Lester's Thread

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GMC Forum > Discussion Boards > INSTRUCTORS > Gabriel Leopardi

HEY MAN, I really need your help...

...the thing is, I need you to start progressing faster then ever, but to achieve that I need your help:

* Don't know where to start? Just pm me and we will sort it out directly, I am online every day.

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Lester's Thread, for Gab's Army

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Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jun 4 2015, 01:43 PM
Jun 4 2015, 01:43 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Great Lester! Looking forward your next take. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jun 4 2015, 09:41 PM
Jun 4 2015, 09:41 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	In the meantime, I've analyzed the last song on the list...It was fairly easy, although I don't really understand the context of some of the chords, like Gdim in this case. So that was it with the songs I guess, what do we do next? or should I focus on Marcus's lesson first? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jun 5 2015, 01:52 PM
Jun 5 2015, 01:52 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Hi Lester, interesting analysis. Could you please tell me the name of the song and artist? It doesn't appear in the photo... The next steps for this composing workout are: - Start applying these concepts in your own music. Create your own compositions applying some of the concepts and cadences learnt thanks to this analysis. If you are not totally inspired, start by combining concepts from different songs. For example, take the structure of one, the tonality of other, the progression of other, take some concepts that you liked from another song.... some kind of collage to keep your mind working, and your ears being trained. Then, you can continue modifying and developing the ideas, make some chords longer, some others shorter, change rhythm, etc. Record the ideas, create a folder, share the ones you like, and off course create melodies and lyrics over them... - Expand the analysis of each song. You've analyzed structure and theory. Now it's time to analyse melodic work and arrangements. Start with the first song analyzed and try to find out if there are some repeated concepts regarding the melodies note choices. Are they using mostly chord tones? which notes notes are the most used? what's the relationship with the chords sounding? What about the melody rhythm? And also, analyze the arrangement. How is the guitar played? Are there more instruments? what are they doing at each moment? How is each part arranged? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jun 9 2015, 07:49 PM
Jun 9 2015, 07:49 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Sorry Gabe, totally forgot to answer...I am moving this week to a different city, so got lost in the organisation a little bit It's Englishman in New York, by Sting. I will start analyzing the melodic work and arrangements as soon as I've settled in my new place, probably next week somewhere. I will also try to be more consistent in songwriting. I keep having a hard time to really form a routine and write and play on a consistent basis But studies are almost done for this year, which should help me I guess You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jun 10 2015, 03:13 PM
Jun 10 2015, 03:13 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Hi Lester, nice to read this. This kind of changes usually bring some new inspiration so I'm sure that great things are coming. Take your time to organize yourself and feel comfortable in the new place and start thinking on your next steps. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jun 25 2015, 09:04 PM
Jun 25 2015, 09:04 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Hi Gabe, So I finally settled in my new place, ready to go! It will be for two months only, I'll be moving to Finland soon for a couple of months, but for the time being I can play/study again. I am working on new analysis, stay tuned & thanks for your patience Lester You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jun 26 2015, 03:39 PM
Jun 26 2015, 03:39 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Hi Lester, thanks for your update. I'll wait for your news. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jun 26 2015, 10:34 PM
Jun 26 2015, 10:34 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Allright , Here is a melodic analysis of the first song. It's obvious that only notes from the Bbm scale are used, I am not sure if you can pick notes outside of the scale and if it would still sound good, can you? Jason picks at least one note from the actual chord in the melody he plays when the chord sounds and he switches between using root notes in the melody at the start of the chord, or not. Then there is hardly any D# (IV) in the intro and verse, but a lot more in the chorus and bridge. And there is not a lot of F#(VI) in the melody, while there is in the chords. There is also quite some switching between adjacent chords, that are close to each other and then all of a sudden a bigger jump. At the end of the bridge is the only time the Cm7b5 chord is used The Guitar is played with a lot of muted strumming, I think its a 16 measure bar? But I am not sure, I mostly do rhythm on "feel", I can't really explain it. The only other instrument would be the conga. In the intro and chorus the guitar plays quite constant, while in the verse the chords are only played on the first beat of the measure and then muted for half the verse and then it goes back to constant. There is a notable rhythm switch in the bridge, Jason doesn't really mute the chords there, but rather plays a lot of them really soft and short and then one loud stroke...it's an 8 measure beat in the bridge I think. Do you think I missed anything? other things I should analyze? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jun 27 2015, 05:19 PM
Jun 27 2015, 05:19 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Wou mate!! That's a killer analysis!! It's awesome how much you'll learn by analyzing many songs in this way. The is superb! It's interesting to note on which notes focus at each moments, which are the most used notes and which ones are the less used because this gives you guidelines to construct your own melodies, it gives you ideas on how to start. However, at the same time you are training your ear a lot with this, so I think that after some months of this kind of work you will have both the theory and the skill to compose killer music. About your question regarding using notes outside the scale. Yes, this is possible and usually happens in some songs but as it gives a different feel, maybe you'll find it more on jazzy tunes, bluesy or maybe on more metal stuff. The use of chromatic notes as passing notes around the chord tones is very used to improvise and create melodies. The way to make it work is starting on a note from the scale and ending on a note from the chord sounding. You can experiment with your guitar. Check this lesson: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...eighbour-notes/ You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jun 29 2015, 05:43 PM
