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Posted by: Alex Feather May 21 2012, 06:00 AM

I am really impressed with your singing! Love your voice and style! To start I need to understand a little bit more about your theory knowledge that's why I cam up with this little test for you
1) Build F major triad
2) Build a D major scale
3) A - B - C - D - E - F# - G What mode is that?
4) How many sharps in E major scale?
Don't worry if you can't answer on some I am just trying to figure out where to start!
Happy to have you on board!

Posted by: Zoot May 21 2012, 08:37 AM

Thanks Alex.

1. F A C
2. D E F# G A B C# D
3. No clue - modes have never stuck in my head... Maybe if they were named "Bob", "Alice" or something...
4. 4

Ciao!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather May 22 2012, 07:23 AM

Ok cool! So let's start with a simple assignment that will help you develop your picking technique and will get your hands in sync!
I would like you to add it to your warm up routine! The trick is slower you will practice it better results you will get! Always practice it using a metronome!
Here is the tab:

E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G ||o5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
D ||o--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------|----------------------------------------|


----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------------------|||


-------------3--3----------|--------------3--3----------|
-------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4----|
o5--5----------------------|--5--5----------------------|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--------------3--3----------|--------------3--3---------|||
--------4--4--------4--4----|--------4--4--------4--4---|||
--5--5----------------------|--5--5--------------------o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3----------------------|--6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|
---------------------------|----------------------------|


--6--3----------------------|--6--3---------------------|||
-----------4--6--3----------|-----------4--6--3---------|||
--------5-----------5--3----|--------5-----------5--3--o|||
----------------------------|--------------------------o|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||
----------------------------|---------------------------|||


-6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
o------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
o--------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3----------------|
--------4-----------------4-------------|
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3----|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------------6--3----------------------|
-----------4--6--3-----------------4--6--3----------|
--------5-----------5--3--------5-----------5--3----|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--3--------------6--3---------------|||
--------4-----------------4------------|||
-----------5--4--3-----------5--4--3--o|||
--------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------|||


-6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
-------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
o---------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
o---------------------------6--5--3----------------|
----------------------------------------------6----|
---------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6-------------|
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6----|
-----3--5--7----------------------------------------|
--6-------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|


--6--4--3-------------------------------------------|
--------------------6--4--3-------------------------|
-----------7--5--3--------------------7--5--3-------|
-----------------------------6--5--3----------------|
-----------------------------------------------6----|
----------------------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------|
--------6--5--3-----------------------------3--5----|
--5--3-----------------------------3--5--6----------|
-----------------6--4--3--3--4--6-------------------|


-----------------------4--6--8--3--4--6------------|||
--------------4--6--8--------------------3--4--6---|||
-----3--5--7--------------------------------------o|||
--6-----------------------------------------------o|||
---------------------------------------------------|||
---------------------------------------------------|||

 Hands_workout.gp5 ( 4.5K ) : 113

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot May 22 2012, 02:52 PM

Ha-ha!! Game on

I am crap at sight reading tab and extracting rhythm - my piano teacher beat staff notation into me as a kid so that's the only thing I can sight-read rhythm from... So anyway, I read your reply and thought, yeah I can do this easily. Ha!

Then I opened up the .GP5 file and hit the semi-quaver section at the end - "Holy-Turn-Down-The-Tempo-Batman!!!" Loving it

I'm down at 50bpm at the moment and slowly crawling upwards while concentrating on technique.

One question about technique- where I'm playing runs over a five fret range and hitting the 1st, 3rd and 5th frets in that span, should I be putting the extra stretch in between the index and middle fingers or the ring and pinky? (...and as an aside, are they still called P.I.M.A. fingers on your fretting hand??). Is there a "correct" approach to that fingering or should I just go with what feels natural?

Cheers!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather May 22 2012, 07:12 PM

I am glad you like this exercise! It will help you a lot and very fast! I always suggest to do how it is comfortable for you if it feels right to use different fingers just go for it, if you will decide to use pinky and make it stronger you can do it as well!
This exercise is meant to connect your left and right hands together
the reason it's hard to play fast is in your left hand being out of sync with the right! As soon as you will get them together you will see a huge results!
Let me know if you need help or have questions!

