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Posted by: maharzan May 2 2011, 05:18 PM

Hey Folks,

I just noticed today's 2nd May and I saw thats my joining date on my signature. What a coincidence! Its been freaking 2 years here already. I started my 1st year thread http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=34999, if you guys are interested to read.

Anyway, I just wanted to let GMC members and admins know that this site is one of the best out there. It has tonnes of guitar lessons and most importantly the ever so interacting community. I came here 2 years ago, after I was tired of playing at slow tempos and unable to even play easiest of songs. I was looking for free guitar lessons then and found GMC. I came as a total noob even though I had an 'experience' of 15 years playing guitar on/off. I was too old to be learning this stuff again but I was determined that I WILL learn despite the age. I mean all the instructors here are younger than me, at my age most of the guitarists actually are masters.

I have really grown a lot as a guitarist. The most important thing I improved on is my playing. I can play pretty fast now and it definitely has matured. I didn't know much about guitar theory or guitar parts, I know most of them now. Its been a pretty tough journey these 2 years. I struggled so much trying to do a level 3 lesson back then. I remember I turned on my camcorder 1 hour straight, then rewind and another hour straight to get one good 40 sec take but failing despite having practiced a lesson for 2-3 weeks. Yes, its true, I sucked that much and I never recorded as well. As you might have seen, I have played level 10 lesson some time ago.

YEP GUYS! Its all possible. Thanks to all GMC staff, instructors and members for all the encouragement and feedback that made this possible. And as Vai said, you just have to believe in yourself.

For anybody who is interested, you can check my REC takes http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/wiki/index.php/Maharzan and YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/videostar555. I am working on other lessons as well which I will probably post later as I master them. Extreme Neoclassical being one of them. Yeah, I know few people are looking forward to that take.. hehe. Heres my try at 140bpm for anyone who has missed.



Right now, I have transcribed Until We Say Goodbye by Satriani all by ear/eyes myself (after failing to find good tabbed versions) and will be recording it soon. I am happy that I can do such a thing now.

Alright, long talk. Thanks for reading and see ya in the forums!!

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl May 2 2011, 05:29 PM

Great post Maharzan - and that video is extremely inspiring! =)

Posted by: maharzan May 2 2011, 05:32 PM

Thanks Kris!

Posted by: Todd Simpson May 2 2011, 05:43 PM

Congrats Marharzan! You've come a long way baby! You've made HUGE strikes in your playing and technique. I hope the next two years are even better than the last two@ GMC!

QUOTE (maharzan @ May 2 2011, 11:32 AM)

Thanks Kris!

Posted by: Gitarrero May 2 2011, 06:02 PM

Maharzan, you are the living proof that GMC is working! I'm still far behind you when it comes to guitar playing, but eventually I'll get where you are now...believe me buddy, you are one of my inspirations and a big motivation as well!
Cheers
Christian

Posted by: maharzan May 2 2011, 06:08 PM

Thank you Todd and Christian. I will do my best to really master this tool.

Posted by: Fran May 2 2011, 06:33 PM

Congrats Maharzan, you've become an amazing guitarist no doubt, your REC takes are just awesome

Posted by: quadrium May 2 2011, 07:04 PM

Congrats Chandra You are doing great job at REC program And nice vid

Dogukan,

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 2 2011, 09:17 PM

Very inspiring story Maharzan!

It's amazing how time flies when you're having fun.
I saw your take on Extreme Neoclassical and I was blown away! Now - that is progress!

Posted by: thefireball May 2 2011, 09:31 PM

Wonderful accomplishments and great to have you here!!!

Posted by: Jerry Arcidiacono May 2 2011, 10:09 PM

\m/_

You're great, man

Posted by: Mudbone May 2 2011, 11:35 PM

Your story is really inspirational. In fact I remember reading a post of yours a year ago before I signed up to GMC, and I saw the progress you made in a year. That was actually part of the reason I signed up here Keep up the good work.

Posted by: maharzan May 3 2011, 06:32 AM

Thank you Guys.

Awesome Mudbone. Feels so happy inside when you know you can inspire others. I hope I haven't let you down.

Posted by: Mudbone May 3 2011, 06:51 AM

QUOTE (maharzan @ May 3 2011, 01:32 AM)

Thank you Guys.

Awesome Mudbone. Feels so happy inside when you know you can inspire others. I hope I haven't let you down.

Posted by: Ben Higgins May 3 2011, 09:16 AM

You've achieved so much in just 2 years, Maharzan.. it just shows you what you can do with focused attention

Not only that, but I still remember your infamous 'Vibrator Question' which was probably the first thing I was asked in the forum so it helped break the ice for me and welcome me to the site, so thank you for that.

That's not all.. watching one of your older videos I noticed you have a great picking technique which inspired me to look and mine and it's been improving ever since

Posted by: maharzan May 3 2011, 09:28 AM

Sure I will Mudbone.

