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Gabriel Leopardi
Hi JaxN4!! Welcome to your personal thread for the Gab's Army!

The principles of our Army are:

+ Improve your technique
+ Make music and solos
+ Have fun
+ Destroy the enemy (hahaha not realy just kidding... ph34r.gif )

I'll post what you wrote in the Army's thread to have it here:

"Hey Mate i'd like to be a part of this if there is still room. Ben's Bushido was very good, but i didn't have enough time to smash out the weekly lessons and get them to a respectable level due to time constraints. But things are getting better now....

My Tastes.... Metal and Rock. Lead guitar is my main focus, so my weak point would be Heavy tasty rhythm's and composing an entire song. Also LEGATO is something i want to be good at.... And finding my way around the fretboard... would be my biggest issue. I'd like to be a good improviser one day....

The Artists i am into are: Andy James, Marco Sfogli, Nuno Bettencourt, Andy Timmons, Bullet for my Valentine EVH etc....
I need to focus in 1 direction instead of playing and learning 6 different things at once. In GMC level's i can do lvl4-5 and by the end of the year I would like to be a comfortable level 5 player and move into the lvl 6 world of awesomeness....

Thanks "


Could you please post some of your best videos playing?

JD_










Thanks Gabe

Gabriel Leopardi
Thanks Jax! I'll give you the first assignments later today! wink.gif
JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Feb 27 2012, 07:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks Jax! I'll give you the first assignments later today! wink.gif



Awesome... Cheers!
Gabriel Leopardi
Hi Jax! I have been listening to your videos and I can say that you have a great timing, nice vibrato and perfect bending. Based on the guitar players that you like I think that some shredding is what it's lacking. It seems that your hands start to feel limited when you increase the speed of the alternate picking licks.

This is what I think that we should start working:

LESSON #1 – WARMING UP & ENDURANCE
LESSON #4 - RIGHT HAND II / ALTERNATE PICKING & HANDS SYNCHRONIZATION

The idea is that you work on this technique exercises at least one hour every day dividing the hour in two halfs. The first half you practice lesson 1 and the second lesson 4. Practice this exercises concentrating on getting a good and clean sound of every note and the faster than you can. Practice this with metronome as a loop until you start to feel that your hand is tired or starts to hurt a bit.

I would also like you to choose a collab to join a record something. Let me know which one you choose and please post here your ideas or jams to let me give you some feedback and maybe help you with the solo building.

That would be all.. but I have one more question... Is there a lesson that you are practising but that is giving you some trouble?
JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Feb 28 2012, 03:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Jax! I have been listening to your videos and I can say that you have a great timing, nice vibrato and perfect bending.

Thanks alot, I appreciate that....

Based on the guitar players that you like I think that some shredding is what it's lacking.
It seems that your hands start to feel limited when you increase the speed of the alternate picking licks.

I agree and I am working on this aspect smile.gif

The idea is that you work on this technique exercises at least one hour every day dividing the hour in two halfs. The first half you practice lesson 1 and the second lesson 4. Practice this exercises concentrating on getting a good and clean sound of every note and the faster than you can. Practice this with metronome as a loop until you start to feel that your hand is tired or starts to hurt a bit.

Awesome, sounds great and I will get right into it cool.gif

I would also like you to choose a collab to join a record something. Let me know which one you choose and please post here your ideas or jams to let me give you some feedback and maybe help you with the solo building.

Great! It has been a while since I did a collab.... I will have a look and see which one are still running and get back to you

That would be all.. but I have one more question... Is there a lesson that you are practising but that is giving you some trouble?
Yes, I will post some progress on this over the next day or so....



Ok, just had a look and ALL of the collab's are over the due date..... None of them are active...

Perhaps I will download your Led Zep backing and compose a solo over that backing and upload the end result here?


Cheers
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Feb 28 2012, 03:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ok, just had a look and ALL of the collab's are over the due date..... None of them are active...

Perhaps I will download your Led Zep backing and compose a solo over that backing and upload the end result here?


Cheers



Hi Jaxx! yes, you're right, all the collabs are ending now... let's wait for the new ones. It would be great if you record something over that backing.

Check out my "Jimmy Page Style Licks" lesson. HERE

JD_
Gabe, I will post my progress of the Legato Licks and the AP licks (hopefully) on Wednesday.... Better progress has been made with the AP licks, and I have been attempting stamina with these licks also.

In terms of a lesson, I have chosen another Gary Moore style lesson, if I hit a wall I will ask for some help, it will be a challenge, but that's what it's all about.

