I'm sure everyone must have at least one, when you broke through something you might of be strugling with for ages, then it suddenly just clicks - your now that must more of a better player! Ever wondered what you did to get there?
Here's a place to share your breakthru moments and try explain a bit of how you got there - maybe even helping out the next player stuck on the same technique.
I'll start, my biggest break throughts where:
Rhythm Playing
Becoming a rhythm player, this was something I learnt a while back but thought I could of learnt a lot sooner. Jumping me from a beginner, upwards. Sure I could play and jam songs, but there was no sense of rhythm and timing when I first started off.
1) Muting, this should not be over looked as it's the basics of all great controlled music. Not only does it make your playing sound that much better but it's more under control and cleaner, without the addition unwanted noise. There's however more to it then just the palm muting of the picking hand when playing. Free fingers on the fretboard each add to muting the other strings or even padding strings inbetween notes creating a sense of rhythm. The book "Troy Stetina - Heavy Metal Rhythm Guitar" really was the stepping stone for me on this one - controlling both hands.
2) Counting out the timing. Taking pauses even if just for a split second or holding out notes. Sounds simple enough but when reading tabs I never understood this as it works into both hands (see above). Try play in time with a drum machine, metronome or even a band! Timing is so important and should be focused on, well before speed even becomes a factor.
Lead Playing
Becoming a faster player (as I started off slow blues, I never thought I'll be able to shred) for solos. There where a lot of factors for this but the main 'oh woah clicks' where...
1) Lessons with todd here on GMC, thanks to him alternative and eco picking skyrocketed! Yes, you need to practice your ass off and stick with it.
2) Pick rotation, I had my pick angling upwards, this made it easy to pick downwards but upwards picking would try flex the pick forcing it to slow down or shift position in the hand. Learning to keep the pick flat to the strings speeds up alternative picking a lot. Then if you also rotate the pick so your thumb is pointing downwards about 45 degrees and rather than playing sideways to the strings your more up and down (check paul gilberts style of playing), you get a totally better attack angle on the pick, use even less surface area, and speed goes through the roof once you get the hang of it.
3) Picking hand thumb, I flex to dig in and lighten to create emotion which is great for blues, slow rock, etc, but that was also slowing my picking down. At speed if you change this thumb position, lock it down straight you suddenly get more control, speed and attack! A slight roll forward of the thumb and the each grazes the strings with the pick creating some really easy, killer pinch harmonics you can throw in your solo at any time (something I struggled with changing between before).
4) Using just the tip of a pointed thick pick to graze the strings rather than cutting through them. Teach your picking hand this over and over, as you build speed, make sure your not digging into the strings. Stay relaxed, small, short movements from the wrist is all that's needed. Practice slowly reducing the amount of movement required. Less distance = way more speed.
4) Thumb position on the fretboard neck, ensure there's no pressure at all, as this just slows you down. Todd taught to remove the thumb when practicing sometimes and it was crazy at first but then helped a lot. I didn't even know how much grip I was applying and didn't even need. My fingers became so much lighter and faster on the frets. Syncing up with the new found speed in the picking hand (it's really important to get both hands to sync in speed as one is normally faster than the other and this can makes your playing a bit sloppy).
Perfect controlled playing, relax at speed, was something I thought I would never achieve. It's something that each time makes me go woah and surprise myself, how the hell do my hands do that! I want to share this with other slow players (like I was) and hope they to will break through (never give up and never say die)!
Every slow player should learn to shred, also ever fast player should learn to slow down and play things like blues and more emotional music (as I've found fast playing becomes more mechincal sounding). Get the best of both worlds and your got yourself some killer music!
It's tough to remember these moments, they integrate so quickly - as soon as I hit a breakthrough though, I am ecstatic!
The last one I can remember occurred while working on my metal rhythm playing, more specifically, downstrokes. The technique that works for me is angling the pick, then 'bouncing' the pick on the string you want to downpick, muting as necessary. It all translates to minimal effort, to prevent your picking hand seizing up when playing those stupidly fast parts.
