Pushing yourself to a new level

[Keven]

Hi folks,

so, as i'm out of work these days and as jamtrackcentral just released the jeff loomis package, i'm pushing myself to learn the entire album in order to 1) regain my chops as lots of work means not much practice 2) push my technique to a new level, and i've been at it for a while now (since last friday but i was out for the weekend so 3-4 days really) and i'm quite happy with the progress, here's a snippet of the first 2 phrases of the first track, mercurial, i had learned last friday, now i'm done with the 4th shred phrase and entering the part just before the actual solos.

i haven't played guitar that much in a while, it feels good, my pinky split open and i fixed it with crazy glue, just like old times.

i'm pleased however as with enough work i think my goal will be reached, especially once i go through all the tracks, plains of oblivion is a crazy album.

here, listen :)

https://soundcloud.com/kevenlemieux/kev-mercurial-snippet

anyone found ways to motivate them to push their playing? i reckon once i'm done with this i don't want to go in another slump!

[Jamie]

I love trying to learn some of the Loomis stuff. I have a DVD from rock house(?), I think, where Jeff goes through a lot of his songs. They are mainly from zero order phase though I believe

[GuitarIv]

Tight playing mate, very nice! In fact I've been doing pretty much the same thing as you, improving my playing and especially my alternate picking. Results so far are good and next thing I'll be tackling is Paganini's Caprice No. 5  :lol:

[Keven]

Thanks buddy! i saw your post just after mine and we're indeed on similar roads. i've had to take a break but as soon as i got the time i'm back in full force on that endeavor :)

[Cam_H]

I get Guitar Techniques every month and I learn everything in it; cover to cover. Whilst I may not be able to play everything with the target tempo, I aim to be able to at least play all the set out pieces at at least a certain tempo with perfect form. I still think of it as a workout as if I struggle to play it at a higher tempo, it means my fingers have stumbled across something I've never played before.

There's quite a lot of the time were some of the pieces, licks, etc. are uninspiring, so I just learn to play slow with perfect form and move on. But some other parts I can find to sound really cool, so I just practice them until I can play fast with perfect form.

I find guitar techniques a fantastic magazine as it covers such a wide variety of styles from issue to issue. I've found it makes so much difference when I come to practicing my improvisation as I find myself doing some really fancy and melodic sounding stuff that sometimes leaves me impressed with myself.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I get Guitar Techniques every month and I learn everything in it; cover to cover. Whilst I may not be able to play everything with the target tempo, I aim to be able to at least play all the set out pieces at at least a certain tempo with perfect form. I still think of it as a workout as if I struggle to play it at a higher tempo, it means my fingers have stumbled across something I've never played before.

There's quite a lot of the time were some of the pieces, licks, etc. are uninspiring, so I just learn to play slow with perfect form and move on. But some other parts I can find to sound really cool, so I just practice them until I can play fast with perfect form.

I find guitar techniques a fantastic magazine as it covers such a wide variety of styles from issue to issue. I've found it makes so much difference when I come to practicing my improvisation as I find myself doing some really fancy and melodic sounding stuff that sometimes leaves me impressed with myself.

has it really become that easy? when I used to buy it there were extremely complex pieces in there, I still own some old ones now and they were great because I could spend a few months learning one, the jazz section used to be really really complicated which is how it should be really, so they still have an acoustic guitar section? haven't bought it for almost a decade now. lol

[Cam_H]

Oh yes there is still some bloody complex stuff. But I try and at least play everything, even at a slow tempo. I admit, there are some pieces which I only can play at 20bpm and some which are beyond me. But these pieces I scan and put into a folder. A recent issue had 8 finger tapping which I'm still working on. It all really depends on the issue, but I attempt everything.

I completely forgot to mention the acoustic guitar section. This is the most challenging for me. I still give it a go, but I tend to favour the electric guitar stuff.

If I had to name one thing which I really struggle with, it's very complex wide stretches with chords. There was a chord in a recent issue which you had to do something crazy like barre across the 3rd Frets and use the extra 3 fingers to fret notes at the 4th, 5th and 7th frets. A chord using all 6 strings too. My hands are small I struggle with this. I usually compromise and cheat a bit with these chords.

[Keven]

Guitar Techniques is indeed a great resource, i tried to kick myself into learning it from cover to cover but thus far had no luck, good idea though! makes you move your fingers which is the best way to improve!

[Cam_H]

Guitar Techniques is indeed a great resource, i tried to kick myself into learning it from cover to cover but thus far had no luck, good idea though! makes you move your fingers which is the best way to improve!

That was my thought. Even playing slow, it provides some really good acrobatic workouts. Some people say being able to shred with a good technique doesn't make you a good player. Whilst I agree, I believe being able to play fast with good technique allows you to explore more possibilities in your playing, enabling to take you places you might not have been able to go with just playing blues licks. Jason Becker said the same thing about his playing. In Cacophony, they tried to explore new ways to approach the guitar which he wouldn't have been able to do without his abilities and great technique.

[GuitarIv]

I think that's the great thing about playing an instrument: you never reach an end, there's always a new goal, something new to explore, new summits to be scaled - wether you're just learning new chords, try to become a better songwriter or practice a solo all day long to get it down  :D

[Dave Sloven]

.

Sorry wrong thread