Timings for the SoundCloud audio version of Rhythm Guitar Lesson 1b:

00:00:22 Using Eartrainer to practise the rhythm of a piece separated from the melody

00:01:08 A simple idea for practising rhythm

00:01:22 Starting with a bar of 4/4 and then throwing in some 8th notes

00:02:28 Using the offbeat and how to play challenging rhythms

00:02:58 Riff from Human by the Killers and timing it right

00:03:40 The 8th note at the beginning of the riff that isn't heard

00:05:10 Sing the rhythms - do it in your head

00:05:20 Sixteenth notes starting on the offbeat can be tricky

00:05:43 Start of our Funk mini study

00:06:39 Yngwie's quote: "groove or die"

00:07:21 Right hand playing, percussive hits in funk music

00:07:51 Sixteenth notes with accents on the beat

00:08:26 Make the right hand consistent, lock in with drums / metronome

00:11:12 Demo of the same funk groove with and without the percussive notes

00:13:00 All this kind of practise helps to instil a sense of pulse

00:13:57 What does a drummer do when he is performing fills?

00:14:09 Demo of acting like a drummer

00:15:18 Playing funk solos in this way is a great way to practise

00:17:00 Dan's advice to listen to Cory Wong - will share in our show-notes

00:19:31 There is life beyond power chords

Here is the second half of the lesson: Dan gives us some reminders for your practice and how to play 16th funk strumming patterns with confidence and so that they sound groovy. Dan demonstrates what we’re aiming for when developing an inner pulse through a funk improvisation in which he mirrors what a drummer is thinking when they support a funky track with fills and mini solos. I have been adding to my own new practice regime lots of metronome work based on what we will discuss next time.

This is the first lesson in our new mini-series on the topic of rhythm.

R.I.P. Jeff Beck :(

Dan and I, in our first lesson look over the basics of rhythm: Firstly, covering what the difference between a quarter note, eighth note and sixteenth note along with the synonyms of crotchet, quaver and semi-quaver. Next Dan talks about staccato, dotted notes, tied notes, off-beats and counting; along with guitar strumming techniques which work for him. Finally, we look at some reggae and funk examples – although the funk examples will be reserved for next installment of the podcast when we will release the second half of the first lesson. Stay tuned for some brilliant reminders for your practice and how to play 16th funk strumming patterns with confidence and so that they sound groovy – all coming up in Rhythm Guitar Lesson 1b. I have been adding to my own new practice regime lots of metronome work based on what we will discuss next time.

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:01:25 A few words on Jeff Beck

00:04:45 Intro to rhythm and a reminder about how important it is to work on

00:05:32 Quick bit on EarMaster and how Gary has been using it in his practice

00:07:22 Look at the real basics of note values and rhythmic divisions in a bar

00:08:27 Dan's breakdown of rhythmic values and basics of music reading

00:14:22 Stacatto notes

00:14:52 Extending notes with dots or ties

00:15:34 Using the spider gym for warming up, rhythm and playing without tension

00:16:01 Variations of Spider Gym finger patterns - see notes

00:16:51 Funky and reggae rhythms and use of syncopation and off-beats

00:18:40 Keeping track by using down and upstrokes to help your rhythmic work

00:20:21 Reggae: focussing on the offbeat on the high strings

I have always struggled with rhythm playing: it doesn’t come very naturally to me. Recently, I have been coming to the realisation that this aspect of my playing, while I have already worked hard to really improve it, needs a lot more work and practice. I remember having a discussion with a musician friend of mine and we were discussing ‘groove’ and ‘being in the pocket’ and he mentioned a person who he played with sounding so professional and being of the mind that it is because her rhythm playing is so strong and well-rehearsed. This rings true for me and I can hear that same level of precision and expertise in Dan’s playing.

Spider Gym finger patterns:

1234 2134 3124 4123

1243 2143 3142 4132

1324 2314 3214 4213

1342 2341 3241 4231

1423 2413 3412 4312

1432 2431 3421 4321

Rick Beato and Tim Pierce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2IWnGNF80I

Andy wood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGcCswgaleE

Rick Beato on Jeff Beck having just seen him 3 months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV9bnaqqfq8&t=161s

Live at Ronnie Scotts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFx__GfJHWw

I just wanted to share my own listening and way of absorbing the tragic news of Jeff Beck's passing. I really thought I was going to see him again. The man was such a legend and what he played on the guitar is from another world, sublime and glorious. He is not just one of best guitarists, but one of the best musicians and of all time! RIP

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This is our follow up episode following on from last week’s foray into the jamming tracks created by Andy Timmons on TrueFire’s “In the Jam” tracks. This week, we start the episode with a quick shout out to our Patreon page which we hope that you will seriously consider giving to. You will get a shout out in future episodes, if you wish, and there are tiered benefits available. If we had a pound for everyone who has ever listened to Tune in Tone up, then we would be very happy guitar podcasters indeed.

