Shred-Metal track on youtube

[lysander]

Hi guys

I am new here, ckeck this out


A 2 minute-long song I composed with a variety of guitar techniques. There are two guitars, me and a backing computer software. Please add comments and rate.

Thanks
Lysander

[bet23]

Im sorry, its pretty bad... this needs alot of work in all areas. Dont rush yourself just so you can put it on youtube, its better to really work hard on getting everything be as close to your current level of perfection as possible. And, if this is your current level of perfection I would personally advise against putting your stuff on youtube for now.

Your time is what hurts this the most, that and this tone you are playing with, just not very good at all. Your technique is totally behind what you are trying to play, and the bends and touch are still very raw.

Just getting a better recording would be best allready, better tone, and a better mix... but the actual playing side needs alot of work. You need to stop focusing on technique until you have your bends and vibrato under control (at least make that a part of what you work on)...

The actual thing that I think needs the most work is the "piece", the composition... its just pretty bland IMO. Im hoping that young players can try to do something different, sound like themselves or at the very least, try to "say" something that hasnt been said 1,000 billion times before.

Dont give up though, and try to really push your playing and music to another level in the next few years...

[† Kenny †]

well, my opinion is a bit different


it is intresting, the concept is something that i enjoy, but the technique needs some work, and most of all you need to smooth out your playing. by that i mean it would sound better (to me atleast) if the transitions felt more natural and it didnt feel forced.

anyways good video, and good attempt

keep at it!

Kenny

[lysander]

Ok guys I have never taken electric guitar lessons, I am playing e-guitar 2,5 years and alternate picking just 1,5 year now, and only the last 3 months am I practicing hard and with metronome. That's why I sound so crapy (and the recording was made with a webcam!)

Maybe you are right, I should wait a little bit with 5-string sweeping patterns and fast tapping.
Actually I uploaded it not for the sound and the techinque, but for the music itself.

The last month I am focusing on ''inside'' picking: I can play 6 notes-per-string-patterns with 16th notes at 92 bpm.


Thanks for the advice

[bet23]

-I would suggest that you get a teacher, and work on bending, vibrato, touch, phrasing, etc... ALOT more than picking and sweeping...

[Adji]

i odnt mean to osund harsh, this is jsut honest criticism. I garee with what 'jackson pollock' said. You definitly need to work on songrwiting and composition before technicallity. You odnt necessarily need a guitar teacher, i havent had one ive studied myslef (just started college however last year) and im learning fast. Try learning scales other than minor, try learning the modal system.

[Klaus]

The People here can sound overly critical but you won't find a finer bunch of critics, this board is full of excellent ears. Take to heart what has been said and don't use the I've been learning/playing for yadda yadda yadda type excuse that has no weight. Your playing reminds me of looking at an incomplete puzzle, you can make out some of the details but you can't tell what the puzzle is yet...too many missing pieces, but definitely keep working at it.

[S-H]

You can practice technique as well as vibrato & bending.

Depending on how serious, dedicated you are & how good you want to be- put in that amount of hours.

I'd suggest putting in at least 5 per day if you want to be a pro.

Spend an hour on:

* Alt Picking (with a metronome ensuring even note spacing- ie 4 notes per beat should be an equal distance apart from each other, as well as 1 pickstroke per fretted note & no excess string noise when changing strings)


* Legato (the best exercise for 'Touch' espescially on a trem guitar where you have to be precise in firmness or softness of fretting a note- otherwise the note dramatically sharpens)


* Vibrato (you can practice with a metronome on very slow & make an alotted number of bends up & then back to pitch if that makes sense. Try to ensure even-ness as well as going back to the correct pitch & then up the amount of bends per beat and so on...)


* Sweep-Picking. Start with 3-string ensuring even note spacing, cleanliness & synchronisation of the hands.


* Bending. You should have a guitar tech set up your guitar's intonation (intonation means every note along the neck is in as close to perfect tuning as possible. Say the open E is 0 cents ie- perfect tuing, the E note at the 12th fret & then at the 24th fret SHOULD be 0 cents too).

After the guitar is set up, work on hitting the right pitch- start with 1-fret aka "Half-Step" bends & then move on to 2-fret aka "Full Step" or "Whole Step" bends.


