The Shreddening

[Whizzinby]

Have you mastered it all yet @Whizzinby ?

Keep pluckin' away.

I’m thinking it will take about three more days to reach master status

 

[unix-guy]

Bad:
I still don't know how to use the scale without it sounding like Little Johnny Learns To Play Guitar. Particularly anything at pace. It sounds like just playing a scale instead of something musical.

I know you want to shred but honestly, melody is king!

Now that you're familiar with the notes of A minor, start working on what the chord tones are for each chord within the key.

Start with triads first - learn the triad for the chords:

A Natural Minor (Aeolian)

Amin - A C E
Bdim - B D F
Cmaj - C E G
Dmin - D F A
Emin - E G B
Fmaj - F A C
Gmaj - G B D

I recommend learning these in 3-string sets:

(high) E, B, G
B, G, D
G, D, A
D, A, E (low)

Next, expand to 7th chords:

Amin7 - A C E G
Bmin7b5 - B D F A (aka, half diminished)
Cmaj7 - C E G B
Dmin7 - D F A C
Emin7 - E G B D
Fmaj7 - F A C E
Gdom7 - G B D F

When you play over the Amin chord, targeting the chord tones (A C E G) will carry a more melodic character. Same for the other chords.

Also, this is a good time to understand the basics of how chords are created if you don't know. It is a good bit of information and really connects the chords with the scale.

Typical chords are built by "stacking thirds". You start with whatever chord "root" you want and add the note that is up one third (2 scale intervals), then you add it. Repeat the same with that note. Then do it again (and again, and again if you want.

A B C D E F G
A
A C
A C E (Amin)
A C E G (Amin7)
A C E G B (Amin9)
A C E G B D (Amin11)
A C E G B D F (Amin13)

This is chord scale harmonization.

Doing the same starting on C from the same scale (which is also the C major scale):

A B C D E F G
C
C E
C E G (Cmaj)
C E G B (Cmaj7)
C E G B D (Cmaj9)
C E G B D F (Cmaj11)
C E G B D F A (Cmaj13)

You'll probably also start noticing the chords within chords, which will really start to blow your mind.

For example, Cmaj lives inside Amin7... Emin7 lives inside Amin9.

 

[Los-D]

I spent an hour + drilling I-R-P and it’s coming around. Still terrible, but better. I also realized that I’m more comfortable with the guitar in classical position. If I buy a footstand my wife is totally going to humiliate me…

Gonna try to find a block of wood or something that I can kick out of the way before anyone can see me.

Dude, look up Troy Grady in YT. That’s the one resource I wish was available 30 years ago when I was learning to shred. Start with his oldest videos (Ep “1”); his content is really awesome and he teaches you picking techniques in minutes that took me years to figure out on my own.

 

[Los-D]

Put your foot on a Wah pedal that isnt connected. At least you will look cool to your wife (maybe)

 

[DrewJD82]

I know I don’t shut up about Gilmour, but it might be worth learning a couple of his solos to get an idea on how to work through a scale without sounding like you’re playing a scale. The reason I’m picking him instead of any of the virtuoso guys is because he’ll milk the shit out of 4 notes, never leaving the position he’s in, without sounding like he is at all. The intro to “Shine On” and the 2nd solo of “Comfortably Numb” are filled with it

 

[Byrdman]

I know I don’t shut up about Gilmour, but it might be worth learning a couple of his solos to get an idea on how to work through a scale without sounding like you’re playing a scale. The reason I’m picking him instead of any of the virtuoso guys is because he’ll milk the shit out of 4 notes, never leaving the position he’s in, without sounding like he is at all. The intro to “Shine On” and the 2nd solo of “Comfortably Numb” are filled with it

Absolutely!! Great suggestion

 

[Whizzinby]

I played for several hours yesterday. No real break through, but I’m at least getting in the reps. My alternate picking is ok up to a certain speed then it falls apart and gets sloppy. Just grinding away. I haven’t really found any great “shred” lines in A-minor, but some of that is just me not being able to quickly pick some of those transitions lines. I thought about maybe trying to move to a different scale but overruled it since I have some clear areas to work on with both hands and it seems silly to move to something else if I haven’t gotten these patterns down. I’ll try to fire it back up this afternoon and record a take.

Unix, I’ll chew on that post with a cup of coffee this morning!

Los-D, I actually caught an episode or two of that series once, good reminder, it’s really well done and I need to watch them all!

Drew, yeah I need to go over some Gilmour. Such a tasteful player and probably someone I can learn more from at this point.







187 days until a full flawless performance of Rainbow In The Dark. LFG.

 

[Byrdman]

187 days until a full flawless performance of Rainbow In The Dark. LFG.