My Gmc Journey, It's just the beginning Options

[Darius Wave]

Ha ha ha ! Jim...see how well You know me ? But nope since it's a sample I will only complain on too much low end

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[Cosmin Lupu]

I believe once upon a time the is a prodigy born that can do all those things in such a short period but...as soon as we realize we're not one of those, whe have to handle the "normal way" of getting skills For me it was always about being perfect at what I do at the moment. I practrice sweeps if I plan to use those in one of my songs...but...sometimes I can find myslef not using any sweep or even not a single tapped note for even a half of Year! Just because I don't feel I need it. Lately I have the arpeggios experiments period...so I left some of the other techniques. But when I need those...I just make a few days of intense practice to get my skills back IMHO it's most relaxing and healthy for the mind to keep assigned to one thing at the same time

Very nicely said Darius I totally feel you man. I sometimes feel the weird urge to practice a lot of stuff, but then I remember that it doesn't work. And the older we get, the harder it is to assimilate a lot of things at a time.

There's a very important aspect to practicing and that should become a school topic - 'How to practice for best results'

This is a little tone demo of my new pickups and some improvisation. Darius will probably have me hanging because of the reverb, sorry man.

https://soundcloud.com/jim-seekford-music/dave-mustaine-livewire-metal


I wanted to see how these active pickups with the thicker gauge strings held up to some crunch. I think it sounds pretty cool and darkly

Toward the end I have some sweeps and a little bit of tapping licks I have been working on too.

Before actually reading Darius' answer, I was thinking that if he allows me, I will let him tie the rope and I will kick the chair Never leave the reverb on when riffing

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This post has been edited by Cosmin Lupu: Feb 28 2014, 02:22 PM

[Jim S.]

Very nicely said Darius I totally feel you man. I sometimes feel the weird urge to practice a lot of stuff, but then I remember that it doesn't work. And the older we get, the harder it is to assimilate a lot of things at a time.

There's a very important aspect to practicing and that should become a school topic - 'How to practice for best results'



Before actually reading Darius' answer, I was thinking that if he allows me, I will let him tie the rope and I will kick the chair Never leave the reverb on when riffing

Wow Cosmin I never knew you to be so raw. Well done mate. I'll have nightmares of you and Darius torturing me.

Here's the scene:

It was a dark stormy night, wind blew violently slamming the shudders. Man enters, his footsteps pulse with anger. "Jimmy" he says with a low sickening growl. "Your Timing!" Fist slams against the table. Man 2 enters, rapid and heavy breathing as the bucket of gasoline sploshes. "Your reverb is wet, now you'll pay!"

Man 2 (Cosmin): "grab me that rope, now!" Man 1 (Darius) wraps the worn rope around the dusty beam and slowly slips the noose around Jimmy's neck. Where you practicing last night, asks Darius? Yes jimmy says. "Lying, you were playing house weren't you, exclaims Cosmin!

Cosmin slowly pulls the rope, it creaks as it lifts and lifts. The torch lights behind him as sweat drips down his back Darius says are you ready?

Jimmy says "I swear I was practicing last night I swear I was working on my timing!"

In unision Darius and Cosmin, "liar!"

"You'll be as wet as your reverb, Cosmin says as he douses jimmy with the bucket of gasoline! Darius swipes the torch across his back and with a low demonic voice he says "how's this for timing, muahha!"

With his last breath jimmy says "I'm sorry"

Too late Cosmin says as he kicks Jimmys chair out from under his toes. His flaming body sways as Cosmin and Darius dance around his burning body.

The end

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Urmmm... again, who was the raw one?

You should make a song out of this story, but I am really afraid of what might come out!

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[Jim S.]

Urmmm... again, who was the raw one?

You should make a song out of this story, but I am really afraid of what might come out!

I've been listening to my songs on soundcloud and I'll have to say that before my amp broke I was dialing in on a nice tone. However my reverb has always been a problem.

I'd like to make a song about that, good idea

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[Cosmin Lupu]

I've been listening to my songs on soundcloud and I'll have to say that before my amp broke I was dialing in on a nice tone. However my reverb has always been a problem.

I'd like to make a song about that, good idea

What are you waiting for, then? Get to it mate You can always use this thread to show us what you came up with!

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[Jim S.]

This is a little improv over an emin backing

I've turned down some settings and working on tones

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[Cosmin Lupu]

There's a lot of nice ideas in there mate, but you should try to keep things short and give them a direction. I can't remember anything out of what you played Make me remember something Tell a story. Create a recurrent theme or more themes and tie them up with short licks. Stuff like that

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[Jim S.]

There's a lot of nice ideas in there mate, but you should try to keep things short and give them a direction. I can't remember anything out of what you played Make me remember something Tell a story. Create a recurrent theme or more themes and tie them up with short licks. Stuff like that

Thanks Cosmin. I'm picking up what your throwing down. I'm getting back to practicing again so that's a plus!

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Thanks Cosmin. I'm picking up what your throwing down. I'm getting back to practicing again so that's a plus!

If it helps out and if you become more motivated and better as a result, it is a plus and I am happy!

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[Darius Wave]

Nice point Cosmin. It's a pack of good ideas but they don't make a sense of one, solid piece yet. I think You'll get to this point by doing things step by step. As for the tone unfortunately this cam sound doesn't make us able to judge and give any feedback on tone.

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Jim, why not try to come up with a short but very meaningful solo - not more than 20-30 seconds But make us feel the message, interpret it, give it direction and so on... I am sure it will be great!

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[Jim S.]

Jim, why not try to come up with a short but very meaningful solo - not more than 20-30 seconds But make us feel the message, interpret it, give it direction and so on... I am sure it will be great!

