Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 11 2012, 09:47 AM

Hey mate! this here is your personal thread We shall discuss everything regarding your music/ guitar preparation, so, out of what I understood, you want to learn more about scales, right?

What is your current knowledge on scales?

let's rock!

Cosmin

Posted by: Bascuthach May 11 2012, 04:04 PM

The simplest way to do this is to give you my link http://draziw.webs.com/tunerchordsscales.htm it shows a bunch of scales I have generated using the scale generator, just scroll down and it shows the shapes and full scales that I know, I want to learn more tricks to playing them and study them further as for now I just run up and down them, the E harmonic minor I start at the 12 fret, and I want to remember what I learn, anyways mainly I'm studying the E Harmonic minor as I want to Write My own metal song, from use of chords and progressions to the running of the scales, I know that there is another scale to use with the E harmonic, I dont know what scale it is

oh and because of my little problem yesterday I tested the link and it works

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 12 2012, 12:02 PM

Hehe Great to know you sorted it out mate!

Regarding scales and using them I discovered, in time, that knowing a pattern of a scale won't automatically mean that you can use it

Knowing how a scale sounds and being able to SING it's notes and intervals against chords, is a start in using that scale of course, knowing the positions is crucial as this is your connection to the instrument - knowing where to place your fingers so that you may be able to reproduce what you can SING

Being able to sing, means that you have internalized a certain musical phrase, scale, sound, whatever it's already in you, all you have to do is get good at expressing it through the aid of an instrument - guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, voice, saxophone, harmonica...and the list goes on and on and on...

This is the approach I would like to use with you

Am I making sense?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bascuthach May 12 2012, 09:02 PM

Right Right, I can play different parts of different scales, like I can play G Ionian and yet I have not memorized G Dorian, And then I can take this scale and make all the major chords, and then I need to take these chords and create a rhythm, and also Im trying to piece it all together and turn it into a heavy metal song, ok so I can play the first 3 shapes of the E Harmonic Minor scale starting at the 12 fret, now I need to build strength and speed while playing this scale and be able to switch between the 3 shapes also I need to learn how to build a good rhythm part, I can find chords but do not know what sounds good with what, something about if your using 7th chords then all the chords you use will be 7th chords, not sure if I got that right, so I can play basic open chords and basic power chords, I can find what chords I can play with the scale, something about when the chord changes so does the scale, so I have to find different ways to play the E Harmonic scales, create drums add bass, create rhythm and write a lead, I dont sing, toss it all together and bam I have my structure, now what sounds good, ok so I want to write a song, lets start with writing a rhythm, what type of chords should i play with and how can I go from a soft piece to a hard core piece and back again? Here is a picture I made for inspiration

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 14 2012, 11:09 AM

Hey man! Nice pic! Are you a graphic artist as well? So, to make a nice transition, you can use a few elements:

Rhythmic elements:

1) Breaks - use the drums only or a little formula which can create smooth transition
2) Pause- meaning that nothing is heard for a couple of bars - void it can create incredibly powerful contrast!

Rhythmic and harmonic elements together:

1) Over the drum fill/ break, you can come up with a guitar and bass formula which adds power to the transition
2) In the Pause - the voice only or the voice with a clean strummed guitar or a guitar theme can take the piece from clean to MEAN

Regarding the chords - things can be regarded in the following way:

- create a structure using normal chords (strum them and sing if you have a vocal line prepared - I found out that singing over clean chords, especially using an acoustic guitar, REALLY helps writing great songs)
- after being happy with the chords, see if you want to add more color and add some alterations such as 7ths, 9ths, 13ths maybe

So, this being said, record and send something my way and we can take it from there

let's rock


Cosmin

Posted by: Bascuthach May 19 2012, 07:59 PM

this is the last thing I wrote just before you signed me up, Im still trying to come up with something and better my skill for my next piece

http://soundcloud.com/bascuthach/say-it-is-e

Posted by: Bascuthach May 20 2012, 06:18 PM

Ok, so the timming is 4/4 at 120bpm, the scale is E Minor Harmonic, so the question is... how to build a song, to build tension and release it how to build drum tracks, backings, progressions, licks, I dont sing so we wont deal with that, so lets break it down, lets start with an intro, the theme is war, do I start the song out fast or slow, my call, ok I like the slow feel and want to build up, measures... ? sounds, I need sounds, I have an digitech rp50 and I can kinda create sounds so, Im using hydrogen Drums for my beats, I think I have every thing I need, now lets compose a song, what am I missing?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 21 2012, 04:26 PM

