Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ Cosmin Lupu _ Jeniiik3 Modern Metal Drills

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 19 2013, 10:40 AM

Hey Jan!

This is your personal mentoring thread We will use it to work on developing your modern metal skills

Tell me please, which are your favorite techniques that you would like to improve - you told me you'd like to improve speed and accuracy, but that's a pretty loose term, so I'd like you to be a little more specific

Cosmin

Posted by: jeniiik3 Mar 19 2013, 10:21 PM

Hey Cosmin,

Thank you for creating this

1. I would like to improve the rhythm and speed in meaning of fast switching between chords:

I love the rhythm guitar from the 0:07, the heavy sound with some octave slides, but I have problems to get these grooves and to switch quickly to some chords:

These kind of rhythms I often hear in breakdowns and I just love the heavy thick sound played mostly on open strings followed by some higher chords or octaves chords.

2. I would like also to improve alternate picking, I added some links for songs:

Alternate picking part from about 0:10 of the song:

and the first riff:

What do you mean by focusing on one thing that you mentioned above in the description? I'm just curious

Hope this doesn't look too messy with all those videos, I thought that straight youtube links would be more handy

I also hope that this would help you to analyze what exercises and lessons would be suitable for me, shout if not

Cheers
Jan

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 20 2013, 09:35 AM

Hey buddy - everything is straight and clear for me I told you we have common tastes so, as far as the first point goes - I will place these two into your hands - I think that they pretty much cover all the aspects that you mentioned

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Killswitch-Engage-Style/

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/drop-c-metal-lesson/

Tell me if these feel too difficult right now - although I would like to see recordings at 75% of the actual tempo, but focusing on tightness and timing

That one thing - becoming the best possible guitarist/ musician as YOU can be, by cultivating your personality and not trying to be anyone else

Posted by: jeniiik3 Mar 21 2013, 01:36 PM

Hey Cosmin,

I'm glad that the videos helped you I thought that you would already know the songs

About the lessons:

1. Killswitch Engage style lesson - great lesson! Beginning riff is exactly the thing I want to focus on I tried this one and there are some chalenging parts but I think that I could make it to 75% of the actual tempo (after serious practicing of course)

2. Drop C metal lesson - this one is great too, but the tempo is too fast for me, well I can play it and practice it on slower tempo (about 50%). Please advise if it is good idea or if we should look for another lesson

P.S.: Still don't have a cam, but I can record the guitar through Line 6 UX1.

Thanks!

Jan

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 21 2013, 03:51 PM

Hey mate - if you can record audio, that's just fine with me Let's go for these lessons at 75& for the KSE 1 and 50% with the KSE 2!

Cosmin

Posted by: jeniiik3 Mar 24 2013, 01:52 PM

Hey Cosmin,

I've got an update on the lessons.

KSE 1 - I've been practicing this a lot, now I can play it at 50% (still sometimes make a mistake :/ ) but the target is 75%!

I will divide this lesson in to 3 parts:
1) 1st riff - tricky parts are the ending of the 2nd bar (switching to the 5th fret of the 4th string) and also ending of the 4th bar - alternate picking part - so I'm focusing on these

2) 2nd riff - I love it and I can't resist to do little headbanging while playing this but there is a tricky part where I sometimes make a mistake and it's the ending lick or melody that's played at higher position - so I'm also concentrating on this

3) Second guitar chords arpeggios - no big problems there

KSE 2 - I've only started with the 1st riff so far - it's hard one, but I will try to do my best

I have to say that I couldn't resist to take a look at the new Disturbed Style lesson you did, it's great lesson! it reminds me my favorite song by Disturbed - Stricken - so to be honest I'm switching between this lesson and KSE 1

And maybe I would like to postpone the KSE 2 lesson and practice the Disturbed style instead.

Please give me your opinion - you're the master

Cheers
Jan

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 25 2013, 09:24 AM

Hey Jan!

Just read the comments Mate, if you feel like you wanna go through the Disturbed lesson first, by all means, go for it - that second KSE lesson is a bit harder, so it would take you a bit more time.

Nevertheless - don't forget a few important aspects:

- practice slowly
- pay attention to details - everything must be in place!
- take care of timing in every part

Looking forward to see the first takes!

