Week 1 & 2
deadline: October the 15th

Hi Ivan!
We're now moving on to weekly assignments as indicated in the new MTP rules.
Because I posted this a bit late, I'll combine the first 2 weeks into one.

The deadline for these first couple weeks will be on October the 15th.

Before the deadline, I'd like you to post two videos (or mp3s)...
For the first one, simple improvise a take over the backing track I gave you using the scales you have found in you previous post.

Do that as soon as possible as I need it to explain the second video. I hope that's OK for you!

To make things easier feel free to post an mp3 instead of a video! :-)

I'll record something today or tomorrow. I hope you don't mind if I make a simple improv (no shreddy stuff and difficult phrases). I'll do an mp3 for this one, and a video later for something with no improvisation (so to minimize the number of takes ; never recorded any videos before).

So... I'm in a kind of "writer's block" now, don't feel inspired to write anything (but I fell it will go soon ) and I've had some trouble with this one First is - I don't really know what to play over modulations. Also, as I said, improvisations are very hard for me, and improvisations with key changes are... VERY hard So, as I couldn't come up with anything meaningfull, I've decided to go full improv so that you can at least tell me how I can develop my improvising skill from here There are lots of mistakes in this take, some wrong notes and long thinking times, and the whole take is kind of repetitive and inconsistent... But I don't think I can do any better improv with key changes at the moment...
If it's too messy, I can rerecord it

P.S. Could you please, in addition to these "guitar" assignments, give me some (maybe monthly) orchestration+composing assignments with like weekly progress checking (always wanted to learn basics of orchestration, but I've found very few information sources, and I don't know where to begin). Even if I just can show you my "progress" every week and you can comment on it, it would be great

P.P.S Sorry if I'm asking for too much, but could you also give me some technique-related assignments (again, maybe monthly with weekly progress checking, which would be good as I need to post a REC video every month now). I'm trying to work on my AP at the moment; playing basic scale patterns at ~170bpm 16th notes. Also this would be a good reason to post videos and not just mp3's

Not bad my friend.
I completely understand when you say that improvising over modulations are tricky...
You did good though!
Now, here's the next step which should help you whenever you're in that type of situation.
Often, when playing over long complex chord progressions, we add to the complexity by using lots of different scales.

In this case, you were playing with A Ionian and D Dorian.
These two scale positions can be a bit far from each other and create some confusion.
Here's what I suggest...
Let's try to bring both of these keys closer by finding some common notes to these:

A Ionian:
A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#

D Dorian:
D-E-F-G-A-B-C

We have several common notes here: A B D and E

Let's pick one of them: A

We know that A Ionian will be used over the AMaj7th chord.
We also know that we'll have to use D Dorian. We just found out that we have an A in D Dorian.
The question we need to ask ourselves is: Which relative mode to D Dorian starts with A?
In other words, which mode starting with A contains the same notes as D Dorian?

The answer is A Aeolian, right?

That simplifies our improvisation a bit. Instead of thinking that you need to play A Ionian and D Dorian, just think that you can play A Ionian and A Aeolian.

While preparing your improvisation, start by creating some very simple melodic lines starting in A Ionian and finishing on a note of A Aeolian. Doing so will create some very nice melodic lines...

That's what I need you to try on the next video (or mp3). Don't worry about speed or shred, just build some simple melodic lines using that concept... Let me know if you have any questions!


P.S. As far as orchestration exercises I'd be happy to check what you wrote. Orchestration however is more about how to place the instruments according to their tonal capacities.. I'm not an expert on that.. Arranging however is something I might be able to help you with. It kind of goes along with the first exercise we worked on (arranging chords over a melody)... Do you have something specific in mind?


P.P.S For technical exercises that sounds good... Are you working on any particular GMC lesson at the moment?
That might be a good starting point and a good pick for the REC program?

I'll try to record something tomorrow, although I'm not sure I'll have time. Then Tuesday and Wednesday are very busy days for me, but after that I've got 2 weeks vacation . So if I won't record anything tomorrow, I'll do it on Thursday.



I was just trying to write some orchestral stuff (just playing around ), and 3 main questions I keep asking are :
1)Does something sound good or not? (although this is a problem with not just orchestral music). I have very subjective opinion on everything I'm trying to write, meaning I don't like it almost always
2)How can I build up something by adding more textures?
3)How to achieve certain sound/effects (which I frequently can hear)?

