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Holiday aftermath: two good things | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

ObPlsPostMP3KThnx by TPD (2.00 / 0) #1 Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 04:47:40 AM EST

I must try your Zen like solo learning technique - but I'm pretty sure in my case it's both brain and fingers (with a little of tone deaf ear thrown in for good measure) that's hindering my ability to play the solos I'd like to.

Rock Hard Abs are just a sw-sw-swivel away!

I actually did record it... by LodeRunner (4.00 / 1) #3 Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 01:48:05 PM EST

Didn't link in the diary because I recorded it just to send it to my brother. But what the hell... here it is. I messed up the last note but didn't want to rerecord it because of the driver annoyances. It also ended up sounding a bit dull because I avoided the vibratos due to the fret problem.

In case you don't know the song, it's not a flashy solo speedwise (only 2 bars in sextuplets), but it has a great melody (the reason why I like it so much) and in the process of learning it I picked some of the little flourishes that really make it click for me, like the quick 17\9 slide and the 14^15^13^12 sequence. Details that make the difference... hats off to Nuno Bettencourt.

As for the Zen like technique (cool name for it, btw :) ), to me it works as a good measure if the piece is "in me" yet or not. The idea is to play it as in air-guitar, but only in your head without actually moving your hands. Usually, if I can "play" it this way, then I can play it on guitar/keyboards.

[ Parent ]

Nice! by TPD (4.00 / 1) #5 Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 03:42:18 PM EST

I'm not really that up on Extreme, beyond the little I have heard always makes me think I should investigate them some more.

Rock Hard Abs are just a sw-sw-swivel away!
[ Parent ]

: Thanks :) by LodeRunner (2.00 / 0) #8 Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 04:06:11 PM EST

I can't recommend enough their third album, III Sides to Every Story. Don't know what kind of stuff you're into, but I think that's a fantastic album -- one of those that should be listened to as a whole, with the lyric booklet.

[ Parent ]

Need for speed... by Breaker (2.00 / 0) #2 Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 06:00:08 AM EST

Muscle memory works for me, which does indeed come from playing scales, scales, scales. That gives you the strength and dexterity in your fingers you'll need. No way around this I am afraid.

When you get to playing really fast, you stop hearing notes and start hearing phrases. Those phrases you will have to practice to get them quick enough. If you like, think of notes as letters, phrases as words and solos as complete sentences.

Other good solos to learn:
Alright Now - Free. Nice question and answer bit in there.
Phantom of the Opera - Iron Maiden. Ascending runs on the fretboard, lots of twiddling and harmony guitar parts.
One Shot At Glory - Judas Priest. Unusual starting point for the solo, good across-the-strings style soloing.
Mr Scary - George Lynch. Heh. Good luck!

Also, get a new guitar if your current's borked. Even a cheap one will be better. As you start playing quicker, the clearance between the frets and the strings will become more important. Start incorporating a proper warm up into your practice sessions; wash hands in warm water before playing, stretch and take it easy for the first 5 minutes (sorry if I'm teaching you to chew cheese here, but it's important if you want to avoid RSI).

Oh and IAWTTPD; plspstmp3s! Even incomplete stuff; if you've not been following much of the last 6 months this has been a good place to get constructive feedback.

Thanks for the advice by LodeRunner (2.00 / 0) #4 Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 02:10:50 PM EST

Muscle memory works for me, which does indeed come from playing scales, scales, scales. That gives you the strength and dexterity in your fingers you'll need. No way around this I am afraid.

Yeah, I hear this all the time. But I've come to the conclusion that, except maybe for the truly physically taxing stuff (Shrapnel Records offspring and the like), it's not the fingers that lack speed, it's the head that can't keep up. After all one can play the simple stuff fast, so it's not like the fingers can't do it. I've heard the letters/words/phrases analogy before, and I think that has to do with that (less elements for the mind to keep track when playing).

Thanks for the advice on the other solos, but I can't stand Judas Priest and I'm not really into the pyrotechnic George Lynch stuff. :) I might give it a try at some Van Halen stuff, though.

Once I had a long long discussion with my brother on a rather heretical statement I made that "70% of all guitar solos are unnecessary". Too much formulaic stuff out there for my taste which don't really add to the songs. IMHO it's a minority of guitarists who often have "something to say" with their solos (Eddie and Nuno being two examples; interestingly the second being a 'disciple' of the former -- that probably says more about my tastes than backs up my hypothesis ;) ).

Oh and IAWTTPD; plspstmp3s! Even incomplete stuff; if you've not been following much of the last 6 months this has been a good place to get constructive feedback.

Cool :) I posted the link in the reply to TPD. I'm new to HuSi, just migrated from K5.

[ Parent ]

: Oh right! by Breaker (4.00 / 1) #6 Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 07:27:49 AM EST

By fast I thought you meant "really fast" ^^
re: Good solos to play: I suppose that you have to dig the music you're trying to play, so if you hate JP then stay away!
Will have a shufty at your MP3's and post in a bit - thanks for the link.

[ Parent ]

Good effort lad! by Breaker (4.00 / 1) #7 Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 08:58:51 AM EST

The fast bits were played really well, with Nuno-esque muting and phrasing - I'm guessing you really worked hard on them?

The long slide down was nicely executed too - they're a bit tricky once you get over 5 frets.

On some slow bits you seemed to get a little lost, I thought.

Also, lead tone was good, possibly might have benefitted with a little reverb. Or more OD/distortion.

You likely to go for any of the various MFCs that we have here?

: Thank you! by LodeRunner (2.00 / 0) #9 Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 04:55:36 PM EST

I didn't even think much about my right hand, that went naturally. I agree about the slow bits, I blame that on the double-thinking for avoiding the vibratos (even if they cut the sustain 5% of the time, gotta watch them every time when recording... you're so right, I need a new guitar) and the usual stiffness that kicks in when the red light starts to blink.
The lead tone was a PodXT preset (the guitar is an Epiphone Les Paul). Yeah, could be souped up a bit, thx for the tips.
And sure, I plan join in the MFC craziness :)

[ Parent ]

Holiday aftermath: two good things | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback


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