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Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 3 2009, 08:35 PM

Here is the thread for posting assignments. The first one is on Sunday - 6th December.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 5 2009, 09:06 AM

Oh.. Looks like I am the first to submit ..

Anyway, here is my take on the 1st assignment.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 5 2009, 04:55 PM

Awesome job. I am very happy to see your confidence when playing these patterns. We'll now go back to the other thread where I'll give you something more complex with these scales. It will be a mixture of different keys in all positions. Just remember where your root sits and you'll be fine

The next assignment is on the next Sunday - December 13th

Posted by: maharzan Dec 5 2009, 05:08 PM

Thanks Emir. I will check the new assignment.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 13 2009, 07:44 PM

Okay, This was pretty complex at least to remember the notes.. It was all confusing though the fingering pattern helped a bit. I practiced last 2 days (nearly whole day) and little bit here and there on the other days. I just got like 3 times correct without stopping or making any errors. Pretty hard..

It has a bit off timing here and there (which I suck at) and since its a long rundown my patience was breaking... I always get this feeling.. you know if I am getting things correctly, I become nervous / excited and I make mistakes within next 2-3 bars. So, if I make it perfect, its like a miracle.

Hope its okay on this take.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 14 2009, 05:40 PM

Man this was perfect. I don't know what you're talking about but this was exactly what we need Well done man. No need to get stressed if you don't get it from the first couple of takes. You see, eventually you can get it. I am really pleased to see the take like this.

Let's move on.

1. Produce backing track with the following progression:
Am | Dm7 | E7 | Am |
Am | Dm7 | E7 | Am, C#7 |
F#m | E | D | A, C#7 |
F#m | E/G# | D | E7 |
A (major) |

One chord between the bar lines ( like |Am| ) presents one bar in 4/4. Two chords like | Am, C#7 | present each chord half a bar.

2. Play 16th notes like in your last video and move through the positions. As many positions as you can.

3. Tempo is your choice (try something similar like the last one).

4. The track doesnt need to be complex. Just one drum loop with root bass notes and chords on the keyboard or guitar.

5. Write down which modes you are playing over each chord. Each chord belongs to a different major scale mode. For example you will start with A aeolian over Am chord, then move to D dorian over D minor 7. The rest you work out. While it is obvious that you are in C major scale in the first section I want you to think of the modal root of that chord. If you start from the A Aeolian position 1 you will realize that you are actually playing 5th position of the C major scale. So over Am chord think of your A root, not C.
From F#m you are in A major scale scope so be careful.

6. Produce a video and post it on this thread

Little tip:

Over E7 and C#7 chords play only dom7 arpeggio, not the whole scale. Just 1, 3, 5 , b7. This is because these two are coming from phrygian dominant mode but if you only go for arpeggio notes you won't go wrong.

Cheers

Posted by: maharzan Dec 15 2009, 02:37 AM

Thanks Emir. That was worth 2 full days practice and a week before that. Now, I know the positions much better. I tried Eb major.. just to test, was much easier than earlier. I just had to remember which position I am at and the fingers move for themselves. I am also trying 2 strings / 3 strings combination just to understand it more.

I don't know much of modes, will have to read the manual now. I also lag quite a bit when it comes to terms. Some theory time I guess.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 15 2009, 05:42 AM

That's a great exercise. Try going ascending in one key (only 2 strings) then go back in the other key. Awesome practical example

Modes are easy. We'll get there slowly. I am just using different approach to that. I could have given you 7 different charts for all 7 modes in 5 positions (the same like for the major scale). That's 35 things to learn. You can do that if you like but I think this way will be more effective when we use it in a real situation. Just a little patience and you'll soon start to figure out the whole new world in front of you.

Just to quickly make you happy:

Now that you know 5 positions of major scale, you actually know all 7 modes in all 5 positions. If you play A aeolioan in position 1 you are actually playing C major scale in position 5 and so on... It is all related to the major scale. You have it all there in brain and hands but we will now slowly keep extracting that information through our examples and assignments

Posted by: maharzan Dec 15 2009, 07:54 AM

Great, but is this a good way to memorize or learn modes.. ? I don't want to take this approach if this harms in any way later as its pain when you learn something wrongly and want to correct it later.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 15 2009, 10:44 PM

Both ways are correct but I think this is quicker and maybe more effective as we will imediately use it in soloing.