And I have just signed up for your Slash collab also.

Cheers
Gabriel Leopardi
Great update mate! those are good things! I will wait for some video/audio files with the exercises, the lesson and ideas for the collab! wink.gif
JD_
Hi Gabe! Here is the 3 Neo pattens from this current task you assigned me.
I ran out of time to record the Legato licks, I will try for that tomorrow.

Small set back a few days ago, I started to develop a blood blister on my middle finger Tip under the scar tissue I have there (from a nasty accident years ago when all 3 finger tips on my left hand were sliced up). It slowed me down a bit for a few days but "soldier on" I will :-)

With patten #2, I was quite familiar with this patten as I have come across it when attepting Piotr's "Move your Little Finger" lesson. I will post progress from that lesson soon during the week as it has been a big challenge to get that lesson nailed. So I did two takes of this lick, the first was correct from the tab and the second take I am just moving my index finger around on the b string within Amin.

With the fingering use, I did these licks with fingers 1,2 and 3.... no pinky, I am working on stretching and AP licks with these 3 fingers, as you may remember I sent you a PM a couple of weeks back asking questions about using that fingering for AP scale runs.

Anyway, thanks for your time Mate, Cheers




Gabriel Leopardi
Hi Jax! Thanks for the video and for the update! I hope that your injury heal soon. Be careful. You are playing the licks very good, your motions are perfect. You should continue working on this ones to gain more speed but also you have to develop this ones horizontally using any scale or mode. For the first exercises you just have to play the pattern once in each position, and you'll get that Malmsteen style pattern. The second pattern could be repeated twice in each position. The pattern 3 combines two strings so we won't move it. Pattern 4 can be again played twice in each position. Is it clear?

Let's use this scale and the six strings.




Also, I think that it's a good idea to continue working on that Piotr's lesson, please post the video here and then we can go for the REC! smile.gif

One more thing! There are some Collab active now so you could choose one to join now, check this thread:

Collabs


JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Mar 8 2012, 01:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Jax! Thanks for the video and for the update! I hope that your injury heal soon. Be careful. You are playing the licks very good, your motions are perfect. You should continue working on this ones to gain more speed but also you have to develop this ones horizontally using any scale or mode. For the first exercises you just have to play the pattern once in each position, and you'll get that Malmsteen style pattern. The second pattern could be repeated twice in each position. The pattern 3 combines two strings so we won't move it. Pattern 4 can be again played twice in each position. Is it clear?

Let's use this scale and the six strings.




Also, I think that it's a good idea to continue working on that Piotr's lesson, please post the video here and then we can go for the REC! smile.gif



Hi Mate thanks for the feedback.

Just to make sure I understand the next stage of the AP task....

Exercise 1: is using the 3 neo pattens up the A min scale horizontally played once in each patten?
Exercise 2: is is the same as above but the AP lick is played twice before moving to the next position?
Exercise 3: is the Neo AP pattens played over two strings in the same scale position?
Exercise 4: is the same as #3 but played twice on each string within the same scale position?

In regards to Piotr's Lesson, I will post progress here over the weekend sometime. The lesson is 120bpm and the best i got was around 100bpm, so we will see how I go with submitting a clean take for you to view in the next few days....

Here is the Legato Licks you assigned me.... As Legato is a weak point they are a bit sloppy compared to my AP. I used all the licks and joined them together in a "Etude" style to help with changing finger movements and stamina.

Thanks in advance for your time and comments mate....

Gabriel Leopardi
Hi mate! The legato exercises sound really good! You have to keep practising them to gain more speed and also resistance. You should be playing those exercises as a loop for some minutes.

Here I wrote what you should do with the AP patterns.

Click to view attachment

Please develop them in this way in the 6 strings.

Is it clear now?

I will wait for the lesson's take too. wink.gif
JD_
Thanks for doing it up into a GPro file. I will get to work on these tonight.

Cheers
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Mar 8 2012, 08:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for doing it up into a GPro file. I will get to work on these tonight.

Cheers



Great! wink.gif
JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Mar 9 2012, 09:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Great! wink.gif



Hi Gabe, I noticed you referred to John Petrucci's Rock Discipline DVD, well I just got my copy of that DVD, so if there is any exercises from there you want me to do as well let me know.

Cheers
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Mar 9 2012, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Gabe, I noticed you referred to John Petrucci's Rock Discipline DVD, well I just got my copy of that DVD, so if there is any exercises from there you want me to do as well let me know.

