Working out some Alex Argento (Marco Sfogli on guitar!)

This topic has 15 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 3 months ago by Richard Lundmark.

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- August 31, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Tom Quayle
Member

Hi guys! I’m in the process of working out the tune Genius from Alex Argento’s album Ego. Marco Sfogli plays guitar.

Here’s what I have so far. I have no idea how people write stuff like this. Alex and Marco are amazing musicians! Check out Alex’s album or myspace. He collaborates with many amazing musicians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVSzvXInu4&fmt=18

I’ll post more when I do it.

Cheers,

Tom

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)

Replies

- August 31, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Rick Graham
Member

Killer playing there Tom! It’s reminded me how fantastic that album is man………
- August 31, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Max.
Member

I was just checking out some Sfogli stuff yesterday 🙂
Awesome playing, Tom.
I love your sound, which guitar do you use ? I googled for the guitar in your profile, but couldn’t find any result 🙁
- August 31, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Tom Quayle
Member

Hey Max!

Thanks for the kind words. The guitar is an Ibanez S2075-FW. It was only produced for a year, in 2005 I think. I got mine at the end of that year. It’s great but has some issues. The intonation is a nightmare to get right – the saddles have to be pushed as far back as they’ll go! The middle pickup is too noisy to use too. But apart from that it’s a great guitar. I’m gonna get the frets redone soon as I’ve worn them down to almost nothing! Haha! Something from John Suhr for me next I think! (dreaming 🙂 …)

I just had a message from Richard Lundmark pointing me in the direction of Fabrizio Leo. Check him out. Amazing player.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

Tom
- August 31, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Silvio Gazquez
Member

very good Tom,
I didn´t have you playing that fast picking, nice work!

Silvio G.
- August 31, 2008 at 3:38 pm
tjchep
Member

Killer stuff man.

Fabrizio is cool man, not to big of a fan of his though. 🙁
- August 31, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Tom Quayle
Member

@Silvio Gazquez 4495 wrote:

very good Tom,
I didn´t have you playing that fast picking, nice work!

Silvio G.

Haha! I can only economy pick. I’ll upload a video of my alternate picking if you want a laugh! I have a real problem with it due to the way I used to do it as a teenager when I was first learning. I really messed up my technique. I can start phrases with an upstroke or down and go as fast and clean as I like so long as I cross to the next string with an up. But if I start and have to cross to the next string with a down I’m completely stuck. I’m not sure why. My forearm moves in a really unnatural way moving the pick away from the string creating tension in my hand. I’ve spent HOURS and HOURS trying to sort it but just come to conclusion that my technique has become too ingrained. It’s caused me no end of frustration. I’ve found it very difficult to unlearn. So I’ve worked on my economy picking and legato to make up for it. It’s a huge, huge frustration though.

I wonder if anyone else has come across something like this in their own playing. I mean I have done so much practice on this but it’s so difficult to unlearn a muscle response once it’s been programmed in at a beginner level. 😡
- August 31, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Rick Graham
Member

Tom, that’s my technique down to a tee.
I first started playing with my thumb only until my brother told me I needed to use a pick. I had the Gambale vid: monster licks and speed picking and learned the picking technique that he was using thinking that was the way to play. It was only later that I saw some people using alternate that I realised that there was a different way to play.

That being said I’ve practiced alternate for some years now but in spite of all that extra practice I am much more comfortable using economy picking.
- August 31, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Tom Quayle
Member

Well that’s certainly reassuring to know that you do the same thing Rick! I think in a way it’s pushed me to develop my phrasing and time feel as I’m sure, like most people, I found that legato and economy picking forced me into accenting certain notes and playing certain phrases. Trying to overcome these issues definitely pushed my playing in ways it wouldn’t have gone had I been able to alternate pick everything.

I’m one of those guys who wants to be able to do everything though! Haha! So I’ll keep trying until maybe, one day, I can do it. Who knows! The eternal frustration of being a musician eh?! Still, it wouldn’t be fun otherwise!!

😉
- August 31, 2008 at 5:05 pm
andyvicius
Member

hey you two guys, stick up with the economy picking, you are doing well and i hear no difference! you both are amazing player with killer sound and phrasing.

alex argento “ego” album rules. one of the best fusion albums i’ve heard in the last couple of years… oh, by the way, i’ve been stealing some benvenutti phrases from several tunes on that album hehehe don’t tell anyone! 🙂
- August 31, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Tom Quayle
Member

Oh yeah! Benvenutti’s great. I’m sure I saw some videos of him jamming with Greg Howe. I agree whole heartedly – ‘Ego’ is just awesome!
Cheers Andy!
- August 31, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Silvio Gazquez
Member

@Tom Quayle 4503 wrote:

Well that’s certainly reassuring to know that you do the same thing Rick! I think in a way it’s pushed me to develop my phrasing and time feel as I’m sure, like most people, I found that legato and economy picking forced me into accenting certain notes and playing certain phrases. Trying to overcome these issues definitely pushed my playing in ways it wouldn’t have gone had I been able to alternate pick everything.

I’m one of those guys who wants to be able to do everything though! Haha! So I’ll keep trying until maybe, one day, I can do it. Who knows! The eternal frustration of being a musician eh?! Still, it wouldn’t be fun otherwise!!

😉

I used to have problems with alternate picking, for ex crossing strings when you have an upstroke and the next string downstroke, it seemed imposible at first but then practicing for a while it worked. The Petrucci´s DVD Rock discipline helped me a lot, and of course the Gilbert´s stuff.
- August 31, 2008 at 6:50 pm
pekki
Member

to give my opinion and experience relating to the picking issue…

I’ve tried as hell to be a fast alternate picker. But economy picking is just the way it’s supposed to be with me. The most natural feeling that I’ve come up with…Less movement, more result.

As for the clip posted….

great stuff…and a beautiful guitar as well…I love those ibanez finishes
- August 31, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Sean Conklin
Member

Excellent playing in that clip Tom! I’m with what Andres said, I’d just go with the flow with whatever feels natural to you picking-wise. Your picking is already incredible!
- August 31, 2008 at 9:18 pm
RobertM20
Member

Since you two are going on about economy picking and how easy it was for you, I am the opposite. I’m a natural legato player but suck at economy picking.

I’ve tried for months to get it down but somehow my right hand just does not want to cooperate with me, so I’ve kinda abandoned going over economy picking for now. That’s my lethargic streak in me kicking in.

Since I know I can’t do everything on the guitar, I’ve devoted most of my time to trying to find my own unique voice in my playing. It’s alot tougher these days for people because, to me, everyone sounds like everyone. Very few times do I hear someone who sounds like himself. Rick is a good example. I know instantly if it’s him playing because of the little nuances he’s developed in his playing, which are a very aggressive picking style and a unique tone.

Anyways, awesome job Tom! I had learned that one too but it seems like you have it down in a better fashion than me.
- September 2, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Richard Lundmark
Member

lol, I suck equally at both alternate and economy =)
But I much prefer alternate for it’s ease to incporporate with hammer-ons and pull-offs, and the greater ease with which I can add accents and really dig in. (well, in my oppinion any ways )