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Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 8 2015, 03:19 PM

Hello guys!! This new thread is to introduce and invite you to join to the Guitar Gym!

We have many workouts about music, creativity, improvisation, phrasing, but this workout is not based on it, this one is based on training your fingers an muscles to keep on polishing your guitar technique. We won't focus on music here, we will focus on repetitions, training, and economy of movements to build an efficient technique that let your express limitless on the other workouts.

Diary time required: 30 minutes minimum, 1 hour ideal.

Who is in??

Posted by: Daeron Sep 8 2015, 05:32 PM

I think that it would be good for me ! To improve my bending technique and legato also.

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Sep 8 2015, 05:44 PM

I think I'm in too, would fit good in with my 1 hour of practice a day

Posted by: Phil66 Sep 8 2015, 07:17 PM

Gab you are a legend, you do so much here, thanks.

Please tell me how to fit 30 hours into one day so I can do all of the workshops

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 9 2015, 05:43 AM

super Gabriel.... I think thats a very good training for me as a beginner....

When will we start?

I'm in....

Posted by: Beat Zbinden Sep 9 2015, 05:56 AM

I'm in!!

Posted by: mad Sep 9 2015, 08:50 AM

In!

Posted by: n3m57 Sep 9 2015, 09:02 AM

I'm in

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 9 2015, 03:29 PM

Great to find many music athletes here...

Welcome to the Gym guys.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Sep 9 2015, 04:27 PM

Who can say that their techniques don't need any improving??
I'd like to follow along with this Gabi, although I can't dedicate 1 hour a day I'd still find it useful!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 10 2015, 02:17 PM

You're welcome SJ!

Posted by: Chris S. Sep 10 2015, 05:01 PM

Hey Gab!

I need to start getting back on track - so I'm definitely in

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 11 2015, 05:48 PM

You're welcome!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 14 2015, 08:32 PM

The Guitar Gym

Routine I

Hello guys! This is the first routine for this program. We will divide the training in 3 x 10 minutes blocks covering different techniques.
As I said in the first post, the idea of this program is to train diary your muscles so I'll will be sharing repetitive exercises that are easy to memorize so you won't have to think one what you are playing.

The first block is based on two simple legato exercises that should be played as a loop. The second block covers alternate picking, with a first lick based on Zakk Wylde style, and a second one based on Paul Gilbert style. Finally, the last block is a bit trickier and includes two licks taken from Ben Higgin's lesson based in the style of Nuno. (Link to the lesson http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Nuno-Bettencourt-Style-Soloing/). If the second one is over your current level you can let it for the future.

Please practice with metronome and take note of the bpm that you reach.


Block 1: Legato (10 minutes)







Block 2: Alternate Picking (10 minutes)







Block 3: Combined techniques (10 minutes)

Posted by: Phil66 Sep 14 2015, 08:37 PM

I know it's less than needed but I'm going to have to do 3x3 minutes for this not 3x10 minutes as my time is restricted but hopefully anything is better than nothing I'll use it as a warm up I think

Cheers Gab.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 14 2015, 09:48 PM

I prefer 1x10. Choose one of the blocks each day and work on it.

Posted by: Phil66 Sep 14 2015, 09:49 PM

Done

Posted by: Daeron Sep 15 2015, 07:41 AM

Printed ! And I'll start the Gym today.
But the second tab of the legato seems hard to do ! Do you think that you could do a slow video of that exercise, so I could understand how to reach "3" at the end ?

Posted by: mR_mInD Sep 15 2015, 11:31 AM

i´m in gabe!!

Posted by: Osedmen Sep 15 2015, 01:40 PM

Me! thanks Gabriel! you always with great ideas!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 15 2015, 01:55 PM

Sure! I'll do it in around hour and share it here.

Great to see more GMCers joining this one! I'd like to see videos of you playing the routine too.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 15 2015, 04:28 PM

Posted by: n3m57 Sep 15 2015, 04:42 PM

Thanks Gab !

I think there is a little mistake on the second tab from block 1 :



3=5 ?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 15 2015, 04:47 PM

Oh yes! Thanks for notifying! I've just fixed the tab.

Posted by: Daeron Sep 15 2015, 05:01 PM

Ahaha, that's why I didn't understand how to make it !
Thank you for the video, Gab, this is very useful !

