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Posted by: Phil66 Jul 6 2014, 08:38 PM

Hello all,

I'm new to GMC and am wondering if there is a way to log the lessons you have taken? Also is there a more user friendly lesson list? I have decided to go right back to the beginning even though I have been playing for a while, I find you always pick up on something you had forgotten or never knew, because of this I have to keep clicking on the "Click to see more" button at the bottom of the list every time I log in.

I do like GMC but I feel a lot could be learnt y looking at JamPlay.

Cheers all

Phil

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 6 2014, 09:11 PM

Hi Phil, welcome to GMC!

I don't understand exactly what you mean when you say: "wondering if there is a way to log the lessons you have taken?"

We have a big archive of lessons that can make you a bit difficult to decide which is the most appropriated to work on but we are here to help you to decide which lessons you should work depending on your current level, your guitar goals and you musical tastes.

If you want to do a review of all the basic concepts and techniques I recommend you to check the lessons from our beginners corner: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/lessonseries/Beginners-Corner/

Once you are sure that you are comfortable with that stuff, you can start working on more advanced stuff from our intermediate section: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/video-lessons/intermediate/

I would like to know some more info about you in order to give you more specific suggestions.

- musical tastes
- what you know about theory
- guitar goals
- do you have any video of you playing? please share it with me.

Posted by: Jim S. Jul 6 2014, 09:19 PM

Hey Phil id suggest opening up to the instructors and they will get you personalized suggestions based on your level and goals. I've been here for a while and only started to see positive results when i stayed on a practice routine. Sometimes I'll find a lesson is like to learn and I'll Bookmark it to keep track.

Good luck man!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 6 2014, 09:20 PM

Hi Phil, great to see you in the forum!

You can keep track of the lessons you have taken by using the "Bookmarks" functionality found in the upper right corner next to the login section. You could create different folders (ex: Completed Lessons, Need more practice...etc) and add different lessons there.

How to add a lesson to bookmarks:

- Go to the lesson you wish to bookmark
- Click on the Bookmark button in the upper right corner
- Click "Bookmark this lesson"

For a more personal guidance, I would suggest joining one of instructor led mentoring programs.
Click here to learn more about this : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=43604

I'd suggest being as active in the community (forum, video chat etc) with any questions you might have along your guitar journey.
We are all here to help!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 7 2014, 07:37 AM

Howdy there The guys mentioned the mentoring programs and it so happens that I am running one myself

GMC has a human component which offers real time feedback from instructors monitoring your playing and development in general. No software or program or Youtube video can give you that. That is why I think that GMC could help you a lot more than anything, but in order to become able to help out, we would need to know about your preferences and level of playing, gear and so on

This is why I am inviting you to take a look here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=50025&st=0&start=0 and if you are interested, please take the time to send me a PM with the answers to the questions you will find there and I will be happy to start working together on your development in respect to guitar playing.

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 8 2014, 09:09 PM

Thanks for your help everyone, the bookmark thing is useful.
I am into mainly rock/blues, I love Satriani, Vai, SRV and Robert Johnson.
I have a Peavey telecaster style guitar, a Squire Strat, an Epiphone Les Paul '56 Gold Top, an Epiphone Les Paul in heritage cherry sunburst, A Squire HMIII and an Ibanez RG1570. I also have a cheap and cheerful Tanglewood Rebel 4k bass.
Amps are Peavey Bandit Transtube original edition, a Vox Lil Nightrain and Roland Cube 30 bass amp.
Just sold my Boss GT10 and have an ME80 on the way tomorrow, (much simpler)
I also have a Roland Cakewalk Studio V20.
I have bought all of the Troy Stetina books over the years, still can't jam, only ever learnt one song right through, including solo and that was Rock the Nation by Montrose.
I can do all the techniques, bends, hammer ons, pull offs, vibrato etc, maybe not proficiently but I know what I'm supposed to be doing.
I'd love one day to be able to play something like Scuttle Buttin' by SRV, I love his style.
Hope this helps.
Thanks

Phil

P.S Can admin please check why I am not receiving emails notification of replies. I did tick the box. Thanks

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 9 2014, 08:04 PM

Hey buddy You have a PM waiting for ya

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 9 2014, 09:08 PM

Thank you so much, I have replied.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 10 2014, 04:12 PM

Hi Phil, I'd like to challenge you something if you don't mind?

