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Rock Guitar Lessons

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1:28 6/8 Rock Ballad w/Solo - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hello all! For this lesson I wrote a little rock ballad primarily using the 6/8 time signature. Not sure about time signatures? Check out this lesson. INTROThe intro is pretty basic. When playing, be sure you can hear the 6/8 beat behind the music. ...
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1:30 6/8 Rock Ballad w/Solo - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock I took the guitars out for the backing track. Enjoy!
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2:59 In The Style Of Tom Morello: Part 1, Intro and Performance Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey all, We're going to tackle some of the cool sounds produced by the riff lord, Tom Morello. I've put together a short track with a heavy riff, DJ inspired verse and the infamous record scratching sounds you hear on tracks like "Bulls On Parade". ...
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3:44 In The Style Of Tom Morello: Part 2, Main Riff Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock First, lets tackle the loose, funky riff that makes the song groove. This is a very simple idea that involves keeping your picking hand loose and consistent on the attack, allowing your fretting hand to determine when notes jump out.
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2:20 In The Style Of Tom Morello: Part 3, DJ-inspired verse Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock For part 3, we'll use an extremely simple technique to generate the RATM feel. The rhythm is the most important factor here, but the tone is very important as well. Remember to be as precise and clean as possible here, the opposite of the previous pa...
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3:53 In The Style Of Tom Morello: Part 4, Record Scratch Sounds Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Intermediate Topic: Effects Style: Rock Finally, lets try our hand at reproducing the "record scratch" sound we hear on "Bulls On Parade". This is done via toggle switch gating. The tone of the guitar will need to be very treble heavy and sensitive to make this easier, I recommend using a ...
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2:18 In The Style Of Tom Morello: Backing Track Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Enjoy the backing track!
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10:32 Basic Mixing Tips: Aggressive Guitar Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Hi all! This month we're looking a some tips for getting a good, clean mix doing your own recordings. In this first example we'll deal with some ways to treat heavy electric guitar tracks. First we'll use our four band equalizer to find some offens...
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4:17 Basic Mixing Tips: Heavy Electric Bass Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Next lets tweak our bass sound! Bass can be a little difficult to mix into a track, particularly with a really thick sounding track that is drop tuned like our example. Since the low note we're dealing with here is "B", we'll want to keep the bottom...
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5:10 Basic Mixing Tips: Searing Lead Guitar Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Now lets address the lead guitar. First and foremost, I like to use a different amp sound to contrast the rhythm guitars. Since we want the lead to sit on top of the mix to show off our hot licks, I choose a midrange heavy amp and use the equalizer t...
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4:24 Basic Mixing Tips: Mixing All the Instruments Together Instructor: Lucas Fowler Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock In this last section, I'll listen through the track and make minor adjustments so that everything is clearly separated. Remember to listen to all the sections of your song back to back, so that you can hear if anything seems too quiet or too loud. If...
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5:37 Licks ala Eric Johnson: Intro & Lick 1 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hi all! Back with another tutorial! This time we'll be looking at three licks in the style of Eric Johnson. All of these licks will be focused around sixteenth note E minor pentatonic runs. The licks will include some alternate picking as well ...
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3:46 Licks ala Eric Johnson: Lick 2 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The second lick is almost a continuation of the first lick. It starts off the b7 (D) of the E minor pentatonic scale which is in the G position of the caged system. It quickly shifts into the E position of the pentatonic scale and ascends in 5 note ...
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4:04 Licks ala Eric Johnson: Lick 3 & Outro Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The final lick explores the other postions of the pentatonic slightly more than the first and second. We start at the top of the Gm position of the CAGED system and dscend into the Am position. The "turn around" of this lick happens right at the beg...
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1:58 Playing Vintage Guitars - Song Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Before we dive in, note that we have backing tracks at both normal speed(88bpm) and slower speed(65bpm). If you're a beginner, start out with the slower one so you can work on keeping your technique clean at a slower pace. We're going to start out t...
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1:57 Playing Vintage Guitars - Backing Track (88bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here we have the backing track at normal speed, 88bpm. If you need to practice it slower, check out the next page to practice with the 65bpm version. Have fun!
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2:37 Playing Vintage Guitars - Backing Track (65bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This backing is slowed down to 65bpm. Practice it here, then at some point try to graduate yourself to the normal 88bpm version. Most of all, have fun while you learn!
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2:52 Picking Workout For Beginners - Intro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock This tutorial is special. I'm going back to the basics with picking technique and this time I'm giving you an inside look into my own routine and how I've single-handedly taken every technique I've approached and totally mastered it! Pay close atten...
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10:15 Picking Workout For Beginners - Essential Lecture (WATCH) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this video I spill all the secrets. We're going to cover my deep thoughts on how to abtain the ultimate essense of: 1. Musical Awareness2. Time Feel3. Touch - Note Duration4. Relaxation Enjoy :)
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1:28 Picking Workout For Beginners - 1st Routine Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock This exercise should be relaxing and fun. You should also be able to monitor your progress every step of the way. This is not to say it WILL be easy for you at first. But rest assured that if you put forth your attention to this exercise fully, you W...
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1:51 Picking Workout For Beginners - 2nd Routine Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock This exercise should also be simply relaxing and fun. Monitor your progress ever step of the way. This time we are adding another string to demonstrate legato, or playing from note to note as smoothly as possible. This is SUPER IMPORTANT. Don't be la...
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3:14 Picking Workout For Beginners - Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Rinse and repeat until you sound like me. Then take these principles into your practice routines and implement them into your own lines. It's super important. I'm literally teaching you to not only cut your practice routines in half, but to also trac...
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2:05 Picking Workout For Beginners - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock PICKING WORKOUT FOR BEGINNERS Remember that the goal here is to fully capture the essense of: 1. Musical Awareness2. Time Feel3. Touch - Note Duration4. Relaxation Enjoy :)
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2:22 Picking Workout For Beginners - Backing Track (Slow) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock PICKING WORKOUT FOR BEGINNERS Remember that the goal here is to fully capture the essense of: 1. Musical Awareness2. Time Feel3. Touch - Note Duration4. Relaxation Enjoy :)
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2:26 Mixolydian Ear Training - Intro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Today we're going to use just a handful of notes to understand modes. We're going to explore the Major 9th, Major 3rd, and Minor 7th scales degrees to better understand E Mixolydian! Let's begin, AJ
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3:39 Mixolydian Ear Training - Tensions Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Understand that for every mode you explore there are chord tones and other intervals that make that mode sound the way it does. All other tones are used as "passing tones". Passing tones are used to embelish the intervals that color particular modes...
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1:23 Mixolydian Ear Training - Major 3rds Phrase Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock The major 3rd is a chord tone and can be used by itself. Keep in mind that it needs to reseolve to the tinic or root note by the end of any given phrase. You'll also notice that you can embelish the major 3rd by bending it up to the 4th scale degree...
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0:58 Mixolydian Ear Training - Major 9ths Phrase Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock The 9th scale degree is actually the "2nd" scale degree yet and octave up past the 8th(octave) scale degree making it a 9th from the root. Notice how the 9th too likes to resolve to the tonic or root note. You can prolong this action by moving up to...
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1:22 Mixolydian Ear Training - Minor 7ths Phrase Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock The minor 7th likes to resolve up to the root. Once again you can prolong your phrase and move through the different chord tones before ending the phrase properly. Notice at this point a scale acts just like that. It's balanced perfectly. The ...
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2:00 Mixolydian Ear Training - Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Notice at this point a scale acts just like that. It's balanced perfectly. The farther out say 9th or 6th degree, the weaker the movement and most times feels the need to hit say the 3rd or 5th before resolving down or up to the root. Chors tones alw...
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1:34 Mixolydian Ear Training - E Mixolydian Backing Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock MIXOLYDIAN EAR TRAINING This backing track has been remastered... Enjoy!
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1:51 Intervallic Licks Round II - Lick1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Here's another round of licks I'm visualizing using shapes as well as using intervallic pivot points (by ear) to gauge my position when phrasing my lines. Lick #1 is based on another 7th arpeggio shape. This like any other arpeggio can be transposed...
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2:18 Intervallic Licks Round II - Lick2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Lick #2 is based on another one of the same shapes as in the first video, only being tapped this time. We start with Gmaj7 then fall down to A7. The A7 arpeggio starts on the b7 degree. Analyze this shape and try it diatonically through the scale or ...
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1:35 Intervallic Licks Round II - Lick3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Lick #3 is a 6th intervallic exercise. I'll explain more in depth in the video so you can see exactly what I mean... When you're ready, go to the next page for the backing track! Thanks for stopping by guys!
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1:04 Intervallic Licks Round II - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock INTERVALLIC LICKS ROUND II Here's the backing track to this tutorial. Let's get shredding!!!!
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1:01 Dominant Lines - INTRO Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome to the tutorial! The dominant quality is based on the 5th scale degree of the major scale. This is the home of the Mixolydian sound. Throughout recent history this tonality has developed into various forms, but today we're just going to foc...
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1:14 Dominant Lines - Lick 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is Lick #1. The dominant quality is based on the 5th scale degree of the major scale. This is the home of the Mixolydian sound. Throughout recent history this tonality has developed into various forms, but today we're just going to focus on Mi...
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2:02 Dominant Lines - Lick 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is Lick #2. The dominant quality is based on the 5th scale degree of the major scale. This is the home of the Mixolydian sound. Throughout recent history this tonality has developed into various forms, but today we're just going to focus on Mi...
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1:41 Dominant Lines - Lick 3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is Lick #3. The dominant quality is based on the 5th scale degree of the major scale. This is the home of the Mixolydian sound. Throughout recent history this tonality has developed into various forms, but today we're just going to focus on Mi...
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1:09 Dominant Lines - Lick 4 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is Lick #4. The dominant quality is based on the 5th scale degree of the major scale. This is the home of the Mixolydian sound. Throughout recent history this tonality has developed into various forms, but today we're just going to focus on Mi...
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1:20 Dominant Lines - Lick 5 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is Lick #5. The dominant quality is based on the 5th scale degree of the major scale. This is the home of the Mixolydian sound. Throughout recent history this tonality has developed into various forms, but today we're just going to focus on Mi...
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1:52 Dominant Lines - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track!
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0:36 Cool Sweep-Tapping Lick Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Let's learn a cool lick! We're going to start with a sweep pattern going up CMaj7 (C - E - G - B), then down D7 (D - F# - A - C). After tapping the D7, we descend down to CMaj again, setting up to then descend down the GMaj7 (G - B - D - F#). After...
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2:03 Cool Sweep-Tapping Lick Explanation Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this video I'll break it down a bit. This lick starts with a sweep pattern going up CMaj7 (C - E - G - B), then down D7 (D - F# - A - C). After tapping the D7, we descend down to CMaj again, setting up to then descend down the GMaj7 (G - B - D - ...
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4:33 Chord Scale Trick - Chord Qualities Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock In this tutorial I'll show you how I've taking the concept of chords scales literally to visualizing both chord and scale at the same time to help play through changes. Let's begin! Chord Qualities are important to understand and map out before proc...
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2:18 Chord Scale Trick - Inversions Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock The inversions are fair play. Learn them thoroughly. The quicker you get at identifying them the better. See the Maj7 Lydian Chart below! Cmaj7 - C E G B C7 - C E G Bb Cmin7 - C Eb G Bb See if you can apply these intervallic structures to the ch...
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1:08 Chord Scale Trick - Chords Playthrough Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Here are the chords we'll be using with the backing track... Gmin7 - G - Bb - D - F (1 b3 5 b7) - Dorian G A Bb C D Eb F (G) Emin7 - E - G - B - D (1b3 5 b7) - Dorian E F# G A B C# D (E) EbMaj7 - Eb - G - Bb - D (1 3 5 7) - Lydian Eb F G A Bb C D ...
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4:27 Chord Scale Trick - Backing Track Rundown Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Here are the chords we'll be using with the backing track... Gmin7 - G - Bb - D - F (1 b3 5 b7) - Dorian G A Bb C D Eb F (G) Emin7 - E - G - B - D (1b3 5 b7) - Dorian E F# G A B C# D (E) EbMaj7 - Eb - G - Bb - D (1 3 5 7) - Lydian Eb F G A Bb C D ...
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5:13 Chord Scale Trick - Greg Howe Playthrough Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Here are the chords we'll be using with the backing track... Gmin7 - G - Bb - D - F (1 b3 5 b7) - Dorian G A Bb C D Eb F (G) Emin7 - E - G - B - D (1b3 5 b7) - Dorian E F# G A B C# D (E) EbMaj7 - Eb - G - Bb - D (1 3 5 7) - Lydian Eb F G A Bb C D ...
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4:11 Chord Scale Trick - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Enjoy the backing track!
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3:07 Songwriting - Chromatic Movement Explained Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Theory Style: Rock This month we're going to talk about one of my most used songwriting devices. Plainly speaking, when writting music I like to take a common chord progression and spice it up a bit. In this video, I explain how you can take an ordinary chord progress...
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3:20 Songwriting - Chromatic Movement - Functional Harmony Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Theory Style: Rock Functional Harmony is simply creating a chord from every note in the key. For instance, you have C major. C-D-E-F-G-A-B. C Major - C-E-G D minor - D-A-F E minor - E-G-B F Major - F-A-C G Major - G-B-D A minor - A-C-E B diminished - B-D-F The ...
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3:15 Songwriting - Chromatic Movement - Example 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Theory Style: Rock In Examples 1-3, we have this base chord progession: Dm - Am - C - G - F ---> Dm However, in this Example 3, we'll play the above progression then move our third chord C Major up a half step and finish the progession as closely to the original as...
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2:24 Songwriting - Chromatic Movement - Example 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Theory Style: Rock In Examples 1-3, we have this base chord progession: Dm - Am - C - G - F ---> Dm However, in this Example 3, we'll play the above progression then move our third chord C Major up a half step and finish the progession as closely to the original as...
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4:15 Songwriting - Chromatic Movement - Example 3 & Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Theory Style: Rock In Examples 1-3, we have this base chord progession: Dm - Am - C - G - F ---> Dm However, in this Example 3, we'll play the above progression then move our third chord C Major up a half step and finish the progession as closely to the original as...
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4:42 Pinch Harmonics - Intro & Explanation Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's a little fun technique I use to add a bit of spice to my playing. This technique is essential in adding that modern metal tone to your lines. If you want to sound like Greg Howe, Joe Satriani, and John Petrucci, then pay close attention! I ca...
