Descending Minor Scale Pulloffs, Quick Licks #3 (Pull Offs) Options

[Todd Simpson]

Descending Minor Scale Pulloffs

INTRO:

This lick makes use of the "Pull Off" technique, where you use the fingers to "pull" off of the fretboard instead of picking every note. While you can pick every note in this lick, try to use as many pull offs as you can and as few pick strikes as possible. It is based around the E Minor Scale.

Here is the tab. You can play this at any speed that feels comfortable. Remember, precision is more important than speed. As the saying goes, "Speed is simply a byproduct of precision". Make sure to use your pinky finger (especially below the 12th fret) if possible, as shown in the vid. You can use the first three fingers up high (above fret 12) if you want to play an octave up.



 Quick_Licks__3.gp5 ( 1.84K ) Number of downloads: 62


 British_Metal_Collab_V_Backing_by_Darius.mp3 ( 2.59MB ) Number of downloads: 62


BACKGROUND / COMMENTS
This (as with Lick #2) is from our recent GABE BRIT METAL COLLAB! We are going to use the brit backing track for this so you can have a track to play over if you prefer it to a metronome. You can click on the mp3 file above to download it and use it in your DAW (Reaper/Nuendo/Logic/Etc.) so that you can play with the backing track and use the lick in a solo context.

BTW:
This should be much easier than #2. This is a very handy technique for making scales sound more musical as well as a bit more technical. It makes it sound like you are playing more notes than are actually being played due to the fact that we are repeating notes throughout the pattern.

WARM UP LICK:
Here is the same type of pattern done in the key of E but based around the 12th fret and using the full Minor Scale from High E string, all the way to the low E string. So through two octaves in one position. You can use this same pattern on any scale that you know. Also you can take just part of this pattern and use that as a lick.


 Quick_Licks__3warmup.gp5 ( 2.05K ) Number of downloads: 55



This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 5 2017, 05:14 AM

[n3m57]

Hi Todd, I really like your new concept, it's more accessible to me

Here my vid :

[yoncopin]

Here's my vid

[Todd Simpson]

welcome to the club!!! Glad to have ya! This is a very handy lick as it works on technique and it works well as a solo lick. You can pick every note to work you picking a bit harder, but I've found that doing it with some pull offs give it a bit more in terms of dynamics. Your playing here is spot on. You nailed and didn't have any bad notes, no issues on pacing, very good picking and hand placement. In short you KRUSHED it!!

Here is your first QUICK LICKS badge

More to come!
Todd

Hi Todd, I really like your new concept, it's more accessible to me

Here my vid :

Great to see you tackling these!! I promise not to make them as nuts as part 2 was I think you have a really good handle on the lick and your ready to use it in a solo. Keep in mind that this pattern will work on ANY scale you know, so you can use it any time you are playing a 3 note per string scale. In any key, any place on the neck. It's the pattern that's the most important thing. It gives you a new way to run scales and you can do it for just part of a scale and then switch to something else to make it your own. You are spot on the metronome for the first few strings and it drifts a pinch toward the end, but the metronome is just for reference here. I really want to see if you guys can quickly pick up a new lick, which you did!!! So you just BADGED UP!!!

We are just at the start here but you are still one of our top ranked in Quick Licks! Keep it up!

Todd

Here's my vid

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 7 2017, 06:10 AM

[fzalfa]

Hi Todd

This is my (short)take



Cheers

Laurent

[Todd Simpson]

Very Spiff!! I like what you did with it there Works great in context as a solo lick. I'm all for folks making these licks their own. However, I would like to see you play the lick as written as well just to show that you can do that as well. You start out doing it but by the time you hit the G string you are off and running on your thing. It's very cool what you did with it, I'd just like to see both if possible But this is something we are figuring out as we are going and bottom line you played it well!! So congrats you remain our HIGHEST RANKING member of QUICK LICKS and keep the STAR OF HONOR as the only member to complete every lick so far. NICE!!!!

