The Musical Instrument Thread

Alright, so I'm totally channeling Stone Gossard rocking the "Alive" riff and I'm wondering what the best way is to record it...just turn on the webcam and let the PC pick up the amp (just like I'd do for one of my incredible acoustic recordings, I suppose...)?

Also, it's someone else's turn to post a video before I do my third. I'd like to hear Hectic's ESP.
 
This might seem like a total newbie question coming from someone who has been playing for a little over 2 years now, but I can't seem to get the strumming down right when playing a scale, I try to play in a up/down strumming motion alternating each note, but I wind up hitting the wrong string and it sounds muted. Frustrating as hell and I can't seem to fix it.
 
And oh yeah, the guitar is playing swimmingly since the setup. I'll be taking to locking myself in my room for 1/2 to an hour a night and just practicing, refreshing some old stuff, and learning new stuff (like that damn picking motion on scales). Figure I should be 'video-worthy' before too long.
 
Jon said:
And oh yeah, the guitar is playing swimmingly since the setup. I'll be taking to locking myself in my room for 1/2 to an hour a night and just practicing, refreshing some old stuff, and learning new stuff (like that damn picking motion on scales). Figure I should be 'video-worthy' before too long.
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I dunno...you might want to lose a few pounds and freshen up the wardrobe.

Jon said:
This might seem like a total newbie question coming from someone who has been playing for a little over 2 years now, but I can't seem to get the strumming down right when playing a scale, I try to play in a up/down strumming motion alternating each note, but I wind up hitting the wrong string and it sounds muted. Frustrating as hell and I can't seem to fix it.
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That's "alternate picking" and it's a good habit. Not much to do other than slow down--like 40-60 bpm--and practice it slowly and deliberately until you get it down. Then speed it up. You can also say, out loud, "up, down, up, down" as you pick with the corresponding motion. Helps to reinforce it.

I feel your pain. Nothing worse than hitting the wrong string and getting that "TWONK" sound.
 
Casual Fan said:
Also, it's someone else's turn to post a video before I do my third. I'd like to hear Hectic's ESP.
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Don't change the topic.

Jon said:
This might seem like a total newbie question coming from someone who has been playing for a little over 2 years now, but I can't seem to get the strumming down right when playing a scale, I try to play in a up/down strumming motion alternating each note, but I wind up hitting the wrong string and it sounds muted. Frustrating as hell and I can't seem to fix it.
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See below.
Jon said:
And oh yeah, the guitar is playing swimmingly since the setup. I'll be taking to locking myself in my room for 1/2 to an hour a night and just practicing, refreshing some old stuff, and learning new stuff (like that damn picking motion on scales). Figure I should be 'video-worthy' before too long.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's the way to do it. Grab the guitar whenever you can. Playing some every day makes a difference. You can run scales while you're watching TV. Same scale over and over and over. Like CF said, very slow and let it build up. As you're getting quicker and having to think about less about running the scale, throw yourself a curve and start alternating strings. Same scale but 6th, 4th, 5th, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 1st then backwards. It'll frustrate the boogers out of you, but it'll make a big difference.
 
I like Justin's mentality of learn a scale, find something to do with it, master it then move on to the next.
 
That's good advice. No question he's better than any of us.
What I was talking about is a good dexterity exercise. There are several variations that will help with speed and accuracy. I would bet Justin has some of them in his lessons somewhere.
 
Since I was on my last little "vacation" I decided to try what y'all suggested on the scales and am actually picking it up pretty good. I work on more this weekend and see if I can turn it into something resembling a solo. Also looking more at appregios and appregiated chords.
 
Think I may just break down and get 'an' electric guitar. This Southpaw guitars place has Ibanez lefties for $299. Not sure how easy Ibanez is to play though. Thoughts?
 
Ibanez makes some decent guitars. Try before you buy if at all possible.

I took my own advice yesterday and worked on some scales. I always default back to minor pentatonic if I can't memorize a lead. I should have more options available.
 
I'm also learning 'Oye Como Va' from Tito Puente/Santana (chords and solo), that'll be my first song when I pick up the electric (by next month maybe?)
 
I think if there is a weakness in my guitar playing (besides overall suckiness) is that I don't know my scales. I know positions 1 and 2 major and position 1 minor pentatonic, but that's it.

I think I'm going to devote myself to learning first the major scale in all positions (since I already have Justin Sandercoe's course), and then the minor pentatonic. That way I'll have the two big ones down.
 
Biggest weakness right now is scales. I know one scale (and I don't even know the name of the damn thing) and need to learn more. Songs I can pick up and pretty much play by ear, with some assistance from Ultimate Guitar to confirm the chords.

I heard 'Trouble Me' from 10,000 Maniacs on the radio the other day and the guitar part sounded relatively simple, and good for an acoustic. I might try to pick that up this week.
 
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