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Sep 15 2015, 05:09 PM

Arh! That makes more sense. I saw these exercises before and thought "that's a bit of a stretch doing that!"

Posted by: mad Sep 16 2015, 10:22 AM

I think I need a week just to play that second pattern of block 3

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 16 2015, 01:23 PM

Thx Gab for these useful exercises... The video was also very helpful for me...

After practising 30 minutes Block 1 & 2, I have muscle ache... At "Block 3 - Exercise 1" I'm still sorting my fingers...

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 16 2015, 01:34 PM

Hello guys! Great to know that you are working on the Guitar Gym's first routine. Doing these massages and stretches before the routine is a good idea to take care of your muscles, hands and fingers.

Posted by: Phil66 Sep 16 2015, 10:46 PM

Yeah he says some good things there, I was a county level strength athlete so I know all about warming and stretching and what happens if you don't keep supple

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 17 2015, 02:02 PM

yeah, that's also applicable here at the guitar gym.

How is the practice going guys? I wonder if we'll have some audios from your practice here...

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 17 2015, 03:20 PM

at the Moment I try to bring the Blocks 1&2 a Little bit on Speed...

to control myself I've made a table to fill in the bpm's... it's a Motivation for me to see the bpm's increase.... (slowly)

If somebody needs also this "help", here is the file...

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 18 2015, 01:23 PM

Hi Chris! That's awesome and it makes this thread feel even more like a Gym! Thanks a lot for sharing!

I think that everybody should print those images and use it to monitor their progress.

What have you used to design it? Which software?

Great stuff!

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 18 2015, 04:59 PM

Hi Gab... I will update this file with the following Blocks.... At the end we have a complete documentation from the guitar gym...

original file is a Word-file....

Posted by: Phil66 Sep 18 2015, 05:10 PM

Nice one Chris, thank you

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 19 2015, 04:07 PM

Killer idea! Thanks Chris!

Posted by: mad Sep 20 2015, 11:07 AM

Thanks for that document Chris! I always use it for refreshing the routines while practicing

My progress report for the last days can be found http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=54803&view=findpost&p=718742

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 21 2015, 02:33 PM

That's great Mad, congrats!

Posted by: mad Sep 23 2015, 10:30 AM

Hey Gab! I shared my audio recordings for the routines http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=54803&view=findpost&p=718932!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 23 2015, 04:33 PM

Checked! Thanks Mad!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 24 2015, 04:00 PM

Hey guys! We had 10 days with this routine. How does it feel? How was the experience? Do you think that you need a new one?

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 24 2015, 06:15 PM

Hi Gab, we have already burnt our guitars, but please, give us the rest

I practise every day the exercises, and it makes a lot of fun. Greatest Problem at the moment, to stay in the rhythm...

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 25 2015, 05:50 AM

what I mean with "stay in the rhythm" is, when I repeat the same exercise 10 times ongoing, after the 4th or 5th repeat I come out of the beat....

Posted by: mad Sep 25 2015, 08:16 AM

Yeah!! We want more drills!




Hey Chris! I think I know what you mean - I had exactly the same problem. The first thing I tried was slowing down the Metronome (I strongly recommend playing the excercises to a Metronome instead a backing-track or drum-loop) but it was even harder to stay in time. So I increased the bpm and played one note each click (quarter notes or eights notes). The important thing here is the note length/duration for each played note must be equal! Then I slowly increased the bpm by 2 or 5 beats until I feel confident playing at 120bpm. Then I put the Metronome to 60bpm and played 8th/16th and then I was able to stay in rhythm. Hope that makes sense and may help

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 25 2015, 09:48 AM

Hi mad, that makes absolutely sense!

So far I've only practised to a drum-loop in different bpms (sounds better than this click - click - click - click.... )...

But from now on I use a real metronom.....

Thx Chris

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 25 2015, 04:15 PM

Hi guys! I'll prepare new stuff!

About your timing issue Chris, Mad is right, you have to slow down and work at a more comfortable tempo. Try it and you'll see how you can keep timing for more time. Then, you can slowly increase tempo every day to reach a faster practice without errors.

Posted by: Daeron Sep 25 2015, 07:57 PM

Hello Gabriel !

