Help For Musicians

[Disgustipated]

Any musician knows that no matter how good you are, there's still room for improvement. I made this thread so that people who are having trouble with something can get suggestions and help. I could use a little help with some guitar techniques myself.

Now, for someone who wants help with something, please make your post in this format:

1. What Instrument Do You Play:
2. How Long Have You Been Playing:
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing:
4. What Are You Having Trouble With:

Questions two and three are so people can get an idea of how good you are, so they know what exercises to suggest or what kind of advice to give.

If you want to make a suggestion you can give some exercises, give advice, or maybe select some songs to learn.

For people who want to give advice, if someone makes a post asking for help with something simple, don't be a jerk about it. Everyone has trouble when they are starting to play an instrument.

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 3-3.5 Years
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Dream Theater - Metropolis Part 1: The Miracle and The Sleeper
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Double Handed Tapping, Sweep Picking

Anyone who would like to suggest some exercises for me, if you could, please give me a tempo that I should strive for.

[ioklopolko]

#1 play guitar
#2 been playing for 2 years
#3 currently learning beyond the ice - blind guaridan/ iced earth
#4 need help with sweep picking and tapping in general

[Disgustipated]

#1 play guitar
#2 been playing for 2 years
#3 currently learning beyond the ice - blind guaridan/ iced earth
#4 need help with sweep picking and tapping in general

Well, I don't know if you've ever tried tapping, but I know a problem I noticed when I was tapping was that I used to tap with my index finger. However, you should try to tap with your middle finger.

Now, if you don't know how to tap at all, I suggest starting off very slow. Plug into your amp, turn the distortion and volume up, and just try. Go as slow as you have to in order to produce a clean note. You can build speed later.

You should just try something simple like this.

T T T T
|-17p12p10-17p12p10-17p12p10-17p12p10-|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|

The whole point of tapping is so you can do pull offs across distance that would normally be impossible. Once you get a little better and buildup more speed, you can add a little bit of difficulty to it.

T T T T
|-17p12p10-19p12p10-17p12p10-19p12p10-|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|

....And then eventually you can build it up to something like this.

T T T T T T T T
|-17p12p10-19p15p12-17p12p10-19p15p12-20p15p12-19p15p12-17p14p10-15p10p8h10-|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

In the end, just experiment with it. It doesn't really matter if the notes make sense, as long as you're getting better at tapping.

Edit: As far as sweep picking goes, I'm not too great, but I can give you some basics. First, mute every string. Then, take the pick, and without stopping, kind of glide through each string. Make sure each note is even. Then, come back up with one kind of non-stop, gliding upstroke. This is the basic idea of sweep picking.

Then you can apply to something small. For this example, I'll use the C Major Triad.

|----------------|
|------8--8------|
|----9------9----|
|-10----------10-|
|----------------|
|----------------|

Practice making each note equal, and don't let any note ring out. You can eventually build up to things that use 4 strings, and so on.


|---------------------|
|--------8--8---------|
|------9------9-------|
|---10----------10----|
|10----------------10-|
|---------------------|

[judge weiner]

are there any exercises in particular that helped you guys to get your fingers (particularly the ring and pinky) to stretch further in order to reach different frets?

[Pat The Baker]

Ive got tapping down, pretty well. Sweeping has odd finger positions and can be hard. I have gotten some 6 string sweeps, but, it is still hard in some positions.

When it comes to stretching, I just stretch. I can get from the 12th to 24th, and everywhere in between.

[Disgustipated]

are there any exercises in particular that helped you guys to get your fingers (particularly the ring and pinky) to stretch further in order to reach different frets?

I would suggest a couple exercises in particular to get you started. One is pretty standard. Simply play chromatics.

|-----------------------------------------1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------1-2-3-4-----------------5-4-3-2-----------------------------------|
|-------------------------1-2-3-4---------------------------------5-4-3-2---------------------------|
|-----------------1-2-3-4-------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2-------------------|
|---------1-2-3-4-----------------------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2-----------|
|-1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2-1-|

Make sure you use all four of your fingers. Play this slowly at first, then build up speed.