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2:15 Pinch Harmonics - Ex.1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock I can't stress enough how important it is that you practice your pinch harmonics while playing your favorite lines. Practicing techniques within a fun context is essential to effective learning. Things to remember when playing pinch harmonics: 1. P...
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1:53 Pinch Harmonics - Ex.2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Exercise #2. Things to remember when playing pinch harmonics: 1. Pick through the string using your pick and the flesh of your thumb2. Practice the pinch technique while playing lines
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1:58 Pinch Harmonics - Ex.3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Exercise #3. Things to remember when playing pinch harmonics: 1. Pick through the string using your pick and the flesh of your thumb2. Practice the pinch technique while playing lines
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1:43 Pinch Harmonics - Ex.4 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Exercise #4. Things to remember when playing pinch harmonics: 1. Pick through the string using your pick and the flesh of your thumb2. Practice the pinch technique while playing lines
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2:29 Pinch Harmonics - Ex.5 & Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock You made it! Here we have the last one, Exercise #5. Things to remember when playing pinch harmonics: 1. Pick through the string using your pick and the flesh of your thumb2. Practice the pinch technique while playing lines Keep up with th...
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2:29 Pinch Harmonics - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Enjoy the backing track! Things to remember when playing pinch harmonics: 1. Pick through the string using your pick and the flesh of your thumb2. Practice the pinch technique while playing lines
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2:54 Line Integration - Intro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock In this tutorial we're going to take some basic concepts of time feel and use them to improve both our technique and vocabulary when improvising. To properly integrate a line you must know it inside and out. You must know your lines rhythmically and...
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4:44 Line Integration - Cycling Explanation Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock CYCLING: The method here is to take any lick you like and breaking it down in a way in which you can play it non stop to a metronome or drum loop. Keep in mind I don't use metronomes to build speed alone. I make sure I'm playing in time, thus innate...
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0:28 Line Integration - Rock Cycle Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock CYCLING: The method here is to take any lick you like and breaking it down in a way in which you can play it non stop to a metronome or drum loop. Keep in mind I don't use metronomes to build speed alone. I make sure I'm playing in time, thus innate...
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0:26 Line Integration - Fusion Cycle Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock CYCLING: The method here is to take any lick you like and breaking it down in a way in which you can play it non stop to a metronome or drum loop. Keep in mind I don't use metronomes to build speed alone. I make sure I'm playing in time, thus innate...
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4:26 Line Integration - Meter Pivoting Explanation Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock METER PIVOTING: Now here comes the fun part. Pivoting on the meter is crucial and revealing of your understanding of time using the lick you are playing. Time is the only way to play anything, and any thing can be played in any time as long as you ...
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0:46 Line Integration - Rock Pivoting (Downbeat) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock METER PIVOTING: Now here comes the fun part. Pivoting on the meter is crucial and revealing of your understanding of time using the lick you are playing. Time is the only way to play anything, and any thing can be played in any time as long as you ...
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0:45 Line Integration - Rock Pivoting (Offbeat) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock METER PIVOTING: Now here comes the fun part. Pivoting on the meter is crucial and revealing of your understanding of time using the lick you are playing. Time is the only way to play anything, and any thing can be played in any time as long as you ...
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0:43 Line Integration - Fusion Pivoting (Downbeat) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock METER PIVOTING: Now here comes the fun part. Pivoting on the meter is crucial and revealing of your understanding of time using the lick you are playing. Time is the only way to play anything, and any thing can be played in any time as long as you ...
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0:45 Line Integration - Fusion Pivoting (Offbeat) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock METER PIVOTING: Now here comes the fun part. Pivoting on the meter is crucial and revealing of your understanding of time using the lick you are playing. Time is the only way to play anything, and any thing can be played in any time as long as you ...
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2:08 Line Integration - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Enjoy the backing track! If you've worked hard at this you'll find your work is far from over. This is a discipline. If you want to become a professional who posesses his/her own sound, then you need to explore these methods everyday. I personally l...
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1:06 Line Integration - Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock If you've worked hard at this you'll find your work is far from over. This is a discipline. If you want to become a professional who posesses his/her own sound, then you need to explore these methods everyday. I personally love exploring time feel. T...
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2:19 Tone Philosophy - Introduction Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Hey Folks, So I've been getting a lot of questions about my tone over the last couple years or so and thought I'd take you through my mindset when creating my tone. As a disclaimer, this is not a tutorial on using the Eleven Rack Unit, but more of ...
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2:00 Tone Philosophy - Amps and Cabs Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock I tend to get a lot from John Petrucci, Joe Satriani, Marco Sfogli, and Andy Timmons when it comes to infuencing my amp tone. They are (or were) Mesa Boogie users at one point of another. Here's my map for finding my amp. 1. Mesa Boogie - Tredplate...
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7:35 Tone Philosophy - Equalization Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Equalization is not that crutial for live sound in my setup. However, it is needed for home recorded projects in my experience. Experiment with these and try not to tweak so much that you forget how the original amp is suppose to sound.
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6:06 Tone Philosophy - Ambience Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Creating ambience for your amp is crucial. Add a touch of reverb to your guitar tracks to add that space of a real life room. You will dig the difference. Beware not to add too much when double tracking the guitars as the effect too will doubl...
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8:23 Tone Philosophy - Preamp FX Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock When playing live, I like to use one amp setting for the whole show which means I'd have to set my amp for my rhythm setting, then kick on my tube screamer pedal for more gain. It's a win-win because I'm using a pedal that sounds great and I cut the ...
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11:48 Tone Philosophy - FX Loop Pt.1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Using the FX Loop is crucial for a signature sound. I'm not big on FX but the ones I do use are in my FX loop. In this video, I explain why I use these particular FX and why they're important.
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4:44 Tone Philosophy - FX Loop Pt.2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock And here is Part 2 for FX. Using the FX Loop is crucial for a signature sound. I'm not big on FX but the ones I do use are in my FX loop. In this video, I explain why I use these particular FX and why they're important.
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1:05 Tone Philosophy - Rhythm Guitar Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Here's my rhythm tone (untouched) in a recorded setting. All I did was sit these tracks from my Eleven Rack comfortably with the rest of the mix. Check it out.
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0:46 Tone Philosophy - Lead Guitar Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock Here's my lead tone (untouched and with my tube screamer engaged) in a recorded setting. All I did was sit this track from my Eleven Rack comfortably with the rest of the mix. Check it out.
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0:51 Tone Philosophy - Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Recording Style: Rock So that's all folks. You've learned what amp I use, the FX, and even a little bit of how I use outboard gear. If you haven't noticed already this whole setup comes more from my thoughts as a live player than that of a studio player. We can call it a ...
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1:14 Time Feel Concepts - Intro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this tutorial, we are going to use the various subdivisions of 4/4 time to improve on our sense of time. Here are the subdivisions broken down: 1/4 Note, 1/4 Note Triplets, 1/8 Note, 1/8 Note Triplets, 1/16 Note, 1/16 Not...
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4:50 Time Feel Concepts - The Concept Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this lesson I've provided two examples to show you how these subdivisions sound against time and how I sum them all into ascending and descending order! Here are the subdivisions broken down: 1/4 Note, 1/4 Note Triplets, 1/8 Note, ...
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0:58 Time Feel Concepts - Module 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's a scalar idea in Phrygian Dominant. Note that I'm playing these unrehearsed and in real time. So the tabs might be slightly different. This is fine as long as you understand the overall concept of what I'm trying to do and can apply it to your...
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0:49 Time Feel Concepts - Module 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's an E7 arpeggio I use a lot in my playing. Note that I'm playing these unrehearsed and in real time. So the tabs might be slightly different. This is fine as long as you understand the overall concept of what I'm trying to do and can apply it t...
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0:56 Time Feel Concepts - Module 3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's a 3:1 scalar idea where we play 3 notes on the first string, 1 note on the next string, and so on. Note that I'm playing these unrehearsed and in real time. So the tabs might be slightly different. This is fine as long as you understand the ov...
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0:56 Time Feel Concepts - Module 4 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Finally we have a tapping E7 arpeggio lick. I use this shape in many different chord qualities as well. This module is nice for building up 1st finger strength as well as time. Note that I'm playing these unrehearsed and in real time. So the tabs mi...
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1:10 Time Feel Concepts - Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock I hope you've learned quite a bit. If you're applying these principles properly, you should already be seeing a drastic improvement. I practice this way all the time. No more climbing the endless metronome ladder. Practicing to a groove is also way...
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2:15 Time Feel Concepts - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock And here we have the backing track with all the exercises and modules in the tab below. Just let it loop and get busy! Here are the subdivisions broken down: 1/4 Note, 1/4 Note Triplets, 1/8 Note, 1/8 Note Triplets, 1/16 Note,&nb...
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4:31 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Introduction Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock In this tutorial, I'm going to show you the quickest way to make the licks you spend so much time mastering a part of your playing. We're going to take three of my favorite shapes and move them diatonically to expose their various forms and qu...
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0:52 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Module 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Here we're using a two-stringed phrase or shape (Major Scale 1-6). Let's see how the first shape changes as we move diatonically up the fretboard and down. You should start seeing the following sclaes: Mixolydian-Aeolian-Locrian-Ionian-Dorian-Phriyg...
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0:53 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Module 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Here we're using a two-stringed phrase or shape (Major Triad). Let's see how the first shape changes as we move diatonically up the fretboard and down. You should start seeing the following Triads: Major-Minor-Diminished-Major-Minor-Minor-Major Doi...
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0:51 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Module 3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Here we're using a two-stringed phrase or shape (Major Triad 1-6). Let's see how the first shape changes as we move diatonically up the fretboard and down. You should start seeing the following sclaes: Major-Minor-Diminished-Major-Minor-Minor-Major ...
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0:29 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Mixing it Up! Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock In this module we're going to vary it up a bit.
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1:48 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Remember to practice these in different modes as well. You'll notice for triads there are only three types: Major, Minor, and Diminished. For all modes these just cycle in order starting from a different spot. Ex. Mixolydian - 5,6,7,1,2,3,4 ...
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1:33 Modular Phrasing Techniques: Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Theory Style: Rock Remember to practice these in different modes as well. You'll notice for triads there are only three types: Major, Minor, and Diminished. For all modes these just cycle in order starting from a different spot. Ex. Mixolydian - 5,6,7,1,2,3,4 ...
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1:56 Out In The Open - Intro and "Fatherland" Lick Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The Recut of my solo record "Out In The Open" will be out soon and ready for tour in the coming months. I thought now would be a great opportunity to give you a taste of what's to come! In this tutorial you'll find three licks that will keep yo...
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0:54 Out In The Open - "Exile" Lick Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock For Lick No.2, we'll be learning a section from the song entitled "Exile". Pay close attention to the tablature and practice slowly. Keep the legato clean! The Recut of my solo record "Out In The Open" will be out soon and ready for tour in the...
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1:31 Out In The Open - "Desperate Times" Lick & Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock For Lick No.3, we'll be learning a section from the song entitled "Desperate Times". Pay close attention to the tablature and practice slowly. Keep the legato clean! The Recut of my solo record "Out In The Open" will be out soon and ready for t...
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1:20 Out In The Open - "Fatherland" Backing Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have the backing track to my song entitled "Fatherland".
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2:02 Out In The Open - "Exile" Backing Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have the backing track to my song entitled "Exile".
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1:22 Out In The Open - "Desperate Times" Backing Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have the backing track to my song entitled "Desperate Times".
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1:21 Richie Kotzen Style Legato: Intro Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hello hello! I hope everyone is well! This time around I thought I'd talk a little about legato playing, specifically some Richie Kotzen patterns I learned a long time ago that I still use in my playing today. Each pattern is meant to be more of an...
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3:39 Richie Kotzen Style Legato: Pattern 1 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Alright this first pattern might be the most recognizable if you are familiar with Richie's playing, especially from the 1980's era Kotzen. This is the 6 note pattern I had mentioned in the last video. As you can see in the tab this can be approache...
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2:56 Richie Kotzen Style Legato: Pattern 2 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This next pattern is a little trickier to feel. Since it is a group of 5 notes you'll be tempted and more likely to play this with a 5 notes per beat feel rather than the written 16th note feel. I recommend putting a metronome on 80 and really tryin...
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4:04 Vibrato Bootcamp! - The Meter Is Your Friend Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Most of us know what vibrato is. But do we understand how and where to place it? Are we even aware of the degree of attention proper vibrato requires? I've worked in and out of many music stores in my time I know there to be two types of vibrato; 1. ...
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1:18 Vibrato Bootcamp! - Demo No.1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock This is a rhythm guitar exercise pulled from one of my tunes, "Fatherland". As you can see, I'm tweaking my vibrato in between lines in this section on the rhythm guitars. Also note that I only have time to move note "E" in one direction before I to ...
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0:48 Vibrato Bootcamp! - Demo No.2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is demo #2. Pay attention to the dynamics and keep those bends smooth and measured. Play the demo multiple times while you find your "personality" with the bends, just make sure they sound natural and controlled rather than forced.
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0:49 Vibrato Bootcamp! - Demo No.3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is demo #3. Pay attention to the dynamics and keep those bends smooth and measured. Play the demo multiple times while you find your "personality" with the bends, just make sure they sound natural and controlled rather than forced.
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0:49 Vibrato Bootcamp! - Demo No.4 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is demo #4. Pay attention to the dynamics and keep those bends smooth and measured. Play the demo multiple times while you find your "personality" with the bends, just make sure they sound natural and controlled rather than forced.
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1:22 Vibrato Bootcamp! - Final Words Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Once again I hope this tutorial was helpful for you all. Articulation isn't easy. It takes a trained ear and a good amount of focus before it becomes second nature. Stay on top of it and you'll be turning heads and building fans of your own! Remembe...
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1:37 Vibrato Bootcamp! - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock And here we have the backing track. In the tab below I've put all the demo exercises. Have fun!
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0:55 Tackling Major/Minor Modes - Introduction Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Today, I've written 3 lines for you in Eminor/Gmajor. I don't play or think in terms of "Aeolian" or minor mode that much actually. I tend to hear the relative major mode. For instance, in this case we are in Eminor. I will hear the Eminor pentatoni...
