Long Introduction

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Long Introduction

Franky G View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 10:32 AM
Dec 26 2007, 10:32 AM	GMC:er Posts: 7 Joined: 24-December 07 From: Cleveland, Ohio - USA	Hey everyone -Just wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself, but I thought it would be cool to give you some background and tell you how I ended up here at GMC. Its long, but you may find it interesting. My name is Frank, I live near Cleveland, Ohio U.S.A. I work as an IT Field Engineer. I foud this site a few weeks ago and have been in love with it ever since. This is a really great site - Hats off to its creator(s). I've had a guitar for about eight years, two of which I actually played all the time, and the rest was hit and miss. My first guitar was a very cheap Samick acoustic (I stress cheap - it was so hard to play). I eventually traded that in and bought an electric guitar, a Peavey Predator (which I still have). The first "riff" I ever learned was taught to me by my best friend - It was a 12 bar blues progression E - A - D. He and I and a couple of other people spent every weekend playing together - two guitars, bass, drums. I never "practiced" much then. I only goofed around during the week when I as by myself, and really tried hard on the weekends (by the way that does NOT work). If you want proof that does not work, I have to tell you we never learned a complete "cover song" as a group, and played only songs that my friend and I had arranged on guitar and written lyrics for. After a while that whole thing fizzled out, as I got a little more mature and the "extra" activities that went along with playing together got old for me. The shame was that as I put the partying behind me, I sort of lost my interest in my guitar, I have no idea why that happened, becuase I truely love music and guitar. The following years I was playing in spurts, and eventually put it down for years at a time. Somehwere in that time, I bought a really nice mid-range Fender acoustic/electric (which i still have and love). The old habits I learned when I first started playing continued through those years up until recently. A really sad thing is that I've know the "proper" way to practice the entire time I've owned a guitar, I just wasn't doing it. Here is what it was like: I'd go to play my guitar, maybe pick it up to play a few riffs (not the whole arrangement) of a song or something and then somehow, I'd get side tracked to either playing something different (not following through) or playing stuff "I knew" which was "my stuff" which is basically "nothing". I hope you understand what I'm saying by that. In other words, I spent a LONG time, playing meaningless things that were not a cover song (that you could actually learn from) or it was a whole arrangement (because they were mine and EASY to me). You know what that equals? No progress. I know some scale patterns, I can play all types of chords, I can bend, vibrato, slide, pick up/down/alternate, I can rip out some cool Metallica riffs, and much more, but with absolutely no structure what so ever. I've got individual skills -but not the whole package. I cant string anything together enough to do what I want to do - which is have the skills to play any style I want to learn. Thats why I'm here. I finally made the commitment to myself - I'm going to actually practice and "structure" my playing time so I can be as great a player as I know I am capable of. I think Kris is so right when he says, it's not about "talent". If you want to play guitar very well you can, all you have to do is direct your efforts correctly and then commit to it. It's really cool how he made a site that proves it. Anyways, Just thought some people might find it interesting or maybe even inspiring to hear someone elses story of how they ended up at GMC. On another note, I came to realize recently what types of music I really enjoy to play. Dont get me wrong I have an appreciation for ALL guitar music and I've tried a little from a lot of styles, but certain styles are what I hear in my head most times. Its heavy stuff, heavy metal, hard rock etc. I love the powerful feel of that type of music, and even in those styles good arrangements have excellent mixes of style inside them. There are way too many to list and I cant put them in any certain order but here are the bands I'm enjoying "currently": Chevelle, Metallica (old stuff), Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Velvet Revolver, Static-X, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Wolfmother, Heart (i have no idea why),...and the list goes on and on lol. Oh I almost forgot, when I started to really pick up my guitar a lot recently I was craving to play my electirc. I dug it out and had to completley disassemble the bridge set-up and it took an entire day of tweaking it to get the bridge height and intonation correct. It better than when I bought it actually. I was playing with it for a few weeks, and I was just not happy with it at all anymore. I realized that it just could not be what I wanted it to be. Being that I can "afford" something better now, I went out to the local guitar super store and played about 20 guitars over a weeks time. I settled on a Jackson DXMZ. It just felt awesome every time I picked it up. I dont want to mislead anyone by saying better equipment makes you a better guitar player (it doesnt), but for me equipment made a huge difference in my playing. Mostly because I've never owned a guitar that was capable of a "good setup" and with JUMBO frets - OMG what difference in how relaxed I can play. It also sustains much better than my old guitar, and with the locking tremelo I can bang and bend like crazy on this thing and it stays in tune. I also got a new amp, a VOX AD30VT. It's a modelling amp with tubes in it. This set up SCREAMS compared to what I used to have, and I can get so many sounds from it, from blues to heavy metal. I love it ! Anyways, if your not sleeping by now - see ya around ! Frank You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Freddie Fourfing... Freddie Fourfingers View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 10:50 AM
Dec 26 2007, 10:50 AM	GMC:er Posts: 91 Joined: 11-November 07 From: Georgia, United States	Welcome aboard, Frank. I'm pretty new here myself, but this is a great site (I've been to many). I've gone through a lot of the same things. Started 20 years ago with classical because a teacher told me it was the most difficult, but couldn't translate it to rock. I've put it down for years at a time myself and, like you, have recently picked it up again with a new found commitment. Good luck to you in everything. By the way, I agree that gear won't make you a better guitarist by itself. But I've played on an Epiphone Les Paul Jr II which was poorly set up and impossible to play on through a cheap amp which sounded like a transistor radio....no fun. Now it's Ibanez and Fender and it's much more enjoyable, which leads to more practice. So if better equipment means more practice, I guess it is making you better!! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." ARISTOTLE

