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Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 17 2008, 03:59 PM

Hi there! If you are unsure what this is all about, check the explanatory thread http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=18610!

In this thread, Kris and I are looking for 2 beginner level students to tryout the new mentoring program.

If you want to be a part of this, and are prepared to help us work the process out and give us feedback on how it os working for you, then signup here!

To apply, we need the following from you:

To sign up, a student must post to the signup thread, including a video of his or her current level of playing - this gives the potential mentors a feel for the type of playing the student' level - this does';t have to be elaborate, just a few chops and techniques, as well as something which involves rhythm guitar - if possible with a backing. The student should also include some ideas on what he/she wants to achieve in the next 6 month period, and some notes on the overall style of playing they want to develop - either spoken in the video , or in writing in the signup post.

Kris and I will pick 2 suitable members and work with them for 2 months to see how this works out. IF all is well, we will then launch a far bigger program open to all of GMC.

Although Kris and I will be the first mentors, we are expecting that most mentors will be other more experienced GMC members, so potential mentors reading this - get your mentor video ready for when we throw this open to the rest of GMC!

We will accept videos until next weekend, and then shortly after we will announce who the first mentored students will be. All of the action will be happening in http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=102& so keep checking to see how the program is working out!

Ok, let the applications flow

Posted by: Bondy Aug 17 2008, 04:38 PM

I would like to have a pop at this heres my http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=22430952209


Improvements I would like to make in the next six months would be to improve my sweeping and legato techniques{which are none exsistant}.Iam not really a shredder i like most types of music thats just what i would like to concentrate on at the moment.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 17 2008, 04:43 PM

Don't forget the bit about what you want to achieve nd what style you are looking for!

Posted by: JVM Aug 17 2008, 04:44 PM

Awesome idea guys.

Posted by: Bondy Aug 17 2008, 04:46 PM

Lol Andrew realised i missed that out was writing that why you did your post Ha ha

Posted by: Matt23 Aug 17 2008, 06:42 PM

I'd definitely like to try this. I'll do a video as soon as possible.

Posted by: chast Aug 17 2008, 07:29 PM

Hey,

I'd like to give this a try.
What I want to improve is:

- Improvisation (fretboard knowledge, make it more colorful)
- Using more rhythm in lead playing
- Songwriting

I don't have a special style I look for, because I like very different kind of music from Pop, over Metal to Funk and Instrumental music of course. There just too many good stuff out there, that I could only listen to one style. Maybe to name a few guiter players I like in no particular order except the first one
John Petrucci, Dimebag Darrell, Rick Graham, Marcus Lavendell, Chet Atkins, Michael Romeo, Muris Varajic, Zakk Wylde (the style he played on No More Tears) Guthrie Govan, Mark Knopfler, James Hetfield, Marty Friedman, Andy Timmons and a lot more.

I added one improvisation and 2 Videos (a lot of the same stuff in the videos, I just wasn't happy with the framrate of the first one. And attention, sometimes I quite messed up ), where I just play some random riffs I learned sometime.

Posted by: Déjà vu Aug 17 2008, 07:38 PM

I would looove to participate in this! I would (or course) like to be a student... But, there are a few things that I could bring to "The Pool" if I was an instructor.

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 17 2008, 07:48 PM

Well, when we launch the full program there's absolutely nothing stopping from you being a Mentor AND a student

Posted by: big harry Aug 17 2008, 07:52 PM

hey guys
i would like to be part of this program
the style i am looking for is some kind of hard rock and metal style

my achievments
- solide, spicy rhythm guitar
- soloing

overall style
- rock style (kind of ACDC, Bon Jovi etc)
- metal style (kind of Metallica, Rage against the machine, etc)
- Funk rock

my playing
i have been playing guitar for nearly 15 years, knowing some power chords and some licks, but mainly my playing is very simple, no complicated riffing and chords

never been playing real solos, just a few that doesnt sound pretty good
thats what i need to improve 100%

so thats mainly the things i want to improve or learn
video will follow (with webcam or with digital cam ?)
thx
Harry

I hope its not too late, heres my video

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 17 2008, 07:57 PM

I think I would be a good participant in this project. I am a beginner, and I've been around on the site for quit a while. I can make video and audio. For me video isn't realy easy... I'll make a video tomorow if I can. I just hope it's not for nothing because making video isn't that simple for me

Posted by: Matt23 Aug 17 2008, 08:04 PM

Edit: My application is down lower now.

