Joined: Dec 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,078 Location: UK
Re: I feel like I've plateaued in my guitar playin « Result #1 on Nov 26, 2009, 8:35pm »
Hopefully now that I've organised the lead lessons page into types of lessons you should be able to find it a bit easier to get these specific lessons you're after. It's really in "Exercises to build speed, stamina or for warmup" that at first I think you'll find what you're after on Shredaholic, and there are loads of decent lessons or exercises there to choose from.
For your situation I'd make sure first that you are familiar with chromatic exercises, either in the lesson I wrote or the much more detailed lesson Tennyson just sent us (10 Guitar Speed Training Exercises That No Guitar Player Should Be Without!). After you've really got the hang of those with massive amounts of repetition, add to your practice schedule something a bit different from the list of exercises. You won't need anything too advanced for solos like Orion's because if I remember rightly those solos are mostly pentatonic and minor shapes with a lot of pull offs and bends (as opposed to sweep picking which is considerably more difficult to perfect).
You should also benefit quite a bit from the more 'wordy' (for want of a better word) lessons we have, such as the Tom Hess lessons on how to improve your guitar technique (that's a 2 part one), or 'misconceptions in practicing for speed' by Mike Philippov. Sometimes to really continue improving you have to step away from the exercise based lessons and use lessons like these that break down exactly how you're playing your solos in detail and get you to focus on making your picking and fretting as efficient as possible.
Joined: Nov 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 1 Location: SD, California
I feel like I've plateaued in my guitar playing « Result #2 on Nov 24, 2009, 7:37am »
I have been playing guitar for approximately 4 years now, and every once in awhile I feel like I've stopped improving, but I manage to overcome the task and start learning more. But as of late, I feel like all the effort I'm putting forth isn't helping me. It started when I had tried learning the song Orion by MetallicA. I could learn the whole song, except the final shredding solo. Now obviously, since I am on this website I am wanting to learn how to really shred. I have never been able to play that fast and it really frustrates me. I've looked for different exercises on the internet to help me increase speed and accuracy but most sites won't divulge much information without making you pay. If anyone would be able to give me a little nudge in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.
Joined: Dec 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,078 Location: UK
New Lead Guitar Lessons Page « Result #3 on Nov 18, 2009, 11:43pm »
Opinions? Likes/dislikes?
I'm hoping to put a small frame on the page to list the most recently added lessons, probably down the side. Also, the spacing between lines is a bit big so I need to look into reducing that.
If anyone wants to just copy the source code, try changing it up a bit in a web editor and posting the results, go for it! Any ideas are welcome.
where to go next « Result #4 on Nov 4, 2009, 5:59am »
so heres the thing I've been playing electric guitar now for almost 8 months I am self taught I know the basic chords and know alot of scales but I just don't know where to go after that and how to piece them together I play mostly metal music any help would be great thanks
Joined: Dec 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,078 Location: UK
Re: 8-Finger Tapping PT.3 « Result #5 on Nov 1, 2009, 7:39pm »
I haven't uploaded this to the main site yet have I? The lead lessons page is (finally) getting reworked into categories, I'll try get it done when that goes up very soon.
Joined: Dec 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 1,078 Location: UK
Re: MXR Flanger Question for Richard Baines « Result #6 on Oct 21, 2009, 6:48pm »
The problem with fitting that 15v regulator circuit to an original MXR Flanger is that theres just no space inside the box to do it, but if you've figured out how to tap off the DC input with wires then you should be able to power them from an external box you make yourself. Just try obtain a small metal chassis (from smallbear electronics or somewhere similar) , and put a pair of power jacks on either side of the chassis, one for 9v in, one for 15v out.
I did find out after making the report that you can buy a 15v transformer quite easily though, so thats another option.
MXR Flanger Question for Richard Baines « Result #7 on Oct 18, 2009, 3:35pm »
I have had my MXR flanger for 25 or so years and it recently came down with an illness. I determined that the internal transformer has died. I found this excellent website and Richards in depth report on the MXR flanger. I was hoping you could help me understand how to convert my pedal to incorporate the 9v to 17v step up circuit coupled with a low dropout 15v voltage regulator you spoke about in the build report. I have figured out how to bypass the transformer and run wires to a D/C jack. I would like to power the pedal with my Voodoo Labs pedal power 2 and was curious if you have any suggestions. I am inclosing a few pics of my baby, Thanks in advance.
