seventhsun
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Post by seventhsun on Jan 15, 2017 3:04:55 GMT -5
I think a lot of us are always looking for ways to improve our own playing, writing or technique and everyone has some tips on how to do it. So I thought it would be nice to see what everyone recommends. Obviously I'm still trying to improve everything but I've been working through these books lately to get better: - Guitar Theory for Dummies
- Christ Letchford's Technique books (both the general technique and the book specifically for tapping)
- Advanced Guitar Theory and Technique Applied to the Metal and Shred Genres
So what would you guys recommend or what helped you improve your skills the most?
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Vivum Excoriari
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Drummer for Brodequin (US), Contorted Mind (NLD) - signed to NSE, and Carcinogenic (USA/NLD)
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Post by Vivum Excoriari on Jan 16, 2017 1:28:13 GMT -5
May I add "improve learning songs"? If someone could help me with that, I would be very grateful. I have a very weird way of doing so. I cannot write drum notes so I just write the parts out riff by riff. Like this:
Riff 1: fast blast, fast kick
Riff 2: fast skank, 123 fill end with snare on 4
Riff 3: ...
Etc.
Very much to write, not very efficient.
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Post by goryblasphemy on Jan 16, 2017 4:45:24 GMT -5
Can anyone recommend a song, book/article, something to help my alternate picking?
I first learned just playing down but playing 32nd notes at 220bpm gets tough that way so I started going "up/down". I got it pretty much but switching strings in that pattern can fuck me up.
Ive been working on playing chromatic scales super fast but I dont know if theres a better way?
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seventhsun
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Post by seventhsun on Jan 16, 2017 10:16:04 GMT -5
Can anyone recommend a song, book/article, something to help my alternate picking? I first learned just playing down but playing 32nd notes at 220bpm gets tough that way so I started going "up/down". I got it pretty much but switching strings in that pattern can fuck me up. Ive been working on playing chromatic scales super fast but I dont know if theres a better way? I've just practiced it first slowly than faster until it became second nature, then doing alternate picking in combination with string skipping exercises pretty much got me exactly where I wanted skill wise. Maybe that'll give you some ideas what to do? |
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DisJorge
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Post by DisJorge on Jan 16, 2017 11:21:15 GMT -5
Can anyone recommend a song, book/article, something to help my alternate picking? I first learned just playing down but playing 32nd notes at 220bpm gets tough that way so I started going "up/down". I got it pretty much but switching strings in that pattern can fuck me up. Ive been working on playing chromatic scales super fast but I dont know if theres a better way? I guess you mean 16th notes at 220bpm. If you can play 32nd notes you need no help! Like goryblasphemer said start slowly with a metronome... With practice and patience you'll reach tempos you'd never thought of. |
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DisJorge
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Post by DisJorge on Jan 16, 2017 11:22:34 GMT -5
May I add "improve learning songs"? If someone could help me with that, I would be very grateful. I have a very weird way of doing so. I cannot write drum notes so I just write the parts out riff by riff. Like this: Riff 1: fast blast, fast kick Riff 2: fast skank, 123 fill end with snare on 4 Riff 3: ... Etc. Very much to write, not very efficient. Writing the pattern on guitar pro may seem a bit awkward at first but once you get it it's a very accurate way. |
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theozzman
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Clit Commander
Posts: 68