Posted by: Zoot May 26 2012, 03:53 AM

60bpm is reasonably consistent now. Having some occassional wanders up to 80 and the odd flirt with 90. Will post a take when I've got it closer to nailed.

Cheers -

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather May 26 2012, 05:56 AM

Awesome! I am looking forward to it!

Posted by: Zoot May 27 2012, 05:28 AM

Alrighty - here's a couple of vids showing where I was and where I am now.

In The Beginning -



60 and 70 bpm -



80 bpm -



Getting there...

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather May 27 2012, 05:30 PM

Wow! Such a big progress! I like how you did before and after videos! Great job! A few notes are still a little shaky but I think in a few more days it will sound brilliant you are almost there! ! I will post a new assignment for you in a couple of days! Keep it up!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 5 2012, 12:06 AM

OK - this is now officially doing my head in!

I am now pretty consistent at 80 bpm, but anything faster rapidly turns into slop. I'm also finding that when I'm running from the high E string and going to the G string, (like in the start of the last phrase), I am catching the B string just slightly. Not sure what to do about this...

Still going hard at it in practise. Will post an update shortly.

B.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 6 2012, 02:12 AM

I can suggest to practice this part at a very slow tempo and you will get it! Just loop it and play it say 100 times without any mistakes and it will sound perfect very fast
I am looking forward to hear your take let me know how it goes and if I can help you with the B string issue!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 11 2012, 09:33 AM

Okey-dokey - this is as close as I can get at the moment. Coming along - just slowly. Will post a video take once I get over red-light fever from the webcam and it's a little more polished.

http://soundcloud.com/qwerty_zoot/ex-1-90bpm

You can hear the B-string catch in this - think it's just a matter of practice as you said.

Ciao,

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 11 2012, 09:32 PM

It sounds like your timing is good, but it's hard to tell because there is no click to refer to, If you don't mind adding it for your next take!
You did a very good job learning it and it sounds great! I just would like to be sure that it is 100% correct!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 15 2012, 10:59 AM

Hi Alex -

Here's another video - this time @ 90bpm. Still sloppy, but indicative of where I'm at - couple of examples of the string catching thing I've been getting caught with.

Let me know if anything looks weird.

Cheers!

Z.

Posted by: Zoot Jun 15 2012, 02:36 PM

...and I've been meaning to ask you recommendation on the following points for a while now -

1. For the sake of my marriage, give me something else to practice!
2. I normally have 1 - 2 hours per day to play. What's your recommendation on how I should spend my practice time?

Cheers!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 15 2012, 10:48 PM

LOL!
Let's get into musical exercises now! You did very good on the take just add this exercise to your warm up routine and do it every day at least one time through!
I will prepare a new assignment for you in a few hours!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 17 2012, 12:02 AM

Excellent! Looking forward to it

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 17 2012, 05:21 AM

So I have a new assignment for you!
Here is the backing track that you can use to practice your assignments!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/blues-mentoring

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 17 2012, 09:56 AM

Ha-ha! Love it! Nice track Alex - hard not to feel the groove in that one. I've set up a 30 min loop in my sequencer and have been jamming around this. First time it ended I thought something had broken - couldn't believe that 30mins had already gone past.

Fun!!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 17 2012, 11:04 PM

Awesome! I am glad you like this track!
I will prepare a new assignment for you tomorrow it will be like a collab but only you and me! We will be going back and forth 12 bars each!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 18 2012, 12:55 PM

Cool - that sounds like fun!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 18 2012, 11:49 PM

It will be fun! I will post my take tomorrow!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 22 2012, 07:42 AM

Hi! So I have recorded my take! Now it's your turn! I used the same pentatonics and positions I assigned you!
Here it is!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/zoot
I would like you to continue me idea on the solo!
Try to keep it less busy because it's just a beginning and be as melodic as possible!
P.S. Leave the rest of the track playing so I can add the next part after your solo!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 24 2012, 07:29 AM

Hi Alex -

What are the chord changes in the backing track? I'm having a hard time staying in pure E pentatonic minor... A couple of those chord changes are screaming out for me to play a C# and F# here and there. I can solo melodically quite nicely with those added notes, but can't seem to make a melody line "fit" properly without them...

