The Eye-opening Gmc Collab, You too can write amazing melodies
Kristofer Dahl
Mar 18 2015, 09:09 AM
GMC Founder
Posts: 18.745
Joined: 15-August 05
From: Stockholm, Sweden
The eye-opening GMC collab
You too can write amazing melodies


"To play amazing melodies you need a God given natural talent and... yellow slippers."

If you believe in this stuff you might want to get outta here wink.gif Because in this collab we’ll explore how it’s done, and no talent is needed at all! You do need time and devotion though.

In this collab we’ll use an amazing backing track by our own Javier Aviles to build our melodies.

This collab is a perfect opportunity for you to understand how you can follow - or ‘outline’ - the chords to create amazing melodies.

You can either compose a solo/melody and use the short backing track: In this case you should strive for something melodic and minimise fast runs. I recommend you to record around 40 seconds solo. My feedback here will focus on technical, structural and musical improvements.

OR you can record an improvised take over the long backing track. My feedback will then be related to the overall flow of the improvisation and I will suggest any tricks I can think of to help you improve.


BASIC APPROACH

You can play the C minor pentatonic scale over the whole backing track and it will sound good. For more colors, play the C aeolian scale (my personal favorite!).

With this basic approach, you won’t consciously be hitting the perfect notes over the chord changes all the time, but there is a big chance you will do it accidentally.







FOLLOW THE CHORDS!

A more advanced way to solo over this backing track, is to not only play scales, but also to follow the chords. When you hear a note choice or melody that sounds too good to be true, then the guitarist is usually following the chords the way I describe below.

If we look at the two chords of this backing, we get:

Cm: contains the notes C, Eb and G

Fm: contains the notes F, Ab and C

We have two changes, let’s see exactly what you should do over these, to write super strong sounding melodies:

When the backing changes from Cm to Fm the interesting opportunities lie in:

Bend the Eb note to F. If you nail this over the chord change, people will think you’re God.
Bend the G note to Ab. Again, hallelujah!

When the backing changes from Fm to Cm:
Bend the F note to G.
Bend the C note to Eb.

These are the most obvious ones, but with some creativity there are plenty of other ways to go from chord note to chord note.

Bare in mind that as long as you bend into a strong note ( = chord note) you can actually do it from any note, even one that sounds horrible. It is a safe way to write strong material, and works for any genre in the world.

If you are not comfortable bending, you can play the notes regularly with your pick, or slide into them (etc etc)

To determine when the chord changes are happening, you should start counting the beats from the beginning of the backing track. The first change to Fm happens after aprox 6 seconds, when you have counted to 4, two times.

See the tab/pdf in the lesson for more details.

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DOWNLOAD THE BACKING TRACKS:

Attached File  eye_opener_collab.mp3 ( 2.26MB ) Number of downloads: 758

Attached File  eye_opener_JAM.mp3 ( 10.15MB ) Number of downloads: 624


* Tempo is 78 bpm
* Deadline is April 8, 2015
* Although this is an audio collab, feel free to video record yourself as this will help you get better feedback.
* When you want to submit your final take, upload files in this topic (mp3 with at least 128 kbps quality, 16 bit wav files are welcome though). We need two files: 1. Your solo without the backing track 2. Your solo mixed with the backing track for reference.

Here you can see me jamming over the backing track:



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RESLULT


>>>>> FINAL MIX <<<<<<

Participants:

Bas Cuthach, Sensible Jones, Procyon, AKRich, Todd Simpson, GeneT95, Kristofer Dahl, Monica Gheorghevici, Bleez, MisterM, Phil66 and Pzalfa.