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0:42 Tackling Major/Minor Modes - Lick 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Lick #1 starts off with an A minor/C major triad idea moving to a Gmajor triad and ending with a D major triad. Very simple and straight forward. Remember we're exploring ideas for writing solos and lines so take note of the finger positions I'm usi...
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0:44 Tackling Major/Minor Modes - Lick 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Lick #2 starts also off with an A minor/C major triad idea moving to a Gmajor triad and ending with a D major triad as well. Once you have it down let's move on to Lick #3!
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1:32 Tackling Major/Minor Modes - Lick 3 & Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Lick #3 starts off using an E minor/G major triad and ending with an E minor Pentatonic line. I hope this was helpful for you! Make sure to review my Root Connection Study from last month's Tutorial of Lydian. You'll not only learn really cool lines...
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2:05 Tackling Major/Minor Modes - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Here's the backing track. Have fun and practice hard! All 3 licks are tabbed out below.
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2:22 Tackling Major/Minor Modes - Backing Track (slow) Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Here's the backing slowed down.
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0:14 Tackling Lydian Mode - Lick 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Here we have the first example lick. Remember, the Root Connection Study is all about a pivot point, seeing the available note from a given shape from the root note of the key or chord. A vantage point if you will. Use these phrases to test your und...
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0:12 Tackling Lydian Mode - Lick 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock And now Lick #2! Remember, the Root Connection Study is all about a pivot point, seeing the available note from a given shape from the root note of the key or chord. A vantage point if you will. Use these phrases to test your understanding of how th...
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0:17 Tackling Lydian Mode - Lick 3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock And now Lick #3! Remember, the Root Connection Study is all about a pivot point, seeing the available note from a given shape from the root note of the key or chord. A vantage point if you will. Use these phrases to test your understanding of how th...
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0:16 Tackling Lydian Mode - Lick 4 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock And now Lick #4! Remember, the Root Connection Study is all about a pivot point, seeing the available note from a given shape from the root note of the key or chord. A vantage point if you will. Use these phrases to test your understanding of how th...
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1:56 Tackling Lydian Mode - Lick 5 & Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock And finally, Lick #5! Remember, the Root Connection Study is all about a pivot point, seeing the available note from a given shape from the root note of the key or chord. A vantage point if you will. Use these phrases to test your understanding of h...
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2:31 Tackling Lydian Mode - C Lydian Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track! This one stays in C Lydian. Go to the next page for one that also changes to Eb Lydian.
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2:29 Tackling Lydian Mode - C Lydian/Eb Lydian Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Rock As always, have fun! This one changes from C Lydian to Eb Lydian.
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3:44 Free Improving Your Phrasing - Intro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock This tutorial is about improving your phrasing. This is a very difficult topic for the following reasons: 1. Everyone has their own tastes 2. Everyone hears thing differently 3. Laziness Let's focus on the third point on the list. I don't m...
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3:03 Free Improving Your Phrasing - Explanation Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Listening is extremely important. Every slur, hammer-on, slide, vibrato you hear when learning a solo, LEARN IT. Most aspiring artists I meet take all their time learning how to shred like crazy but never learn the sound that is needed to draw the li...
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0:32 Free Improving Your Phrasing - Demo No.1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Solo #1. Note that I do not include any dynamic phrasing in the tab. If you download the Guitar Pro file, listen carefully to how plain the phrasing is in the tab compared to what I'm actually playing. If you are trying to improve your sound, write d...
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0:35 Free Improving Your Phrasing - Demo No.2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Solo #2. Note that I do not include any dynamic phrasing in the tab. If you download the Guitar Pro file, listen carefully to how plain the phrasing is in the tab compared to what I'm actually playing. If you are trying to improve your sound, write d...
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0:35 Free Improving Your Phrasing - Demo No.3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Solo #3. Note that I do not include any dynamic phrasing in the tab. If you download the Guitar Pro file, listen carefully to how plain the phrasing is in the tab compared to what I'm actually playing. If you are trying to improve your sound, write d...
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1:33 Free Improving Your Phrasing - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Here we have the backing track where you can practice the 3 solos and variate your phrasing. Have fun and good luck!
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7:31 Alternate Picking Basics - Explanation Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome! Today is about tackling alternate picking in an analytical way. Whether you're one of the following... Alternate Picking - (-down-up-down-up-etc.)Economy Picking - (down-up-down-down-up-down-down) ...it doesn't matter. Today is about foc...
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0:51 Alternate Picking Basics - Ex. 1: Arpeggiated Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Example 1 in an arpeggiated context. Be sure to practice the example using various rhythmic subdivisions (quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes) 1. Use both hands to play the lick2. Relax3. Take your time (if the tempo ...
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1:26 Alternate Picking Basics - Ex. 2: Scallic Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Example 2 in a scallic context. Be sure to practice the example using various rhythmic subdivisions (quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes) 1. Use both hands to play the lick2. Relax3. Take your time (if the tempo is to...
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1:06 Alternate Picking Basics - Ex. 3: Intervallic Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Example 3 in an intervallic context. Be sure to practice the example using various rhythmic subdivisions (quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes) 1. Use both hands to play the lick2. Relax3. Take your time (if the tempo ...
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1:23 Alternate Picking Basics - Ex. 4: Pentatonic & Wrap-up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have Example 4 in a pentatonic context. Be sure to practice the example using various rhythmic subdivisions (quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes) 1. Use both hands to play the lick2. Relax3. Take your time (if the tempo is...
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4:16 Alternate Picking Basics - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track folks! All four examples are listed below.
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1:59 More Legato Licks! - Intro and Lick 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to my first tutorial of 2014. This month I want to share 5 short but very useful licks with you. Make sure to read through the text and study the tab carefully to get the most from this tutorial. Good luck guys. Let's have fu...
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0:42 More Legato Licks! - Lick 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This is my most played and favorite shape to use when shredding fusion-styled lines. I really abuse this lick so I had to throw it in here for yah! :) It'll be quite a stretch for most but it's pretty playable. HELPFUL HINT: Just take your time and...
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0:56 More Legato Licks! - Lick 3 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock I love this lick so I had to do it. A lot of you have seen this one already. C minor pentatonic, second position, GO!!! Remember to relax, sit with good posture and make mental notes of how these shapes relate to the intervallic structure of the sca...
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0:54 More Legato Licks! - Lick 4 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This one is definitely a "Marco Sfogli" lick for sure. When visualizing this one, try thinking within the C minor pentatonic scale. Remember to relax, sit with good posture and make mental notes of how these shapes relate to the intervallic structur...
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1:18 More Legato Licks! - Lick 5 and Outro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock So in this lick, we're using the same shape in the right hand as before. Only this time we're adding our tapping finger. Remember to relax, sit with good posture and make mental notes of how these shapes relate to the intervallic structure of the sc...
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4:16 More Legato Licks! - C Minor Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Practice hard with the backing track folks! All 5 licks are tabbed out below.
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1:21 Technical Basics Pt.3 - Tapping Arpeggios: Intro Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome to Part 3 of my Technical Basics Series! For this tutorial, we're going to be exploring tapping arpeggios. For today, just think on the following: 1. Relaxed hands and shoulders. 2. Try practicing to a stopwatch (no metronome) for muscle m...
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2:12 Technical Basics Pt.3 - Tapping Arpeggios: Walk-Through Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Like I said in the video: 1. Taking any scale or lick you study in a diatonic method helps. 2. We are breaking down the 4 patterns and training our hands to tap multiple arpeggios simultaneously. 3. We're learning a little theory as well. Pretty ...
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0:42 Technical Basics Pt.3 - Tapping Arpeggios: Lick 1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This lick is in GMajor Lydian and is an arpeggio with tensions 9, #11 and 13 thrown in. But to simplify things, just think of it as a G Lydian scale with really high intervals tapped at the top. Got in down? Go to the next page for Lick #2!
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0:40 Technical Basics Pt.3 - Tapping Arpeggios: Lick 2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This lick is in Bminor Dorian and is simply, Bminor7 to DMajor7. Or, you can think of it as a Bminor7 going to Bminor7(add9). There's no root to emphasize the Dorian sound. I prefer looking at it both ways as it helps me visualize and train my ear in...
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1:49 Technical Basics Series Pt.1 - Pentatonic Workout Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey Guys! Thanks again for stopping by. This series on "Technical Basics" is about just that. When playing and creating technical lines it's important to understand the origins on which the various modern lines today are played. Today I've taken a ...
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2:43 Technical Basics Series Pt.1 - Let's Work Out Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Let's Work Out! Practicing is all about stripping away, not necessarily adding and adding. For instance, speed picking is a simple concept: pick, pick, pick, and pick some more until it hurts, or practice to a metronome, or take finger steroids or w...
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2:31 Technical Basics Series Pt.1 - Demonstration No.1 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Quick Notes: 1. Relax - If you're feeling any strain you are doing it wrong. (this is not a weight lifting contest, this is about skill) 2. Accent downbeats on groupings - 8th notes 8th note triplets 16th notes 16th note trip...
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2:28 Technical Basics Series Pt.1 - Demonstration No.2 Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Quick Notes: 1. Relax - If you're feeling any strain you are doing it wrong. (this is not a weight lifting contest, this is about skill) 2. Accent downbeats on groupings - 8th notes 8th note triplets 16th notes 16th note trip...
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1:55 Technical Basics Series Pt.1 - Wrap Up Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock I hope this tutorial was helpful for you! Let's make some preliminary observations before you go at it again.... Are there any "Silent Killers" in your technique? Do you: 1. Tense up in your neck, back, face, hands, or shoulders? - Chances are yo...
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3:17 Technical Basics Series Pt.1 - Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track and practice hard!
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0:55 Melodic Chorus - Lead and Rhythm Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hello everyone! In this lesson I'm going to show you a chorus from one of my songs. We'll be exploring the lead as well as the rhythm. This lesson is not just to show you this chorus and that's it, I want you to apply what you learn and write your o...
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2:34 Melodic Chorus - Lead Backing (102bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock With this backing track, let's practice the lead part. I left the rhythm parts in for your reference. Remember, use tasty vibrato and let that melody sing! Head on over to the next page for the rhythm backing.
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2:34 Melodic Chorus - Rhythm Backing (102bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock With this backing track, let's focus on learning the rhythm section. I left the lead parts in for your reference. Keep those notes clean!
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0:34 Legato - Marco Sfogli Style Lick Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock NOTE: You may notice I'm using a lot of pick strokes. But it doesn't mean it's note legato. Through studying guitar players like Marco Sfogli and Paul Guilbert, I've found that the mixture of using pick strokes can do wonders for making your lines so...
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0:35 Legato - John Petrucci Style Lick Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's a smooth lick inspired by Dream Theater's guitarist, John Petrucci. Guys, watch out for the tricky string skipping here... :-) Practice this one slowly until you have it down solid. Once you have this one down, go to the next page to practice...
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0:35 Legato - Tom Quayle Style Lick Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock This 3rd lick is based on our own Tom Quayle's "Mordern Legato" technique. Notice how he uses a combination of linear and horizontal movement through the scales? Pretty cool stuff! Once you have these licks under your belt, be sure to head on over t...
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1:50 Legato - Rock Groove Backing Track Instructor: Al Joseph Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track guys!
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1:15 Tapping with Pentatonics: Intro Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hi guys! In this tutorial, we'll be talking about three different ways to tap out pentatonics! We will be in the key of E minor and will be using three different pentatonic boxes. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the pentatonic shapes below,...
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1:28 Tapping with Pentatonics: Lick 1 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Lick 1! In the first lick we'll be using the first two pentatonic shapes that were discussed. This lick is kind of in the style of Greg Howe or maybe even Michael Romeo of Symphony X. We'll be using two fingers from the left hand and one tapping f...
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1:15 Tapping with Pentatonics: Lick 2 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Lick 2! This one is very much using the Van Halen style of tapping. Leading with the tapping finger in the right hand. Again, three notes to each string but this time we'll be climbing up the strings in groups of three. This makes more sense when v...
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0:48 Tapping with Pentatonics: Lick 3 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The final lick/style of tapping pentatonics! This final lick was inspired by Guthrie Govan's approach to tapping 7th chord arpeggios but in our case, we'll be using pentatonics. We finally will add in our third pentatonic shape, making our li...
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1:36 Free Licks in the Style of Guthrie Govan: Intro & Lick 1 Instructor: Mike Salow Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey guys! Thought I'd throw out another "Licks in the Style of..." tutorial! This time we're covering the amazing Guthrie Govan! Personally, Guthrie is a huge influence on my playing and I had a lot of fun making this tutorial. One thing that is v...
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2:15 The Second Surface - Performance Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock For this song tutorial, I wanted to break down a few of the key sections in an original track of mine entitled "The Second Surface". Complete with all kinds of funky rhythms, dorian and phrygian melodies, pentatonic goodness and string skipped, tappe...
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0:38 The Second Surface - Intro/Verse Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock So we open with a few measures of odd time. Make sure the rhythmic distinction between "on" and "off" is adheared to. Meaning, to give the rhythm the most amount of punch, avoid noise during the rests at all possible cost. The verse itself is just a ...
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0:26 The Second Surface - Pre-Chorus I Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The melody line in the pre-chorus is pretty straight forward, the reason I isolated this section is due to measures 17 and 18. Here, we see a run that rhythmically, seems rather... sloppy, in a sense. It's intention is to "float" over the beat, simpl...
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0:46 The Second Surface - Pre-Chorus II/Chorus Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The "trademark" of this tune is in this Ghost Busters-esque pentatonic section. Although we're playing a total of 4 or 5 notes in a rather familiar section of the fretboard, there can be hiccups with regards to execution due to fast position changes....
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0:54 The Second Surface - Tappin' & Sweepin' Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Alright, so let's finish this off with some utter chaos! Through bars 39-42, the rhythm contains 16th note triplets. The catch is, however, that the starting point of each arpeggio doesn't begin perfectly on a quarter note. This will throw a monkey w...
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2:00 The Second Surface - Backing Track Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Download the backing track and get busy!
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1:42 Drilling Drop D - Intro Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock With this tutorial, I hope to unlock any misconceptions you might have about "drop D tuning". Essentially, drop D tuning is a way to get extended low range. Lets begin by tuning our guitar to drop D. The simplest way to tune to drop D is to strike ...
