misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Just something you picked up along the way that made you a better guitarist. What was it? How did you come across it? What's a tip you feel every guitarist should know?
Teach me something...
- Thread starter misterwhizzy
- Start date
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Teach me something...
Play more, buy and surf the net less.
Play more, buy and surf the net less.
karpathion
New member
Re: Teach me something...
Since I have tried to get out of my box, this is one of the "cooler" things I've been playin' with. Give it a chance, it's pretty nice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_mode
Since I have tried to get out of my box, this is one of the "cooler" things I've been playin' with. Give it a chance, it's pretty nice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_mode
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Teach me something...
there's a cool lesson from paul gilbert I just got done learning. it's pretty easy conceptually, but can be tricky to play (I've been goofing with it for a week and still can't play it as fast as I'd like).
- he took C lydian (C, D, E, F#, G, A, B)
- then picked out his "favorite" notes (C, E, F#, G), then laid them out like so: C-E-F#-G-C-E-F#
- then he skipped notes to create this pattern: C-F#, E-G, F#-C, G-E
It results in a weird pattern on the neck, which makes for a killer exercise (especially if you use "true alternate" picking - down, up, down, up, etc. - no exceptions; this is hard for me because I typically subconsciously downpick or up pick sort of haphazardly, or in a somewhat "economic" way), and you can apply the theory to any scale.
low to high (start with a down pick, and alternate up/down rest of way):
E|--------------------------------------------------------12------14--12--15--14--20--
B|------------------------------------------------13----------13----------------------
G|--------------------------9------11--9--12--11------12------------------------------
D|------------------10---------10-----------------------------------------------------
A|-----9--7--10--9------10------------------------------------------------------------
E|--8---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
high to low (start with an up pick, and alternate down/up rest of way):
E|--20--14--15--12--14------12--------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------13----------13------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------12------11--12--9--11------9--------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------10---------10------------------
A|------------------------------------------------------------10------9--10--7--9-----
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--
video here (arpeggiated patterns one, starts somewhere in the middle of the lesson): http://video.answers.com/shred-alert-with-paul-gilbert-arpeggiated-patterns-241274026
I'm wanting to apply it to other scales, but I'm not sure how to pick out the favorite notes for scales like diminished, blues, etc. He whizzes through them in the video like it's nothing, but I'm not sure what he's playing when he does it with the other scales. How he can transpose the theory to the other scales so quickly is beyond me!
there's a cool lesson from paul gilbert I just got done learning. it's pretty easy conceptually, but can be tricky to play (I've been goofing with it for a week and still can't play it as fast as I'd like).
- he took C lydian (C, D, E, F#, G, A, B)
- then picked out his "favorite" notes (C, E, F#, G), then laid them out like so: C-E-F#-G-C-E-F#
- then he skipped notes to create this pattern: C-F#, E-G, F#-C, G-E
It results in a weird pattern on the neck, which makes for a killer exercise (especially if you use "true alternate" picking - down, up, down, up, etc. - no exceptions; this is hard for me because I typically subconsciously downpick or up pick sort of haphazardly, or in a somewhat "economic" way), and you can apply the theory to any scale.
low to high (start with a down pick, and alternate up/down rest of way):
E|--------------------------------------------------------12------14--12--15--14--20--
B|------------------------------------------------13----------13----------------------
G|--------------------------9------11--9--12--11------12------------------------------
D|------------------10---------10-----------------------------------------------------
A|-----9--7--10--9------10------------------------------------------------------------
E|--8---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
high to low (start with an up pick, and alternate down/up rest of way):
E|--20--14--15--12--14------12--------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------13----------13------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------12------11--12--9--11------9--------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------10---------10------------------
A|------------------------------------------------------------10------9--10--7--9-----
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8--
video here (arpeggiated patterns one, starts somewhere in the middle of the lesson): http://video.answers.com/shred-alert-with-paul-gilbert-arpeggiated-patterns-241274026
I'm wanting to apply it to other scales, but I'm not sure how to pick out the favorite notes for scales like diminished, blues, etc. He whizzes through them in the video like it's nothing, but I'm not sure what he's playing when he does it with the other scales. How he can transpose the theory to the other scales so quickly is beyond me!