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Post by theozzman on Jan 16, 2017 11:25:06 GMT -5
May I add "improve learning songs"? If someone could help me with that, I would be very grateful. I have a very weird way of doing so. I cannot write drum notes so I just write the parts out riff by riff. Like this: Riff 1: fast blast, fast kick Riff 2: fast skank, 123 fill end with snare on 4 Riff 3: ... Etc. Very much to write, not very efficient. Drumeo.com has a Youtube channel that helps with that. If you're willing to shell out ~200 USD, you get a year's subscription to their online database which delves deeper into shit like this. I like the aspect of taking lessons so I can somewhar do notation and read it but I'm not the best at it. The way you write it out is definitely faster hahaha. |
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Vivum Excoriari
Sliver Member
Drummer for Brodequin (US), Contorted Mind (NLD) - signed to NSE, and Carcinogenic (USA/NLD)
Posts: 88
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Post by Vivum Excoriari on Jan 16, 2017 12:53:03 GMT -5
May I add "improve learning songs"? If someone could help me with that, I would be very grateful. I have a very weird way of doing so. I cannot write drum notes so I just write the parts out riff by riff. Like this: Riff 1: fast blast, fast kick Riff 2: fast skank, 123 fill end with snare on 4 Riff 3: ... Etc. Very much to write, not very efficient. Drumeo.com has a Youtube channel that helps with that. If you're willing to shell out ~200 USD, you get a year's subscription to their online database which delves deeper into shit like this. I like the aspect of taking lessons so I can somewhar do notation and read it but I'm not the best at it. The way you write it out is definitely faster hahaha. I can actually read drum notes although I need to refresh that ability as I have not done it for a long while. I think I might even be able to write them but it would take way too long before I have written a song... I am more of an "on-the-go" learning type. I learn as I play. I try play things I like, takes time but the most fun way for me. |
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Vivum Excoriari
Sliver Member
Drummer for Brodequin (US), Contorted Mind (NLD) - signed to NSE, and Carcinogenic (USA/NLD)
Posts: 88
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Post by Vivum Excoriari on Jan 16, 2017 12:53:19 GMT -5
May I add "improve learning songs"? If someone could help me with that, I would be very grateful. I have a very weird way of doing so. I cannot write drum notes so I just write the parts out riff by riff. Like this: Riff 1: fast blast, fast kick Riff 2: fast skank, 123 fill end with snare on 4 Riff 3: ... Etc. Very much to write, not very efficient. Writing the pattern on guitar pro may seem a bit awkward at first but once you get it it's a very accurate way. Does this also help with drums? |
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DisJorge
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Post by DisJorge on Jan 18, 2017 11:33:06 GMT -5
Writing the pattern on guitar pro may seem a bit awkward at first but once you get it it's a very accurate way. Does this also help with drums? Absolutely yes |
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Vivum Excoriari
Sliver Member
Drummer for Brodequin (US), Contorted Mind (NLD) - signed to NSE, and Carcinogenic (USA/NLD)
Posts: 88
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Post by Vivum Excoriari on Jan 22, 2017 8:02:49 GMT -5
Does this also help with drums? Absolutely yes I will definitely try and mess around with this, then. Thank you! |
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Post by rupturedabscess on Jan 30, 2017 0:10:56 GMT -5
Good thread. I usually film myself when I'm practicing so that I can pick up on my own shitty techniques, etc.
As a side-topic, how do you know when you've written something "good"?
As in, how many riffs or beats do you go through before landing on one that actually makes it into a song?
I have a nasty habit of writing/filming a bunch of riffs, then scrapping them the next day because they're not br00tal enough...
