Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 100
Joined: 25-July 17
From: France
Hey Sarge,
after a looooong break, I finally come back to GMC... I didn't stop playing guitar, but had to reduce quite a bit my practice. I will soon start posting videos again in order to get some more stripes...
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
First off well done on learning this lick! It's got a very long stretch in it that throws off many a solider. You are hitting the pinky note with good pinky power! On the first vid you are locked in to the beat! On the second and third vid you drift just a bit from beat.
One thing I noticed straight away is your tone. It sounds almost like a clean country tone. I really need you to turn up the distortion so that I can see if your mute is solid. Turning down the gain/distortion will hide any gaps in your mute and I won't be able to hear it. So use a strong palm here. Try to make it sound mechanical. Increase your gain/distortion as high as you can get it before it goes all noise/feedback. It will show me any gaps that are in the mute and string noise.
Also, go back to the faster speeds and try to lock your strikes to each note. This is a tricky one but it's crucical as the following lessons are based on this type of picking precision so you gotta get it sorted before moving on.
Very solid work solider. Just a bit more and you will have this!!!
Onward!
Sarge
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Mar 18 2021, 06:35 PM)
OK... here it comes. My first attempt at mission 6
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Soldier this is well played!!! I think your tone is improving also but this is still fairly low gain for what I'm looking for. Here is a video on how to set up your BOSS unit for a high gain lead tone. Try to follow these instructions and and play this lick with the new setting. The higher the gain, the more it will let me see how your Palm Mute is doing. High gain will show any gaps in your mute. Low gain doesn't let me really here if there are any gaps that need to be sorted.
Try this one more time with a high gain patch per the video and let her rip!!!
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Mar 21 2021, 04:00 PM)
Thank you Sarge,
I tried to improve the tone... I still have to master the boss GT-1 and reaper... I hope this sounds better. What do you think ?
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Great progress Soldier!!! For next time, two things.
1.)Please try to sit in Classical Position for Bootcamp Missions. Put the guitar on the left leg and put about six or eight inched of books or something under your left foot to raise it up. There is a very good reason classical players sit this way. It's for the simple reason that it is the most efficient angle for the hands/guitar. You can sit side saddle outside of bootcamp if you like, but I wouldn't suggest it. IMHO it gets in the way of your progress.
2.)Reposition your Palm Mute. Once you are seated in proper position, reposition your palm mute. It should rest flat on the bridge in roughly the middle of the bridge When muting, the tone should change. if you are muting right, you'll hear it Proper mute is critical as nearly every mission has muting.
3.)For the first several Missions it's a good idea to try to have a Metronome going not only for your sake but for mine as well. It lets you hear if you are drifting and more importantly it will let me hear if you are drifting
Now that's out of the way!! I think those few changes will help you to make progress much faster than if you keep going without them. We don't want to burn in bad habbits right here at the start. So I always want to fix bad habits as I see them happening.
Onward!
Solid work here Soldier!! You have very good mechanics of play going here (aside from the seating position, mute placement and lack of audible metronome) This one is really about playing on the beat and being able to using PINKY POWER without losing synch. You've got it sorted!! You are ready to move on! I think your tone is much improved. ALWAYS use the bridge pickup in bootcamp BTW. NEVER use the neck pickup. If possible, give it a bit more distortion and a bit more treble so that I can hear your pick strikes. Improvement is the goal and as long as we are getting some each time we are heading in the right direction!
Have a look at this vid and watch my pick hand. Notice how it stays loose even at speed and stays roughly in the center of the bridge. Never tensing, always loose, barely exerting effort. When proper technique is employed, it will look nearly effortless because proper technique allows efficiency of motion which reduces the next for exertion.
You are on the path Soldier!! Keep it up!!
You just...
LEVELED UP!!!
Onward! Sarge
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Mar 24 2021, 04:46 PM)
Hi Sarge,
thanks for the link... it was helpful. Now, I have a "Todd setting" on my GT-1 !
Here is the video at 110 bpm :
I manage more or less to reach up to 130 bpm in some good moments... but 110 bpm seems to be my limit for the time being... What do you think ?
Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 100
Joined: 25-July 17
From: France
Thank you Sarge!
I will try the classical position... I will have to deal with the jack position on the Tele that seems to come in the way on the right leg, but I will work on it. I am sorry about the missing metronome... I guess I screw something when rendering the track with reaper... I will double check next time!
You suggested me to watch one of your video, in order to check your picking hand position, but I'm afraid the link is missing!
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Good point on the tele! If possible, can you use the strat for bootcamp? It's well suited for what we are working on. Yngwie has been using a strat since forever! Not to worry about the little bits like the metronome as it's all a process and we are heading the same direction towards your goals so it will work out Eventually, you won't need the metronome at all. It will just be built in to your head! It's good to start with it though. My bad on this missing link! Here is the vid I was talking about
Notice around 24 seconds in when I play a brisk single string thing that my hand position stops moving around and there is very little hand motion/wag.
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Mar 26 2021, 02:58 AM)
Thank you Sarge!
I will try the classical position... I will have to deal with the jack position on the Tele that seems to come in the way on the right leg, but I will work on it. I am sorry about the missing metronome... I guess I screw something when rendering the track with reaper... I will double check next time!
You suggested me to watch one of your video, in order to check your picking hand position, but I'm afraid the link is missing!
Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 100
Joined: 25-July 17
From: France
Thanks Todd for the video... I better understand the hand position... I will have to get used to it, but I can already tell that it seems easier to control palm multing....