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F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Teach me something...
My first ever amplifier was a silverface Fender Champ. As soon as I began playing through something more powerful but solid state, I noticed that something important was missing. I have never forgotten this.
My first ever amplifier was a silverface Fender Champ. As soon as I began playing through something more powerful but solid state, I noticed that something important was missing. I have never forgotten this.
Lazarus1140
New member
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Teach me something...
There is (was?) a guitar player for a Texas band called Bubble Puppy whose lead playing inspired me. I always thought of his leads as liquid leads.
I had trouble picking out his leads because they were too fast for my brain and then too fast for my fingers. Once I finally figured out what he (Rod Prince) was playing I still couldn't make it sound right or play it fast enough. Then I made an amazing discovery.
There is nearly always some place on the neck or some combination of fretted and open notes that makes a phrase easier to play than what I initially try.
There is (was?) a guitar player for a Texas band called Bubble Puppy whose lead playing inspired me. I always thought of his leads as liquid leads.
I had trouble picking out his leads because they were too fast for my brain and then too fast for my fingers. Once I finally figured out what he (Rod Prince) was playing I still couldn't make it sound right or play it fast enough. Then I made an amazing discovery.
There is nearly always some place on the neck or some combination of fretted and open notes that makes a phrase easier to play than what I initially try.
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Teach me something...
no prob - tab added above (and changed speed picking to "true alternate" picking); I think the tab is right, if not, you get the idea.
no prob - tab added above (and changed speed picking to "true alternate" picking); I think the tab is right, if not, you get the idea.
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DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Teach me something...
here's another neat thingy. I pulled out a book last night, and found this cool way to play the diminished scale, since it goes up the neck a ways. makes it easy to remember from the pattern - you can really use your first finger a lot to get a fun/fast thing going on - for the first two notes on every string below the low E, just slide your first finger to the next note (you shouldn't need your second finger at all). For some reason, it's easier to remember going up then down, hehe:
E|-----------------------------------------------------------6--7--9--10--
B|-----------------------------------------------5--6--8--9---------------
G|-----------------------------------3--4--6--7---------------------------
D|-----------------------2--3--5--6---------------------------------------
A|-----------1--2--4--5---------------------------------------------------
E|--1--3--4---------------------------------------------------------------
You could probably mix up the exercise by sliding with your 4th finger (thus bringing your second finger into play), and not use your 3rd finger at all (on every string except the low E), if that makes sense.
(root is the first note in scale)
here's another neat thingy. I pulled out a book last night, and found this cool way to play the diminished scale, since it goes up the neck a ways. makes it easy to remember from the pattern - you can really use your first finger a lot to get a fun/fast thing going on - for the first two notes on every string below the low E, just slide your first finger to the next note (you shouldn't need your second finger at all). For some reason, it's easier to remember going up then down, hehe:
E|-----------------------------------------------------------6--7--9--10--
B|-----------------------------------------------5--6--8--9---------------
G|-----------------------------------3--4--6--7---------------------------
D|-----------------------2--3--5--6---------------------------------------
A|-----------1--2--4--5---------------------------------------------------
E|--1--3--4---------------------------------------------------------------
You could probably mix up the exercise by sliding with your 4th finger (thus bringing your second finger into play), and not use your 3rd finger at all (on every string except the low E), if that makes sense.
(root is the first note in scale)
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TimmyPage
New member
Re: Teach me something...
This is a great resource: http://www.jazzguitar.be/jazzguitar_lessons.html
I often take lessons from it for my students, or alternatively just send my students to the site for homework. It has some really great ideas and teaching methods for scales. Most of the lessons have licks to practice (that are tabbed out, you don't have to worry if you don't read music.)
Also.. it says jazz guitar but there really isn't such thing as 'jazz theory', only music theory. Don't let the jazz title scare you away from a resource that will help you no matter what kind of music you play.
This is a great resource: http://www.jazzguitar.be/jazzguitar_lessons.html
I often take lessons from it for my students, or alternatively just send my students to the site for homework. It has some really great ideas and teaching methods for scales. Most of the lessons have licks to practice (that are tabbed out, you don't have to worry if you don't read music.)