You said that you still can't jam and I just don't (want to) believe it.
Do you know how to play the C major scale and Mixolydian scale/mode?

Here are two challenges :

CHALLENGE 1: Jazz

1. Play this backing track : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=35505

Here is the progression :



2. Jam over the track using only C major scale, throughout.

CHALLENGE 2: Blues

1. Play this backing track : http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=34152

2. This is standard blues I-IV-V progression in A. First job is to identify when chord changes occur (and which chords are playing).

3. Jam over the backing track using only notes from the Mixolydian scale of each chord and you can do it in any rhythm you want (even just repeating same rhythm/pattern). If its a the A7 chord in the backing, play A mixolydian, if its D7 then play D mixolydian and so on.

Here is the mixolydian scale you can use (don't forget to change scale for each chord - over D7 you want to play D7 Mixolydian) :

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

To make it easier to track changes, start on the Root note (A in case of A7 chord) on each chord change.
Why are you doing this, it helps being able to efficiently track chord changes vs scale you use and identifying strong notes. This is the most difficult part in getting started with soloing and once you get more comfortable with practice, adding other notes/scales and techniques will be easy. This is the basis of it all : following chord changes successfully and landing on strong notes.

____________________

Please send me an audio or video recording of this if you have a possibility or just post text feedback on how it went.
I'm really curious to hear your impressions from this exercise and we could discuss it further?

p.s. if you were wondering from where the backings came from, they are from these two courses on GMC:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=50470 and http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=51072

Anyone else willing to give this a go? Please do and post your impressions!

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 10 2014, 08:14 PM

Thanks Bogdan,
As I am just getting back into playing the second challenge seems daunting to me, the first one I can have a go at. Cosmin has given me some things to do also, it's all happening a little too quick for. Please don't think I am ungrateful, I am very grateful of all of your enthusiasm, I just need to get back to grips with the basics first. I am going on holiday at the end of next week for two weeks and am currently very busy at work trying to get everything in order before I go so I won't get much time.

Thank you very much, I am converted to GMC already. I am impressed with how helpful people are.

Thank you again, I'll give it a go at the weekend.

When I said I can't jam, I can, sort of but it is very boring, it lacks flourish, my playing is like reading a letter in block capitals compared to other people whose playing is like reading a letter in lovely handwriting, I hope you get what I mean.

Thanks again, I'm just going to sort out my bookmarks so I know where I am.

Phil,

P.S I also like most rock currently playing a lot of Black Stone Cherry, a lot of blues (particularly the old acoustic stuff), and some country.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 11 2014, 11:09 AM

Hey mate! Thank you for your kind words about the family which you have become a part of! There is no rush, Bogdan suggested a great drill, but it doesn't mean you have to do it tomorrow Let's take things step by step and all will be alright. Focusing on less will get you further along the way, rather than trying to cope with a lot of stuff at once. Get back from your vacation and we'll take care of everything - do we have a deal, Sir?

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 11 2014, 08:15 PM

We have a deal, I only get around 1 hour to practise for 5 days, maybe sometimes a bit more at weekends, I do live my life as much as time allows so don't get much time in the "studio".
I didn't notice your link to the question so here are my answers.
* How long have you been playing the guitar? 20 years but got no further after 6 months.
* What do you feel your current level is? Novice
* What sort of theoretical knowledge do you have so far? Pentatonic shape 1, power chords, open chords.
* How much time/day can you spend practicing? 1 hour, maybe more at weekends.
* What are your favorite techniques? Everything if I could do it.
* What would you like to improve? Everything, especially my ear and improvisational skills which are currently extremely limited
* What is your current experience as a player (band, studio, home)? Home
* What gear do you own? See above
* Name a few favorite artists that inspire your playing, Satriani, Vai, Robert Johnson, Van Halen, SRV.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

Phil

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 12 2014, 12:36 AM

Hi Phil,

No rush with the challenge!

