Most important technique


Dejan Sajinovic
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Dejan Sajinovic
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09/08/2002 9:22 am
I would say (for me) alternate picking/string skipping/legato and sweeping. ThatĀ“s it.
Dejan S. No speed limit
# 1
u10ajf
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u10ajf
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09/08/2002 2:15 pm
That's tons of different techniques! Personally I also practice a variety of techniques but perhaps the most important ones for me should be those which define my most important weaknesses (wide vibratos) that's what I should work on. I used to exclusively use a longitudinal vibrato (finger swaying along the length of the string for a very fast but shallow vibrato) but now I work more on the so called "butterfly vibrato" which is more like a fast bend/unbend - more commonly used. Both have their uses I find. I'd like to be able to do a clapton style variety too where the whole arm moves the string from side to side - this can be combined with the shallower longitudinal vibrato too giving a sort of crying purring ululation.
If I couldn't laugh at myself how could I laugh at someone less ridiculous?
# 2
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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09/08/2002 2:35 pm
Definitely 'comping'.
Be it with first positions chords and strumming them, or with 4 notes chords in a jazz standard.
Anyone can play solos, but a great guitarist (IMHO) shows in the way he outlines a singer's or a soloist's performance. That's what sets Van Halen apart from a lot of other guitarists. He can play those amazing solos, but even without them, the song is beautifully crafted with his rhythm guitar. There's also Jim Hall in that category, or Joe Pass.
Also, that's comping that will make you get a gig or not. A singer doesn't care about you phrygian licks or your string skipping skills. He wants his group to sound good. And that's the groove that makes it sound good.
# 3
u10ajf
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u10ajf
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09/08/2002 3:10 pm
Too right mate! I didn't think of comping as a technique or I'd have put that top. I used to hear more head music but it dried up through lack of inspiration, I'd like to understand more of the mechanics of comping partly to substitute this lack. When you get a trillion I'll come to your guitar college.
If I couldn't laugh at myself how could I laugh at someone less ridiculous?
# 4
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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09/08/2002 3:15 pm
lol
# 5
MikeP.
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MikeP.
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09/09/2002 6:00 pm
Finger independance and using all 4 fingers!
Picking: up,down, and alternet effortlessy.

Master those and everything else becomes easy to learn.
I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
# 6
trendkillah
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trendkillah
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09/15/2002 8:52 pm
Hmmm, knowing how to set up your gear in order to compliment the sound of the band as a whole, and not just have a good sound when playing on your own.
This seems to be a "technique" most guitarists seem to neglect completely. And this is not something that can always be fixed by sound engineers.(they're only human after all)

Maybe it's not so much a technique, but it's definitely a very important skill.
# 7
markpro
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markpro
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09/21/2002 12:22 am
Articulation. You play all the notes make sure all of them are heard.
# 8
iiholly
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iiholly
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09/21/2002 1:52 am
Palm muting.

# 9
Djentizm
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Djentizm
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09/21/2002 6:20 pm
i whole heartedly agree with you...maybe its cuz imma jazz nerd but it is true...and articulation

but one question what exactly is comping?...ive never heard of this in all my years of playing
i am the shredder
# 10
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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09/21/2002 6:35 pm
I'm french, that's the way we talk about the skills that someone has to play behind soloists. It might be a frenwh word but that looks english. If you listen behind Django's solos, there are great comping there.
# 11
Djentizm
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Djentizm
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09/21/2002 8:27 pm
ohhh....so i guess what your trying to say is what the rhythm guitar would do? durning a solo...hehehe i know that as accomping...i guess tis a slang kinda eh?...hmm, imo that should not be a hard thing to do (just follow the keys)

but yes there are some really bad rhythm guitarists out there who dont know what the **** they are doin hahaha
i am the shredder
# 12
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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09/21/2002 10:13 pm
Actually, some jazz cats think a good guitarist should be a great rhythm guitarist. Joe Pass once said that when he met people at clinics, he was always be the one comping while the guys blew over the changes, they didn't know how to comp. The best comping guys are the one that actually make their rhythm sound like a chord solo (if you've ever tried that, try it out, that is the most difficult thing on the guitar)
# 13
MikeP.
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MikeP.
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09/22/2002 2:15 am
You know what? I actually agree with you lalimacefolle. These past couple of weeks I've seriously considered trying to learn jazz but without any lessons. I'll learn covers and then put what I learned into those covers trying to cop what they do in my own playing. I already do that to some extent when I solo over different chord changes, or just play over a song trying to capture the feel without playing what they are playing.

I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
# 14
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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09/22/2002 9:31 am
Who did you study back at GIT dude? I thought you saw all kinds of music there? Did you graduate or was it only a year?
# 15
MikeP.
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MikeP.
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09/22/2002 6:26 pm
I only did the 1 year program (94-95). Most of the core learning was music theory, ear training, private instructions/and lab, live workshops(playing covers/originals, and videotaped performances with critique), etc. Basically you ate, slept, breathed music. When you were not at the school (wich I was at for most of the day) you were studying at home/and or jamming with friends, and or had band practice, or both).

Lot's and lots more went on there but would take many many pages to fill up and even then I'm sure I would have left some things out.
I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
# 16
MikeP.
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MikeP.
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09/22/2002 6:27 pm
oops forgot....Nick Nolan was my private instructor/tutor.
I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
# 17
MikeP.
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MikeP.
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09/22/2002 6:30 pm
and yes i did see all kinds of music there...but at the time I was not even remotely interested in Jazz all though I did think Joe Diorio was a god on the guitar.
I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
# 18
MikeP.
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MikeP.
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09/22/2002 6:31 pm
of that same era Tommy Tedesco was great too.
I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
# 19
lalimacefolle
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lalimacefolle
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09/22/2002 7:23 pm
Man, I had been recruited as a guitar student by the university of florida, but since I'm french, and it's not in our culture to save LOTS of money to get an education, I could only attend some international Master Classes.
I'm now a pro guitarist/instructor, but I'd love to take a year off to do that kind of stuff... You know getting up in the morning and playing music... errr.. wait, that's what I do? hmmmmm.... :)
# 20

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