Ciao,

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 24 2012, 06:10 PM

The chord changes are:
Emi7 - A7 - Dmaj7
It's a basic II -V - I chord progression!

Let's do that! Do a short solo let's say twice through the chord changes! I would like you to play what you know and be as melodic as possible! Looking forward to hear your take!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 25 2012, 01:08 PM

OK - this is really fascinating for me. In the first jam track you posted for me, I could wail away on pretty much ANY note of the Eminor pentatonic scale and it sounded pretty fine. Some notes sounded better than others, but none really stuck out like dog's balls...

When I attempted the same approach with this track, I'm finding that I have to pay much closer attention to actual note selection within the pentatonic scale and be aware of the chord that I'm playing over.

This I found fascinating, and I think I've found the reason - check my logic, please!

In jazz land, it would seem that the most common way to approach the iim7-V7-Imaj7 progression is to use the dorian mode over the iim7, mixolydian over the V7 and a simple major scale over the Imaj7. So the chord tones I most easily hear over the progression are the E G B D over the Em7, the A C# E and G in the A7 and the D F# A and C# in the Dmaj7.

Given that in the Eminor pentatonic I've only got the E G A B and D, my little ear is crying out for the 3rd in the A7 - the C# and the F# and C# in the Dmaj7 - the 3rd and 7th of that chord.

I think where I was tripping myself up trying to play the pure pentatonic scale over the progression was when I was trying to use the B over the A7 or the Dmaj7. In the A7, that would have been a sus2 intonation and a 6th over the Dmaj7 - neither of which were going to sound particularly easy on the ear and fight against the progression.

Glad I worked that out... (I think! Correct me if I'm wrong!!!!)

OK - I'm going to shut up now and record a couple of takes. One adding the C# and F# where I hear them and another using pure pentatonic scale.

Dammit - now you're making me learn those obscure areas on my fretboard, lol...

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 26 2012, 02:45 AM

You are absolutely correct!
Here is a very cool trick!
Over E mi7 play E minor pentatonic

Over A7 play F# minor pentatonic
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

Over D major 7 play B minor pentatonic
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

Try to combine all three pentatonics and make it to sound smooth!
The reason I am asking you to play pentatonics instead of scales is because I want to break typical scale patterns! Your solos will be sounding much more creative if you will be thinking pentatonics instead of scales!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot Jun 27 2012, 11:26 AM

Hi Alex -

Here's the track as I hear it, (well, as I hear it within the bounds of my ability ). C# and F#'s abound...

http://soundcloud.com/qwerty_zoot/zoot-af-z

This pedal emulates a plexi stack and unfortunately, I'm having a love affair with the PRE-AMP gain knob which wasn't really appropriate for this tune

Ciao!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jun 27 2012, 11:56 PM

You did a great job on the solo! It was too short tho! Play one more run through!
I would like to hear more Q&A and try to use different octaves! The melody was great and I like how you developed it! Also try adding more dynamic in this solo!
Keep it up!

P.S.
It's a good pedal! I like the sound!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 1 2012, 02:13 AM

Just wanted to check and see how are you doing?
Do you have any questions?

Posted by: Zoot Jul 1 2012, 03:51 AM

No - no, all good here Alex. Just had my kids and wife down this week with the flu so haven't had much of a chance to do anything productive. Will be posting a new take shortly.

Ciao!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 2 2012, 06:27 AM

Sounds great! I am looking forward to hear your take! I hope you will feel better soon!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 14 2012, 05:59 PM

Hi! I just wanted to follow up and see how are you doing???

Posted by: Zoot Jul 18 2012, 11:44 AM

Hi Alex -

Back from holidays - Fiji was lovely but all that swimming killed my calluses!

Here's my take -

http://soundcloud.com/qwerty_zoot/zoot-af-z3

Ciao!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 20 2012, 07:19 PM

Sounds very nice!!! A few suggestions! Try to turn gain a little down and try to use Questions and answer technique! It will work perfectly for it! If you want I can explain you in more details! Let me know!

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 23 2012, 06:21 PM

Hi!
I have a perfect exercise for you! It will help you to master modes plus will bring your alternative picking to the next level!
Modes being used:
F# Locrian - G major - A dorian - B phrygian - C Lydian - D mixolydian - E minor
Here it is!