I would be happy with any kind of compositional assignment, because I can easily start something new, but I don't have any finished "product" yet . The assignment could give some additional motivation, plus you can guide me through the first question



My technical development got stuck lately, and the last lessons I've learned are:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...nvention-vol-i/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/classical-inventions-2/
They are pretty easy for me, although vol. 1 is a little harder because I'm not used to using pinky so much. I'd like to give a try to http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/racer_x_style_lesson/ , or at least the AP parts, as I'm really bad at sweeping. There are just so many lessons here it's hard to choose where to begin As for songs, I'm practicing the string skipping solo from Dream Theater's Erotomania, and I've pretty much nailed it at 85-90% of the original tempo. If I try to play it faster, my right hand tenses up too much and I start to make mistakes in the end.

That Racer X lesson would be a great challenge for sure.
How about uploading a take of where you're at after spending a bit of time on that and we'll take it from there?
I'm not a very technical player though, never considered my self as so.
I might have my limitations in that matter.

As far as the orchestration exercise, I might have something for you..
Do you have the ability to record midi?
I'm thinking about giving you a basic track with only a few instruments and give you free range and see where it goes..
This would be a bit different than the MTP program though.. No deadlines for that...
What do you think?

Well, my limitations are certainly bigger, so there should be no problem I'll upload a take in a week (as I haven't yet started learning the lesson), does it sound ok?


This would be great! I can use Sibelius and I've got a midi keyboard, so recording midi is not a problem

Excellent!
Take your time on the Racer X lesson.
No deadline there.
Deadline on the improv thing though! :-)

I'll get something ready for you orchestration task by tomorrow. :-)

Thanks a lot David!

I've taken a look at the Racer X lesson, and I've got a question : do I need to play everything exactly the same as in the video or can I change things like fingerings and picking "direction" (inside-outside)? I've noticed that Santiago uses inside picking a lot, while for me outside approach is much easier. Also, in video 3, can I move th E note from 9th fret of G to 5th fret of B? It may seem weird, but I think it will be easier for me to play it this way, because my left hand's ring and pinky fingers are kind of glued together and I'm afraid I won't be able to play the original way (although I'm not 100% sure ).

Yeah, I don't have any problems with your changing things a bit.
As long as it sounds good that's great! :-)

Hi David!

Sorry for the delay, but I've got bad news - one of the bridge saddles on my guitar is broken, and there are no replacements in local stores (they say this model is out of production now). I've ordered a set from ebay, but I don't know how long it will take them to get here from the US. Also I've been considering bying a new guitar for some time now, so maybe it is the right moment
Meanwhile, I've lent my brother's guitar and recorded this take. It was today's very first improvisation, but I think it is not completely hopeless, although could be much better There are some mistakes, but I begin to feel more comfortable with switching scales. But I'm still playing in only one position (at least till I get to high E string where I have to move horizontally ).

I'm sorry about yo guitar misfortune! Will you be able to continue on yo brother's instrument?
As far as your take goes, this is not bad!
Still a few notes a bit out there, but nothing too bad at all!
It is better than last time for sure and more organized!

Let's try to post another one using the following diagrams...

Week 3 deadline: Oct 25th

Over the same backing, I'd like you to now limit yourself to the following two positions only.
The reason is that these two positions are quite close to each other and will help you modulate in a smart way by picking the notes that are close to each other...

Try to post something by the 25th, I'll check on you as we go if you need any help! :-)

A Ionian
Click to view attachment

A Aeolian
Click to view attachment

Hi David!

Sadly, looks like this is going to be our last MTP assignment Sorry for doing it for do long.

This is an improvisation using those 2 positions. I've tried to make a very simple theme and to develop it (although without much success) like you said in the comments to the last collab. Again, there are lots of rhythmic and non-rhythmic mistakes because I still can't think fast enough and my fingers don't usually go to the right places (and additionally I don't usually use those shapes, sticking more to the plain ionian-lydian-mixolydian as they are very alike). But I've spent more than an hour straight trying to record a clean take and I probably won't do any better now .

Man, I finally got around to listen to your track and it is really good!!!
I find your improvisation here much more organized than it was before.
Way to go man.
So as we said, the key is to find a common note between both scales and use that note as a tonal center...

This lesson may help you a bit here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...ter-modulation/