Hi Muris,
I will go into detail a little more about my goals etc. a little later but I wanted to get some clips up so you can see my current playing level.
Before we get started I just want to say thanks for taking the time to help me with my playing. Means A LOT!!
BACKGROUND
I am 38 and have been playing for around 20 years by now. My favorite players when I was learning were Vai, Satch and Vito Bratta. I have been playing pretty consistently for those 20 years but in the last 2 years and especially the last 6 months I have become extremely focused and consistent with my practicing and playing. My favorite type of music is Rock and I just love instrumental guitar music.
Never been in a band and really never had any kind of contact with any musicians until I joined GMC.
CURRENT STATUS
I think my strengths are my legato and tapping. I think I can bend pretty decent and I think I can come up with nice melodies/licks etc. I think I am decent at sweep picking and economy picking as well although they could use some work as well.
My weaknesses are definitely my vibrato and my alternate picking. I don't know why I dont consistently work on this technique, although since January I have been more consistent than usual. I think it is because my legato and tapping are so developed compared to my AP that it is just easier for me to fall back into my comfort zone and rely on those techniques rather than take the time to develop a good AP technique. THIS WILL BE REMEDIED THIS YEAR!! I just need some guidance on how to do it.
THEORY
I think I have a pretty good background here. I know all my scales and triads and I understand modes etc. I know where chords come from and how to build them. In this area I feel pretty comfortable about where I am although I could always learn more.
CURRENT ROUTINE
My current routine consists of daily practice of the following techniques:
TAPPING
LEGATO
HYBRID PICKING
ALTERNATE PICKING
ECONOMY PICKING
SWEEP PICKING
I am currently working on the following GMC lessons:
Your "Phrygian advanced" lesson
I have this pretty much up to tempo except for the AP parts!! A couple of the licks in this sound better played with a different technique to my ear so I have changed a couple of them. The AP and economy picked runs at the very beginning however need to be picked so I am working on these and I am making progress.
Your "Lydian advanced" lesson
This one is just being held up by the sweep tap arpeggio and the 16th triplet hybrid picking. I also changed the last hybrid lick to tapping, just sounds better to me. I have designed an excercise to help me with the 16th triplet hybrid part and I am really close to getting it up to tempo.
Your "Sweeping Etude"
Just started this. I can sweep pretty clean and fast when staying in one position but have problems shifting around so I decided to tackle this to remedy that. Only have the first couple of parts memorized and I am really slow at it right now. This will be really good for me.
I'll post takes on both of the phrasing lessons this weekend so you can see where I am at. I haven't worked with the backing track yet but shouldn't be a problem to get a 75-80% take on both of these.
I plan on devoting 1 hour a day to whatever it is you want me to work on Muris. Just show me the way master!!
OVERALL GOAL
If I could get some AP chops, or at least pointed in the right direction out of the MTP I would be happy. One other goal I would really like would be for you to show me how to structure an instrumental. Kind of like your "final dance" entry. I don't expect to play like that but I would like to know how to structure the different parts so it sounds like a song and not just a bunch of licks thrown together.
Anything else you think I need to know I will do for sure. Thanks again Muris and let me know if you need to know anything else.
Monte
So Muris I thought I might try to give you a little more insight into my picking issues.
I am basically an economy picker although I am not a very skilled one. I do pretty well when combining it with my legato but not so much when trying to pick every note. I had a friend back in the day when I had only been playing a few years who lent me the Frank Gambale video where he demonstrated his sweep picking technique. I worked on it a little bit but wasn't very disciplined with it because I wasn't really into any players that were known for their picking chops. When I come across an AP run, like in any of your lessons I will either play it legato or try and change the lick so it can be economy picked. This ususally consists of doubling up some of the notes so my pick is going in the right direction to change strings. To my ear this sounds OK because in my opinion when you are playing something at high speed it is just and effect and adding an extra note here or there to the beat doesn't change the overall feel of it.
I have been chatting with fellow GMC'er SonofDestiny and he pointed out that he thought my AP woes were simply a synchronization issue. I think he is right. I have decent legato so my left hand can move fast enough. I can tremolo pick just fine and I can even get some decent speed when doing single string AP runs. The problem comes when I go to change strings and sychronize my right and left hand.
To remedy this I have recently, meaning this week, started working on your AP in thirds lesson and your string skipping lesson. I have been working pretty hard for the last month or so on my economy picking and I think I am making some good progress on this.
I really want to get my AP together so I am gonna do whatever you tell me too to fix this. I have set aside an hour a day to work on whatever it is you want me to work on. Probably 2 hours on the weekends. Let me know if you want me to post me playing any kind of AP excercises. It won't be pretty but I can do it for sure.
Hey Monte!!
First of all guys, pardon me for cleaning this thread a bit,
there was some random talking and I wanted to keep this space
easy to navigate over, hope you don't mind.
You said that you're pretty much interested into
composing catchy songs and solos and I like that a lot.
We'll try to talk about this subject more in next period
since we have one very concrete topic to work on atm.
Alternate Picking.
I can see that you're very good when it comes to legato,
sweeping, economy etc.