Hey mate, I'll think a bit on this one, for some ideas (will come back with some thoughts this evening or tomorrow morning). In the mean time, I started a thread in which I want to gather as many song writing and orchestrating ideas. Feel free to use it and add your experiences here. Song writing can only be don through trial and error and whatever ideas I will come up with are things which I will try and test as we go it's almost never the same in this field, aside for some formulas or popular pop progressions.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=44450&st=0&#entry585349

Looking forward to see your thoughts on this

Cosmin

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

First of all, you can start by organizing your ideas:

1) Gather all the parts you have created and you want to incorporate in the song
2) Establish a song structure: you can start with a simple one such as A B A B C B (A - verse, B - chorus, C - bridge)
3) Once you got these down, see if the parts you have, can go well with one another, regarding the tonality, scales and most importantly TEMPO!
4) Think of a general groove for the song - it can be in any time signature, as long as it fits with the parts you decided to incorporate.
5) Try and record everything together and see how your first draft sounds like

After doing this, send me a recording and we shall take it from there, chipping away at our block of 'musical stone' until we get the statue.

what do you think mate?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bascuthach May 23 2012, 04:48 PM

Sounds Good, Lets see what I can do

Posted by: Bascuthach May 24 2012, 12:14 AM

OK so here is my first run using this idea, It might not work due to sound cloud, if it does let me know what you think
http://soundcloud.com/bascuthach/untitled-song-2

Posted by: Bascuthach May 24 2012, 04:46 AM

Im sorry, sound cloud is having some kind of issue with this I will try to resolve the issue as soon as possible


Ok, I guess I had to change the name and re-upload it, deep breath and here it is
http://soundcloud.com/bascuthach/trial-1

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 25 2012, 03:49 PM

Aloha mate

Alright, now that we got the structure down, let's see - the parts fit together, but they sound pretty linear, right? Now it's time to figure out how to get rid of the linear sound

I would start with the drums - re-write each passage belonging to each part, so that it may serve the riff played over it at this point the drums are the same everywhere even if the phrases are different.

Let's see what you feel like doing over each part, drum wise, shall we?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bascuthach May 26 2012, 12:15 AM

Ok but I have to redo the whole song as I can not just redo the drums, I write the drums first then I add to them, I have no other way to do the drum part, there for I will be rewriting the song

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 26 2012, 08:57 AM

Mornin' man yes, it will take a LOT of re-writing - hope this won't take you aback somehow. When you write music, there are times when you will re-do things a few hundreds of times until they have the perfect shape and sound. For instance, there is this song I wrote with Aria, one of my bands, which has always given us a headache from the perspective of coming up with a good vocal line. It took us a year and a half of tryouts, until we were fully satisfied. THAT line, came a month ago

Let's see what you can come up with from the perspective of making the drums serve the riffs.

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach May 30 2012, 05:18 PM

Ok so I created a drum set using ps3 guitar hero world tour drums, plugged them into the computer and a few programs later I had a fully working 5 piece and bass drum set, I cant keep timing so back to scales, I will start with the C major scale and and make a video of that, then I will work on the different shapes, I will show you what I know and then we can go from there, before I write music i should know how to play

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 30 2012, 08:28 PM

Ok Bas but, if you trust me with singing what you're learning how to play, I will make your ears more prepared for song writing than anything!



Cosmin

PS: there's a ton of fun stuff we can work on, developing your ears, musical direction, chops and song writing abilities

Posted by: Bas Cuthach May 30 2012, 10:42 PM

are you talking about turning what I play on the guitar into actual words? My friend said to write about war, I study science
I know a little bit about singing like harmonizing or humming to what Im playing though I did not do it much, Im working on theory with Alex as of today, so where do you think this thread should go, should I keep trying to build a song and prefect it, I trust you this is why I came to you

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 31 2012, 09:27 AM

Hey Bas - as I told you when I think of singing, I am thinking about expressing your musical ideas by humming first using your voice. It doesn't matter what part of the song you are trying to reproduce - lead, riff, chords, melodies, whatever the idea behind this, is that you are using your voice, the guitar or a bagpipe to express the music you have in you. These are instruments, not the purpose of your work.