The second exercise is similar, except it adds string skipping.

|-----------------------------------2---4-5---3-------------------------------------|
|---------------------------2---4-1---3-----4---2-5---3-----------------------------|
|-------------------2---4-1---3---------------------4---2-5---3---------------------|
|-----------2---4-1---3-------------------------------------4---2-5---3-------------|
|---2---4-1---3-----------------------------------------------------4---2-5---3-----|
|-1---3---------------------------------------------------------------------4---2-1-|

Again, start off slowly, then build up speed. The important thing is to get better at playing with your pinky.

[PimpDaddyShaft]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar, Drums, Bass
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 17 Years, 2 Years, 5 Years
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Lots Of 80s Tunes
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Lead. Never been able to get it down the way I like it. I'm not really dedicated enough to learn the scales, and really have no interest in learning, but I get by faking it pretty well.

[a7x1337]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: a little over 1 year
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: learning parts of Sidewinder(a7x) and playing Radio-Video(system of a down)
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Pinch harmonics...still can't do those sons of bitches... (i play with big stubby picks (32mm)...should i use thinner picks for these?)

[Davemeistro]

Never tried doing pinch harmonics till a couple minutes ago, but I see that at least for me it doesnt matter which pick you use. Since I couldnt find my nice orange dunlop picks, i had to settle for my shitty red fender mediums.

Either way, what matters is after you pick the note, you hit the string where you normally pick, with your thumb. This confused me for a sec. Not the nail of your thumb, but the edge of the thumb next to the cuticle. The thumb and the string should kind of make a "T" if you look down the neck of the guitar.

Instrument: Guitar
Length of Time Playing:Almost 4 Years
Songs Learning: Iced Earth - Travel in Stygian, Megadeth - Holy Wars
Problem: Rhythm induced pain.

Sounds kinda weird, but whenever I start gallop picking a la Iced Earth for more than a minute and a half or so, my picking arm starts burning like a bitch. I've tried over and over, day after day, trying to get rid of this nuisance, but it doesnt seem to go away. I think it may have something to do with my holding the pick as I have just started to use picks now that the nail on my index finger kept on cracking.

When I hold the pick my thumb goes across the pick pointing one way, then my index finger curled up behind the pick, pointing exactly opposite of my thumb. Donno if this is right or not because I don't have a teacher.

[rashbeep]

Instrument: Bass
Playing for: A little over a year
Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Nothing at the moment
Having trouble: I'm not having trouble with anything atm, all I do on the bass now is just play scales and patterns over and over again, to increase my speed/dexterity. What I would like though is for more pattern suggestions.

[Disgustipated]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: a little over 1 year
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: learning parts of Sidewinder(a7x) and playing Radio-Video(system of a down)
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Pinch harmonics...still can't do those sons of bitches... (i play with big stubby picks (32mm)...should i use thinner picks for these?)

Pinch harmonics can be a pain when you're first trying to learn them, but I might be able to help. There are two key things that you must do to play pinch harmonics.

1. You must have the proper picking technique. As you've probably heard, you must hit the string with your pick and thumb at the same time. I'l try to explain this in a simpler way. Normally, while playing, you would put your thumb further back on the pick so it does not rub up against the string your playing on. For pinch harmonics, you want to allow a VERY tiny amount of your thumb to stick out pass the pick. So, if you're right-handed, a very little amount of the left side of your thumb should be out pass the pick. Then, you just have to pick at an angle so that both the thumb and the pick hit the string at the same time.

2. For pinch harmonics to really sound good, you must find the sweet spot on the string. The best way to do this is to simply experiment.

As far as your pick goes, I have no clue if that is a problem. Anyway, just plug in to the amp, turn the volume and distortion up, and just experiment with it. Eventually, you will get the sound you're looking for. After that, it won't be long before you master it.

[spine shavings]

Alto sax..
5 years
Currently learning to write blues..
always get my D# and D flat mixed up... (d-sharp and d-flat)

[MoDilly]

First thing I would recommend is to not learn songs, but thats just me. Exercises, and scales until you master all that you can handle. Learning songs may be fun and all, but if you really strive to perfect your playing, master your exercises first.

[wrathchild]

Never tried doing pinch harmonics till a couple minutes ago, but I see that at least for me it doesnt matter which pick you use. Since I couldnt find my nice orange dunlop picks, i had to settle for my shitty red fender mediums.