And your theory knowledge is fine as well,
we won't be having lot of problems to guide you at all.
What we need to do is to simply break your practicing routing
a little and work on alternate picking more than usual.
Since you like legato and everything I listed above A LOT
I'm sure you won't stop practicing those techniques anyhow,
that's why I'm gonna give just one lesson to start with
and it's about alternate only.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/alternate-picking-upstroke-focus/
You'll notice that this lesson nicely prepares you for many situation
that you might run into when you play straight alternate picking.
Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.
I was thinking to give you 7 days but feel free to bump this topic
whenever you feel to, I know that you're hard worker and so
if you bump it tomorrow it's not gonna surprise me at all.
Alright Muris,
Went through this lesson this morning and it is just what the doctor ordered. None of these shapes are new to me, I use them all the time in my legato phrasing so the fingering isn't a problem. The hard part for me is gonna be syncing the hands and trying to remember to stick to steady alternate picking. I am constantly wanting to "sweep" when I change strings. I'm gonna work hard on this and get you a post at 100 bpm and 120 bpm by Sunday. I think I can play it pretty clean at 100 bpm but 120 bpm is where it starts to fall apart as you will see. Since I have limited practice time I am gonna keep my video posts to what you are having me work on if that is OK. I really want to focus a lot of energy on what you are having me work on so unless you request something I am going to just post this lesson for now. Thanks Muris!!
Working on that lesson only atm is fine with me Monte,
we will have plenty of time to mess with other things
once we get your picking in order.
Muris,
Could I get the backing track to the downstroke/upstroke lesson? Thanks.
On its way.
I thought I would just give you a quick update. I'm having a hard time breaking old habits. My biggest problem is training myself to stick to strict alternate picking. I keep wanting to sweep when changing strings. Right now I would say my top clean speed is 100bpm. I am taking it all the way up to 130 bpm when practicing and some of the licks I can play pretty cleanly at this tempo. The very last 2 licks where you are running the ascending an descending scales just scream to be economy picked, at least that is what my fingers are hearing. I'm gonna go through this lesson a couple more times and give you a video post tomorrow so you can see where I am at. I'll be interested to hear what you think of my AP technique. I've never posted anything with me using AP before on GMC. You'll probably see why tomorrow.
I can feel your pain Monte,
playing economy for so many years
and now jumping into only alternate must be horror for you
but I'm afraid that it's the best way to do amp.
Good thing tho is that your muscles are pretty much trained already
and it won't last long for you to take AP as your own weapon.
Hmm, tricky question, but when you have alternate and economy
in your arsenal you just combine them as you please,
sometimes it's because of sound but sometimes it's just
cause you want it that way, period!
And as for progress, I was never following my own progress via BPMs
so I really cannot say what is the best "lap time",
make as much effort as you can and we'll see the result, agree?
Here you go Muris. 100bpm. I don't know, I've never seen a video of me using so much AP. It looks awkward to me. I will upload again in 7 days and my goal is at least 115 bpm. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks Muris.
Ehey, that was clean as it can be, well done Monte!!!!!!!!!
Now, while you're pushing up the tempo
the only thing I might eventually suggest is try
not to anchor that much with your pinky.
As you can see,you roll your entire wrist pretty often because of that
and might cause you some troubles to play faster, much faster.
It isn't that serious at this speed you presented but
on higher tempos rolling with the wrist is the problem
when you play alternate picking, you just won't be able to
roll and do fast picking movements at the same time,
not to mention string skipping including alternate.
Sorry don't mean to spam this topic but I just want to say great work and improvement is being done here already. I look forward to final results once mentoring is finished
Muris,
So I started practicing the picking without anchoring my pinky. Feels strange to me but at the same time I can tell it is going to let me change strings cleaner once I get the feel for it. The licks that are holding up my progress I think are the "thirds lick" and the lick where you do the "octave string skip". I'll post a video in the next couple of days, maybe tomorrow if I get a chance. I want you to tell me if I am still rolling my wrist. I studied closely the video of you playing the lesson and I tried to curl my fingers when playing but it feels really strange. I'll get you a video in the morning of my modified right hand technique. I know if can correct this ASAP it will make it much easier to get the speed where it needs to be. BTW, could I get the backing to your string skipping AP lesson as well. I'm gonna start working on it as well. Thanks.
Monte
Sorry to spam as well, but I am going through the same thing with changing my right hand picking technique for AP.
We can do this man!!
Alright Muris, my practice session went really well this morning. Changing my right hand by curling my fingers made a HUGE difference. I think I am going to make some good progress this week. I think the pinky anchoring was my problem all along. Changing strings feels much smoother now and especially on the last two runs. I am also finally getting over the wanting to sweep urge when changing strings. The change in right hand posture also helped my economy picking. That little tip was worth it's weight in gold!! Thanks Muris, I just might get some AP chops yet.
WOW!! you are great mate!!