Participants:

Bas Cutach + Sensible Jones: Creating the atmosphere
Procyon: Solo over the created atmosphere
AK Rich Solo over GeneT95 and Bas Cuthach arrangements.
Todd Simpson Solo while GeneT95 continues adding rhythm.
Kristofer Dahl Solo, Gene continues rocking.
Monica solo over Kris’s rhythm delay auto pan arrangement and also some Massive synth addition. Bas Cuthach joins in the second half.
Bleez and MisterM guitar solos interact perfectly over the backing destroyed with industrial effect.
Phil66 and Pzalfa solos go nicely together while backing fade down and Bas Cuthach once again with his delay based rhythm.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


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Posts in this topic
- Kristofer Dahl   The Eye-opening Gmc Collab   Mar 18 2015, 09:09 AM
- - bleez   no talent + minor pentatonic? this is the collab f...   Mar 18 2015, 09:48 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (bleez @ Mar 18 2015, 09:48 AM) no ...   Mar 18 2015, 10:15 AM
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- - Monica Gheorghevici   Cool, I love this backing track but this time it w...   Mar 18 2015, 10:19 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Monica Gheorghevici @ Mar 18 2015, 10...   Mar 18 2015, 10:25 AM
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- - Monica Gheorghevici   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Mar 18 2015, 09:2...   Mar 18 2015, 10:59 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Monica Gheorghevici @ Mar 18 2015, 10...   Mar 18 2015, 11:07 AM
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- - fzalfa   As Bogdan advice me, i'll do a try with this. ...   Mar 18 2015, 12:01 PM
- - AdamB   I'll get involved in this one, too.   Mar 18 2015, 12:14 PM
- - Kristofer Dahl   Excellent Laurent and Adam. Can't wait to hear...   Mar 18 2015, 03:28 PM
- - Todd Simpson   Who could say no? It's my fave scale!...   Mar 18 2015, 03:41 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Mar 18 2015, 03:41 ...   Mar 18 2015, 04:05 PM
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- - AK Rich   This is a very cool backing that offers unlimited ...   Mar 18 2015, 05:56 PM
- - fzalfa   humm... i cannot send my participation, todd is t...   Mar 20 2015, 06:11 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Mar 20 2015, 06:11 PM) hu...   Mar 20 2015, 08:46 PM
|- - Todd Simpson   EGAD!! FZALFA!! The whole point is...   Mar 24 2015, 02:46 AM
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- - AK Rich   I am really enjoying playing along with this backi...   Mar 20 2015, 08:39 PM
- - Doug Lane   I'm in, and this time I'm going regularly ...   Mar 21 2015, 12:25 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Doug Lane @ Mar 21 2015, 12:25 AM)...   Mar 21 2015, 09:35 AM
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- - fzalfa   hi here thsi is small contribution, a sort of pre...   Mar 21 2015, 11:51 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Mar 21 2015, 11:51 AM) hi...   Mar 21 2015, 06:50 PM
|- - fzalfa   Thankx a lot !! i'll work on now, ti...   Mar 21 2015, 07:32 PM
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- - Phil66   I'm in. This will be interesting, I keep think...   Mar 21 2015, 06:32 PM
- - bleez   This is what Im currently playing for it   Mar 21 2015, 08:08 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (bleez @ Mar 21 2015, 08:08 PM) Thi...   Mar 21 2015, 10:30 PM
|- - bleez   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Mar 21 2015, 09:3...   Mar 22 2015, 12:10 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (bleez @ Mar 22 2015, 12:10 AM) Im ...   Mar 22 2015, 11:09 AM
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- - Phil66   Ok, here's my first attempt. My favourite part...   Mar 21 2015, 08:38 PM
- - Phil66   Thank Kris, I quite like it from 0:37-1.00. I real...   Mar 21 2015, 11:32 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Phil66 @ Mar 21 2015, 11:32 PM) Th...   Mar 21 2015, 11:54 PM