P.s. if a mod can delete this post then please do cheers.

Posted by: me213 Aug 17 2008, 10:18 PM

This is such an awesome program I'll have to record a video and post it soon!

Posted by: Outlaw2112 Aug 17 2008, 10:22 PM

I ordered my webcam today to be in this mentor program... just another thing to add to the list that ive bought since joining GMC...

Posted by: hansome21 Aug 18 2008, 12:46 AM

I would love to be in this program, my roommate and I started guitar a year ago, but I found this site and since then I have literally jumped ahead of him in playing, learning to slow down and only gradually increase speed taught me so much more so quickly, let me see if I can find a cheap webcam at pricewatch.



sorry about double post but just to let everyone know, at pricewatch.com i saw webcams for as low as 14 bucks, and free shipping, so dont let money be the reason you dont join this program.

Posted by: juangar1992 Aug 18 2008, 06:25 AM

Hey guys i've been playing guitar for a couple months now, i just discovered GMC and its a great site. this site has improved my playing a lot, but as matt23 i dont really have any goals or plans to follow on GMC. i want to improve

1. my sweep picking
2. my alternate picking (speed picking) 16th triplets at 130.
3. tapping all styles (touch, eight finger???....)
4. overall theory knowledge

i guess thats a lot to ask for!!! ill be uploading my video tomorrow!!

EDIT: i like metal, classic rock, alt rock, almost any kind of music (except rap)

Posted by: Zephyr Aug 18 2008, 07:11 AM

Hey, everybody, I really haven't been involved with GMC lately, I've been incredibly busy this summer, but I'll be getting back into it over this next year.

This sounds like a great program, and I'm definitely interested in getting involved at some point; maybe not right now, but I'll be able to do it soon. I have no way to record audio or video at the moment, but I think I will in a month or two.

Some of the things that I'm trying to accomplish musically are:

- Capturing emotions in my playing, playing more expressively, basically getting what's in my head to come out of the speakers, or onto a musical staff.
- Learning more theory, as much as I can! For example, complex harmonies, counterpart, following progressions with harmonies, etc., are all way over my head right now.
- Getting out of stereotypical licks, scale/chord shapes, etc. You know, breaking the mold!
- Finding musical ideas not typical to guitar, or Western music. Basically "expanding my horizons".
- Improvisation, unique ideas, and musical creativity in general.
- Learning more about different styles of music (different genres, traditional music from different areas, etc.)
- Good technique, finger dexterity/coordination, all that fun stuff.
- Getting a good tone (not necessarily amp/guitar stuff, but also just in my playing) for different styles of music.
- Learn about playing both rhythm and lead, as well as combining the two.
- Ear training, especially "playing by ear", as well as working on sight-reading music (being able to look at sheet music and play it, instantly.)
- Learning to play better with others.
- And, learning instruments other than guitar. I love the versatility of guitar, and it will surely remain my main instrument, but I would like to learn as many others as I can.

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

Anyways, as far as my musical tastes, I enjoy almost all types of music, except for rap, heavy metal, country and all that generic/mainstream rock or pop stuff. My favorite musician is Steve Vai (I know, big surprise, the guitarist is a Vai fan ), his talent at guitar, amazing musicianship, and just his attitude towards music in general truly inspire me. I am also a big fan of Joe Satriani, Andy Timmons, Carlos Santana, Greg Howe, Eric Johnson, and several other "virtuoso"-type guitarists, but I love most other music as well, the music that really touches me tends to be more melodic stuff, but, as I've already said, I love almost all music! I like classic rock, jazz, traditional music, alternative rock, classical, blues, whatever, you name it, I will probably like it.