Hi Muris,
Just wanting to check in. Things are progressing well. I will post another take on Saturday or Sunday. I would say that I can play all of the licks with the exception of 2 of them between 130 and 140 bpm fairly clean. My ultimate goal is to be able to play it "boost" style at 160. I won't stop practicing this lesson until I reach that goal and post it for you to see. The licks that are holding me up are the lick played in 3rds and the lick with the octave in it starting from the A on the G string. I think it is the string skipping and the inside picking that is giving me problems. I have started practicing your string skipping lesson to remedy the string skipping problem tho. I just wanted to check in and let you know things are progressing nicely. I can't believe what a difference changing my right hand posture made. I'll get you a video post with the new tempo and right hand posture this weekend. Thanks.
Those are licks must be problem since
you recently switched to pure alternate picking practicing!!
No worries tho, there is some major progress as you can see,
make me happy and post those clips asap, ok?
Hi Muris,
Here is my take for the week. Last week was about 100 bpm and this week was about 112 bpm. This weeks take wasn't quite as clean as last weeks. The string skipping and thrids licks are the "limiting licks" in the piece for me. I can play all the other licks cleanly at about 130-135 bpm. My goal for next week is 120 and I am gonna double up my time on the string skipping and thirds lick. Everything else I think should be at tempo next week. You always gotta throw a curveball in your lessons don't you!!
It's funny, when I am playing it feels like my right hand fingers are really curled in more of a fist but when I watch the video they are still fanned out. The pinky wasn't anchored though. Did I fix the wrist rolling problem or not? Thanks Muris and I'll keep working on the string skipping. I've added a few of the first bars of you string skipping lessons to my routine as well to get used to string skipping when using AP. I will say that the urge to sweep when changing strings has virtually dissapeared. Let me know what you think and thanks.
Your picking looks like new Monte
and I believe we solved rolling nicely
which is easy to notice if you compare those 2 clips!!
Spot on about fanned fingers, perhaps you could just THINK of curling them while playing,
might be hard to handle at the beginning but becomes habit after a while, no worries.
Looking forward to 120 bpm take and of course
String Skipping lesson, can't wait to see how you're doing there,
awesome progress Monte.
Hi Muris,
So I think I have hit the point of diminishing returns with this lesson. I think I have been practicing it so much that I am either totally hitting a wall or I am getting worse. I am gonna back off on it for a couple of days and let my muscles kind of grasp what is going on. What do you think? I can play all the licks clean at 140, except the two we talked about earlier. I am still a little sloppy with the ascending an descending run at full tempo as well. Sooooo.....What would you think about me switching gears and trying to apply what I have learned? I am going through your Phrygian and Lydian Serial in my MTP. I have already posted my take on your phrygian beginner lesson, even curled my right hand fingers for the picking parts. I am gonna post a take on the Lydian beginner sometime this weekend. So I am ready to tackle the Intermediate level on both of these and it looks like there is quite a bit of picking going on. What would you think of me starting those? I can still post another take on the upstroke lesson tomorrow or sunday tho. I will also post those first few bars of the string skipping licks at about 80bpm so you can see my technique with string skipping as well. Thanks Muris.
I happens all the time Monte and no worries,
have a break from those lessons for a while, no big deal!!
Btw, I'm really glad you've been working on this Phrygian Beginner lesson,
those kind of stuff are always good to pay more attention
to very important details like vibrato, dynamics, overall feel etc.
Speaking of it, I have a suggestion,
how about to try dialing gain lower, specially for this Phrygian Beginner lesson?
Those are slower lick, nothing scary and with lower gain ( even kind a OD )
you'll have much more space for dynamic, give it a shot.
You can do the same for everything that is not difficult technique wise,
less gain also means better articulation, bare that in mind.
In a mean while here's another home work for you.
take this same BT for Phrygian serial and record a solo over it,
compose it, let it be musical but don't be afraid to shred here and there if you want tho,
keep it wise and aim to satisfy some random listener,
then we'll listen to it and discus you composing skills.
Absolutely Monte, practicing technique is what we all have to do
but it's nice to also to look around and see how it actually sounds
in your own music!
Looking forward to those takes, great job so far!!
Ohh, and BTW, do you mind putting back your old avatar Monte?
It's very scary to give advices while looking at Mr. Vai.
Hi Muris...Just wanted to check in really quick. I have my brother in law in town for the next week and I am going out of town next weekend so I don't know what I will be able to upload next week. I have been kicked out of my practice room for the week. I can still practice but I make my videos in the mornings usually. Anyways, gonna be kind of a weird week but I wanted to know I am still working on everything. Here is what I am hoping to upload for you next week:
Upstroke lesson
My take on the Phrygian backing track
I also finished my tapping etude over your upstroke backing and I'm gonna upload that as well. Had alot of fun working on this one.
I told you I am gonna be trying to complete your phrygian and Lydian serials this year. I'm even gonna try to get the AP licks up to tempo and not cheat and play them legato. Anyways, Here is my take on your Lydian beginner lesson. I tried to spice it up a little with the tremolo bar...Don't know if that worked or not. Tell me what you think of the AP string skipping lick as far as my technique. We talked abou me posting a take on your string skipping lesson at about 80 bpm and just the first few bars. I figured this might work instead. Thanks Muris, and good luck on your tour in the US. I hope I get to meet you!!
