This will chronicle my journey from 0 to Guitar Hero. I will be posting a beginning movie in the coming days as I get set up. I want to follow Fireballs lead, and video tape my progression as well. My daughter is 6 and she just started playing guitar. So having this record of my progress, will hopefully inspire her.
I call it EPIC Practice Journal because I am calling myself out to be great, and find my voice with guitar.
My influences: Metallica (The Black Album and earlier),Disturbed, Atomship, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Amorphis, Dead Letter Circus, CKY, The Red, Volbeat, Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, 10 Years, 12 Stones, Gary Numan, In Flames, Manmade God, Muse, Saliva, Seether, Perfect Circle, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Queens Ryche, Trouble, Bullet For My Valentine, Joe Bonamosso, SRV, Dark New Day, Black Lab, Adelle
As you can see I have a range of influences but mostly Metal, and Rock.
Background: I am 37 years old. I got my first guitar when I was 16. It was a Ibanez RG, and I still have it. I took a few lessons, but I was having issues with my mom, ended up moving back to my dad's, and didn't pick up the guitar until about 2 years ago.I was going through a rough patch in my life. Trying to find something that made my life feel worth it. My daughter gave me purpose, but something was still missing. I neglected to mention I had all these ideas about why I couldn't play guitar which to be honest I am still dealing with:
My fingers are crooked, My memory is bad, My eye sight isn't good,God didn't give me the talent to play, so I must not be meant to play. Those beliefs kept me from pursuing guitar. Then I saw a youtube video of a guy playing guitar with his feet! That killed all my execuses. I still had my Ibanez. Always swore I would learn to play it some day. Then I saw this red guitar online. An AX400 LTD. It was wicked looking. I just knew if I had that guitar I would learn to play.
I got the guitar. My cousin paid for it on his credit card, and I gave him the money for it.I picked it up at his apartment. His friends were over there, and of course everyone wanted to hear me play.I tried to make up some excuse of not playing, but before I knew it, I was taking the guitar out of the case, and plugging in. It was an awful experience. The look of "You suck" reflected back at me. I scoured the internet looking for a miracle that would teach me guitar as fast as possible. I found Metal Method. I bought it, and tried to get through disk 1, made some progress, but my old excuses were haunting.
Almost a year went by with me tooling around on my guitar with no real progress. I decided to get a guitar teacher.
First teacher was good, but narcasistic, and spent more time talking about his bad marriage, and showing off on the guitar, then teaching me. My second teacher was very good, but he had this dark cloud over him. He was either in a bad mood, or thinly masking his frustration with my failure to grasp what he was trying to teach me. He is actually one of Troy Stetina's old students. I just didn't feel comfortable with him. Then I found my current teacher. He is patient, and very good at helping me with techniques, and theory. I would say his own lacking is structure.
I mentioned this in my introduction, but I often hear music when I dream. Music I never heard before. I have been lucky enough to remember the melody, and lyrics sometimes, and write them down. My teacher put some of the to guitar, and recorded it. I can't wait until I am good enough to play this music I hear in my dreams.
Strengths: Creativity, Drive, Power Chords, Palm Muting, Hammer Ons, Tapping Can name a note on the fret board in less than 6 seconds.
Weaknesses: Rhythm, Lead, Speed, Accuracy Lack of Scale, and Chord knowledge, Pull offs, Bends
Goals: To be in a band in a year playing my own stuff.
Song I want to be able to play: Orion
I decided to follow Ben's Bushidos. I started task 1
March 21st. 2012 - Task 1 - 1 Hour
I learned the first part, and had issues with the triplettes.
Also did Todd Simpson's Lesson 1 0-60 (30 mins)
March 22 - 1 Hour practice - Task 1
I just got done doing an hour of task 1 of Ben's Bushidos. I know the whole piece, but my 16th notes, and triplettes are a little sloppy. I can play along nicely at regualr speed, but I need to clean up my picking. All in all happy with my progress. Looking forward to what tomorrow brings.
Hey man! This is pretty darn awesome
please let us know if you need assistance, k? I am currently hosting a mentoring program, and I would like to invite you to join what do you think mate? Let me know and I will arrange things
COsmin
Wou! This sounds great! We will really appreciate to follow your guitar journey! Also feel free to ask me for feebback or any other thing that you need. I have a mentoring program at my personal board so you can also join it.
All the best mate!
