Gabe's Guitar Technique Thread (Formally Lick Of The Week)

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 4:16 pm

Hey guy's I thought it'd be a cool idea to start a thread I'll update weekly with a new lick.

The basic idea I've had is every week I'll upload a pdf and a video of a lick that I think is cool and worth working on.

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15/11/12 - 5add9 Picking Study

So to start with here is a cool alternate picking study. This lick is based around power chord shapes with an added 9, similar to those you'll see in many Police songs. This lick is useful to help you develop your alternate picking proficiency as well as helping you to extend your ability to stretch. If you are struggling with the stretches try moving the exercise to a different position - i.e. start at the 10th fret rather than the 5th. The aim is to alternately pick every note even when changing string.

If you have any questions just give me a shout, and I'll be back next week with another lick.

[youtube][/youtube]
http://bestnetworx.com/uploader/files/426/Untitled.pdf

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:08 pm

Awesome thread Gabe, I was gonna do one of these (Fran's Shred Shed) a few years back but never got round to it. DEFINITELY KEEP IT ONGOING!!
It would be helpful if you played the licks at half tempo as well

Nice lick by the way, most folks would cheat with a Delay pedal set at one repeat.

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:16 pm

Here's my stab at it:
[youtube][/youtube]

I think I need to invest in a metronome.

Keep these things coming - they're really helpful!

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:54 am

nice one gab, this is a great idea.

fran, if you are giving up on the bands maybe doing the shred shed might spark the fire again

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:27 pm

lorez wrote:fran, if you are giving up on the bands maybe doing the shred shed might spark the fire again

I'm actually finding most pleasure messing with Effects at the moment, layering with Delays, soundscaping etc. Trying to find a sound that isn't a direct rip off of MBV or KoD..

Post by **Doog** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:37 pm

Cool stuff, consider me SUBSCRIBED

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 9:10 pm

22/11/12 - A Minor/A Diminished Sweeping Patterns

This lick has a definite Malmsteen vibe to it. It is quite tricky to play (I struggle to play it much above 80bpm as I haven't really learnt it) as it not only incorporates large stretches and sweeping but there is an open string and the patterns are slightly different to those most people are used to. The first half of the lick is based around different inversions of an A- chord with the second half being inversions of AÂº these shapes are useful to learn as you can apply them to chordal playing as well as solo lines.

[youtube][/youtube]

http://bestnetworx.com/uploader/files/4 ... nished.pdf

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 9:49 pm

Cool idea. I attempted the first lick. Find the stretching fairly easy, probably due to my classical guitar stuff, but am pretty crap at doing the alternate picking whilst moving across the strings. Especially on the way back up the strings. I WILL PRACTICE.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 11:40 pm

DanHeron wrote:Cool idea. I attempted the first lick. Find the stretching fairly easy, probably due to my classical guitar stuff, but am pretty crap at doing the alternate picking whilst moving across the strings. Especially on the way back up the strings. I WILL PRACTICE.

The trick is just slow it right down until your picking is tidy then bring it back up, you'll get there and the practice will show immediately. I spent a lot of time when I first really got into guitar practicing my alternate picking and it is one of my strongest points - it's my economy picking that sucks.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:49 am

I found a metronome and patience was all you needed to build up the alternate picking skills Dan, I spent hours working on it just as a drill type thing (I don't have need for it in my playing if I'm honest) starting slow, 60 bpm & one pick per click and working up to 4 picks per click. although you probably know this already.

Gab, I'm looking forward to the next installment video

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 2:23 pm

This is a really cool idea.

My technique is utter rubbish. I can play chords and stuff all day long but I really struggle with practicing teh riffz. I know I need to improve that area of my playing so this is a great thread for me to keep checking back on and practicing.

I know that if I was motivated enough to warm up for 5-10 minutes beforehand, my playing would improve.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 10:43 pm

I only saw this thread for the first time recently but I've really enjoyed the first exercise.

Moar please.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 11:18 pm

29/11/12 - Jim Hall Sweeping Lick

This is a cool lick from the solo that Jim plays on My Funny Valentine. It's an interesting lick as the movement and rhythm emphasis is different to the usual sweeping style.

Things to look out for within in this lick:
- Make sure to keep the picking accurate
- Emphasis of certain notes, the rhythm is important to the feel of the lick
- Make sure to maintain a fluid picking style

Notation/Tab - Click Here

[youtube][/youtube]

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:28 pm

just now found this thread. will try when I have a few second (maybe next week)

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:20 pm

9/12/12 - Chromatic Sweeping Exercise

This is a great lick to help build the coordination needed during sweep picking. The goal is to execute the passage without any extraneous string noise.

http://bestnetworx.com/uploader/files/4 ... ercise.pdf

[youtube][/youtube]

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 3:58 pm

19/12/12 - Alternate Picking Study

This is a great lick to help work on your picking style. The pattern is in triplets which allows for an even spacing of down and up strokes. Try this piece slowly to help work your picking accuracy before speeding it up to work on fluency.

http://bestnetworx.com/uploader/files/426/picking.pdf

[youtube][/youtube]

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:35 pm

Thanks for taking your time to do this Gabe. A+!

Fran, let's go already. I like the name you came up with so do it. I look forward to it.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 6:35 pm

what are you using to make the pdf with the tabs and sheet music?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:48 pm

Sorry I haven't posted here in a couple of weeks, there'll be a new lick coming towards the end of this week though!

SKC Willie wrote:what are you using to make the pdf with the tabs and sheet music?

I use Sibelius 7, it's a brilliant tool for composing and writing music - much more powerful than the guitar orientated products.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:53 pm

Gabriel, can you play something into Sibelius and have it translate it to notation/tab or do you have to write it manually?