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- - Phil66   Had a bit of a mess with tone. Tone is one of the ...   Mar 22 2015, 09:53 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Phil66 @ Mar 22 2015, 09:53 PM) Ha...   Mar 22 2015, 10:09 PM
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- - Phil66   Thanks Kris, Ok another little tweak. Once I get ...   Mar 23 2015, 10:19 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Phil66 @ Mar 23 2015, 10:19 PM) Th...   Mar 23 2015, 11:24 PM
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- - Phil66   Ok, worked late, got in 15 minutes ago, was listen...   Mar 24 2015, 09:37 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Phil66 @ Mar 24 2015, 09:37 PM) Ok...   Mar 24 2015, 11:06 PM
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- - Todd Simpson   Todd here!! Here is a preview of my take....   Mar 26 2015, 11:03 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Mar 26 2015, 11:03 ...   Mar 27 2015, 10:14 AM
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- - GeneT95   Working on a little rhythm with the Collab backing...   Mar 27 2015, 12:35 AM
- - fzalfa   hi todd it's ok for me, i share, i put my shy...   Mar 27 2015, 12:10 PM
- - fzalfa   a new production..... rewards, beers, advices, ...   Mar 27 2015, 02:48 PM
|- - Todd Simpson   KRIS: Thanks very much for the detailed feedback ...   Mar 27 2015, 07:23 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Mar 27 2015, 02:48 PM) a ...   Mar 27 2015, 11:05 PM
|- - fzalfa   hi i trail this vibrato's probleme since i pl...   Mar 27 2015, 11:21 PM
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- - Todd Simpson   Per KRIS spiff suggestions, I built a patch using ...   Mar 28 2015, 06:34 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Mar 28 2015, 06:34 ...   Mar 28 2015, 10:26 PM
|- - AK Rich   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Mar 28 2015, 01:2...   Mar 29 2015, 02:59 AM
||- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (AK Rich @ Mar 29 2015, 02:59 AM) P...   Mar 29 2015, 11:02 PM
||- - AK Rich   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Mar 29 2015, 02:0...   Mar 30 2015, 05:34 AM
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|- - Todd Simpson   KRIS: This is my final take so I''m leavin...   Mar 31 2015, 05:20 AM
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- - AK Rich   Hey guys, I thought I would share what I have goin...   Mar 28 2015, 07:42 AM
- - fzalfa   NICE !!!!!! Laurent   Mar 28 2015, 09:12 AM
- - fzalfa   a new shoot..... false start for the first mesure...   Mar 28 2015, 02:32 PM
- - fzalfa   hi thanks for listening ok i must "play...   Mar 29 2015, 12:10 AM
- - Bas Cuthach   This is not final, I have many ideas and always p...   Mar 31 2015, 05:48 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Bas Cuthach @ Mar 31 2015, 05:48 P...   Mar 31 2015, 09:50 PM
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- - Bas Cuthach   but i like my distortion lol ok some minor changes...   Mar 31 2015, 11:42 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Bas Cuthach @ Mar 31 2015, 11:42 P...   Apr 1 2015, 10:25 PM
|- - fzalfa   hi Kristofer you have a good idea about the limit...   Apr 1 2015, 10:36 PM
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- - Monica Gheorghevici   You know guys that I always begin by thanking to m...   Apr 1 2015, 11:39 AM
|- - fzalfa   hi here a brand new recording. let me know... ...   Apr 1 2015, 09:29 PM
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- - Bas Cuthach   RE: The Eye-opening Gmc Collab   Apr 2 2015, 04:24 AM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Bas Cuthach @ Apr 2 2015, 04:24 AM...   Apr 2 2015, 07:48 AM
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- - Monica Gheorghevici   Kris: Thank you from my heart for your kind words ...   Apr 2 2015, 06:27 AM
- - fzalfa   Monica, you rocks !!! Laurent   Apr 2 2015, 07:46 AM
