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Yes the Pick Control Challenge! I don't know how I missed the vid lol. I guess I thought it was a picture that didn't load or something. I see what you mean now! That's a good idea.
What kind of gitter is that in the vid? Nice sound.
Oh yeah, here's two more exercises I like.... I attached a midi file and Guitar Pro tabs of them. I attached pics for tab for those of you that don't have GP.
On the Scale Routne, The first six notes I use index finger, ring finger, then
pinky.
The second six notes I use index, middle ,pinky. The
last three notes I use index, ring, pinky. I use the same
fingers when descending.
The idea is to go up the whole fretboard as far as you can go and then back to the beginning. Great exercise. The tab I posted isn't complete, but you just keep going the same way all the way up.
With the Arpeggio I use what fingers are the most comfortable. You can alternate pick or regular whatever you want to work on. I really like these routines to get the hands in synch and build strength and feel.
These are not the only things I practice but just a couple that stand out. These are certainly nothing special or new just a couple that I feel has helped me play better.
Here's one more from youtube I'm practicing now. I really like this lesson.
Last edited by testekleez : May 30th, 2007 at 02:32 PM.
What kind of gitter is that in the vid? Nice sound.
Taylor 714ce. I don't even pick up any of my other guitars hardly at all anymore.
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
Oh yeah, here's two more exercises I like.... I attached a midi file and Guitar Pro tabs of them. I attached pics for tab for those of you that don't have GP.
On the Scale Routne, The first six notes I use index finger, ring finger, then
pinky.
The second six notes I use index, middle ,pinky. The
last three notes I use index, ring, pinky. I use the same
fingers when descending.
The idea is to go up the whole fretboard as far as you can go and then back to the beginning. Great exercise. The tab I posted isn't complete, but you just keep going the same way all the way up.
With the Arpeggio I use what fingers are the most comfortable. You can alternate pick or regular whatever you want to work on. I really like these routines to get the hands in synch and build strength and feel.
These are not the only things I practice but just a couple that stand out. These are certainly nothing special or new just a couple that I feel has helped me play better.
Here's one more from youtube I'm practicing now. I really like this lesson.
Excellent stuff, testekleez. I need to go home to check out your routine, but I did check out this guys vid. Good stuff. I like what he has going here. He's got some great routines that help strengthen the fingers and give ideas for solos.
My only input is to always remember that the notes come from the chords! If you know the chord formation from the arrpegios of the chords he's playing, then you'll see the notes. Know both. Then it's apparent to see that the use of arrpegios and scales are only tools from the toolbox. The melody of the song is king.
Steve
Steve Cass
Solid Walnut Music/ASCAP
Becoming a great guitarist has less to do with fancy moves than it does becoming a master of the basics and learning musicianship.
It's not what you can't do. It's how you play what you already know.
Taylor 714ce. I don't even pick up any of my other guitars hardly at all anymore.
Excellent stuff, testekleez. I need to go home to check out your routine, but I did check out this guys vid. Good stuff. I like what he has going here. He's got some great routines that help strengthen the fingers and give ideas for solos.
My only input is to always remember that the notes come from the chords! If you know the chord formation from the arrpegios of the chords he's playing, then you'll see the notes. Know both. Then it's apparent to see that the use of arrpegios and scales are only tools from the toolbox. The melody of the song is king.
Steve
Quote:
My only input is to always remember that the notes come from the chords! If you know the chord formation from the arrpegios of the chords he's playing, then you'll see the notes. Know both. Then it's apparent to see that the use of arrpegios and scales are only tools from the toolbox. The melody of the song is king.
That is why I ordered PT and can't wait to learn Kirk's system and apply it. I just see the scales as exercises, though I know there's more to them and there's no doubt that the melody is what's important. It has to have a hook and a beat and a rythm for people to listen (well regular people lol guitarists tend to listen to em).
It's fun to watch the wizards shred and as impressive as that stuff is, I prefer to listen to music lol not just licks. Some of the best guitar solo's are really rather simple like the solo for "Mother" by Pink Floyd.
I love that solo!
Taylors are some sweet guitars! Yours is probably worth more than my truck lol. An old friend of mine used to have one but he would never let anyone touch it.
One time I was at his house and he ran to the store and I had to pick it up while he was gone lol. Man that thing sounded sweet and played like butter.
I gave it a good wiping down before he got back, he never knew lol or if he did he didn't say anything. I couldn't help myself.
lol. You sound like me when I went into the store to buy the thing.
Steve Cass
Solid Walnut Music/ASCAP
Becoming a great guitarist has less to do with fancy moves than it does becoming a master of the basics and learning musicianship.
It's not what you can't do. It's how you play what you already know.
lol. You sound like me when I went into the store to buy the thing.
I bet you were like a kid in a candy store lol. Got one more youtube thing and I think I'll lay off the youtube stuff for a while...this guy's a heck of a bass player. Check out his posts, he's spot on with the lines.
If there's some Sabbath tunes you've been wanting to learn on bass, this guy plays Geezer like no one I've ever heard. Certainly won't find it in tablature as good as this. Everything else he's posted is spot on as well.
I bet you were like a kid in a candy store lol. Got one more youtube thing and I think I'll lay off the youtube stuff for a while...this guy's a heck of a bass player. Check out his posts, he's spot on with the lines.
