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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ What's Your Problem!
Posted by: skennington Jan 2 2008, 05:03 AM
What's up guys. Just wanted to know what you are stuck on and how you are practicing to overcome it.
Me, well I'm still considered a beginner and of course, going through the scales, but alternate picking is kicking my arse.
Muris put a new beginner lesson out recently and i love it. Lots of techniques involved and I got them all at 50bpm except for the dang AP part. I'm working on it though. Just wanted to see what you guys were going through in your quest for guitar greatness! 
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 2 2008, 05:06 AM
Me, well I'm still considered a beginner and of course, going through the scales, but alternate picking is kicking my arse.
Muris put a new beginner lesson out recently and i love it. Lots of techniques involved and I got them all at 50bpm except for the dang AP part. I'm working on it though. Just wanted to see what you guys were going through in your quest for guitar greatness!
Speed, idk. I practice it so much guitar is starting to seem like a job now...thats why I've been trying to just learn cover songs lately get my motivation back up.
Posted by: Smikey2006 Jan 2 2008, 05:47 AM
sweeps and AP + speed and endurance
Posted by: Tomy Jeon Jan 2 2008, 10:44 AM
My pinky finger is not strong enough!!! 
It's really short too. It runs in the family 
Posted by: preownedguitar Jan 2 2008, 10:47 AM
Keep up practicing with the AP, soon it will be second nature. I'm trying to work on playing with the metronome and taping my foot to the beat while playing to stay in time.
Posted by: PlayAllDay Jan 2 2008, 12:52 PM
Speed - it's so hard to play faster than I can think - i think reeeel slow 
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 2 2008, 01:02 PM
My problem is that I can sweeppick smooth right up the the 23rd fret and than it sounds bad 
Posted by: Freddie Fourfingers Jan 2 2008, 01:06 PM
Me, too. I have managed to create a very organized routine that takes about 5 hours per day to do. Even though I spread it out, I think I just have too much technique stuff in there.....scales, chord scales, scale patterns, sight reading exercises, endurance and picking exercises.....and so on. When I look at it overall, I barely have any time for songs or improvisation.....so naturally I stink at both. But I can play some really nice Eb Major scale pattern studies for you, woo hoo!
So I've decided to pare down the technique stuff and increase the more funner stuff...try to use songs as some of the technique practice/ speed practice.........start slow and increase BPM on a song. I'm going to use GP5 for that, too.
And, I'm going to STOP BUYING TONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL STUFF, at least for a while.
Hmmmmmm....maybe it's time to just practice the stuff that I DO have.
Posted by: PlayAllDay Jan 2 2008, 01:09 PM
And, I'm going to STOP BUYING TONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL STUFF, at least for a while.
Hmmmmmm....maybe it's time to just practice the stuff that I DO have.
Hallelujah brother - on all these points
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 2 2008, 01:14 PM
It is tempting to buy lots of instructional stuff for sure. I just tell myself GMC is all I need and that im far better of practicing than buying 
Posted by: jacmoe Jan 2 2008, 05:29 PM
I second that!
I will not admit just how much I've spent on "instructional stuff"!
Working on speed and timing.
And it's slow going, since I haven't really used a metronome before..
But, the Pandora really is a Godsend here! ((Metronome/Rythm))
Posted by: Smikey2006 Jan 2 2008, 05:38 PM
GMC is all the instructional stuff i need 
.. but i also bought guitar pro.. my problem right now is time I havn't the time to practice as much as i should im only getting in about an hour aday right now + doodling
Posted by: jacmoe Jan 2 2008, 05:44 PM
.. but i also bought guitar pro.. my problem right now is time I havn't the time to practice as much as i should im only getting in about an hour aday right now + doodlingMe too.
Real Life is a bitch.
But I firmly believe that you can get very far if you quality doodle for and hour each day.
Posted by: Smikey2006 Jan 2 2008, 05:45 PM
The key word there is quality doodle
Posted by: Moon Boots Jan 2 2008, 06:09 PM
Weak pinky!
However, I've been practising http://www2.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/little-finger-work-out/ obsessively for about a week now and it's helping massively, I'd definatly recommend it to anyone else with the same issue.
Posted by: Smikey2006 Jan 2 2008, 06:16 PM
However, I've been practising http://www2.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/little-finger-work-out/ obsessively for about a week now and it's helping massively, I'd definatly recommend it to anyone else with the same issue.
yup thats an awsome lession for a pinky workout.. i learned alot of it and i doodle around withit alot
Posted by: Fsgdjv Jan 2 2008, 06:29 PM
My biggest problem is songwriting, at least that's what I want to get better at more than anything. But I also wouldn't mind being able to play a bit faster, even though I don't see speed as the ultimate goal. So yeah, songwriting, and just alternate picking and legato fast. (I don't really care that much about fancy stuff like sweep picking)
Posted by: Tomy Jeon Jan 2 2008, 07:40 PM
However, I've been practising http://www2.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/little-finger-work-out/ obsessively for about a week now and it's helping massively, I'd definatly recommend it to anyone else with the same issue.