WOW Ben! Thank you for the compliments.

Posted by: Justin Myrick May 3 2011, 10:11 AM

Wow, congrats! You are definitely an inspiration to all members.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 3 2011, 10:56 AM

Congrats mate!

Posted by: Stephane Lucarelli May 3 2011, 11:12 AM

Congrats maharzan!

You 're the perfect example that in life in general and music in particular, we reap the fruit of our hard work and our commitment !
I think it's a great inspiration to all members!

Posted by: maharzan May 3 2011, 11:30 AM

Thank you Justin, Cosmin and Stephane. All the comments are so encouraging I feel like doing more now.

Posted by: Nava May 3 2011, 06:51 PM

Truly amazing!
I dont know so much about you, been a member for about 4 months now and mostly practise in the "hidden area" of GMC

But to read your post and watch ur video almost made me fall off the chair!! What a progress my friend!
You are definately an inspiration
My background is much like yours with playing off and on for many years, until I found this place and I'm addicted!
To see ur progress, was like a lightning of inspiration that just hit me.. This was really what I needed right now:)
U made my day!

Thx a lot for sharing this maharzan!

Posted by: Mudbone May 3 2011, 08:16 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ May 3 2011, 04:16 AM)

Not only that, but I still remember your infamous 'Vibrator Question' which was probably the first thing I was asked in the forum so it helped break the ice for me and welcome me to the site, so thank you for that.

Posted by: Ben Higgins May 3 2011, 08:24 PM

QUOTE (Mudbone @ May 3 2011, 08:16 PM)

Why am I not surprised that maharzan asked Ben of all people the intimate details of a 'Vibrator'?

Posted by: Mudbone May 3 2011, 08:37 PM

QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ May 3 2011, 03:24 PM)

I'd only been here like a week.. what sort of image have I been putting out there ?

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu May 3 2011, 09:14 PM

QUOTE (maharzan @ May 3 2011, 10:30 AM)

Thank you Justin, Cosmin and Stephane. All the comments are so encouraging I feel like doing more now.

Posted by: Kristian Hyvarinen May 3 2011, 10:24 PM

Man, you're a true inspiration - I've been here to see your development. I didn't see any of the guitar gods develop their skills, but I've seen you do it. It's incredible dude, you're a real guitar hero. Thanks for these anniversary posts. You're the proof that people can do what they want if they keep trying and show true dedication.

Posted by: maharzan May 4 2011, 02:46 AM

Thanks Nava.

Mubone, Ben, haha! I didn't realize I typed 'vibrator' until you told me. lol. The issue was I have a habit of typing a bit fast sometimes adding like t, r, ing at the end of words (unknowingly). My fingers are smart like the auto complete feature in mobiles. But that was really interesting. I also developed that circular vibrato thing I have been seeing Vai do it. It was fun though.

Thanks again Cosmin.

Thanks Kristian. My 'goal' of posting these posts or any other in between is to help people who might be struggling like I used to back then. All the videos I used to see, like tutorials and life history, songs, it was just not clear how much they had practiced. It felt like these 'gods' got their skills naturally overnight. I was in imagination that only those people who got guitar playing talent in birth could do what they wanted to do, fast AP, sweep, etc. No where in those videos was an impression that these gods spent days and night, months and years to master it.

I really wanted to see some great guitar players how they actually developed, such as how much time they spent while they got stuck at certain lick. The feeling back in the head that these people could do it in few hours and I couldn't do it in years was very discouraging and if someone had told me oh I also spent 6 months on this one lick, than it would have been very practical and encouraging as well - Oh I can do that too.

Anyway, I hope people like me can view this 'progress' and feel they can achieve what they want to achieve. Its all possible if you really want to get that thing within your fingers. Patience is a virtue as they say.

Posted by: emirb May 4 2011, 12:16 PM

I agree with everyone here Chandra! You have done a great job and show us all what can be done with will and discipline! I found your first post inspiring and this one is no less a motivation to continue improving! For instance I never focused (nor played that much) AP but now I finally decided to improve that, struggling with that stamina bursts lesson (think it was you first 'fast' one) and well, there is some slow progress and hopefully I'll get there soon
Keep up the good work, and more videos!
Cheers!
/Emir

Posted by: maharzan May 4 2011, 01:31 PM

Thanks Emir. Your videos are inspiring as well. You have a very nice way of playing. Yep, that speed bursts lesson is one hell of a lesson. It was difficult mainly because I had timing issues as well. It should help you really improve both your AP and timing as well. Looking forward to your take there. Cheers!!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 8 2011, 08:32 PM

That is truly inspiring post and video Maharzan. I have lots of respect for you when looking how much progress you made. Thank You for being here at GMC, and for the respect you have for the site.

Posted by: maharzan May 10 2011, 05:19 PM

Thanks Ivan. You guys are great.