Guitar Chat (lessons, gear talk and questions)

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

Ok gang, I have been approached about starting a thread like this one. Mods if you could sticky this that would be great. I am inviting everyone to join in. If you have a question then please ask. I will also be posting a lesson each week. Anyone else is welcome to do the same. I did this a couple of years back on the other CMR. It seemed to do ok until EZ boards went down and we lost a lot of threads. So I have decided to try again. Very Happy

RockfortheRock · Master of the Axe Number of posts: 535 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Sounds like fun. I've been playing for 1.65 years, and I can shred, tap, and sweep. I write power metal and melodeath with neo-classical and blues influenced guitar solos.

bgast1 · Number of posts: 458 Age: 58 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Thank you Jon. Now as to a couple of questions. Not too much yet because I am looking forward to your postings.

1. For someone like me who knows some chords, but needs to learn scales etc. could you elaborate on how a typical practice session should go.

2. I realize this is a subjective question, but for people who only have practice amps like mine -- Rocktron Rampage R10 with the following buttons or dials, overdrive button, gain, level, treble, bass, and a headphone jack. What are the best settings to start with. And is utilizing the headphone jack a good idea? My problem is that my cranky wife complains, it's too loud.

3. Could you start off with the basics.

4. If anyone knows about my particular guitar that I described in a thread below, can you comment. How well will this one do, or should I start looking for another guitar.

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

bgast1 wrote:

Thank you Jon. Now as to a couple of questions. Not too much yet because I am looking forward to your postings.

1. For someone like me who knows some chords, but needs to learn scales etc. could you elaborate on how a typical practice session should go.

2. I realize this is a subjective question, but for people who only have practice amps like mine -- Rocktron Rampage R10 with the following buttons or dials, overdrive button, gain, level, treble, bass, and a headphone jack. What are the best settings to start with. And is utilizing the headphone jack a good idea? My problem is that my cranky wife complains, it's too loud.

3. Could you start off with the basics.

4. If anyone knows about my particular guitar that I described in a thread below, can you comment. How well will this one do, or should I start looking for another guitar.

To answer question one. I start off with doing finger warm-ups or finger exercises. Depending on how they feel. This could last 5-30 minutes. This topic of warm-ups will probably be my first lesson.
Then I move on to scales. It depends on what scales I am working on as to how long and how much practice I need. Then I usually work on my songs.

Number two. Practice amps generally you can keep pretty low. I don't really see the need for headphones but if you have to that is alright. I would try this setting for metal. Gain-8, Treble-6, Middle-2, Bass-8 and volume to your own choosing.

Take your guitar to a store and have it set up. You should notice a difference. The guitar should do the job to start unless it is not functioning properly.

Lastly, yes I will start with the basics. Very Happy

Questionmark · Number of posts: 332 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Awesome! I look forward to it.

My first question, is there a secret to playing pinch harmonics? I tend to manage to get them 1/4 times when I try to tap the string with my thumb (the one holding the pick) not sure if I'm doing things right.

**alldatndensum** · Mission Of One Number of posts: 9986 Age: 40 Registration date: 2007-01-03

I am looking forward to learning the scales. I know a lot of chords, and have a book to look up new ones when I encounter them. But, I really NEED to know those lead scales. I'd also like to learn how to change positions when trying to do a lot of finger tapping so it doesn't sound so one sided and childlike.

_________________

"I have no desire to speak w/other tongues, I already do enough damage w/the one I have!!" - Candlemass

zombiewalkin · Number of posts: 1578 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Ive been playing for over 20 years and I might know one or two scales. Laughing

I just play whatever comes out of my twisted brain. With practice I sometimes stumble across really easy ways to do something that was once really hard...i.e learn how to do something correctly!!

bgast1 · Number of posts: 458 Age: 58 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Jon:

The settings you gave me for the amp worked very well.

Also, I got your PM from the other CMR site. Thanks.

As for the guitar setup, I am going to look for a store around me to set it up. Does anyone have any idea about how much this should cost me?

I live in Round Lake Beach, Il. This is northern Illinois, almost to the Wisconsin border. Is there anyone posting here that lives near me that might know of a good store?

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

Questionmark wrote:

My first question, is there a secret to playing pinch harmonics? I tend to manage to get them 1/4 times when I try to tap the string with my thumb (the one holding the pick) not sure if I'm doing things right.

The idea to a pinch harmonic is to have most of the pick between your thumb and finger. Just a little bit of the tip showing. When you hit the string your thumb should just very lightly hit the string as it passes by. Wink

_Wes · Number of posts: 1924 Age: 42 Registration date: 2007-04-07

maybe we could start a bass thread too - this was a great idea gh - thanks!

:)

_________________
_Wes
InnerSiege Myspace
InnerSiege bassist

Questionmark · Number of posts: 332 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Yea, its nice of GH to share a bit of his genius with us newbs. Smile

I'm working on those harmonics too, thanks.

For those looking to learn scales, I'd suggest going Pentatonic first then the modes. Figuring out how modes worked was my biggest breakthrough as a lead player.

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

OK, this is the first lesson. I always start my students off with a finger warm-up. Why? Many reason. One, to warm the hands to prevent injury. Two, build up your speed. Three, to build up your accuracy.
Start off slow and build up your speed. If your hand starts to hurt then stop. You don't want to hurt yourself. Just warm up.
The warm-up will be broken up into finger groups. The first group is a grouping of two fingers. The second group is of three fingers and the final warm-up is all four. The reason for the groups is to make every finger the same in strength and accuracy. I am taking it for granted that you can all read tab. I want you to match the fingers with the frets. So if you are going to play the second fret use your second finger. If you are going to play the 4th fret use your pinky. Try these warm-ups backwords as well. Alright, have fun.

