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Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 20 2014, 03:28 AM

Hi Carmine! This is our thread for Gab's Army. Here I will help you to improve your guitar playing in order to achieve your wished goals and keeping motivation.

Here is some info that you shared with me:

Goals:
Playing along with your favorite songs
Jamming over your favorite songs
Polishing technique



Do you have anything else to add?
Could you please write a list of 20 songs that you'd like to learn?

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 20 2014, 08:49 AM

Thanks Gab
I will give you the list as for your request, just remember that I do not need to perform or record neither playing in front of people. I am out of tune but I sing along while listening (sometimes): that's it but with the guitar, I may just joining the band, while listenting the cd, during the chorus or the intro or the main part of the solo.
At the beginning we can choose together someithing easier or some "in the syle of" lesson here at GMC.
Anyway in the very (very) long run the aim will be:
U2: Streets no name, With or without you,I still have find what...., One, Sunday...,
Pink Floyd: Another brick..., Comfortably Numb, Wish you were here
Police: Message in a bottle, Every breathe..., walking on the moon
Rolling Stone: Start me up, Brown Sugar
Santana: Samba Pa Ti, Black Magic Woman, Europe
Simon & Garfunkel: Mrs Robinson
Jimy: Winds Cries Mary
Franz Ferdinand: Take me Out

I think they are 19 Anyway any other "classical" song will be welcome. I think you got an idea of the style of music

Anyway this list should be a guide only to decide the GMC lessons to study.

Thanks
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 20 2014, 05:49 PM

Hi Carmine! Thanks for the additions.

I was thinking that maybe we could start working on this one: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/The-Police-Roxanne/

We had it here at GMC, it's a real song, and we have backings at difference tempos for practice. Then you can also use the album song to play along.

About your singing, being able to sing in pitch would be very good because it is achieved training your ear which is a must for every guitarist. I believe that the world can be divided between musicians with good ear and those who don't have it trained. These are some advantages:

- You can notice when your guitar is out of tune.
- You can jam over progressions without knowing the theory behind, you will hear which notes work and which ones not.
- You will have more sense of musicality and taste.
- You'll be able to sing.
- You'll be able to make the connection between your mind and guitar smoother.

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 21 2014, 04:48 PM

Gab,
Will start the lesson during the week. Thanks a lot
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 22 2014, 05:31 AM

Excellent! It would be good if you practicing some singing every day in order to train your ear and also to be able to sing on pitch. As I said previously. What do you think?

Some years ago, I worked with Luciana (Singing GMC Instructor) on some singing lessons specially designed for guitarists. I would like to recommend you to give a try to this one: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/misc-lessons/singing-lesson5/
and please tell me what you think.

Thanks!

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 22 2014, 07:27 AM

It would great but I think I should concentrate just on the guitar for now. Saying that I will have a look at the lessons anyway. I have just realised that singing can improve my musical and guitar skills.
Thanks
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 22 2014, 02:15 PM

Yeah! That's what we are talking about! It can have a dramatic impact in your playing and improvisations. Also this should not affect your guitar practice because it would be enough to dedicate 10/15 minutes every day to some practice. That's why I suggested that lesson that is exactly based on connecting voice and guitar. If you explore the other singing lessons, you will find some others based on scales and modes that can be also helpful. If you organize your time wisely, you'll be able to add this to your diary routine.

How much time per day can you practice?

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 22 2014, 07:56 PM

Gab
thanks for your comment on the REC. I think it would be better to start off with some technique lessons before the songs.
Cosmin is taking me through the Beginner Corner lessons. Shall we do something like Ben picking hand basic or Vibrato no 5 (as for your suggestion?)? Also, is there any basic rhythm lessons? Bear Rose ones are a bit trickier than they should be (in my idea) and I think I need to have the basic done before.

I am studying Roxanne anyway. Regarding time, I hope I can give guitar one hour a day.

Thanks
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 23 2014, 02:26 PM

Hi Carmine! Great to know that this helped. Yes, off course that some technique training could really help you to polish your playing. This will have a great impact in your playing, songs with sound better if you train your technique.

Those lessons that you suggested are really good for this. I was thinking that maybe you could add a diary routine based on technique. Maybe something like this?

Warming up (7 minutes)

Alternate Picking (10 minutes)

Legato (10 minutes)

Vibrato (10 minutes)

Bending (10 minutes)


We can choose lessons for each topic. What do you think?

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 24 2014, 02:20 PM

Gab
what about if we start with:
Picking Hand Basic: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Hand-Basics/
and
Bens Vibrato Odyssey 5 http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Vibrato-Odyssey-5/

I was thinking I will send you a record of the first part of both (video part 2 of both lessons) possible at lesson speed. Though I do not know how long it will take for me to post the video.
Sounds fine?

Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 25 2014, 02:00 PM

Well, I was thinking on a more complete plan, check out this idea and let me know what you think.

Warming up
http://youtu.be/e9tCQftFIAs

Alternate Picking (10 minutes)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Hand-Basics/

Legato (10 minutes)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Land-Of-Legato/

Vibrato (10 minutes)
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Vibrato-Odyssey-5/

Bending (10 minutes)

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 25 2014, 08:43 PM

Thanks Gab.
I will take my time with them. I will try to post something on the way of learning to check if I am on the right path.
However I will take my time for them, fine?