We can focus on songwriting of course, but in order for you to maximize your potential, you have to focus on some ear training, technical elements and learning how to apply theory, such as learning a scale and learning how to use it various contexts.

The recordings you sent are good to start building on, but as I told you, songwriting occurs in time and you can't get instant results just by placing riffs over a drum track. Each instrument has to serve the other and viceversa

Let's take things slowly and you'll see that it's gonna work

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach May 31 2012, 06:46 PM

ok, I took the time to read and understand what your saying, so I got offered a gig in a church band and this will help me with what your talking about and you can also help me achieve what im looking for, ear training, plus I need to work on chord progressions and adding to them, oh so much to learn, this is why I come to you, so where do we start, lets start there

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Jun 2 2012, 04:39 AM

lets start with what I know, basic open chords, power chords, the major scale Ionian and Dorian, E Harmonic Minor Ionian and Dorian

here is a video I made a while back
Im playing random stuff, no clue just stuff I created, no theory behind it



Alex is helping me with theory, http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=44153

this is the basics of what I know of other people, also made some time back, really have not learned any ones stuff since



So this next one I just made, this is a new guitar a friend gave me like 2 days ago and it has new strings thicker gauge that im not use to, I have no sound effects just distortion from my little desk amp, Im using the cam mic and I have a drum beat playing



I just wrote this, ok took me 1 1/2 hours, started it after the last video



What is your take on all this?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 3 2012, 11:29 AM

Hey Bas! I have watched your vids and took a crash ride through what you have been doing with Alex. Mate, you have a lot in your backpack already what you need now is a bit of discipline in your studies if you were to ask me.

What I would suggest, seeing what you are doing with Alex is to try and work on ear training and building a relationship between chords and melodies together. This will lead to a better grasp on the concepts you need to write your own songs.

You told me you were starting to deal with the C major scale let's try the following things:

1) localize all the C notes on the neck
2) play the C major scale using 3 notes per string and 2 notes per string starting from all the C notes you found at point 1
3) play and sing the C major scale in the same time following the directions at point 2
4) just sing the C major scale following the directions at point 2, while focusing on maintaining a correct pitch

After doing this for some time, the C major scale will be impregnated in your mind.

I got more tricks for you but first let's deal with this one

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Jun 6 2012, 06:14 PM

these are the C notes that I know with out thinking really,

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

I can do 3 notes per string, you loose me at 2,

is there a paid lesson on ear training?
and also relationship between chords and melodies?

also I was singing and harmonizing doe ray me fa so la ti doe playing this

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 7 2012, 11:08 AM

It's a great thing you can harmonize man! It really helps for ear training I TOTALLY recommend David Lucas Burge's Relative Pitch course. It'll work wonders.

As for the 2 notes per string, it's just a matter of rearranging some positions - not all the pattern will have 2 notes per string, but some sections will be like this - check out the example below:

---------------------------------------------------------7--8--10--8--7----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------8--10--------------------10---8----------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------7--9--10--------------------------------------10---9---7-----------------------------------
---------------------------7---9--10--------------------------------------------------------------10--9---7--------------------
-------------7--8---10-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--8--7---------------
-----8---10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10---8---7---

this is a C major scale pattern played using 16th notes try it and see that the 2 notes appearing on the B string will feel a bit strange at first

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Jun 10 2012, 03:21 AM

The 2 main shapes I play are

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

and

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

and also I took a look at that eat training thing, sounds good but I dont have that kinda money

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 10 2012, 10:49 PM

Hey Bas! These two are good After gaining confidence with them, I would go for adapting them to starting on a C note found in a different place on the neck.

As for David's Ear training course, I can give you some hints into what to start with and I'll help out along the way

For starters:

1) Pick an interval of your choice - let's say the perfect 5th
2) Consider C as the tonic and play G - its 5th
3) Play C and then sing G over C
4) Observe and remember the sound
5) Play G and then C
6) Play G and then sing C
7) Observe and remember the sound
8) Repeat the procedure, seeing G as a tonic - that means using D as Gs perfect 5th.
9) Repeat the procedure for all the other remaining notes

This will help you incredibly with your ear training man!