I don't own the Strat any more... My home made Tele will have to do...
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Glad that the video helped! You are doing very well so far in BOOTCAMP!! Fight on Soldier!! Your home made tele will work just fine Impressive that you built it yourself!!! Well done!! Where does the jack come out for the cable?
The good news is that once you get used to sitting in classical and placing the mute in the middle, it will make everything easier in the long run. You'll notice less stress on your arm/hands and increased precision/speed. Fight on Soldier!!
Sarge
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Mar 27 2021, 03:05 PM)
Thanks Todd for the video... I better understand the hand position... I will have to get used to it, but I can already tell that it seems easier to control palm multing....
I don't own the Strat any more... My home made Tele will have to do...
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Well Fought Soldier! Your showing great progress here. Your picking is very good. Also, your hand synch is quite good as well which is the entire point of this drill. It's got non stop fret/string traverse and your hands are not used to that yet so they are not quite ready to shred this one. Still you are playing well and making good gains which is great to see!
I notice your mute intensity changes from the first to second/third vid. In the first vid, the mute is a little light and on the second/third is more heavy. I think somewhere in the middle is the best thing to try for. It should be hard enough to create a gap in between each note, but not so heavy that it chokes out the notes. This is a very tough balance to find but that's why we are here We have plenty of missions to sort this out. For now though, you continue to make progress which is what I want to see.
I wanted to share a few pictures with you about muting. The first one is just the bridge. The second one is my hand roughly placed in the middle of the bridge for a standard palm mute the third is my hand planted with my pick about to address the string. The important thing is to keep your palm mute as vertical as possible per picture number 2 so that you are getting a good mute on all of the strings without having to bring your fretting hand in to it to must the higher strings. Most players use the fretting hand to mute the higher strings without even realizing they are doing it. It's a natural thing but something that should be fought against. Ideally your picking hand should be able to mute all of the strings. This way you will be able to play open string licks which require that you pull the fretting hand off of the neck.
Just something to keep in mind as you move forward!!
You have this one sorted soldier. You just.. LEVELED UP!!!
Onward! Sarge
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Apr 3 2021, 04:42 PM)
Hi Sarge,
reporting for mission 7, sir! It was quite difficult to increase the speed on this one, especially when moving the pattern down the neck...
Here it is at 130 bpm:
at 140 bpm:
and at 150 bpm:
I think I have a lot of unwanted sounds, although I tried to mute lower strings with my right hand... maybe not enough? What do you think?
Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 100
Joined: 25-July 17
From: France
Thank you Sarge !
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Apr 5 2021, 07:16 AM)
I notice your mute intensity changes from the first to second/third vid. In the first vid, the mute is a little light and on the second/third is more heavy. I think somewhere in the middle is the best thing to try for. It should be hard enough to create a gap in between each note, but not so heavy that it chokes out the notes. This is a very tough balance to find but that's why we are here We have plenty of missions to sort this out. For now though, you continue to make progress which is what I want to see.
Yes, I am still trying to find a good position for muting properly... your explanations will help!
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
You are playing well Soldier!! i'm spending time going over these videos with a fine tooth comb. ONE QUICK TIP!!!! IF YOU WANT TO PUSH YOUR SPEED BEYOND 170, JUST STOP MOVING AROUND THE FRET BOARD. JUST STAY IN ONE PLACE AND LODOP THE LICK
[Youquote name='petitkyu' date='Apr 11 2021, 04:31 PM' post='787586'] Hi Sarge,
reporting for mission 8!
150 bpm:
160 bpm:
170bpm:
At 170 bpm, I really feel that it is my current limit... what do you think?
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Its easier on the fret hand to stay in one spot on a looping lick so that the brain can focus on the picking hand : ) Also, see if you can lighten up just a bit with your pick strikes. For these types of licks, the lighter the better
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Apr 12 2021, 02:18 AM)
Thanks for the tip! It's true that when I stay at the same neck position, I can push pu the speed a little bit... I'll be glad to reach 200 bpm!!
Learning Apprentice Player Posts: 100
Joined: 25-July 17
From: France
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Apr 12 2021, 10:19 AM)
Its easier on the fret hand to stay in one spot on a looping lick so that the brain can focus on the picking hand : ) Also, see if you can lighten up just a bit with your pick strikes. For these types of licks, the lighter the better
Just to be sure... what do you mean by being lighter with the pick strikes: make smaller hand/finger movement or try to touch the strings with only the tip of the pick? (or maybe both...)
I am trying to minimize my right hang motions when playing... but that's a bat habit that is not easy to modify.... I'll post a new take when I made some progress about that!
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Both really For licks like we do in bootcamp, (only applies for this type of playing) it's always a good idea to minimize hand movement and a good idea to use just the tip of the pick and a good idea to use as little pick pressure as possible. So minimal hand wag, just barely strike the string and use as little hand motion as possible. Use zero hand motion if you can and reduce it to just finger / thumb motion. At a certain speed, the fingers won't be enough and you'll need some wrist. But again, it's a very specific style of play relative to the type of licks we are doing here in bootcamp.
Hope this helps!
Sarge
QUOTE (petitkyu @ Apr 12 2021, 02:36 PM)
Just to be sure... what do you mean by being lighter with the pick strikes: make smaller hand/finger movement or try to touch the strings with only the tip of the pick? (or maybe both...)
I am trying to minimize my right hang motions when playing... but that's a bat habit that is not easy to modify.... I'll post a new take when I made some progress about that!
Proper mute is critical as nearly every mission has muting. 