Either way, what matters is after you pick the note, you hit the string where you normally pick with your thumb. This confused me for a sec. Not the nail of your thumb, but your thumbs cuticle. The thumb and the string should kind of make a "T" if you look down the neck of the guitar.

Instrument: Guitar
Length of Time Playing:Almost 4 Years
Songs Learning: Iced Earth - Travel in Stygian, Megadeth - Holy Wars
Problem: Rhythm induced pain.

Sounds kinda weird, but whenever I start gallop picking a la Iced Earth for more than a minute and a half or so, my picking arm starts burning like a bitch. I've tried over and over, day after day, trying to get rid of this nuisance, but it doesnt seem to go away. I think it may have something to do with my holding the pick as I have just started to use picks now that the nail on my index finger kept on cracking.

When I hold the pick my thumb goes across the pick pointing one way, then my index finger curled up behind the pick, pointing exactly opposite of my thumb. Donno if this is right or not because I don't have a teacher.
That sucks. I have no idea how to solve that problem. I guess you just keep practicing, but I supposed that doesn't work. I get the same problem, but only after a lot longer, like if I've been playiing the entire rhythm guitar bit for The Coming Curse. My arm hurts like a bitch after that. So does my fretting hand, come to think of it. I have a really wierd picking style as well so I don't think its that.

Can you gallop as fast as 'Disciples of the Lie'? I swear that is almost inhuman speed that Jon Schaffer gets.

[CheeseMonkeys]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: a little over 1 year
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: learning parts of Sidewinder(a7x) and playing Radio-Video(system of a down)
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Pinch harmonics...still can't do those sons of bitches... (i play with big stubby picks (32mm)...should i use thinner picks for these?)
Pinch harmonics are hard for the first time. I learned how to do them by just a shit load of practice. One second you can't do it. Then the next, you can. Look for different techniques. I just slightly touch the string with my thumb imediately after picking it. On an upstroke I tend to use my index to pinch harmonic it but i pretty much think Disgustipated covered it well.

http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/guitar_lessons.html

Great free online lessons^ They helped me on tapping when i was learning.

I don't have any questions, but I have been playing guitar about 2 1/2 years and the alto sax for about 5 years.

[Davemeistro]

Can you gallop as fast as 'Disciples of the Lie'?
Almost. The fastest gallop I can get after Im all warmed up is a little faster than Pure Evil live.

I insist it has nothing to do with practicing because I've been trying to get rid of this bitch for over a couple months. How hard are you supposed to grip the pick, and how tight are the muscles in your forearm supposed to be? I think this could be it because whenever I start to play faster, I sort of tighten up, or else it comes out sloppy...

Come to think of it... I get the same problem when I sart to play the verse of Take No Prisoners... Except my fretting arm burns. I think thats completely different though.

[Slug Moses]

Great thread!

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass guitar, pretty much anything with strings.
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 20+ Years; 10+ years professionally with touring groups. Have taught private music lessons for 8 years at the local music store. Currently play with an up and coming touring bluegrass group.
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: I'm trying to play fiddle.
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Finding a honest women.

I will take questions and offer advice or whatever. You can even pm me if you think your question is stupid. Anyone interested in other styles of music beside that meedly-meedly-meedly metal stuff (jk), feel free to pick my brain.

[jcthompson76]

1. What Instrument Do You Play:
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar

2. How Long Have You Been Playing:
10+ years

3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing:
For the hell of it started trying alternate tunings a la Nick Drake and Jimmy Page-(the Rain Song most recently). Also getting my nerve up to learn the rest of Hendrix's 12-string rendition of 'Hear My Train a Comin', but it just doesn't do it justice on a 6-string
After ditching an old Zoom reverb processor, I'm having a blast playing with the pairing of Boss Digital Reverb and Boss Digital Delay pedals-just trying to find that perfect setting to make the neighbors think I have pet whales crying.

4. What Are You Having Trouble With:
Nick Drake's intricate picking stylings on the acoustic-practice, practice, practice
Leo Kottke-I just give up trying to do his stuff for now

[PimpDaddyShaft]

Great thread!

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass guitar, pretty much anything with strings.
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 20+ Years; 10+ years professionally with touring groups.