Try it for all interval types!

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Jul 26 2012, 08:15 PM

OK here is somethings that I just made, I have been working on little's at a time

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Jul 26 2012, 11:02 PM

http://www.musictheory.net/lessons I have been working on this and is about half way through "introduction to chords"

Here is 2 more videos

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 27 2012, 08:01 AM

Hey Bas!

You sure are a mean music machine, dude You can play all those instruments! I liked the bass and electro-acoustic ideas the most, as they had potential for becoming songs!

I will take a look over the musictheory.net site - had no idea about it, so thanks for mentioning it

Tell me man, what are you planning to do with these ideas?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Aug 2 2012, 11:51 PM

4 1/2 hours and this is what I came up with, tell me what you think

http://soundcloud.com/bascuthach/creations-1

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Aug 3 2012, 07:47 AM

Hey Bas!

The overall direction is good mate! Here's what I think you can improve:

- the lead parts are a bit exercise sounding - don't just wander aimlessly through the scale patterns - try to find melodies having a direction and sense What I.m trying to say here is that you need to become a bit more melodic in your lead approach

- I think it would be a great idea to start implementing the drums!

What say you?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Aug 3 2012, 02:40 PM

I had put the drums in, I uploaded the wrong one, I agree on the lead, I kept this one in a state where I can fix it and work on it, the bass came in a little hot and there is a part where the distortion is to high and needs some mids, overall, sounds good

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Aug 4 2012, 04:09 PM

Ok Bas! Well then, let's see the upgraded version, eh?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Dec 16 2012, 07:01 AM

finding the melodies is where Im having a bit trouble and switching between verse and chores and the bridge, I have gotten good with the E minor scale and the minor pentatonic, I will try to get you a video showing what Im working on and maybe you can give me some short exercises to help me find melodies

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 17 2012, 08:56 AM

Hello Bas! Sure thing man, shoot it my way

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Dec 19 2012, 08:36 PM

so I need to turn down the backing or turn up my guitar, this is to show that Im working on harmonizing and telling a story with the guitar,

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 20 2012, 12:40 PM

Hey Bas! I listened and I think you have a lot of neat ideas but if you want to tell a story, you need a structure, right?

What is the structure of the tune in the video? Can you make a parallel between this structure and the structure of a story? Please tell me how a story is usually structured - in your vision and we can draw conclusions from this

It may sound a bit philosophical, but I am trying to open up some doors here

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Dec 21 2012, 03:41 AM

you have to opening or the starting, might start out slow, might jump right into the story, maybe give a middle type feel and then jump to a slow and start building up to the good part, and then mellow out a little and then start bringing back the insane and then giving a smashing ending with a crash and a bang or maybe let the listener off easy with a mellow ending , any suggested lessons or skill building mini licks?
the more I learn and work on structure the more ideas I have, I have the blue print and the tools I just need to learn how to use them, opening/verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/verse/chorus/ending something like that

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 21 2012, 04:30 PM

Good call mate

I've noticed that you have picked up the 'Voice of your guitar' lesson - I think that if you nail this one good, you can see a lot of resemblances to what you have thought about - the introduction, the action, a mellower part and action again This could make a good story AND there's also an important thing involved - repetition Finding a repetitive theme Here's what I have in mind - try to learn the voice of your guitar lesson, exactly as it is recorded and after doing that, try to follow this structure and come up with a tune resembling it

Do we have a deal sir?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Dec 24 2012, 06:44 AM

do what... First I must master the sound and master the timing and I don't like bends making this not really my style... I can try to get the sound as close as I can and I can practice it and get better timing down I can even try to write something using the same Idea can I use the backing to write to? and also can you suggest some other lessons for me to check out?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 24 2012, 09:29 AM

Sure mate! Use the backing and take your time This stuff doesn't come to you like an apple pie You have to grow the apple tree first

I would TOTALLY recommend you to start getting into bending and vibrato - these are the defining elements in one's playing which you mustn't avoid or neglect, so that being said, please take a look over these lessons and try to learn them and come up with recordings on which we can discuss