Thanks for all offers for mentoring. I decided to go with Cosmin. Him and I seem to be cut from the same clothe when it comes to our music taste, and philosophy. I am sure I will benefit from being here, as I hope I can contribute as well.
today I practiced 2 hours.
1 hour at my guitar lesson.
I noticed from doing the Bushido task 1, when I played along with Ben playing it. I eventually was able to get my timing down, and it was a great way to get the feel. I spoke to my teacher about how he got his timing, and he told me he never used a metronome. He always played along with an album, and eventually got his timing. I am not saying I won't do any metronome work. I am just saying I will start using play along videos more.
I had my teacher record some stuff I could play along with. I am currently working on metal rhythms mixed with legato, hammer ons, pull offs, slides, and changing accents.
At home I practiced with my brother on Skype. He is a self taught neo classical shredded. You can find him on youtube under the handle Kinjiru Jin-Koto. We worked on arpeggios, hammer ons, and pull offs. It was weird to mix metal with classical. Just one more trick for the bag.
Very nice mate your brother plays as well playing in a musical context always develops awesome skills, so combine metronome practicing with backing track practicing for the best results!
Practiced
Task 1 (30 minutes) - getting more fluid. In the beginning I was counting, but now going more by feel. When I play along with Ben, I am pretty much in time.
Metal Rhythms with Octaves (30 minutes) -
I had a hard time with the beginning, but I noticed he goes down, up, up, and then down on the first chord, and the right hand goes into a nice rhythm. It looks like his right hand keeps strumming in the same pattern (tempo), and his left hand is the only thing changing. still can't get the scratch harmonic.
I couldn't record myself today. I was wrapped up with my daughter, until I put her to sleep, and I didn't want to wake her. If tomorrow is a bust, I can definelty post a recording on Wednesday, when I don't have her.
I almost feel I need something a little bit easier than this one, but I really like it.
Good night all!
ok, so without much adieu, I give you my first video of me practicing the first part of Metal Rhythm with Octaves. Its slow, and I am having a lot of problems adding the scratch in there. Let me know if the video is sufficient to critique my playing. Thanks Cosmin! I welcome all critique. I was a little nervous. You can check out my playing at:http://youtu.be/6K0v6Gap77w I know I wasn't consistent in my picking of the opens. A lot to work on I know.
3-28-2012
Task 1 (30 minutes) - Getting better, but having problems with triplettes, and when I get down to the 14th fret, it almost feels like the strings are dead. I think I am due to change them.
Bushido_Task1.wmv ( 14.48MB )
: 185
Metal Rhythms with Octaves (30 minutes) -
I am starting to get the scratching. Much better than my first night practicing.
MR_Take2_3_28_2012r.wmv ( 7.05MB )
: 180
I am having audio/video sync issues I need to work out.
Hey mate glad to hear you are making progress! If you have difficulties, let me know mate
Cosmin
3-29-2012
Task 1 (30 minutes) - Getting better, I realized something most great guitar players already know, repitition, and slow, good technique is the key to getting better.I have been doing this task over and over, I am starting to feel the length of a quarter note compared to a 8th note, or 16th note in 4/4 measure.
Metal Rhythms with Octaves (30 minutes) -
Getting better, I love this exercise!
Hey I'm late on this thread.. you did tell me about it and now I've finally found it !
Your teacher has an interesting view on developing rhythm and I tend to agree with him. I didn't encounter a metronome for years after I started playing and I'd already developed a strong base of timing due to playing along with songs and with other people. I think it's because you're totally immersed when you're playing with music and people, whereas the click is just stark and doesn't envelop you with a groove.
I see where you're having trouble with the triplets now. What you're actually doing in the video is playing 16th notes, so you're playing 8 notes for each beat instead of 6. You don't need to be playing the 16th notes until later in the track.
For the triplets I count them as 1,2,3,4,5,6 over a beat, strongly emphasizing the 1 every time.
The good news is, you've got the speed.. it's just a case of drilling the timing into it. You'll get there !
Hi Ben,
Thanks for the great feedback, and instinctively I knew following a song as I play would develop my timing. I can already see how after you do something over and over in guitar, how it just becomes a part of you. Following songs seems more natural. However, metronome work has its place, and is great, but just like I believe people all learn different ways, for me, following songs just seems right. I now have my guitar teacher developing lessons for me on audio so I can follow along with them when I am practicing. I have software to slow it down if I need to.