If there's some Sabbath tunes you've been wanting to learn on bass, this guy plays Geezer like no one I've ever heard. Certainly won't find it in tablature as good as this. Everything else he's posted is spot on as well.
The guy's a great bass player. More my style of playing. I've tried to learn the slap/pop technique, but I was never able to get the hang of it. I love the Barney Miller theme.
And I learned before there was such a thing as tab, so I've always relied on my ear before checking out any tabs! I never even learned how to read tab until a year ago or so.
Steve Cass
Solid Walnut Music/ASCAP
Becoming a great guitarist has less to do with fancy moves than it does becoming a master of the basics and learning musicianship.
It's not what you can't do. It's how you play what you already know.
That's the best way to go, by ear. I learn most of the stuff I play by ear but with all the bands using alternate tunings these days, I rely on the tab to get the tunings and chords but I still rely on my ear to see if I can it it right.
If you had to pick just one thing that has helped you out the most over the years, what would it be?
To be honest, I never messed with tabs all that much until I found guitar pro. I still don't read tabs all that well but I understand them a lot better now after using guitar pro. I used to use the text tabs just to find chords and the rest by ear.
You should get Guitar Pro. Heck, you only have to pay if you actually want to write your own stuff but to open tabs, that's free after the trial period, it just annoys you a bit but you can still hear open tabs.
...If you had to pick just one thing that has helped you out the most over the years, what would it be?
Hmmm...one thing. There are so many aspects to playing...I'd have to say the decision that 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonaid'.
iow, I've learned to recognize my shortcomings and work around them. For example, my weakness in playing lead guitar is that I've never learned to tremelo pick very well. So I limit that and favor that which I know well: using bending, vibrato and slide techniques (not metal or glass slide, I mean sliding in and out of notes). Learning to incorporate good rhythm in my playing, whether it's strumming or lead playing. I've learned that what I do know, I need to do extremely well. I also know that I'm not through learning yet
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
You should get Guitar Pro. Heck, you only have to pay if you actually want to write your own stuff but to open tabs, that's free after the trial period, it just annoys you a bit but you can still hear open tabs.
You're right. I should. Besides, I've been posting art as tab for my lessons when I could be posting tab from Guitar Pro instead.
Steve
Steve Cass
Solid Walnut Music/ASCAP
Becoming a great guitarist has less to do with fancy moves than it does becoming a master of the basics and learning musicianship.
It's not what you can't do. It's how you play what you already know.
You certainly have a welath of knowledge to all things musical. I was reading over some of your lessons and there's lot of good stuff in there.
The industry stuff is spot on especially. I've been in a couple bands and been around a few cats that had some really great material, but if you aren't already out there pounding the pavement and making sales and drawing crowds, the likelyhood of getting signed is next to nil.
I gave up on that a long time ago realizing that the game was "rigged" so to speak and that they're after more than just great sound.
Doesn't bother me though, I still enjoy writing songs for my own pleasure. If you've ever heard the song "Everything is Free" by Gillian Welch, she pretty much spells out why most artists create. I don't think any artist would mind making a ton of money from their work but for me at least, I just like to express myself through music.
Guitar Pro will definitely make it easier to communicate ideas with tabs. Sure beats sitting down at the puter or drawing it out for hours lol.
It's well worth the cost if just as a time saver for you. I'm not affiliated with them in any way lol I just love the program. Also, you can quickly program a drum beat or loop a few chords to solo or write something to. Cool answer! DO the best you can at what you're best at. Work on weakness and excel at your strength.
You certainly have a welath of knowledge to all things musical. I was reading over some of your lessons and there's lot of good stuff in there.
Thanks for the kind words.
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
The industry stuff is spot on especially. I've been in a couple bands and been around a few cats that had some really great material, but if you aren't already out there pounding the pavement and making sales and drawing crowds, the likelyhood of getting signed is next to nil.
Yah, I think the whole this is to shine where you are. And if you want to play a particular game (play or write jingles, etc.) then target your efforts there. And if you're playing in a band, make a local splash, then a regional splash. Make your own career and forget about American Idol (well, I guess it works for some).
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
I gave up on that a long time ago realizing that the game was "rigged" so to speak and that they're after more than just great sound.
Yep, they want already successful people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
Doesn't bother me though, I still enjoy writing songs for my own pleasure. If you've ever heard the song "Everything is Free" by Gillian Welch, she pretty much spells out why most artists create. I don't think any artist would mind making a ton of money from their work but for me at least, I just like to express myself through music.
Gotta bloom where you're planted...
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
Guitar Pro will definitely make it easier to communicate ideas with tabs. Sure beats sitting down at the puter or drawing it out for hours lol.
I'm there...
Quote:
Originally Posted by testekleez
Cool answer! DO the best you can at what you're best at. Work on weakness and excel at your strength.
Thanks testekleez.
Steve Cass
Solid Walnut Music/ASCAP
Becoming a great guitarist has less to do with fancy moves than it does becoming a master of the basics and learning musicianship.
It's not what you can't do. It's how you play what you already know.
Download the PDF of the 'Guitar Chord Slide Rule', print it out, fold it together and you'll have at your disposal a very neat tool that will not only show you all the positions for the main flavors of chords, but will also teach you a very important lesson about how the guitar works... It consists of a folded sleeve and six double sided inserts, instructions for cutting it out and folding it together are included with the PDF ... it's very simple to do, and if you botch it, you can simply print it out again!