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners-Corner-21-String-Bending/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/String-Bending/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Vibrato-Odyssey/

What do you think?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 8 2013, 02:01 AM

It has been a minute since we have spoken, well as I was trying to fix an issue with the computer today as I was watching your live chat, I discovered something that had been haunting me for the last 2 years, now I dont have to bounce between 2 computers, I can stay on one and do my recordings, and now that I have been getting better I would like to work on on song, I have lots of good Ideas but I want to put something together, I understand that parts will be taken out and rewritten, and things will be added, I want to take it one step at a time and I want your help, 120bpm, Em/GM scale, I have an intro I have been working on, but not sure where to take it, I will record it and upload it with tabs soon, let me know what you think

here is the sound of it and tabs

[attachment=31049:Untitled_Song.mp3]

[attachment=31050:Untitled.pdf]

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 8 2013, 11:36 AM

Hey mate - here's a brief structure for the verse and pre-chorus of the song - I heard them and thought I'd share them with you:



* it's still processing so, it might take a little bit till it's ready

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 8 2013, 04:49 PM

It sounds like a good rhythm, Im not sure how you would tie it all together, do I keep repeating the intro piece I made, do I fade it out, do I add different chords and keep the same pattern, do I change the pattern all in all, lead it into something else, lots of Ideas

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 8 2013, 10:57 PM

Hey mate This is a suggestion - it doesn't have to stay like this at all if you find it different and straying from what you already had in mind. I just tried to give you a little impulse But my suggestion would be - try it and see how it fits

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 9 2013, 05:14 AM

How do I make it fit? what sounds might I choose? I slowed it and tried playing it like you but I can't seem to make it fit, can you give me a demo of you playing to it, I have no idea for where I want this to go, I am open to suggestions, the theme is "Metallica" is the sound Im really after, but if I could write one real song I can write many more the way I want, but my style is another story, also I have nothing in mind about what this should sound like

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 9 2013, 12:54 PM

Hey Bas, gimme some time and I'll try to cook something up for you using your part and my part, k?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 11 2013, 04:12 AM

I hope to write one real song, not just noise over noise

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 11 2013, 03:24 PM

Hey mate Have a little go at this:

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 11 2013, 06:26 PM

ok here is what I have going so far, I decided to tab it out, witch is not as easy as playing so it is close to the original idea, give it a go and let me know what you think http://rapidshare.com/files/1268272623/Song.tg this is a tux Guitar file, I can get it in GP5 , GP4 if you would like

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 12 2013, 02:22 PM

Hey mate - can you send it to me in a guitar pro format? 4 or 5 would be great as i can't open this one

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 12 2013, 03:57 PM

ok, here it is, Guitar Pro 5 file,

http://rapidshare.com/files/270722453/Song.gp5

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 13 2013, 03:38 PM

Hey Bas! I listened to it and I think it's very good man! I like the fact that you didn't take things literally and came up with your own stuff - that's exactly what you need to do - draw inspiration from me and apply it in your own way

Next step - the chorus - any ideas?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 21 2013, 09:43 PM

well, here is the remake of the "http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=31258" , this is what Im calling it now lol

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 22 2013, 09:00 AM

Hey Bas - I am trying to access the link but it still says I am not allowed to access it ... Please upload it in the old fashioned way by using the green upload button in the lower right corner of the message editor.

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 22 2013, 03:43 PM

well that was how I uploaded it, then I went to remove it to re upload it and it was not there, even though I had tested the link to make sure it would open, anyways try this again [attachment=31261:The_Song.mp3]

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 23 2013, 08:07 AM

Hey Bas - sounds like it's taking shape here man Congrats!