Regards
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 26 2014, 04:58 PM

Hi Carmine, yes, there is no hurry here, the idea is to keep on working every day in order to achieve you goals and also to keep motivation. However I recommend you two important things:

Diary practice: One of the goals that we set is technique practice. Technique practice is like going to the gim, if you want to see results you have to go at least 3 times per week, but if you want to see big results you have to go every day. With guitar technique happens the same, the more frequent you practice, the faster you will note the improvements.

Recording and posting videos: It's always helpful to post videos of your progress here at the site, no matter if you still can master the lesson or exercise. It will allow us to give you some feedback and correction and that make you save a lot of time of wrong practice. So please post videos every time you can.

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 26 2014, 10:05 PM

Thanks Gabriel.
Just because is the first lesson, can you please check this short video. It is just the first 8th note of Ben's Picking lesson at slower tempo than the original, just to check I am starting rightly.
Thanks again
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 27 2014, 03:07 PM

Good job Carmine, just a few things to have in mind.

Timing: Be sure to keep the timing tight with the rhythm. Each down-stroke should sound with the drum kick (beat) which makes it easier to play but the problem is more notorious with upstrokes that tend to sound a bit after it should be. There are two tricks that you can use to help yourself to play tighter. The first one is to mark the beats with your foot and/or head. This will make you feel more the tempo with all your body and your playing will sound definitely tighter. The second trick is to make an inner count of 8th notes. This means that you think 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 in eight notes while you play.

Accentuation: It's a good exercise to try to play the notes that fall jus over the beat a bit stronger to get the feel of the rhythm figure that it's being played. In this case the first of each group of 2 8th notes.

Muting: Be careful with your muting to avoid extra noises from other strings. I usually mute the lower string with the palm of my right hand and the closer strings (upper and downer) with the index finder of my left hand.


Ok Carmine! Keep on the hard work, it's great to see you motivated.

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 27 2014, 06:20 PM

Thanks Gab
I noticed all the issues by myself while recording. I will keep doing these exercises on a daily basis and will post any now and then. I think is better taking time on these before other lessons. By the way, is there any gym for chords switching and right hand workouts?
Once again thanks
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 28 2014, 07:48 PM

Hi Carmine. This sounds good.

About your question, yes, we have workouts for everything!

When you say "right hand workouts", do you refer to rhythm?

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 28 2014, 07:59 PM

Yes Gab, that's right.

Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 28 2014, 08:42 PM

Well, we already have a routine for this week, but we can incorporate a section for rhythm and chord changes. The best way to train this is working on musical GMC rhythm lesson. Check these ones and let me know which are your favorites: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/search/n/n/2/5/10/n/n/t/f/#lesson=2

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 28 2014, 10:04 PM

Thanks Gab
I will look at it. Regarding the previous lessons, I don't see them like a "this week" program but an ongoing one. I am proceeding very slowly, everyday but slowly.

Thanks
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 29 2014, 01:55 PM

Excellent! We can do weekly adjustments on the routine if you get bored of any lesson or anything else happens. We have to be very flexible to achieve goals, be effective and keep motivation flowing.

Posted by: Carmine Marotta Jul 29 2014, 02:58 PM

Thanks Gab
I am happy with the assignment, not so happy with my time schedule. But I do know on what I have to concentrate.
Thanks again
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 29 2014, 03:37 PM

Ok, please let me know if we have to re-organize the routine based on your new time schedule.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 11 2015, 02:45 PM

Thread's name updated!

Posted by: minion dave Mar 11 2015, 03:07 PM

Thanks Gab

so let's restart from the above point

Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 12 2015, 02:01 PM

Ok! So let's dedicate this week to that routine. Please organize your time in blocks to cover all the different techniques each day. As you surely have to re-learn the lessons, I recommend you to work on 1 or 2 parts of each lesson each day to be able to remember all this stuff at the end of the week.

I'd like to follow closely your progress so I'd like to see a video of you playing these lessons in around 7 days. It doesn't have to be a video at normal tempo if you are not comfortable yet. Choose a comfortable tempo (you can use the slower backings) that allows you to play everything clear and tight and shoot a video.

Deal?

Posted by: minion dave Mar 14 2015, 12:48 PM

Gab
I will need a couple of weeks for my first video. Also, I would prefer to study just one lesson at once, can I do that? Maybe we can start just with the basic picking hand? I am planning to do some other lessons apart from your suggestion just for fun.
Also do you have any suggestions regarding rhythm and right hand?
Thanks in advance
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 14 2015, 04:57 PM

Hi mate! Yes, you can off course work only on one lesson if you feel more comfortable. The technique used on Picking hand basics is Alternate Picking, so here are some tips to start:

• It basically means alternation between downstrokes and upstrokes
• It can also help your timing for funk rhythms.
• It lets you use your mind to other things since the motion can be automated.
• Get in the habit of holding the pick between your thumb and your forefinger.
• Keep the exposed area of the pick to a minimum. (for precision)
• Try to do the movements the smaller than possible.


It would be very important to check your technique so please share a video the sooner possible.

Posted by: minion dave Mar 16 2015, 08:50 PM

Gab
thanks. Will post a video by the end of the month (can not do earlier).
Regards
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 17 2015, 02:14 PM

Ok, looking forward it!

Posted by: minion dave Mar 22 2015, 10:15 PM

Hi Gabriel
I am back from my business trip and I am practising right now. Will try to post a video during the new week.

Regards
Carmine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Mar 23 2015, 04:00 PM

Great! Thanks for the update mate.