E ||----------------------------------------------3----|
B ||-------------------------------------3--5--7-------|
G ||o---------------------------2--4--5----------------|
D ||o------------------2--4--5-------------------------|
A ||----------2--3--5----------------------------------|
E ||-2--3--5-------------------------------------------|


--5--7--5--3---------------------------------------|||---|---|||
--------------7--5--3------------------------------|||---|---|||
-----------------------5--4--2--------------------o|||o--|--o|||
--------------------------------5--4--2-----------o|||o--|--o|||
-----------------------------------------5--3--2---|||---|---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||---|---|||


----------------------------------------------5----|
-------------------------------------5--7--8-------|
o---------------------------4--5--7----------------|
o------------------4--5--7-------------------------|
----------3--5--7----------------------------------|
-3--5--7-------------------------------------------|


--7--8--7--5---------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------8--7--5------------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------7--5--4--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------7--5--4-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------7--5--3---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------7----|
-------------------------------------7--8--10------|
o---------------------------5--7--9----------------|
o------------------5--7--9-------------------------|
----------5--7--9----------------------------------|
-5--7--8-------------------------------------------|


--8--10-8--7---------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------10-8--7------------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------9--7--5--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------9--7--5-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------9--7--5---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------8----|
-------------------------------------8--10-12------|
o---------------------------7--9--11---------------|
o------------------7--9--10------------------------|
----------7--9--10---------------------------------|
-7--8--10------------------------------------------|


--10-12-10-8---------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------12-10-8------------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------11-9--7--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------10-9--7-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------10-9--7---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------10---|
-------------------------------------10-12-13------|
o---------------------------9--11-12---------------|
o------------------9--10-12------------------------|
----------9--10-12---------------------------------|
-8--10-12------------------------------------------|


--12-14-12-10--------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------13-12-10-----------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------12-11-9--------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------12-10-9-----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------12-10-9---||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------12---|
-------------------------------------12-13-15------|
o---------------------------11-12-14---------------|
o------------------10-12-14------------------------|
----------10-12-14---------------------------------|
-10-12-14------------------------------------------|


--14-15-14-12--------------------------------------||----|----||
--------------15-14-12-----------------------------||----|----||
-----------------------14-12-11-------------------o||----|----||
--------------------------------14-12-10----------o||----|----||
-----------------------------------------14-12-10--||----|----||
---------------------------------------------------||----|----||


----------------------------------------------14---|
-------------------------------------13-15-17------|
o---------------------------12-14-16---------------|
o------------------12-14-16------------------------|
----------12-14-15---------------------------------|
-12-14-15------------------------------------------|


--15-17-15-14--------------------------------------||----|----|
--------------17-15-13-----------------------------||----|----|
-----------------------16-14-12-------------------o||----|----|
--------------------------------16-14-12----------o||----|----|
-----------------------------------------15-14-12--||----|----|
---------------------------------------------------||----|----|


-----------------------------------------------14---|
--------------------------------------13-15-17------|
-----------------------------12-14-16---------------|
--------------------12-14-16------------------------|
-----------12-14-15---------------------------------|
--12-14-15------------------------------------------|


--15-17-15-14---------------------------------------|
--------------17-15-13------------------------------|
-----------------------16-14-12---------------------|
--------------------------------16-14-12------------|
-----------------------------------------15-14-12---|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------12---|
--------------------------------------12-13-15------|
-----------------------------11-12-14---------------|
--------------------10-12-14------------------------|
-----------10-12-14---------------------------------|
--10-12-14------------------------------------------|


--14-15-14-12---------------------------------------|
--------------15-14-12------------------------------|
-----------------------14-12-11---------------------|
--------------------------------14-12-10------------|
-----------------------------------------14-12-10---|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------10---|
--------------------------------------10-12-13------|
-----------------------------9--11-12---------------|
--------------------9--10-12------------------------|
-----------9--10-12---------------------------------|
--8--10-12------------------------------------------|


