Any guitar players here?

Jeremy1

Active member
I got an email from TV Jones for blemished pickups at 30% off once added to cart. Pretty good deal if you like Filtertron style pickups which I do. I am not affiliated with them in anyway, other than I have a pair of the TV classics in my Electromatic which are superb.

I love guitar and actually studied music in College. I haven't played as much as I would like after having my girl, but I am slowly starting to get back in to it and have began practicing again. I also like to record and have a little studio setup in my basement. Would like to one day before I die make an album. I probably have enough songs to do so now, but they are all lacking lyrics and a real drummer. I program drums and have gotten pretty good at it, but you can hear the fakeness in the hi-hats. A buddy of mine said he will record drums, but we just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I love all music, but the stuff I like to do myself is kind of reminiscent of the mid to late 70s smoothish sounding rock like Steely Dan. Stuff that is engineered sonically to perfection. I would love to be able to put something together similarly that sounds so good sonically, but that is a mix of world class musicians, engineers, and songwriters. Not to mention a good sounding recording room and great gear. I lack all of that haha.

Anybody here play guitar or record stuff?
 
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I try to play guitar. Took lessons when I was 14, but didn’t stick long enough to lessen to read music. I know tons of riffs and parts of songs using tabs I’ve found online, but can’t shred/solo. Another huge regret of mine quitting lessons.

nevertheless, I’m getting serious about it now and practice an hour a day. Need to lessen the scales though instead of just learning new riffs.
 
Nothing wrong with tabs. Glad that you are picking it up again as it really is a nice relaxing and fun thing to do. Practicing is frustrating for sure, but it definitely pays off.

I used to be really good, but wow, my skills are almost non-existent now. I play the piano a bunch and have gotten pretty good at that, but my guitar skills are lacking, for sure. When I write songs and record, I use my keyboard a lot as that is where all the different sounds come from and also my midi controller for synths/drum programming and whatnot.

I am still trying to figure out the best way to practice. Mindlessly playing scales with a metronome and things like that, I don't know for sure is the way to go. It is good for timing and mind muscle connection, but can leave you stuck in a box.
 
Jeremy1 said:
Nothing wrong with tabs. Glad that you are picking it up again as it really is a nice relaxing and fun thing to do. Practicing is frustrating for sure, but it definitely pays off.

I used to be really good, but wow, my skills are almost non-existent now. I play the piano a bunch and have gotten pretty good at that, but my guitar skills are lacking, for sure. When I write songs and record, I use my keyboard a lot as that is where all the different sounds come from and also my midi controller for synths/drum programming and whatnot.

I am still trying to figure out the best way to practice. Mindlessly playing scales with a metronome and things like that, I don't know for sure is the way to go. It is good for timing and mind muscle connection, but can leave you stuck in a box.
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Any recommendations where to start learning scales and such? I think some of my trouble with learning some things is not knowing the scales each song is based on.

For fun, some of the songs I’m working on, but struggling with in certain transitions, currently are:

Judas Priest’s Panic Attack and The Sentinel
Omnium Gatherum’s New Dynamic
Amon Amarth’s Twilight Of The Thunder God

I have the main riffs, but just find little things difficult in each one. Not even attempting the actual solos (leads, yes though).

I would like to learn Frontiers by Omnium Gatherum as well, but I’m just not good enough for all the finger tapping/pulloffs. These 2 Omnium Gatherum songs are some of the most majestic I’ve ever heard. Love it.

Also considering getting Protools or whatever it’s called because it’s always been my goal to make a demo.
 
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I wouldn't bother with Protools unless you were a professional engineer or musician. There are lots of good free software options. Presonus has a free version of studio one that is pretty good. I myself do not use software. I have an older hard disk recorder that I use. I keep it and use it because it has a great sound IMO and mixbus. When it finally craps out I will go to software.

I will try to think of something for you that may help with scales, maybe a book or something I can recommend. You need to learn how scales are constructed in terms of whole steps and half steps. Just do major scale now. W-W-H-W-W-W-H. In C that is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C or in scale degree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. The below should help with the other keys and the names of the notes. So for example the first one, the Key of G it is still W-W-H-W-W-W-H. That F# is due to the whole step from scale degree 6 to 7 or E to F#. The Major scale is always W-W-H-W-W-W-H. This is probably confusing, but maybe it will help some. Quick note, to make natural minor, it is made by lowering the 3, 6, and 7 degree of the major scale. The pattern for it is then W-H-W-W-H-W-W. So if you relate this to the major scale, the degrees for the natural minor would be 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7. Once you learn the major scales and the fingerings, dropping the 3rd, 6th, and 7th a half step will then make that minor. There are other minor keys, (Melodic, Harmonic, etc...) but this is a good start.

The below may help you in determining in what key a song is in if you have the music.