- - Monica Gheorghevici   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Apr 2 2015, 06:46 AM) Mon...   Apr 2 2015, 02:41 PM
- - MisterM   Hi all deadline 8/04/2015 I can still join you ?   Apr 2 2015, 05:46 PM
|- - Bogdan Radovic   QUOTE (MisterM @ Apr 2 2015, 06:46 PM) Hi...   Apr 2 2015, 07:02 PM
|- - fzalfa   Welcome MisterM, my french friend we are both ...   Apr 2 2015, 08:06 PM
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- - Bas Cuthach   ok, here is my take with out backing   Apr 2 2015, 05:49 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Bas Cuthach @ Apr 2 2015, 05:49 PM...   Apr 2 2015, 09:27 PM
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- - MisterM   Hi Laurent Tomorrow I will try to give the best, ...   Apr 2 2015, 08:13 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (MisterM @ Apr 2 2015, 08:13 PM) Hi...   Apr 2 2015, 09:04 PM
|- - Procyon   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Apr 2 2015, 10:04...   Apr 3 2015, 01:46 PM
|- - MisterM   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Apr 2 2015, 08:04...   Apr 3 2015, 02:44 PM
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- - Procyon   After a really hard week I finally found some time...   Apr 2 2015, 08:24 PM
- - fzalfa   nice for both !! Laurent   Apr 2 2015, 08:36 PM
- - fzalfa   it's me again a new version, don"t worry...   Apr 2 2015, 09:18 PM
- - fzalfa   another take... edit: don"t know why i hav...   Apr 2 2015, 09:55 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Apr 2 2015, 09:55 PM) ano...   Apr 3 2015, 04:04 PM
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- - MisterM   Kristofer thank you I am disappointed , I have id...   Apr 3 2015, 04:18 PM
|- - fzalfa   QUOTE (MisterM @ Apr 3 2015, 04:18 PM) My...   Apr 3 2015, 06:29 PM
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- - AK Rich   Here is another look at my take with a few slight ...   Apr 4 2015, 10:58 PM
|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (AK Rich @ Apr 4 2015, 10:58 PM) He...   Apr 5 2015, 09:19 PM
|- - fzalfa   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Apr 5 2015, 09:19...   Apr 5 2015, 10:16 PM
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- - MisterM   Hi Ak Rich Very Nice, i Like it !   Apr 5 2015, 07:58 AM
|- - AK Rich   QUOTE (MisterM @ Apr 4 2015, 10:58 PM) Hi...   Apr 5 2015, 09:21 AM
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- - fzalfa   yes MM is right, it's pretty nice Laurent   Apr 5 2015, 09:24 AM
|- - AK Rich   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Apr 5 2015, 12:24 AM) yes...   Apr 5 2015, 09:28 AM
|- - fzalfa   QUOTE (AK Rich @ Apr 5 2015, 09:28 AM) Ah...   Apr 5 2015, 09:52 AM
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- - MisterM   Hi all Nice Laurent, keep on rock my french frien...   Apr 5 2015, 04:45 PM
- - Monica Gheorghevici   Kris: I finished my take and I tried to keep a goo...   Apr 5 2015, 11:03 PM
|- - MisterM   QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl)Beautiful! As mentioned ...   Apr 6 2015, 06:09 AM
||- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (MisterM @ Apr 6 2015, 06:09 AM) I ...   Apr 7 2015, 08:40 AM
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|- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (Monica Gheorghevici @ Apr 5 2015, 11...   Apr 6 2015, 10:08 PM
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- - Nick6373   Hey guys, I was wondering if I could have some adv...   Apr 6 2015, 09:18 AM
- - Monica Gheorghevici   QUOTE (MisterM @ Apr 6 2015, 05:09 AM) Hi...   Apr 7 2015, 07:35 AM
|- - MisterM   QUOTE (Monica Gheorghevici @ Apr 7 2015, 06...   Apr 7 2015, 12:00 PM
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- - fzalfa   for me also, tell me what take you want with guita...   Apr 7 2015, 03:13 PM
- - Kristofer Dahl   QUOTE (fzalfa @ Apr 7 2015, 03:13 PM) for...   Apr 7 2015, 09:13 PM
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