Finally someone who's been playing longer than me! Damn that junk makes me feel old sometimes!

[SevenTwoOffSuit]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar

2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 2 years

3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Learning: Rain song and Stairway to heaven. (Beatles songs are fun and easy to play on acoustic and piano)

4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Playing quickly on the acoustic guitar.

[Squibbles]

1)Guitar
2)3.5 years
3)Trying to learn how to sweep
4)Sweeping, anyone have any good tips or instructional videos?

[scribbles321]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: one year
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Canon Rock by JerryC
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: intonation, well it is less skill oriented and more a problem with my stratocaster. The high E string isn't in intonation, and I've shortened the string as far as I can with the fine tuners in the bridge and the 12th fret harmonic is still just about a half fret too far towards the bridge. I only paid about 300 for it and it is a squier afterall, but is this something I can fix? Or is my guitar just of lackluster quality? All the others seem to be in good intonation.

Good thread idea btw.

[Disgustipated]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar

2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 2 years

3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Learning: Rain song and Stairway to heaven. (Beatles songs are fun and easy to play on acoustic and piano)

4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Playing quickly on the acoustic guitar.
Playing fast on an acoustic guitar can be tough. I would suggest that you just remain patient and practice. However, you may need to go to a shop and get your action lowered.

1)Guitar
2)3.5 years
3)Trying to learn how to sweep
4)Sweeping, anyone have any good tips or instructional videos?
I did some searching and found this. It might help.

Sweep Picking Video (http://video.ultimate-guitar.com:82/sweep_picking.wmv)

[Squibbles]

I did some searching and found this. It might help.
Sweep Picking Video (http://video.ultimate-guitar.com:82/sweep_picking.wmv)
Thanks, that video helped me a lot.

[Coop_Fc]

wow there are a shitload O guitar players here...

[scribbles321]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: a little over 1 year
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: learning parts of Sidewinder(a7x) and playing Radio-Video(system of a down)
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Pinch harmonics...still can't do those sons of bitches... (i play with big stubby picks (32mm)...should i use thinner picks for these?)
I've had problems with pinches for awhile, i could play them but not reliably. The technique I first used was to move my picking fingers towards the nut a bit and rest the side of my wring finger on the sweet spot and strum, but I found that just using your thumb is simpler. Make sure you're picking position is proper or it won't work. Just pick normal and to get a pinch just pick more into the string so on it's recoil it bounces off the tip of your thumb to hit that harmonic. Hope it helped.

[Squibbles]

I think this thread should be stickied.

[DeftonesBoy]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Drums
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 5 years
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing:From the cradle to enslave BY Cradle of Filth
4. What Are You Having Trouble With:Getting the double bass riff once the guitars kick in. It's a straight note that I can't play very fast. (the song is under pan daemon aeon in my signature for reference to see what i'm talking about, and it kicks in about 0:37 in the song)

[GiveItAway]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Bass guitar (first), Electric/accoustuc guitar, Harmonica, key boards.
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: Er... ages.
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: New ones by my band and pretty much every track off the new chili peppers album. + Anything i find with interesting chords.
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Playing well thought out melodic solos on harmonica. I'm playing a diatonic and find it difficult to jump intervals and end up just climbing up and down scales. Sounds very boring and amerturish.

[jec571]

Instrument: guitar
how long: about 2 years
Song: not one in particular
Trouble: not really trouble but....don't make fun of me...I hear that "proper posture" for guitar is keeping your wrist straight while playing, I'm self taugh so i haven't really asked a teacher or anything. but i try to keep my wrist strait but sometimes i find it easier to kinda bend my wrist and grab the whole neck. is that wrong? are you really supposed to keep your wrist straight at all times? ALSO what are good guitar
exercises for making your pinky strong?

[a7x1337]

all the tips for the pinch harmonics have been REALLY helpful. i did a bunch thanks to you guys, although i still cant do them all the time.
practice makes perfect, i guess :cool:

[Pat The Baker]

All the shit with "modes" and staying in key and moving scales around on the fretboard while staying in the correct key has me fucked up.

[Disgustipated]

All the shit with "modes" and staying in key and moving scales around on the fretboard while staying in the correct key has me fucked up.
Alright, I'm going to attempt to help you out here.