After this initial launch, Dan and I have an improvisation over the Andy Timmons track from last week. We then have a listen to a snippet of Andy Timmon’s own improvisation and if you would like to hear more and have these tracks for yourself, then click this link: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB and find his set of jamming tracks and buy it using TONEUP30 at the check out.

We then move on to talking about bending and Dan distinguishes between under and over bending as a mistake that lots of guitarists, especially as they are starting out, make frequently. Then we move on to the topic of overbending as a technique in itself and put this to some use over another one of Andy Timmons jam tracks – A Funky Motif, key of Cm.

Finally, we take a cursory look at Matt Schofield’s amazing course – Blues Speak. We listen to him talking about Albert Collins using the minor pentatonic with an added 6th, then an excerpt of an improvisation by Matt Schofield to demonstrate this idea. We then take a very quick look at where the idea of overbending came from: Matt Schofield’s, Blues Speak on Albert King where we hear him ‘wrestle’ the notes from the bend.

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:00:33 Final Christmas call to use our links to start your TrueFire journey

00:00:45 Our 30% off promo code: "TONEUP30"

00:01:19 Patreon donations: https://www.patreon.com/tuneintoneup

00:01:28 Improvisation over Andy Timmons backing track

00:05:58 The advantages of TrueFire's In the Jams

00:07:43 Andy Timmons improvising over his track on TrueFire's In the Jam

00:08:23 Principles of bending and an intro to the idea of overbending

00:08:29 Often people accidentally over or under bend when learning to bend

00:09:05 A brief word on muting with the left and right hand

00:09:20 Easier to remedy an overbend than an underbend

00:09:49 Overbending as a technique in itself

00:10:24 Overbending over Andy Timmons - funky motif, key of Cm

00:15:07 Matt Schofield on Albert Collins - minor pentatonic with the 6th

00:15:29 Gary briefly talks through the TrueFire course platform

00:16:16 Matt Schofield's 'BLUES SPEAK' course on Albert King and overbending

00:17:06 TrueFire Advert - last chance to use "TONEUP30" to save 30% on TrueFire

Hey everyone! We are really pleased to have this mini-series sponsored by TrueFire until Christmas: it is the most excellent, expansive and extensive online lessons platform.

Keep watching, listening and getting in touch. We really want to hear from you!

Gary and Dan

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Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:00:34 TrueFire - offers and advert

00:02:17 Jam over Andy Timmons TrueFire track

00:05:36 Talking about Andy Timmons

00:06:56 Introduction to TrueFire's 'In the Jam' controls

00:08:46 Let's listen to Andy Timmons playing over the same track

00:09:56 Moved along towards the end of Andy Timmon's solo

00:10:41 Again with the lead analysis on and changing track volumes

00:11:45 Learning point: it's okay to make mistakes

00:12:02 Playing at home or in rehearsal is the time for mistakes

00:12:43 Know exactly what you are doing for performances

00:13:36 Targets should be challenging

00:14:00 Discussion around dynamics and having a motif

00:16:23 Try having a repeated motif for cohesion

00:17:13 Guthrie Govan: each note has a special quality

00:18:16 Listen to how the track builds up

00:18:35 2nd set of improvisations over the track

This is our follow up episode on playing using dynamics, subtlety and motifs to build interest into your improvisations and melodies. It follows on from our earlier lessons on how to use sequences to open the fretboard and also the previous episode on TrueFire courses and their jam tracks. Last lesson we looked at building pace and speed and this time we look more at the finer points of improvising.

During this lesson Dan and I start and end this episode with a jam over one of Andy Timmon’s jam tracks produced for TrueFire. This track forms part of their series called ‘In the Jam’ and as the title implies, these are multi-track top quality produced tracks where you have the control over the different tracks. It is possible to easily mute the lead guitar and use it as a backing track. Another great feature is the function to play a lead guitar commentary video and audio. For the track we are looking at, Andy Timmons talks over his solo and improvisation choices to explain what he did and why he did it, along with sharing his wisdom. It is a fantastic feature, which is not shared by all the series of ‘In the Jams’ but something which we loved about the Andy Timmons series.

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Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code "TONEUP30"

This is our follow up episode on playing at speed and pace.