As for what I personally want to play, I think I would like to play instrumental music, for the most part, although I also want to be able to play along with musicians of any style, in the long run. Not to say that I have a problem with vocals, but I tend to not listen to lyrics at all, I really just care about the melody behind them. Basically, I don't want to follow a certain path, but rather, I want to create my own unique style that incorporates things from all styles of music.

Thanks for listening, I will make a video as soon as I can, until then, good luck on the program!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 18 2008, 09:42 AM

Keep it coming! We haven't yet decided on who the test persons will be!

Also, we are interested in students who have the following beginner problems:

* Playing in time with a band or GMC backing track

* Stomping the beat while playing

* Any other problems which you feel seem to basic for you to ask openly about in the forum

Posted by: audiopaal Aug 18 2008, 11:47 AM

I wanna learn how to read tabs properly, all the letters and signs I don't understand yet (Yes, I'm bad at tabs..)
I wanna learn how to use scales to create solos etc.
I wanna learn more chords
I wanna learn some songs by other artists (I only know two or three )
I wanna learn about harmonies (Iron Maidenish)
I wanna learn more theory
I wanna learn how to tap (2 or 3 finger tapping is enough for me )
I wanna learn how to break out from my usual riffs, licks etc. and expand my ways of creating songs.
I wanna learn!!!

So... I need a teacher, anyone?

(I'll upload a video if necessary.. )

Posted by: Matt23 Aug 18 2008, 07:42 PM

I've done some more videos with drums this time and ive changed a bit of my post.

Hey there, here's my videos (didn't see it should have a backing ill do another video soon), and here's my writing about my goals, why i want to do this etc.

I've recorded without distortion in the last three of these videos so when im not playing cleanly its not covered up by distortion. Also i think my guitar was a little bit out of tune for some of them.

 mentor__student_vid.wmv ( 3.52MB ) : 235

 mentor_improv.wmv ( 2.8MB ) : 185

 mentor_modes.wmv ( 5.83MB ) : 221

 mentorvid2.wmv ( 5.11MB ) : 197


In the first year of my guitar playing i never did alternate picking (i didn't get lessons at all) but then when i got a teacher because of doing music at school i learnt about alternate picking and modes and i started to progress a lot quicker. Because my teacher gave me targets every week that were possible i had something to work towards and got serious about the guitar and started practicing a lot more. Then i didn't get lessons because not enough people showed up to them, but i had joined GMC so i was doing alright. My alternate picking was adequate and i was getting gradually better but because i never had goals, and i didnt know what goals i could make myself, so i ended up not really being able to practice and ended up just playing things i knew, though i will point out GMC did help me with this because i had a lot of new things i could learn.
Now you know the story of why i really want to become a student for this project ill list my goals.

1) Get a good right hand and left hand technique. Just now im not sure what to try and improve with each of these.

2) Finish learning to speedpick. I'll be happy when i can do 16th triplets at 120bpm, and when i can speedpick more than just up and down scales, and have a good technique. (I definitely want to do this first)

3) Learn sweep picking. Just now i am a beginner at sweeping and i can only do very simple things fast (i.e things where you only sweep one way so you don't have to change your picking directionat all). I don't have a specific target for this. This is actually my favourite shred technique but i think i should learn alternate first as it can be used for more things.

4) Improve my composing (bass, drums etc not just guitar).

5) Learn to compose in the celtic and jazz styles. (I would like to do this once i've got my guitar technique good)

There are other things i would like to such as fingerpicking, andy mckee style playing and tapping but i think what im said above is all i would be likely to achieve in 6 months, it depends on how much i can dedicate myself though.

My overall dream style of playing would involve being able to shred in a variety of different techniques and, having bits of rock, celtic, and fusion/jazz in my playing. I would also like to have better melody skills like vibrato, bending etc so i can put more feeling into my playing. M

My favourite guitarists are Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Muris Varajic, Andy Mckee, Guthrie Govan, Buckethead and John Petrucci, although i like quite a lot of stuff as well as that. The music i like best is generally ballads or songs with a lot of emotion in them, but i also like rock 'n' roll, groove etc. I like listening to anything really im just not too keen on some indie/pop, and most rap (i like eminem though).