There are 7 modes. They are, Ionian (Major Scale), Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (Minor Scale), and Locrian.

W = Whole Step, H = Half Step, R = Root, O = Octave, b = Flat, # = Sharp

Ionian:

Steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
R,2,3,4,5,6,7,O

Dorian:

Steps: W-H-W-W-W-H-W
R,2,b3,4,5,6,b7,O

Phrygian:

Steps: H-W-W-W-H-W-W
R,b2,b3,4,5,b6,b7,O

Lydian:

Steps: W-W-W-H-W-W-H
R,2,3,#4,5,6,7,O

Mixolydian:

Steps: W-W-H-W-W-H-W
R,2,3,4,5,6,b7,O

Aeolian:

Steps: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
R,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7,O

Locrian:

Steps: H-W-W-H-W-W-W
R,b2,b3,4,b5,b6,b7,O

I = Ionian, II = Dorian, III = Phrygian, IV = Lydian, V = Mixolydian, VI = Aeolian, VII = Locrian

So, to make things easy, let's say we are in C Major. In the C Major Scale, or C Ionian, I = C. II = D, thus D Dorian is also C Ionian. III = E, thus E Phrygian is also D Dorian, which is also C Ionian, etc.

Hopefully you understand at least a little bit.

[wrathchild]

^Wow, that is a big help. Cheers.

[Pat The Baker]

^Wow, that is a big help. Cheers.
Agreed.

Thanks a lot dude.

[Disgustipated]

^Wow, that is a big help. Cheers.
Agreed.

Thanks a lot dude.
No problem. If you guys need any help with other related things, like chord shapes and intervals, just ask.

[scribbles321]

I think this thread should be stickied.
Indeed. -hits pipe, bubbles comeout-:err:

[Incoheria]

I think this thread should be stickied.

Second.

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Keyboard
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: Approximetely 96 hours
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Thais from Mediatation by Jules Massenet
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Everything!

[Unhinged]

Haha.... maybe if you could get a little more specific on what you need help with I may offer you some advice.

[CheeseMonkeys]

Here also is a great forum to ask and look around for music theory and shit.

http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?daysprune=&f=1

[k_tull88]

I have a question about this song, It's probably got a very simple answer.

e|------------|------------|------------|------------|
B|------------|------------|------------|------------|
G|------------|------------|------------|------------|
D|------------|------------|------------|------------|
A|-3-3---5--- |-3-3-3---5--|-3-3-3---5|-3-3-3---5--|
E|-1-1---1--- |-1-1-1---1--|-1-1-1---1|-1-1-1---1--|

How should I go about playing this? Going from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret of A while still playing the 1st fret on E is a big stretch on the hands and never sounds good when I do it. Is there a simpler solution that I'm just not realizing?

[Slug Moses]

Is there a simpler solution that I'm just not realizing?
Gotta get that pinky streched. Bring your thumb way down on the underside of the neck so you can stretch. Your hands will stretch with practice, believe it or not.

[k_tull88]

Gotta get that pinky streched. Bring your thumb way down on the underside of the neck so you can stretch. Your hands will stretch with practice, believe it or not.

That's what I figured. Thanks a lot.

[Davemeistro]

If I were to play that I would put my middle finger on the A string third fret so theres even more room for the pinky to stretch.

[Incoheria]

Haha.... maybe if you could get a little more specific on what you need help with I may offer you some advice.

Nah I don't really need help, just gotta practice a lot.

[pill popper]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: GUITAR
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 3 YEARS
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Freewill by Rush (new guitar world mag)
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Sweep Picking (steeve vai, malmsteen)


I like playing like van halen and SRV and older stuff.

[eadgbe]

instrument: guitar, bass, a bit of piano

time: guitar - 12 years, bass - 3 years, piano - 3 years

what i am playing: jazz standards, some original stuff with no titles

having trouble with: getting perfect time

[eadgbe]

That's what I figured. Thanks a lot.

or just play the open d string instead of the d on the a string.


EDIT: a lot of people have been asking for a finger strength or pinky strength exercise, this one is a killer:

have your four fingers on frets 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively

play the following pattern on each string, only plucking each string once (use hammer-ons and pull-offs to sound the rest of the notes


1-2-1-3-1-4-2-3-2-4-3-4

once you get each note clear, move on to the next string. when you finish all six strings, move up a few frets and repeat.