Cheers


That's excellent mate!! I want you to learn the whole dvd from beginning to the end! It's one of the most complete clinics that I have ever seen. Is it possible to do it? One section per week and post it here... ? smile.gif
JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Mar 10 2012, 01:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's excellent mate!! I want you to learn the whole dvd from beginning to the end! It's one of the most complete clinics that I have ever seen. Is it possible to do it? One section per week and post it here... ? smile.gif


Wow...What have I gotten myself into? ohmy.gif

Yea, Let's do it then... ANything is possible isn't it? cool.gif

Where do you want me to start, at the Warm-up exercises? or the first Technique exercise (speed and accuracy)???
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Mar 9 2012, 12:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wow...What have I gotten myself into? ohmy.gif

Yea, Let's do it then... ANything is possible isn't it? cool.gif

Where do you want me to start, at the Warm-up exercises? or the first Technique exercise (speed and accuracy)???



hahaha yeah, you have gotten in the best trouble that you could get into. biggrin.gif Check out and do the stretches and warming up exercises but here we can start with the first technique exercise. wink.gif
JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Mar 10 2012, 01:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hahaha yeah, you have gotten in the best trouble that you could get into. biggrin.gif Check out and do the stretches and warming up exercises but here we can start with the first technique exercise. wink.gif


Haha...

Yep I will check out the stretches and warm ups....

The first exercise he does is timing, over the A Maj scale. I will do the same but with A min, it will help because I am memorizing all the positions of Amin.... wink.gif

If I was just to do that, it would be an easy week.... so I will also post, the second task he does which is the chromatic AP run.... He goes up to 200bpm.... ohmy.gif Obviously I wont be at that speed, But I will post a video of my max speed with a metronome....

This is going to be Interesting hahah
Gabriel Leopardi
This sounds great Jaxn! I will use this to re memorize this amazing clinic! It's been a while since I learnt it. Exciting stuff!! smile.gif smile.gif

JD_
Hi mate how's it going...

Ok first up is Petrucci Rock Discipline Task 1, A chromatic AP run. John does is out the video @ 200bpm....compaed to that I suck HaHA, but here is my humble attemp at 105bpm.

I chose a clean channell, no FX on the guitar, so you could hear it....



And here is my progress with Piotr's "Move you little finger" Lesson. Lesson is at 120bpm, and my take is @100bpm.



Thanks for your feedback cool.gif
Gabriel Leopardi
Hi Jax!! Great to see this two videos from you! I love that Petrucci exercise! It's very effective and for any reason I really enjoy practising it! In both videos your technique and motions are perfect. There are some very short moments where you lost a bit the synch between both hands but in general it's perfect. Keep on practising this ones to gain more speed without loosing precision. smile.gif
JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Mar 19 2012, 04:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Jax!! Great to see this two videos from you! I love that Petrucci exercise! It's very effective and for any reason I really enjoy practising it! In both videos your technique and motions are perfect. There are some very short moments where you lost a bit the synch between both hands but in general it's perfect. Keep on practising this ones to gain more speed without loosing precision. smile.gif



Cool mate, Thanks. When i watch the video's it seems my right hand is moving alot.... so I guess I will limit the motion of the right hand to increase movement, and speed.

Any tips on increasing speed with the Move you Little finger Lesson? I thoguht about practising every different pattern by itself, to build up speed, then when it is clean and fast, worry about changing/moving between the the different ideas?

Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Mar 18 2012, 06:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Cool mate, Thanks. When i watch the video's it seems my right hand is moving alot.... so I guess I will limit the motion of the right hand to increase movement, and speed.

Any tips on increasing speed with the Move you Little finger Lesson? I thoguht about practising every different pattern by itself, to build up speed, then when it is clean and fast, worry about changing/moving between the the different ideas?


Well, I'm not sure about how much your pick is moved when you are playing alternate picking in these ones since the camera view doesn't show it but you always have to move your hand the less possible.
Check out Paul Gilbert's right hand.. his right movement is natural, small and very effective.



Regarding the "moving your little finger" lesson, the problem is that outside picking is always more difficult than inside picking when you have to cross strings. I think that your idea sound good. I always isolate different section of a solo into different exercises to concentrate on them and then I start connecting the ideas.
JD_
Hi Gabe, how's it going mate?

Progress is good at this point. Legato technique is improving well, AP is consistent too.

Quick question in regards to the Petrucci video,

I am at the section where he shows you scale fragments, now, with his 20+ fragments and the Neo Pattens you gave me, that's about 30 AP exercises. What's the best way to deal with these?