This stuff is very useful. I make the routine everyday and I feel the muscles that becomes hot. Then, when I play something else, I feel more relaxed. Of course, I don't play very fast but even at slow tempo that's useful ! Thank you !

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 26 2015, 03:51 PM

Hi Daeron! Great to read this! Keep on working on this routine. I'll share a new one on Monday/Tuesday, but you can get back to this one from time to time. The first two exercises are my favorites left hand exercises ever.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 28 2015, 02:31 PM

Routine II

Hello guys! This is the second routine for this program. We will divide the training in 3 x 10 minutes blocks covering different techniques.
As I said in the first post, the idea of this program is to train diary your muscles so I'll will be sharing repetitive exercises that are easy to memorize so you won't have to think one what you are playing.

The first block is based on two simple legato exercises that should be played as a loop. The second block covers alternate picking, with two new variations connected to the previous routine. The third block combines tapping and legato and it was borrowed from Ben Higgins lesson based on Greg Howe Style. Link http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Greg-Howe-Tapping/

Please practice with metronome and take note of the bpm that you reach.


Block 1: Legato (10 minutes)






Block 2: Alternate Picking (10 minutes)






Block 3: Combined techniques (10 minutes)

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 29 2015, 02:44 PM

Hi Gab, thx for these very useful new exercises!

I've updated the docu for the guitar gym... here is the new file....

I've got two "problems" with the exercises:

Block 1 - exercise 1:
each time when I tap on the 8th fret on the b-string, that sounds not really good. Should I mute the b-string behind the 8th fret and how should I do this? It is a fundamental problem when I tap on an "empty" string.


Block 3 - exercise 2:
It would be very helpful for me in the combined techniques, when you mark (show) the picking directions (up- and downstrokes) as in block 3 of routine 1.

Thx Chris

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 29 2015, 02:50 PM

Hi Chris, thanks for the new table!

About tapping on a new string, the previous note must be muted with the same finger than is tapping used a a barre. At the same time, the first finger which is pressing on the first string should also mute the second string while it's pressing the first one. This can be tricky at first so you have to practice really slowly to make your fingers get used to this movements and positions. Please let me know if it's clear.


Now regarding the combined techniques exercises, there is no use of pick. Please check the slow videos of this lesson: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Greg-Howe-Tapping/

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 29 2015, 03:17 PM

I'm not sure if its clear for me

is it possible that you make a Little Video of that?

That would be a great help for me....

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 29 2015, 05:29 PM

Ok! A video is coming.

Posted by: slickster Sep 30 2015, 03:34 PM

The second one im not to sure of. Need to learn how to read legato

Can you please send me a link to the video. Thx

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 30 2015, 03:40 PM

I'm uploading the video right now...

also this lesson will help with legato: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Land-Of-Legato/

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 30 2015, 04:32 PM

the video!

Posted by: Daeron Sep 30 2015, 05:31 PM

Thank you for the video about muting.

I don't understand how to play the second exercise of the block 1, sorry !

I explain how I understand it :
- upstroke on 5 of the e string
- then hammer-on on 8 of the B string
- legato from 8 to 6 to 5
- then downstroke on 7 of G string
- upstroke on 5 of B string
- legato to 6 then 8
- upstroke on 5 og the e string
-...

What I don't understand is :
- why we start with an upstroke ?
- how you play the hammer-on on 8 of the e string after the upstroke ?

Thank you !

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Sep 30 2015, 06:17 PM

Hi Daeron,

Remember that the picking additions are just suggestions. There is no an only way to play this kind of licks. When I've first this lick, I copied Paul Gilbert picking choice that was like this:




The version provided comes from this one, but plays the 8 note in the second string with a tap instead of picking it. There is no neccesity to play it with a tap if you don't feel comfortable with it. How to play that note on 8th fret without picking? Exactly the same than exercise 1, as explained in the video.

Posted by: ChrisGLP Sep 30 2015, 07:18 PM

Wow Gab.... Super!! Many Thx... Exactly that was my Problem.... Very good Video... These 2 minutes Video are much more helpful than 10 guitar lessons anywhere....

Posted by: Daeron Sep 30 2015, 07:39 PM

Ok, I understand much more ! Thank you !
So, you advice that we practise with a little distorsion, isn't it ? I can't make the string make a sound with just tapping with my clean sound.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 1 2015, 02:30 PM

Great to know it Chris!!