*NOTE: ANYONE CAN GET THE STAR OF HONOR BY GOING BACK AND COMPLETING ALL THE QUICKLICKS AT ANY TIME!!

Hi Todd

This is my (short)take



Cheers

Laurent

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Nov 9 2017, 07:20 AM

[Todd Simpson]

Going to give this one another week so that a few guys that are just getting back in to the swing of things can give it a go!!!

----

Descending Minor Scale Pulloffs

INTRO:

This lick makes use of the "Pull Off" technique, where you use the fingers to "pull" off of the fretboard instead of picking every note. While you can pick every note in this lick, try to use as many pull offs as you can and as few pick strikes as possible. It is based around the E Minor Scale.

Here is the tab. You can play this at any speed that feels comfortable. Remember, precision is more important than speed. As the saying goes, "Speed is simply a byproduct of precision". Make sure to use your pinky finger (especially below the 12th fret) if possible, as shown in the vid. You can use the first three fingers up high (above fret 12) if you want to play an octave up.



 Quick_Licks__3.gp5 ( 1.84K ) Number of downloads: 62


 British_Metal_Collab_V_Backing_by_Darius.mp3 ( 2.59MB ) Number of downloads: 62


BACKGROUND / COMMENTS
This (as with Lick #2) is from our recent GABE BRIT METAL COLLAB! We are going to use the brit backing track for this so you can have a track to play over if you prefer it to a metronome. You can click on the mp3 file above to download it and use it in your DAW (Reaper/Nuendo/Logic/Etc.) so that you can play with the backing track and use the lick in a solo context.

BTW:
This should be much easier than #2. This is a very handy technique for making scales sound more musical as well as a bit more technical. It makes it sound like you are playing more notes than are actually being played due to the fact that we are repeating notes throughout the pattern.

WARM UP LICK:
Here is the same type of pattern done in the key of E but based around the 12th fret and using the full Minor Scale from High E string, all the way to the low E string. So through two octaves in one position. You can use this same pattern on any scale that you know. Also you can take just part of this pattern and use that as a lick.


 Quick_Licks__3warmup.gp5 ( 2.05K ) Number of downloads: 55



------------

PREVIEW: QUICK LICKS #4
* We are going to to a lick used in the final Video for the recent Gabe collab. It starts at 2:05. Here is the full vid!

[PosterBoy]

Well here's my work in progress.

I took some liberties with it, as I created my own little backing to practice with for upping the speed.

It seemed to fit triplets better than 8th notes so...

Anyway I only got a fairly clean take at 65 bpm recorded but was managing a few runs around 70/75 bpm

[Todd Simpson]

DUDE!! THAT'S IT!!! You got it I'd be perfectly happy to critique that! Congrats on creating your own backing as well Thats the lick back to front. If you wanna keep working on it to get more out of it, go nuts!! Just let me know if I can help in any way I'll check back to see when there's another vid. You are doing it perfectly. The more pull than picking, etc. And I can't helpl but say NICE IBBY!!!


Todd

Well here's my work in progress.

I took some liberties with it, as I created my own little backing to practice with for upping the speed.

It seemed to fit triplets better than 8th notes so...

Anyway I only got a fairly clean take at 65 bpm recorded but was managing a few runs around 70/75 bpm

[Todd Simpson]

WELL PLAYED!! This take is more than enough to serve as your final take IMHO. So here goes! I like how you crafted the lick in to something that fits in to a solo and into your own style. You took the technical elements of the lick, and made it your own thing by adjusting the timing just a pinch. I like your backing track that you created as well! Hopefully, you are comfy enough with this lick to add it to your personal back of tricks that you can pull out during an improv/solo at will!! You are more than ready for QUICK LICKS #4!!!

You just..

LEVELED UP!!!

Todd

Well here's my work in progress.

I took some liberties with it, as I created my own little backing to practice with for upping the speed.

It seemed to fit triplets better than 8th notes so...