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1:25 Drilling Drop D - Chords Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock Chords So, as mentioned in the introduction, 5 (power) chords become drastically simpler when tuned to drop D. If you think about it, a power chord in standard tuning contains two notes; any note on the low E string plus its fifth, which is usually ...
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1:44 Drilling Drop D - Riffin'! Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock I'll leave you with some riffs which I've devised to help instill some of these concepts into your repetoire. Keep an eye out for D string symmetry, it may just help you along! Until next time, have fun and keep rockin'!
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0:53 Free Melodic Solo Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey folks! In this lesson, we're going to learn a short melodic solo taken from a song I wrote recently. Very fun to play. Very melodic. We have a lot of different techniques squeezed into a short amount of time, so go through the solo very slowly a...
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0:28 Free Melodic Solo - Backing Track (136bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track at normal speed, 136 bpm. If this is a bit too fast for you, head on over to the next page to get the backing at 90bpm. Have fun!
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0:43 Free Melodic Solo - Backing Track (90bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track slowed down to 90bpm. Rhythm guitars are not included in this track.
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1:13 Melodic Lead over Djent Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey everyone! In this tutorial, we're going to learn how to play a melodic lead section from a song I'm writing. To me, this is one of those licks that once you learn, it's pretty fun to play over and over! It's entertaining to the ear, and also a go...
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2:56 Melodic Lead over Djent - Backing Track (90bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track slowed down to 90bpm.
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1:14 Rock Ballad Solo Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome everyone! For this lesson I'm going to show you a solo from a song I recently wrote. There's a lot of emotion and depth to this particular song, so when it came time for the solo I wanted to write something simple yet powerful. One of the k...
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2:10 Rock Ballad Solo - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Time for the backing track! The tempo is 124bpm. I extended the progression quite a bit, so practice improvising your own solos in addition to the one I wrote. Have fun!
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1:47 Open String Legato Etude Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome! In this lesson we're going to look at a cool open-string technique/pattern that I like to use. The main thing to recognize is that it's a consistent pattern simply played in different places on the fretboard. Let's take a look... In bar 1,...
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1:24 Open String Legato Etude - Backing Track (140bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's the backing track at normal speed, 140 beats-per-minute (bpm). If you need it slower, head on over to the next page to practice with the 60bpm backing track.
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3:16 Open String Legato Etude - Backing Track (60bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's the backing slowed down to 60bpm. Practice hard and have fun!
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1:40 Percussive Rhythm Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock Welcome! In this lesson we're going to work on an exercise that utilizes a significant amount of percussive rhythm with our fret-hand. What is percussive rhythm on guitar? It basically involves the use of mutes, slaps and dead notes that create rhyth...
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0:58 Percussive Rhythm - Backing Track (150bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock Here's the backing track at full speed (150bpm). If you need to practice at a slower speed, head on over to the next page to get the backing track at 60bpm.
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2:16 Percussive Rhythm - Backing Track (60bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock Here's the backing track slowed down to 60bpm. Have fun and practice hard!
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1:10 The Lens of Clarity - Part 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here we have the chorus. In this part we'll basically just be strumming power chords using straight eighth notes. In the video you'll see me down-strumming every chord, however if you'd prefer alternating between downward and upward strums that's to...
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0:42 The Lens of Clarity - Part 5 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The notes in this riff are all sixteenth notes and palm-muted. When you listen to the riff, you can hear that the notes are in groupings of 3. If you count "One, two, three, One, two, three" where each count represents each note, you'll really hear/...
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1:24 In the Style of AC/DC: Thunder from Down Under Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Meeeerrry Christmas from IG-Santa once again! Last year we had some knuckle busters in your IG stockings, this year I'll treat you to a bit of Christmas Thunder from Down Under! But, all kidding aside, this is a song tutorial in the style of AC...
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1:23 In the Style of AC/DC: Thunder from Down Under - Rhythm Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Ok, so first out is the rhythm guitars! In AC/DC we have one of rock history's hardest working and most stable rhythm sections, I'm talking of course of Malcolm Young - Guitar, Phil Rudd - Drums and Cliff Williams - Bass. Now this IS a guitar ...
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2:08 In the Style of AC/DC: Thunder from Down Under - Lead Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Time for some classic Angus lead guitar! Now, if this was an all out AC/DC tune, we would of course have some killer vocals by the late great Bon Scott on top, but in this case, I've just provided you with the bare guitar essentials. The tune s...
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1:36 In the Style of AC/DC: Thunder from Down Under - Backing Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Finally, here's the backing track! Now, as I mentioned in the rhythm guitar break down, I've mixed this tune in true old-school AC/DC style, with the rhythm guitars almost hard panned left and right, and the lead in the middle. So, if you have...
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0:45 Pentatonic Tapping - Exercise 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hi guys! In this lesson we'll take a peek at two tapping sequences in the Emin pentatonic scale, incorporating open strings into the lines. This first example starts out just moving up the high E-string covering all five positions, before turning a...
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0:42 Pentatonic Tapping - Exercise 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this example, we take a pretty common kind of pentatonic tapping sequence that you can find in solos of everyone from Nuno to Howe. I use this type of moving pentatonic shapes in my own soloing quite a lot. Here however, we incorporate open strin...
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0:28 Shawn Lane Lines - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hello stringslingers! In this "lick & line" lesson we'll look at a hybrid legato pattern, that is usually played in triplets. However, we will do it in 32nd notes AND do it in the style of the late, great Shawn Lane and his "falling down the sta...
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0:35 Shawn Lane Lines - Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock OK! In the second "Lane Line", we'll use a whole-tone scale, descending diagonally in the opposite direction. Whilst the first line descended in the opposite direction, we only moved approximately 1 octave in range, while we here will move more than...
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3:50 Free with Basic Membership Lateral Pentatonic Tapping - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Welcome to this tutorial on Lateral Pentatonic Tapping: Connecting The Boxes. These examples will help you to start thinking in several boxes at the same time when playing two-handed pentatonic stuff. And that does not only apply when playing boxes ...
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3:21 Free with Basic Membership Lateral Pentatonic Tapping - Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock In this part we will up the level a bit. Previously we were just doing a uniform descending pattern, which in itself is quite tricky. But now we will start to use a segment that is more broken up and does not follow the scale strictly up and down. F...
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2:44 Free with Basic Membership Lateral Pentatonic Tapping - Part 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Finally, in part three, we go through the last remaining boxes on our left hand. Once you’ve have these down, then your real work begins. Now you need to try this in more keys, with different segments, and parts of the scale (or whole patterns...
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0:49 Funk-Rock Solo Lick - Demonstration Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this lesson, I provide a sample lead lick over a backing for a track off of my band's old album. The song titled "Believe" and has a pop/funk vibe to it. Very tempting to solo over! This lick uses a combination of the minor pentatonic scale, and ...
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3:20 Funk-Rock Solo Lick - Backing Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hope you enjoy playing over this backing. It's quite easy to improvise over! Tempo: 108bpm Key: E minor
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0:41 Nuno's Trick Bag - Performance Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Welcome to this "Lick-tutorial". Now, even though this was meant to be a lick-tutorial, you know me, I always press the need for real world applications and conceptual understanding of every little thing you learn! So, I felt I had to record these li...
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2:20 Nuno's Trick Bag - Lick Breakdowns Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Ok, time to break things down a bit. In the intro, I just groove along with the backing track organ line to get things grooving along. Then comes the first lick, labelled (duh) Lick 1 in the tab. This lick is very much in the style of Bettencourt, a...
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0:40 Nuno's Trick Bag - Backing Track Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Improvising Style: Rock And here's the backing, in all it's Garageband-ish glory =) Keep it groovy fellows, whatever the backing might be! I would like to say it is MANDATORY for all of you to go download all the tons of backing tracks attached to lessons throughout this si...
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8:59 Getting Killer Guitar Tone - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Recording Style: Rock Welcome to this tutorial on Getting Killer Guitar Tone for FREE! The idea for this tutorial sprung from me looking for good software-based tone that would allow me to only bring my guitar and a small laptop to certain clinics where I either didn&rsq...
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7:05 Getting Killer Guitar Tone - Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Recording Style: Rock In this part, we continue exploring the different tones of the impulse responses. You will see how radically a different impulse response can change your overall tone! As you can see, with most of the free responses, what you see is what you get, wh...
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8:06 Getting Killer Guitar Tone - Part 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Recording Style: Rock Now for Part 3. A very common trick in the studio is to use a good overdrive pedal in front of an amp. This is primarily used in non-master volume amps such as old Marshalls to fry the front of the amp a bit and up the gain and compression. A Tube Sc...
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0:28 Sweep Picking as a Tool - Example 7 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock For the final example, we have a textural diminished arpeggio run! Now, you may be thinking.. Doesn't this go against the whole focus of this tutorial? Well, somewhat.. but like I said, there is nothing wrong with 'sweep runs.' I'm mainly trying to h...
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0:32 Eric Johnson Triads - Lick 2 Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In order to spice things up a little, let’s add a few color tones to these triads. This example uses the 9th (the note E against Dmin7) and the 11th (the note G against Dmin7) in conjunction with the regular Dmin triad inversions.
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0:52 Eric Johnson Triads - Lick 3 Instructor: Martin Miller Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This last example shows how to incorporate these shapes into a more straight-forward shredding context. Like the first lick, it utilizes a few substitutions and some very tricky string skips, so it is bound to get your alternate picking up to shape. ...
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0:54 The Eccentric Hillbilly - Performance Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hi guys, for this tutorial I wanted to break down an original of mine entitled "The Eccentric Hillbilly". After writing this track in late 2007, I decided to enter it into Guitar Idol 2008, it got me through to the finals in London, England and it's ...
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0:58 The Eccentric Hillbilly - Gettin' Fired Up Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock To get started, we'll see some quick licks, most incorporating "chicken pickin'" , which is commonly referred to as "hybrid picking" (a technique incorporating both the pick and fingers of the right hand). The number 2 will be seen written throughout...
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0:18 The Eccentric Hillbilly - Slappin' n' Poppin' Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's where things get really interesting: incorporating common bass technique. Slapping and popping in this context is rarely seen, but when demonstrated effectively, can produce a very interesting and innovative sound. Harmonically, we're playing...
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0:39 The Eccentric Hillbilly - A 'lil More Modern Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock To conclude, we play the chorus, and a 3-bar tapping lick which brings us to verse 2 (another time!). The main thing to keep in mind, with regards to the chorus, is the nuances in phrasing. The bends, vibrato and legato demonstrated effectively will ...
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1:01 The Eccentric Hillbilly - Backing Track Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Download the backing track at full tempo.
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1:07 The Eccentric Hillbilly - Backing Track (Slow) Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Download the backing track at a reduced tempo.
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1:27 4 Step Groove - Performance Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hi guys, and welcome to this tutorial called "4 Step Groove". I decided to put together a backing, combining both my love for Joe Satriani along with my funky taste in music. Though I've labeled this as a "song tutorial", I'm more or less playing a...
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0:29 4 Step Groove - Level 1 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In the first section, I chose to play the rhythm guitar part simply for the sake of showing it to you. Pay close attention to the timing, and also the pick strokes marked in the notation below. This song is in the key of Eb minor.
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0:24 4 Step Groove - Level 2 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Now let's start doing some leads! You may notice that I'm outlining the chords through my melody. A very simple, effective, and melodic approach, commonly heard by Eric Johnson. I should point out that if you play these licks exactly as written (wi...
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0:24 4 Step Groove - Level 3 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock We continue arpeggiating in this lick, and get a bit more into the shred-realm. If you've watched my Descending Legato Lick lesson, you may recognize some common techniques displayed here. Try experimenting by placing vibrato on different notes.
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0:30 4 Step Groove - Level 4 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The final section features a series of 16th note triplets using chromatic passing tones. This is a common type of lick for me. I chose to use it in this tutorial to offer a more challenging and "technical" lick. The final 4 bars are not transcribed....
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1:28 4 Step Groove - Backing Track Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track! The tempo is at 97bpm and the key is in Eb minor.
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5:19 Keeping the Groove - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Welcome to Keeping the Groove in Improvisation! Keeping the groove and keeping it "in the pocket" so to say, are essential skills when improvising, especially in funk-rock, funk or fusion, where rhythm is of prime importance. What I want to cover i...
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4:25 Keeping the Groove - Part 2a Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock In this part we'll get better acquainted with the riff we are going to improvise over, and the part of said riff which we will need to pay extra close attention to. As you can see in the tab (and hear in the backing section), this is a fairly standa...
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4:39 Keeping the Groove - Part 2b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock The idea here is to be that much more aware of what is actually going on "behind" us as we play live, or over a backing. I'm sure you've been playing live some time and during your improv the drummer might start playing some rhythmical figure that...
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1:16 Keeping the Groove - Outro Improvisation Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock And here is the improvisation. You should be able to see how I go in and out of the figure we're trying to nail. Also pay close attention to the video, because there are specific fingerings I do that might help certain transitions (if you're ergonomi...
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4:54 Keeping the Groove - Backing Track Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock And here's the backing track for you! My improv from the previous video is tabbed out below as an example, but definitely be sure to try out your own ideas as well so you can really get a firm grasp on this concept. Keep it groovy!
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1:17 Instrumental Song Idea - Main Theme Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hello! Here's a neat little idea I came up with a while ago. This idea contains a handful of different techniques, so be sure to pay close attention to the tablature. I have included the pick strokes, to further assist your understanding of the lic...
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3:53 Instrumental Song Idea - Variations and Exercises Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this video, I touch on a couple variations of the lick. Try playing the lick with a 'triplet feel', or 'swing'. Hybrid picking also works well with this idea. If you struggle with alternate picking across multiple strings, be sure to practice the...
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4:35 The March Guitar Triathlon - Performance Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome Guitar Athletes! In this month’s tutorial we’ll be looking a song transcript from my 2004 FretDance album, called The March. We won’t be going into detail with every single overlay and harmonized lead in this song, but rath...
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2:11 The March Guitar Triathlon - Event 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Get set, ready, GO! In this first event, we’ll look at the main 6-string riffs in the tune, the main riff, the bridge, the chorus and the bridge leading in to the solo sections. In the first riff, the key element is muting. Since you’re...
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1:45 The March Guitar Triathlon - Event 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock First off in event 2, please note that the 7th B string is down tuned one whole step to A. Furthermore, you might note that the part is noted with bass clef instead of G clef, which is something that GP seems to do by default, so concentrate on the T...