I am confused on the triplettes, you are saying I am playing 16th notes, and I want to be play eight notes I believe with strong emphasis on the one. I started to feel it as 1-2-3 1-2-3. I see you have 1-2-3-4-5-6, but I believe we are saying the same thing.
Loving the lessons, actually been doing gmc lessons over my teacher's lessons, but he's fine with it, as long as I am playing.
Hey mate, a good exercise to feel triplets would be to play 2 bars divided like this:
1st beat - a quarter note
2nd beat - 2 eight notes
3rd beat - 3 triplets
4th - 4 16th notes
5th - 6 sextuplets
6th - 4 16th notes
7th - 3 triplets
8th - 2 eight notes
pick any single note and take it through this cycle
This should be played slow at first and of course, gradually increasing speed as you are able to play the succession perfectly.
There also Ben's lesson which is very very good for this matter: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Picking-Hand-Basics/
Cosmin
Hey Cosmin, thanks for the feedback. I am already following Ben's lesson. I posted some of my progress on that in this thread. Just to break down what you are saying, because honestly notes, and beats get me a little confused.
If we are talking 4/4 timing, we have 4 beats per measure.
I don't know what you mean by two bars divided.
Do you mean:
1st Bar
1st beat - a quarter note
2nd beat - 2 eight notes
3rd beat - 3 triplets
4th - 4 16th notes
2nd Bar
5th - 6 sextuplets <-- never heard of this, but I imagine 6 per beat.
6th - 4 16th notes
7th - 3 triplets
8th - 2 eight notes
You have 3 triplets, do you mean 1 set of (1-2-3), or 3 sets of (1-2-3).As well as the sextuplets must be pretty fast to play 6 in one beat. let alone 6 sets of sextuplets in one beat. So it must be 1 set of each.
So to see if I have this right
I pick a note
1st beat - play a quarter note
2nd beat play 2 eighth notes
3rd beat - play 1 triplets
4th beat - play 4 16th notes
2nd measure:
1st beat - play 1 sextuplets
2nd beat - play 4 16th notes
3rd beat - play 1 triplet
4th beat - play 2 eighth notes
I think I have it. Let me know. Thanks!
3-31-2012
1 Hour
I had my guitar lesson. Created some exercises for me to work on my strumming with alternate picking.
1 Hour
Todd Simpson Chat - great workout.
4-1-2012
Spent most of my time setting up my practice area, and taping my beginning for the start of my 3 year evolution..
1 hour
Alex Feather chat with arpeggios.
I don't know what it is, maybe its because I just got doing the video illustrating how much I don't know, but it was kind of depressing. I know it takes time, but its frustrating when all you want to do is be able to express yourself, and your hands won't comply.
April - 3 - 2012
half hour of MRO
April-4-2012
1.5 hours of MRO
Sorry too tired to write any more. update later.
April-5-2012
2.0 hours of MRO 1st part.
Played along with the video. Could keep time, but still had trouble with harmonic part.
I will be working with Cosmin, and my guitar teacher that I see Saturday to make adjustments.
Friday Apr-6-2012
2 Hours MRO part 1 - Lesson learned. Look at tab carefully. I missed some rests, and it threw me off on the section, and now I have to relearn it with two critical up strums.
30 min - G Major Scale exercise created by Alex Feather
Saturday Apr-7-2012
1 Hour
Guitar Practice with teacher
Tabbed out a riff I heard in my head
worked on upstrokes
1 Hour
MRO part 1 getting better with upstrokes, and tying in to section.
It's a shame the practice blogs were removed, I derive motivation from threads like these. Keep it up, Sir.
This is cool man, my fingers are itching for strings, reading your posts. Keep it up!
Great stuff man! Keep it going
Apr-9-2012
1 Hour
MRO - Played at 50% first part. Concentrated on clean sounding, getting rid of extra noise from notes that shouldn't be ringing.
Upstrokes is getting more fluid, and comfortable with. I am hoping to reach critical mass with the first part that will carry over into the other parts, and won't take as long as the first part is taking. I focused on my problem spots, and hammered it over and over. I will make a recording tomorrow.
1 Hour
MRO Part 1
50% of original speed X5 times
60 X5 times
70 X5 times
80 X10 times too fast.
75 X10 times too fast
70 X5 times
65 20 times good speed
70 X 50 good till about 30 then started getting tired.
played without backing track, played slow to reduce any strings that should not be playing, especially the low D.