If you want you can learn the other way as well. Play the same thing but think of a different root. It is also good to write charts yourself. You can do that for dorian and mixolydian for the start if you like. Similar assignment is coming but with arpeggios.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 16 2009, 03:00 AM

Lets see if got the right

Am - A Aeolian
Dm7 - D Dorian
E7 - Phrygian Dominant (but we are playing only arpeggio here?)
Am - A Aeolian
Am - A Aeolian
Dm7 - D Dorian
E7 - Phrygian Dominant (but we are playing only arpeggio here?)
Am - A Aeolian
C#7 - C#dom7 arpeggio

F#m - F# Aeolian
E - E Mixolydian
D - D Lydian
A - A Ionian
C#7 - C#dom7 arpeggio
F#m - F# Aeolian
E/G# - E Mixolydian
D - D Lydian
E7 - E7 arpeggio
A (major) - A Ionian

Looking at the charts and your suggestions. Correct me if I went wrong somewhere.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 16 2009, 03:11 AM

BRAVO !!!

Posted by: maharzan Dec 16 2009, 03:52 AM

Wooo!!!! Thanks Emir. Just wanted to know why you said to play arpeggio and not phrygian dominant. It has major 3rd so PD (scale) should work good nope?

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 16 2009, 04:16 AM

Because I want you to focus on simple major scale modes only and think of those positions only until you become comfortable. PD is not a mode from that family so I didn't want to include it there. Just play arpeggio notes over dom 7 chords. I need to see that you're moving with major scale modes all over the neck. If you need to think of PD inside of all that you might get confused. We will play PD in later assignments but here we need major scale modes.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 16 2009, 04:19 AM

Cool.. will do.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 16 2009, 06:17 AM

Alrighty, I have been practicing this for some days now and finally I get the feel of sweeping. This is my first try recording it. I never got sweeping right before but looks like its taking shape. Thanks Emir for your awesome video. I think I didn't mute the strings that much. will work on that in next excercise if time permits.

I hope you don't mind me stealing other student's MTP lesson.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 16 2009, 08:40 AM

That was very good but your pickup doesn't really "catch" that 1st string. I almost don't hear notes on the 1st string even though it is obvious that you're playing it all with no mistake. Very strange but well done for this one. Other student's assignments are of course available for anybody.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 16 2009, 08:58 AM

Thanks Emir. It feels so good and I am slowly discovering new things and CAN PLAY. GMC Journey has been the best!

I had this dent on the fret metal (not sure what they call it) mainly on the first string.. so I sanded it (being smartass). That might be one reason. I also noticed before that when bending on first string the note didn't sustain as in other strings (esp on higher frets)... and you tell me this.. So, definitely, something is wrong here.. too low first string?

This is the first guitar I bought back in 2003. I have modded it with D'Marzio Pickups. Paf Joe (coz I love Satch) one the neck.. the pickup used in Fenders for clean mid and forgot the bridge one but all from DMarzio. I wired it myself. I love this guitar because its very easy to play, thin neck, after all its JEM starting axe. I dropped it a couple of times and banged on walls and now the neck has a small crack on the back ... been there like 4 years I guess. I thought I couldn't play and it sat still all this time until 2008 when I finally unpacked it and been practicing. It even missed the free one year servicing.. LoL. I like it as I can play and practice a lot. I am thinking of getting a custom guitar or fix this so I can play and produce records after a year or so when I finish theories and improve my skills.. at least when I can improvise on a track.

Anyway, just wanted to share my story with this awesome / hated guitar of mine. I don't know if you even have time to read this. LoL.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 17 2009, 03:02 AM

I get your point. I also love my Hamer as that's the guitar that feels the best in my hands. I can't get really good clean sound as my pickups are designed for something else but I can compensate a little. In your case something else is going on. Either the string is too low or the pickup doesn't work that well on that spot. Maybe if you switch to a different position it would be different. I am sure you can hear in your video that your 1st string is not loud enough. Anyway that was a good take

Posted by: maharzan Dec 17 2009, 03:59 AM

Okay. I will try to figure out the technicality behind this. I haven't really cared lately as I am concentrating practicing fully.

Cheers!

Posted by: maharzan Dec 19 2009, 10:06 AM

Alrighty!

After exploring the scales / notes, here is what I have come up with. I am just playing over the neck up and down and not really using the scale positioning at times (unlike the earlier exercise). Hope its okay.

BTW, I just wanted to ask this from the beginning, we learnt the CAGED model scales but it didn't have wide stretch (3nps) thing. I have used that often here as I was so used to that. I am not sure if we are allowed to use that as I guess this was coming in future exercises.

Anyway, here it is.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 19 2009, 05:09 PM

Very good. I see you're sometimes not thinking about the positions at times but those are still the same 5 positions The neck is covered and that's good. Remember, we are not trying to come up with a memorable solo or throw licks into this. We need to learn positions, scales and play right notes at all times

Now the arpeggio part - the last assignment for this month.

