Backing Tracks / Instructional Videos

[Bainzy]

I've realised I've stopped playing guitar recently mainly because I've got little to do on it (other than write material). There's not really anything inspiring me on it anymore, to rock out with it like there was say, 2 years ago when I didn't know much on the guitar and the competetive aspect of my personality wanted to play as much as possible to be the best, lol. There's no techniques I want to learn anymore, and developing new ones is a pointless pirsuit.

I've stopped learning songs because there's not really anything I can gain from them anymore, and I'm not in a covers band. I want to develop my improvisational skills, but the scarcity of jamming with other proper musicians in my area makes it hard. So I think backing tracks are the best solution, each in a different key/mode etc to get me going.

Also, Id like to see some instructional videos that teach a bit of theory as opposed to "look how fast i can shred", "learn these licks/riffs", "this is a C chord" and "this gets really advanced now, we're onto pinch harmonics"  :roll:  . I want something that helps me add something more diverse to my playing style, but still sounds cool, like blues taken further than pentatonics and 12 bars.  :?

Does anyone have any decent backing tracks then or recommendations for good instructional videos?

[willo]

John McLaughlin's 3 dvd set 'This Is How I Do it' is awesome, very very good and comprehensive approach to jazz/fusion improvisation. It gets a bit complex towards the end although it is supposed to be a 3 year course (I havent got to the end yet, I just watched it...it was some raga tune in 11/8). The main cons are that the music it is aimed at is a little niche I guess, plus the audio mix isn't exactly brilliant and it costs about £90.

DVD wise I also got Petrucci's one. I don't know about it...yes, it will get you quicker but his approach is so stilted towards playing through scales that it bores me. Great technique though. But as you say you don't want to learn techniques, then I'd give it a miss.

[maliciousteve]

Hey mate. Sign up to www.guitaristworks.com they have loads of backing tracks you can download and jam to.

John Petrucci's DVD is really good for helping with inprov and scale knowledge.

[Dakine]

Yeah I was thinking the Petrucci DVD.
It THAT good?

[willo]

I honestly didn't really like the Petrucci dvd - but then Im not a metal shred guy...Sure, it got my speed up and it was very precise and all; but the whole scale fragments approach to improvising was pretty dull, in terms of learning and of playing (in my opinion) - its just playing through a scale as fast as you can :?

[Dakine]

aha, I see.
Thanks Willo. Good to check out but maybe not purchase then :)

[_tom_]

I know what you mean. Sometimes I think "I'm gonna sit down and learn some new scales" so I learn them then I think "Whats the point" and never use them again. What I find fun is sitting watching TV ads then figuring out the melodies on guitar for the jingles.. earlier I figured out some of the theme to "This Morning" on GMTV  :lol:

[Searcher]

For instructional videos I recommend these:

The Blues and Beyond - Robben Ford

This is full of really interesting comping and soloing stuff.  You learn all kinds of chord and scalar substitutions, like how to use the symetrical diminished scale over the V chord, and so on.  Awesome for spicing up your playing with non-diatonic stuff.

Guitar - Andy Summers

I haven't watched this one for ages, but I remember it really expanded my ideas for cool chords.

Terrifying Guitar Trip - Paul Gilbert

I haven't watched this one for a while either, but it's not just a shred-fest!  I remember that much.

Up Close - Tommy Emmanuel

Tommy is one of the best players anywhere and this video give you some instruction on how to play the way he does, with independant thumb stuff on the acoustic guitar.

And maybe these:

Power Lines - Steve Morse

I haven't seen this in a few years, but I remember it was good.  :)

Stanley Jordan - Stanley Jordan

Like Tommy Emmanuel's video, this focuses on mostly one particular technique: both hands on the fretboard.  Stanley takes this to crazy levels though, using both hands like a piano player would.

So there you go.  If you can't find some of them I have them on PAL, which does me no good here in Canada, and could send them to you for a *ahem* modest price.  ;)

[hunter]

I like the stuff from Licklibrary.com. But maybe it's close to what you described you DIDN't want ...?

[TwilightOdyssey]

Speed, Accuracy, and Articulation by Vinnie Moore.
Not for beginners.

[Bainzy]

Great responses guys, I've found finding particuarly those type of videos is so much harder than finding the type of instructional methods i mentioned in the first post that I didn't want. I can easily get that kindof stuff just from my website (shredaholic.com), and I've spent so much time building that website I've got a pretty good idea of what I can get from the internet and what is totally lacking on it.

Special thanks for the comprehensive list Searcher, that should give me lots of material to check out. I'm particuarly interested in the 'blues and beyond' one, I'll ask around to see if anyone I know has a copy.

[Searcher]

No prob.  :)

I had a copy of The Blues and Beyond ages ago and lost it, so I recently tried to find another one.  Some people told me it was discontinued, but I managed to snag a copy from Amazon.com.

[Muttley]

Speed, Accuracy, and Articulation by Vinnie Moore.
Not for beginners.

I'd love to see that.  Vinnie Moore is amazing.

The material would probably go waaay over mu head though.  ;)

Muttley

[Davey]

gilbert i know has good videos.. petruccis one i havent seen yet, but people say its good.

i just watched the first 20 minutes o the zakk wylde video and i must say it completely sucks.. the man aint no teacher, he tried though..

vinnie moore is a cool player, but i'd have to see his instructional videos to say anything about em =P

[Bainzy]

I'll try hunt down TO's Vinnie Moore recommendation guys and let you know what I think of it. I've heard a few tracks of his and they sounded really cool, a style I'd like to learn more about.