Thanks for update Monte,
you did make a huge plans and I can't wait to see those next takes!
I see you were using whammy bar A LOT here which is great nonetheless
but there are some quite a shorter notes and you did dive after most of them,
it sounded like overpushed and out of tune cause you indeed
don't have enough time to perform all those whammy tricks there
and keep them sweet sounding.
I'm talking about smaller details here, phrasing moments
that you should think of when you play or compose,
those details no matter how small they are are making major difference!
Picking was fine too,
you did open your fist pretty much on last section but that is NOT a problem at all,
just try to close it and not anchor when doing faster stuff,
for slower licks you can even use your teeth, just don't break them!
Good job Monte, keep 'em coming!
Hi Muris....Hope your stay in the states is going well. I will upload the upstroke lesson on friday at whatever tempo I can get it clean at....I'm shooting for between 120 and 130...we'll see. I haven't had a chance to work on the Phrygian solo but I have next week off so I am gonna work on it then and I'll upload what I have so far next week. I'm working on your Lydian and Phrygian intermediate lessons and I can play pretty well....but not up to tempo with the AP licks yet . I've added some "inside" and "outside" picking excercises to my routine as well. Over all I am happy with how my AP is progressing....just not a fast as I would like but I am not gonna give up until I get to my goal.
I will say that I am getting EXTREMELY comfortable with curling my right hand fingers and it has made a HUGE difference in my playing......not only my AP but my sweeping as well. I am very surprised by this. This MTP experience has been worth it just for that one piece of advice from you. I was having problems with my sweep/taps with regards to muting. I wrote a sweeps/arpeggios etude and put a few sweep/tap licks in there and the curling my fingers cleaned up my muting when doing the ascending sweeps. Thanks for the advice Muris!!
I know I told you about the etudes I have been working on over your upstroke track as well. I have finished the tapping etude and I have written an arpeggio etude and a legato one as well. Here is the tapping etude and I'll upload the upstroke lesson on Friday. Hope you are having a good time in the States....wish I was closer so I could meet you and see you play.
EDIT: I just realized you won't even be back into town until next week. I'll wait to post anything until you get back into town. Thanks Muris!!
Hi Muris,
Hope you made it home safely. I am gonna work on the Phrygian composition this week and will post when I have something worth looking at.
I have two videos to show you. I have the upstroke lesson and I played it twice....once at about 125 bpm and once at full tempo. You can see that my biggest problem is the thirds lick. I just gotta keep working on this. I think I have my right hand posture down now and I find that I am more comfortable now with curled fingers than with fanned fingers and I don't anchor my right hand at all now. I think I have progressed nicely with my AP and I am hoping to be able to start using it in my playing soon...still not quite there yet, at least as far as shred licks go. I have completely sworn off economy picking until I get my AP where it needs to be....don't want to relapse.
I also have a video of my take on your lydian intermediate lesson as well. I can actually ALMOST play this using AP.....not quite tho, so I had to rely on my legato and tapping to be able to play it. I am gonna learn your Phrygian intermediate next and then your Mixolydian. I would say I spend about half of my practice time working on my AP right now and I think it is paying off. Thanks for your help with this and I will get you a take on the Phrygian backing by this weekend. Thanks.
Here's the backing for you Monte,
looking forward to it and all other takes!
Alternate_Picking___BT_150_bpm.mp3 ( 818.57K )
: 6
Hi Muris,
It's been a busy week for me. Both my little kids...4 and 7.... got sick so I have been busy trying to help my wife taking care of them as well as ridding the world of Dental Disease during the day at work. I am still about 2/3 of the way through the AP etude. I'm liking it but it is difficult. I'll keep working on it and I will post a video of what I have so far on Sunday probably. As far as the Phrygian solo I was wondering if we could go a different direction on that. Last year sometime I got really anxious to start writing my own instrumentals....that has been my goal since starting guitar in 1988....but I had no idea how to go about it. My solution was to buy a cheesy midi program similar to "band in a box" for my backing tracks. Then I picked an instrumental that I liked and analyzed what they were doing as far as form.....How many bars for the verse/chorus/bridge/solo etc. Then I just started composing parts and seeing what I could come up with. So in July of last year I came up with this little ditty:
Then 2 months later I found GMC and I have been focusing on my chops and got away from trying to write my own stuff. It thought maybe you could help me with this little tune I came up with and I could make a proper recording of it. What do you think? It would be cool to have a song that I came up with from start to finish. Thanks Muris and I'll post what I have on the AP etude on Sunday Morning.
BTW...I just purchased Logic 8 and EZ drummer so I think I have everything I need to make a half way decent recording of it. I know the video is sloppy but it is just to give you an idea of what I have so far. I think I have improved alot since I made this video as well.
Sorry Muris...I'm not gonna be able to post anything this weekend. I tried to install logic on my mac and I CRASHED IT!!!
I'm gonna have to take it in and have somebody look at it....my wife is gonna be so happy!!
I'm gonna go cry now!!!! If you see a Dentist on the news who went on a shooting spree....in Oregon...you'll know who it is.