Wow, thanks!
And I forgot to mention that I can't speed pick or sweep pick.
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 2 2008, 07:47 PM
I will not admit just how much I've spent on "instructional stuff"!
Working on speed and timing.
And it's slow going, since I haven't really used a metronome before..
But, the Pandora really is a Godsend here! ((Metronome/Rythm))
The Pandora is such a powerful tool !! I havent touched my Korg Standalone metronome in weeks!! true prefer its beep to the pandoras tick..... but with drums rythms and such at your fingertips its too good to miss
With regards to instructionals I just had to tell myself no, dont buy anymore its a waste of money!! I would like to work through all of paul gilberts DVDs but i just say "no matt, do your fabulous GMC exercises" and I do... and it pays of !!
And I forgot to mention that I can't speed pick or sweep pick.......YET
Posted by: Tomy Jeon Jan 2 2008, 08:00 PM
GMC exercises are the best!!!
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 2 2008, 08:01 PM
So I've decided to pare down the technique stuff and increase the more funner stuff...try to use songs as some of the technique practice/ speed practice.........start slow and increase BPM on a song. I'm going to use GP5 for that, too.
And, I'm going to STOP BUYING TONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL STUFF, at least for a while.
Hmmmmmm....maybe it's time to just practice the stuff that I DO have.
You live in Georgia? So do I, Columbus. What about you?
Anway I'm virtually the exact same on all points. I hear this stuff about how a practice schedule is important to have, so I make one. But when you are doing the same thing day, after day, after day, it makes you lost motiviations quick, so I think it is better to vary it up. And I know a ridiculous amount of theory but am having a hard time incorporating or applying it to my playing. I just keep telling myself that I have only been playing for 1 year, and in 30 years, I will inevitably good, so I try to take my time.
I buy a ton of instructional stuff as well lol. I used to have a 1.5 hour class where all the teacher did was make everybody take notes all day, then at the end of the notes, she would read the test questions off word for word and give us the answers. Needless to say, there was no note copying for me, I just studied up on theory and memorized random stuff everyday, then got all the answers and made 100s on tests, she never said a word.
Check out all the instructional stuff I bought last week alone. I have more coming in and I practice GMC like 4 hours a day, nothing else to do.
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 2 2008, 08:26 PM
Some fantastic books there!! I bought a few myself but one look at them and it put me of learning - and I have some high quality books.
I guess thats why GMC is so effective - it makes learning FUN !!
Posted by: Muris Jan 2 2008, 08:31 PM
On the topic's start,
if you're pure beginner than no need to be worried a lot if you alternate picking isn't that great,
I was beginner too and I know what you're speaking of
Just practice,it'll come nicely,trust me.
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 2 2008, 08:42 PM
I guess thats why GMC is so effective - it makes learning FUN !!
The reason I got all those books is because, well 3 of them are just pure reference encyclopedia with tons scale, mode, chord, and arpeggios in them. I could probably do without the jazz and blues guitar one because most of the stuff in them is basically in GMC already. The Ear-Training and Sight-Reading books are good because it comes with a CD that allows you to hear intervals, chords, etc and has quizes; I can already read music but that book I got is basically just an exercise book to where I can build up to sight-reading.
The Fretboard Knowledge one is the best though. It teaches you all kinds of weird ways to remember all the notes like Warped W and recognize repetitive patterns thoughout the fretboard that I've never seen anywhere except in the book. Most teaching methods teach scale learning in the "box" method. This book does the "cell" method, I'll have to share it someday with you guys.
Posted by: FretDancer69 Jan 2 2008, 08:44 PM
my biggest problem right now is theory!! Although i love reading Andrews lessons, it takes a while for me to figure out things, nevertheless i love reading the lessons, studying and learning more!
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 2 2008, 08:44 PM
Those books sounds great!! Which one would you recommened for a scale / arpeggio etc refrence?
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 2 2008, 08:47 PM
Theory used to be really hard for me and is still really hard for my friend who I am trying to teach.
I found that once you fully understand intervals and basic chord construction like R, 3, 5, the rest is soooooooo easy. People said modes were gonna be hard, they were a joke.
