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Posted by: Stingray Oct 7 2007, 04:54 AM

Hi folks,

finally I got time to introduce myself

First, my real name is Dieter, I'm 26 and I'm living in Düsseldorf, Germany. I'm an IT Network administrator for the biggest motorcycle- clothing and techparts company in Europe.

I'm playing guitar for almost 10 Years now. I learned everything by selfeducation, only equipped with a book for chords at start and EVERY, trust me when I say EVERY, songbook from Bon Jovi. I got them from my brother because he's a very big fan. So I made my way.

Today I'm able to play EVERY (again ) Bon Jovi song on earth *G*
I've played in some bands so far and got some solo gigs on weddings, partys etc...
Most of all times I was playing acoustic versions of well known pop songs.

Personally, my guitar god (how could it be) is Nuno Bettencourt. First time I heard him was about 10 Years ago when I borrowed my brothers walkman and was listening to the song "Suzi" by extreme. I really was impressed by Nuno's style and rythm. Then my brother showed me all of Nuno's "crazy things" like the live video where he was performing the bumblebee, only using his left hand for the whole song and also starts to talking to the bandmates....drinkin water...... making some jokes etc etc etc ... all while he was playing this reeeeaaaly fast song!
Today I know he was "just" tapping and like Kristofer says "Everybody can do it, just practise!". But I'm still impressed (even I don't like the Dramagods *G*)

Second guitar hero: Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
Second and a half guitar hero: Mark Tremonti (Creed / Alter Bridge)

My equipment shrinked in the past. Left is:
1x Washburn N2 (Nuno Bettencourt Signature)
1x Ovation Celebrity Semi-Acoustic
My lill Pandora and my PC
I'm planning on getting a PRS Tremonti. But I'm not sure for now...


Now I've had a break for about one year... I didn't even touched my guitars in that time.
I regret it very hardly.
My rythm feeling and ability to get faster left hand movements are almost totally gone
I hit wrong strings by accident, and cant keep up with the metronome anymore. Everything seems if I started playing 4 months ago...

BUT! That's why I'm here. Saw Kristofers standalone page looong time ago and always when I browsed through my favs, passed by his page, I thought to myself "If you can get a teacher like him, you could really improve your play". Now I found GMC and what should I say?? I got LOTS OF teachers like him!

To shorten things and come to a point:
I'm really glad, I found you all and I gues, for what amazing stuff I allready found here, after 10 years I'm starting all over again and learn to play!

Thanks for you work here!
Stingray

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Oct 7 2007, 05:12 AM

Welcome! GMC will pretty soon have you back up to speed and beyond

Posted by: MickeM Oct 7 2007, 05:30 AM

Welcome, I can promise you'll improve if you do the lessons here so you'll soon be even better than when you dropped the guitar once. *nods*

Posted by: Robin Oct 7 2007, 05:39 AM

Welcome You sure will improve with GMC.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Oct 7 2007, 05:41 AM

Welcome Stingray!

Be sure to check out some of Jerry's lessons - as he also has Nuno as one of his favorite guitarists!

Posted by: mattacuk Oct 7 2007, 05:59 AM

Welcome Stingray - I am really glad you have joined our Community and i wish you the best of luck !

Posted by: Pavel Oct 7 2007, 06:58 AM

Hey, another IT guy! Welcome man! Enjoy the lessons and practice hard! You can still be a great player!

Posted by: muris Oct 7 2007, 07:08 AM

Welcome and enjoy your stay here!
Hard work and you'll get everything you want.
Let us know if you need any help!

Posted by: Jerry Arcidiacono Oct 7 2007, 07:10 AM

Hi Stingray and welcome to GMC!


I'm glad you like Nuno and Extreme. They are one of my favourite band.
I met Dramagods in Markdorf, Deutschland, two years ago.
They are different from Extreme, I know, but I like them.
In this band Nuno plays and sings just FOR the songs. Sometimes, it seems that he wants to hide his technique.

By the way, keep on rocking and let us know your progress!

Greetings.

Posted by: NightFlight Oct 7 2007, 07:41 AM

Hey Stingray! Welcome to GMC. I'm new here myself, been a memeber a little over a month I think. Like you, I had a long break from playing due to life circumstances. Be sure to take note of where you are in your playing right now. Make a recording or two for point of reference. Then compare that recording to how you are playing in the months ahead after a little dedication and hard work there at GMC. You may find that GMC is the best investment you've ever made in developing as a guitarist.

Again, welcome aboard!

Posted by: rokchik Oct 7 2007, 07:46 AM

Welcome to the family man

Posted by: Jeff Curtis Oct 7 2007, 08:19 AM

whats up!!

Posted by: visi0n Oct 7 2007, 06:23 PM

Coool , welcome man .. enjoy your stay ..

Posted by: botoxfox Oct 7 2007, 07:22 PM

Welcome...

Posted by: ActiveX Oct 8 2007, 05:52 AM

Glad I'm not the only computer geek here Welcome Stingray.

Posted by: loop Oct 8 2007, 02:44 PM

Welcome Dieter,

have a lot of fun.

Liebe Grüße aus der Lüneburger Heide.
Jens

P.S. Mein Englisch ist etwas eingerostet, deshalb habe ich dein Posting wohl nicht ganz verstanden.
Hattest Du einen Unfall oder warum hast du nicht mehr Gitarre gespielt.

Posted by: Stingray Oct 8 2007, 04:05 PM

Thank you all very much for the warm welcome, again, I'm impressed, what a nice community, glad to be here!

@Jerry:
It's exactly what you say, it seems Nuno doesn't want to play insane things anymore. There're still some good songs by Dramagods like Megaton for instance but this song is also more mainstream...
I allready checked out your lessons (allready before Kris sugested ). ATM I'm challenging the "Hard Rock Rythm lesson" Not too hard and not too simple. Like it very much!

@NightFlight
What a great idea! THX!

@Pavel
I'd never thought that you're an IT guy too, i watched your lessons. Looks like you was born with your guitar in hands *G* Really amazing stuff man!!! Tooooo hard for me now but I'm sure I'll 'reach' your lessons soon

@ActiveX
lol thats the most interesting nick I've seen so far.
"Dangerous but really usefull if you know how to handle it"

@loop
Hi Jens!
Nene, war zum Glück kein Unfall. Ich hatte es nicht näher erläutert aber einfach durch die viele Arbeit und den Stress (den die IT Branche so mit sich bringt) ist mir wirklich irgendwann erst aufgefallen, dass ich ein ganzes Jahr nicht mehr gespielt habe. Hatte bis dahin auch ziemlich viele Auftritte ausgeschlagen und dann läpperte sich das halt


@ALL
Thanks!!

Stingray

Posted by: muris Oct 10 2007, 05:31 PM

Well said,many shreders for 80s or 90s like Nuno or Kotzen are going into band's type of playing,
looking more for the song instead of technique.
Is that good,mean for community like GMC?
It's up to you guys

Posted by: Stingray Oct 10 2007, 11:51 PM

Hi Muris,

I fully agree with you. If you listen to songs today, (good) solos are rare like hell. 20 years ago it was impossible to write a song without an geeky, crazy solo. It was like a competition, who does the freakiest one...

But thats why I like guys like Mark Tremonti. He's none of the hard oldschool guys but trying to bring the past in. Listen to the new album Blackbird and you'll see what I'm talking about. Only got the promo cd now but the album will be released this month. He rocks!!

I don't think this behaviour could harm communitys like GMC. There will alway be guys like us all who wants to know the technique

Cheers
Stingray