My suggestion right now would be to come up with more parts for it and variate the dynamics - I also noticed a large portion towards the middle which is empty - what are you planning to do there?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Mar 23 2013, 05:47 PM

what dynamics? ok so some singing and an added lead/rhythm guitar, here is the midi file [attachment=31273:The_Song.mid] ,

So it turns out this week in college "Introduction To Music Production" I will be studying Dynamics, and how changing the volume of sounds can make a difference, well I did learn about this in "Introduction To Digital Sound" although some words and there meanings where forgotten, Im not sure how I would change the Dynamics of this Song

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 24 2013, 06:18 PM

Howdy Bas! Mate - it's a great things that you will study that sort of stuff! I really think that taking this course was a great decision and it will affect your musical journey in a positive way. Now what I was referring to as in dynamics, was actually a row of changes and small details in a song structure - melodic, harmonic or rhythmic by nature - that make the song unpredictable and captivating for the listener Have you thought about that sort of stuff? I noticed that the middle part brings in some changes but, you should sprinkle in the other parts some more details - that's what I was actually thinking about. Keep pushing this one - I think it can turn out very nicely!

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Sep 30 2014, 02:46 PM

Long Time no type lol , i just went over the stuff, and will have to do it again, and then maybe get back on this band wagon and see how much further we can push it =D .... i been looking into melody and recapping on things i learned and trying to see what new i can learn, like a bridge is not needed but can make the song that more enjoyable , just some food for thought


i have been working in Ohm Studio if you would like to join on my projects, here is my latest project that im working on

https://soundcloud.com/bascuthach/light-my-way

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 1 2014, 10:07 AM

Hey matey! Welcome back Sure thing - we can start working together again, if that is what you wish. About the recording, I think it's a bit too long in respect to its diversity. What sort of structure did you have in mind when you started this piece? I mean, a classic example would be:

A,B,A,B,C,B - that means verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus

I also run things a bit more structured nowadays and I would love to see where you are with your playing and current goals - so, I was thinking that maybe you would be interested in taking a look over these questions here and writing me the answers so that I may help out as best as possible: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=50025&st=0&start=0

What do you say, mate?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 1 2014, 10:28 PM

OK so i spent 5 hours making this, thats more time than i spend making songs >.<

oh, and i have this

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 2 2014, 06:29 PM

Hey mate Thanks for taking the time to arrange this! It is pretty eloquent and after a bit of thinking, I think that we should go for a 3 hour routine/ day. The idea here is not to play guitar all day long, but to play guitar with a purpose and see progress occurring. I think we can tackle two lessons/ week - one based on rhythm and one on lead techniques.

After finishing each lesson you will also have creative tasks based on the principles you have learned in each lesson, ok?

As for the general approach, I'd like you to try the following steps:

- understand the theoretical concepts - know what and why you are playing is a healthy way of learning
- learn the lesson structure - things will flow naturally once you know what's next when playing any piece
- learn each part and reproduce it slowly with the metronome - you will learn the lesson and become accustomed with the timing and feel
- put all the parts together and practice them against the slowest available backing track - respecting timing and phrasing will provide essential advantages when you will face the details of any piece!
- work your way up tempo with the available backing tracks

Now that you have these ideas under your nose. I'd like you to try to divide your time in the following fashion:

Day 1-5:

Apply the steps above for the lessons until you are comfortable with playing them and you can focus only on the troublesome spots in the lessons - each and everyone will have some and I want you to tell me about your progress along the way. It is important to discuss how things are going and manage to spot eventual issues before they are harder to fix

Day 6-7 - Revision (you practice the lessons, assuming you that you already know the structures and you can play them) - focus on timing, definition, clean playing, articulations and details! Recording - it's not mandatory but it can help A TON and it will always be a measure of your progress.

For the first week, I'd like you to go for the following lessons:

Alternate picking: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Hand-Basics/ - I noticed that your AP could use some work so, I thought this would be the perfect one to begin with.

Riffing/rhythm: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/basic-metal-rhythm/ - great riffing drill

What do you think, man?

Cosmin

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 10 2014, 02:57 PM

I cant do the lessons cause im not paid up at the moment, when i start making money with the guitar i will start to buy lessons, till then i have to get good enugh to make money, i can how ever watch the videos, the alternate one is simple, been doing todds class for about 2 years now, the Rhythm one i would like to learn more about, but also like to see more videos on lead as well, i have thought about the learning process, less blind-less playing and more learning and not burning my self out and going back to songs i have already started learning as well as new technique or making old ones stronger

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 20 2014, 04:38 PM

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=47852
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showforum=25
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=33779

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 21 2014, 09:54 AM

Hey mate

Let's begin by learning the notes on the fretboard - that is a very important step - learning the notes separately and managing to recognize them in a musical context, without leaning on ANY pattern based form - I.E. scale shapes, or anything that will hold you down in a fixed space.