I start to play just the 1-3 finger octave chords moving up/down the neck to make sure I don't hear the D,B,E.
I notice playing along with the backing track, and instructor I am getting more fluid, less thinking, and more playing.
1 Hour
G Major Scale - I learned 3/4th of the scale. This is a lesson tailored to me by Alex Feather. Doesn't seem like the typical scale, so I can only surmise that it contains the notes from the scale just laid out in a way that tests string skipping, ostinatos, and finger stretches.
Practice felt good today. I felt the journey moving forward.
1 Hour
MRO
slow practice
It was hard to stay slow. I found myself starting to speed up. I did find more fluidity, and as I was going faster, it felt more natural.
Need to find out the tone he is using for this piece.
50% for 10+ times with instructor led audio with backing track.
60% for 10+ times, felt very good and in time.
70% for 10+ times, felt good, kept time, and felt like it was a little slow for me.
80% for 10+ times, I could keep up with the first part with no problem, the second part gave me a little touble with the opens, I could sync up at the end. I definitely feel the movements as natural now, and not a struggle.
90% first part fine, but trip up with the repeat of the 3 open palm muted D notes.
1 Hour
G Major Scale
practice a few times up to where I left off. Nice, and slow.
Learned the whole scale, so 2 hours to learn the G Major scale. Now to practice it all the way. I have the scale down. I just need to make sure I am picking it correctly.
April 13
I came up with some ideas for some songs. I am not going to count this hour, but I will keep track of it. I will call this a improvising hour.
MRO
1 Hour
50% speed X 30
60% speed X 30
I got inspired and inverted the MRO to a cool little riff I came up from it, actually two of them. (30 minutes of that)
70% X 10 good timing, and rhythm.
80% X 30 felt good, tone feels off though.
April 14
1 Hour with Instructor
Apr 16 2012 -
30 mins
G Major Scale:
11111111111(feeling smoother)11111111111= 23 reps. Feeling more fluid, except for the end. I can't place the fingering, seems akward.
1H 30 Min
MRO
15 minutes worked on X5XX pattern. My guitar teacher came up with some exercises to help me with some of the trouble parts I am having with MRO. Where there are rests he added the scratching so I could see the timing. It didn't take me long to catch up, and take out the extra scratches, and work on using the metronome.
Metronome
40 BPM (5 mins)
X5XX pattern
30 BPM (10 mins)
playing the 5-3 transition to 11-9.
40BPM (10 times)
50 BPM (10 times) good
60 BPM (10 times) good
70 BPM (10 times) good
80 BPM (10 times) good
90 BPM too fast
85 BPM (10 times) good
90 BPM (10 times) good, I turned up the metronome so I could hear the clicks better, and I was able to get it.
100 BPM 10+ times)good
110 BPM ( 10 times ) pretty good, but lost timing a little bit. Backing down to 105.
105 BPM (20 times+) good.
I then spent about 10 minutes tying it in and seeing how it felt. My goal is to get my right hand constantly, and in rhythm like a pendulum moving, and syncing it up with my left. Looking much better. Lots of value from this piece. I also now see the value of a metronome. It really helped me a lot. I understand what they mean by playing slow to a metronome over and over, and you will get fast. It forces timing.
33 Hours total - April April 17.
1 Hour
Playing Metal Metrics 4
Getting familiar with the song. Much easier than MRO.
1 Hour
30 min
G Major Scale
1111111111111111111= 20 reps
Ahoy mate! Glad to know Metal Metrics 4 is getting in your system
April 18th
1H 30min
Worked on new material from Gab, and scales from Alex. While I was practicing the G major scale I accidentally came across some notes to Silent Night. This was one of the first songs I learned on Piano when I was a kid. Honestly I only knew two songs. Silent Night, and Chop Sticks (easy part). It was kind of weird because this is the first time I actually figured out part of a song by ear.
Cosmin, Do you think you could write out the up, and down picking on the first part of metal metrics? I also like to break things up per bar, and I am having trouble doing that with Metal Metrics 4. I only count 7 notes in the measure for the first bar. I know you are busy, so if you can't, I can wait till I see my instructor on Saturday.
Hey mate, we can take care of that - you were talking about the first part of Metal Metrics 4, right?
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