When practicing legato, there are two possibilities with different pros.

- Practice without distortion: You have to use enough strength to make the things sound. It is good to get stronger fingers.

- Practice with distortion: Easier to make things sound, but difficult to make everything sound clear and clean. This is really good to train your muting skills.

Posted by: slickster Oct 7 2015, 02:07 AM

Is there a link to teach me how to read long legato licks.
I understand the basics, but when it comes to long ones, I'm not sure about..thx

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 7 2015, 01:39 PM

Hi Slickster! Which exercise is giving problems?

These are some links that will help:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/How-To-Play-Pull-Offs/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/How-To-Play-Hammer-ons/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners-Corner-23-Pull-Offs/
vhttp://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners-Corner-22-Hammer-On/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Beginners-Corner-24-Beginner-Legato/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Bens-Land-Of-Legato/

Posted by: slickster Oct 7 2015, 08:35 PM

Thx for the links, I hit the first one than as I was reading there was another link to hammer ons and pull offs..the problem is it keeps playing the main.

I just hit the top 3 links and on all of the it keeps playing the main, his this is bogner and in this lesson I will teach hammer ons..frustrating

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 8 2015, 04:09 PM

Hi Slickster, I'm writing now a PM to check what's the problem with playing the lessons. Check it out!

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 8 2015, 10:28 PM

Hi,

I think I'm late to a bunch of nice threads in the forum. I would really like to improve my control over the instrument and improve sincronization and speed. Is it possible to join yet?

If the answer is Yes, could you please gabrield summarize where I should start at?

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 9 2015, 01:42 PM

Hi John!

Off course you can join here, and it's up to you if you want to work on the first or second routine of the Guitar Gym during this week.

Also, if you'd like to have a full plan for each week, you can join my mentoring thread. Just let me know if you're interested and I'll contact you with details.

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 10 2015, 01:42 AM

Hi,

Yes, of course. I'm really interested in having a metal god as my mentor!

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 12 2015, 07:32 PM

hehehe not a metal god, maybe a metal hard worker.


how is the gym going guys?

Posted by: JohnMathew Oct 12 2015, 08:08 PM

Hi,

Excuse me Grabriel, are you receiving my PM? It seems something odd is happening with the board isn't it?

Cheers.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 12 2015, 08:16 PM

Hi John! Yes, received and answered! I've been away during the weekend because of some gigs with my band, that's why I've been a bit slower. Also check your new thread here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=55057&hl=

Posted by: slickster Oct 12 2015, 10:22 PM

Thx for asking, it's working fine now, thx! :-)

7h 5 7h 5 7h 5 7h 5.
How can this tab be correct?
Shouldn't it be a P for pull off. I think I got it 5 hammer on to 7...

Posted by: ChrisGLP Oct 13 2015, 05:59 AM

Hi Gab,

I'm practising now for 3 weeks the guitar gym each day... at the beginning I've had pain in my left arm after practising one hour... but now, all is ok and I feel a real progress. I'm playing "more relaxed" now... (not only the Guitar Gym exercises)

At the moment it seems to me I've reached a "speed limit" for most of the exercises. For example Routine 2 Block 2 "Alternate picking". My "bpm-progress" is 80, 95, 105, 120, 125, 130, 132, end... but I hope that this is not really the end... we will see in a few weeks...

Posted by: Daeron Oct 13 2015, 07:51 AM

I don't really take note of my bpm progress but I practise the Gym every day and I feel much more easy with hammer-ons and pull-offs.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 13 2015, 02:07 PM

Yes, it's a pull of. Where did you find it?





Awesome! Feel free to share some recordings to let me check how it sounds. Keep on the hard work!




Great to know it! The same for you, feel free to share your takes here.

Posted by: ImEmmaG Oct 14 2015, 02:26 PM

Hello! I'm new here at GMC and I just started practising with these exercises.. AND ITS AWESOME. The pain, I love the pain LOL

I've just finished half hour practice with the first three blocks and it nearly killed my pinky.. but thankfully it's still rocking it! I'll upload recordings of my takes later this week, if i could get feedback from you guys it'll be gRRReat.

now, the questions!
-- Would you recommend some kind of stretches or warm up before starting with the gym?
Because it's not difficult when you are comfortable with the bpm and all jokes aside, my fingers are feeling really warm right now. I'm just worried about speeding up. I started at 76bpm and moved up to 96 once I was comfortable with the notes. But when I tried some 120, that's when my fingers started to burn. And like any other muscle, I'm worried about injuries (thinking long term). What would you say?
-- Do you practice with distortion or not?
I use a little drive, like a malmsteen distortion, because I like to hear the clear note, but HATE the sound of a clean electric guitar (when it comes to practising, of course). My question is if I'll benefit more from the clean sound, or should I just keep on with the distor.

