Original lesson: Iron Maiden For Beginners by Gabriel Leopardi

This is where I'm at right now with this song!! Lots of room for improvement. I must of been tense...look how high my shoulder is!! Nearly up to my ear haha.

Hi Riley! Click HERE to read the comments about this one.

Keep on the hard work!

Bumping the post up the list

Hey mate

I can also tell you that you are a bit too hard on yourself

At this point aside from Gabi's suggestions in his thread, I would add:

- relax - try more recordings until you feel comfy with the red light - this will definitely work wonders on the takes
- practice things a tad slower before recordings, as the faster licks such as the ones around 0:19 are a bit blurry

Keep rocking!

Cosmin

Hi Riley,
first off all, as Cosmin already said: don't be too hard to your self.
You're definitely on the right way, mate!!! But you need a bit more practice...;-)

A few things I have noticed at the very beginning.
1. You have a few problems with rhythm

Keep in kind if you're playing syncopated rhythms in a melody/solo(and also in riffs etc.) it can be really helpful if you pick in the RIGHT direction. This way you'll get a more accurate 1/8 and 1/16 notes and will add a more musically dynamic to your playing. Let me explain this in detail:

At the beginning you can start to count 16th like this, saying it loud: 1 e &(and) e, 2 e &(and) e, 3 e &(and) e, 4 e &(and) e. Later you should be able to hear this in your head without counting loud anymore.
As you see in the attached jpeg. I made 8 examples of 16ths notes. and the picking direction ist constantly down/up/down/up etc. in all examples.
EX. A shows the 16th starting on 1
EX. B shows the 16th starting on 1 e(one 16ths later)
EX. C shows the 16th starting on 1 e(two 16ths later)
EX. D shows the 16th starting on 1 e(three 16ths later)
So I moved our 16th notes one step behind on every example by changing the down/up direction every time, in other words keeping the 1 e & e rhythm pulse.

The next example A', B' C' D' is the same idea like A,B, C,D BUT with random deleted 16ths to get syncopated rhythms. And If you look to the same 16th rests, there's still a picking direction!!! The picking direction here can be very subtle but should be there. This way your rhythm and dynamics will get a natural touch and you don't loose the groove.
Of course this isn't a really musically example here but you can do this by your own to develop riffs, solos etc.

A good way to practice this could be also by learning typical funky single note licks because they have a lot of different grooves.

2. Some 16ths runs are a bit sloppy, So you should practise them slower to get the right synchronization between both hands.

3. Watch your pitch on some notes and your vibrato. Vibratos & bends are the most difficult things on a string instrument. A good vibrato always starts really light and builds up smoothly, think like a wave here. A wave always gradually .
builds up .

4. You should work on your dynamics too. Think like you speak(or maybe sing). If you speak every word with the same level it could be boring for your listener after a while. So give your lines a sense and with the right dynamic you will sound much better. You can change dynamics with hammer-on/pull-offs, slides, picking etc. instead picking almost every note like you did on your video!

5. Always have fun when you practice. It makes absolutely no sense if you're pushing yourself too hard!

Keep it up mate

This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: Jun 10 2014, 12:17 PM

Almost there, 6