It follows on from our earlier lesson on how to use sequences to open the fretboard and also the previous episode on TrueFire courses and their jam tracks.

During this lesson Dan discusses plectrums and we look at 5 specific types and discuss some of their pros and cons. Next, we look at and review some sequences which will speed up your playing and give you some automated patterns to throw into your solos. Next, we discuss the picking hand and give some brief insights into some picking techniques. Finally, we discuss some areas to focus on in your practice and the difference that strings make to your speed and tone.

Thank you TrueFire for sponsoring our podcast and with Christmas coming, what better gift could there be for a guitar fanatic? We are grateful for your vote of confidence and are fully enthusiastic about your product in return. How could we not be? The TrueFire guitar learning platform is massive and meticulous in its layout and content.

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:02:16 Start of remit on playing at pace

00:03:39 What plectrum to choose?

00:04:42 Pick number: A jazz 3, Jim Dunlop - Eric Johnson shape

00:06:45 Pick number 2: Big Jazzer Red Bear pick

00:07:29 What is a bevel?

00:08:52 Pick 3: Red Bear Jazz3

00:09:46 Pick 4: John Petrucci Dunlop

00:14:03 Some sequences to have in the trick bag

00:14:04 Top tips for pentatonic blastage

00:14:43 First - the 4s pattern

00:15:05 Pattern 1 (ex1): 8 5(e), 8 5 (B)

00:15:11 Pattern 2 (ex2): 5 (e), 8 5 (B), 7 (G)

00:15:31 4s, down the pentatonic, ex1 and ex2

00:15:53 Reverse 4s sequence

00:17:44 Moving up the frets through different positions

00:19:00 Moving up using 2 string and 3 string sequence of 4s

00:21:12 Eric Johnson uses straight pentatonic

00:22:53 Classic Johnson 6s

00:23:38 Roll notes using economy picking

00:24:35 Using sequences of 3s

00:24:35 Group into sequences of 3

00:26:20 Joe Bonamassa / Eric Johnson - top notes of Pentatonic and work up

00:27:18 Adding the 9th

00:28:20 Four notes: the root and adding a 3rd note on the string

00:30:40 Practice regime - straight up and down the pentatonic scale

00:31:40 Playing without tension

00:32:36 Playing very gently and still lightly holding onto notes

00:34:37 Strings, tone and frequencies

00:37:23 Doubling up on your highest and lowest notes

00:37:47 Why does it feel easier on 3 notes per string?

00:39:05 Focus your practise on your picking hand

Hey everyone! We are really pleased to have this mini-series sponsored by TrueFire until Christmas: it is the most excellent, expansive and extensive online lessons platform. Their product is so well thought out and educational that Dan and I are confident that you will find it an inspirational and valuable addition to your guitar learning arsenal. Sign up and receive 14 days to decide before you wish to pay for your subscription, without even needing to enter your card details. You really have nothing to lose and a world of knowledge and skills to gain.

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This is the first part of an episode on playing at speed and pace. It follows on from our earlier lesson on how to use sequences to open the fretboard. Next lesson we will look at some ways that you might use sequences to build speed and gain interest. Dan will also identify the two-string rule and explain how you can use pairs of strings to repeat licks in different octaves. In this first part, however, our guitar chat is based on TrueFire, our current sponsors.

Thank you TrueFire for sponsoring our podcast and with Christmas coming, what better gift could there be for a guitar fanatic? We are grateful for your vote of confidence and are fully enthusiastic about your product in return. How could we not be? The TrueFire guitar learning platform is massive and meticulous in its layout and content. In this episode, Dan and I look at two courses from TrueFire and an ‘in the Jam’ track by Joe Bonamassa:

1. Jazz Comping Handbook by Ted Ludwig - voice leading

2. Andy Wood Modern Telecaster Shred

3. In the Jam – Joe Bonamassa

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:00:34 TrueFire introduction and details for purchasing

00:05:17 Jazz Comping Handbook by Ted Ludwig - voice leading

00:06:37 Progression - Em7, A7, Dm7, G7, Cmaj7

00:08:08 What are the two most significant notes in a chord?

00:09:51 A connected feel

00:10:07 Demo from Ted Ludvig’s TrueFire Course

00:12:48 Separating the top notes of the chord from the bass note

00:14:41 Andy Wood Modern Telecaster Shred

00:17:28 Andy Wood's lick at full speed

00:18:27 Slowed down Andy Wood’s lick at 50%

00:21:23 In the Jam - Bonamassa and Dust Bowl

Hey everyone! We are really pleased to be able to share the great news that TrueFire – the most excellent, expansive and extensive online lessons platform – have decided to sponsor our podcast until Christmas. Their product is so well thought out and educational that Dan and I are confident that you will find it an inspirational and valuable addition to your guitar learning arsenal. Sign up and receive 14 days to decide before you wish to pay for your subscription, without even needing to enter your card details. You really have nothing to lose and a world of knowledge and skills to gain.