Also.. it says jazz guitar but there really isn't such thing as 'jazz theory', only music theory. Don't let the jazz title scare you away from a resource that will help you no matter what kind of music you play.
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Teach me something...
here's a fun diminished lick (move the pattern around wherever you like on the neck):
E|-----------6--10--6--------
B|--5--8--9------------9--8--
G|---------------------------
D|---------------------------
A|---------------------------
E|---------------------------
play the above 3 times, then:
E|--6---------------------------
B|-----9--8--6--9--8--6--5--6(vibrato)--
G|------------------------------
D|------------------------------
A|------------------------------
E|------------------------------
Although cliche, I'm a fan of the cyclical licks where you do something 3 times, and finish off with an ending different phrase. Pretty much endless possibilities with that trick.
here's a fun diminished lick (move the pattern around wherever you like on the neck):
E|-----------6--10--6--------
B|--5--8--9------------9--8--
G|---------------------------
D|---------------------------
A|---------------------------
E|---------------------------
play the above 3 times, then:
E|--6---------------------------
B|-----9--8--6--9--8--6--5--6(vibrato)--
G|------------------------------
D|------------------------------
A|------------------------------
E|------------------------------
Although cliche, I'm a fan of the cyclical licks where you do something 3 times, and finish off with an ending different phrase. Pretty much endless possibilities with that trick.
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TravisBean
New member
Re: Teach me something...
Thanks for the link. The more I learn about music, the more I realize just how much I don't know.
You would have gotten along very well with a renowned music theory instructor I once took a class from, by the name of Yusef Lateef. If anyone ever made the blatant mistake of asking a theory question, and used the word "jazz" anywhere in that inquiry, he would just stare at you with a piercing inquisitive gaze.
He would then ask the entire class; "What is Jazz ?????"
http://www.yuseflateef.com/
Thanks for the link. The more I learn about music, the more I realize just how much I don't know.
You would have gotten along very well with a renowned music theory instructor I once took a class from, by the name of Yusef Lateef. If anyone ever made the blatant mistake of asking a theory question, and used the word "jazz" anywhere in that inquiry, he would just stare at you with a piercing inquisitive gaze.
He would then ask the entire class; "What is Jazz ?????"
http://www.yuseflateef.com/
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Teach me something...
Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll have some learning to do tonight, and hopefully this will help break me out of the rote-muscle-memory-rut I've been in recently. Particular props to DankStar.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll have some learning to do tonight, and hopefully this will help break me out of the rote-muscle-memory-rut I've been in recently. Particular props to DankStar.
DankStar
Her Little Mojo Minion
Re: Teach me something...
here's to a good practice :friday:
I still have printouts of other forum members' tabbed tricks and licks from older threads; they're a nice resource in the overall bag of goodies.
here's to a good practice :friday:
I still have printouts of other forum members' tabbed tricks and licks from older threads; they're a nice resource in the overall bag of goodies.
Condemnedsoul
Active member
Re: Teach me something...
For understanding chord progressions, one of your greatest assests is learning to use the Cycle of Fifths.
Sometime ago, I came across a series of lectures given by a keyboard player. The series includes cycle of fifths and song structure. These are keyboard based and I came to a better understanding of how the cycle works.
Here is clip from the series of lessons for keyboard players concerning song structure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdCZwxpPEZg&feature=related
For understanding chord progressions, one of your greatest assests is learning to use the Cycle of Fifths.
Sometime ago, I came across a series of lectures given by a keyboard player. The series includes cycle of fifths and song structure. These are keyboard based and I came to a better understanding of how the cycle works.
Here is clip from the series of lessons for keyboard players concerning song structure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdCZwxpPEZg&feature=related
Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: Teach me something...
Practice your vibrato to a tuner; learn to be able to control, on command, whether or not you're going with a halfstep or wholestep, and change between them in the same notes, as well.
Practice your vibrato to a tuner; learn to be able to control, on command, whether or not you're going with a halfstep or wholestep, and change between them in the same notes, as well.