Hi Cosmin I've decided that that is a good idea and have picked the following backing track. This track has 4 chords am7/add9, B7#5, em9 and Bb7b5. Rick's recommended scales are A dorian, B superlocrian/altered, E dorian and Bb lydian dominant.

I'm finding that in each of those scales are certain tones that sound very unique over the chord but the whole scale is tasteless. Switching from chord to chord scale to scale is sounds as bad as it is hard to play. Id like to find to incorporate the tonality of the scale without moving up or down. I am not very familiar with these scales but id like to learn.

Something I found weird was that when soloing over the last chord B7#5 it seems best to land on b7 and not root.

The last observation is if I play on the high e or in my case b string a single note per chord melody it really resonates but adding other tones in the scale provided don't really work for me.

Here is the backing

Here is Rick Graham completely killing this track

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Hey mate! This sounds like a VERY inspiring track Why not share your ideas over the span of 2-3 cycles - not more than that? Try to use all the observations you have written and above all - FIRST sing something in your head Lay down what you heard after you are SURE you like it. THEN record and listen If you want to change something, be aware of what and where it is and then change it, now lay it down again. Remember short and sweet, deal?

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[Jim S.]

It's been a while now since I've been on here as I've limited attention to the Internet. I figured I'd give an update though. After taking all the critiques and comments I'm working on 1 thing. That's putting everything I have in one short 4 chord tune. It's funny because I've looped the first chord of the backing and have just been playing over that one chord. I sing, experiment with rhythms, experiment with scales, arpeggios, mixing arpeggios with other ones, tapping and sliding and finally picking. But above all I'm waiting until I really feel it's musical and inspired before recording. I feel like I'm making more sense and hearing where I'd like to go. I written about 7 different original licks that fit very nice over 1 chord but I'm looking for that hook that can be repeated and remembered.

Well that's all for now, I'll be back soon with a good video. Keep practicing and be as open minded as possible.

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Keep practicing and be as open minded as possible.

Best thing I heard today It's great to hear that you are exploring, mate! I think it's an amazing journey and you will discover your personality step by step. In respect to what you said above - don't stall too long into trying to write a song, judging by the fact that you don't think of yourself as a knowledgeable enough musician. Sometimes, the simple things are the best Looking forward to hear your works!

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[Todd Simpson]

Cosmin has some great advice here. Simple is often best Also, the only way to get better at writing songs is to write lots and lots and lots of bad ones. It's a process like anything else. Repetition is key

Best thing I heard today It's great to hear that you are exploring, mate! I think it's an amazing journey and you will discover your personality step by step. In respect to what you said above - don't stall too long into trying to write a song, judging by the fact that you don't think of yourself as a knowledgeable enough musician. Sometimes, the simple things are the best Looking forward to hear your works!

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[Jim S.]

Cosmin has some great advice here. Simple is often best Also, the only way to get better at writing songs is to write lots and lots and lots of bad ones. It's a process like anything else. Repetition is key

I know what you mean, there are about 30 songs I've made and all except a few lack control and direction. The chords always work nicely and have a flow but my lead playing is so predictable. Since playing and practicing over just 1 chord I'm doing things I've never done before and I can feel myself anticipating the next chord even though it's looped. I'm building confidence in my ability to use all the techniques that I have practiced. I'm taking my most creative lines and examining them. I'm learning so much about me going about it this way.... For now at least. I don't "want" to make another "meh" tune

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[Cosmin Lupu]

I know what you mean, there are about 30 songs I've made and all except a few lack control and direction. The chords always work nicely and have a flow but my lead playing is so predictable. Since playing and practicing over just 1 chord I'm doing things I've never done before and I can feel myself anticipating the next chord even though it's looped. I'm building confidence in my ability to use all the techniques that I have practiced. I'm taking my most creative lines and examining them. I'm learning so much about me going about it this way.... For now at least. I don't "want" to make another "meh" tune

Th steps you are making are ok But, don't resume to that and indeed, if the lady muse doesn't come to visit, it's a hell of a job to write a good tune without a good idea.

I for one have had a whole year in which I haven't written anything - 2013 that is I have had some nice ideas since this year and I have recorded them and got them ready for being used at the right moment.

What I wanted to underline, was the fact that you don't and shouldn't become frustrated when you feel that no good ideas are coming Leave the natural flow of things to occur and they will come when you least expect them.

Cosmin has some great advice here. Simple is often best Also, the only way to get better at writing songs is to write lots and lots and lots of bad ones. It's a process like anything else. Repetition is key

Thank you Todd I had a guitar teacher about 10 years ago and we always had this discussion - 'Chris, show me interesting chords and teach me about harmony!'

He always replied: 'Are you able to build at least 5 different songs with the same three or four chords?' 'You should be able to do that first!'

It took me about 7-8 years to understand what he actually meant

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[Jim S.]

The lady muse has just finished her supper and now she's eyeing down my pie.

Frustration free ATM, I feel very good and content. I've been getting these lightbulb experiences while I play. See I've never known how to solo over a chord progression unless all chords fit into one scale. Now I look at each chord as a point of reference and beginning to realize what notes to omit or call upon.

When I learned Andy Timmons electric gypsy it took me months to learn but all my songs were fast to create. I'd take time with the backing guitars but improv through the lead. Point is I'm just taking one step at a time and making sure it's to my best ability. Besides that I feel progress and I'm happy.

Ex. When I'm playing I'll hear something a rhythm. D-dut dut da da da ect and I'll start finding it on the guitar. When I'm done I'll have a beginning and resolve for the lead. Then I must actually learn it at full speed. There is the time killer but I'm practicing things I believe I'll retain. Everything I hear is so much harder to reenact but I'm beginning to hear phrases in other players and I'll say "I can play that it's just a descending run 5-6 npb ect..."

Happy Monday!

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