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 192 Location: Netherlands
Lyrics « Result #8 on Oct 16, 2009, 2:00pm »
Yes, I'm actually starting a thread about lyrics. Up until now I've been doing all of the lyrics for my band, but I'm not really content. Frankly, I just put in as many "strange" english words, because it would sound kinda cool, but the lyrics simply suck. Any advice on this subject? (I know a shred forum isn't the best forum to post this at lol)
Joined: Jan 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 380 Location: Wales, uk
Re: Any advice? « Result #9 on Oct 13, 2009, 7:02pm »
The only difference between active and passive speaker monitors is the need for an external power amp on the passive ones...
I think that if its on full blast all the time then there is something wrong with the internals or possibly the knob pot etc is broken on full blast...
I thought speaker monitors tended to come in pairs too...
How old is it? I know people knock the behringer stuff but they make active and passive monitors that are pretty decent.....colleg I did sound enigneering at had the passive ones cant see there being much difference between the two other than inbuilt amps and price...
Joined: Oct 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 1 Location: myspace.com
Any advice? « Result #12 on Oct 11, 2009, 11:26pm »
Hello fellow shredders! I have a question I'm hoping someone can help me with. I have a studio speaker/monitor, it's an "ACOUSTIC" brand model 'ARS6". It's an active bi-amp speaker/monitor. The problem I have is that when i hook it up it's volume is at "full blast" and the volume control knob on the speaker doesn't do anything if I turn it up or down, it's just constantly "Full Blast". Can anyone who is "tech savy" please troubleshoot me possibilities for the problem? Thanks for your time and keep those strings shredding.
Uh, dude...I work like 82 hours a week. The only time I check the forum is when in at the office. Besides, its complicated tring to send 3.2 gigs of imformation in sections.
Dude, you should .rar all those files and post them on filefront.com... and then put the url for your downloads here. That will get them out to everyone and it doesn't cost a thing. Hell
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 192 Location: Netherlands
Re: Give me your opignion « Result #15 on Sept 22, 2009, 4:14pm »
I've got French at school, so I'll try to reply in French
Je pense que tu rocks! Ce n'est pas mon genre préféré, mais c'est encore (?) très bien! J'aime bien la chanson avec les guitars acoustique (Mais, naturellement, les chansons autres sont très bien aussi) I hope you can forgive my bad French, but it's the best I can do^^
New online guitar school « Result #16 on Sept 22, 2009, 11:29am »
Hey guys. I just wanted to let you know about Next Generation Guitar school. Which contains a lot of shredding chops with all kinds of different techniques, and now also with 7 string chops. There is also a free class so you can see what its about. All the licks contains video, technical description and theoretical description. And there is a forum as a support if you have any questions. The adress is www.nextgenerationguitar.com
That's now a old album (2006) and I work on a new track but a want to have a idea of my music... Please in a simply english if you can because I'm french
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 422 Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: Tremolo picking help? « Result #25 on Aug 11, 2009, 1:12am »
No problem,
Although you might get another response from another member, so don't forget to check back. I'm well aware of that exercise, you should go with it for awhile but there is going to be a point where it won't do you any good. I use to use (and still do for purpose of writing) the G Ionian scale for practice. Lemmie know if you see any progress, and feel free to ask another question.
Re: Tremolo picking help? « Result #28 on Aug 10, 2009, 10:16pm »
hey blank, thanks for replying. Yeah, part of me still thinks that my hand just isnt used to picking the thicker strings. When I mess around on the guitar, I barely ever use the thicker three strings, instead focusing on the three thinner strings, so that might be the reason why - i just need to keep on practising I might isolate some picking exercises so they are purely on the thicker strings to get my chops up to speed and my hand used to them Ive mainly been using Troy Stetina's "Speed Mechanics.." book and the first tremolo exercises, namely: e--15-0-0-0-14-0-0-0-12... decending down the fretboard across all strings and with 16th notes. I might slow things down as you say. Im pretty confident that my left hand is in sync for these exercises, but i'm going to use your suggestion of slowing down and see if my technique is off. As for my hand "Binding up", the tone knobs generally aren't in the way at all during my picking, though I might just brush them with my pinky when im picking the thinnest E string.