If you want me to upload any examples of my composing then just ask.

Matt

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 18 2008, 08:22 PM

I'll have to postpone this untill tomorow. I have made videos, just some "editing" and then I'm finished

It's not a "who has the best video" contest, right?

Posted by: kahall Aug 19 2008, 05:12 AM

How did you know?

Posted by: Ian Bushell Aug 19 2008, 07:38 AM

This is a really cool idea:)
Good luck guys.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 19 2008, 06:03 PM

I'v started playing guitar around the age of eight. I didn't really practice or anything, so it didn't real work, but I did learn my chords. I really started playing last October, and in December I started using GMC. I can play solo's like the modern blues (Muris), so that's my solo lvl. For rhythm guitar, as I said I can play most chords and songs like hotel California and Save Tonight are not very hard to play along. For riffing and power chords… I used to play heavy metal for beginners 3, and now I play Pumping Rock lesson, so I can use power chords just fine. My finger style is limited, I can do some easy tunes (tears in heaven) but that's about it. In improvisation, I'm more of the less is more attitude, and I don't like shredding. That's why I prefer the more melodic collaboration, for example the recent Gary Moore Style collab. My theory knowledge is the pentatonic scale, relative minor, harmonics and some more bits and pieces (e.g. how to make triads). Also I know the major scale in theory, not in boxes.

I want to learn the following things in the coming 6 months:

-Better improvisation, more melodic playing. Being able to put feeling in my music. Also being able to write, and not just improvise


-Major scale, being able to play the positions, but not fluid yet. Fluid use of the pentatonic scale.

-Being a better rhythm player. That means more riffs and more chord playing. I can strum and play all the chords, but it seems that other people, sometimes, just play the same stuff but better

-Improved Vibrato. Better use of it, and my own developed style.

-Improve my fingerstyle, just adding more and more songs. I want to get it to a higher level.

Furthermore, I want to keep on playing in between everything to keep progress with it, mainly by doing more and more GMC lessons.

My style would be varied. Going from soft blues, to hard rock. When I listen to music, I prefer rock, pop and eighties music. For instance, I love Toto!

When I play I prefer to use a more melodic approach. Lots of blues and stuff

I'v uploaded a little video with some sort of a Kaznie Medley Just some different stuff to show what I can. I also added a little improv. This realy was an improv, because after all the settings were right, I took it straight away, no overdubbing or whatsoever. The backing came from Siggum, so credits to him!

EDIT: I just remembered a very beginner problem of mine. I still can't manage to play an F bar chord on my acoustic, I can do it on electric, but not no my acoustic. The B string is always muted...

Posted by: Jaymz Aug 20 2008, 04:57 AM

I want to be in this. I've attached my video that has me playing some riffs I wrote plus a couple licks from GMC. I've been playing for a bit over a year now and still don't know many songs. My short term goals are to improve my palm muting technique and learn some sweep picking. I would like to start to learn how to play metal and maybe shred. Just to let you know I prefer economy picking over strict alternate picking unless I'm playing certain licks. I really need just some direction to go with my playing and this seems to be cool. Thanks!

Posted by: Tjchep Aug 20 2008, 06:00 PM

Whoops, I'll post my application in this thread..

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 21 2008, 10:22 AM

No. We are interested in students that have the most common beginner problems - as that is what we will focus on before learning people the coolest sweeping licks!



Because I - as well as any other player, have been there!

These kind of problems are not as easy to address via our normal lessons - so I hope the mtp will come in handy.

Posted by: SonofDestiny Aug 21 2008, 11:03 AM

I feel so ashamed to say this, but I guess I'm your man if you want someone like that... I'ma order a webcam right now. Should be here by tomorrow. I will post a proper signup then if you don't mind

EDIT: anyone got recommendations for the webcam? Shouldn't be too expensive, but I don't want one that has 4 pixels either.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 21 2008, 11:11 AM

Well it's really nothing to be ashamed of - have you heard of anyone learning to walk before they could crawl? I haven't!