For now that's all.. keep rocking people!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 14 2015, 02:37 PM

Hi Emma! I always recommend to do some stretching and massage before and after the sessions:




About practicing with distortion or not, it's up to you. If you use too much distortion, you can lose dynamics, but you can have more noises issues, so you also train your muting techniques. When practicing clean, you make more strength and can train more your dynamics, but you you have to be sure that the same thing with distortion sounds clean. There are noises that appear only when playing with much distortion.

Posted by: Daeron Oct 17 2015, 11:19 PM

Here are my recording on the Guitar gym. I didn't have the time to record all but I wanted to share to know if I'm in the good way and if I must correct something or just continue training !

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 18 2015, 11:23 PM

Hi Daeron! Thanks for sharing this videos. Your playing looks and sounds good on each of the four exercises. I just recommend you to relax more your left hand when playing legato exercises and always focus on doing your finger movements the smaller possible.

One good trick to work on speed would be to divide each exercise in smaller blocks and repeat them as a loop. Playing shorter stuff will help you focus even more on making smaller movements that allows you to play faster.

Posted by: Daeron Oct 19 2015, 07:41 PM

Ok, thank you, Gab ! I'm able to speed up but I make some mistakes and the notes are sounding sometimes not very good.
Of course, I'll continue with this exercises.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 20 2015, 02:27 PM

ok! don't rush, take your time to master it!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 21 2015, 03:25 PM

how is this going guys? are you ready for a new routine?

Posted by: ChrisGLP Oct 21 2015, 03:38 PM

after 4 weeks guitar gym I feel and hear (my bpm's) a real Progress

many thx for your tireless effort... that helps me a lot!

yes please... a new Routine

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 22 2015, 05:14 PM

Awesome!! I'm happy to read this.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 27 2015, 03:26 PM

Routine III

Hello guys! This is the third routine for this program. We will divide the training in 3 x 10 minutes blocks covering different techniques.
As I said in the first post, the idea of this program is to train diary your muscles so I'll will be sharing repetitive exercises that are easy to memorize so you won't have to think one what you are playing.

The first block has been taken from a lesson by Piotr called http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Hammer-On-Pull-Off-Etude/. Practice each exercise over metronome as a loop. The second block covers alternate picking, the first exercise is a neoclassical style pattern (from http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/move_your_little_finger!/ lesson) and the second one is a Zakk Wylde Style pentatonic pattern (from THIS lesson). The third block covers hibrid picking in the style of Richie Kotzen, so please check out http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Killer-Pentatonics-IV-Richie-Kotzen/ lesson to know the details about how to play them.

Please practice with metronome and take note of the bpm that you reach.


Block 1: Legato (10 minutes)






Block 2: Alternate Picking (10 minutes)






Block 3: Hybrid Picking(10 minutes)

Posted by: ChrisGLP Oct 28 2015, 03:35 PM

thx for the new Routine

and the updated file...

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Oct 29 2015, 03:46 PM

Awesome Chris! Thanks a lot!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 2 2015, 03:20 AM

Hey everybody! Please don't miss routine III and let me know how is your practice going!

Posted by: ChrisGLP Nov 2 2015, 06:09 AM

Hi Gab... Routine 3 is awesome... I have never done Hybrid Picking before... I work on it...

I can only advise every beginner like me to practise these routines... Yes its hard but I feel a real progress since I make the guitar gym (1 hour per day)

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 2 2015, 03:20 PM

Great to know it Chris!

Posted by: krakou Nov 4 2015, 08:14 AM

Hello Gabe,

Just to let you know I've jumped into your gym stuff :-)

I think a lot of my problems are coming from a too weak left hand, and those exercices are what I need.

And because it is musical exercices it's ok for me to play them..