Anyway I only got a fairly clean take at 65 bpm recorded but was managing a few runs around 70/75 bpm

[Caelumamittendum]

[Todd Simpson]

BINGO!!! That's what I"m looking for. Just Quick and Licked!!! In and out!!
Did one pass picked, then one pass pulled. Tight as a drum, drilled it and killed it. That's all I'm looking for guys. I think some folks are making this too hard. I want you to do these as "quick" as you can. Put up your first take that remotely works, don't get to far in to it. These are called "QUICK LICKS" because they are intended to be quick to learn and play back. I fear many folks are over thinking and over practicing them. I just want you to get the general idea and show me you have the general idea. That's it

Todd

[Phil66]

I am really struggling with this. I can play it picking but my fingers get tangled when I try to do the pull offs and hammer ons

I can very very slowly do it but the pinkie pulloffs on the D string hurt the back of my hand

I WILL CRACK IT THOUGH!!!!!!!!

This post has been edited by Phil66: Dec 23 2017, 09:49 PM

[Phil66]

After posting the message above I spent another 30 minutes on it and managed to do it very slowly with weak pulloffs on the D string. I must have been so tense though because I couldn't clench my fist and my neck was stiff all night.

Posterboy's hand looks so relaxed in his take, complete opposite of mine.

[Todd Simpson]

Did you try the "THUMBLESS" Technique? Taking your left thumb off the neck to prevent over pressure? It does require you to sit side saddle but honestly all these are written sitting side saddle so they are all best played that way in terms of wrist angle.


Todd

After posting the message above I spent another 30 minutes on it and managed to do it very slowly with weak pulloffs on the D string. I must have been so tense though because I couldn't clench my fist and my neck was stiff all night.

Posterboy's hand looks so relaxed in his take, complete opposite of mine.

[Phil66]

I really struggle with side saddle for some reason but I will try. Cheers.

It's getting the power in the pinkie to produce a solid pull off that's hard.

Cheers

[Todd Simpson]

Yup. The pinky is the bear of the bunch for sure. Isolate that pinky part if you can just a few notes before it and then loop it. Your pinky will find it's place Don't over do it and injure your pinky, STOP at the first sighn of pain.
Todd

I really struggle with side saddle for some reason but I will try. Cheers.

It's getting the power in the pinkie to produce a solid pull off that's hard.

Cheers

This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Dec 26 2017, 11:10 PM

[Caelumamittendum]

I really struggle with side saddle for some reason but I will try. Cheers.

It's getting the power in the pinkie to produce a solid pull off that's hard.

Cheers

It's a habit for sure. I remember being uncomfortable at first with it, but now I can almost not play with my guitar on my right leg. It's just too uncomfortable in that the arm of the fretting hand is so close to the body etc. Once you get used to the "freedom" of playing in the classical position, it's a revelation. You also see people like Petrucci go into that position even live when playing difficult passages.

[Todd Simpson]

Well said It will seem odd at first. But it will open up your playing in a way that you can't imagine. It cures the awkward arm angle created by going side saddle that folks just learn to work around but which can actually really get in the way. The physics of the human body are such that playing in classical just allows a more natural and less stressful position for the arms.

Todd

It's a habit for sure. I remember being uncomfortable at first with it, but now I can almost not play with my guitar on my right leg. It's just too uncomfortable in that the arm of the fretting hand is so close to the body etc. Once you get used to the "freedom" of playing in the classical position, it's a revelation. You also see people like Petrucci go into that position even live when playing difficult passages.

[Caelumamittendum]

Well said It will seem odd at first. But it will open up your playing in a way that you can't imagine. It cures the awkward arm angle created by going side saddle that folks just learn to work around but which can actually really get in the way. The physics of the human body are such that playing in classical just allows a more natural and less stressful position for the arms.

Todd

Absolutely. Another "Petrucci tip" of course when standing up is raising the guitar to have it higher up, which allows better fret access as well:



Of course some people doesn't think it looks cool, and would rather do the James Hetfield:



In my opinion it's playability over looks, but then again I've never minded looking like a bit of a "dork"