Sorry for delay Monte, just got home from Frankfurt!!
Sorry to hear about kids tho, are they better now???
As for instrumental, you've got some fine melodies in there,
there is just one thing I would like to point at right now
and those are strong notes in this very instrumental you've recorded.
Thing is, you've been following progression nicely
but you played B note few times over D chord and that sounded pretty
away and not so powerful.
You did play note E as a strong note over the same D chord few times
but as you can notice, 2th or 9th works very nice
for this kind of pop=rock music in general.
But 6th isn't the same, you should be careful with those
cause 6th is used as strong note indeed only for a reason,
when you want to point at 6th chord or som.
Now, there is some room for improvement regarding
construction of whole tune, you were kind of limited
by the backing too, you have 2 lines of chords,
with D in first variation and then with Bm in second,
correct me if I'm wrong.
Now, how about you give this BT and I record a take for you?
Then we'll analyze both takes, your and mine
and get some conclusions
Hi Muris.
Here is a better backing....Jer made if for me..should sound A LOT better than the midi file.
Nope, no bass. There wasnt any in the midi and I dont own a bass....
We'll get on in there before all is said and done. I can borrow one from a buddy. \m/ \m/
Sorry...I told you I'm a hack.
Besides...bass just gets in the way of your guitar...
Now that is what makes playing rhythm guitar SOOOOOO worth it.
Take it easy,
sometimes unplugged guitar is worth a lot.
Hi Muris....It's me again.
Could you do the same thing for this tune when you get a chance. PLLEEEAASSE.
These are the only two tunes I've ever written so I won't bug you again....PROMISE.
I'm not in a hurry so take your time. I didn't get as far on this one as I did on the other.
This is "A Ionian" for main themes and then "A lydian" for solo, which I only finished half of.
There is bass on the backing of this as well.
Thanks Muris....again, not in a hurry.
I need to make a backing for this one. That was fun.
Plus having Muris playing in my band is cool.
Hi Muris,
Just wanted to update you where I am at.
AP etude: Still working on it. Still don't have the very last section memorized....the sycopated part. I have had a tough time with this piece so I have had to spend a lot of time just trying to get used to using AP on the arpeggios. I'm getting there though. I really like this and it is helping....this will be one I will be working on into the forseeable future. Long term goals right.
My tunes: I'm relearning these and I'm reworking both of them a little bit.
Hopefully in a week or so I will be back up and running and can start posting some videos again. They still haven't even looked at my Mac yet.
Last night I put together my last project guitar and was playing it for a little while and I was actually playing some AP licks and they sounded pretty good. This is HUGE for me. I NEVER use AP when I am just jamming. So this shows me that I am making progress with it. Hopefully I can start using it in my collabs and my own music.
My focus has shifted in the last month to trying to write my own stuff. It is coming along nicely and I am having fun.
Thanks for all your help Muris. I'll get some vids posted as soon as I can.
It's GREAT to hear that you feel progress
cause I can see it too Monte!!
Take your time, looking forward to new clips and mp3s.
Muris.....Can I just give you an upload of what I have so far with the AP etude to a drum beat rather than the backing? I am thinking just a half speed version so you can see my technique. This lesson is a BEAST. I have had to really break it down into small chunks and isolate the different parts.......it is basically like 8 or 9 AP excercises. I still have to learn the last part with all the rests in it......I'll learn that in the morning.
Sorry about my lack of activity in the last few weeks. I have had some personal issues I have had to deal with....and you know about my computer issues. Good news is that my computer is up and running. I'm gonna start learning to use either Logic 8 or Sonar in the next few weeks. I have relearned the Breaking Dawn tune and will record a real take of that this week so you can actually hear the backing and then you could give me your take when you get a chance.
Hopefully I can get back on track here shortly. I have still been working on my AP A LOT.....it has improved a TON. I am actually starting to think about where to use it when I am doing collabs and trying to write my own stuff now. I wanted to try and use it in Emir's Satch collab but the tempo was 180 bpm......I can barely tap that fast.
I'll get you an AP etude take at about 80 bpm or so so you can check my technique.....this is gonna be a tough nut to crack at full speed but I'll keep at it until I get there. Thanks Muris.
Of course Monte, post what you've got, it doesn't have to be whole lesson atm,
do it with drum beat or backing , as you please!!
And as for using AP in your playing,
you'll notice one thing in a while that happens with
everything we practice actually, legato, tapping, picking etc,
once you really get comfortable with it
you'll start throwing it in without any thinking, normal thing.
Hi Muris,
I've already explained to you my lack of posts this month so no need to go into it again. I FINALLY have your whole AP etude memorized.....this was probably the hardest lesson I've done. One of the reasons for that is that I am determined to beat my AP demons....I don't care how long it takes. For this reason I have been really disciplined to play this lesson using ONLY AP, whereas in the past if I couldn't play one of your lessons using AP I would tap or play it legato. I've posted plenty of videos demonstrating this. I'm gonna take the next few days to start practicing playing the whole etude from start to finish.....I broke it up into about 8 mini passages and even broke that up into a couple picking excercises to try and make some progress on this. On Sunday I am going to play this to a drum machine at whatever I can play it at cleanly....maybe 80 or 90 bpm....and then post a vid of it. Then you can tell me to get back to work. I FINALLY got my recording issues sorted out for the most part. Andy (wrk) has been kind enough to put up with me bothering him to help me with logic 8. I will be bothering David Walliman and Berko to I am sure. I also got a new video camera so I can make some better quality videos for you to see.