EDIT 2: another strength exercise: get some basslines that you know, like simple blues lines, and try playing them without using your right hand at all, hitting the strings with your fingers.

[taste_u]

I need help with getting good drum sounds for tunes on Logic Audio pls - I have got subtle, jazzy drumming down to a tee but I struggle for a heavier metallish sound - don\'t come all that shit about stuff made on computers not being music either

Preferably I need individual drum samples or soundfont format that I can programme in - not drum beats or loops

[wrathchild]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 2 and a bit years
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Iron Maiden - Paschendale
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: The tapping at the start of the song.

E|-----0h10t12---0h8t12---0h7t12---0h5t12---0h7t12-------------------||
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------||

E|-----0h7t12---0h5t12---0h3t12---0h2t12---0--t12--------------------||
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------||
A|-------------------------------------------- don't play the last
E|-------------------------------------------- t12 the fourth times

I dont get it. What fret do you tap?

I can do normal tapping btw.

[Slug Moses]

I dont get it. What fret do you tap?

Looks like you tap the 12th fret on the high E after each hammer on.

[thebassman]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: bass.
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 3 years.
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: i really dont learn songs. except jazz stuff.
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: jazz double bass.

[Pat The Baker]

I dont get it. What fret do you tap?

I can do normal tapping btw.
I just did that. What I did was, basically, use my index picking finger (Tapping finger) to pick/flick the open note, hammer on the lower note, tap the 12th fret.

[GiveItAway]

I need help with getting good drum sounds for tunes on Logic Audio pls - I have got subtle, jazzy drumming down to a tee but I struggle for a heavier metallish sound - don\'t come all that shit about stuff made on computers not being music either

Preferably I need individual drum samples or soundfont format that I can programme in - not drum beats or loops

Ok, the key is think realisticly.

First, find drum patches that sound good. Logic has good ones so have a go with them. On Logic theres usually pre set effects which come up when they're selected, take them all off, no drummer ever plays drums with effects already applied. Now, if your lucky you'll find a kit that does everything you want and sounds good.

There are samples of the most expensive kits in the most expensive accoustic spaces (expensive in studios = the best, simple as), and if you program them correctly you'd never know they're fake.

I'm not a drummer so if i ever lay down a drum part on a keyboard i split the sections up. I usually do kick and snare together, hi hats on their own and cymbols over the top. Generally these help consistancy, but the dynamics and expression in playing all the different parts seperatly can sound detatched and hurt the sound.

The performance is just as important as if you were to do it live. Although quantising digital drums is easier than audio drums, it can make it sound too robotic and processed. No drummer smacks every beat dead on so try and do it to a click without quantising it, especially for the heavy metal sound you want, if your making hardcore techno you might want it robotic.

Study the sound you want, off the top of my head when i think metal i think double kick drum with a lot of beater thwack EQ'd into it. If it's funk i'm thinkin tighter snare and "excited" hi hats. Always try to find the best sound SOURCE before messing with EQ.

Once you've laid down the track and your happy with it, polish it. It will need processing some way or another, but if it doesn't need something, don't apply it. When recording live drums the engineer will usually compress each drum mic seperatly and then group compress them to get them to sit together. Playing them in this way usually gives an un varied dynamic range (unless your super shit) which is desirable but unnatural.

Experiment. Theres no right way to do things. I said expensive = good, you might not want good, you might want a gritty sound and so get something slightly shitter. Only you know what sounds in your head and its difficult to get out the way you want it, it takes time and experience.

[BassGuitar25]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Bass Guitar!
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 4 or 5 years.
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Earth, Wind, and Fire stuff.
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Slapping and Popping. :ahhh:

[sweetness]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 2 and a bit years
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Any song
4. What Are You Having Trouble With:Sweep Picking and Bending Harmonics

[taste_u]

Study the sound you want, off the top of my head when i think metal i think double kick drum with a lot of beater thwack EQ\'d into it. If it\'s funk i\'m thinkin tighter snare and \"excited\" hi hats. Always try to find the best sound SOURCE before messing with EQ.

Now that was thought-provoking and useful. Cheers.