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2:39 The March Guitar Triathlon - Event 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock For the final event, we have the melody line and some other fun stuff. First of all, I have noted the melody line with the same kind of alternate picked approach as the riffs. However, this can be played using legato, hybrid picking or whatever your...
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4:37 The March Guitar Triathlon - Backing Track Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track. Enjoy!
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1:25 Descending Legato Lick Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hello! Here's a lick that I wrote/recorded on my band's latest album. My producer asked for 'ear candy,' and I did my best to please him! You can hear the lick in a clip from the actual song at 1:19 in the video. Hopefully, that gives you a good ide...
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1:07 "Starting Here" Solo - Performance Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey guys! I'm very proud to say that I am now an official member of the Infinite Guitar team! I hope to be able to provide guitar tutorials to subscribers of all experience and ability levels.
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5:48 "Starting Here" Solo - Part 1 Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The solo opens with a 7-position 5-string arpeggio pattern, which begins at the root of the key (Am), and ascends through every diatonic major, minor as well as diminished pattern up the fret-board. Beginning with Am, it ascends to a Bdim/G arpeggio,...
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5:38 "Starting Here" Solo - Part 2 Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This section is basically the “core” of the solo. It incorporates mostly melodic lines in the key of A minor, and one short, but tricky alternate picked section. Be sure to apply a firm palm mute to these sections, and practice with a cle...
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6:55 "Starting Here" Solo - Part 3 Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is the conclusion of the solo. A fiesta of string-skipped legato tapping lines which highlight the underlying chord progression (Am, Dm, G, C, F, Bb and E). Much like the sweeping technique, it is imperative that you isolate issues related to st...
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0:42 "Starting Here" Solo - Backing Track Instructor: Chris Feener Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track. Enjoy!
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0:44 Advanced Rock Licks - Intro Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hi Folks! This tutorial will be focusing on a number of licks that can be used in a rock situation. They are all based around the key of E minor, especially focusing on the pentatonic box that we are all so familiar with! Remember, these are only e...
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0:47 Advanced Rock Licks - Example 1 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This example falls into the basic minor pentatonic box that the majority of guitarists know and use. The lick starts out with an almost cliché blues/rock lick, and then moves on to more of a country flavour, using chromatic passing tones, and ...
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0:49 Advanced Rock Licks - Example 2 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock When played alone, this lick sounds more like a diminished run, than a rock lick. Try playing it over an Em backing track, or even an E drone. It will make much more sense to your ears upon doing so! It would also be cool to merge this idea with part...
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0:52 Advanced Rock Licks - Example 3 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here, we have an example of a somewhat basic shred lick, that I have modified to sound a bit more exotic. The first part of the lick is heavily influenced by John Petrucci, in terms of technique. It can be looked at as polyrhythmic, as I play groups ...
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0:49 Advanced Rock Licks - Example 4 Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Our final lick of this tutorial uses alternate picking, and features many chromatic tones. This lick sounds great when played fast! I use this type of lick a lot when playing in a funk/fusion situation, but it can of course be used in rock! Some gu...
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1:00 Advanced Rock Licks - Outro Instructor: Steve Hubbard Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Practice hard and be creative! What works for me, may not work for you. You may prefer to use alternate picking, where I may have used legato. Remember, our main goal as musicians is sound appealing to our audience! Focus on being able to play these ...
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1:09 Trial and Error - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey everyone! In this tutorial we'll be learning a piece called "Trial and Error". It has a mix of some old school progressive rock elements as well as some modern rock elements. I labeled this as a "Beginner" tutorial. However, if you're just star...
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0:44 Trial and Error - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock When you observe the tablature below, the first thing you'll notice is that there are a lot of slides. Sliding is a form of legato and is a technique you'll definitely need to master. The most important thing about slides is making sure the notes sus...
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0:42 Trial and Error - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In Exercise 2, we'll now learn the clean chorus section. If you want to pull this part off like I played it in the video, you'll need to use a timed delay effect. If you have the proper gear for that, set your delay to a tempo of 148bpm (beats per mi...
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1:08 Trial and Error - Backing Track 148bpm Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's the backing track at 148bpm. Background guitars are included. If you're using the delay effect we talked about in Exercise 2, be sure to set it to 148bpm with dotted quarter notes as the note value. If this backing track is too fast for you, ...
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1:24 Trial and Error - Backing Track 120bpm Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's the backing track at a slower tempo of 120bpm. Background guitars are not included in this one. If you're using the delay effect we talked about in Exercise 2, be sure to set it to 120bpm with dotted quarter notes as the note value.
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6:45 String Skipping Arpeggios - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey guys, and welcome to this lesson on string skipping arpeggios! We will be looking major and minor arpeggios, and how to transform them into string skipping arpeggios, and also adding other notes from the major and minor scale, creating those fam...
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5:05 String Skipping Arpeggios - Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this part, we take the major and minor arpeggios and scalar approach from the first part, and put those to use over a chord progression. The progression is Am, G, F, and below you can see the sequence I have played over it. As you can see I am als...
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5:57 String Skipping Arpeggios - Part 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In the third part of our journey through string-skipping land, we encounter the mighty diminished arpeggios, heard through perhaps every guitar player's amp at some point of their career (let's face it guys, who hasn't had their "Yngwie-era"?). Anyw...
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3:04 String Skipping Arpeggios - Part 4 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Time for tapping! In this example I use the same major and minor patterns found in the very first part, only adding the root and fifth in the right hand to create a tapping arpeggio. You could of course find numerous other ways of playing tapping ar...
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2:24 String Skipping Arpeggios - Part 5 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Diminished tapping arpeggios has the exact same technique as any other tapping arpeggios, with the main difference being that the consistent pattern lends itself very well to position shifting, and sliding up and down the neck. Pay attention to how I...
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3:44 String Skipping Arpeggios - Part 6 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock This final example is the exact same sequence as in Part 5, but with a superimposed shuffle rhythm. The idea is to try to keep that rhythm going whatever you do, or wherever you go on the fretboard. This will REALLY free up your improvisation, and y...
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1:14 Friday Night Cruise - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey everyone! In this tutorial we'll be learning a short experimental rock piece. It has a bit of a Latin rock feel and part of it is also slightly influenced by a band called Muse. The wah pedal I'm using in this video is a Dunlop Crybaby 535Q. An...
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0:41 Friday Night Cruise - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This first exercise is where I significantly implemented the wah pedal. If you have a wah pedal, definitely use it for this so you can get that rock/funk sound. Basically all you'll be doing with the wah pedal is pressing down on it while you strum ...
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0:51 Friday Night Cruise - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Exercise 2 is pretty straightforward in that we'll be playing straight sixteenth notes throughout the entire thing. Keep your alternate picking steady and make sure each note sounds crystal clear and equal in volume.
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0:43 Friday Night Cruise - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Exercise 3 has both a clean part and a distorted part. In the clean part, you'll primarily be playing dead notes on most your downstrokes, then with your upstrokes you'll be playing the notes normally. Watch out for the quick legato line at the end o...
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1:15 Friday Night Cruise - Backing Track 109bpm Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track at it's original tempo of 109bpm. If you need to practice it at a slower speed, go to the next page to access the backing track at 80bpm.
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1:42 Friday Night Cruise - Backing Track 80bpm Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the backing track slowed down at 80bpm.
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1:01 Rockin' Rhythm - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey everyone! I hope you've all been having a great holiday season! In this tutorial we'll be learning a simple and catchy rock rhythm. Regardless of your skill level, I want you to really concentrate on feeling the rhythm and playing tightly. Once...
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1:50 Rockin' Rhythm - Slowed Down Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock There are basically 3 parts to this piece. In the tab below, you'll see each part specified. When you first observe the tab, you'll see plenty of "X" markings. These markings represent what are called dead notes. Dead notes can add a great percussiv...
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1:02 Rockin' Rhythm - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track! The tempo is at 137bpm.
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1:50 Sequencing Pentatonics - Introduction Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Welcome to this tutorial on Sequencing Pentatonics! A sequence, as I'm sure you know, is a group of notes played together in a specific order. Sequencing scales is very common in classical music, or classical inspired music such as Neoclassical Rock...
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4:26 Sequencing Pentatonics - Examples 1: a-b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Ok! In this example, we have a tried and true pentatonic sequence, that you will probably have come across in one shape or another before. You play the sequence descending in 3-note groupings. First off, we play it in triplets, which would be the m...
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2:39 Sequencing Pentatonics - Examples 2: a-b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock This example is similar to the previous one, but uses a 4-note grouping instead. The way to approach it is still the same however. You first play it in the original note value (seeing how 4-note groupings are often played using straight 16-notes), t...
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3:10 Sequencing Pentatonics - Examples 3: a-b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock In this example, I have added an additional note, to change the 3-note pattern into a 4-note one. You simply play the first note in each 3-note sequence twice. As in the previous examples, try it with both note values. Another thing to remember is ...
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1:40 Sequencing Pentatonics - Examples 4: a-b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Of course any sequence can also be played ascending, as well as descending. This here is one example of an ascending sequence. Use the same approach as before!
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2:30 Sequencing Pentatonics - Example 5 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock In this example, I am moving down the sequence but through several positions, not just the first one.
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3:05 Sequencing Pentatonics - Example 6 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Here is something a bit different. This time I have a lick rather than just a sequence. This one is intended to be played over the turn-around of a funk-blues or jazz-blues, with some altered or substituted chords. Therefore I have included both Mixo...
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5:52 Sequencing Pentatonics - Examples 7: a-d Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Now the fun begins! Tapping sequences in the pentatonic scales is something that has been an integral part of my playing style since early on, brought about by guys like Reb Beach, Greg Howe and Nuno Bettencourt. There are of course several differe...
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1:17 Sequencing Pentatonics - Examples 8: a-d Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Ok guys! In these last examples we are moving our right hand up throughout positions 3,4 & 5. It is basically the same thing as in example 7.a, but there we are staying in the 2nd position with our right hand. I hope this will open your ears to...
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1:42 The Seeker - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome folks! In this song tutorial, we'll be learning an intermediate rock piece called "The Seeker". As you learn this piece, keep in mind that there's a tempo change about half way through, where the bpm (beats per minute) increases from 127 to ...
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2:26 The Seeker - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In Exercise 1, we'll be learning the main riff of the song. This riff will be primarily played in the 2nd position. There's going to be a good amount of palm muting in this song, so be mindful of all the "P.M." markings throughout the tablature. Mak...
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2:08 The Seeker - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock With the exception of a few notes in bar 4, Exercise 2 will mainly be played using eighth notes. For now, go ahead and observe the note grouping on the fourth beat of bar 12. See how there are 5 notes joined together over the duration of a single qu...
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1:24 The Seeker - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In Exercise 3, we'll be playing a brief chord progression before the song transitions to a tempo increase in Exercise 4. We'll start off strumming the D power chord, then in bar 18 we'll play the A and G# chords along with the drums as we descend to...
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2:00 The Seeker - Exercise 4 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In Exercise 4, we have the section of the song where the tempo increases from 127bpm to 148bpm. In the context of the song, once Exercise 4 is finished, you'll then proceed to play Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 at the new speed of 148bpm. With the excep...
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1:44 The Seeker - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Now it's time to rock out to the backing track! Keep in mind the tempo increase at about 48 seconds in. If you ever make a recording of yourself playing along with the backing track, be sure to share it with us in the forum so we can all hear your s...
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1:29 Spatial Gravity - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome! In this tutorial, we'll be looking at a progressive rock piece I wrote called "Spatial Gravity". We'll be learning a good mix of rhythm and lead playing in this one while also incorporating various time signatures. Once you've checked out ...
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1:34 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Before we learn the first exercise, I want to highlight the fact that we'll be using a couple different time signatures in this song, primarily being 7/8 and 4/4, and a little bit of 2/4. If you need a refresher course on any of these time signatures...
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0:57 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is the section where the drums come into the song and we play a bit of a teaser before building up into Exercise 3. In bar 5, we'll start out by playing a G power chord on the 3rd fret of the Low E-string. Make sure to let the chord ring out so...
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1:40 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is the main "groove" part of the song. Now, let's pay very close attention to what's going on rhythmically here. When you watch the Full Video, listen carefully to what the guitar and drums are playing in this part. Basically, both instruments a...
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1:54 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 4 (Solo: Part 1) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock It's time for the solo! We'll now be branching away from the 7/8 time signature into a more groove-oriented 4/4 feel. When you look at the tablature below, you'll see quite a few "wavy lines" above certain notes. Those markings simply indicate that...
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1:16 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 5 (Solo: Part 2) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This section is definitely the most difficult part of the song. So warm up, stretch your arms and fingers, and get ready to rock! First, let's observe the type of rhythmic notes we'll be playing: thirty-second notes. 32nd notes equate to having a sp...
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1:46 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 6 (Solo: Part 3) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The final section of the solo has a bit of a bluesy feel with lots of bends and pentatonic phrases. The goal here is to add as much "attitude" to these notes as possible. Give the vibrato-indicated notes a good amount of heavy and fast vibrato. We al...
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1:27 Spatial Gravity - Exercise 7 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock As we conclude the song, we'll be playing an exercise that is very similar to Exercise 3. The main difference is that in this exercise, we'll be playing a brief descending pattern to close out the song. There is one other difference between the two ...
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1:27 Spatial Gravity - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Now, it's time to put all those exercises to use with the backing track. Have fun, and if you ever make a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forums so we can all hear your awesome skills. See you next time! Sean
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0:59 Mixing Time Signatures Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey and welcome to my Mixing Time Signatures tutorial! Checkout the video of the example riff and before we head over to the breakdown section, see if you can try and figure out what the time signature is and where it changes. Don't peek at the scor...
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1:17 Mixing Time Signatures - Breakdown Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome back and give yourself a big pat on the back for getting the time signatures correct! If you did, that is. ;) The purpose of this tutorial is to give you a gentle push in the direction of combining time signatures, which will hopefully give ...
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0:57 Mixing Time Signatures - Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track and remember, post your takes over at the forum. See you next time!
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1:30 6/8 Rock - Full Video Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome folks! In this tutorial, we'll be focusing on a rock tune in 6/8 time, hence the amazingly creative title, "6/8 Rock". :) You can think of 6/8 as having a span of six eighth notes per measure. Listen for the high-hat count at the beginning o...