My breakthrough moments:
- when I could move, run and be free of fears on stage
- my first Steve Vai song played in front of an audience
- the first song written and orchestrated.
I've been very impressed with your progress Azza, and you've made great gains by working your fingers off! I"m very happy to hear how much the Saturday Video Chat Lessons are helping Also, thrilled to hear how well you have embraced ardent practice as a means to achieve your playing goals.
Thanks much for mentioning me in your post. I appreciate it Always great to know when the work I do is really sinking in and helping fellow players get better and better.
You RAWK!
Todd
@Dark Dude - What do you mean "angling the pick, then 'bouncing' the pick", do you actually cut through the string or just bouncing it on top? Sounds interesting.
@Cosmin - Overcoming fear is a major! My next step probably to get up and run around on stage! Any tips? Ever jumped off stage and gone crowd surfing yet!?!!!
@Todd - Thanks for all your help Todd, and you RAWK too!
Oh one thing I forgot to mention... You got to annoy the hell out of other GMC members and instructors to achieve greatness!
Try everything in more than one way, ask thousands of questions your unsure of - no matter how dumb, ask forum questions, ask to slow down the video chat lesson, do it again, how did you do that, what did you do with your other hand, request, etc. I must of been the most annoying, GMC is the most patience! Rock on!
Stick with a hard song and keep coming back to it till mastered.
Some breakthru moments for me:
1) Going to see Joe Satriani live when I was 13.
2) Discovering Yngwie Malmsteen and deciding to learn all his style.
3) Discovering John Petrucci
4) Being selected after an audition to play in the power metal band "Damnation" (My first professional band).
5) Starting the band Cirse and becoming a song composer.
6) Working on GMC and defining my guitar style thanks to it.
Last night I think I finally realized how to hold the pick right. I actually draw lines in the pick so I wouldn't forget the right position. Then I shred some "Modal Madness" and damn it felt good.
Wow, congratulations! It definitely makes you happy!! I am waiting to have that breakthrough right now. So not getting there.
@WeePee - I've seen picks with those finger and thumb position marks engraved on them, so you can feel where to position them at all times, never tried them out thou, but looked interesting. I myself, spent ages studying different picks and ways of holding them when i was improving on my alternative picking, etc. While it's true the saying, "There's no right or wrong way in holding a pick", it also makes a huge difference to your tone, attack angle and playing style, I think it should be "There's a good way, then there's a better way". Just don't go crazy over it, you also need to relaxing and let it come naturally. Modal Madness is an insane finger exercise, might try it myself
@Dark Dude - YES! That's it, reducing the picking distance is a huge break through and majorly boosts performance. I know what you mean! Nice way of visualizing it.
from beginning:
buying a metronome
reading basic theory book
joining a band
first 1000+ crowd gig
joining gmc
playing with major star abroad
recording first album
studying arpeggios, chords and harmony
becoming good at songwriting
traveling abroad with bands
getting free of chasing good gear, any gear is good, as long as you know how to use it
recording second album
realizing I can cover variety of styles, music is universal
Nicely said mate
I am ashamed to say I forgot to mention - joining GMC and being among you guys is a major Breakthrough for me thanks for existing and making me feel at home!
Holy Crap Azza! Is that you playing Scarified? You freakin RRRRAAAAAWWWWWWKK!
I didn't know you could pull that off? Well done
Todd
I got the videos and tabs, etc from Shred Alert + Space Ship Live special in a Guitar World magazine and being trying to play it for ages. Let's just say that wasn't the first take. I love the way Paul Gilbert plays for eaze, something I've been trying to copy, recreate and develop, that song is a real challenge for me and something I always come back to...
Still can't beat the real player PG, watch the hands, facals are a extra bonus
Yeah I love it! Good on Daniel for the wicked lesson of Scarified on GMC as well. I checked it out
ps. In the video they had to cut the wrists off the spaceman suits
Also the drummer loses the stick near the end and still manages to continue.
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