It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Looking back I kind of understood what modes were and how to use them from a theoretical point of view. What I didn't have was any 'flying hours' using them.
I think I wanted to master them in an afternoon too! That created a lot of mental blocks for me that I just couldn't get my head around it.
This time as I've said I picked 1 mode. Actually 1 pattern from 1 mode and played with that for a while.
I'm about 2 months into learning this stuff and I'm not putting a huge amount of time into it but making more progress than I have done before.
Because I'm focusing on a small area I'm noticing improvement, that improvement is keeping me motivated to keep going and it seems to be getting easier as I go.
Baby steps and all that.
Accompany yourself. Just a single note drone is all you need. It can be as much in your head as an actual sound. Find other notes that sound nice with it. Then push the envelope. What if you throw in a flat 5? How about playing both minor thirds over it at the same time? Experiment with runs, playing for example, the major third on the way up and the minor third on the way down. Do all this with single note backing because they you are free to play anything - any scale, any tonality. Before too long you find yourself doing interesting new stuff.
Nix the backing track.
The advice doesn't change though- this is why I advocate for getting on it because the same concerns and issues are always there waiting for you to work on. People either do it or they don't.
Don't rush it- it does take a while to get but the great thing is when you get little wins, which spurs you on.
A positive mental attitude really helps, although I didn't have that for the first decade, I used the stick rather than the carrot.
So I didn't have as much fun as other people but I still got there.
One thing in that thread I didn't say is I would get the major scale and modes sorted well before melodic/harmonic minor modes. The best advice I can give anyone is 'don't major in minor things'. Put your attention to things that will really progress your playing.
Harmonising the major scale, focussing on playing chord progressions with arpeggios so that you can do with without thinking 'where does my finger go next' is still quite a lot of work and it will transform your playing much more than more esoteric but 'cool' sounding stuff.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
It will be so much harder doing it yourself/youtube videos.
At least for a year- then you can deploy the method once you know what it is.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
https://www.facebook.com/benswanwickguitar
I sometimes get bored of the pentatonic format, but then find new players, like Kirk Fletcher, and realise I'm no where near ready to leave it yet - Saying that I only use the pentatonic as a basic sketch pad, as I add 9th maj 3rd, flat 5th, 6th etc as required to work with the pentatonic notes
The issue I have is trying to play a melodic solo - Maybe the best way of describing this is the Brick in the wall solo - Most of us can sing it front to back - Jam over this chord sequence - But now pretend you are Dave Gilmour and recording this for the first time - Don't copy the original - But try and play a melodic solo that will have the same character ie instantly memorable - And I can't even come close - I can doodle time after time - But can't play/write such a melodic solo - Ditto All Right now etc etc
I reckon if you went to a teacher and showed him/her where you were in your playing and asked for some tips to help you make a step change to the next level, that would inspire you.
Also, this post below is really excellent; if you could go through this, slowly, with someone to demonstrate on a piano what's been written, it would be really helpful for you.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Listen to a different type of music than you usually do and get inspired. Good luck.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Don't think in terms of scales and modes when you're playing. Just think of melodies that fit with the chords ahead of you and learn to play those. I'm not saying it's simple because you need a good ear for melody and a good ability to translate what's in your head into what's under your fingers but it's the best way to learn
And to get there the best way is to learn other people's melodies - vocals, solos, bass lines, horn parts, classical stuff - ANYTHING. Take it, chunk it down into smaller parts and learn it by ear. It's honestly the only way to really get there.
https://youtu.be/zSTAvmXG5m8
I don't suffer from being bored with anything I just change my perspective. So, when I've reached saturation with blues backing tracks, scales, modes, etc I stop playing electric guitar for a couple of days and play acoustic, maybe with drop D or DADGAD or open tunings and slide.
A change is as good as a rest they say. I find the reeducation of my fingers, brain, posture, picking style and obviously choice of music works wonders so when I return to play rock guitar leads etc. I am totally refreshed.
I also never really try and learn a song or solo note perfect ... I agree with comments about imagining what it would sound like for the first time ... it's truly liberating. Fingers do find the rights frets, shapes, strings, bends, effects etc. but very rarely first time. It's great fun and inevitably it leads you to cultivate your own style.
BTW ... I am still totally crap ... but I'm also fearless in my approach to having a go at anything. I WILL improve and I know this so I never think too much about it.
I love guitar me !