The next task is to make charts (like I made for major scales) for arpeggios in 5 positions. Please make 3 charts - maj7, dom7 and min7 arpeggios. I want you to send me the picture on email. You can use Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel or any other graphic program and export jpg picture. You already have my chart so for maj7 arpeggio you can just take out 2nds, 4ths and 6hts, that will leave you with maj7 arpegio. For dom7 the same but change the maj7th interval to b7th and that will give you dom7 arpeggio. You figure out the min7 chart. Paint root notes in black or some different color than the other notes. Play all 3 of them like you did with the major scales in all positions as written on the chart which you will make. Please play all arpeggios over some drum loop or a metronome. You can use one key for each.

remember you need to post the reference link of your REC take on this thread so we can lock this month's assignments.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 20 2009, 06:51 AM

PMed you the charts.

so, now we play each 5 positions for maj7 and then move to dom7 and then to min7 right? that will give us 5 x 3 = 15 positions at one take. This sounds complicating.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 24 2009, 12:41 AM

Correct, but where is the video?

Also don't forget the REC take of any GMC lesson by the end of the month, that's another GMC requirement. When you upload on the REC thread please leave the link here as well.

Cheers

Posted by: maharzan Dec 24 2009, 04:18 AM

Sure will do.. I am practicing the arpeggios for the video.. pretty confusing at times and fingering.. I am practicing REC as well.. can do in about 170bpm as of now. Will post this weekend.

Thanks Emir.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 24 2009, 03:44 PM

Cool, thanks.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 26 2009, 09:44 AM

Hi Emir,

Here is a try on Arpeggios. Kind of messed on the ending. Couldn't do at 80bpm.. so recorded on a slower 60bpm tempo.

Thanks.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 26 2009, 05:07 PM

All correct notes but only maj7 is in the correct positions. Denis had the same issue with this. I am sorry I didn't see your chart on the PM before. I would have corrected you on time. This is my fault. All shapes have to be related to our initial major scale patterns. We're not adding any other notes into positions.

For example dom7 in position 2 is coming from position 5 of major scale. You just change the root and take out unnecessary notes.

Look at the pictures below.

The next assignment for this month is to play over the same chord progression as in the previous assignment but using only these arpeggios, not whole scales.

Please leave the link here when you post the REC take so I can lock this month thread.

Cheers

Posted by: maharzan Dec 26 2009, 05:57 PM

Not sure if I understood it. How do we know which position its coming from?

or how do we relate to each positions ? Do you mean that position 1 E/F shape on major scale differs in dom7 and Minor positions? So, E/F shape on major isn't really equal to E/F shape in minor.. (kind of weird) so I didn't get it. I thought they are all related. I was thinking E/F shape on Major is like Em shape on minor.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 26 2009, 06:08 PM

E/F shape (shape 1) in dom7 is actually 5th shape of normal major scale. Compare that chart with the 5th major scale position and you will get the point. I was just using the different root

Posted by: maharzan Dec 27 2009, 02:58 AM

Hi Emir,

I think you meant shape 1 for min7 there .. ?

Anyway, I think I got it now. All the positions remain as it is but you just relate to major scale and then REMOVE unnecessary notes rather than shift or add (which I was doing) and you get the correct shape right? I had correct notes but wrong shape (although it wouldn't really matter soundwise).

Cool. I will just redo the charts and practice so as to correct this immediately. I was waiting for your feedback on the charts for 2 days I think but also had to submit this take so started practicing it. And I thought you were busy for Christmas. I should have followed you up too.

Anyway, I will PM you the correct shapes in a moment.

Thanks!

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 27 2009, 03:07 AM

Yes I made mistake. I meant dom7 in shape D (position 2) is coming from major scale shape 5 but with the different root of course. You got the point. Your take was ok, we don't need that again. Just learn shapes this way and do the video using them over the backing.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 27 2009, 04:50 AM

Okay, I just sent over the corrected charts. So, to my understanding, everything (scales / modes / arpegios.. what else ?) is actually just a part of Major Scales.. just moved here and there... quite a find. And whatever we do in future, must be based on the major scale charts ?

I will take this approach in the new assignment.

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 27 2009, 05:43 AM

I just replied on your discussion thread.

Yes, what we're doing now is extracting that major scale into all its ingredients. Slowly you should start thinking of your new roots and memorize mode shapes instead of major scale shapes. The next one will be Dorian in 5 positions which is again coming from major scale but your roots will be on different places.

Posted by: maharzan Dec 30 2009, 06:56 AM

Hey Emir,

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=32883.


Heres the video:

Posted by: Emir Hot Dec 30 2009, 07:33 AM

Great stuff Thanks for the hard work this month. We'll move to January with more cool stuff.