Do you recommend picking two or three exercises and spending more time on them and getting them up to speed, or would you learn alot of them and spend a lil bit of time on each?

Im thinking choose a few and work on them to build up speed, maybe excercises that are different in a way.

What do you think?

Thanks
Gabriel Leopardi
Hi Jax! Well.. those Petrucci's fragments are very effective! You should work on all of them but you can choose 5 to work on each day of the week. Let's say that we have 25 patterns, you play at least 30 seconds the 25 licks but then you work more on 5 licks each day.

Monday: Licks 1 to 5
Tuesday: patterns 6 to 10
Wednesday: patterns 11 to 15
Thursday: Patterns 16 to 20
Friday: Patterns 21 to 25
Saturday: 25 patterns (1:30 minute each one)
Sunday: 25 patterns (1:30 minute each one)
JD_
That's a good way of doing it, Thanks. I will do the same for Legato as well, If you remember the fragments are basically the same as the AP, but he just playes them with legato. I will apply the fragments to the Key of Amin as I am trying to memorize all the positions of this key, so it will work well..

I'll start working n these and post my progress in a week.

Cheers
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Apr 7 2012, 01:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's a good way of doing it, Thanks. I will do the same for Legato as well, If you remember the fragments are basically the same as the AP, but he just playes them with legato. I will apply the fragments to the Key of Amin as I am trying to memorize all the positions of this key, so it will work well..

I'll start working n these and post my progress in a week.

Cheers


Excellent! Keep me updated mate! smile.gif
JD_
Hi Gabe, Hows 'it going mate? Nice work on the Michael Schneckner lesson from Ben... That was a great thing to see, you learning each others lessons.

I would like to ask your for some help in the area of composing and constructing, mainly a guitar solo.I need you to point me into a direction which will help me be able to compose my own lead ideas. The main issue I have is understanding how to play through a backing track, solo through the chord changes, a metal/rock lead guitar context. I am used to the key of A Minor, because I am familiar with this position. But I am getting better at transposing a solo from it's original key to A minor etc....

I will start at a basic level here with GMC collabs and start with a short solo, which will help with my composition skills. Once I am happy with my ability to compose, perhaps we can look at ideas I have for constructing a entire song also??

I have a "decent" knowledge of theory, but, my weak point is knowledge of Licks.... I mainly know patterns and sequences, so perhaps you can point me into some tasty blues rock and metal licks.... I have been watching Jonathan Burgos Lessons for a while now and I can't get enough of his style, and knowledge of licks arpeggios and shreddy scale runs and legato.... I have my direction in playing faster/shreddy stuff but i have no "knowledge of licks"......

Progress on the petrucci DVD is going well, I am enjoying the way he constructs his runs piece by piece on the dvd.

Both Leagto and AP is getting better, as is my "Grip" on the strings and around the neckwith my left hand and fingers.... perhaps this is just a mental aspect, but from all the legato and AP sequences and patterns i have been studying from the dvd i am noticeably more comfortable reaching up, and down the neck.

Anyway I will leave it up to you, Thanks for your time mate

PS. Which of your video chats that are available on the v chat reply corresponds to the lesson notes you have? I'd like to watch your ides on some of the ITC course you have. Thanks
cool.gif
Gabriel Leopardi
Hi Jaxx! There is not one secret about how to write cool solos, even there is not a method for that. I can give you tool that could help you but in the end I believe that it is the results of years of learning licks, the scales/triads/arpeggios in the neck and training your ear. These 3 things are fundamental when you want to create music, and specifically a guitar solo. So.. let's say it again, divided to let you visualize the three things that you must train:

1. Learning new licks every day.
2. Learning and connecting triads, arpeggios and scales.
3. Ear training.


Let me know if you need help choosing what material choose to work on each of this topics. It's also a matter of practice. Creativity is something that can be trained so working on collabs monthly and receiving the instructor's feedback really helps. I can help you working on collabs here.

I didn't understand the question about the ITC.
JD_
Hi Gabe, thanks for the info mate. Sounds great I will start learning a new lick a day and I am already training my ear. You have the Jimmy Page and Slash style licks.... I thought I might start with the Slash style licks you have???

But I will need help with 2. Learning and connecting scales arpeggio's and triads...

Thanks
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ Apr 13 2012, 02:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Gabe, thanks for the info mate. Sounds great I will start learning a new lick a day and I am already training my ear. You have the Jimmy Page and Slash style licks.... I thought I might start with the Slash style licks you have???