--12-14-12-10---------------------------------------|
--------------13-12-10------------------------------|
-----------------------12-11-9----------------------|
--------------------------------12-10-9-------------|
-----------------------------------------12-10-9----|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------8----|
--------------------------------------8--10-12------|
-----------------------------7--9--11---------------|
--------------------7--9--10------------------------|
-----------7--9--10---------------------------------|
--7--8--10------------------------------------------|


--10-12-10-8----------------------------------------|
--------------12-10-8-------------------------------|
-----------------------11-9--7----------------------|
--------------------------------10-9--7-------------|
-----------------------------------------10-9--7----|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------7----|
--------------------------------------7--8--10------|
-----------------------------5--7--9----------------|
--------------------5--7--9-------------------------|
-----------5--7--9----------------------------------|
--5--7--8-------------------------------------------|


--8--10-8--7----------------------------------------|
--------------10-8--7-------------------------------|
-----------------------9--7--5----------------------|
--------------------------------9--7--5-------------|
-----------------------------------------9--7--5----|
----------------------------------------------------|


-----------------------------------------------5----|
--------------------------------------5--7--8-------|
-----------------------------4--5--7----------------|
--------------------4--5--7-------------------------|
-----------3--5--7----------------------------------|
--3--5--7-------------------------------------------|


--7--8--7--5----------------------------------------||
--------------8--7--5-------------------------------||
-----------------------7--5--4----------------------||
--------------------------------7--5--4-------------||
-----------------------------------------7--5--3----||
----------------------------------------------------||


----------------------------------------------3----|
-------------------------------------3--5--7-------|
o---------------------------2--4--5----------------|
o------------------2--4--5-------------------------|
----------2--3--5----------------------------------|
-2--3--5-------------------------------------------|


--5--7--5--3---------------------------------------|||
--------------7--5--3------------------------------|||
-----------------------5--4--2--------------------o|||
--------------------------------5--4--2-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------5--3--2---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------7----|
-------------------------------------7--8--10------|
o---------------------------5--7--9----------------|
o------------------5--7--9-------------------------|
----------5--7--9----------------------------------|
-5--7--8-------------------------------------------|


--8--10-8--7---------------------------------------|||
--------------10-8--7------------------------------|||
-----------------------9--7--5--------------------o|||
--------------------------------9--7--5-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------9--7--5---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------8----|
-------------------------------------8--10-12------|
o---------------------------7--9--11---------------|
o------------------7--9--10------------------------|
----------7--9--10---------------------------------|
-7--8--10------------------------------------------|


--10-12-10-8---------------------------------------|||
--------------12-10-8------------------------------|||
-----------------------11-9--7--------------------o|||
--------------------------------10-9--7-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------10-9--7---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------5----|
-------------------------------------5--7--8-------|
o---------------------------4--5--7----------------|
o------------------4--5--7-------------------------|
----------3--5--7----------------------------------|
-3--5--7-------------------------------------------|


--7--8--7--5---------------------------------------|||
--------------8--7--5------------------------------|||
-----------------------7--5--4--------------------o|||
--------------------------------7--5--4-----------o|||
-----------------------------------------7--5--3---|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------12---|
-------------------------------------12-13-15------|
o---------------------------11-12-14---------------|
o------------------10-12-14------------------------|
----------10-12-14---------------------------------|
-10-12-14------------------------------------------|


--14-15-14-12--------------------------------------|||
--------------15-14-12-----------------------------|||
-----------------------14-12-11-------------------o|||
--------------------------------14-12-10----------o|||
-----------------------------------------14-12-10--|||
---------------------------------------------------|||


----------------------------------------------14---|
-------------------------------------13-15-17------|
o---------------------------12-14-16---------------|
o------------------12-14-16------------------------|
----------12-14-15---------------------------------|
-12-14-15------------------------------------------|


--15-17-15-14--------------------------------------||
--------------17-15-13-----------------------------||
-----------------------16-14-12-------------------o||
--------------------------------16-14-12----------o||
-----------------------------------------15-14-12--||
---------------------------------------------------||


-----------------------------------------------3----|
--------------------------------------3--5--7-------|
-----------------------------2--4--5----------------|
--------------------2--4--5-------------------------|
-----------2--3--5----------------------------------|
--2--3--5-------------------------------------------|