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2:17 6/8 Rock - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In the first exercise, we'll be doing some sweep arpeggios in the key of D Major. The first 2 bars highlight the Major feel, then in bars 3 and 4, we'll be playing in B minor (D Major's relative minor key). We'll then repeat a similar sequence in bar...
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1:34 6/8 Rock - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this section, we'll be playing a "call and answer" sequence. A "call and answer" sequence is when you have a brief musical theme that somewhat "leaves you hanging", then it's immediately followed by another brief theme that offers resolve. In this...
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1:41 6/8 Rock - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is the slightly "metal" section of this seemingly upbeat rock tune. Be mindful of the palm mutes. Anytime you see the "P.M." markings in the tab, be sure to play solid palm mutes. Also, you might notice that I'm doing some brief downward slide...
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1:25 6/8 Rock - Exercise 4 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock We're now going to be doing some full out sweep picking. In bar 25, we'll be sweeping over an A Major triad. Then in bar 26, we'll be sweeping over a D Major triad. Bar 27 will go back to the A Major triad. Then lastly, in bar 28 we'll be sweeping o...
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1:37 6/8 Rock - Exercise 5 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is the quiet part of the song and is pretty easy. You'll see a couple bars of only rests as well. In bars 35 and 36, be sure to gradually build the intensity of your playing as you transition back into the main chorus melody. Once you have all ...
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1:35 6/8 Rock - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's the backing track. Have fun and practice hard. If you ever do a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forum so we can check out your skills!
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5:00 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Full Video Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey there Lads and Lasses and a very warm welcome to a special tutorial! Following on from my tutorial of the solo section of 'Andromeda' by Marco Sfogli, today's tutorial will be an in depth look at the full track entitled 'Still Hurts' taken from ...
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2:26 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Intro (1) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock OK, let's start with the intro. The first thing we will want to do is take note of the time signature and key, which I can tell you is 7/8 and F#minor. The first phrase begins on the fourth semiquaver of bar 9 and may require some extra work to kee...
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1:13 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Verse (2) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock In practicing this section, I have found that it is good practice to attempt to sing each phrase as it occurs. The melody line is very vocal in nature and when sung, can give you a much more clear understanding of how to phrase it. Again, Marco's idi...
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0:46 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Pre Chorus (3) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Take note of the change in meter at this point from 4/4 to 6/4. This section has a particularly bluesy feel to it regarding some of the licks and you will need to be 100% in control of your intonation during some of these bends. The bend and release...
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2:26 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Chorus (4) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now this chorus is a highly melodic affair with a soaring melody in the high register of the guitar that evokes an awful lot of emotion. Whilst practicing the chorus section for the full performance, I found myself thinking how I could relate to the ...
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2:01 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - 2nd Verse (5) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock OK, we're back to a second verse, however this time Marco takes the vocal approach one step further by playing this section entirely with tapped harmonics with the right hand. Using this technique gives an even more exaggerated singing quality if the...
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3:10 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Pre Bridge/Bridge (6) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This section contains some particularly challenging licks, so take your time here and remember to subdivide the sections to enable you to really get to grips with these licks and shapes. There are quite a lot of pickup changes throughout the whole p...
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3:09 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Bridge (continued) (7) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The part of this section that may give you the biggest challenge is the tapped arpeggio section. As always, if you need to, subdivide the sections so that you know exactly what you are doing at any given time. I always find these kind of sections eas...
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2:00 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Pre 2nd Chorus (8) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now we hit the pre 2nd chorus section. It is imperative that you try to capture the sense of anticipation that Marco captures on the studio recording throughout this section. We are building up to a highly emotive return to the chorus and you will ha...
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1:06 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - 2nd Chorus (9) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The only difference between this chorus and the first chorus is in bars 130-135, where you shouldn't find anything too challenging. What you should be working on more than anything is linking the end of this section into the opening of the unison, a...
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1:10 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Unison Section (10) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Ok it's time for the 'Still Hurts' unison! What you will need to do is subdivide this section into bars as I did in the above video. If necessary, subdivide the bars into sections as well so that you can really get a grasp on the patterns. I have t...
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0:56 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Final section (11) Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now we reach the wonderfully melodic and inventive final section. I have a real fondness for this section and particularly enjoy Marco's use of the trem bar for emotional effect. You will have to make sure that each trem bar dip is weighted perfectl...
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5:03 'Still Hurts' by Marco Sfogli - Full Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's the backing for you to get practicing with. Have fun! Visit Marco's website: www.marcosfogli.com Check out Marco's Album: There's Hope Get More Backing Tracks from Marco's Album
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1:06 'Freefall' Arpeggio study - Solo Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey IG'ists! Thanks for dropping in on this latest tutorial in which we will be looking at an arpeggio study I wrote entitled 'Freefall'! Some of you may have seen the thread I posted in the forums about Captain Joe Kittinger who performed an incred...
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2:13 'Freefall' Arpeggio Study - Part 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Firstly, lets take a look at the chords for this first section: Amaj7 - Amin7 - Gmaj7 - Gmin7 - F#maj7b5 - F#min7 Each arpeggio is based on the chord which is occurring underneath at the same time so over the first chord we have Amaj7 and we play a...
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2:15 'Freefall' Arpeggio Study - Part 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now we reach the first changes in harmony within this study which are as follows: F#min7b5 - B7 - E7 For the first arpeggio I find it so much easier to think of it as exactly the same shape as the previous F#min7 chord but lower every 5th note by a...
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2:29 'Freefall' Arpeggio Study - Part 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Almost there guys! It is at this juncture that Cpt. Kittinger approaches and lands safely on the ground in the desert of New Mexico. The harmonic pace quickens in these final bars where we have the following underlying chords: Amadd9 - D - Emadd9 ...
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1:10 'Freefall' Arpeggio Study - Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Ok guys, here's the backing track to perfect this study with and be sure to post over at the forums if you make a recording of it.
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1:11 'Tapdance' Arpeggio study Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey there and welcome! In this tutorial we will be looking at a study I wrote that focuses on left hand hammers 'from nowhere' and right hand taps. The piece is called 'Tapdance'. I am an avid tapdancer and I am currently practicing my shuffle, shuf...
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3:13 'Tapdance' arpeggio study - part 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Due to the nature of this study, it is essential that you are familiar with triad arpeggios and their inversions as we will be needing one inversion for the left hand and one for the right hand. Regarding both the left and right hands, I find that I...
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2:43 'Tapdance' arpeggio study - part 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The arpeggios in this section are as follows: Fmaj - Dmin - Gmaj - Gaug - Emin - Amin Due to the nature of this study, it is essential that you are familiar with triad arpeggios and their inversions as we will be needing one inversion for the left ...
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1:48 'Tapdance' arpeggio study - part 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The arpeggios and scales in this section are as follows: Bbdim - Dmin - Dmin pentatonic Due to the nature of this study, it is essential that you are familiar with triad arpeggios and their inversions as we will be needing one inversion for the lef...
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1:10 'Tapdance' arpeggio study - Backing track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's the backing track for you to practice over. As always, best of luck with it and when you feel ready, record yourself with whatever media you prefer and show us your skills on the forums. See you next time!
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2:14 Redemption - Full Video Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome! In this song tutorial we'll be learning a piece I wrote called "Redemption". As you go through the tutorial, you'll notice that the entire piece is centered on the following chord progression: C, Em, Am, F. You'll also notice that everythi...
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1:21 Redemption - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The riffs and picking are pretty straightforward in this piece, but be sure to examine the tablature closely so you don't miss any details. Also, there a few exceptions, but most of the notes we'll be playing in this piece are sixteenth notes. In th...
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0:54 Redemption - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Exercise 2 is where the rhythm playing gets interesting. This is also where you'll find a few eighth notes mixed in with the sixteenth notes. Also, be mindful of the sixteenth note rests that you'll see in each bar. For those rests, I'd recommend le...
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0:50 Redemption - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here we have the chorus section. The main trick we have to master in this exercise is our picking. As far as our picking motions, we'll be using alternate picking. However, it gets a little tricky since we're repeating a grouping of three notes on 2...
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2:11 Redemption - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track! You'll hear a couple added guitars in the background. If you ever record yourself playing along to the backing track, be sure to post it in the forum!
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2:52 Dividing Rhythm - Major/Minor Soloing Introduction Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Grettings Guitar Slingers!! In this tutorial we will use the final example, 7b, from my Muting Techniques tutorial. As you recall, this example alternated between major and minor in every bar. The first bar isn't really major or minor, since no thi...
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0:41 Dividing Rhythm - Solo Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Alright then! Here we have the actual solo. If you feel like it, you could of course learn this right of, and then head on to the backing track to practice it. However, I highly recommend you go through the analysis part and the videos, since this w...
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2:04 Dividing Rhythm - Analysis Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock In this first part, we will look into just the first 3 bars. Here I use artificial harmonics to produce my chosen notes. If you look closer at the very first note of this part, you will see that even though I'm fretting a B at the 4th fret on the G-s...
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2:25 Dividing Rhythm - Analysis Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock In the next couple of bars we start out pretty straight forward. I go down the Dorian in bar 9, and end up in Mixolydian pentatonic in bar 10. After that however, some technically interesting things comes into play. In bar 12, I using a legato run i...
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3:43 Dividing Rhythm - Analysis Part 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Alright then, 3rd part of the analysis! This part begins with the bend I held in the previous bar, I release this bend landing back on the D# on the first beat of the bar. This bar is over the major part of the riff, and what I’m doing here is...
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0:47 Dividing Rhythm - Backing Track Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock And finally, here is the backing track for you to sink your teeth into! Get to work, and see you in my next tutorial!
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0:59 Arpeggio Etude - Full Video Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey all! In this tutorial, we're going to learn a short arpeggio etude that focuses on our sweeping and tapping skills. In the video above, you'll notice that I played the etude at two different speeds. First at 140bpm (beats per minute), then slow...
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1:37 Arpeggio Etude - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Before we get started, let's make sure you understand what an arpeggio actually is. An arpeggio is simply the notes of a chord played in succession. So if you took any random chord, and played the notes of that chord individually one at a time, you'd...
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1:35 Arpeggio Etude - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock In Exercise 2, we'll be incorporating a different arpeggio in each bar. First A Major, then G Major, then F# minor, then E Major. As always, be mindful of the smooth gliding motions with your picking hand when sweeping. Also, you'll notice that a fe...
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1:04 Arpeggio Etude - Backing (140bpm, 100bpm) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Okay, here we have the backing track. The track will first play the backing at 140bpm, then at a slower speed of 100bpm. Have fun while you practice! And as always, if you ever record yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forums!
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1:43 Trusting a Hope - Full Video Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome my friends! In this song tutorial, we're going to learn a rock piece called "Trusting a Hope". The majority of this piece is at an intermediate level, but we'll also be mixing in some advanced techniques here and there. Once you've checked ...
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1:25 Trusting a Hope - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock To start the piece, we'll be using alternate picking to play a riff spanning over strings 3 through 6. We'll be playing sixteenth notes exclusively. Also, when you look at the tablature, be sure to observe the palm mutes throughout. You'll be palm m...
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1:08 Trusting a Hope - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here we have a short breakdown for the piece where the drums fade out. I'd recommend using all downstrokes here. Any idea why? Well, if you look at all the D string notes, you'll see that they're palm muted. So since that's the case, I'd prefer to u...
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1:02 Trusting a Hope - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is where the song starts to get kicking! We're primarily going to be using power chords here. First we'll start out playing an E chord in bar 13. Then in bar 14 we'll play a G. At the end of bar 14 and the beginning of bar 15, you'll notice we'...
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1:28 Trusting a Hope - Exercise 4 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here we have another 16th note pattern, and we'll again be using only downstrokes to help our picking attack. When you practice this riff to the backing track, you'll hear guitar harmonies playing along with you. Let those harmonies guide you with yo...
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0:49 Trusting a Hope - Exercise 5 (Solo part 1) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock On to the solo! When you look at the tablature, the first thing you might notice are those wavy lines throughout. Those lines simply mean to give vibrato to the notes. Anytime you have a note with significant duration, be sure to give it some tasty ...
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1:27 Trusting a Hope - Exercise 6 (Solo part 2) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The second half of the solo is a little more challenging. We'll be playing 32nd notes to an aggressive picking and legato pattern. I strongly suggest playing along with your metronome for this exercise in particular. Nail it at a slow speed before t...
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1:44 Trusting a Hope - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Awesome, you're ready for the backing track. Have fun! You'll hear a few guitar parts accompany you as you play throughout the track. If you ever make a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forum!
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3:51 Muting Techniques - Intro & Example 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome to this tutorial on Muting Technique! In this tutorial we will be taking a closer look at some various uses of muting for rock rhythm playing. First of is the good old palm muting we all know and love. When you read any rock tab in any guita...
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1:31 Muting Techniques - Example 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Example number 2 then. Here I have moved the right hand a few millimeters (or fractions of an inch) closer to the neck, away from the bridge. I can still feel the bridge touching the outside of my palm. This position produces a tighter muting, and th...
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0:44 Muting Techniques - Example 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Very well then, on to example number 3. Here I have chosen to play a riff more in the style of bands like Metalica. Less single note riffing, and more power chord based. Here I’m also alternating between palm muted and none-muted chords. Observ...
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2:40 Muting Techniques - Example 4 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In example number 4, we reach the end of the line. This is pretty much as far as you can go from the bridge without completely killing the string. Also, with a heavier pressure and muting, you also run the risk of raising the pitch of the string to m...
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3:06 Muting Techniques - Example 5a Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Very well then. Example 5a! Examples 5-6 will all explore a technique I call “slap-muting”. This entails using your left hand, slapping on the strings while palm muting with your right hand. This creates a percussive effect that will soun...
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1:28 Muting Techniques - Example 5b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here comes the fun! In example 5b, I use the fingers of my left hand to slap and fill in the “gaps” so to speak. That is, where ever there is a rest in the riff from 5a, I will slap, thereby creating a continuous flurry of notes, but also...
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1:00 Muting Techniques - Example 6a Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Example 6a is a riff from my FretDance (2003) album from a song called Road Less Travelled. On the original tune I use a drop-A tuned seven string guitar for some really heavy riffing. This type of slap-muting sounds very cool indeed on a drop-tuned ...
