Guitar Study
Technical Basics: Timing, Sweeping, and Tapping
Instructor: Al Joseph
Total lessons in study:
Al Joseph discusses the bare bones essentials when it comes to learning modern guitar techniques such as sweep picking and tapping.
1. Posture, Accenting, and Timing with Pentatonics
Hey Guys!
Thanks again for stopping by.
This series on 'Technical Basics' is about just that. When playing and creating technical lines it's important to understand the origins on which the various modern lines today are played. Today I've taken a snippet of an otherwise long pentatonic line and threaded it throughout the...Read More
Let's Work Out!
Practicing is all about stripping away, not necessarily adding and adding. For instance, speed picking is a simple concept: pick, pick, pick, and pick some more until it hurts, or practice to a metronome, or take finger steroids or whatever. These are all effective for getting the most primative muscle memo...Read More
Quick Notes:
1. Relax - If you're feeling any strain you are doing it wrong. (this is not a weight lifting contest, this is about skill)
2. Accent downbeats on groupings -
8th notes
8th note triplets
16th notes
16th note triplets
3. DON'T STOP!
4. Remember, if you are having trouble, revisit...Read More
Quick Notes:
1. Relax - If you're feeling any strain you are doing it wrong. (this is not a weight lifting contest, this is about skill)
2. Accent downbeats on groupings -
8th notes
8th note triplets
16th notes
16th note triplets
3. DON'T STOP!
4. Remember, if you are having trouble, revisit...Read More
I hope this tutorial was helpful for you!
Let's make some preliminary observations before you go at it again....
Are there any 'Silent Killers' in your technique?
Do you:
1. Tense up in your neck, back, face, hands, or shoulders? - Chances are you need to practice breathing when you play ;-)
2. Lose your place in yo...Read More
Have fun with the backing track and practice hard!Read More
2. Learning about Sweep Picking
Save
Complete
7. Technical Basics Series Pt.2 - Sweep Picking: Intro
Technique
Any Style
Intermediate
Alright guys here's a list of things to keep in mind as we move forward...
1. Major - Minor - Diminished Triads
2. Diatonic Sequence - M-m-m-M-M-m-dim-(M)
3. Subdivisions - 8th-Triplet 8ths-16th-Triplet 16ths
4. Remember to keep both hands relaxed and to accent (or pick slightly harder) the first beat of every subdivisi...Read More
Save
Complete
8. Technical Basics Series Pt.2 - Sweep Picking: Warm Up
Technique
Any Style
Intermediate
Using Subdivisions to warm up is key. Using a metronome in increments usually pushes you unnecessarily to play faster. This can be bad if there are any unnoticable glitches in your technique. VERY BAD. Because playing any instrument is about muscle memory. If your body is doing something wrong, it will most likely do the sa...Read More
Save
Complete
9. Technical Basics Series Pt.2 - Sweep Picking: Sequences
Technique
Any Style
Intermediate
Okay, here's the big sequence where we go to work. While you practice, remember to:
1. Relax both hands
2. Count
3. Accent the downbeats
To practice this with the drum loop, head on over to the last page of the tutorial!Read More
Save
Complete
10. Technical Basics Series Pt.2 - Sweep Picking: Wrap Up
Technique
Any Style
Intermediate
Hope that helped. Always play along to the video when you get the chance to.
If you feel like this is to slow for you, simply increase your metronome and apply the same subdivisions!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
My debut album 'Out In The Open' has been released! Check it out on iTunes!
Hit me up on the forums to find ...Read More
Save
Complete
11. Technical Basics Series Pt.2 - Sweep Picking: Drum Loop
Technique
Any Style
Intermediate
Have fun with the drum loop guys. Keep that sweep picking technique clean!Read More
3. Practicing with Tapped Arpeggios
Welcome to Part 3 of my Technical Basics Series! For this tutorial, we're going to be exploring tapping arpeggios.
For today, just think on the following:
1. Relaxed hands and shoulders.
2. Try practicing to a stopwatch (no metronome) for muscle memory .
3. How sorry I am that my face is cut off in the videos needed to ...Read More
This lick is in GMajor Lydian and is an arpeggio with tensions 9, #11 and 13 thrown in.
But to simplify things, just think of it as a G Lydian scale with really high intervals tapped at the top.
Got in down? Go to the next page for Lick #2!Read More
This lick is in Bminor Dorian and is simply, Bminor7 to DMajor7. Or, you can think of it as a Bminor7 going to Bminor7(add9). There's no root to emphasize the Dorian sound. I prefer looking at it both ways as it helps me visualize and train my ear in Dorian for hearing upper structure chords.Read More
Like I said in the video:
1. Taking any scale or lick you study in a diatonic method helps.
2. We are breaking down the 4 patterns and training our hands to tap multiple arpeggios simultaneously.
3. We're learning a little theory as well.
Pretty cool! Now head on over to the next page for Lick #1.Read More