I generally notate drums and do velocities note for note with fills etc to get a realistic sound, I\'ve managed to achieve some really nice sounds for subtle, light drumming but it\'s just getting good sounding heavy metal style drum samples that\'s evading me. Perhaps I\'m looking in the wrong places, perhaps I just need to attune my ears to that sort of sound as I\'m less familiar with it.

Thanks for taking the time to actually gimme some real direction.

[CheeseMonkeys]

I just did that. What I did was, basically, use my index picking finger (Tapping finger) to pick/flick the open note, hammer on the lower note, tap the 12th fret.
When I tap I use my Middle finger. This way I can hold the pick and pick notes then do a quick transition to tapping. I do think using the index finger is easier for me but It would take a second to switch the pick to my other fingers.

[WesMont22]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar, Alto and Soprano Saxophones
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 6 and 7 years respectively
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Giant Steps/Countdown/26-2
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Soloing over Giant Steps etc.

Anyone have any pointers or what I should be working on to perfect it?

[scribbles321]

I'm bumping this thread because it is a great idea and it should be stickied anyhow.

[punkskater912]

I have a question about this song, It's probably got a very simple answer.

e|------------|------------|------------|------------|
B|------------|------------|------------|------------|
G|------------|------------|------------|------------|
D|------------|------------|------------|------------|
A|-3-3---5--- |-3-3-3---5--|-3-3-3---5|-3-3-3---5--|
E|-1-1---1--- |-1-1-1---1--|-1-1-1---1|-1-1-1---1--|

How should I go about playing this? Going from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret of A while still playing the 1st fret on E is a big stretch on the hands and never sounds good when I do it. Is there a simpler solution that I'm just not realizing?

You could try muting the A string while playing the open D string and the first fret of the E string. Fifth fret, A string = open D string. But I think playing the fifth fret on the A string would make it sound better than my solution.

[Incoheria]

I've been trying to learn keyboard on my own, and I was wondering- what's the very best way to learn besides getting a teacher? Buy a book? Just sit down and teach yourself? Help me out.

[taste_u]

I believe Tony Banks taught himself and he\'s the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.

[WesMont22]

Buying a book, I consider teaching yourself. Buying books means you're working on what you want to. I teach myself some things but also get lessons because it keeps me focused. So I recommend getting lessons, but don't let the teacher curve your style. Just absorb what you can.

[Incoheria]

Ok, because I just bought this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1576235629/ref=pd_ys_iyr_img/103-5802392-9059052?ie=UTF8)

[Unhinged]

That book will be a great place to start for you. Also, if you do pay close attention to the fingering and damper pedal placements, your technique will be just as good as if you had a teacher. Out of curiosity, what kind of keyboard are you practicing with?

[Incoheria]

Yamaha YPT-300AD (http://www.sciencedaily.com/cgi-bin/apf4/amazon_products_feed.cgi?Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=B000BWABKG)

When I get good enough I am going to buy a better one, but this one is good for learning on.

[h2o polo player]

1. What Instrument Do You Play: Guitar, Alto and Soprano Saxophones
2. How Long Have You Been Playing: 6 and 7 years respectively
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing: Giant Steps/Countdown/26-2
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Soloing over Giant Steps etc.

Anyone have any pointers or what I should be working on to perfect it?

ya i play tenor an soprano sax and have tryd to solo on giant steps many a time, and that is the hardest song i think you can ever try to solo on in my opinion. i have a hard time with it, but wat helpd was i playd the notes of the chord in time, perfect that and it will do wonders. or listen to coltrane play it and try to transcibe a chorus or two to get an idea

[WesMont22]

I was thinking of buying Countdown to Giantsteps. Does anyone know if it's worth the 20 bucks.

[coldpizza]

1. What Instrument Do You Play:guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing:about 7 or 8 months
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing:stuff like eric johnson and joe satriani
4. What Are You Having Trouble With:solos

[Its_me]

1. What Instrument Do You Play:guitar
2. How Long Have You Been Playing:about 2 years?
3. What Songs Are You Currently Learning/Playing:Mostly Metallica but I am starting Stairway To Heaven.
4. What Are You Having Trouble With: Well solos but also stuff like atifical harmonics and squealing like Dimebag Darrell.