Cosmin

PS: Yes, Stricken was my inspiration

Posted by: jeniiik3 Apr 8 2013, 08:54 PM

Hey Cosmin!

How are you? It's been a while since my last post in this thread. I've been practicing both KSE and Disturbed lessons really hard and I can say that I'm ready to play disturbed at 100% tempo and last days I tried to record it, but when I record myself I every time make a small mistake that puts me out of the rhythm so I start again and again - I'm really nervous when I'm recording myself, it's strange because nobody is watching or listening me but I will work on it!

About the KSE lessons I have to say that I had underestimated this lesson, I thought that it will go smoothly, but still I'm struggling at the tempo 50% and can't get higher without playing clean and tight
I'm trying to play for example the first riff at low tempo for 10 mins nonstop, rest for a few seconds and then again on higher tempo till my wrist is really burning, but I can't still make a breakthrough the tempo.

I will try to put together a listenable rec of the Disturbed lesson together with the rec of the KSE at 50% tempo this week so you can judge the playing and can hear the progress

So stay tuned!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 9 2013, 08:47 AM

Jan! Hey buddy!

Please do! I want to listen, comment on the takes and discuss them with you so that we may take things one step further

Let me know when you are ready! And one more thing - stay relaxed man both when recording and when practicing - no one is stressing you out, ok? And try to allow your hand to be as loose as possible when playing - speed is achieved when the body is relaxed

Let's see the recordings and I'll send my comments in a video

Cosmin

Posted by: jeniiik3 Apr 14 2013, 05:50 PM

Hey Cosmin!

I was trying to to record Disturbed at 100% tempo, but still some mistake appeared so I tried to lower the tempo to to 75% and I finally have REC!

1. Take
https://soundcloud.com/jeniiik/disturbedfinal60bpm-2

2. Take - different set on POD farm
https://soundcloud.com/jeniiik/disturbedfinal60bpm-1

The sound quality isn't so good ,sometimes it sound to me like the guitar is out of tune, but it isn't but I think it's listenable

About the KSE lesson I'm still practicing it. I took your advise - I've lowered the practicing tempo, even though I'm able to play it clean on higher tempo and I avoided the left hand pain I'll do my best to put things together and record this one too and also on the other side I will try to record Disturbed ad 100% tempo.

I'd like to ask you for another advice this time about the practicing schedule. I can save about 2-3 hours a day for guitar (more on the weekends) and so I divided it to:

45min - warmup, exercises (GMC lessons)
45min - practicing both KSE or Disturbed lessons on lower tempo (with GP)
30min - recording

Then I spend remaining time playing or just noodling around some classics on my secondary guitar

Is that good schedule?

Thanks
Jan

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 15 2013, 08:18 AM

Hello Jan!

Both takes seem accurate and well played, although I think that the second one has better timing than the first and the tone is better. More dry, actually, and that's how it should be for this sort of music

Anyway, I would very much like to hear this recording against a metronome or against the backing track - that's where I can figure out how accurate you really are

Regarding the schedule - I got one question for you: do you feel that it's helping you and that you are making progress? If the answer is yes, it means that it is a good practice schedule at this moment

Posted by: jeniiik3 Apr 15 2013, 08:19 PM

ohh thanks!!! I thought that the playing is too bad, that's really made my day at work!

I will use the second POD preset, I like it more too

I was playing over the backing track at 60bpm on the page, but I couldn't download this one to put it together with the record. I was only able to download the one at the full tempo. Is it possible to download the others? thanks

About the schedule - well good question yea it helping me, but I was just curious and wanted to know if I'm doing it right! so I will keep doing it like this

BTW did you have a chance to listen to the new KSE album "Disarm the Descent"? I just listened it today and it's a sick album!

Jan

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 15 2013, 09:45 PM

Hey again man glad I could make your day!

Unfortunately you can't download those But you can still use a click track in the DAW and send the recorded track against it

We'll leave the full backing track for last and you can use it when you are ready to play at that speed, keeping the same coordinates as until now: Great timing, accuracy and articulation!

I have listened to the single, but not to the whole album properly. I will give it time, for sure!

I would also like to see that KSE lesson, as it is now No worries, nothing bad will happen, but I am curious to see how you are faring. Send it against a click track as well, k?

Cosmin