I just wanted to let you know that I am still around and working hard on my AP.....I'm gonna post some vids of me playing some different diatonic patterns that are more "shred friendly" so you can see that I am really making some good progress. Your AP etude is going to be a long term project I think....but I am noticing that after playing it consistently that it makes alot of the other AP stuff I am working on a lot easier. Thanks a lot for helping me with my AP and everything else. I shall post on Sunday.....I promise.
Hey Monte!!
What can I say, best way is to split lesson or a solo
into small pieces and work on them independently,
then take some single licks and use them
as individual exercises, sometimes even for warm-up, good job!
You don't have to rush on AP etude tho,
there is plenty more stuff that you can record and most in a meanwhile,
AP is something that would never be 100% in shape
so we all have to work on it endlessly.
Glad to hear about Logic, now I can expect your second tune as we agreed?
Hi Muris,
I have 3 videos I am gonna upload in the next few days. Here is the first one. This is me just playing a scalar sequence using 16th triplets. First tempo is 105 and second tempo is 120. It sounded and felt pretty clean to me.....the cleanest I've ever played ANYTHING with AP for sure. I just wanted to show you this little clip to show you that I think I have totally worked out my right hand hand position issues that I had when I first started MTP with you. I think I am doing a good job of curling my right hand fingers and I think I am doing a decent job of rollling my right hand up and down as I ascend and descend.
Tomorrow I am gonna upload the AP etude. I might just upload it in chunks rather than me trying to play it from start to finish. To be honest with you I see myself practicing this for a year or so. Even though I can't play it any where near full tempo.....although I will someday .....I have found this etude invaluable for my AP development. thanks for recommending it.
The third upload will be the tune I am working on that we agreed you would do a take over.....Just gotta record it. Thanks again Muris. I'm really starting to enjoy using AP and I think it will start popping up in my playing soon. I still need to gain a little more control but it is getting better every day.
I look forward to your thoughts.
I can see one clip atm Monte and what can I say,
it works GREAT!!
Your picking hand looks smooth and relaxed,
fingers and nicely curved and there is no wrist rolling, good job.
A note, to test it even better you can try to play
regular up and down without repetition, 3nps only, not 6.
Try it (maybe even record) and let me know how it goes.
Hi Muris,
Here is the video of the AP etude. Sorry I'm not very good at putting video together. I basically just made a video of my practice session this morning and then tried to pick out the fastest cleanest bits.....that is why the tempo varies and it is split up into chunks. I don't see any point in trying to string this thing together until I get it closer to full speed. Some parts I can play at 120 bpm and others only 75 or 90. The parts I have the hardest time with is when there is only one note on a string....a shape that I would normally sweep. Like I told you earlier this is a LONG term lesson for me but I am getting better at AP....at least I think I am.
Ohh, you're not using your pinky AT ALL at the end,
those 3nps runs higher on the neck, I feel fooled once again.
Joking of course, that part isn't crucial here
so you can use any fingering you want, no problems.
And I really like the way you broken the lesson into smaller parts,
one lick or arpeggio pattern as a single exercise , I really like that Monte!
Now here's a deal, try to find a tempo that will allow you to play whole lesson
without too much troubles, play it few times and even record a clip for me.
Doing that is really good since you really have to bother yourself with
all parts that you can play a lot faster but still you have to follow tempo
determined by few trickier licks, like those 1nps arpeggios you mentioned.
And at the end you become sooo frustrated with those few licks that cause
you troubles and keep you on slower tempo and then you go nuts,
you play them alone like thousand times and you nail them nicely,
I've tortured myself that way many times.
Many players do not use pinky at all when playing
3nps shapes higher on the neck,
however I prefer to use wherever possible
since its our sweet little tiny weak finger
and it needs better/special treatment ( read torturing ) .
And there's no need to prove me your progress Monte,
it's all very obvious, take a look at your clips at the beginning
of the thread, you were avoiding AP all the time
and now you're playing it very comfortable and with fun
which is all that matters, we have done a great job so far, no doubt!!
I'll wait for your tune to comes, no problem.
Muris,
I played ZERO guitar this week. The WHOLE family is sick....all have the flu mixed with a nasty cough. Should be back on track next week and get some uploads. Hope you are feeling better than me. I'm having withdrawl pains from my guitar which makes my cold and flu even worse....
All that sounds fine to me Monte,
as long as you practice and focus I can't complain,
all that I CAN do here is to look at your takes and recordings,
give some advices IF something doesn't look or sound the why it should.
I just sent you some idea for contest via email, check them out!
And I'm leaving for London on June 9th, in a week.
