Improve soloing?

Originally Posted by: caponi14
Iv made it to the 3 one, it's strange, my right hand seems to have some problems on that particular lick, normally i learn that kind of stuff pretty easy :confused:
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That's called a "hole in your technique". That is a problem area you should work on.
[QUOTE=caponi14]
When should i consider myself done with those lessons anyway? When i get the concept or when i both get the concept and speed?

You are never done with those lessons. You learn the technique, understand the idea and then you practice it and use it for as long as you play the guitar. :)

Arghh, damn it! :( (Hole in the technique)

Well , i quess i gotta work more on picking in future.... Even though i think iv done plenty of that.

Well don't mind me, All these reoccouring problems are just a lack of confidence i think.

Forget it, ill work on things!

Thanks Chris

Originally Posted by: caponi14
Iv made it to the 3 one, it's strange, my right hand seems to have some problems on that particular lick, normally i learn that kind of stuff pretty easy :confused:

Can you please post a link to the video that plays the "lick" in question? I would like to take a look at it and see if I can provide some insight to help this hole in your technique.

Believe me, we all have them; even the highest echelon of players have areas they would like to work on. The journey NEVER ends, and you are never done being a student of the instrument. That is simply the case. Welcome.

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=737

Hey doug, it's the lick in this course. Normally i use to get the feel of it fairly quick when i do stuff like that. And it's not like i can't do it at all, i just think it's a little coordination failure between my right and left hand.

It's just the speed that im not satisfied with i quess.

But i think that my alternate picking should improove if i wanted to focus on something, any exercises for that?

Originally Posted by: frankhtDouglas, one of the things that really sold me on GT was the manner in which the lessons were structured. The lesson plans are professionally laid out and very well presented. I was also impressed with the way there were the basics for everyone then different genres to advance to, that way you get what you need to start then are able to move into what interest you without getting bogged down with lessons of no interest.

So far I haven't seen anything that I would want to change or add. My problem was where to find certain lessons I've seen that weren't part of a particular course, I think I just need to educate myself more on navigating the site.

I appreciate your willingness to help though. That's one of the things that sets this site apart from all the rest.

Have a Good New Years.

Sounds good. My question was regarding what courses you would like to see continued. That meaning moving beyond simply 1 and 2 (i.e. Guitar Fundamentals, Rock Guitar, Blues, Country.) There has been talk in the past of developing Level 3, 4, etc.

Thanks for the kind words, and an extended Happy New Year to you as well. :D

Originally Posted by: caponi14http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=737

Hey doug, it's the lick in this course. Normally i use to get the feel of it fairly quick when i do stuff like that. And it's not like i can't do it at all, i just think it's a little coordination failure between my right and left hand.

It's just the speed that im not satisfied with i quess.

But i think that my alternate picking should improove if i wanted to focus on something, any exercises for that?

Honestly, your alternate picking can always be developed by practicing your scale patterns. If you truly want to make it better and more developed, set up a practice routine that heavily revolves around that. This can mean working your scale patterns up to speed with a metronome, as that will help you quite a bit with the licks from the video you posted. Take it slow, and make sure your playing is clean before you move on. I have found in my practicing I try and kill two birds with one stone by practicing new scale patterns while also intertwining working on my picking along with it. That way my left and right hands are getting a good work out. A player to seek some great advice from would be Paul Gilbert, as he is an alternate picking machine and offers much great insight into this concept. Here are some links to some YOUTUBE videos that clearly demonstrates that;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpJNUGHxC3M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJDV7brqkfk

Thought I'd chime about using the chord tones again. I started practicing that way a while back and it really improved my soloing and phrase construction.

I do practice scales and other peoples solos for technique, but concentrate on the chord tones to create my phrasing.

Originally Posted by: ixo2010Thought I'd chime about using the chord tones again. I started practicing that way a while back and it really improved my soloing and phrase construction.

I do practice scales and other peoples solos for technique, but concentrate on the chord tones to create my phrasing.

Sounds like you have a great grasp on this concept. I am developing a tutorial on Chord Tone soloing for the site as we speak which should be up by mid- February. I will keep you posted when it is up and running. Would love to have some feedback.

Originally Posted by: caponi14Normally i use to get the feel of it fairly quick when i do stuff like that. And it's not like i can't do it at all, i just think it's a little coordination failure between my right and left hand.

Two things here. I just redid my first building speed with alternate picking tutorial:

Speedy Ideas Series 1 - Building Speed
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=287

And from earlier, I just posted a new tutorial on Connecting Pentatonic Boxes. This time it involves a very widely used lick in those vids you were asking about. It's a hammer-on, pull-off lick that guys like Slash, etc. use all the time; absolutely basic to rock soloing. Give it try!

Connecting Pentatonic Patterns Series 3
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=914

Originally Posted by: Douglas ShowalterSounds like you have a great grasp on this concept. I am developing a tutorial on Chord Tone soloing for the site as we speak which should be up by mid- February. I will keep you posted when it is up and running. Would love to have some feedback.

I'll be looking for it. Any new info/tips is always helpful.

I just wrapped up the taping for the tutorial and it should be up very soon. I will send you a direct message once it's up.
;)

try this. start with identifying the key of the song. If the key is A major, you would solo with the pentatonic starting on the 5th fret of the low E string. You get a bluesy feel and sound, right? but most songs dont need that feel, it just doesnt fit. Find the note of the key on the A string and move two steps up. this is your new position. If they key is A major, then use the F# pentatonic scale. Try it.

This is one of those how long is a piece of string q's - the simple answer is that there is no one guaranteed way that will work for everyone.

However, based on my own experiences I would say that the following will give you a good basic level for most styles:

Intermediate Level Targets

Scale/Arpeggio Knowledge

Minor, Major Pentatonic 5 positions
Minor Blues in 5 positions
Major (Ionian) Position 1 + 4 plus 3 note per string Root 6th and 5th
Minor (Aeolian Ionian) Position 1 + 4 plus 3 note per string Root 6th and 5th
Dorian Mode Position 1 + 4 plus 3 note per string Root 6th and 5th
Mixolydian Mode Major (Ionian) Position 1 + 4 plus 3 note per string Root 6th and 5th

More exotic stuff like Lydian, Phrygian, Harmonic Minor etc arent as commonly used as the above so deal with them later!

Major, Minor, dim triads 2 string root 2nd (a la Hotel California/Final Countdown/Sultans Of The ) and 3 string root 3rd
Major 7, Min7, Dom 7, m7b5 - ideally root 5th and root 6th spanning two octaves.

All of this will give you the core basic knowledge - then you need to be able to apply them.

A basic technical facility should include:

Being able to alternate pick these ascending and descending in 1/8th notes to approx 170 BPM, triplets to 140 sixteenths to 100, sextuplets to 80.

Phrasing ability to include:

Bending Vibrato sliding legato hammer ons pull offs tapping pick harmonics

A core knowledge of a couple of dozen classic rock/blues licks in position one.

Armed with all of this you should then aim to learn a couple of dozen classic solos (and all the rest of the song of course!) as the best way to gain an insight is to study the masters...

Then you simply combine all the above and gradually you will develop your own style.

Cheers

Owen

http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/35834/Mr_Owen_Edwards/index.aspx