Aris's Thread, for Gab's Army |
HEY MAN, I really need your help...
...the thing is, I need you to start progressing faster then ever, but to achieve that I need your help:
* Don't know where to start? Just pm me and we will sort it out directly, I am online every day.
* Join My Army. Sounds aggressive? It is! We can study anything from the most fearsome picking techniques to bombastic songwriting. A medal of honor awaits the brave. Seriously, this is an opportunity for you to get a personalised learning experience...what are you waiting for?!
* Join my next video chat! GMC startpage holds a video chat schedule. We always cover a lot of ground and have fun. Remember that you don't need any previous knowledge, and you can be passive in the chat.
* Jam with me - you will find active collabs here.
* Post a topic on this board, guitar related or not - doesn't matter! You will find that chatting with instructors boosts your motivation to practice.
* You haven't missed my latest video lessons, have you?
* Finally I want to tell you a secret. Nah I changed my mind - pm me instead ;)
|
|
|
|
Apr 29 2015, 11:15 PM
|
|
Hi Aris, I'm glad to know that this description clarified your direction. Please use a notepad to write down this ideas and organize them with your own ideas, and everything else related to this workout. Use it to have the scale shapes, the different backings uses, licks that you are working, etc.
I think that it's ok to start with Pentatonic scales. Please note that minor pentatonic is even more used in rock and blues so maybe you'd want to start with it, but well, by the way you need to learn both so start with the one that you prefer. And off course you can use this thread to share your progress, questions, solos, backings and everything you need to keep progressing.  -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
 |
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 30 2015, 02:00 PM
|
|
Hi Gabriel,
I started very simply so as to take things step by step and I have tried to follow your instructions closely. I have started playing the G major pentatonic over an one chord backing (Gmajor) to have as little as possible to think about in the beginning. From the scale I have selected the notes G, B, D which coincide with the arpeggio but I do not mean to mix it up with arpeggio practice just to keep things clear. I also share with you my notes as you recommended. Practice Session 1: Major pentatonic position 2, octave 2 (3 notes selected: G , B, D) E ---------------- B ---------------- G -------4---7--- D ----5----------- A ---------------- E ---------------- Backing track of one chord: Gmajor No notable licks found yet using 3 chords...Perhaps I will have to find and borrow some licks for starters and change them around. (I figured it would be best to start with major pentatonic since I have the impression that most punk/rocker and rock & roll solos like SD, Rancid etc are in major but I see that there are lots of such solos in minor too. So tonality may not be relevant either. It would be interesting to know how this works in composing. ) I have also attached two very draft samples of my practice just to show you how I have tried to work on your instructions. Is it meant to sound so crappy at the beginning. I 'm afraid I may have not understood what I should be doing for this exercise. (one sample is using only 3 notes of the scale position) (the other sample is using a full octave in the same position from the major pentatonic scale) - towards the end of this sample I was trying to follow a fictional spoken conversation in my mind but it's hard even for me to picture it by listening to the track https://soundcloud.com/aris-33/iprov-practi...i-iii-v/s-FT9ro https://soundcloud.com/aris-33/majorpenta-o...sition1/s-z9VS5 Just let me know if this is different than what you advised me to do start practicing. This post has been edited by Aris: Apr 30 2015, 02:10 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 30 2015, 03:13 PM
|
|
Hi Aris, great job with this! It's exactly what I meant! If you keep patient and working like this, your improvisation skills will definitely progress. I'm not sure if you are doing this but I think that this workout can be combined with some ear training. While you play this melodies, you should sing the notes that you play, in order to incorporate the sound of each note. After a while of doing it, you could try this exercises:
- Sing and play the melodies at the same time (Benson Style) - Sing a phrase, and then play it on guitar. - Sing phrases and imagine the frets that you'd be playing. Then check if you were right. This training will make the connection between your ideas and your guitar much smoother, and it's a great moment to work on it too. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 1 2015, 03:06 AM
|
|
Perfect! Let me know how it goes.