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1:10 Muting Techniques - Example 6b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Not much to say here really, just follow the same procedure as in example 5b and you will be fine. This rhythm is less consistent than example 5, and will thus be a bit trickier to nail at higher speeds, but keep working at it and you’ll be fin...
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3:48 Muting Techniques - Example 7a Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock So what is Dividing Rhythm? Well, it’s just a phrase I use to describe the concept of splitting up a riff into several lines or “melodies”, almost like a classical fuge. What I do is that I allow some notes to ring out, whilst other...
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3:59 Muting Techniques - Example 7b Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Final example! Here I have the same exact notes and riff, but I mute out certain notes completely, whilst accentuating others (the upstrokes) but hitting them hard, not muting at all. This creates and interesting rhythm within the rhythm so to say, c...
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2:32 Pedal Tone Legato: Rock Application - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Even though Pedal Tone Legato has a classical feel by default, that doesn't mean it can only be applied to classical styles. So in this lesson, let's apply it to a rock song. One thing to note, is that we're now going to be playing in even 8th notes...
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1:08 Pedal Tone Legato: Rock Application - Backing Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Great job! You're ready for the backing track. If you ever record yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forum so we can hear your skills!
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2:47 'Golden Champagne' - Full Video Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey IG'ists and welcome to my latest tutorial in which we will be looking at a rock tune called 'Golden Champagne'. To begin with I'd like to give you a little background on the track. I wrote it around 6 years ago when I first bought my Ibanez JS2...
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1:55 'Golden Champagne' - Main melody Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock OK, welcome to the first part of this tutorial. The first thing thing I want you to pay attention to is the initial opening phrase or motif which occurs within the first bar and repeats although slightly different in bar 2. This is the motif which w...
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2:20 'Golden Champagne' - Solo part 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock OK, it's time to play spot the motif! The first place that the original motif occurs is in bar 22. Using and developing motifs can give a real sense of cohesion to a piece and it is a device that has been used as a compositional tool for centuries a...
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0:49 'Golden Champagne' - Solo part 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Time for some tapping folks!!! I have purposely played this in the video with an even tempo and rhythm just so as to make it easier to learn. Once you have the whole pattern, that is after you have dissected it and practiced each part slowly, then y...
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2:51 'Golden Champagne' - Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Alrighty here's the backing track for you to practice over and when you're ready, get posting your take in the forums. Best of luck!
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0:39 Half Picking: Etude - Full Video Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome! In this tutorial we are going to look at a technique I call "half picking". Half picking involves patterns where every other note is played with a pick. The notes that are not picked will be played using legato. For example, here's what a h...
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0:48 Half Picking: Etude - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here is the first of four parts of the etude. Don't skip ahead to the other ones until you have this one down. The goal of this tutorial is for you to get the actual technique down first, then branch out and start applying it elsewhere. So take your ...
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0:47 Half Picking: Etude - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock This exercise is a little different than the last in that the octaves shift every two beats. In the last exercise, the octaves shifted every measure (four beats). We'll also find a big finger stretch in this exercise. Just a reminder - always make s...
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0:53 Half Picking: Etude - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock This is the exact same pattern as the last exercise, except it's shifted to where it starts on the 19th fret B string. Make sure you keep the legato notes equal in volume with the picked notes!
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0:51 Half Picking: Etude - Exercise 4 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock With this exercise, we'll finish up the etude. This is the only exercise that slightly deviates from the octave patterns we've been playing. Once you have all 4 exercises down, you can either go to the next page for the etude backing track, or skip ...
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0:41 Half Picking: Etude - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track! If you ever make a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forum. Also, don't forget about the next few lessons where we'll be looking at a few more half picking exercises.
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1:42 String Skipping Etude - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Welcome! In this song tutorial, I wanted to write an etude that focuses on string skipping. String skipping occurs when you play a note on any given string, then skip a string to play a following note. This technique is essential for every guitarist...
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1:18 String Skipping Etude - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock The first 2 measures of the intro start out with string skipping on the D and B strings. If you look at the tablature, you can see that you'll be palm muting all the notes on the D string while the other notes will be played normally without palm mut...
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1:03 String Skipping Etude - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this section, we're going to start using a lot of octave passages. Even though this part is a little less difficult than the other parts, be sure to keep your picking clean and controlled. On a side note, you may want to experiment with bars 7 an...
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1:20 String Skipping Etude - Exercise 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock This riff is all over the fretboard. Even though it might seem a little intimidating, there's actually a really basic pattern to it that you can follow. And that pattern is simply...octaves. We are going to span over 3 octaves in each measure. First...
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1:18 String Skipping Etude - Exercise 4 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Exercise 4 also utilizes a prevalent octave pattern. The string skipping will occur between the Low E string and the D string. Keep the 16th notes even and consistent, and make sure your picking stays controlled. When you feel comfortable with all 4...
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5:07 String Skipping Etude - Backing (Fast & Slow) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Have all the parts down? Then it's time to practice with the backing track! The first half of the backing track is at the normal tempo. Then the second half is slowed down. As always, if you ever record yourself playing along, be sure to post it in...
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0:42 Time Signatures: 4/4 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock You'll notice in the example videos, I count the time signature out loud at the beginning. I strongly recommend you count out loud during these exercises if possible. If you can count out loud as you play, that will help develop your sense of rhythm ...
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0:30 Time Signatures: 3/4 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This 3/4 example is pretty straightforward. Be sure to count "One Two Three" out loud while you play.
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0:56 Time Signatures: 5/4 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Since 5/4 has an extra quarter note beat, it's going to have a somewhat "extended" feel to it. In this particular example, we're going to be strumming some basic chords to the 5/4 time signature. For the first four beats, we're just going to strum q...
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0:39 Time Signatures: 6/8 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this 6/8 example, we're going to use a few power chords along with the open G and B strings. Be sure to use alternate picking throughout.
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0:35 Time Signatures: 7/8 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In the first 7/8 example, we're going to play a subtle yet dynamic palm-muted riff. As always, count along with the riff before learning it.
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0:44 Time Signatures: 15/16 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this 15/16 example, we'll be using 16th notes exclusively as we play a few arpeggios. I'd recommend using alternate picking while you play this, and also starting on a downstroke with each measure. However, watch out for the last note in each mea...
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0:33 Time Signatures: 19/16 - Example 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock With the first 19/16 example, we're going to play a short bar chord riff. You'll primarily be playing 8th notes as you strum. However, at the end of each measure we'll be strumming three 16th notes.
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0:36 Time Signatures: 19/16 - Example 2 (Advanced) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In the last 19/16 time signature, we're going to use a good amount of legato. Practice the legato sections slowly at first and make sure the notes are equal in volume.
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0:46 Time Signatures: Mixing Them Together Ex. 1 (Easy) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is our first example where we'll be using more than one kind of time signature. In this particular exercise, we're going to use 6/8, 5/8, and 4/4. Now that we're mixing time signatures, it's especially important that you count the time signature...
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1:00 Time Signatures: Mixing Them Together Ex. 2 (Advanced) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock We're now going to be mixing the following time signatures: 7/8, 4/4, 15/16, and 19/16. This passage has a bit of a Joe Satriani vibe to it. The most difficult parts you'll face with this are the 15/16 and the 19/16 sections. The transition from one...
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0:41 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 4/4 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock I strongly recommend you count out loud during these exercises if possible. If you can count out loud as you play, that will help develop your sense of rhythm immensely. In this example, we're going to be playing a few simple chords using eighth not...
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0:28 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 3/4 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This 3/4 example is pretty straightforward. Be sure to count "One Two Three" out loud while you play.
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0:54 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 5/4 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Since 5/4 has an extra quarter note beat, it's going to have a somewhat "extended" feel to it. In this particular example, we're going to be strumming some basic chords to the 5/4 time signature. For the first four beats, we're just going to strum q...
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0:39 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 6/8 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this 6/8 example, we're going to use a few power chords along with the open G and B strings. Be sure to use alternate picking throughout.
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0:34 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 7/8 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In the first 7/8 example, we're going to play a subtle yet dynamic palm-muted riff. As always, count along with the riff before learning it.
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0:44 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 15/16 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In this 15/16 example, we'll be using 16th notes exclusively as we play a few arpeggios. I'd recommend using alternate picking while you play this, and also starting on a downstroke with each measure. However, watch out for the last note in each mea...
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0:33 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 19/16 Ex. 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock With the first 19/16 example, we're going to play a short bar chord riff. You'll primarily be playing 8th notes as you strum. However, at the end of each measure we'll be strumming three 16th notes.
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0:36 Time Signatures: Backing Track - 19/16 Ex. 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In the last 19/16 time signature, we're going to use a good amount of legato. Practice the legato sections slowly at first and make sure the notes are equal in volume.
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0:46 Time Signatures: Backing Track - Mix 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This is our first example where we'll be using more than one kind of time signature. In this particular exercise, we're going to use 6/8, 5/8, and 4/4.
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1:00 Time Signatures: Backing Track - Mix 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock We're now going to be mixing the following time signatures: 7/8, 4/4, 15/16, and 19/16. This passage has a bit of a Joe Satriani vibe to it. The most difficult parts you'll face with this are the 15/16 and the 19/16 sections. The transition from one...
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1:09 "Wake of Souls" - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock This riff is pretty straightforward. We're basically going to be strumming through some Drop D chords while exclusively using sixteenth notes. One thing I really want to point out with this, is how much we need to focus on muting unwanted strings. I...
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1:46 Building Speed and Stamina - Exercise 2 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Exercises Style: Rock In our 2nd exercise, we're going to be switching back and forth from thirty-second notes to sixteenth notes. Also, be aware of the 6/8 time signature. This one is a little more difficult than the last exercise because we have to move our fret-hand f...
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0:40 Building Speed and Stamina - Exercise 2 Backing Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Exercises Style: Rock Ready to try it? Awesome! Make sure you are warmed and stretched before you get started. As I mentioned in the last lesson, there is a 2nd guitar playing in the backing track. For the first eight measures, its playing the melody an octave lower. The...
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1:18 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Performance Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey all, thanks for joining me! In this tutorial we will be taking an in-depth look at the style of one of the finest emerging guitarists of our generation, Marco Sfogli. Born in 1980, Marco started playing music at 4 years of age. He got his first...
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3:42 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Part 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome to section 1! The first thing I'd like you to be aware of is the numerous changes in meter. It can be very easy to forget about these things while you're learning a new piece so try to keep it at the forefront of your mind if you can. OK, t...
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1:15 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Part 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Let's continue with section 2! You'll need to spend most of your time on bars 14 to 15 here. Remember that throughout this legato passage, the lightest touch will yield the best results. Use a pickstroke(up or down) when playing the first note on ev...
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1:38 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Part 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock On with the show into section 3! The first thing you're going to need to be aware of is the change of meter here from 6/8 to 5/8. It may feel a little unusual at first so I would suggest watching the video to really digest how these sections work to...
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1:46 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Part 4 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now it's time to tackle the most difficult part of the solo. Although it is vital for you to understand what is happening here on a note for note level, it is much more important that you concentrate on the phrase and its crescendo from a dynamic, e...
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1:22 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Part 5 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hang in there people, we're almost there! Bars 31 and 32 display Marco's wonderful bluesy style phrasing. To achieve this effect to the fullest, you will need to concentrate on achieving perfect intonation with a subtle but still relatively wide vib...
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1:22 "Andromeda" by Marco Sfogli - Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Ok people, here's the backing track for you to play along with. Get recording because we all want to see your version of this over at the forums. Thanks guys! Get More Backing Tracks from Marco's Album
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0:39 Downward Slides - Eastern Vibe Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this lesson, we're experimenting with a riff that has a bit of an Eastern feel. Watch the video closely to get a good idea of the slides and timing. Practice it slowly, then when you're ready, jump on over to the next lesson to try it with the ba...
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0:36 Downward Slides - Eastern Vibe Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Okay, have fun with the backing track! You'll hear some guitars in there to help you with the melody. If you ever make a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forums! When you're ready, head on over to the next lesson where...
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1:27 Downward Slides - Melodic Slides (Petrucci Style) Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock John Petrucci is pretty much the one who got me into this simple and fun sliding technique. I remember hearing some of his solos and really liking how the slides gave so much feeling to his playing. In this lesson, we'll focus on incorporating the d...
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3:25 Pinch Harmonics Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey there! Welcome to the wonderful world of Pinch Harmonics. If you listen to the playing of guitarists such as Zakk Wylde(Ozzy Osbourne), Billy Gibbons(ZZTop) or more recent players such as Thomas Blug, you will hear pinch harmonics in abundance. ...
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0:43 Harp Harmonics - Harp with Attitude! Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Lastly, let's play some harps in a more rockin' context. I personally love incorporating harp harmonics into my rhythm or solo playing. They can really add a neat flavor to the notes you play. Go ahead and crank up some distortion for this one, and ...
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0:59 Finger Tapping - Note Variations - 1 of 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock In the next three lessons, we are going to learn three different ways we can tap the same 8 notes on two strings. All the following exercises will be in the key of A minor. Practice them very slowly and do your best to copy the form and posture you ...
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0:24 Finger Tapping - Note Variations - 2 of 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Note Variations - Exercise 2 of 3 In the next lesson, we'll look at the 3rd variation.
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0:19 Finger Tapping - Note Variations - 3 of 3 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Note Variations - Exercise 3 of 3 Good job. Now I recommend that you try your own variations using the same notes. There are infinite possibilities! Head on over to the next lesson where we'll be looking at some Pentatonic tapping.
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0:57 Finger Tapping - Descending Pentatonic Scale Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock If you desire to effectively implement tapping into your playing, you need to make sure that you are very comfortable finger tapping through scales. Finger tapping is a popular and sometimes necessary element to lead guitar playing. And if you want t...
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0:30 Finger Tapping - Ascending Pentatonic Scale Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now, let’s ascend on the B minor pentatonic scale, still playing three notes per string. To “ascend” means to start from a lower note and progress toward a higher note. Again, make sure every note is equal in volume.
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0:49 Finger Tapping - Ascending and Descending Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Lastly, we are going to merge descending and ascending together. In lengthy tapping runs, it is likely you will both ascend and descend through scales, as you can only do one or the other for so long until you run out of notes! Try this exercise in ...
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0:47 Finger Tapping - Pedal Tones Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Pedal tones, as they pertain to guitar, are repeated notes played within a musical passage. Pedal tones are a very popular tapping technique. The concept of pedal tones is also heavily used in classical music. So, let’s say you have a guitar m...
