Song to learn when you've stopped learning

electrogrimey

Ok, so I've been playing guitar for 10+ years, have my grade 8 in classical, have been doing gigs for years, and teach guitar. I (and I imagine a lot of people here at this stage) don't really learn songs anymore. With a few listens to a song I can normally pick out the chords and lines, so I haven't practiced, per se, in a while.

However, I'm still not as good as I could be, so what songs do people think have taught them the most? I mean anything, from tone, to technique, to new chord shapes etc.

Orando Broom

electrogrimey wrote: »

Ok, so I've been playing guitar for 10+ years, have my grade 8 in classical, have been doing gigs for years, and teach guitar. I (and I imagine a lot of people here at this stage) don't really learn songs anymore. With a few listens to a song I can normally pick out the chords and lines, so I haven't practiced, per se, in a while.

However, I'm still not as good as I could be, so what songs do people think have taught them the most? I mean anything, from tone, to technique, to new chord shapes etc.

Jaysus, essentialy what do you teach a master is your question? I suppose what music styles do you play the most? Classical Rock, Metal? I would (now bear in mind I am a three chord trick merchant, I'll be learning for about five years after my death) offer that you step out of the comfort zone of the styles you are accustomed to. I would also offer the suggestion of collaborating with others and see what comes from that. You might find yourself being drawn into a musical journey you never thoufght you'd do/enjoy doing. Please bear in mind I am in no position to 'tell' you anything when it comes to guitar. Just offering my twopence worth.

electrogrimey

Stepping out of my comfort zone is a good idea, I've never played anything like speed metal, so maybe learning an Yngwei solo or something would be good. I don't remotely consider myself a master by the way, hence why I'm looking for suggestions!

Fringe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4

Give this a go. Takes a while to get used to tapping on an acoustic and takes a while to learn but it's a very fun song to play once you've got it.

NoQuarter

electrogrimey wrote: »

Stepping out of my comfort zone is a good idea, I've never played anything like speed metal, so maybe learning an Yngwei solo or something would be good. I don't remotely consider myself a master by the way, hence why I'm looking for suggestions!

Try black star by yngwie! has a nice bit of classical at the start too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blNQZc84Q5c

Rigsby

Instead of playing "songs", you could try playing improvised music such as jazz. Modern or mainstream, both can be rewarding to play.

Here is a clip of Mike Stern in action (Stern's solo comes in at around the 03.21 mark, but the whole clip is worth a listen IMO ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP2EYCgcb-Y

Adyx

You could always try a new instrument. Something not too far removed from guitar to give yourself a new perspective. I'm primarily a bassist now but originally I started on guitar. I've found that playing the bass has improved my guitar playing enormously.

electrogrimey

Adyx wrote: »

You could always try a new instrument. Something not too far removed from guitar to give yourself a new perspective. I'm primarily a bassist now but originally I started on guitar. I've found that playing the bass has improved my guitar playing enormously.

Well I've played double bass for years, and a few other things, so that's not so much the problem. I just never actually learned the standard electric guitar techniques because I was always a classical guitarist.

electrogrimey

Rigsby wrote: »

Instead of playing "songs", you could try playing improvised music such as jazz. Modern or mainstream, both can be rewarding to play.

Here is a clip of Mike Stern in action (Stern's solo comes in at around the 03.21 mark, but the whole clip is worth a listen IMO ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP2EYCgcb-Y

Actually, in that solo, how does he do that screaming thing? I've looked it up before but never really got it. Something to do with natural harmonics and clipping your right hand off the string or something isn't it? Could someone care to explain it?

electrogrimey

electrogrimey wrote: »

Ok, so I've been playing guitar for 10+ years, have my grade 8 in classical, have been doing gigs for years, and teach guitar. I (and I imagine a lot of people here at this stage) don't really learn songs anymore. With a few listens to a song I can normally pick out the chords and lines, so I haven't practiced, per se, in a while.

However, I'm still not as good as I could be, so what songs do people think have taught them the most? I mean anything, from tone, to technique, to new chord shapes etc.

Well... there's always the post-grade 8 exams

electrogrimey

bluewolf wrote: »

Well... there's always the post-grade 8 exams

Ah yeah I'm doing a teaching diploma and stuff, but that's not going to help my electric guitar playing, that's what I'm after really.

dougal-maguire

electrogrimey wrote: »

Actually, in that solo, how does he do that screaming thing? I've looked it up before but never really got it. Something to do with natural harmonics and clipping your right hand off the string or something isn't it? Could someone care to explain it?

thats what it is,an artificial harmonic,or a pinch harmonic

heres a vid to give you a quick idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5O8P-r5Rk




heres an easy enough solo that uses alot of pinch harmonics at the start

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzVVR9Wj9s&feature=related

electrogrimey

dougal-maguire wrote: »

thats what it is,an artificial harmonic,or a pinch harmonic

heres a vid to give you a quick idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5O8P-r5Rk

heres an easy enough solo that uses alot of pinch harmonics at the start

FYP

Hockney

electrogrimey wrote: »

Stepping out of my comfort zone is a good idea, I've never played anything like speed metal, so maybe learning an Yngwei solo or something would be good. I don't remotely consider myself a master by the way, hence why I'm looking for suggestions!

Since you mentioned speed metal I'll throw in my two cents, check out "Am I Evil?" by Diamond Head.

Lots of cool techniques in there, starts off pretty slow for two verses, then breaks into a galloping palm muted section about four minutes in, which is a hell of a lot of fun to play.

It's got one of my all time favourite solos in it, really melodic and lots of nice tricks in there, speedy hammer-ons and pull-offs and a nice tapping section too.

I play mainly thrash metal, I nearly always kick off a jam session with this after a few exercises, since it gathers tempo from start to finish. Once it's over you feel like you can walk through walls, ready to take on any piece afterwards.

Can't find the original Diamond Head studio version, here's Metallica's excellent cover of it from the studio, sure give it a listen and see what you think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u-HCHCuHMg