It sure sounds like you could be the test mentoree we are looking for!

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 21 2008, 12:26 PM

Great,great,great topic!!!!!!!

Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Aug 21 2008, 10:33 PM

I'd like to sign up as a student, but rather than having a teacher for technique, I'd like somebody who could help me broaden my songwriting abilities

Posted by: SonofDestiny Aug 24 2008, 02:06 PM

What I would like to do in the coming 6 months:

- finding my own voice in solos, songwriting, tone
- improve my rhythm playing --> I want to play tight as ... uhmm... a professional! Seriously, I wanna be recording with my new band, but the way I play now... it's going to sound miserable!
- become more of a teamplayer for my band
- any style you want me to
- improve my phrasing
- aural training
- play with more feeling
- speedpicking --> I'm pretty average with legato I think (well, when my fingers don't hurt, like on the video), but legato ain't everything of course, so speedpicking like in the end of Nocturnal Vision (god I love that part!) would be really really cool.

I record a video as soon as my mum wakes up, which is in a couple of minutes

EDIT: there it is. Sound isn't all that. I'm still trying to figure out how that Logitech 9000 works, sorry! I also couldn't include a backing track. My pc just went mental when I tried it. It's so weird. I have a relatively new pc :s Or is one year old too old?

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 24 2008, 02:13 PM

Ok, last chance to upload vids - the nominations will close tomorrow morning!

Posted by: SonofDestiny Aug 24 2008, 03:44 PM

Is the video working for you guys? Cause it doesn't work here

EDIT: Oh wait, now it is. What a whack pc!

Posted by: chast Aug 24 2008, 03:47 PM

Its working here

/edit: I was too slow ^^

Posted by: SonofDestiny Aug 24 2008, 03:59 PM

And I was a bit too impatient, sorry!

Posted by: Ttask Aug 24 2008, 07:29 PM

That's a great idea and I'd really enjoy to have a mentor to help me.

I have been playing for 18 months now (including 1 whole year with GMC) and I feel that my technique is improving as I could expect, but I am having a lot of trouble to improvise something that will make me shake my head (and to improvise in general). If I try to play something in A pentatonic minor for instance, I am not really able to play something else than random 16th note, and the "pulse" is lacking. I'd really love to be able to play this style of solo : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeUIwqNSnKs . For now, the main thing I'd like to work on is to feel the rythm.

Regarding the technique, for now I feel comfortable when playing 16th notes at something about 120bpm (depending on the note pattern of course) and I can fairly easily string skip (trying to play a lot of Paul Gilbert stuff). However, I still need to work on the sound of my alternate picking, which I do not find regular enough. I'd also like to improve my chord knowledge, since I feel that I can only play in minor pentatonic, major or minor scales (even though I know the theory about modes, I cannot manage to get the feel while playing).

I uploaded 2 little videos (unfortunately of poor quality).

Posted by: edsoonline Aug 24 2008, 07:32 PM

well I guess I can get things with good timing... but I really cant follow a metronome or backing track with 16th's triplets and so on I have my issues with stomping too and my bend need serious improvement
I've been playing for 2 months

edit: I'd like basically to improve my soloing, but improve my rythm guitar too wich is not my strongest part

Posted by: IntoxyDachsy Aug 26 2008, 02:54 AM

Looks as though I may be too late ~ Work comes early and runs late... I havent been home long enough and at an appropriate time to play guitar for a video... I get off work fairly early tomorrow and will record one regardless as to being late or not ^^; Anyhow.

Thankfully, I do not tap my foot to keep beats... Playing a game called Bust A Groove non stop years ago gave me an internal metronome ^^

As for playing along with tracks, or other people... I find it near impossible for the moment... I seem to come in on the second or third beat of the measure and stop myself to try to resync with the track, or the friends I am trying to jam with.