E---------------------------1-2-2-1----------------------------
B----------------------1-2-----------2-1-----------------------
G----------------1-2----------------------2-1------------------
D-----------1-2---------------------------------2-1------------
A------1-2-------------------------------------------2-1-------
E-1-2------------------------------------------------------2-1-

E--------------------------2-3-3-2----------------------------
B---------------------2-3-----------3-2-----------------------
G----------------2-3---------------------3-2------------------
D-----------2-3--------------------------------3-2------------
A------2-3------------------------------------------3-2-------
E-2-3-----------------------------------------------------3-2-

E--------------------------3-4-4-3----------------------------
B---------------------3-4-----------4-3-----------------------
G----------------3-4---------------------4-3------------------
D-----------3-4--------------------------------4-3------------
A------3-4------------------------------------------4-3-------
E-3-4-----------------------------------------------------4-3-

E--------------------------1-3-3-1---------------------------
B---------------------1-3-----------3-1----------------------
G----------------1-3---------------------3-1-----------------
D-----------1-3-------------------------------3-1------------
A------1-3-----------------------------------------3-1-------
E-1-3----------------------------------------------------3-1-

E--------------------------2-4-4-2-----------------------------
B---------------------2-4-----------4-2------------------------
G----------------2-4---------------------4-2-------------------
D-----------2-4--------------------------------4-2-------------
A------2-4-------------------------------------------4-2-------
E-2-4------------------------------------------------------4-2-

E--------------------------1-4-4-1--------------------------
B---------------------1-4-----------4-1---------------------
G----------------1-4---------------------4-1----------------
D-----------1-4-------------------------------4-1-----------
A------1-4-----------------------------------------4-1------
E-1-4---------------------------------------------------4-1-

bgast1 · Number of posts: 458 Age: 58 Registration date: 2007-04-07

I don't know how to read tab, but I think that I can get by exercising my fingers with what you have posted here.

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

Let me explain then. The horizontal lines represent the strings. The top line is the thinnest and the bottom is the thickest. The numbers are the frets. You read it from left to right just like a book and play as you read.
Does this make sense? Smile

bgast1 · Number of posts: 458 Age: 58 Registration date: 2007-04-07

I think so, the first exercise uses your first two fingers across the first and second fret, ie f, f# then B,B#or C flat? That is if I got the notes right. and so on.

But these exercises could take place anywhere on the fretboard though, is that correct, but probably best at the top because that is where the largest distance spread is?

scottmitchell74 · Number of posts: 4945 Age: 35 Registration date: 2007-03-07

Guitarhoops - thanks so much!! I'm a beginner and I'm having an occasional lesson to get me started in the right direction but I forgot to ask about warm ups....this will be perfect. Thanks!

bgast1 · Number of posts: 458 Age: 58 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Does anyone know of any good websites that have rythum guitar on CD so that I can play along with, or instructional CD's. I don't want to spend any money yet without some kind of input. Like all of you I suppose, I am wary of being scammed. Or how can I do my own rythums?

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

bgast1 wrote:

I think so, the first exercise uses your first two fingers across the first and second fret, ie f, f# then B,B#or C flat? That is if I got the notes right. and so on.

But these exercises could take place anywhere on the fretboard though, is that correct, but probably best at the top because that is where the largest distance spread is?

You are correct. The first four fret will help you stretch the muscles in your hand. Wink

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Guitarhoops - thanks so much!! I'm a beginner and I'm having an occasional lesson to get me started in the right direction but I forgot to ask about warm ups....this will be perfect. Thanks!

Your welcome. Very Happy

guitarhoops · Number of posts: 553 Age: 38 Registration date: 2007-01-03

Ok gang, now onto the grouping of three fingers. Don't forget to play them backwards.

E------------------------------------1-2-3-3-2-1---------------------------------------
B-----------------------------1-2-3---------------3-2-1--------------------------------
G----------------------1-2-3-----------------------------3-2-1-------------------------
D---------------1-2-3--------------------------------------------3-2-1-----------------
A--------1-2-3-----------------------------------------------------------3-2-1----------
E-1-2-3--------------------------------------------------------------------------3-2-1--

E------------------------------------2-3-4-4-3-2----------------------------------------
B-----------------------------2-3-4---------------4-3-2---------------------------------
G----------------------2-3-4-----------------------------4-3-2--------------------------
D---------------2-3-4--------------------------------------------4-3-2------------------
A--------2-3-4-----------------------------------------------------------4-3-2----------
E-2-3-4--------------------------------------------------------------------------4-3-2--

E------------------------------------1-2-4-4-2-1--------------------------------------
B-----------------------------1-2-4---------------4-2-1-------------------------------
G----------------------1-2-4-----------------------------4-2-1------------------------
D---------------1-2-4--------------------------------------------4-2-1----------------
A--------1-2-4----------------------------------------------------------4-2-1---------
E-1-2-4-------------------------------------------------------------------------4-2-1-

E------------------------------------1-3-4-4-3-1------------------------------------
B-----------------------------1-3-4---------------4-3-1-----------------------------
G----------------------1-3-4-----------------------------4-3-1----------------------
D---------------1-3-4-------------------------------------------4-3-1---------------
A--------1-3-4---------------------------------------------------------4-3-1--------
E-1-3-4-----------------------------------------------------------------------4-3-1-