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 7 2015, 04:02 PM
|
|
Hi Gabriel,
I 'm trying to play every day even for 30' although the decision to stay up is hard. Maybe I will have to drink one or two sips of coffee to avoid missing practice. Playing before work does not seem doable. About my practice, I try to follow your advice. My problem is that when we talk everything seems clear but when I go to practice I get confused and find it difficult to do it all at the same time (e.g. focus on playing call-response licks, experiment and sing every note that I have just played). So when I go to practice it feels like I am missing something important for understanding theexercise and something doesn't feel right in the way I follow the instructions. Is this normal in the beginning? I have also noticed the following difficulties: --> I have to be really focused and make a conscious effort so as to play in call/response manner. To start with I am focusing on repeating the question with very small changes every time. --> It's also hard to sing the notes I play in parallel with experimenting and reminding my self to stick with playing call/responses throughout the recording. Below I am sending my last recording (1 session old). As you can listen it does not sound good. https://soundcloud.com/aris-33/majorpenta-o...improv2/s-r3kzS Attached are also the licks I have noted after experimentation up to now. The problem is that I could not stick to using only 3 notes in order to make them sound melodic. I 'll try to link a version of each one in the same recording and see what happens. This post has been edited by Aris: May 7 2015, 09:21 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 8 2015, 03:17 PM
|
|
Hi Aris, how are you?
Yes! All these things are normal. Please re-read again the plan that I suggested and remember the main message there: You need to go slow and be patient. It's more difficult to see progress when we work on creativity and phrasing, but trust me that the more you practice this tasks the better your playing will become. Just be sure to practice one or two of these ideas every day. You don't have to focus on many things at the same time, focus on one at a time. If you decide to work on call and response, focus on it, if you go for singing / ear training, focus only on it. In the end, everything will connect together naturally. The improvisation that you shared is ok, I can notice that you are getting familiar with the notes from the scale and that's the main goal now. I recommend you to start practicing over other backing tracks, if possible that have different sections, to avoid monotony. PS: Could you please save the guitar pro file in version 5? -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 9 2015, 03:56 PM
|
|
Exactly! That's what I suggest doing. It's cool that you have a gp where you are creating your own licks, it's a very good way to develop your own vocabulary and style. Keep the good job!
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 12 2015, 06:45 PM
|
|
Hi Aris, this sounds very good. It's ok to balance your practice between these 3 directions: improvisation workout, technique and jamming. And it's also cool to know that you superpose them and incorporate some technique stuff while you are practicing improvisation and vice versa. In the end, everything should be connected to develop your own voice on guitar.
I'll wait for your recordings, keep on the hard work. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 18 2015, 03:00 PM
|
|
Hi Gabriel,
How are you doing? I would like to share my latest recording: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=KEmaYHBvQ8w I tried to improvise using any of the licks I have found so far that would cross my mind at the time. This recording occurred while I was experimenting for new licks. I have to admit that I mostly experiment in finding better sounding licks while playing over the backing track. On the other hand, I tend to skip singing the notes I play or focus on playing call-response patterns - I need to keep my focus and force myself doing these things. I am also using more than 3 notes of the scale and I am occasionally moving around different positions of the scale. Perhaps I should stick with using only less notes and stay in the same position for longer to progress smoothly. Any thoughts are appreciated. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 18 2015, 04:11 PM
|
|
Hi Aris, the link is wrong. It takes me to my youtube channel....
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 18 2015, 08:33 PM
|
|
Hi Gabriel,
This link should work. Let me know if it is still problematic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEmaYHBvQ8w...eature=youtu.be |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 19 2015, 04:13 PM
|
|
Nice! Great to see you getting familiar with the scale and chords. There are some moments in which you connected really well with the chords, for example at 2:58.
The next work that I'd like to give you over this backing is start following the chords. How? It's simple, you take a part of the neck and search where you have the chords of the progression. You can start with the verse that has only 2 chords. At first follow it with rhythm and visualize the notes from the chords and if possible try to see the pentatonic scale too. Once you can see the notes from each chord, start playing single notes from the chords, starting with the thirds. Play B note every time G sounds and play E every time C sounds. Do this for a while in different octaves. When the chorus section appears do the same with those chords. As soon as you feel comfortable with following the chords with thirds, start adding notes from the pentatonic as passing notes but keep on focusing and staying on thirds. Try to create musical phrases using this concept. Many guitarists from Pat Metheny to Steve Lukather and Andy Timmons usually follow chords with thirds in their phrasing. Experiment and record what you get. 
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 22 2015, 03:09 PM
|
|
Hi Aris, you're on the right track. Everything is exactly as I suggested and expected to please continue working on this for a few days (3 or 4) and share a recording when you feel it's time for it. Ok?
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 22 2015, 09:36 PM
|
|
Great,
Yes I will send something after a few more sessions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 23 2015, 03:36 PM
|
|
QUOTE (Aris @ May 22 2015, 05:36 PM)  Great, Yes I will send something after a few more sessions. Great!
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
|
|
|
|
 
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