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0:29 Finger Tapping - E Major Pedal Tone Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Let’s try another pedal tone variation. In this exercise, we will be playing a pedal tone melody within the E Major scale. The 12th fret of the E string will be the pedal tone note. Once you feel comfortable with these pedal tones, try to come...
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0:31 Finger Tapping - String Skipping Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock String skipping is pretty self-explanatory. It is the method of moving from one string to another while skipping a string. It is a technique used usually for practical purposes. A guitarist might choose to string-skip in the same fretboard position i...
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0:49 Finger Tapping - A Major Diatonic Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this lesson, we are going to utilize the A Major diatonic scale. If you aren't sure what that means, don’t worry, the scale is outlined in the picture below. Notice the dots have different colors. The green dots represent the notes you&rsquo...
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0:46 Finger Tapping - A Major 3-string Grouping Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock In this exercise, we will be grouping 3 strings together at a time while descending. In other words, we’ll descend on a set of 3 strings, then descend on the next set of 3 strings, and so on. Playing with groups of strings can be a creative al...
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1:08 Finger Tapping - Slides Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Slides can add a very cool element to your tapping. We do slides all the time with our fret-hand right? So let's slide with our tapping-hand as well! In this exercise, we're going to practice sliding with all four fingers. Be sure to notice in the t...
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0:45 Finger Tapping - Melodic Slides in D Major Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now we’ll use a more melodic approach with our slides. Watch out for the second measure. You’ll be sliding from the 5th fret to the 7th fret and back. So since you’re sliding a whole step apart, you’ll want to be extra careful...
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0:46 Finger Tapping - Multi-finger Tapping in A Minor Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Crazy! Topic: Technique Style: Rock Let's end this tutorial with a neat multi-finger tapping run in A minor. This one is pretty tough. I recommend practicing it literally note by note. Remember, you're in no rush! Take your time and concentrate on accuracy and proper form. Nothing else...
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0:38 "Expiration Date" - Exercise 1 Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock This first riff is pretty fun to play. The particular note choice coupled with legato gives this riff a subtle Asian sound. Keep in mind the use of legato throughout this riff. For example, check out the first 5 notes in the first measure. Then loo...
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2:33 Canon in D-sharp - Performance Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Hey folks! Welcome to Canon in D-sharp. If you've heard of Canon in D, then you're going to love Canon in D-sharp. It's just a lot sharper sounding than Canon in D. :-) Okay bad joke, I know. As said in the video, the rhythmic notes we'll be playin...
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0:41 Canon in D-sharp - Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Have fun with the backing track! This backing track is double the length of the track I used in the main lesson. If you ever making a recording of yourself playing along, be sure to post it in the forum!
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0:54 NeoBlues - Performance Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Greetings Guitar Slingers! In this tutorial, we will take a close look at an intro to one of my songs. This one is called NeoBlues, and is a track off of my FretDance (2003) album. We won't be covering the entire song for this tutorial (for a full ...
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0:35 NeoBlues - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here is the first analysis part. We will begin by looking at the intro. Here we have an up-tempo, string skipping and finger tapping run in the G minor pentatonic scale. In the first part without tapping, you will encounter the note E added to the m...
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0:40 NeoBlues - Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here we have the second analysis part, which covers the interlude theme of the song. The pattern used on the triplets is exactly the same as in the intro, so that should not pose any significant challenge once you’ve nailed that. However, the s...
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0:33 NeoBlues - Part 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock And finally, here is the main riff. Isn’t it fun how the simplest things are often the most difficult? This is also true in this case. This one presents some challenges, especially if your hands are small or your reach is limited. As you can se...
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3:17 NeoBlues - Backing Track Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's the backing track for you to play along with. You'll hear added guitars and motifs to help you along. If you ever record yourself playing along to this backing track, be sure to post it in the forums!
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0:52 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Full Video Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Yo! and welcome to my latest tutorial this time focusing on the style and techniques of the amazing UK guitarist Guthrie Govan. This lesson was created with inspiration from the following: Blues Jam Tracks Cornford Records I first came across G...
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2:20 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Section 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock OK let's nail this solo! One of the most important aspects of this first section is the string bending and control of intonation. You must practice with the aim of getting perfect intonation and complete control over your manipulation over the strin...
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1:27 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Section 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Ok let's continue! Notice how the motifs start developing here. Including motivic development within this solo was a vital part of capturing the style of Guthrie's playing. If you analyse any of his solos, the majority of which I feel are improvised...
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2:52 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Section 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Lets continue further into the world of Mr Govan! Again the use of motivic development occurs here in a sequential chromatic pattern which ascends on the top e string by step. With these legato patterns try to keep as light a touch as possible as th...
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2:10 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Section 4 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock OK, the legato madness continues to greater heights! This section is where the solo reaches its dynamic peak in the tapped string skipped arpeggio again commonly used by Mr Govan! At this point I'd like to comment on uhe use of string damping tools...
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1:48 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Section 5 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Hang in there guys we're almost there! This final section includes a very often used 'Guthrie-ism' in the final string skipped tapping lick. The actual pattern is based on the pentatonic scale and the beauty of this kind of pattern is that once you...
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0:18 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Lick 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Alrighty, let's kick off the proceedings with the first lick. Guthrie tends to use this kind of idea within his improvisations with great effect. I really like that kind of unexpected burst of notes and to achieve the same effect, it is very importa...
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0:48 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Lick 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock OK, time to take a deep breath as this one is a challenge! I try to see this whole pattern as one entire lick rather than segments pieced together. Of course, it will be necessary to subdivide the parts so that you can put them together when you are...
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0:17 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Lick 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Improvising Style: Rock This final Lick is very reminiscent of Guthrie's style of playing and is one that he uses on a regular basis. It is made easier by the fact that the shapes used on each successive string are exactly the same. The lick will test your ability to shift...
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2:11 'In the style of' Guthrie Govan - Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Crazy! Topic: Improvising Style: Rock Here's the backing track for you. Once you feel that you have nailed every lick of the solo, try it at full tempo along with the backing track. Be sure to post any recordings, be it audio or video, for everyone at the forums to check out. Good luck!
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1:18 Practicing Scales: Right Hand Technique - Group 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Thanks for joining me in this latest tutorial where we will be looking at various ways of practicing scales. Spending a lot of time playing scales can be extremely boring, especially if we employ few ways of traversing the fretboard. If we focus i...
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1:00 Practicing Scales: Right Hand Technique - Group 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Lets deal with group 2. This group incorporates alternate picking with slurs. It will feel a little awkward to start with but as long as you keep to a nice tempo you'll be fine. The first pattern involves picking the first two notes on every string ...
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1:07 Practicing Scales: Right Hand Technique - Group 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock OK, the eagle eyed amongst you will notice that in group 3, the picking patterns are the same as group 2 but with one exception: the introduction of the hybrid picking. The picking patterns are the same however we will be replacing the 2nd picked no...
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1:02 Practicing Scales: Right Hand Technique - Group 4 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock OK, in group 4 we will be leaning more towards the legato school of playing. That is, less picking and more slurring. In the first example we will be picking the first note and hammering the following two on every string(reversing this pattern when ...
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0:53 Practicing Scales: Right Hand Technique - Group 5 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Welcome to the final group in this tutorial, group 5. This group will cover some of the more unusual ways of practicing scales. The first example utilizes left hand hammer ons only. In the previous group, we played the scale using left hand only, ho...
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0:47 Ascendance of the Spheres - Solo Study Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Hey dudes, wassup! Thanks for checking in on this tutorial. What we're going to be doing is looking at the solo to my track 'Ascendance of the Spheres' taken from my 2005 ep, Re-Invention. Let's take a look at the solo in its entirety and then I'll b...
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2:04 Ascendance of the Spheres - Bar by Bar Analysis Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Theory Style: Rock Right then! Let's take a closer look at the solo. Solo overview Whenever I am learning a piece using a score, I always take time out to make some important observations indicated within the score rather than diving headfirst into it and potentially...
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0:49 Ascendance of the Spheres - Backing Track Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here's the backing track for you. Take your time with it and only attempt the full tempo version as and when you are ready for it. If you do a recorded version of it, whether it's audio or video, be sure to post it over at the forum to show off your ...
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0:18 16th Note Displacement - Playing with Drums Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock Alright, let's get a bit of a feel of what it's like to use 16th note displacement accompanied by drums. At the beginning of the video, you'll hear the high hats playing quarter notes. We're going to play straight 16th notes with our Low E string al...
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0:23 16th Note Displacement - More Playing with Drums Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock In the first exercise, we're going to take out all of the number and the "+" counts. So therefore, we're only going to play the "e" and "a" counts. As you can hear from me playing it in the video, it has kind of an uneasy, upbeat feel to it. In the ...
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1:07 16th Note Displacement - Cool Rock Riff Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Advanced Topic: Rhythm Style: Rock Okay, here's where we apply everything we've discussed in this tutorial. When I made this riff, I didn't think too hard about it at all. I basically just picked random notes and put them in random places. And hey, it didn't turn out too bad! This i...
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2:54 Super Continental - Full Song Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Crazy! Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Greetings Guitar Slingers! In this lesson, we will take a close look a song I call Super Continental. Not only will this serve as a good insight into my playing style, but will also be a good challenge for you both technically, rhythmically and theo...
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1:03 Super Continental - Part 1 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Ok guitar slingers! Let’s start by looking closer at bar…1! (Well, actually the entire first page, containing the main theme of the song). The first thing to keep in mind throughout this song, is to keep your shuffle groove intact. All...
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0:29 Super Continental - Part 2 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In bar 11, you see some ghost notes, and semi-articulated notes. This is also a good weapon to have in your arsenal, and this type of dynamic development can spice up a lick or line and make it groovy. What you have to keep in mind here is that the ...
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0:32 Super Continental - Part 3 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Same thing as in bar 11 occurs in bar 13 (with ghost notes), but I'm also using the hybrid picking technique (playing with pick and fingers simultaneously). You will see the palm muted notes marked with "P.M", and the notes to be played with your ri...
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0:30 Super Continental - Part 4 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Advanced Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In bar 22, we encounter some precise bending. Bending (vibrato) is one of the most over-looked techniques among younger players. But to have precise control over bending really makes the difference between a seasoned, all-round player and an amateur...
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0:21 Super Continental - Part 5 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Crazy! Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock In bar 23, you will come across one of the “hurdles” in this song. You might ask yourself “hey, I know tapping. Why should this be a problem?” Well, dear Sir or Madam, let me tell you... When looking closer at the tapping ru...
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0:18 Super Continental - Part 6 Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Crazy! Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock The same problems with note value alteration as in the 5th analysis, can be found in bar 35-36. Here I’m playing a long legato/tapping run, pretty much floating all over the place, but still keeping that 9-tuplet note value flowing. In this li...
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2:59 Super Continental - Backing Track Instructor: Richard Lundmark Level: Crazy! Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's the backing track, with some added harmony and main motif guitars to help you along.
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1:04 Advanced Patterns and Sequences - Part 1 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Scales Style: Rock Alrighty then! Let's get cracking on the first sequence. The whole sequence is based around the tonal centre of A dorian and while it is mainly diatonic, there are some additional passing notes present which make the sequence that little bit more in...
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0:37 Advanced Patterns and Sequences - Part 2 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Scales Style: Rock Ready to go with exercise 2? Good stuff! OK, this exercise is based upon an A minor pentatonic scale which shifts positions using the 3rd finger. The best way to practice this pattern is to play the notes in the same order as indicated in the diagra...
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0:45 Advanced Patterns and Sequences - Part 3 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Scales Style: Rock Alrighty then! The next sequence is in the tonal centre of E and utilizes the notes of the E minor pentatonic scale. Pentatonic scales are more often than not, played as two note per string scales but here it requires 4 note per string pentatonic sha...
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0:47 Advanced Patterns and Sequences - Part 4 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Scales Style: Rock Thanks for joining me in sequence 4! This sequence is based upon an A diminished scale. This scale is an octotonic scale and is sometimes called a whole/half scale. This is because the scale is built upon those intervals which re-occur every minor t...
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0:39 Advanced Patterns and Sequences - Part 5 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Scales Style: Rock This sequence is a particular favourite of mine and can actually be heard on my track 'Aftermath' which will be appearing on my new album. This main pattern is a suspended 2nd arpeggio with an added tapped 13th and it descends sequentially to create ...
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0:24 Advanced Patterns and Sequences - Part 6 Instructor: Rick Graham Level: Advanced Topic: Scales Style: Rock In sequence 6 we are in familiar ground again in that the sequence is based around the A minor pentatonic scale. The use of left hand slides give this sequence a very Asian flavour to it which is very pleasing to the ear. If we examine the diagram w...
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0:50 Picking Inside - Across 3 Strings Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we have a nice, soothing melodic riff that incorporates inside picking. Look closely at the tabs below. See how with every 2 notes you play, you're picking inside a pair of strings? The first 2 notes, you're picking inside the D and A strings, ...
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0:34 Picking Inside - Across 3 Strings Variation Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Now we're going to play another riff very similar to the last one. Just like in the last lesson, we're going to be alternate picking across 3 strings while picking inside. In the first measure, you'll play a C power chord with your index finger on t...
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0:43 Picking Inside - Using Inside and Outside Picking Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Technique Style: Rock Now, we're going to mix it up to where you'll be using both inside and outside picking. In this chord progression, we'll be playing power chords. First with E, then G, then A, then B. As in the last lesson, I want you to look at each pair of 2 note...
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1:01 Picking Inside - String Skipping Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Technique Style: Rock Here we'll do a little expansion on the last exercise. We'll use the exact same chord progression, except we're going to incorporate some string skipping. Look at all the notes in groups of 4. If you look at the first 4 notes, it's identical to the ...
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1:00 Picking Inside - Melodic Riff Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's a cool melodic rock riff we can apply the "picking inside" principle to. This riff will have a mix of both picking inside and picking outside techniques. This exercise is a bit awkward compared to the others when it comes to picking. With thi...
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0:25 Picking Inside - Melodic Riff: Backing Track Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Cool Riffs Style: Rock Here's a cool melodic rock riff we can apply the "picking inside" principle to. This riff will have a mix of both picking inside and picking outside techniques. This exercise is a bit awkward compared to the others when it comes to picking. With thi...

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