Juan M. Valero View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 10:59 AM
Dec 26 2007, 10:59 AM	Instructor Posts: 4.270 Joined: 6-August 07 From: Girona - Spain	Welcome to GMC !!!! as you said it's not about to have talent, the only trick is practise, practise and practise (as Mr. Batio likes to say). BTW you can find some interesting ways to do that practice more funny (¿funnier?mmm I'm not sure, I wrote a very poor English)... hehe, the best way is doing a funny exercices so I think in this site are lot of exercices to practice and to have fun Well, just say that I wish you improve a lot and find his site useful Merry Christmas !!! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Visit : www.myspace.com/juanmvalero Video lessons ; Instructor board ; Recording lessons

botoxfox View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 11:09 AM
Dec 26 2007, 11:09 AM	GMC:er Posts: 2.570 Joined: 20-February 07	Welcome You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Try this fun little "game"!

Pavel View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 11:13 AM
Dec 26 2007, 11:13 AM	Instructor Posts: 3.764 Joined: 8-January 07 From: Rijeka, Croatia	Welcome man! Enjoy your staying and see you in the forum! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "It isn't how many years you have been playing, it's how many hours." -- Prashant Aswani "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!" -- Michael Angelo Batio Check out my video lessons and instructor board!

Chris Evans View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 11:18 AM
Dec 26 2007, 11:18 AM	Learning Tone Guru - Community Coordinator & Moderator Posts: 6.319 Joined: 24-September 07 From: Sittingbourne, UK	nice intro, welcome to GMC! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Show us what part of the world you live in and get yourself ON THE GMC:er Location MAP

Marcus Lavendell View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 11:19 AM
Dec 26 2007, 11:19 AM	Instructor Posts: 2.537 Joined: 27-May 07 From: Gothenburg, Sweden	Welcome to GMC, Frank You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- I use Elixir® Strings Check out my video lessons and instructor board!

MickeM View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 01:41 PM
Dec 26 2007, 01:41 PM	Born of NWOBHM, Moderation Team Leader Posts: 8.562 Joined: 9-January 07 From: Stockholm, Sweden	Welcome! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My bands homepage All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello

Muris Varajic View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 01:57 PM
Dec 26 2007, 01:57 PM	Instructor Posts: 15.459 Joined: 22-June 07 From: Sarajevo,Bosnia	Have a nice time here,welcome!! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Youtube MySpace Website Album "Let It Out" on iTunes and CD Baby Check out my video lessons and instructor board! The Pianist tune is progress,check it out! "ok.. it is great.. :P have you myspace? Can i to personalize this for you guy?"

Andrew Cockburn View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 02:18 PM
Dec 26 2007, 02:18 PM	Moderation Policy Director Posts: 10.459 Joined: 6-February 07 From: CT, USA	Welcome - great story You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab

Ivan Milenkovic View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 02:38 PM
Dec 26 2007, 02:38 PM	Instructor Posts: 25.396 Joined: 20-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Glad you like it here, it sure is great. Welcome You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE - Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :)

Bogdan Radovic View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 03:51 PM
Dec 26 2007, 03:51 PM	Bass & Beginner Instructor Posts: 15.614 Joined: 30-November 07 From: Belgrade, Serbia	Welcome to GMC man !!! Great to have you here ! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now!

Vinod Saranga View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 04:51 PM
Dec 26 2007, 04:51 PM	Acoustic Instructor Posts: 1.279 Joined: 15-September 07 From: Colombo,Sri Lanka	Welcome To GMC Sure you will find here what you are looking for You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Visit Sinhala Songs Chords

Saoirse O'Shea View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 07:14 PM
Dec 26 2007, 07:14 PM	Moderator - low level high stakes Posts: 6.173 Joined: 27-June 07 From: Espania - Cadiz province	Welcome to GMC Frank . Cheers, Tony You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo.

Franky G View Member Profile	Dec 26 2007, 09:43 PM
Dec 26 2007, 09:43 PM	GMC:er Posts: 7 Joined: 24-December 07 From: Cleveland, Ohio - USA	Thanks for the warm welcome ! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

mattacuk View Member Profile	Dec 28 2007, 11:32 AM
Dec 28 2007, 11:32 AM	Lets go fishing! Posts: 5.526 Joined: 21-December 06 From: illinois	Welcome frank, glad you could join us here You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- *mysql> SELECT FROM master_name WHERE ((firstname = 'Paul') AND (lastname = 'Gilbert')); "The Fundimental Difference between Paul Gilbert and Buckethead is that Paul Explores the Good side of the force, while Buckethead Explores the Dark Side of the Force" :)**

Tomy Jeon View Member Profile	Dec 28 2007, 09:21 PM
Dec 28 2007, 09:21 PM	GMC:er Posts: 500 Joined: 17-December 07 From: Latitude = -40.3557, Longitude = 175.6122	Welcome! Is your amp any good? I'm thinking of getting a Vox AD15VT. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Obi-Wan Kenobi dislikes babies!

Toni Suominen View Member Profile	Jan 3 2008, 03:05 PM
Jan 3 2008, 03:05 PM	Instructor Posts: 3.038 Joined: 2-December 07 From: Rauma, Finland	Welcome mate! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Gear: -PRS Custom 22 -Edwards Les Paul -PodXT -Ibanez Acoustic Check out my lessons and my instructor profile! My Youtube channel My Last.FM

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