.
MajorMinorNumber of sharpsSharp notesKey signature
G majorE minor1F♯Invalid Link Removed
D majorB minor2F♯, C♯Invalid Link Removed
A majorF♯ minor3F♯, C♯, G♯Invalid Link Removed
E majorC♯ minor4F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯Invalid Link Removed
B majorG♯ minor5F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯Invalid Link Removed
F♯ majorD♯ minor6F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯Invalid Link Removed
C♯ majorA♯ minor7F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯Invalid Link Removed


MajorMinorNumber of flatsFlat notesKey signature
F majorD minor1B♭Invalid Link Removed
B♭ majorG minor2B♭, E♭Invalid Link Removed
E♭ majorC minor3B♭, E♭, A♭Invalid Link Removed
A♭ majorF minor4B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭Invalid Link Removed
D♭ majorB♭ minor5B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭Invalid Link Removed
G♭ majorE♭ minor6
 
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Jeremy1 said:
I wouldn't bother with Protools unless you were a professional engineer or musician. There are lots of good free software options. Presonus has a free version of studio one that is pretty good. I myself do not use software. I have an older hard disk recorder that I use. I keep it and use it because it has a great sound IMO and mixbus. When it finally craps out I will go to software.

I will try to think of something for you that may help with scales, maybe a book or something I can recommend. You need to learn how scales are constructed in terms of whole steps and half steps. Just do major scale now. W-W-H-W-W-W-H. In C that is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C or in scale degree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. The below should help with the other keys and the names of the notes. So for example the first one, the Key of G it is still W-W-H-W-W-W-H. That F# is due to the whole step from scale degree 6 to 7 or E to F#. The Major scale is always W-W-H-W-W-W-H. This is probably confusing, but maybe it will help some. Quick note, to make natural minor, it is made by lowering the 3, 6, and 7 degree of the major scale. The pattern for it is then W-H-W-W-H-W-W. So if you relate this to the major scale, the degrees for the natural minor would be 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7. Once you learn the major scales and the fingerings, dropping the 3rd, 6th, and 7th a half step will then make that minor. There are other minor keys, (Melodic, Harmonic, etc...) but this is a good start.

The below may help you in determining in what key a song is in if you have the music.

.
MajorMinorNumber of sharpsSharp notesKey signature
G majorE minor1F♯Invalid Link Removed
D majorB minor2F♯, C♯Invalid Link Removed
A majorF♯ minor3F♯, C♯, G♯Invalid Link Removed
E majorC♯ minor4F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯Invalid Link Removed
B majorG♯ minor5F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯Invalid Link Removed
F♯ majorD♯ minor6F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯Invalid Link Removed
C♯ majorA♯ minor7F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯Invalid Link Removed


MajorMinorNumber of flatsFlat notesKey signature
F majorD minor1B♭Invalid Link Removed
B♭ majorG minor2B♭, E♭Invalid Link Removed
E♭ majorC minor3B♭, E♭, A♭Invalid Link Removed
A♭ majorF minor4B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭Invalid Link Removed
D♭ majorB♭ minor5B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭Invalid Link Removed
G♭ majorE♭ minor6
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Excellent. Thanks! Now I just need a link to know what that means lol
 
Yes it is confusing, especially trying to write this stuff out for someone when I am not a good teacher lol.

C major scale would be C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C or 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 / W-W-H-W-W-W-H
C Minor scale would be C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C or 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 / W-H-W-W-H-W-W

I will try to see if I have a good book to recommend.
 
Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed



These are probably better than the free studio one DAW.
 
Jeremy1 said:
Yes it is confusing, especially trying to write this stuff out for someone when I am not a good teacher lol.

C major scale would be C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C or 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 / W-W-H-W-W-W-H
C Minor scale would be C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C or 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 / W-H-W-W-H-W-W

I will try to see if I have a good book to recommend.
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Check out Invalid Link Removed please. That’s where I get my tabs, but considering signing up for their courses.

Had a break through on the intro lead to Panic Attack…can’t wait until I can plug in and blow my ear drums with it. 😂
 
I checked that out. It looks good to me. You aren't trying to be a studio musician, (I planned on it, but life got in the way) so I think tabs and all of that are just fine. The only thing I will say is that there may be a a point in your life where you wish you could look at music and figure things out. Learning to read music, (or at least knowing what the notes are and how chords are constructed) while it sucks, is a good thing. I struggle still, especially on guitar, but that might be something you could add into your practicing. The Leavitt Book 1 is pretty good for reading, but may be hard without someone to guide you. The style of music will also not be of your liking, but in terms of reading it is pretty good.

Invalid Link Removed
 
I've been playing guitar for about 10 years now and find that keeping practice sessions interesting and varied is the key. Mixing self-taught methods with some structured guidance often works best for me. You might want to consider taking music lessons online which I find great for diversifying your learning. You can even find some with step-by-step videos that can be paused and replayed.
 
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Just a rant because I have no other guitar players to talk to…AI has done amazing things. Why is there not an AI program that can create tabs??? 😒
 
Jeremy1 said:
I checked that out. It looks good to me. You aren't trying to be a studio musician, (I planned on it, but life got in the way) so I think tabs and all of that are just fine. The only thing I will say is that there may be a a point in your life where you wish you could look at music and figure things out. Learning to read music, (or at least knowing what the notes are and how chords are constructed) while it sucks, is a good thing. I struggle still, especially on guitar, but that might be something you could add into your practicing. The Leavitt Book 1 is pretty good for reading, but may be hard without someone to guide you. The style of music will also not be of your liking, but in terms of reading it is pretty good.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
Are you still on this forum? I need some help figuring something out with New Dynamic during the finger part.

Or anyone that can figure this out. The finger tapping done live is very different than what’s on the tabs that are everywhere online. I have most of this song nailed down except this which has taken about 20 hours so far 😂

Any help would be be appreciated.
 
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