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 422 Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: Tremolo picking help? « Result #29 on Aug 10, 2009, 8:30pm »
Hey man,
Welcome to the forums. Don't worry about making a post on this sort of subject, my first "help" post is back there in the pages
I think that this problem occurs with most guitarists, to some degree. When I first started I had trouble with the thinner strings, but the thicker ones were easy peasey. When you say you "anchor my little finger on the bridge pickup ring", does it bind up your hand? To be more specific, how much room does your finger have between it and tone knobs/switches?
Pick sizes and string gauges shouldn't really affect anything as it is personal prefrence (altough going from 9's to 12's will feel awkward unless you detune). When you practice with a metronome at 70bpm, you shouldn't be shooting for 16th notes and beyond. Start slow, as in quater notes and work your way up to eights and so on. This way you'll force you hand to get use to picking will be able to look at your hand and see if something is preventing it from achieving a higher speed (such as faulty picking technique). The picking hand is naturally fast, the fretting hand is the one that needs to synchronize, could it be a problem with yourfretting hand?
Tremolo picking help? « Result #30 on Aug 10, 2009, 8:00pm »
Hi everyone, new to this forum. Firstly, apologies for posting another "beginner here, need help" sort of post, just getting a bit frustrated. Basically, ive been learning to shred for a few months and i'm perfectly able to tremolo pick nicely on the thinner G B and E strings. I use a ultex Jazz iii, and anchor my little finger on the bridge pickup ring. My problem is im just unable to pick with any speed whatsoever on the thicker E A D strings (i use d'adaario 9's), even at speeds such as 70bpm. My hand just seems to encounter quite a bit of resistance from the strings which renders me unable to attain speed. For those more expereinced and proficient than me, was this a notable problem you encountered in your beginner days? Anything you can think of that might help? Many thanks for any feedback.
« Last Edit: Aug 10, 2009, 8:01pm by robharries13 »
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 422 Location: Charlotte, NC
8-Finger Tapping PT.3 « Result #31 on Aug 10, 2009, 5:48am »
**Sorry for the long delay on getting this part posted**
This next part, as promised, will be taking our tapping technique and applying it to something more musical. The examples will be easy to play and are designed to show you how you can use 8-finger tapping to get some 'nice' sounding riffs.
There are numerous ways to look at "how am I going to apply this?", but we'll take it at the basic form, scales. Take alook at the notes in the C major scale: C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C
Played on the B string, you would have a nice long set of notes to play ascending the neck:
Let's take a fragment of that scale, something we would use for regular tapping (the asterisk denotes a tapping with the picking hand, all other notes should be tapped with the fretting hand):
If we look back to the scale, we see that C is just a half-note away, so why don't we add that in the tap using our middle finger, aswell as starting the scale over with D and E:
If played at a decent tempo, you'll get a "happy" sound. That of course, is just one way to look at it. Let's stay in scales, but add a small twist to it. If you know your relative minors/majors, then you'll understand this more than those of you who don't.
Using C major, we know our relative minor is A minor. If we apply the same way of "spreading the notes out", lets say on the G string, we'll have close access to another set of notes to use.
So, we now have two runs that let us use the technique, let's combine them to make an exercise that will teach you how to move from one string to another while using 8-finger tapping:
For the sake of alignment, I didn't type out the descending part, but you should do so for practice. When you are tapping with your picking hand, you should move you fretting hand to the next position. When you first try this, play it as slow as possible. That way, you'll get use to moving your hands around.
This is just one way of using 8-finger tapping. Essentially, you could just call this "Multi-finger tapping", as you're not always going to use 8 finger . With this simple rule in mind, try using it with other scales and combine it with other techniques.
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 422 Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: Soloing (what are you thinking!) « Result #34 on Aug 1, 2009, 4:46am »
If you;re looking to nail the solo right on, as in just like the recorded version, then I suggest play with the song. Even if you can't do the parts, try your best. That'll give you some-what of a feel. Also, even if it's off-beat sounding, play along with a metronome at a nice slow speed, somewhere between 65-80bpm.
I have to slow sections down and play them as slow as possible if they're complex and technical (such as Necrophagist, Psycroptic ect).