The key to nailing the second challenge is to pick a certain rhythm which utilizes a few of the notes from the mixolydian scale focusing on the chord tones (arpeggio notes), and to play it over and over again over each chord (changing the shape, moving the root, to accommodate each chord). It will not sound like soloing at first but the goal is to become comfortable landing on strong notes at the right time (when chord changes occur). Once this becomes habit, it will be easier to come up with meaningful solos and nice melodies. Usually when we find our soloing weak it is because we are not following the chord changes successfully (=not playing our strong notes (notes from which chords are made) on chord changes).

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 12 2014, 09:29 AM

Hello Bogdan,

I'll be totally honest; at the moment that scares me

Thanks

Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 12 2014, 05:10 PM

Hey mate I am curious about what makes you feel so scared about it? Is it the word 'challenge' or? It's not a test and not a deadly competition Just a fun thing to do and as long as you treat it accordingly, it might just bring you some amazing results Please share some thoughts on this, as I am really looking forward to helping you out.

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 12 2014, 08:14 PM

Hello Cosmin,

It isn't the challenge that "scares" me, it's the words in Bogdan's post , things like "pick a certain rhythm which utilizes a few of the notes from the mixolydian scale focusing on the chord tones (arpeggio notes)", and " landing on strong notes at the right time", it seems a lot think about all at once, at my current level anyway. This is why I decided to do the First Steps lessons no matter how far I am, I thought it would be good to start from the beginning, concentrate on getting rid of any bad habits etc.

Cheers


Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 13 2014, 11:24 AM

Hey Phil Your plan seems like a very good one indeed. Getting yourself prepared for such a challenge that Bogdan speaks about, is done by mastering the basics and by understanding what those terms he mentioned all mean. Once you are comfortable with these notions, you won't have to think about them at all because they will be a natural result of your playing.

I would be happy to talk to you about the theoretical aspects involved in the challenge, so please let me know if you would be interested, as we could throw in some extra theory exercises aside from what we are already working on together It will definitely serve you well

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 14 2014, 03:04 PM

Hi Phil - thanks a lot for this feedback, it is very helpful to me.
You are absolutely right, it does sound scary when phrased like that.

Please let me make it easier by providing the practical examples for the blues challenge :

Audio example:  Blues_Soloing_Strong_Notes_Practice.mp3 ( 9.1MB ) : 68

PDF Tablature of the example:  Blues_Example_1.pdf ( 47.23K ) : 67


The goal with this challenge is to be somewhat aware of the Mixolydian scale notes and over time become comfortable matching chords and scales, in this case A7 with A Mixolydian, D7 with D Mixolydian and so on. You'll notice that the notes I have picked out in the example all sound very strong. Those are your "safe" notes that are very good to land on when soloing. For example you are playing the lick using notes of the mixolydian or some other scale, landing on any of those notes will be good to finish the phrase and "underline" the chord change that happened beneath your solo. First step is to just get comfortable with landing on those note over chord changes. Try the pattern/rhythm from the tabbed example for start. After some practice, try adding few more notes in between from the scale or exchanging notes that I used for other scale notes, just for fun and see how it sounds

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 14 2014, 07:39 PM

Thanks Bogdan,

Sometimes when I read things even like your "friendly" version, I am defeated before I start lol. Maybe it's just to much of a jump from where I am now.
I have made a big step (for me anyway) and ordered a webcam with mic. Please understand, this is very hard for me to show people me doing things that I am not very good at, I lack confidence to do it with anything that I am not good at so don't laugh when you see it

Cheers

Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 15 2014, 08:10 AM

Hey mate It's a VERY important step and I congratulate you for it! Now, no one is going to laugh at you here and that's a promise!

I always keep my word, so you can relax Sharing your playing with us will help you evolve WAY faster than you would imagine, simply because we are on the outside and we can see what needs more focus from you, so please do record and do share Your only opponent is yourself, whenever you tell yourself you can't do something.