I've taken your firt routine first (begin the begin..) and apart from the legato stuff 5-7-9 I guess it sounds more or less ok.

I will try to practice that regularly. Always afraid to tell everyday, because I may not have the time, and I also want to avoid injuries.

Regards

Krak'

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 4 2015, 02:13 PM

Hi mate! Great to know this. These exercises will help to polish your technique. If you do the stretches and massages that I've suggested on this thread (Petrucci's video), you won't have problems by practicing this stuff every day.

Posted by: krakou Nov 4 2015, 08:52 PM

Hi Gabe,

About the mixed legato/picking exercices of routine I (exercices 5 and 6), are there some hammer on from nowhere ?

I can play the first legato and the picking ones at a decent speed, and in the coming days/week I'll try to play 5 minutes of each in a row..

Tnx again

JL

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 5 2015, 02:36 PM

Hi mate, please check this lesson for details about those exercises: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Nuno-Bettencourt-Style-Soloing/

Posted by: krakou Nov 7 2015, 09:56 PM

Bloody hell, what a lesson :-)

Tnx, I've found the licks..

ps: I really dig this one from Ben, I play it at around 22bpm :-) http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Need-for-Speed/

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 8 2015, 10:44 PM

Racer X meets Cacophony. Killer lesson!!

Posted by: krakou Nov 10 2015, 01:23 PM

Hello Gabe,

Sorry to "attack" you from several topics of the forum :-)

I have a question about the position of my fretting hand.
Most of the time, if not almost all the time, the bottom of my first finger is locked on the neck.
It is easier for me to play like this, it is necessary for bends but I'm wondering if it is not a disadvantage for legato.

Would you recommend to stick with what I feel more comfortable or do you think it is wrong and I have to change ?

Tnx a lot !!

JL

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 10 2015, 04:14 PM

Hi mate, I don't understand exactly what you mean with your question, but I've checked the video and your left hand looks good on for this exercise. There is nothing to modify about your movement and posture. However, I think that you need to put more focus on hammering to attach more the string, to get a louder tone when doing the hammer on.

Other than that this is ok!

Posted by: ChrisGLP Nov 28 2015, 05:00 PM

Hi Gab... could you please offer some more legato-exercises....that helps me a lot (the coordination between hammer on, pull off and picking)!

Thx

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 28 2015, 06:34 PM

Sure Chris, I'll share Routine IV in the next days and it will include some cool legato exercises.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 7 2015, 03:43 PM

Routine IV

Hello guys! This is thefourth routine for this program. We will divide the training in 3 x 10 minutes blocks covering different techniques.
As I said in the first post, the idea of this program is to train diary your muscles so I'll will be sharing repetitive exercises that are easy to memorize so you won't have to think one what you are playing.

In the first block we start with some legato exercises taken from Michael Schenker style lesson (http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Michael-Schenker-Style/), then we will work on Alternate Picking with two very interesting licks taken from http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Alternate-picking-workout-3/. The first one is based on a pedal note idea, while the second uses 3 notes per string scale. Both are great to practice alternate picking but also string skipping. Finally, on block 3 we will work on two licks that combine sweep picking with tapping in the style of Tony Mcalpine (Link to the full lesson: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Tony-MacAlpine-Sweep-Tapping/)

Please practice with metronome and take note of the bpm that you reach.


Block 1: Legato (10 minutes)





Block 2: Alternate Picking (10 minutes)




Block 3: Sweep Picking + Tapping (10 minutes)

Posted by: ChrisGLP Dec 8 2015, 09:04 AM

thx for the new routine

...and here the updated gym file....

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 8 2015, 02:55 PM

Thanks Chris!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 11 2015, 01:44 PM

Anybody else working on the new routine? How is it going?

Posted by: ChrisGLP Dec 12 2015, 04:00 PM

Hi Gab, during the sweep picking, is it better to have the pick parallel to the string or with an small angle?

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 12 2015, 05:27 PM

When I was getting into Sweep Picking I was very fan of Yngwie Malmsteen. Based on his motion I get used to do some kind of circular motion , half circle to my left when ascending and half circle to the right when descending. This is very subtle (the circular motion) but helps to cross strings smoothly. The angle appears mostly on the extremes of the sweep while the other strings are crossed with the pick parallel.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 24 2017, 02:53 PM

Who is up for getting back to the Guitar Gym?