Re: Soloing (what are you thinking!) « Result #35 on Jul 31, 2009, 12:56am »
thanks for you input guys and nice to meet you all. little bit about my background. ive been playing on and off for 10 years. guitarists i look up to are ace frehley and eddie van halen not to mention many others. recently ive been learning solos from books eg kiss alive! book, the hardest part was learing the phrasing and timing. a solo like firehouse where licks dont start on the beat are (for me) impossible to learn. any tips on learning and how to practice these licks?
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 192 Location: Netherlands
Re: Soloing (what are you thinking!) « Result #36 on Jul 30, 2009, 7:57pm »
Well, to me, it depends on wether I am improvising or not. If the solo was already composed, I just play that, now and then with a little alternation in the phrasing and sometimes re-writing parts of it.
As for improvising: It's just what I know that HAS to come next, so to say. I don't have a great idea for what stuff I'm going to play, like "I've had this lick, now this one". Sometimes I have a theme, sometimes I play parts of licks, but I always come up with either the lick or the moment in which to use the lick at the moment.
And for counting... I kinda "feel" that as well, I never really liked counting. Sometimes I count beforehand for... how are they called in english? sixtuplets? Anyways, weird rhythmical stuff.
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 422 Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: Soloing (what are you thinking!) « Result #37 on Jul 30, 2009, 2:07am »
Welcome to the forums.
I think it's different for every guitarist. I use to count out the measures when I was first getting into 'playing shred', but now it's second nature so I don't count it at all but know what tempo I should be or am at. That is of course, when I'm playing something thought-out and theory based.
Any other time I just play by what sounds good to my ears, even if it sounds to slow or to fast for others. This is when I normally don't care about having a steady beat or sticking to a certain tempo.
Soloing (what are you thinking!) « Result #38 on Jul 29, 2009, 9:14pm »
hi all ive been thinking of this for a while. when soloing are you counting 1ee & aa 2 ee & aa or what ever the pattern is, are you just counting quarter notes, you do you just play by feel? is there another method you use? thanks mike
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 422 Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: FRETT BUZZ!! HElP « Result #41 on Jul 23, 2009, 9:43pm »
Meh, I dunno what I was thinking..
You'll need some allen keys if you want to raise the saddle(s). Although if you do decide to adjust your truss rod, I would suggest going into a shop and having someone do it for you.
Another thing it could be, check for any indentations on the fith fret. I have a few on my imitation strat and the one on the 3rd fret below (besides open) gets stuck in the divit and makes a horrible sound.
Joined: Jan 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 380 Location: Wales, uk
Re: FRETT BUZZ!! HElP « Result #44 on Jul 22, 2009, 8:31pm »
Fret buzz is I believe caused by a few culprits sometimes it's a simple truss rod adjustment that can cure it or it could be the action being a bit too low.
If it is a sixe saddle style tele bridge just try raising the action of the low E some when the strings are too close to the frets they rub against each other and vibrate this cuases that annoying buzz noise..
The only other thing could be the fret raising slightly at the low E side, however I would think from the description that you may only need a slight truss Rod adjustment and the action raised a tad, i'd suggest you Raise the low E saddle as this is the simplest thing to do and isnt as intense as adjusting the truss rod.
I cant recall offhand which direction you'd need to adjust it I will try searching for something with a more indepth description, I have seen a description with pictures describing what to do, I think you need to use a straight edge along the frets and there should be a slight dip between 5 and 7, dont mess around with it too much, and only turn the truss rod very lightly..
Joined: Jan 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 380 Location: Wales, uk
Re: gain boosts « Result #45 on Jul 22, 2009, 8:20pm »
Seems they go for around about $99 us I'm sure it's a solid OD Pedal but as untruths budget he said just realised hes also based in aus well that changes things...
Still I think the ZW is overpriced to begin with for what it is nothing really different to a boss SD-1 with a metal casing and the graphic...
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Hello fellow shredders! I have a question I'm hoping someone can help me with. I have a studio speaker/monitor, it's an "ACOUSTIC" brand model 'ARS6". It's an active bi-amp speaker/monitor. The problem I have is that when i hook it up it's volume is at "full blast" and the volume control knob on the speaker doesn't do anything if I turn it up or down, it's just constantly "Full Blast". Can anyone who is "tech savy" please troubleshoot me possibilities for the problem? Thanks for your time and keep those strings shredding.
(Mais, naturellement, les chansons autres sont très bien aussi)
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