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seventhsun
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Post by seventhsun on Feb 1, 2017 2:35:06 GMT -5
Good thread. I usually film myself when I'm practicing so that I can pick up on my own shitty techniques, etc. As a side-topic, how do you know when you've written something "good"? As in, how many riffs or beats do you go through before landing on one that actually makes it into a song? I have a nasty habit of writing/filming a bunch of riffs, then scrapping them the next day because they're not br00tal enough... For me there is usually a process when it comes to finding the "good" material. First I find a riff that I like - meaning I'll keep coming back to it every day for a few days without disliking it. Then I just build upon that riff - meaning I'll keep playing that riff and then try to play something that feels like it would come after that first riff - I'll do that until I find that riff where it just makes "click" and then move on from there. That way I can be sure that there is a "flow" in my songs and that the riffs within the song make sense in the order they're played to the listener. However - and that is just from personal experience: If you use that method of writing a song I'd advise that you come up with a general structure chart (like: Intro-Riff1-Riff2-transition-riff3-riff1.1.....) beforehand so you don't end up with just 14 riffs and a horribly boring song. Obviously that's just my way to do it and I'm sure it's not for everyone but yeah - if you feel like you're looking for a new way to approach things maybe this will help. |
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jamison
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Post by jamison on Feb 7, 2017 12:33:01 GMT -5
Good thread. I usually film myself when I'm practicing so that I can pick up on my own shitty techniques, etc. As a side-topic, how do you know when you've written something "good"? As in, how many riffs or beats do you go through before landing on one that actually makes it into a song? I have a nasty habit of writing/filming a bunch of riffs, then scrapping them the next day because they're not br00tal enough... We're our own worst critics. I'd say if YOU like the riffs, just put em out there. What's "good' is usually arbitrary and subjective anyways. Some will like it, some wont. If I can play something over and over again and it catches my ear, I'll develop that part (or parts) and try to write other motifs and themes that are built on that same riff and it's various facets. The last movement should tie the rest of the song together with the best variations of the original idea, IMO. Work that riff backwards and forwards; what notes are you using together? How can the rhythm/time signature be changed? What is going to be repeated and how? Can you use the same progression within a different pattern, or visa-versa? To me, the most compelling albums and songs are in the composition; anyone can write a few "brutal" riffs and throw them together to have a finished product (boring). Not everyone can write a set of ideas that utilizes two or three unfolding motifs or a common theme for 2-4 minutes. |
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Post by goryblasphemy on Feb 7, 2017 22:31:12 GMT -5
Good thread. I usually film myself when I'm practicing so that I can pick up on my own shitty techniques, etc. As a side-topic, how do you know when you've written something "good"? As in, how many riffs or beats do you go through before landing on one that actually makes it into a song? I have a nasty habit of writing/filming a bunch of riffs, then scrapping them the next day because they're not br00tal enough... For me there is usually a process when it comes to finding the "good" material. First I find a riff that I like - meaning I'll keep coming back to it every day for a few days without disliking it. Then I just build upon that riff - meaning I'll keep playing that riff and then try to play something that feels like it would come after that first riff - I'll do that until I find that riff where it just makes "click" and then move on from there. That way I can be sure that there is a "flow" in my songs and that the riffs within the song make sense in the order they're played to the listener. However - and that is just from personal experience: If you use that method of writing a song I'd advise that you come up with a general structure chart (like: Intro-Riff1-Riff2-transition-riff3-riff1.1.....) beforehand so you don't end up with just 14 riffs and a horribly boring song. Obviously that's just my way to do it and I'm sure it's not for everyone but yeah - if you feel like you're looking for a new way to approach things maybe this will help. Could you write 14 different riffs after each other and it not be boring? When I first started writing I started the original rock song form of Verse 1 - chorus - verse2 -chorus -bridge-verse 1 - chorus. Something like that. But now I try not to repeat any sections as I feel like it can get stagnant hearing the same riffs over and over. So my songs nowadays tend to be 6 riffs with maybe 1 repeating. I need to do some major music appreciation/study. Also I second the guitarpro I got a copy from a friend in an oldband who said we all needed it. It is the best way to write IMO. Side note- it would be cool if someone came up with tablature software , where if you played guitar notes the software would automatically tab them out. If nobodies invented that yet... Sitting with a guitar and leaning over and typing hurts. |
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desanusor
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Post by desanusor on Jul 8, 2018 21:02:38 GMT -5
May I add "improve learning songs"? If someone could help me with that, I would be very grateful. I have a very weird way of doing so. I cannot write drum notes so I just write the parts out riff by riff. Like this: Riff 1: fast blast, fast kick Riff 2: fast skank, 123 fill end with snare on 4 Riff 3: ... Etc. Very much to write, not very efficient. Writing the pattern on guitar pro may seem a bit awkward at first but once you get it it's a very accurate way. agreed I'll add that writing everything (that includes tempo changes and all) off your song in guitar pro is a good way to see if things work well or not. Midi can be painful at the beginning but after a while you'll hear and grasp all you need to perfect your composition. Once you have all written you can also easily play your stuffs at the desirated tempo to get the things tight. |
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