaced the firewire cable
I am planning to buy a webcam, but not sure when yet. If you want to see some of my playing look here http://www.4shared.com/file/89938717/30ac6d83/One_Step_Closer.html
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 4 2009, 07:08 PM
I checked your video man, you're a pretty good player you know! I'm suprised you label yourself as a beginner as I wouldn't say that was the case
I can tell from that video that we can certainly work on some more advanced stuff, so just as soon as you let me know you're ready to move on from the legato lesson.
I am planning to buy a webcam, but not sure when yet. If you want to see some of my playing look here http://www.4shared.com/file/89938717/30ac6d83/One_Step_Closer.html
Posted by: Koopid Mar 4 2009, 09:29 PM
Heh, thanks for the comments And I am a newb, what you saw in that video is pretty much my entire repertoir...
In fact the legato lesson is perfect for me, I am having some serious troubles mastering it (or even getting through it). I have only had about 1-2h of practice on yet though. Gonna try to squeeze a couple more hours into it this week.
I have also looked at the palm muting lesson, also a perfect choice, not too hard (except for the actual muting, hehe), and not too easy.
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 5 2009, 07:42 PM
Thats great to hear mate
Your video shows you have the ability to be consistant which is an important thing, shows that you have put a lot of time into playing.
Progressing is often difficult when you reach this stage because you can effectively play things that are satisfying and fun so practising on things are harder, seem less rewarding
The palm muting one is really fun I found! It is also a great way of improving your alternate picking and of course palm muting. It also gets you used some diatonic shapes if you're previously used to just pentatonics?
Any chance of any recordings? That way I can advise you easier on areas to improve
And I am a newb, what you saw in that video is pretty much my entire repertoir...In fact the legato lesson is perfect for me, I am having some serious troubles mastering it (or even getting through it). I have only had about 1-2h of practice on yet though. Gonna try to squeeze a couple more hours into it this week.
I have also looked at the palm muting lesson, also a perfect choice, not too hard (except for the actual muting, hehe), and not too easy.
Posted by: Koopid Mar 5 2009, 08:17 PM
I bought a webcam today, still trying to get it to work the way I want it too, maybe there will be a recording soonish
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 5 2009, 08:20 PM
Awesome news! Look forward to it
Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Mar 6 2009, 03:55 AM
Welcome to the site!
Is it the first time that you introduce yourself?
I think maybe there wasn't many who greated you because usually this kind of things are posted here
Posted by: Koopid Mar 6 2009, 07:05 AM
Is it the first time that you introduce yourself?
I think maybe there wasn't many who greated you because usually this kind of things are posted here
No, I have been here a while, this is my introduction for my MTP
I did my introduction in that topic almost a year ago.
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 6 2009, 01:19 PM
Not sure why it keeps being replied to as a introduction forum post 
I did my introduction in that topic almost a year ago.Posted by: Koopid Mar 8 2009, 06:40 PM
So, I made a video of the legato lesson, I am having serious problems with it 
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 9 2009, 01:12 PM
Hey Koopid!
Thanks so much for uploading a vid 
Only problem is that you have set the youtube video settings for this video as private, so you either need to make me an invite so I can watch it or make it open to the public (don't mind which )
If you want to allow me to see it my username is ajmurrell1
Thanks
Posted by: Koopid Mar 9 2009, 02:29 PM
I guess I'll have to share it then..
Posted by: Koopid Mar 9 2009, 05:24 PM
Is it working now?
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 9 2009, 06:27 PM
Working fine now man, looks like you're making good progress!
Can I ask what you are finding particualy difficult about this when you say you're struggling?
Posted by: Koopid Mar 9 2009, 10:17 PM
I get no "flow" whatsoever doing this legato stuff like this. I don't know what the problem is but nothing about it feels natural. I will keep working on that exercise now and then. Right now I am working on the Palm muting lesson. This one feels much more natural to play although I am having problems with the actual muting
Video will probably be coming this week, if I get the time
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 9 2009, 11:41 PM
My advice would be to just stick with it for a week, my best bet at why it doesn't feel natural at the moment is that you simply haven't played it enough to be stuck in your muscle memory. That simply takes time and repietition I'm afraid!
Looking forward to the palm muting lesson video I really enjoyed that one. The upstrokes are indeed hard to mute which is what you may be experiencing.
Video will probably be coming this week, if I get the time
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 12 2009, 04:11 PM
Hey man,
How are things going?
I started a topic I would like you to have a look at here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=25533
Let me know if you have any suggestions or anything.
How's the legato exercise coming along?
Would you like to move on to something new?
Posted by: Koopid Mar 13 2009, 08:57 AM
Hi, I have had a lot to do at work this week and I am leaving for the Canary Islands for a week early sunday morning.
So, no progress yet, I want to master that lesson before moving on so I'll post something in 2 weeks
Posted by: Hammerhead Mar 17 2009, 06:54 AM
Koopid,
I'm working on the same legato slide. It looks easy but it's not! You look like you're getting the hang of it though. I hope it's ok to jump in and give my 2 cents... (I'm not doing any better) but since I'm working on it and struggling with it too, maybe what works for me might help you too. I've found that working it for a day or two @ .20 minutes then taking a day off helps. When I came back I felt like it was just a bit better. But it is work... no way around it. Also I just practice the 3rd, 2nd & 1st string. This is where all the slide action happens and the repetition there seems to help too. Just to let you know it sounds good. It looks like it should be easy but it's not! 
Posted by: Ajmurrell Mar 18 2009, 01:44 AM
Thats EXACTLY how I'd recommend going about practising these techniques, especially when they feel very unnatural. 20 minutes is in my opinion, at the top end of how much time to soley practice one particular exercise. It is very much down to what works for you though at the end of the day.
But I always end up finding the same thing happens to me Hammerhead, I play for 20 minutes... Take an hour, half a day, full day break and then come back to it and it DOES feel easier and more comfortable for sure.
Id probably recommend doing the entire exercise over the 6 strings though, just because you want to get used to the whole exercise sounding fluid. But can appreciate if you find one part harder than the rest, then thats the area to work on most.
I'm working on the same legato slide. It looks easy but it's not! You look like you're getting the hang of it though. I hope it's ok to jump in and give my 2 cents... (I'm not doing any better) but since I'm working on it and struggling with it too, maybe what works for me might help you too. I've found that working it for a day or two @ .20 minutes then taking a day off helps. When I came back I felt like it was just a bit better. But it is work... no way around it. Also I just practice the 3rd, 2nd & 1st string. This is where all the slide action happens and the repetition there seems to help too. Just to let you know it sounds good. It looks like it should be easy but it's not!
Posted by: Koopid Mar 23 2009, 07:46 AM
Well, thanks for the input (both of you) I am back from the canary islands now and can get back to work.
I will keep the legato slide lesson in my practice routine then I guess. I would like it to become more natural. I will focus on learning the palmmuting lesson and see when I can find time to record that one too. Been away from the guitar a week and I have another gig the 3rd of april so I'll have to put some time into that too
Posted by: Koopid Mar 30 2009, 08:45 PM
I am really sorry for the non-activity on this thread. I am working a bunch on the lessons though
I have a gig on friday after that things should slow down a bit and I should be able to finish the palm muting lesson aswell.
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