Playing solo parts I think is quite possible for me... but as for chords... I can play two or three, and it feels nearly impossible to switch from chord to chord while playing ( If I can even play the chord... I find it near impossible to play a D chord no matter how long I take to position my hand).

Moving my hand on the neck while playing has been getting slightly better... as in playing a few notes in the 3rd fret area, then sliding the fretting hand to the 12th fret area to play a note... I still have a little trouble at best, and there is a noticable pause in playing.

I almost never use my pinky when I play... Ive had friends show me ways to strengthen the finger and get it in use while playing... but it still felt unnatural.

That is about all I can think of presently on my negative playing. As for what I hope to accomplish in the future:

I would love to be able to shred. Yngwie is half the reason I bought a guitar... but I know this is years away from happening, if at all.

I would like to learn something about songwriting theory, and improvising ( I think these two may go together )

I would like to gain confedence in playing in front of other people... I feel that ive come miles from where I started... but at the same time it feels like I should put the guitar down and stop embarrasing myself.



Tomorrow after work I will record a video of about everything I know and add it to this post.

 For_Gmc_01.WMV ( 5.59MB ) : 205


EDIT: I added to video... I actually bought a webcam to make this with... so the video is terrible due to the lack of my experience... also, I am sorry for making your ears bleed with the terrible playing ^^; I am actually quite embarassed about posting this... but heres to hope Ill get better !

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 26 2008, 08:40 AM

Ok, sounds like you shouldn't miss this opportunity - be sure to get a video up!

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 26 2008, 02:56 PM

Wow. I was going to throw my hat in the ring for this...but the beginner videos everyone is posting are all WAY better than I am! Is there a catagory for someone worse than a beginner?! lol

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 26 2008, 03:00 PM

Update! I found out recently, that when I setup a metronome to play Two Princess, I move my foot on the beat. If I keep playing without hearing the metronomen, then when I stop I'm very much out of the beat. Know what I mean?

Posted by: bubbalicious Aug 26 2008, 03:49 PM

i am gonna do it and i can record later is that ok

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 26 2008, 03:55 PM

Yes, that is the category we want to give highest priority for the mtp program (let's call it absolute beginners for now) - unfortunately these people aren't very eager to upload videos.

So...what are you waiting for?!

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 26 2008, 03:57 PM

Ok then! I'll do one tonight after the kids are in bed. I am warning you now though...don't expect too much!

Posted by: Siggum Aug 26 2008, 03:58 PM

Thats ok man, its the whole reason we are here... to learn and get better

Posted by: bubbalicious Aug 26 2008, 05:35 PM

here is mine hope it is good enough

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 27 2008, 02:32 AM

Ok Kris and Andrew...here is my video! Now, remember I am a BEGINNER!!! I start out by playing a little of the Top Gun Anthem. Simple, and fun to play! Then I play most of Ivan's Beginner Blues solo lesson. I am still working on the very last part. I left all the mistakes in, and didn't record my cleanest version. Instead, I put on the most "average" version I played that shows what my actual level is at.

I am interested in the mentor program because up until now I have mostly been having "fun" when I played. What I mean is, I would find a lesson that sounded cool, and try to learn it...without really understanding why the notes went together. Now, I would like to get serious and start learning a lot of theory as well as technique. I want to understand arpeggios...phrasing...boxes...etc. Not just be able to play them cleanly, but to know why I am playing them!

I am interested in playing all types of music, but tend to favor metal and DEFINITELY the blues!! I am able to practice between 1 hour and 2 hours each night.

Thanks for this opportunity and even if I am not selected, I appreciate the consideration!

 GMC_Take_2.wmv ( 5.1MB ) : 247

Posted by: big harry Aug 27 2008, 07:40 PM

hi again

maybe its too late but i also added a vid to my post, hope you will see it

keep on rocking guys
Harry

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 28 2008, 03:31 PM

This thread is now closed for mentoree applications! Andrew and I will have a discussion about this and then get back with more info!