Jun 29 2015, 05:43 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Glad you like it! Oh, and congrats with Argentina's win in the Copa btw...I have a lot of friends from Colombia, they were not so happy, at least there is someone I can congratulate now I will just go on with analyzing other songs and try to apply some ideas to my own songs...I like Muris lesson also, I'll try and do it once I finished Marcus's lesson You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jul 2 2015, 02:15 PM
Jul 2 2015, 02:15 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Great Lester! Thanks mate! I also have cool friends living at Colombia, but football is football... We're on the finals! Looking forward your new analysis... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jul 7 2015, 09:24 AM
Jul 7 2015, 09:24 AM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Hi Gabe, So I finished the second analysis, these take quite a bit longer...it's a lot of work...but rewarding I've made a PDf scan this time, which is probably easier to follow. So the melody starts sometimes with the chords root note and sometimes it doesn't...all notes are used quite equally, but small intervals, probably because it's rap...sometimes the intervals are bigger, but that's more an exception The entire song is in 4th notes and the playing style is pretty constant Melodic_analysis___You_fckn_did_it.pdf ( 200.36K ) Number of downloads: 132 Sorry about the finals btw, that sucks... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jul 7 2015, 04:38 PM
Jul 7 2015, 04:38 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Wou! You did another killer analysis Lester. As this tune has lots of notes in the melody, each note has less importance and the ones that really matter when composing are the first and last of each phrase. These are the ones that give the direction to the melody. One important question, while you learn and analyse this songs, do you also sing along with them? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jul 7 2015, 06:38 PM
Jul 7 2015, 06:38 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	I do I just check the song for reference, to make sure I have the right notes. Usually I just sing the line and play along with my own singing, rather than the song You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jul 8 2015, 06:38 PM
Jul 8 2015, 06:38 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	QUOTE (Lester @ Jul 7 2015, 02:38 PM) I do I just check the song for reference, to make sure I have the right notes. Usually I just sing the line and play along with my own singing, rather than the song Perfect. This is a very important part of the analysis since it's what keeps in your mind for future (re) creation. So what's next? Are you working on some of your songs? I think that you are ready to start applying the concepts you've been learning. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jul 9 2015, 08:19 AM
Jul 9 2015, 08:19 AM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Yeah, you're right, I will pick up the songwriting again. It's probably best to divide the days into analyzing, songwriting and general playing. Otherwise I always find myself not doing one of them. Other than songwriting I'm still working on Marcus's solo, although I need some refreshing, I didn't play too much when wrapping up the academic year, so I need to gain some speed and precision again After that I'd like to work on the lesson you mentioned. I'll keep you updated You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jul 9 2015, 07:53 PM
Jul 9 2015, 07:53 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Perfect plan! I'll wait for your news. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jul 15 2015, 10:00 PM
Jul 15 2015, 10:00 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Hi Gabe, So I've been doing a little bit of songwriting, here's what I've got so far: I already had this chord scheme from earlier songwriting with inverted chords with Cosmin, but I've got a new idea: The subject of the song is change in life, although I haven't got lyrics yet. The first verse got some different sounding chords, which are not exactly in the Am scale, I don't really know in what I am writing there, but there is a change in mood when the chorus starts, not only in the chords (which are all in Am this time), but also in the picking pattern. The notes I am accenting are different. This is supposed to express that change happens suddenly. I was inspired by events in my own life, I was doing pretty much the same thing for years, then I decided to move to the other side of the country to do a master's degree, I met my girlfriend and we are going to do an exchange semester in Finland in august, after which I am going to propose to her...so much change in such a short time, I love it! The imagery of this concept that I have in my head is a man climbing a mountain, he can't see the changing landscape until he reaches the summit. But when he gets there, everything changes. So that's maybe where I will go with the lyrics. I've added the chord scheme and a video, although I have to get used to the picking pattern a bit still. The video is here: https://youtu.be/zHYHCjRxnYY I am not overly happy with everything yet now, but at least it's a start and I will just keep on writing and tweaking. if you have any feedback or input it would be much appreciated You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Jul 16 2015, 03:45 PM
Jul 16 2015, 03:45 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Hi Lester! This is really cool! When you said "man climbing a mountain", the track got back to the verse progression which seems to be telling exactly that. The progression and the arpeggio there makes me see that scene so clearly. I also think that the chorus shows that change that you said, I feel that the chorus is the guy at the top of the mountain being able to see how much he achieved... It's really good to see how you are being deep with your composing practice because that's the main reason why we compose.. to express something that we feel, something that happens to us or that has happened... I think that you are on the right track, now I'd like to hear some melodies and words over this... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Lester View Member Profile	Jul 18 2015, 04:06 PM
Jul 18 2015, 04:06 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 612 Joined: 14-September 07 From: Zwolle, The Netherlands	Cool! Nice to hear you can get the same picture as I do I will have to start writing the lyrics soon, it just seems that songwriting goes so slowly Let's just hope the results are worth it You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!