Hi Muris,
Here is what I have so far with the PetrucciFever take. I'm a VERY SLOW composer... The last note is a clunker I know. I think I am going to go into a long tapping or legato run from where I ended......unless of course I can borrow your AP skillz. I'm still in that in between stage. I can get some adequate speed but nothing like I can generate with my tappng and legato. It'll come though....just not for this take.
Any comments are much appreciated. Thanks.
That was nice take Monte!
Now, I believe you can come up with more "catchy" lines
in the beginning before rhythm guitars start,
something to hold at, something easy to remember for an ordinary listener.
Have you tried to sing along with the backing?
That always helps to come up with very sweet melodic lines, give it a shot!
And second part could be more aggressive tho,
everything is burning pretty much so you might as well.
Hi Muris,
Here is my entry for the PetrucciFever solo contest. I made some mistakes but it is the best I got right now. I don't know how much time I am gonna have to work on it in the next few weeks so I thought I better make a take now or it might not get done. I had a hard time with one of the sections until I remembered that you told me "YOU MUST USE HARMONIC MINOR IN THIS SECTION"....
I wish I had my AP to the point that I could use it for some uber fast licks.......maybe next time......
Great job on the Guitar Idol Final Muris.....\m/\m/
Nice Monte! Good luck bro, you looked very relaxed which spilled over into your composition. Enjoyed it!
Hi Muris,
I'm finding out that I have ADD.....I can't focus on one backing track for more than a few weeks. So this last week I had Andy email me the backing track from the Petruccifever contest that you were a judge for. I had been watching the videos from it and I had a bunch of licks stuck in my head and I needed to release them so I could get some sleep......Andy was kind enough to help me out.
Anyways.....here is what I have so far. I took your advice that you gave me on the last one and just let the notes fly on the last little part. I even threw in an AP run using more than one string. I'm finally getting to the point where these AP licks are starting to pop up without me having to think about them so much.......very new territory for me. Thanks for your help and I'll post this again when I get the rest of it done.....probably next weekend.
I'd love to hear what you think of my note choice.....hopefully I didn't hit too many clunkers. I really tried to be less shreddy and more melodic on this.
Ahh, I saw those AP licks, well done Monte,
it IS getting more and more natural!
Notes choice was fine too, all long and string ones
were right on the stop and chord, that was nicely organized.
Now, it's not just notes (pitch) that gives us cool melodies
but also RHYTHM!!
Here's what you could do later on,
doesn't have to be for this track (tho it won't hurt ).
You can analyze your playing (this take as well)
and locate starting point for each phrase/lick.
There are many repetitions considering starting points,
you might wanna mess around with that
to get more color in your playing.
An example, you start phrase right on the first beat,
then you put next phrase on 2nd beat, 2nd 8th note etc.
There are many, many options to play with rhtyhm
and you will surprised with results, in a good way of course,
try that!
Hi Muris,
Been awhile since I have posted because I have had nothing to post about.... Still working hard on my playing I'm just in one of those in between stages where I'm trying to get to the next level. I think my AP is finally to the point that I can start working on your lessons again and play them as written.....with AP where needed instead of legato and tapping. I'm gonna start tackling your Modal lessons. I'm gonna start with the Mixolydian advanced and see how I do.......I'm hoping I can pull it off. I'll upload as soon as I learn it and get a half way decent take......might not be full speed but I'll do my best. Thanks Muris.
BTW Muris.....how would you reccomend I work on my vibrato. I've been doing slow bends to build strength.....any other suggestions?
EDIT: Muris...I just realized I don't have the Mixolydian backing.. Any way I could get it from you? I thought I had it but I must have lost it when my computer died. Thanks..
Here are 2 backings with different speeds,
great to hear you're back on track Monte!!
Mixolydian_Soloing_BT_85_bpm.mp3 ( 877.26K )
: 3
Mixolydian_Soloing_BT_70_bpm.mp3 ( 1.05MB )
: 0
This Mixolydian advanced has some nice picking licks,
can't wait to see how you're gonna handle those.
As for vibrato, it's hard to tell how to work on it, there are many ways.
You can play single note and apply different types if vibrato, slow and wide, fast and wide etc.
Then you can apply same things on bended note, to test how it works when string is bended.
You might wanna record that practicing session and listen to how it sounds,
your ear is best guide, you WILL notice when it sounds wrong.
Now that was "only" practicing, thing is, many players kind a forget to apply vibrato
when playing or just improvising.
Vibrato has to become nature to you, as natural as wearing your underwear,
this might be strange but I hope you get my point.
You have to think of vibrato all the time, apply it on every note possible (usually longer notes),
after a while you'll stop thinking of it and it'll be there, it just happens.
But before it happens you have to focus on it, focus on many different types of vibrato
so you could make fine selection when the time comes,
what kind of vibrato works best for certain note.
Let me know if I missed something.