What I'd like you to do, is read this first chapter here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=47441

After reading this one, I would like you read the notes of the lesson in this thread and let me know if you understand the concept of minimising your instrument down to a 'one string guitar' -> http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=39243&view=findpost&p=671081

After making sure you understood everything written in here, I will start giving you tasks based on what you have read - do we have a deal?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 21 2014, 02:39 PM

i will read up on these cause it seems this is one of the hardest concepts i have, i have tried a few different methods on learning the notes including but not limited to these games here
http://www.8notes.com/school/theory/guitar_trainer.asp
http://www.fachords.com/master-guitar-fretboard-game-intro/

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 22 2014, 08:04 AM

Hey mate - those games seem pretty interesting, but I think that my method will prove a bit more organic and it will involve playing the guitar and associating the notes with the positions on YOUR guitar's neck It's something different from looking at a screen and I think it will work easier, especially that you will learn how to see your instrument reduced to it's simplest possible form But first, read the theoretical aspects and please, by all means, ask me questions about what you read if there's anything unclear, ok?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 28 2014, 09:04 PM

ok, so i have read this and read the links and watched your video, and have been working at least 10 minutes a day memorizing the notes on the guitar, i will keep this up, also i have this site i use a lot for building ideas http://www.drumbot.com/projects/key_chords/ and i was reading up on this one http://www.joelmabus.com/improvisation_2.htm the thing is the f note 1st fret of the low e string just dont sound right on a Em chord, idk so whats next?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 29 2014, 03:14 PM

Hey mate As a first task, please follow the next steps:

- use the backing track in the link I provided - it features a Cmaj, Am, Fmaj, Gmaj progression
- play the root notes of each chord on each string along with the backing track, changing each note as the chords change - make sure you remember their sound and position on the neck and if possible, sing them out loud saying their name: C, A, F, G
- do this drill with every C, A, F, G note on each string
- the most awesome thing would be if you could then sing them, without the guitar, but just using your voice This would prove that you know how these notes sound in your head already. Imagine that in this way you would know their position, name and sound on each string, regardless of the fact that you have a guitar in your hands or not! It is a great power!

It would be awesome if you make a video with this exercise - what do you say, mate?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 29 2014, 05:25 PM

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 30 2014, 09:22 AM

Hey Bas!

You nailed the notes, congrats on that, but I have a few observations here:

- this is not a speed exercise, but an ear training one
- please record using a clean tone and against the backing track, respecting the changes imposed by the chord changes
- one strike of the pick should be enough
- try to sing the note you are playing when you are playing it - this may be a bit difficult at first, but it will work wonders on your ears

Do we have a deal, mate?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Oct 30 2014, 07:42 PM

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Oct 31 2014, 01:06 PM

Hey Bas!

Great, great first step here mate! I think you nailed the notes in a very important proportion! By that, I mean that you are almost on spot with them - the thing is, that with practice, you should become very decided and exact when singing each note. Please proceed with each and every string in the same manner, having a few more aspects in mind:

- don't sing each note for too long - just sing the note and say it's name in the same time but don't hold the note with your voice for a whole bar, ok? You will get tired too quickly

- use every string in the same manner and try to aim each note you are sining directly with your voice.
- once you get really confident, just sing the notes, without playing them on the guitar

What do you think mate?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Dec 8 2014, 08:00 PM

Took some time off due to family emergency, this is recorded after Todd's Sunday Lesson

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 11 2014, 11:19 AM

Hey mate

I see you are practicing your technique with Todd, but how about the tasks we discussed a few weeks ago? I remember we discussed about becoming a player who knows what he is doing and why he is doing it and we started understanding the intervals with that exercise I have given you - how is that one going?

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Dec 11 2014, 03:15 PM

had some stuff come up, i will try to get back in to the groove, practice has slowed due to the holidays and other things

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 12 2014, 04:26 PM

Alright mate!

Let me know how it goes and I'll be here to help out and send more tasks as soon as these are ready There's a lot to do, so let's get to it!

Posted by: Bas Cuthach Apr 5 2015, 01:16 AM

ok were we at?