Welcome to SHRED BOOTCAMP! I'll be your Drill Instructor! And I do mean DRILL! As in a large power tool used in slasher films and Paul Gilbert concerts. Here is were you EARN THE LIVING DEATH out of your fingers and break through any speed bumps/barriers to become a MASTER CHIEF of Shred!

MISSON #1

THE MISSION

1.)Your mission is to go all the way back to the very start. The base of the mountain.

LESSON 1. http://bitly.com/gmclesson1

Which you will play SLOWWWWWWLLY, very SLOWWWLLLLYYYY until you master it at a crawl (As You'll Do With Each Mission, and focus on left hand FORM! Make it SUPER PERFECT!). Speed it up bit by bit until you feel your ready to take it to WAR (Any speed, it's up to you) Shoot a video and post it as a reply to this post. I'll then offer a constructive and brutally honest critique.

THE AFTERMATH

Upon nailing the crap out of lesson one at a speed you didn't think possible, and playing it a clean as a freshly waxed floor, you will be given your first insignia of Rank in BOOTCAMP!

Here is your link your personal training ground/HELL!

http://bitly.com/minksbootcamp

Practice!
Todd

Sir yes sir!

the shredding will start rightaway!

My first attempt!


Total practice time: 2 hours
Comments:

• Timing off around 0:13
• Missed note at 0:05

This post has been edited by Minks: Apr 17 2013, 11:33 AM

This is well fought Soldier!!! You have drawn FIRST BLOOD!!! I can tell you have some native talent!! We are going to push you till you fall over,! WE are going to make you a MARINE!! I mean, a MUSICIAN!!!!

So what I want you to do is go the extra mile and show me QUAD PICKING!!!!! (Pick each note four times.) So do the same drill, just Quad Pick it!!! Great practice for the right hand!!!

Fight On!!

Todd

I hit the notes 4x in the last one You want me to do 4x up and 4x down?

Also, I noticed you hold your guitar differently. Is this something I should do, or is it a personal thing? I did find i got a larger spread when holding it that way, but its a lil awkward for me when sitting down.

Do the drill as single pick, take a pause, start back as double pick, pause, start back as quad pick. That way I"ll see you picking at each level and see where you are Soldier!! You are getting this down nicely but you do miss a strike here and there. Speed is not that important yet, so maybe back off the speeed just a bit to focus on the precision, especially with quads.

I sit in what is called "Classical Position", which is just how Classical Guitar players sit. With the guitar in between both legs, left foot raised on something (anything) neck about 45 degree angle. As you mentioned, it will GREATLY increase your reach. What you are doing is playing "Side Saddle" which is certainly valid, many players do it. However, until you master many of the techniques in bootcamp, I"d suggest adjusting to classical to take advantage of the reach, and arch of the hand. It changes the entire mechanics of the hand and playing angle. It may seem odd but it can really pay off.

Once you have mastered most of this stuff, you can put the guitar pretty much anywhere and still play whatever you want. But that usually takes several years. During the learning phase, I'd strongly suggest classical position. Here is a youtube vid talking about good posture/position on Classical Guitar and it applies quite readily to electric. I started sitting this way when I took some classical lessons and it really enhanced my playing.

START ABOUT 1:23 IN TO THE VIDEO




Also, check out this vid about "Classical Hand Position" VS "Rock Hand Position". The Rock Position, (with thumb near or over the top of the neck) is used often for bending since it allows greater leverage. The classical position is often used in running scales and various shred bits since it lends itself to greater finger reach and precision.




This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Apr 21 2013, 04:48 AM

thanks for the vid's, i'll get right back on it!

Happy to help Soldier!!! BACK TO THE FRONT!!!!!


Todd

Alright, here is some more stuff!

Singles:


Doubles:


Quads:

I can see the Blood on the Fretboard Soldier!!! That's a good sign!! I think the wall behind you is glowing from radioactive waste created by a MASSIVE amount of intense shredding!!!

You sir have just ......


!!!!!!!!!!!!!LEVELED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MEDAL OF HONOR
1.)Good hand synch
2.)Steady beat synch
3.)Precise Trigger, eh.. I mean, Pick Finger!!!

Your first Colors Soldier. Wear them with Pride!!



This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: May 3 2013, 06:39 AM

awsome!

on to lesson 2 before the wall returns to white!

MISSION 2 beckons!!! Your walls still green?

Sarge

How goes MISSION 2 Soldier? I've seen you play and I know you can KILL every Mission in front of you. Go kill!!