Sign up as an All Access student to TrueFire here: https://prf.hn/l/3Y32QvV

Sign up to TrueFire today: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB

Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code "TONEUP30"

Hey everyone! We are really pleased to be able to share the great news that TrueFire – the most excellent, expansive and extensive online lessons platform – have decided to sponsor our podcast until Christmas. Their product is so well thought out and educational that Dan and I are confident that you will find it an inspirational and valuable addition to your guitar learning arsenal. Sign up and receive 14 days to decide before you wish to pay for your subscription, without even needing to enter your card details. You really have nothing to lose and a world of knowledge and skills to gain.

Our lesson today is about gaining some go to and rehearsed sequences and ways of travelling around the fretboard between the different pentatonic patterns. There are some great ideas within on breaking out of the pentatonic box and developing some methods of linking the scale patterns as you are improvising. The benefit of rehearsing these sequences is that you can practise them and woodshed them to be able to deliver them at speeds which will really add some rhythmic fairy dust and exude the ‘wow’ factor.

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:00:34 TrueFire introduction

00:02:16 First improvisation

00:06:29 Review of last episode

00:07:24 Introduction to today's podcast

00:08:20 Getting away from box shapes and scale patterns

00:08:47 The 12th fret Em Pentatonic and spicing it up

00:11:24 Look at strings in 3 pairs - E and A, D and G, B and E

00:12:28 Mention of Tom Quayle

00:13:41 Limit your lick to two strings then repeat in three octaves

00:14:04 Example of this idea

00:15:43 Full Em scale with 3 notes on E string, then 4 notes on A x3

00:16:26 The Em scale over two strings, repeated

00:17:24 Em pentatonic same idea: [E, G, A / B, >D]

00:18:00 Repeat x4 on these strings: EA, AD, DG, BE

00:19:34 2nd Jam over the track

00:24:01 End of improv

00:24:32 The useful logic of the layout of notes on a piano (vs the guitar)

00:25:09 Use fret markers as guides

00:27:21 Minor pentatonic with an A root note

00:30:02 Reminders of scales

00:31:01 How to travel from position 4 to position 1?

00:31:20 Going through position 5

00:31:41 Linking patterns together

00:31:58 Hammer on two strings, return to the second note in 5s

00:32:46 Carry the sequences up on the two middle strings

00:34:01 Use the 3 notes sequence to transfer positions

00:35:39 Slow breakdown

00:36:41 Connect using the four note pattern sequence

00:37:52 Going down in fours on the top E and B string

00:38:53 You can do this same sequence but in reverse

00:39:42 The 'trick bag'

00:40:55 Different keys

00:41:19 Phrygian solo ideas

00:42:02 Dan identifying the plateau which may come from getting stuck in the Blues pattern

00:42:20 Extend the time spent going from A to B by sequencing

00:42:43 Sequence across patterns to extend the duration

00:43:22 Be melodic but be able to extend your phrases by using sequences

00:44:30 To develop your own sound develop flairs, styles and ways of negotiating the fretboard

00:45:49 The wow factor: Joe Bonamassa and developing playing full of sequences and symmetry

00:46:19 How to make things symmetrical

00:48:17 Guthrie Govan: Creative Guitar

00:49:04 Summary: 1) duplicate patterns on pairs of strings 2) learn sequences to connect patterns

00:50:35 Isolate the sequence

Dan always has such brilliant nuggets of information to share with us and this episode holds some immensely valuable and powerful thoughts and ideas. After a brief recap we have a round of improvisation which leads our discussion to pickup choice and tonal differentiation. Dan shares some ideas about how you can gain different sounds with your technique and touch.

Then we discuss rhythmic motifs and grouping notes to gain interest and be more sensitive to what the track is doing. This leads us to discuss how you must listen actively and deeply to a track to really consider what the tone of the piece is and how the instrumentation of it allows space for improvising. First Dan talks about trying to label the emotion of a track and then he really highlights to me that the main driver of a musician is that they have something to say and want to express themselves through their music.

Dan talks about how you can use rhythm, volume, dynamics and tone as the vehicle to deliver your story. Phrasing is key but nuance and subtlety can be very effective for really giving the listener something to grasp onto.