I'd actually say DON'T work on your phrasing YET because if you don't have the standard components down it's pointless IMO.

You're only 18 so don't rush anything, it takes ages to be a top level musician & great phrasing is normally which seperates the good players from the great.

But do that 5 hour routine for say, 3 months & see how you go.

[lysander]

Alright, thanks for the tips

[blindfire]

yeah iam still waiting for steve's guitarworld articles You really don't have to practice 5 hours per day. You can practice 5 hours and get useless stuff out of it. Perfect practice makes Perfect! if you can recognize and evaluate your mistakes in 2 hours, that beats the 5 hour regiment. Or you can do 10 hours with the same process and gain a level like Super Mario. Overall it depends on your dedication.

[blackorchidx]

as its been said, there is far more than sweeping and alternate picking.
Every great player has studied music in some shape or form, and by that i dont mean play a bunch of songs by bands they like haha.
lots of people learn arpeggios without knowing what to do with them, there is no point just going up and down in shapes you cant justify to the full potential.
Vibrato is a big issue here, my own vibrato is on the mend after much abuse so i can give you some tips.
first of all bend one note up and down, any speed you want for 15 mins every day for a week, you will attach to what sounds good and be able to recognise bad intonation.
then play your own vibrato again and repair as neccesary

peace

[S-H]

blindfire said:

yeah iam still waiting for steve's guitarworld articles

Guitar World?

I'm starting my own magazine!

You really don't have to practice 5 hours per day. You can practice 5 hours and get useless stuff out of it. Perfect practice makes Perfect! if you can recognize and evaluate your mistakes in 2 hours, that beats the 5 hour regiment. Or you can do 10 hours with the same process and gain a level like Super Mario. Overall it depends on your dedication.

Well if you want to be a top level player, you need to practice the important thigns as well as work on the things you *** at, for 5+ hours per day.

If someone says they wanna be a top level player and practice less than 5 per day- EVERY day, then i'll say they are kidding themselves.

To be good at anything- whether it's an instrument or a sport or directing films, you need to put in the time.

Even the super-geniuses like Bach & Messiaen put in the hours, so us mortals have to- probably more so since we're at a disadvantage.

I agree practicing 10 hours of *** per day is pointless but i assumed people on the MAB forum realise you don't practice the same stuff all the time & have to put in the time.

Mike didn't wake up an awesome player, it took at least a week. ;D

[S-H]

I'd suggest doing my regiment (which is guitar specific) i posted for a year to get everything watertight and then work on the overall musical elements Roberto said like Phrasing- which is what makes 1 musician different from another.

But i personally don't think you can work on that until you have the means to play.

It's like attempting a 3-point turn in a road before you can drive in a straight line.

[lysander]

Alright I think it was wrong to send this link here, to MAB forum. I realize you must be top-guitarists. I don't believe and I didn't belive that my track was perfect, I just thought it was interesting.
If all of you are playing more than 5 yeara e-guitar, those comments are quite normal.

I can't find a teacher for now, I am moving to Germany for some months. I practice many hours a day, but damn I didn't play these 5 last days and now playing seems so difficult. It seems you have to stuck on the thing and not let a single day without practice.
6-notes-per-string patters with triplets at 92 b.p.m. is what I hardly can play now.

Well thanks alot for the advice.

[tobias hurwitz]

Hey lysander,

Shred isn't the easiest style to master. It takes a long time. You're going to be great after you pay your dues just a little more. You say you can't find a teacher, you might try one of MAB's instructional DVDs, like Speed Kills. They are very good. I also have some online shred lessons you might enjoy on www.workshoplive.com It may seem strange, but playing very slowly will lead you to playing fast. Keep at it. We're all waiting for a better video from you, so, let's hear that masterpiece!

[Erikrt123]

Lysander,

I hope you are not taking this all wrong. Everyone is just trying to offer advice on things they see as needing work.The people here are good guys and will try to lead you in the right direction for improvement. Which I am sure you are after. That takes time, man. Don't get discouraged and please don't feel insulted. Just take the advice and use it as a tool for development.ae, things to study further/learn list.

[tobias hurwitz]

Well I guess Lysander hit the wood shed.