But I will need help with 2. Learning and connecting scales arpeggio's and triads...

Thanks



Well. Ok, let's start with the major & minor scales and triads.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/aeolia...ed-with-triads/
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...ed-with-triads/

You can also check other Alejandro's lessons where you will find good musical samples using this.

Regarding the licks, yes! you can use the Slash licks, or you can also choose a lick a day from Jonathan's lessons.

JD_
Hey Gabe how are you doing mate?

It's been a lil while since I posted in here.I spoke to you about the issue I had with improvising and learning new licks, so i went and did these 2 lessons to improve in that area.

I have been spending more time with playing new licks, less time with the 30 or so excercises earlier in this thread. Obviously these "shred" excercises will take a long time to build up a respectable speed. So in the meantime I will work on these sorts of lessons.





I started doing a lick a day idea from Jonathan's lessons as you suggested, and I ended up just doing a whole lesson, which is a good idea because it makes you commit the lesson to memory. so I will move forward with my next lesson. :-)

Any feedback you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Gabriel Leopardi
Hi mate! Both lesson are played very well! In the first one some of your bends are a bit insecure and some don't reach the correct pitch, but most of them are ok. The second lesson is just perfect and the only difference that I can note with Jonathan's version are the dynamics while phrasing and the consistence of the vibrato.

It's a great decision to combine practicing speed exercises with this type of lessons.
JD_
Hey Gabe, How's it going?

I recorded something for your Ambient Collab. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

http://soundcloud.com/j_davis/gabs-ambient-collab-jax
Gabriel Leopardi
Hi Jax, the solo sounds good, everything is played well and sound in scale. However I feel that after hearing the whole solo twice I can't remember any of the melodic ideas.... I seems that you created the solo jamming over the scale, and I think that maybe creating some melodies with your voice first and then transposing it to your guitar could do the trick. What do you think? The overall solo sound has some Joe Satriani vibes but with some more unforgettable melodies could be cooler. Regarding the tone, this is just a suggestion... I would use a cleaner tone for the "verses" and your current tone to the "chorus" section to give the solo more dynamism.
JD_
No worries. Thanks for the feedback. Yes i was just jamming along and found some ideas that I thought I could build on. Leave it with me and I will try and post some progress in a few hours.

Cheers wink.gif
Gabriel Leopardi
QUOTE (JaxN4 @ May 26 2012, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
No worries. Thanks for the feedback. Yes i was just jamming along and found some ideas that I thought I could build on. Leave it with me and I will try and post some progress in a few hours.

Cheers wink.gif


Hi Jaxx! By the way it would be great to have you on that collab! What about working a bit the melodies to this one?
JD_
Gab!!
It's been about 3 years since I've been around, i wont bore you with the reasons why...
but ive barely played at all in this time, but the good news is I'm looking at a lifestyle now where I can get back to playing guitar at least an hour a day.

I now run my own Bodybuilding Personal Training Business from home which helps with my other job.... I'm also a single Dad with 100% care of my lil 5 yr old boy... (I haven't just been sitting around with my thumb in my ass haha)

It's a good life, but then again, ive been through hell and back since Afghanistan in 2012.
So, I've found my feet, everything around me is running smoothly, there's stability and it's time to get back to my passion...
Which brings me to this msg...

Whats your advice on starting up again? I have similar goals. but for now, i just need to learn some licks... i have no vocabulary, and my main goal is to improvise...
I need you help with constructing a 1 hour practice routine... I'm a Army Man... i need structure haha... Need a plan and ill follow it...

Here's a picture of me and my son's prep class (5yr olds) after giving a speech at the School Assembly...
Good to be back in the presence of greatness, such as yourself Gab...
Cheers
Gabriel Leopardi
Hey friend! Welcome back!! It's great to find this message here and knowing that you are well and ready to get back to guitar!

While reading your message I was thinking that the best way to start would be that you choose a lesson that you like learn it and record it. It will let me see where you are now regarding your technique to think on how to continue...

Deal?

JD_
QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ May 1 2016, 09:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey friend! Welcome back!! It's great to find this message here and knowing that you are well and ready to get back to guitar!

While reading your message I was thinking that the best way to start would be that you choose a lesson that you like learn it and record it. It will let me see where you are now regarding your technique to think on how to continue...

Deal?



Deal!
I'll be in touch...
JD_
I've decided on the next Piece... Can't speak highly enough of Piotr and his compositions..

See you in a few weeks with my take
Gabriel Leopardi
Great plan Jaxn! Let's go for it! smile.gif
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