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 2 2008, 09:11 PM
I have the scale/mode version of Guitar Grimoire, there is other volumes for chords/arpeggios. The one on progressions and improvisation is coming in the mail soon but anyway, yea the Guitar Grimoire is great. It gives you all kinds of stuff like
Quick Mode Generator, which tells you what note you would need to start if you want to play in a certain mode (all keys)
It gives you formulas for every scale you could ever imagine, Western and Eastern music. There is all kinds of weird scales in here like Egyptian, Japanese, Persian, Kumoi, etc. It also gives you the formula for every mode within that key.
This one is major scale
It tells you what chords the scales work over, every scale you could possibly imagine and mode as well.
It gives you formulas for every chord you could ever imagine.
And lastly what would scale book be without charts for EVERY scale EVER. All boxes in all keys.
Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Jan 2 2008, 11:09 PM
My problem is that I sometimes don't have enough time to practice It really makes me sad.
Posted by: SLASH91 Jan 3 2008, 01:16 AM
Theory is my biggest problem too. I just can't make myself sit down and read any of it
Posted by: The Uncreator Jan 3 2008, 01:19 AM
8 finger tapping, its just so damn hard, im satisfied for now with all the other techniques, but 8 finger tapping.
Posted by: skennington Jan 3 2008, 01:30 AM
if you're pure beginner than no need to be worried a lot if you alternate picking isn't that great,
I was beginner too and I know what you're speaking of
Just practice,it'll come nicely,trust me.
I'm gonna trust ya Muris. I'll just keep pluging away at it.
Nice to see ( or maybe not
) other problems out there with everyones playing. It helps me to focus a little more on the ones that I have knowing you guys are working hard. Keep it up everybody! Hey Matt, What about that fish!
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 3 2008, 01:32 AM
Actually after reading all these replies I know what my biggest problem is. It is that I can't concentrate on something for more than five minutes if I'm not making progress. That is why I like learning theory so much because the learning progress is easily seen and comes extremely fast for me. Ear trainers are boring though, I can't grasp those either.
Posted by: SLASH91 Jan 3 2008, 01:34 AM
Yeah, I used to be like that too. If I couldn't learn a song in 10 minutes, I would just give up and go on to something else. I'm really glad that I found GMC.
Posted by: Muris Jan 3 2008, 04:01 AM
Ear training is a must,perhaps you don't need a trainer but yourself
Posted by: Smikey2006 Jan 3 2008, 04:36 AM
Theory is my problem too.. i know nothing and when i see these lessions.. i learn to play them but i never learn why they sound like that.. and therefore i can't recreate riffs of my own like them
Posted by: Freddie Fourfingers Jan 3 2008, 04:43 AM
Ten finger tapping is a pain...............and I guess 11 finger tapping is gonna be a nightmare!
Just wait til the toes get involved!!!!!!
Posted by: shellshock1911 Jan 3 2008, 04:45 AM
Pssh theory is SOOO incredibly easy once you understand intervals I promise, at least it was for me.
Basically all of theory= Intervals
Posted by: Spiderusalem Jan 3 2008, 05:07 AM
learning how to sing has been the main thing holding me back. Luciana and her lessons are great but I feel like I need an instructor to tell me what I'm doing wrong.
Posted by: FretDancer69 Jan 3 2008, 07:22 AM
Just wait til the toes get involved!!!!!!
lol, is it possible to tap with your thumb?
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 3 2008, 09:34 AM
Thanks for all the info Shellshock!! That looks like an excellent refrence
Nice to see ( or maybe not
) other problems out there with everyones playing. It helps me to focus a little more on the ones that I have knowing you guys are working hard. Keep it up everybody! Hey Matt, What about that fish!
I refrence there scales daily!
Posted by: superize Jan 3 2008, 11:03 AM
I have problem with using the metronome when practiacing and also i cant play fast but speed will come eventually if i only could start using the mtronome more often when i am practacing
Posted by: Freddie Fourfingers Jan 3 2008, 11:09 AM
In order to play fast, I use an old fashioned metronome like this one (you know, mechanical).
I set it as fast as possible, then use it as a pick.
I haven't figured out the fretting part yet.
Posted by: mattacuk Jan 3 2008, 11:10 AM
What sort of problems are you having? Maybe we can help ?
Posted by: superize Jan 3 2008, 11:19 AM
There is no problem i just dont use the metronnome all the time when i am practacing and i dont really know why because it is a good thing if you want to play fast and accurate
Posted by: coffeeman Jan 3 2008, 04:51 PM
I think my biggest problem is staying in time. When Im playing with the metronome is easier, but when Im playing with a backing track I lost the timing. Im working hard not just with the metronome but I using more backing tracks I think I need more practice. Another thing I do is that when I listen to a song no matter which kind of music it is I try to follow the rythim in my head or with my hands , that has helped me a lot. Any other suggestions are welcome.
Posted by: Luciana Feb 8 2008, 02:57 AM
try to record something and post it in my personal board, Then I can tell you what are you doing wrong!
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