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Posted by: enlo22 Nov 8 2012, 03:35 AM

So this guitar was one that I got back after going on my trip to Spain which I thought was neat to be able to buy it again from the same person. The interesting part was this time it wasn't in standard tuning instead it was drop B which i'm not a big just 1 string dropped tuning so I went to c# standard. It was good to experiment and it gave it a huge sound IMO. So the reason i'm posting this is because like all my other videos just wanted critique and also to show that i have been working on some of the suggestions i've gotten about solos etc.. from Ben to make them less "exercise" like and more musical which helped me improve and everyone else comments as well. This was more of putting some ideas together and idk if it's obvious but i feel like i got inspired by Amon Amarth haha. Thanks and I hope to hear some things that will help me improve as always. and if you like something say it too cause too many bad things make me somewhat bummed lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH68f9dyDZU

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 8 2012, 06:33 AM

Hi mate! Nice guitar! what's the Ibanez model? Your riffing is great on this track, I can hear the Amon Amarth vibes, I remember those killer tracks that Lian used to show me when he recorded his GMC lessons. It's true that your solo is one step closer to the musical direction, but you could still improve it more. Another thing that could be improved on this one is the overall mix, starting with your guitar tone. It seems that your guitar has too much drive, and that lacks high mids to sound clearer and appear more in the mix. The drums could sound more powerful, what VSTi are you using for it?

Posted by: enlo22 Nov 8 2012, 08:17 AM

The Ibanez is just an Rg Series,it has super distortions on the bridge which is what i used the whole time. Lian does have some cool lessons, i wish he would post more! and you're probably going to laugh at me on this one but i'm using Audacity.. i know it's crappy to most people but for me other programs mess with me so much like i'm not much of a computer guy at all, well to a certain extent. The guitar tone could use work i'm sure, i'm still a noob at that so suggestions are awesome! and same for the solo, still i feel if i had a better tone for the solo and cleaned it up more it could work better, i'm still struggling with the whole music theory aspect of things, i'm getting some down but some things are just tooo confusing no matter how many times i hear it. sorry for the rant lol.

Posted by: Alex Feather Nov 8 2012, 01:44 PM

Very nice! I love your riffing sounds very good! Also you got a great guitar! I love the tone! Very nicely done mate!

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 8 2012, 03:32 PM

Cool stuff Marco. C# standard is fun isn't it ? My track Sub Zero is also in C# Standard.. my Explorer is constantly tuned that that.

The riffs are great as usual. When you hit the solo, I like the initial melody but the triplets need tightening up or they lose their impact. So try to tighten up your picking/hand synchronisation.

The note you land on at 0:59 doesn't sound very strong to me. I think it's a 4th.. a 5th, 3rd or root note or even a 9th would work better. You'd have to rework the phrasing a bit but it's worth it.

It also sounds like your using the basic Phrygian mode which is ok but the Phrygian Dominant mode (also called Phrygian Major Mode) might sound like it fits better because of the major 3rd instead of minor 3rd.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 8 2012, 06:17 PM

Nice! Killer riffing mate!!

The leads can be improved indeed, but your timing on the riffing is great! If you are to ask me, a good rhythm guitarist has all the chances to become a great lead player as well, so focus on gaining direction and melodic sense! You're on a good way man!

Cosmin

Posted by: enlo22 Nov 8 2012, 06:54 PM

Thanks everyone for their comments, as always i'll take from them and learn. I'm still lost on the phrygian thing lol i some what get it but at the same time I don't. As for the leads i still have to improve and hopefully will get there cause i want to be a good lead player as well.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 9 2012, 09:09 AM

As I always like to say - a good rhythm player will always make a more interesting lead player as the approach is different - take Nuno Bettencourt for instance - he is a crazy combo of both because his rhythm chops are extremely proficient.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 9 2012, 10:32 AM

Ok man, here's the 2 modes. The first one is the Phrygian mode and it sounds to me like this is what you're using. I think !!

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

Here's the Phrygian Major Mode (or Phyrgian Dominant)

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/scalegenerator

The difference is the 3rd note in each scale. The 1st mode has a minor 3rd so it sounds more like the natural minor scale. The second mode has a major 3rd which, alongside the flat2nd, sounds more exotic

This is the classic 'Yngwie Malmsteen' mode

Posted by: enlo22 Nov 10 2012, 03:46 AM

So when would the phrygian mode be proper to use? for example if you're playing in E would E phrygian major be good?

and I was trying to use the A harmonic minor for the first part of the solo, then for the second part I was using the A minor scale.. i'm not sure I did that right? could you clear it up for me?

Posted by: Ben Higgins Nov 10 2012, 11:51 AM

If the main key of your piece is C# then refer to a scale or mode starting with C#, like the C# minor scale, C# phrygian, Phrygian dominant etc.. Playing the A minor or A harmonic minor scale over C# gives some other strange mode.. C# doesn't even figure in either of those scales and if C# is the main key of your chord changes then it's a bit weird.

Find the root notes of the chords underneath the solo, play them in sequence.. figure out if they all appear in the same scale, like C# Minor for example.. that gives you what scale to play.

Posted by: enlo22 Nov 10 2012, 06:58 PM

ok i got it so use the scale based on the root note no matter the name lol

and I was referring to the scales as if i had standard tuning; the rhythm part was in E or (c#) since i was tuned lower. then using the A minor scale on top which seemed to fit idk why, could if be because of the other chords that were being played behind it as well?