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:01:22 Brief recap

00:04:09 Last couple of episodes we were adding the 2nd / 9th, Blues note and 6th

00:06:33 How can we add a little style and technique

00:07:26 First round of soloing over the backing track

00:11:12 Be your best judge - look at your playing and be honest

00:12:59 Pickup choice for tonal differentiation

00:13:53 Playing 12 frets higher over the fingerboard to get a clarinet like sound

00:14:47 Jingle jangle - play near the bridge

00:15:18 changing your pick up is a good way to change your tone

00:18:09 Rhythm of playing a melody - grouping notes, Dan demoing a noodling shambles

00:19:12 You have got to listen to the track - what's the track saying?

00:19:24 Gary mentioning Dan tells a good story when he improvises

00:20:07 Labelling the emotion of a song

00:21:48 Funkadelic - Maggotbrain

00:22:25 Bowie's guitarist

00:23:13 Tell a story through the guitar melody and improvisation

00:23:33 e.g. Imagine you're in a disaster scenario

00:23:56 Think about what you're playing over and be sympathetic to what you're playing over

00:24:28 Second round of improv

00:31:36 Talk techniques next time

00:32:41 The main driver of music is we have something to say and want to express ourselves through our music

00:34:01 Think of a song like a book - a beginning, a middle and an end

00:34:58 Dan's advice for Gary is to remember that the biggest difference you can make in improvising is through rhythm, volume, dynamics and tone

00:36:37 Dan demoing how the dynamics can be controlled by a mix of volume and playing lightly or digging in

00:37:36 Use nuance, subtlety and change your tone through your technique - playing softly and disguising the gain

00:38:51 Leave yourself headroom and limit your finger noise using the volume knob and nuance in your playing

00:39:55 Homework: play over a backing track focussing on volume, subtlety and different sounds

00:41:14 Try to tell a story in your playing and practise trying to play with emotion

It’s really brilliant to be back and we are loving recording and releasing new content for you, our wonderful listeners. This lesson is an extension of the previous one and we aim to continue this into another lesson next time with a focus on the style and techniques that you might use to deliver your lines and package your improvisation.

This lesson tackles adding the 6th and 9th intervals without huge amounts of theory but, hopefully, immediately usable ideas and a rationale that will help to spice up your solos and motivate and inspire you to perform.

We use a backing track for our own noodling and improvisations. As always, I apologise for mine and listening back hope to continue working on tightening up the rhythmic motifs and delivery but we hope that you will take something from listening to both of us, warts and all. After all, learning can really take place when mistakes can shine a light on areas for improvement. This is one thing that I always really take from producing these podcasts – the opportunity to record myself in the moment and without preparation time then to listen back and spot the issues and set myself some targets. Dan’s playing, as always, continues to give me a whole plethora of ideas and inspiration. I hope it does for you too.

You’ll hear our chosen backing track with our improvisations at just after 5 and 25 minutes in today’s lesson. Next lesson, we will focus on some techniques and style.

The backing track is called: Dirty Blues Rock Guitar Backing Track Jam in Am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p66uR4HAU4

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version

00:01:42 Brief recap of last episode

00:02:42 The first pentatonic shape

00:02:52 The penatonic shape an octave higher

00:03:05 Pentatonic with extension up the neck

00:04:53 A little bit of fire and a little bit of polish

00:05:11 Dirty Blues Rock Guitar Backing Track Jam in Am

00:05:43 Start of first backing track

00:11:45 Adding the 9th B note in A

00:12:08 Adding in the 6th note or F# in A

00:14:23 Essentially we now have all the notes of the Dorian mode

00:15:15 So we can get some nice uses - solo opener is to bend from the 6th up to the 7th

00:16:30 Carl Verheyen - What is it that makes one player sound so different? It's the line. The way players construct their line

00:18:26 Key of A in one position - you run out of notes

00:18:37 Start below the position and work above it my working diagonally

00:19:42 Little insight on Van Halen - using patterns which might move out of key

00:20:11 Yngwie Malmstein - Always in key

00:20:17 Allan Holdsworth and Ollie Halsall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCoPmVLwjE)

00:21:04 Flesh out the Dorian mode in Am

00:25:30 second jam

00:32:27 Considering the style, techniques and delivery of the lines: we'll make this the focus for next time

00:32:49 Homework - look at TrueFire, play over backing tracks and consider your note choice and the techniques you are using

00:33:49 Make your mistakes in the Woodshed

00:34:55 Then take your ideas into rehearsal

00:36:19 Use a metronome while figuring stuff out

00:36:33 Home is where you get your stuff together, rehearsal and home are where you make mistakes and live is where you make as few mistakes as possible