The mind is a helpful tool but it can also bury us deep if we let it. For instance, I was recording a video in the studio this Sunday and I had to play a difficult solo on an amp I wasn't used with. Needless to say, it didn't have the necessary amount of gain I was used with and I felt I couldn't pull it through to the end. My mind told me to stop, somewhere, unconsciously and I felt frustrated to say the least... Well, then I thought - Hey! You rehearsed this a few hundreds of times until now, now focus and record! It took me 13 tries, but I managed to pull it through quite nicely, although I wasn't very satisfied when I finished. When I got home and listened, it was nice

That's pretty much the way to do it - stop thinking and start doing. Thinking should only be done when preparing for something, so step by step, start the preparations

First of all, you should start reading the theoretical aspects involved with the Major scale and then with the Mixolydian mode, which can be found in here:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=47641

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=48114

Please let me know what your thoughts are

Posted by: Phil66 Jul 15 2014, 07:33 PM

Thanks for that Cosmin,

I'm currently memorising the pentatonic shapes in the first steps series, I've just looked at the first link that you gave above and I think for now that is enough theory for me to take in. For me personally I think a small chunk of theory and then learning how to apply that in some jamming over simple chord progression followed by, maybe, an actual well known piece of music that uses what scale/theory I am working on would be best for me. I learn best in small chunks of theory which are then applied practically, maybe even as slowly as one pentatonic scale shape, then apply that over a 3 cord bash then after a while another pattern.
I hope I am making sense. I go on holiday in two days so hopefully we can start a slow but sure journey
Ancient Chinese proverb: Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.
Best wishes to you all
Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 16 2014, 07:18 AM

Hey Phil, you are totally right and I do understand the Chinese proverb very well, as I am a great admirer of the Asian cultures and a martial arts practitioner I think it's best for you to go through the theory and then we can work on some simple exercises so that you can memorize, assimilate the concepts and then apply them into real contexts.

These two lessons would be a very nice place to start with applying the mode into musical contexts:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/mixolydian-soloing-beginner/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Mixolydian-ballad/

Let me know if you like the style and we can work on them

Posted by: Phil66 Aug 2 2014, 04:30 PM

Hello everyone,

I am back from Portugal and have forgotten everything I knew about playing the guitar I would like to re-learn everything but this time properly and cleanly just in case I picked up any bad habits along the way. If certain things come back to me quickly then hopefully that won't matter it just means I can progress to the next level.
I have to say that for me the smallest steps possible are better as I will get a better sense of achievement and keep some momentum so one scale pattern at a time please and a few chords that fit together should be enough and maybe a simple song to try an learn that uses the same scale I am learning, even if it's Row Row Row Your Boat, I don't mind.
I am sending the web cam back and going for a better one but for now I am sorting out my DAW and Control Surface and having to re-learn how to use it all so I can at least send you sound files, then I will try to record using my Sony RX100 and match the video to the DAW. I will be using Microsoft Live Movie Maker unless you can suggest anything else free.
Finally does anyone know if it's possible to use a stills camera as a web cam, mine does have HDMI output but because of the stupid design you can't use a tripod with the HDMI cable in because it's too close to the screw
Ok, so first lesson for the absolute beginner please, oh by the way, I can tune up

Cheers

Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Aug 2 2014, 06:10 PM

Howdy Phill,

To begin with, I'd like to set up a personal thread for you, if you would agree with that, in which we can follow your progress closely - please let me know if you agree and I'll take care of things.

Secondly, I think that an approach based on learning the basics step by step would be a great way to work things out, by focusing on rhythm techniques and lead techniques in parallel.

For instance, I would suggest starting out with these two lessons:

Rhythm: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners_Corner_1_Open_Chords/
Lead: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners-Corner-13-C-Major-Scale/

They will develop your:

- timing and rhythm
- chord knowledge
- major scale knowledge
- right hand picking
- vibrato

What do you think? We'll take it slow and easy and things will surely work in the right direction

Please let me know and we'll start working!

Cosmin

Posted by: Phil66 Aug 2 2014, 06:50 PM

That's great Cosmin, thank you very much, please create a personal thread for me and let me know how I use it.

Cheers

Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Aug 3 2014, 07:33 PM

Great mate! Please take a bit of time to click here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=52754

.. and let me in on your first thoughts about the suggested lessons above Do we have a deal? In order to use it properly, our communication regarding mentoring should be held in the thread, so that the info will all be in one place

Posted by: Phil66 Aug 3 2014, 09:01 PM

Thanks Cosmin,
Lessons look great, have commented on the scale one in the feedback area.
Have had a day from hell today haven't even had chance to pick up the guitar
Cheers

Phil

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Aug 4 2014, 12:13 PM

Hey Phill! No worries man, I am very much aware of how life has its ways of messing with our plans. I also responded in the feedback area, so when you are ready, feel free to drop a line in your thread