--5--7--5--3----------------------------------------|-------||
--------------7--5--3-------------------------------|-------||
-----------------------5--4--2----------------------|-------||
--------------------------------5--4--2-------------|-------||
-----------------------------------------5--3--2----|-------||
----------------------------------------------------|--3----||

Guitar Pro
 Scales_workout.gp5 ( 8.99K ) : 85

I would like you to start by getting use to those shapes and when you will be learning them try to call out notes it will help you to master the neck better!
And here is a cool part of this exercise!
I played a track and would like you to play along with me! This exercise will help you with picking technique!
http://soundcloud.com/alex-feather-akimov/modes-workout

Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot Jul 23 2012, 10:19 PM

Cool - thanks Alex.

I've been trying to master all the diatonic shapes and get them to stick in my head since I've been back from holidays. This will be a lot more fun way to do that!

Z.

Posted by: Zoot Jul 25 2012, 01:00 PM

This is cool Alex - good tool. Would you be able to post the backing track without your part? Just trying to keep my playing clean...

Cheers!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 25 2012, 06:07 PM

I will post the backing track in a few days! I would like you to concentrate on playing along with me first and make sure that you can play through the whole thing! This exercise is great because you are playing along with me, so you pretty much have to do it right and you will get great results very fast!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help!

Posted by: Zoot Jul 26 2012, 11:41 AM

Cool - no problems mate.

I've now got the 7 patterns locked in my head, along with all 5 pentatonic patterns.

A first for me!!

Cheers -

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 27 2012, 07:23 PM

Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything!

Posted by: Zoot Jul 28 2012, 04:58 AM

Hey Alex -

I think there's an error in the .GP5 file which I just wanted to confirm with you -

Bar 22, the 6th semi-quaver should be a C (13th fret) not a C# (14th fret), right?

Cheers -

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Jul 28 2012, 09:58 AM

Good job! I am actually keeping it there on purpose! Some students are missing it:) That means you ae paying a lot of attention which is very good!
The answer is yes there should be C#!
Good job!

Posted by: Zoot Aug 1 2012, 12:47 PM

Wow... This is going to take a bit to get down

I can do it reasonably smoothly now @ 80 bpm. Now the trick is getting is smooth @ 90 bpm which I think is the tempo of the backing track.

I'm still going out of left and right hand synch @ 90 - but getting there!!

So yeah, don't think I've fallen off a cliff or given up - just practising!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 1 2012, 06:00 PM

This is a really good exercise it will get you results very fast! Just keep practicing it every day and you will notice your progress very soon!

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 8 2012, 08:52 PM

Hello! I just wanted to follow up and see how are you doing? Do you have any questions or need help with anything? Let me know!

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 27 2012, 08:08 AM

Hi! I just wanted to follow up and see how are you doing? Are you ready for a new challenge?

Posted by: Zoot Aug 27 2012, 08:54 AM

Hi Alex -

Sorry I'm dragging my heels on this one - I've nearly got it down and smooth. I'll post a take shortly so you can see where I'm up to.

This has been an interesting process for me. To play that many notes smoothly and in such a long sequence has been a real challenge. I've essentially rebuilt my picking approach to minimise movement and keep it clean and simple and accurate while working just from the wrist. This has meant that I need to move forward and back with my picking hand as I go from low to high strings. It's working, but has been a process.

In between times, I've been practising soloing using each of the modal patterns in the exercise over the 12 bar blues progression you posted earlier. I've just looped this for 30 minutes and I wail away using different modes and combining them with the pentatonic patterns. This has been a great practice routine and has broken things up nicely for me as a creative outlet in between drilling the current exercise.

So no - for the time being I'm good. I want to get this current exercise down before I move on to something else.

Thanks for checking in!

Z.

Posted by: Alex Feather Aug 29 2012, 04:50 PM

Sounds good! I am glad you like the exercise and I am glad it is working for you!
I am looking forward to hear your take!
Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything!

Posted by: Alex Feather Oct 24 2012, 01:30 AM

I just wanted to follow up and see how are you doing? Do you have any questions or need help with anything? Please let me know! I have a new assignment ready for you!

Posted by: Alex Feather Nov 17 2012, 11:05 AM

Hey! How is it going? I wanted to see how are you doing and if you are ready for a new challenge! Let me know!