Hi Muris,
I learned most of the Mixolydian advanced lesson this morning. I must say that I did a lot better than I thought I would. My AP focus over the last 4-5 months is paying off. There are a couple licks that are gonna be tough to get down but overall I think I will be able to get a take up next week sometime at about 60-75 bpm. Really cool lesson. You know that I like dissecting your lessons to steal your ideas and I had a question for you. I posted a picture from the tab and had a questio about it. This is the kind of lick that would have killed me before MTP but I was able to play it cleanly at about 60 bpm this morning and that is without really getting it into my muscle memory yet. I was wondering what you are doing here. I recognize that it is a pentatonic lick where you have just combined two box shapes to make it a 3nps shape but it sounds like there are some out notes as you continue on the pattern. Is it just a symmetrical pattern ala EVH? Very cool lick Muris. I remember you did something similar in your Phrygian advanced lesson and I had to figure out how to tap it........ Should be able to play it right this time. Thanks again Muris.
Ah, that one is cool!!
Yeah, those are symmetrical shapes as we are using
same frets over 4 strings.
And there is one "out" note there compared with A Mixolydian, note C on G string,17th fret.
But as you can hear it blends smoothly with other notes,
we have have notes B and C# on B string and the whole
thing is small chromatic line: B, C and C#.
Now take a look back at the beginning of the lesson, there you have the same line.
So it's not pure A mixolydian but one extra notes won't hurt us, it's there to spice it up!!
And if you take a look at the notes you get F#m penta (on high E and B strings)
and then Am penta (G and D strings),
notes C and C# are working great together here,
we are getting this bluesy feel by using both major and minor 3rd.
I'm waiting for it Monte.
Muris I have a technical question for you. I've been studying your playing a lot as you know.....especially your right hand. One thing I've really noticed is that when you do legato runs it seems to me that most of the time use use upstrokes with your picking hand. I haven't had any problems with my legato but I was wondering if there is a reason for this or if it is the most comfortable motion for you? Probably a silly question but I was wondering about it just the same.
It's been quite a while since I've worked on any of your cool phrasing lessons as I've been really trying to fill some voids in my technique so it's been fun working on your Mixolydian lesson.......I'm gonna dive into your Mixolydian Intermediate as well......both are so cool....
Thanks Muris.
Hi Monte.
You don't have to bother that much with your picking when playing legato,
there is probably plenty of time to pick a note since we usually play at
least 3nps if not even more.
Upstrokes only, downstrokes only, combined, it really doesn't matter imo
is long as it sounds ok.
And to be fully honest with you I never even thought of that.
Quick update Muris. I have learned all of the Mixolydian Intermediate and Advanced lessons and I am also working on your Bb Minor Intermediate lesson. I'm pleasantly surprised with my AP progress. I am able to play most of the AP licks cleanly up to tempo. There are a few licks that are difficult but I am working on it. I've noticed that alot of the Mixolydian AP runs are phrased in 3rds.....I haven't really practiced these but they are coming along nicely. These lessons are just what I needed after doing nothing but technique excercises for like 4-5 months.
The string skipping legato/AP lick in the Mixolydian advanced lesson is kicking my butt to.....but I'm working on it. Should be a good weekend for posts for me..... I forgot how cool your phrasing is Muris.....you are so creative with your playing.....\m/\m/
Sounds great Monte, weekend it is then, can't wait to see!
Muris......Any tips for this lick. This and the 3 string sweep are the licks I am having the toughest time with. I can handle the 3 string licks.....just a little practice. I've never really triead a legato/picking lick like this. Any tips with picking direction or anything???? 16th note triplets at 170 bpm..... You're killing me....
Ahh, that lick is very Gilbertish one.
I guess it might help you if you focus more on accents
and accents should be on 1st and 4th note on each string.
Picking pattern goes like this:
down (accent), up, down, up (accent) and then 2 pull-offs.
Those 2 pull-offs should give you enough time
to place your picking hand on the next string that you play,
let me know if I missed something.
Hi Muris,
Well as you are aware they are reorganizing the MTP here and that means that somebody else needs the chance to be mentored by you......I've had that great opportunity for the last 5 months. My only goal for MTP with you was to get my AP issues resolved. I've done that.....I still need work but my AP is 100% better than when I started and even more important is that I feel I have a very solid practice routine in place to develop it even more. Maybe someday I will even be able to play the string skipping lick from your lydian advanced lesson......you know the one I'm talking about....
Hopefully I can rejoin your group in the future but for now there are lots of other GMC'ers that would like the chance to work with you and they should have the opportunity.
My focus for the rest of the year is going to be your Intermediate and advanced Modal serials......you'll be seeing me post them in the REC so hopefully I can get some feedback from you there.
Thank you SOOOOO MUUUCCH for you help Muris......You have helped my playing IMMENSELY.....I'll never be able to thank you enough.
Your Humble Student
Monte \m/\m/
Ahh Monte, that's VERY kind of you and I'm sure
many GMCers will appreciate that cause I surely do!
It's been a great ride whatsoever,
I've indeed enjoyed all of your progress during last few months
and you HAVE progressed a lot.
Ofc there is alwyas room for more progress and you nicely mentioned that,
I'm very glad that I eventually pointed you in the right direction,
keep working as you did so far and you'll surely get on very high standards!
All the best Monte, it has been a pleasure,
I'll see you around the forum ofc and who knows,
maybe you'll jump into my MTP once again, take care.
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